Category: Baseball

Despite finishing with the second best overall record in the Northwest League this year, the Frogs were unable to clinch a playoff spot this season, falling just short with steady and consistent play that was unable to ever ascend high enough on the standings for a half-season crown. Playing in the compact confines of Everett’s home ballpark, the AquaSox offense posted absolutely massive numbers on the season, leading the league in multiple major categories at the plate including homers, runs, OPS, and stolen bases. The pitching, though fighting an uphill battle with the aforementioned home ballpark, held their own, and gave them a chance to win on a nightly basis. It’s obviously disappointing to miss the postseason with as good as they played all season, but the individual successes up and down this roster are impossible to ignore and deserve to be celebrated.

Team Performance

First Half Record: 33-33 (+22 Run Differential)

Second Half Record: 34-32 (+37 Run Differential)

Final Record: 67-65

Team ERA: 4.96 (fourth in Northwest League)

Team OPS: .834 (first in Northwest League)

Stat to Know: Led Northwest League with 193 home runs (29 more than second place)

Season Stars

Felnin Celesten

Where else to start than with the newly crowned Northwest League MVP? Celesten had the bounceback of all bounceback seasons and managed to take home some serious hardware this 2026 season after an outstanding year at the plate. Slashing .314/.409/.534 at the level with 18 stolen bases, Celesten’s ranginess at shortstop and switch hitting ability made him a massive threat for the AquaSox for much of the year and ultimately led to his well deserved promotion to Double-A. Despite struggling a bit after his promotion and ending the season on the IL, his 2026 was undoubtedly one for the ages and has positioned him as one of the best prospects in this system.

Felnin Celesten HAS HIT FOR THE CYCLE!! pic.twitter.com/hnzcFP5lrf

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) June 26, 2026

Luke Stevenson

After a successful stint with the Nuts after his drafting in 2025, Stevenson hit the ground running with the Frogs and got off to a torrid start to his 2026, and despite some struggles in the middle of the year, a strong stretch run to close out the season kept his season numbers in a great spot. Stevenson’s season was largely what most would have expected from the power-hitting backstop: lots of walks, lots of strikeouts, lots of homers, and great defense. The whiff is going to concern some evaluators and could in theory leave him off some Top 100 lists this offseason, but the floor is still rather high considering the quality at which he does everything else on the diamond, and his defense behind the plate alone might just be enough to get him to the big leagues one day. Stevenson is set to slate somewhere in the the top ten organizationally and will look to prove his approach can work against Double-A pitching next season.

My goodness. Luke Stevenson goes to CF for his 22nd HR. pic.twitter.com/bAkNW40N7F

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) September 6, 2026

Jonny Farmelo

With his first full season in his young professional career, Farmelo mashed his way through the Northwest League and earned his way up to Double-A by season’s end. The speedy centerfielder was aggressive in all facets of the game; his 41 stolen bases were second best in the entire system (five behind Nick Becker), and though his whiff was elevated, he managed to slug just enough to make it work and produce effectively. In an ideal world, Farmelo is able to maintain the level of thump he’s been able to reach while cutting back on the raw whiff rates, but that’s obviously much easier said than done and may prove to be an unsuccessful venture. Should that be the case, Farmelo will need to continue to show he can be an elite defensive centerfielder with major game power and game-changing speed on the basepaths in order to reach his fullest potential, and if his strong end to the year is any indication, he’s well on his way to doing just that.

Sleepers

Brandon Eike

Eike probably deserves to be in the “stars” section for the monstrous year he had for the Frogs, but given he isn’t considered a Top 30 prospect by most all outlets, we’ll highlight him here and show him the love he deserves. Launching 29 homers on the year and slugging his way to an OPS of .892, Eike was a consistent force in the middle of the Everett lineup and proved to be invaluable for this Frogs roster. There’s a ton of swing-and-miss in his profile and the overall abilities outside of the slug are somewhat limited, but if Eike can continue to hit the ball with authority as he ascends through the upper-minors, the raw production may prove to be too good to overlook.

Crushed. Brandon Eike now tied for the league lead in home runs. Best sound ever. pic.twitter.com/L05jjsT2I3

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) May 17, 2026

Carlos Jimenez

Yet another deserved “star”, Jimenez’s 2026 was just as good, if not better, than the aforementioned Eike. After a few years of toiling in the low minors, Jimenez put together a truly outstanding year this season, revitalizing his prospect pedigree a bit after some general fatigue. The 23 year old posted a .926 OPS on the year with 20 stolen bases and a K-rate of just 21%. His 14.6% walk rate made him a constant threat on the basepaths, and his simple lefty swing managed to do a ton of damage for him at the plate. He’ll assuredly get a shot to shine at the Double-A level next season, and should he continue to find sustained success, he’ll undoubtedly play himself up prospect boards.

Colton Shaw

The best pitcher on this staff all season, Shaw’s sinker-sweeper combination was just what the doctor ordered for his homer-friendly home ballpark, and he used that tandem to lead the staff in just about every major pitching category. Shaw’s lower launch gives his sinker some wicked action and allows it to tunnel well with his secondaries, making him an incredibly interesting arm to watch for in 2027. The M’s have strongly gravitated toward high-command sinkerballers in recent classes, and though it may just be a blip, it seems to be an organizational preference that they’ve identified as a market inefficiency they can capitalize on. Colton Shaw’s certainly done his part in proving that notion right, and his outstanding 2026 makes him one of a handful in this organization with a very strong “up arrow” next to his name.

Dust Devils had no chance vs Colton Shaw tonight. Final line: 6IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 11K, 14 whiffs, 81 pitches, 58 strikes. pic.twitter.com/C4FFBwvdkj

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 4, 2026

In the end-of-season press conference, Chris Antonetti indicated the Guardians would be looking to make upgrades to their starting rotation and their bullpen this offseason. What could those upgrades look like?

As the month of November unfolds, we will do deeper dives into the names that become more obviously available, but this article is a chance to bring up some pitchers who may be a good fit for Cleveland for fans looking to do some searching and analyzing. In future articles, we will break down statistics, ages, and contract projections, but this post is “food for thought.” We know we will only have about one month before the lockout begins so it is possible that the Guardians make a move before baseball settles in for a long winter’s (and spring’s?) nap. Without further ado, here are some ideas to ponder:

Free Agent Options:
S-Tier: Tarik Skubal, LHP. Analysis: Not happening.

A-Tier: Trevor Rogers, LHP, Kevin Gausman, RHP, Freddy Peralta, RHP, Brandon Woodruff, RHP
Analysis: Very, very unlikely… but the Guardians can feel free to surprise me and sign one of these guys if they want (even Guasman who is old and I hate for hitting Jose intentionally). Rogers is my favorite of the bunch and has the best extension (a trait the Guardians’ love), but he’s getting a huge deal that is, obviously, highly unlikely to come from Cleveland.

B-Tier: Robbie Ray, LHP, Casey Mize, RHP, Patrick Sandoval, RHP, Jack Flaherty, RHP, Foster Griffin, LHP, Tyler Mahle, RHP
Analysis: It’s this part of the market where I can imagine the Guardians potentially deciding to put their hat in the ring IF those ALCS checks cleared and IF David Blitzer liked that taste of getting close to a World Series. Mize is my clear choice among this bunch (also has the best extension), but there is something to like about each option in here. Ultimately, I expect these players to get contracts longer than what the Guardians are comfortable offering, but they are definitely worth monitoring as the offseason progresses.

C-Tier: Shane Bieber, RHP, Matthew Boyd, LHP, Zac Gallen, RHP, Shota Imanga, LHP, Kris Bubic, LHP, Walker Buehler, LHP, Brady Singer, RHP
Analysis: I am very interested in Cleveland as a place where Bieber or Gallen could try to rebuild their values as starting pitchers for a year to try for one more free agent contract. We know what Bieber can offer and Gallen has good extension numbers and a strong track record…. up until 2025. Can he rediscover the ability to be a front of the rotation arm? That’s the question. A reunion with Boyd would be fun, and Buehler and Imanga both are decent pillow-contract/Guardians’ fix-a-pitcher options. Bubic and Singer both fit as “Guys the Royals Couldn’t Figure Out But Maybe We Could,” but, notably, the Dodgers couldn’t fix Bubic and the Reds couldn’t fix Singer, so Singer is probably the pitcher with more meat on the bone. Singer had HORRIBLE numbers last season but he does have an elite extension profile. I would keep an eye on him as someone the Guardians may be in on for a very inexpensive one-year deal or a minor-league contract. Of this bunch, count me as most excited about Imanga because it would be a chance to open a path into the market for Asian players… but, aside from that, give me a Bieber reunion counting on him and Carl to rediscover the magic.

Some potential trade candidates to monitor:
Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins
Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins
Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins
Taj Bradley, RHP, Twins
Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners
Bryan Woo, RHP, Mariners
George Kirby, RHP, Mariners
Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners
Jose Soriano, RHP, Orioles

Analysis: Aside from Alcantara, Detmers and Ryan, I don’t think anyone on this list is LIKELY to be traded, but all are in the realm of possibility. Understand that to get any of these arms, the Guardians would be parting with multiple top prospects. The one exception would probably be Alcantara who probably could be had for a package of lesser prospects if the team is willing to take on his contract… but the package would still need to be guys with some solid, major league potential. Every one of these pitchers has potential to pitch at the front of a playoff rotation, so I am on-board with the Guardians pursuing them and sacrificing serious prospect capital to get a deal done. Just know… it would hurt if they pulled it off. Detmers is my favorite of the bunch.

In the 2024 offseason, the Guardians needed starting pitching and managed to snag Luis Ortiz and Slade Cecconi, though neither pitcher seemed especially available. Some names to consider along these lines are Andrew Alvarez of the Washington Nationals, Gabriel Hughes of the Rockies, and Carmen Mlodzinski of the Pirates. Each pitcher has some interesting underlying metrics that indicate a better pitching group could get more out of them. Alvarez and Mlodzinski are both 27, so in the age range where a trade is something teams consider, while Hughes is only 25 and would cost more because of that. However, I’d like to, again, highlight Hughes who gets ELITE extension release as a pitcher the Guardians would be poised to maximize if they could pry him free from Colorado.

Which pitcher catches your eye as a Guardians’ fan? Let us know in the comments below

Good morning, baseball fans!

The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today with Game 4 of the World Series between the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, who hold a 3-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, who are just trying to stay alive for another game.

Tonight’s game begins at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on Fox/Fox One, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.

As of the time this is being written, the Brewers have not yet announced a starting pitcher. Whoever it ends up being will face off against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who ended the regular season with a 3.53 ERA, 3.76 FIP, with 116 strikeouts to 35 walks in 112.1 innings pitched. His last start in this postseason was in the Rays’ 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on October 15th, in which he allowed three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in four innings.

Personally, I’ve got to root for the Rays tonight. As much as I am hoping the Brewers take the series, a sweep is only fun if it’s your team doing it (as in 2012). I’d love to see the Rays come back and at least make the series a little more interesting. But I wouldn’t be unhappy to see the Brewers win it all tonight, either.

Who are you rooting for?

So far this offseason, we have talked about some of the bigger names on the free agent market. That includes the likes of Michael King, Adrian Morejon and Brandon Lowe. Today I want to discuss some under the radar targets that have surprising upside. David Peterson, Kris Bubic and Kyle Hart all have risk, but they also have the ability to outperform their contracts.

For fans of the NL East, Peterson is the biggest name here, so let’s start with him. The lefty spent parts of 7 seasons with the Mets before being traded to the Cubs in June. Since 2022, Peterson has had his ups and downs, but has been largely reliable. He has thrown at least 105 innings every year and has posted a WAR of at least 1. 

After a dreadful start to 2026, the trade reinvigorated Peterson. He posted a 3.70 ERA with the Cubs and was arguably their best pitcher after the All-Star break. Following the midsummer classic, Peterson posted a 2.73 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 66 innings. 

David Peterson stays hot with another quality start:

6.0 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 BB | 7 K

He has a 2.86 ERA over his last 13 games 💪 pic.twitter.com/fy4gWBnwqc

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 20, 2026

The 31 year old southpaw is not a flashy pitcher by any means. He throws his two low-90’s fastballs over 50% of the time. However, those offerings play up due to Peterson’s elite extension. His slider, changeup and curveball give him a trio of solid secondary pitches. Peterson relies heavily on ground balls, which makes his ERA heavily reliant on BABIP, but his FIP has generally been in the mid to high 3’s throughout his 5 year run. 

Peterson will be more expensive than the free agents the Nats have signed over the past few years, but compared to a King or Peralta, he will be cheaper. Something in the ballpark of 3-years $33 million should get it done. One potential issue I would have is that Peterson is fairly reliant on a good defense, but I like his steadiness. He is a solid arm, who can make playoff starts when he is at his best.

Kris Bubic is also a soft tossing lefty, but he is very different from Peterson. The 29 year old lefty has a very high ceiling but his injury prone nature makes him a big risk. However, that risk is also a potential opportunity for the Nats. If Bubic hits, he can be a true middle of the rotation starter while not being paid like one.

Over his last 217.2 innings, Bubic has a 2.98 ERA with a 2.91 FIP and 227 strikeouts. The problem here is that he has only thrown 217.2 innings since 2023. This season, Bubic suffered from forearm and shoulder issues, which is obviously terrifying. However, he got back on the mound at the end of the year and threw in the playoffs for the Dodgers.

In 2025, the one season where Bubic was relatively healthy, he had a 2.55 ERA in 116.1 innings and made the All-Star game. Bubic’s fastball only averages 92, but it has elite ride from a lower slot which makes it a very good pitch. He also has a filthy changeup which plays beautifully off the fastball. His sweeper and slider cap off a very complete arsenal.

With his injury issues, Bubic will likely have to take a one-year deal, maybe with a club option. If Paul Toboni is hunting for upside on the free agent market, this would be a great opportunity. We have seen injury prone pitchers suddenly stay healthy before, with Shane Baz and Jacob Degrom being recent examples. 

LHP Kris Bubic [29 y.o.]

2026 stats:
14 games (9 starts)
3.76 ERA
3.54 FIP
25% K%/12% BB%
49% GB%

Given the nature of his injury history, he is due for a 1+1 (club option) contract as high as $10-15M for 2027. His versatility in both a rotation and bullpen role could excite… pic.twitter.com/5oOilu3JHy

— Baseball Unstitched (@BaseUnstitched) October 21, 2026

If the Nats can somehow keep Bubic healthy, he would be a great signing. He might not be able to be a full time starter, but I think he could provide value as a reliever if that is how you keep him healthy. Bubic is the type of high upside, lower cost move I could see the Nats making.

One of the Nats biggest needs this offseason is a matchup lefty. Paul Toboni tried so hard to find a left handed reliever who could consistently get left handed hitters out. He never really got his guy though. Thankfully, there are plenty of lefty relievers on the market.

There are top tier guys such as Alex Vesia and Adrian Morejon. This class also has a nice second tier consisting of JoJo Romero, Brock Burke, Sean Newcomb, Gregory Soto and more. However, I have a third tier option that could outproduce that second tier in 2027.

We will see if the Padres pick up Kyle Hart’s $2.5 million club option, but if they don’t I like the lefty. On the surface, this sounds weird. He posted a 4.92 ERA this year and the 33 year old has a 6.25 ERA in his career. However, his peripherals and stuff tell a different story.

Despite that 4.92 ERA, Hart had a 3.63 FIP and xERA. Hart did a fantastic job of limiting hard contact and getting ground balls. His velocity also went up by over 2 MPH after being moved to a full time bullpen role. If you are looking for a stuff demon, Hart is a sneaky option.

Kyle “The Hartthrob” Hart is awesome and that sweeper is a nasty. Not sure I agree with having him go 2 innings as the opener but I don’t think Randy would have done too much better that second inning anyway. Defense didn’t help him, but that run was probably scoring regardless. pic.twitter.com/QjDSWUrnee

— Francis Alipranti (Papa Frank) (@fxalipranti_) June 28, 2026

In addition to the harder fastball, Hart also introduced a splitter, which got very good results. Batters hit just .163 against the pitch with a 39.4% whiff rate. That helped him a lot against right handed hitters. Hart’s sweeper is also a very strong weapon against lefties.

He has never fully turned that stuff into results, which is why the Padres might not pick up his option. After all, he is out of minor league options and was left off the playoff roster. However, I think he could be primed for a late career breakout entering his age 34 season. Hart will be quite cheap and I think he could outperform better known options such as JoJo Romero or Brock Burke.

None of these three arms are perfect, but they would not be sleeper options if they were. However, I think Peterson, Bubic and Hart all have the ability to outperform their contracts by quite a bit. You would be taking a risk, but the reward could be huge and the price won’t be massive.

Patrick “Patsy” Dougherty undoubtedly had his most success elsewhere as a big leaguer. In his sophomore season in Boston, he hit two home runs in a World Series game (one of them an inside-the-parker) to help secure a title in the very first Fall Classic. A few years later, he won another championship with the White Sox, in one of baseball’s most famous World Series.

In between those two stops, he spent some time in New York, manning the outfield. And getting in a fistfight with his manager. But let one who has never wanted to fight their boss cast the first stone. (And he isn’t the last man in franchise history to get into it with his manager, obviously.) Finally, in an historical quirk, he’s specifically linked to the name “Yankees,” and might be the first player ever officially referred to by that famed moniker.

Patrick Henry “Patsy” Dougherty
Born: October 27, 1876 (Andover, NY)
Died: April 30, 1940 (Bolivar, NY)
Yankees Tenure: 1904-06

The son of an Irish immigrant, Dougherty grew up in southwestern New York, with his family settling in Bolivar. He drew attention on his high school team and gradually made the climb from the prep ranks to town ball to the minors and then to California late in 1901. They had a winter league back then, and his manager in LA happened to also be the skipper of Boston’s new American League club. So Patsy broke in with Boston in 1902 and hit the cover off the ball. He hit .342 as a rookie (a career-best) with a .407 OBP (ditto) and .805 OPS (likewise). He followed that up with a sensational sophomore season in 1903 that saw him pace the Junior Circuit in at-bats, runs, and hits, while hitting .331. Not a bad first two years.

That year, he also starred in a game against the New York Highlanders that one would expect to be a pitcher’s duel. Cy Young versus Jack Chesbro. That’s supposed to be a battle of the titans. Instead, it was more like a sustained exchange of artillery fire. The Highlanders outlasted the Americans 15-14 and Dougherty hit for the cycle.

Come playoff time, Dougherty etched his name in baseball history. With a pair of round-trippers in Game 2 of the World Series against Pittsburgh, he became the first player to homer twice in a World Series game. It was all part of an .827 OPS series as Boston won the first Fall Classic, five games to three ina best-of-nine.

In 1904, his bat fell off and, perhaps due to that, Boston was willing to move him. It might also have had something to do with Dougherty pushing to be paid more, after two pretty darn good first seasons in the big leagues. Either way, Boston moved him. In June 1904, the Americans sent him to New York for the somewhat-infamous Bob Unglaub.

The Boston Herald trumpeted “DOUGHERTY AS A YANKEE,” the first time on record the club was referred to by the name that has become ubiquitous. Meanwhile, Boston fans were furious, seeing through the club’s justifications of Dougherty’s defensive lapses being reason to send him packing. Le plus ca change, as they say.

Patsy quickly adjusted to life in New York. Though his bat never rebounded to its peak in Boston, he was still comfortably above-average with the stick for New York (120 OPS+ in 1904 after the trade). The Highlanders, unfortunately, missed the playoffs. Boston beat them out by 1.5 games to take home the American League pennant, with his new teammate and ace Chesbro uncorking a wild one to doom them in the penultimate game of the season.

Dougherty may not have been the greatest defender though, in fairness to Boston’s front office. On August 15^th, 1905, Dougherty dropped two fly balls in left field, costing New York against Detroit and prompting The New York Times to declare “DOUGHERTY’S MISTAKES DEFEAT NEW YORK.” He also went through the worst offensive season of his career, coinciding with the Highlanders slipping to sixth place in the Junior Circuit.

1906 saw another contract dispute between Dougherty and his club. Worse, he got in a fistfight with New York skipper Clark Griffith. Unsurprisingly, he was gone from New York shortly after. Dougherty abandoned the team for the Tri-State League and found himself banned from the American League by president Ban Johnson.

Eventually, in July, the Chicago White Sox managed to massage things with Johnson and purchased his contract. He struggled down the stretch and was putrid in the World Series (2-for-20) but won his second World Series title nonetheless, as the “Hitless Wonder” White Sox pulled off an all-time upset against the crosstown rival 116-win Cubs of “Tinker to Evers to Chance” fame.

Dougherty spent the rest of his career in the Windy City and rediscovered his stroke, remaining a productive big-league hitter through his final season in 1911. Reputedly wealthy due to investments during his playing days, Dougherty began working at a bank shortly after his retirement, where he remained for almost three decades.

Patsy Dougherty died of a heart attack on April 30, 1940. He would have been 150 years old today. Happy birthday to a man nearly as old as the National League itself.

---

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer must like Aaron Civale a lot, because he’s acquired him not once, but twice.

The White Sox waived him at the end of August 2025 and the Cubs claimed him. He pitched just five times in September, but very well: 2.08 ERA, 0.538 WHIP and one save in 13 innings, with 14 strikeouts. That was good enough for 0.3 bWAR — in just five appearances, that’s pretty impressive.

(Incidentally, as well as the White Sox have done in trades lately, their acquisition of Civale in June 2025 was a terrible deal on their part — they got him for Andrew Vaughn, who’s done quite well in Milwaukee, while Civale posted a 5.37 ERA in 13 starts for the Sox.)

Anyway, the Cubs let Civale walk in free agency last offseason and he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the A’s, who put him in their rotation. He wasn’t any good there, either, posting a 5.42 ERA and 1.621 WHIP, with 16 home runs allowed in 74.2 innings. (In fairness, part of that was due to the A’s minor league home park, Sutter Health Park, where 238 home runs were hit in 2026. That led MLB… tied with Wrigley Field.)

On July 18, the Cubs traded a minor league prospect named Aiden Moffett to the A’s for Civale. Trust me when I say I don’t think the Cubs will miss Moffett. In 17 relief appearances combined between the Cubs’ Arizona Complex League team and Low-A Myrtle Beach, Moffett walked 42 batters in 22.1 innings and no, that is not a typo, that’s a 34.1 percent walk rate, which is just awful.

Civale, meanwhile, turned into an impressive reliever for the Cubs. In 18 appearances covering 36.2 innings, he posted a 1.77 ERA and 1.064 WHIP, allowing just two home runs and striking out 33. He posted his first save of 2026 July 30 against the Cardinals, striking out Lars Nootbaar to end the game. Just look at this nasty curveball! [VIDEO]

This hints that maybe, just maybe, late-career Civale (he turns 32 in June) could be a useful relief piece in 2027. Now, relievers are fungible, as we all know, but over 24 career relief appearances (52 innings) Civale has a 2.52 ERA and 1.019 WHIP and 51 strikeouts and only 13 walks.

Keep that up and that’s a really good setup type guy.

If I were the Cubs I’d offer him a one-year deal at $4 million with a $6 million team option for 2028 and a $1 million buyout, to be a bullpen piece.

Who says no?

A fact that may interest you about Steward Berroa: His name is Steward, not Stewart as most people probably assumed when they heard it for the first time. (I tried to find a way to work in a Denethor joke.) Sadly, there wasn’t all that much else interesting about Berroa or his contributions to the 2026 Phillies.

This was his third major league season, spending the previous two with the Blue Jays and Brewers. The Phillies purchased him from Milwaukee in early June and stashed him in AAA for most of the year. He was called up at the end of May and appeared in six games before returning to the minors for the remainder of the season.

Oh, he also pitched a game for Lehigh Valley, so that’s slightly interesting!

The stats: 6 games, .143/.143/.143, 0 HR, 0 RBI, -0.1 WAR

What went right

He got an RBI single in his Phillies debut, but that was about it as far as major league accomplishments go.

Steward Berroa makes it a two run game on the RBI Single #RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/YFJIhqouyk

— Lucas Parmenter (@LucasSports19) May 30, 2026

In the minors, he had a good on-base percentage (.363) along with 15 stolen bases.

He also had a child in June, so good for him!

What went wrong

He only batted .251 with five home runs in 242 plate appearances with Lehigh Valley.

The future

He’s a switch hitter with good speed and defensive ability, so it might be worth keeping him around as a “Quad-A” outfielder next season. Maybe he’ll be a late bloomer, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll ever hit well enough to stick for long on a major league roster.

Grade: D

He had an RBI and he wasn’t the worst reserve outfielder the Phillies trotted out there this season, but that was a low bar to clear.

The 2026 season had some big time performances and breakout prospects. I narrowed down the top four offensive performers in the Astros system for the 2026 season and put them on a list below. Check them out!

Bryce Mayer

Mayer, the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, put together an even better season in 2026. The right-hander started a bit slow but quickly turned things around, posting a 2.61 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 69 innings in Double-A. Mayer earned a promotion to Triple-A, where he posted a 5.45 ERA but still showed his ability to miss bats, striking out 40 over 33 innings. He finished the season with a system-leading 140 strikeouts, further establishing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the Astros system. Read more here.

2026 Stats: 24 G, 3.53 ERA, 102.0 IP, 73 H, 40 ER, 51 BB, 140 K, 12.4 K/9

Jagger Beck

Beck was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft. The 19-year-old had a breakout season for the Woodpeckers. In pitched in 22 games and posted a 2.80 ERA with 102 strikeouts over 86.2 innings. He also pitched once in the post-season allowing 1 run over 4.2 innings. Beck went from a potential afterthought to a top 20 prospect in the system with a dominant performance in 2026. Read more here.

2026 Stats: 22 G, 2.80 ERA, 86.2 IP, 68 H, 27 ER, 39 BB, 102 K, 10.6 K/9

Jackson Nezuh

After a breakout 2024 season, Nezuh struggled some in 2025 but he re found his form in 2026. The rtight-hander started the season in Double-A and had a 3.97 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 65.2 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A where he was even better posting. 3.58 ERA with 44 K over 37.2 innings. He totaled 124 strikeouts over 103.1 innings and put himself in contention for a big league spot next season. More on him here.

2026 Stats: 26 G, 3.83 ERA, 103.1 IP, 84 H, 44 ER, 50 BB, 124 K, 10.8 K/9

Cole Hertzler

Hertzler dealt with a few injuries early in his career but finally had a healthy season and was able to show what he could do on the mound. The right-hander started in Asheville dominating with a 2.72 ERA over 10 starts. He was promoted to Double-A where he posted a 4.20 ERA over the final 40.2 innings of his season. He was nearly unhittable this season holding opponents to just a .183 BAA.

2026 Stats: 22 G, 3.44 ERA, 83.2 IP, 53 H, 32 ER, 46 BB, 103 K, 11.1 K/9

Javier Perez

Perez had a mini breakout in 2025 but had a really strong season in 2026. The right-hander started in Fayetteville and had a 4.23 ERA with 103 strikeouts over 89.1 innings. He was promoted to Asheville where he posted a strong 4.35 ERA, in a hitter’s paradise, with 29 K over 20.2 innings. He finished the year third in innings pitched and second in strikeouts in the Astros system.

2026 Stats: 23 G, 4.25 ERA, 110.0 IP, 93 H, 52 ER, 26 BB, 132 K, 10.8 K/9

Nick Potter

Potter was a fifth-round pick by the Astros in 2025, and while he worked as a closer in college, Houston transitioned him into a starting role as a professional. The right-hander opened the season with Single-A Fayetteville and pitched extremely well, posting a 2.11 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 59.2 innings. He earned a promotion to High-A Asheville, where the results were a little more uneven with a 6.75 ERA, though he still struck out 16 batters over 9.1 innings. Read more here.

2026 Stats: 22 G, 2.74 ERA, 69.0 IP, 48 H, 21 ER, 36 BB, 86 K, 11.2 K/9

Alex Santos II

Santos was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2020 draft and has taken a long road through the system, spending multiple seasons in rookie ball before eventually reaching Double-A. After moving to the bullpen this season, Santos has posted a 2.91 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 65.0 innings. He finished the season on a tear posting a 1.09 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 41.1 innings including a 0.77 ERA over 11.2 innings in Triple-A. He probably did enough to earn a good look next Spring Training. Read more here.

2026 Stats: 49 G, 2.91 ERA, 65.0 IP, 48 H, 21 ER, 39 BB, 100 K, 13.8 K/9

Good morning A’s fans!

We got our first bit of after-season Athletics news yesterday morning. Infielder Max Muncy has undergone surgery on his left knee, but he should be ready for Spring Training:

Max Muncy Medical Update pic.twitter.com/FSxKhf3hED

— A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) October 26, 2026

If we’re being exact, it was a debridement to fix some damaged cartilage in that knee, which usually comes with a 6-8 week recovery timeline. It’s a relatively small surgery so Muncy should have plenty of time to rehab and get ready for next season.

The former 1st-round pick hasn’t quite figured it out in the big leagues yet. He made his major league debut in mid-2025 but struggled on both sides of the ball in his first taste. Not the best rookie debut but considering he was just 22 in his first year and getting sporadic playing time there was plenty of reason to believe he just needed more at bats in his second season.

That’s what he got in 2026. After a strong spring training won him the starting third base job, Muncy failed to deliver for the second consecutive year. Injuries and ineffectiveness were the calling cards for the right-handed hitter. Overall he hit .230/.296/.387 with nine home runs. A bit better than the previous year but still not great. Add in the hugely negative reviews he got on defense and he was worth -1.2 WAR in 2026. Not what the A’s were hoping for from a former high draft pick.

Entering next year, the pressure is going to increase for the now-24-year-old. Muncy has crushed Triple-A pitching but needs to figure out how to adjust to major leaguers. Even if Muncy does make the improvements needed in the batter’s box, he’ll also need to work on his defense. He was one of the worst defensive third basemen in the league last year so it’s unlikely the A’s are going to try that experiment again unless he arrives in February a different person in the field.

He got some very brief outfield work in the corners last year but the A’s will presumably have everyday players at those spots, and there’s just better backup options for those positions before Muncy anyway. There doesn’t really seem to be an obvious clear role for him on next year’s team if the A’s are trying to improve.

He’s entering his final option year so this coming season could be the final chance he gets with this organization. Hopefully the injury he suffered early in the year just threw him off for the whole season, and he can come back and start living up to his draft pedigree next year. The A’s could use a boost like that.

Meanwhile the World Series continues tonight as the Brewers are just one win away from hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy. By the looks of things this series is all but sewn up. Even if they weren’t up 3-0, the Brewers just look like the better team. The only question now is will the Brew Crew end it tonight, tomorrow, or in Game 6 in front of their home fans back in Milwaukee?

And remember, with the end of the World Series comes the beginning of the offseason. Luis Severino will have five days to decide on his club option for next year while the A’s have to decide whether to bring Jeff McNeil and Jeffrey Springs back on expensive contracts. McNeil and Springs are seemingly easy calls to reject, and for a while it seemed Severino would obviously accept his option. But there’s word going around that he may decline it simply because he hates Sutter Health Park that much. He’s not getting any younger and this team still could be a year or two away from contention. We’ll be finding out the answers soon enough.

First pitch is at 5:00 PST. Until then! Have a good Tuesday everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• Q&A: Smith discusses his new role as youngest head of baseball ops in MLB
• Optics vs. Infrastructure: Taylor Smith’s First Dilemma
• Athletics Hire Taylor Smith As Next President of Baseball Operations
• A’s bring in Taylor Smith to run baseball operations
• On New PBO Taylor Smith: What’s In A Number?
• A’s Considering Hiring GM Under Taylor Smith
• Trade Candidate: Shea Langeliers
• The five biggest questions facing the A’s this offseason
• Inside the A’s State-of-the-Art Las Vegas Ballpark
• Pitching prospect Huggins growing his game with the help of this A’s Hall of Famer
• ’Be a sponge’: No. 19 prospect leads A’s Fall League group with do-it-all mentality
• A’s LHP prospect Richardson shows off health and resiliency during Fall League homecoming
• Zack Of All Trades Tries To Get One More Win: In Court
• Important Dates For The Athletics This Offseason
• 12 A’s Players Out of Options Heading Into 2027
• How MLB’s Proposed Changes Would Impact the A’s
• A’s part ways with assistant hitting, quality control coaches
• After an outfield collision left him paralyzed, every gain in rehab is a big win for A’s Ryan Lasko
• Why 2027 Athletics Will Be Completely Different Team
• 2026: Year Of The “Didn’t See That Coming!”
• A’s Hoping Luis Severino Chooses to Stay
• Where the A’s Plan to Use Zack Gelof in 2027
• Drafting The Top AL Graduated MLB Prospects From 2026
• Devin Taylor: Athletics 2026 Minor League Player Of The Year
• Athletics 2026 MLB Draft Report Card
• Henry Bolte Is the A’s Next Budding Star
• Determining Athletics’ Offensive MVP for the 2026 Season
• 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
• Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app

MLB News & Interest:

• With historic romp, unrelenting Crew just 1 win from 1st World Series title
• Mets’ Francisco Lindor wins Roberto Clemente Award in ‘full-circle moment’
• MLB tests out restricted OF shifts in effort to up offense
• ‘I want it right now’: Woodruff seizes chance in 1st pitching appearance since July
• Astros To Interview Mike Rizzo For GM Vacancy
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

AFL update!

A’S IN THE AFL TODAY (10/26)
C Cole Conn: 1-5, SB, R
RHP Jared Johnson: 2 IP/2 H/1 ER/1 BB/0 K/Win
RHP Kenya Huggins: 0.2 IP/1 H/0 ER/2 BB/2 K
Mesa Solar Sox win 13-12

— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) October 27, 2026

Check it out!

THE A'S FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE MLB DRAFT! 👀 https://t.co/vi6VznwtqF via @YouTube
🚨 THE A'S FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE MLB DRAFT! ⚾🔥

JACOB WILSON. NICK KURTZ. JAMIE ARNOLD.

Three names that could help CHANGE the future of A's baseball!

But here's the crazy part…

According…

— The House Always Wins Media Network/Las Vegas A's (@lasvegasaspod) October 27, 2026

Still think he should have gotten some recognition for ROTY…

Maybe not the best catch this season…but 10% catch probability is INSANE!

Henry Bolte’s 2027 rookie season:

7, 5⭐️ catches (3rd most in MLB)
30.5 ft/s sprint speed (100th percentile)
90.5 mph arm speed (87th percentile)

The kid can FIELD! 🔥😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/sUdayt5G51https://t.co/MI0fxkUCv8

— SleeperAthletics (@SleeperAth) October 27, 2026

If I had to guess, it ends today:

FINAL: Brewers 10, Rays 1

A complete emasculation. Brewers batters swatted seven consecutive hits and scored eight runs with two outs in the fifth. Brewers pitchers shut down Tampa Bay hitters all night. Milwaukee is up 3-0 and can clinch its first World Series title on Tuesday.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 27, 2026

The Kansas City Royals Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers finished the year with a record of 65-81. It was a balanced season of sorts for the team, as they finished both halves of the season 8 games under .500. However, which players were able to produce a good season?

The good from the position players:

Brett Squires was someone that most Royals fans probably hadn’t heard of before the season started. Then, the 26-year-old first baseman just kept hitting. Squires was an undrafted guy that the Royals signed. He has slowly worked his way through the system. He was very good in Quad Cities in 2024 and had a middling year in Northwest Arkansas in 2025. But 2026 was all good for Squires. Between 32 games in Double-A and 100 games in Omaha, Squires slashed .277/.351/.549. He smacked 34 doubles, 3 triples and 31 homers, driving in 103 runs. He walked 56 times, striking out 141. He mainly played 1st base, with a little bit of left field sprinkled in. I would love to see him get a chance in Kansas City next season.

Carson Roccaforte had a phenomenal season. The 24-year-old centerfielder, who the Royals took as a Comp B pick in 2023, out of Louisiana-Lafayette looked the part. It’s been somewhat of a slow grind to get to Omaha, but Roc finally did. This season, he played 110 games in Double-A and the final 28 in Omaha. Between the two stops, Roc slashed .257/.338/.519. He hit 26 doubles, 5 triples and 35 homers, while driving in 96 runs. He stole 32 bases. The issue with Roc is he struck out 181 times. The primary centerfielder is unbelievable defensively as well. As much as I’d like him to be the Opening Day centerfielder next season, I think he starts in Omaha for the first month or two. Not because he’s not worthy, but because the Royals probably want him to get more time in Triple-A first.

Jack Pineda is a late bloomer type of guy. The 27-year-old infielder put together a good season. The Royals took Pineda in the 12th round in 2022 out of Baylor. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Pineda slashed .351/.413/.530 in 81 games. He hit 20 doubles, 3 triples and 9 homers. He walked 23 times, striking out 46. He stole 18 bases. Defensively, he played shortstop, third and second base, all very well.

Peyton Wilson had a nice season, slashing .276/.358/.433 in 94 games this season. He hit 29 doubles and 8 homers, walking 41 times, stealing 17 bases. Wilson is a 26-year-old infielder, who the Royals took as a Comp B pick in 2021 out of Alabama. Defensively, he played second, third and left, very solid infield numbers.

Gavin Cross got off to a rough start, but finished nicely, finishing the season with a .247/.306/.434 slash line. He hit 20 doubles, 5 triples and 17 homers. He stole 25 bases, walked 32 times and struck out 149 times. The Royals took Cross 9th overall in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, he is now 25 years old. He can play all three outfield spots well.

Peyton Wilson demolished this baseball 🤯 pic.twitter.com/qwNpe3x7eV

— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) September 20, 2026

The good from the pitching staff:

If I am going to be completely honest with you, the Omaha Storm Chasers pitching staff is somewhat bleak. Mainly because it was a lot of older guys, some of them might be considered “washed”. So, this list isn’t that long. Most of the guys aren’t even with the team anymore or won’t be next season. They aren’t pieces for the future.

Ryan Ramsey is a 25-year-old lefty, who the Royals drafted in the 13th round in 2022 out of Maryland. He has grinded his way through the organization and finally got his first full year in Omaha. Ramsey made 28 appearances and 21 starts, throwing 115.2 innings. He walked 65, striking out 110. Opponents hit .275 off him. It wasn’t the most encouraging season, but a guy that could be in Kansas City next year.

Henry Williams is a 25-year-old right hander, who the Royals got from the Padres in the Scott Barlow trade. Williams made 28 appearances, 26 starts this season. Between Double and Triple-A, Williams threw 132 innings, striking out 120 hitters, walking 63. Opponents hit .277 off him. I think he could also get a shot in Kansas City next season.

Ethan Bosacker is another 25-year-old right hander. The Royals took him in the 13th round in 2023 out of Xavier. Between Double and Triple-A, Bosacker threw 62.2 innings. He struck out 48 hitters, walking 34, with opponents hitting .254 off him. This could be a bullpen option next season.

The final one who could be a Royal next season came over late in a trade. Lucas Braun is a 25-year-old right hander. He came over from Atlanta in the Lane Thomas and Bailey Falter trade. In his 8 starts with Omaha, Braun threw 37.2 innings, striking out 38 batters, while walking 13. Opponents hit .282 off him. He provides starting depth for the Royals next season.

Next year will be an interesting year for the Royals Triple-A affiliate. I hope they can get some more youth in there, especially pitching wise. Thank you for following along all year with Royals minor league coverage!

Out of the 10 Dodgers currently on the Desert Dogs roster, seven made an appearance in what was a 25-run thriller as Mesa defeated Glendale 13-12. The visiting Solar Sox overcame what was at one point a six-run deficit, handing the Desert Dogs their 13th loss in 18 games.

Three of the first four pitchers for Glendale were members of the Dodgers organization, including starter Brooks Auger, who was pulled an out shy of finishing the third inning, having allowed three earned runs—all of them in the opening frame. Mesa scored 13 runs with just a single home run, one that came in the first inning with a runner on base, as Antonio Anderson took Auger deep.

Dodgers’ Sam Horn and Cody Morse each pitched in with a clean inning, striking out two—it wasn’t until Samuel Carpio of the Marlins came on in the sixth that the wheels came off with an eight-run rally for the visiting side, losing this one despite out-hitting their opponent 16-to-9.

Productive one through nine offensively, the Desert Dogs saw eight of their nine starting hitters reach base multiple times, including all four Dodgers. Charles Davalan and Chase Harlan each secured two hits in six at-bats and drove in a run, while Eduardo Quintero walked twice and singled once in five opportunities up at the plate. Reaching base so often, Quintero made the most of it, responsible for three of Glendale’s six stolen bases in seven attempts. Lastly, down in the ninth spot, Anson Aroz had an RBI, going 1 for 4 with a walk.

Monday score

Mesa 13, Glendale 12

Tuesday schedule

The Glendale Desert Dogs look for their sixth win as they welcome the Mesa Solar Sox for an afternoon matchup, with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m.(PT).

Good morning! The Milwaukee Brewers took a commanding 3-0 World Series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays last night with a dominant 10-1 win. What are your predictions for Game 4? Will the Brewers sweep, or will the Rays get one back at home?

MLB Postseason scores…

• The Milwaukee Brewers erupted for a 10-1 win at Tropicana Field over the Tampa Bay Rays thanks to an eight-run fifth inning. Brewers starter Robert Gasser allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings, and left fielder Jackson Chourio logged four hits by the end of the fifth inning.

In Mariners news…

• The Mariners are holding in-person interviews with former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada and Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler for their managerial vacancy.
• Members of the Lookout Landing staff review their top qualities for the Mariners’ new manager.
• Don’t forget to vote in both this week’s photo caption contest and the Fifth Annual Lookout Landing Awards.

Around the league…

• Former Mariner and current Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Daniel Vogelbach has brought a unique energy and game plan to the team’s hard-hitting offense.
• Dominant Milwaukee Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby has used a mechanical tweak to take his pitching to the next level.
• MLB has been testing out restricted outfield shifts in the Arizona Fall League to increase offensive production.
• This year’s World Series has the shortest average roster height in at least the past 40 years #justiceforshortkings.
• The Philadelphia Phillies should beware of signing an aging corner outfielder this offseason based on their recent contract history.
• New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was recognized for his off-field community involvement with the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award.

2026 stats:.146/ .213/ .183, 15 wRC+, -0.1 fWAR over 30 G, 89 PA w/ Giants

In game 4 of the division series against the White Sox, the Guardians turned a 2-0 deficit into a 9-4 lead, helping them claim the series in a winner-take-all game 5. You’d be forgiven if you did a double-take watching that game as a distantly familiar face launched a pinch-hit solo homer then later delivered a tie-breaking RBI single that sparked a game-defining rally.

Hey…wasn’t that the guy who was the worst offensive player in the league when he was on the Giants?

Yeah — that was Patrick Bailey. Same dude who played just 30 games for San Francisco before being traded on May 9th to the Guardians. The move surprised many. It was aggressive. It wasn’t universally panned either. The catcher was a man of extremes: a number-one glove and dead-last bat. His 89 plate appearances through April were excruciating to watch. He hit .146 with a .183 slugging percentage. A .396 OPS. A 15 wRC+. He had somehow accrued a -11 batting run value in a month. Those numbers are bad, and somehow they still don’t really do justice to how bad he was. Watching his at-bats was the sensory equivalent of  blowing hot air into your eyeballs with a hair dryer. Trying to hit a baseball was a desperate, feckless act for Bailey, like an accountant, recently stranded on a desert island, rubbing two pencils together to start a fire. He’d leave the batter’s box as cold as it was when he arrived. 

Was he really that bad? I mean I’m having fun tooting the hyperbole horn, but that 15 wRC+ ain’t a lie. Perhaps the better question is was he going to stay that bad? No he wasn’t, and no, he didn’t. Looking at the batted-ball metrics and expected stats, it was pretty clear Bailey wasn’t getting a fair shake (his BABIP with the Giants was .186). Things evened-out in Cleveland. Bailey batted .228 for the rest of the year as a Guardian with a .292 OBP (256 PA) and a respectable .390 slugging percentage — 30 points higher than his previous career best mark he posted as a rookie in 2023. His 90 wRC+, while still below average, is good for the highest of his young career. Over 33 at-bats in the postseason, Bailey slashed .273/ .333/ .455 with two homers and four runs batted-in — one less rib-eye than he had as a Giant. 

Sift around in the muck and the mire of early 2026, and it’s pretty easy to track the logic of the trade. Everyone else was doing bad, and Bailey was the worst of the bunch. The catcher’s plate-appearances were a black hole that Buster Posey and pretty much everyone else was tired of getting sucked into. Something needed to be done, and Bailey gave Buster a decent-sized head to roll without causing mass clubhouse panic. It served as a hopeful wake-up call without looking completely rash or reactionary in the moment. While the move sacrificed defense, it was defensible. Back-up catcher Daniel Susac was off to a hot start, and Posey wanted to find ways to get players like Jesus Rodriguez and Eric Haase more at-bats. Bailey was relatively young, under team control, and had some serious value as a two-time Gold Glove winner. This was a person with elite skills in a particular area who knew how to shepherd a flock of pitchers over the hills and through the valleys of an at-bat, an inning, a game, and a season. While the institution of the ABS system limited some of his stand-out talents as a pitch-framer, there was still some room for the artistry with selling balls-and-strikes.

Bailey had value, and Posey turned him into a draft pick, a pitching prospect with a Major League nickname (who would end the year allowing just one earned run over 8 innings against LA, as well as a Shohei strikeout), and an immediate (though not sustained) offensive boost from catching reinforcements. Three days after Bailey’s trade, Eric Haase homered twice off Yoshinobu Yamamoto — a shellacking that heralded Yamamoto’s meltdown against Milwaukee in the National League pennant. You could see the shadows of past demons passing across his glazed over eyes in that 3rd inning. Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, and Christian Yelich were just descendents of one man: Haase. 

Posey and Tony Vitello replaced Bailey with an aggregate of five names. Daniel Susac boasted the most staying power. He’s 6’ 4’’ with a cannon for an arm, but after a hot start, Susac produced nominally better (94 wRC+) at the plate than Bailey did for Cleveland and was limited by injuries to his elbow and back before being shut down by a season-ending knee cap fracture in early August. 

Trading Bailey sacrificed clarity. Plans A, B, and C had to be scrapped due to injuries. The position became a Guess Who? Game. Andrew Knizner? Sounds familiar…  Drew Cavanaugh, who started the year in Double-A Richmond, Virginia, ended up making the most appearances at catcher for San Francisco. Offensively, he ended up ranking about the same as Bailey. Defensively, he was nowhere close.

It’s hard to argue that the Giants “won” the trade based on how the year panned out. Bailey found level at the plate. He moved out, moved on, and served up postseason dramatics for Guardian fans while the Giants’ cohort watched from their couches wringing their hands about a move made in May.