With potential CFP format changes, athlete revenue sharing and the impending House ruling all in flux, college sports is at a critical juncture. And the SEC is at the forefront of it all this week in Florida.
Notts beat Yorkshire, Surrey draw with Essex, and more: county cricket day four – as it happened
Nottinghamshire dance into the Championship’s early summer break at the top of Division One, after bowling Yorkshire out just before tea at Headingley
And now D’Oliveira follows at New Road…a third for Rushworth. This turning into rather a sad little procession.
Worcestershire lost two in two balls and suddenly that run chase tilting uphill – one for Woakes, one for Rushworth., Roderick and Kashif gone.
Continue reading...Giants' offense continues to struggle in quiet loss to Tigers
Giants' offense continues to struggle in quiet loss to Tigers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
To say the Giants’ offense is struggling right now, would be an understatement.
San Francisco (31-23), who is averaging just 2.2 runs per game over its last nine games, and scored just seven combined runs in its three-game series against the Washington Nationals over the weekend, struggled to get anything going offensively against the American League-best Detroit Tigers (35-20) on Monday at Comerica Park.
The pitching, per usual, held up for the most part, with Hayden Birdsong (L, 4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) keeping the Giants in the game before departing in the bottom of the fifth with two runners on and one out, but San Francisco’s lineup was ice-cold against Tigers righty Keider Montero (W, 5 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K).
After three scoreless frames from both teams, Detroit got the scoring started against Birdsong in the bottom of the fourth on Dillon Dingler’s RBI single to left field that scored Colt Keith from second.
With Detroit leading 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Tigers center fielder Javier Báez was ejected after expressing his frustrations with a strike-three call by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.
Later that inning, after Birdsong departed, Giants left-handed reliever Erik Miller came in with the bases loaded and one out and surrendered a two-run single to Tigers left fielder Riley Greene that extended Detroit’s lead to 3-0.
San Francisco finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, when one-out hits from Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee were followed by an RBI-single off the bat of Wilmer Flores to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Giants’ bullpen pitched well after Detroit’s two-run fifth inning, with Spencer Bivens tossing two shutout frames in the sixth and seventh innings before Jordan Hicks pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
San Francisco’s offense went down quietly over the final three frames to cap off the 3-1 loss.
Former Toronto Marlies Defenseman Rinat Valiev Signs In Russia
Former Toronto Marlies defenseman Rinat Valiev has signed a one-year deal with in Russia with HK Chelny, it was reported late last week.
Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Valiyev spent this past season playing in Kazakhstan with HK Almaty, scoring four goals and adding 13 assists for 17 points in 28 regular season games. In a further seven playoff games, he added two assists.
Having returned overseas following the 2019-20 season, Valiyev did appear in 12 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens during his time in North America, never collecting a point. Throughout 260 career AHL regular season games with the Marlies, Laval Rocket and the Stockton Heat, Valiyev put up a respectable stat line of 19 goals and 66 assists for 85 points.
With Valiyev signing in the VHL (Russia's second tier pro league), he will return to his home country following parts of two seasons away. While he has not been able to stick full time in the KHL, Valiyev has been solid throughout his short VHL career and should bolster HK Chelny's blueline.
French Open 2025: Raducanu digs deep, Alcaraz through, Badosa beats Osaka– as it happened
Emma Raducanu and Jacob Fearnley moved into round two while Paulo Badosa beat Naomi Osaka, Daniel Altmaier saw off Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz also won
Raducanu is getting nowt for nowt, forced to 30-all as she seeks her endorsement. From there, though, she does well to close out for 4-2, while Bouzas Maneiro breaks Navarra at the start of srt two for 6-0 1-0. This is an absolute tousing … so far.
Inside-out backhand to the corner … and Wang can’t control her response. Raducanu breaks again, for 3-2, and can she hold on to it this time?
Continue reading...Canadiens: Potential First-Round Pick – Justin Carbonneau
Should the Montreal Canadiens use their two first-round pick, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s Justin Carbonneau is a name they could call out on the podium. No, it’s not just because he’s a “p’tit gars de chez nous,” and he’s not related to former captain Guy Carbonneau; it’s because he has a lot of upsides.
The right-winger is 16th on the Central Scouting North American skater list, has scored 89 points in 62 games this season in the QMJHL, and likes to make flashy, big plays.
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While Carbonneau could use his linemates more, he’s the kind of player who wants to have the puck on his stick when a big goal is needed, and he often manages to deliver, as his 46 goals in 62 games show. His desire to have the puck when it counts is similar to Lane Hutson’s. Although the Habs defenseman is a pass-first kind of guy, having them on the ice simultaneously would only mean they can complement each other.
As things stand, the Canadiens have a lot of playmakers, but putting the puck in the net can sometimes be an issue, so drafting a player who’s more of a scorer would make sense. Carbonneau is a risk taker, though, as you’ll be able to tell by watching this highlights package, and while he’s looking impressive there, he would need to adapt to the NHL's stiffer competition; things that work at the junior level don’t always work at the pro level.
Like everyone else, he’d need to learn to pick his spots, but the Canadiens have the right environment to allow young players to make those mistakes. Although the rebuild is fast evolving, greater emphasis will be put on results sooner rather than later. Still, Martin St-Louis has proven he knows how to handle young players and teach them valuable lessons without resorting to the traditional “one error, one benching” approach, which was all the rage in the NHL not long ago.
At the start of March, Nick Bobrov and Donald Audette took in the Armada’s game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, allowing them to watch both Carbonneau and Caleb Desnoyers, the QMJHL’s top two prospects. Unless Kent Hughes manages to move significantly higher in the first round, Desnoyers will be long gone before the Canadiens speak, so it’s likely they were taking a closer look at Carbonneau, mainly since Bobrov has attended several games in Blainville-Boisbriand this season.
Carbonneau is creative. He’s got good speed for his size, soft hands, and a deceptive shot; there’s a lot to like in that package. His frame makes it easier to outbattle defenders or cut inside for the net. The winger also has a knack for shooting from everywhere on the ice and manages to score from anywhere, consistently a good tool to have in one’s arsenal.
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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Flyers Offseason: Who Are the Best (or Worst) Candidates to Replace Ian Laperriere?
According to multiple reports, the Philadelphia Flyers are moving on from Ian Laperriere as the head coach of their farm team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. But how do they plan on replacing him? And with who?
Laperriere, 51, had spent the last four years at the helm of the Phantoms, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances, but blowing a 2-1 series lead to the Hershey Bears in this year's Calder Cup playoffs.
Notably, when starting goalie Parker Gahagen went down with an injury, Laperriere rolled with exiled journeyman Cal Petersen ahead of promising prospect Carson Bjarnason not once, but twice, losing the series 3-2 and failing to get one of his best youngsters a taste of playoff action.
Not to mention that prospects like Massimo Rizzo and Alex Ciernik, two forwards the Flyers have varying degrees of investment in, didn't even play a playoff game for Laperriere.
Everything the Flyers have said and done this offseason, especially as it relates to the hiring of Rick Tocchet, has pointed towards player development being of the utmost importance now and in the future.
Laperriere couldn't get the job done, at least not consistently enough, and it is now apparently time for a change behind the bench in Allentown.
If the Flyers have reason to believe looking internally is a good option, one candidate who could stand out is Phantoms assistant coach John Snowden, who just completed his second season in Lehigh Valley.
Snowden, 44, coached his way up from the ECHL ranks, starting his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Orlando Solar Bears back in 2015-16. Snowden served as the head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers for parts of two seasons between 2018-19 and 2019-20, and later took over as their president of hockey operations for the 2020-21 season.
For those curious, Flyers GM Danny Briere was the vice president of hockey operations for the ECHL's Maine Mariners at the same time.
Report: Flyers Rejected Big Maple Leafs Trade for Rasmus RistolainenAccording to a new report, the Philadelphia Flyers received a massive trade offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs for veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. GM Danny Briere and Co. didn't budge.
Snowden's Growlers won the Kelly Cup in 2019 and went 42-17-1 in 60 games under his watch before the 2019-20 season was cancelled, so there's a history of success there, and Briere has gone up against him in the ECHL before.
Indeed, Snowden is not the sexiest name or the most well-traveled option, but there's reason to believe he could do the job if called upon.
One name that Flyers fans might be more familiar with is Jay McKee, a former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick who was teammates with Briere for parts of three seasons.
Oh, and McKee was linked to the Flyers' head coaching job on more than one occasion, though some chalked it up to Briere trying to juice his old pal's name in coaching circles.
Even if that was true, I don't think Briere does something like that without truly, honestly believing McKee can coach, and coach well, at that. And, suddenly, Briere has a job opening that makes a lot more sense than a leap from the OHL to the NHL.
McKee, 47, has been an OHL head coach since the 2016-17 season, sitting out the 2020-21 season after getting fired by the Kitchener Rangers the year prior.
Since then, McKee has spent the last four years in charge of the Hamilton (now Brantford) Bulldogs, coaching talents like Mason McTavish, Arber Xhekaj, Jorian Donovan, Jan Mysak, Artem Grushnikov, Ryan Winterton, Marek Vanacker, Florian Xhekaj, Nick Lardis, Adam Jiricek, and potential Flyers 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien.
Flyers GM Teases Potential Top Pick Ahead of 2025 NHL DraftPhiladelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is not ignoring the possibility of selecting Caleb Desnoyers sixth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in June. In fact, he's embracing it.
And for those who might not be aware, Lardis, a 19-year-old Chicago Blackhawks prospect, just exploded for 71 goals, 46 assists, and 117 points in 65 games this year.
Lardis' 71 goals rank 11th all-time in single-season OHL history, trailing some guys named Eric Lindros, John Tavares, and Dino Ciccarelli. Ever heard of them?
Oh, and a 19-year-old Doug Gilmour 'only' managed 70 goals in an OHL season at the peak of his powers.
So, needless to say, McKee is a perfectly capable leader of men who can get the best out of his players. We don't need to go further down the list to prove that.
I'd be stunned if McKee is not the clubhouse favorite to replace Laperriere. Taking the next step and joining Briere's Flyers with the Phantoms makes too much sense.
Another name to watch, be it at the NHL level or the AHL level, is Cory Stillman.
Most Flyers fans probably know Stillman as Jett Luchanko's head coach with the Guelph Storm this past season, but Stillman also has four years of experience as an NHL assistant coach, including as part of Tocchet's Arizona Coyotes staff in 2020-21.
The 51-year-old has never coached at the AHL level before, but if Tocchet and/or the Flyers want continuity between the AHL and NHL systems and what is being asked of the young players, hiring Stillman could make perfect sense.
This season, Stillman also served as the head coach of Canada's U-18s, which boasted star prospects like Keaton Verhoeff (2026), Brady Martin, Jack Nesbitt, Cole Reschny, Braeden Cootes, and Jack Ivankovic, among many others.
If you've paid any attention to national draft coverage lately, you'll know that Martin has been mocked to the Flyers at No. 6 by Craig Button, and Button successfully mocked Luchanko, also coached by Stillman, to the Flyers (with their top draft pick) last year.
Those connections, especially with important draft picks, matter.
So, while McKee may appear to be the leader for now, watch out for Stillman. The Flyers love their connections, and McKee is not the only one who has them.
Premier League 2024-25 review: gripes of the season
A rundown of the most infuriating things this year including the rise of the celebrity set-piece coach and more VAR madness
Even at its most infuriating, the video assistant review system doesn’t take as long to deliver a verdict as the independent commission tasked with sifting through the three months of legal argument conducted at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre and deciding whether Manchester City are guilty of any or all of the famous 100-plus charges of financial chicanery levelled at them by the Premier League. The club was further charged with failing to cooperate with the investigation into their conduct, which began over six years ago. More than two years have passed since the Premier League charged City and the club’s hearing concluded in December, but the season has now ended without the announcement of a verdict, despite speculation it would come in early spring. While no deadline has been set, it is now expected to come in the summer and whatever the outcome, even those connected with City must be eager to see a line drawn under this saga, despite the potentially seismic repercussions for a club that has always protested its innocence of any wrongdoing.
Continue reading...Juve do just enough to reach Champions League. Will Conte join them there? | Nicky Bandini
There are interesting pieces to build on, but it appears unlikely Igor Tudor will be taking team forward
Serie A’s title race ended on Friday night, but the drama certainly didn’t. Still to be decided were the final qualifiers for all three European competitions and which teams would join Monza in dropping out of the top division. The six games that could affect those outcomes kicked off simultaneously on Sunday. Within 70 seconds, Daniel Fila had given 19th-placed Venezia the lead over fourth-placed Juventus. A tone-setter for an evening of twists and turns.
Juventus thought they had equalised almost immediately at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Alberto Costa driving a brilliant half-volley in from the edge of the area. But he handled in the buildup. Roma took the lead away to Torino. One point behind the Bianconeri at the start of play, they were on course for the last Champions League spot.
Continue reading...Premier League 2024-25 review: young players of the season
From Lucas Bergvall to Leny Yoro, these five talents all made a big impact and have bright futures ahead
It was tempting to exclude Bergvall from consideration for this list simply because he played in Spurs’ 4-0 League Cup semi-final defeat at Anfield, as cowardly a display as could possibly exist. Overall, though, he’s enjoyed a fine debut season, especially as, when he joined Spurs from Djurgården, there was little sense he’d establish himself so soon. But with a little help from injuries and incompetence, he forced his way into consideration and is now a fixture in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI – with good reason. In this era of attacking and defensive prefixes, Bergvall is that rarity: a midfielder who plays in the middle of the field. Clever enough to create, calm enough to score, physical enough to tackle and athletic enough to harry, perhaps his best quality is his decision-making, especially notable for a player of his age. If he continues improving, this will not be the last time his name makes a list of this ilk.
Continue reading...Mayer's eventful debut weekend includes first MLB hit, lost car keys
Mayer's eventful debut weekend includes first MLB hit, lost car keys originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Marcelo Mayer has had quite the 48 hours.
It all started Saturday afternoon, when the Boston Red Sox promoted the talented infield prospect from Triple-A Worcester to the big leagues. Both Worcester and Boston were playing doubleheaders that day, and between games, WooSox manager Chad Tracy called Mayer into his office to deliver the good news.
“(Tracy) said something along the lines of, ‘You’re not playing. You’ll play the second game, but not here. You’ll be playing in Fenway,’” Mayer told reporters of the moment, via The Boston Globe. “I just got the craziest rush through my whole body.”
Mayer — the No. 2 prospect in the organization behind teammate Roman Anthony and the No. 8 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline — was thrilled to get the big-league call. But he also needed to get from Worcester to Boston ASAP — and he couldn’t find his car keys.
“I lost them about three weeks ago and never cared to look for them until I needed to,” Mayer admitted to reporters at Fenway later Saturday, via MLB.com.
So, the WooSox deployed a clubhouse attendant to drive Mayer down I-90 and deliver him to Fenway in time for Game 2 of the Red Sox’ doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles. The 22-year-old arrived just before 5 p.m. ET and started the 6:35 p.m. game at third base, receiving a standing ovation from the home crowd ahead of his first major league at-bat.
Mayer struggled at the plate in his first MLB game, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and a fielder’s choice. But he finally broke through on Sunday, collecting his first big-league hit in the series finale vs. Baltimore with a second-inning single.
Mayer didn’t stop there, lacing a double to the right-center gap in the ninth inning to finish 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Mayer played primarily shortstop in the minors but is expected to man third base for now with Alex Bregman on the injured list due to a strained quad and Trevor Story playing short. Mayer also took reps at second base in Worcester, so he could bump to the right side of the infield when Bregman returns, or perhaps take over at shortstop for Story, who is hitting .156 with 27 strikeouts in May.
Whatever position Mayer plays, the Red Sox and their fans hope the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft can provide their team a jolt as they enter a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 27-28 record.
“It’s awesome to play for a city like this that cares so much about their team and is so passionate about the Red Sox and the Red Sox winning,” Mayer said Saturday, via The Globe. “It holds everybody to a higher level of play. It’s something that I’m looking forward to.”
Check out NBC Sports Boston’s full conversation with Mayer on Friday in Worcester about switching positions, his mindset prior to promotion and more:
Premier League 2024-25 review: signings of the season
Dean Huijsen’s form earned him a move to Real Madrid while Ipswich’s Liam Delap should remain in the Premier League
Nottingham Forest had a huge problem with defending set pieces last season and Nuno Espírito Santo demanded a centre-back who could dominate in the air. The club were efficient in their business, signing the brick-headed Serb from Fiorentina for £10m. It was a bargain and the centre-back fitted in immediately alongside the Brazilian Murillo as the club created one of the best defences in the league. The pair complement one another perfectly and, along with Matz Sels, created the foundation for Forest’s tilt at qualifying for the Champions League by dominating some of the best strikers in the world. After missing the opening match of the season against Bournemouth through suspension, Milenkovic, 27, has played every single minute in the Premier League. It is rare that an outfield player is an ever-present but the centre-back has been integral and his consistency cannot be underestimated, helping Murillo thrive. It is often the Brazilian who gets the most credit as he is the more flamboyant of the two but Milenkovic deserves just as much praise for what Forest have achieved this season.
Continue reading...SEC, ACC headline the final NCAA baseball tournament bracket projection
The college baseball regular season is complete and the NCAA tournament field is due to be announced Monday. Our projection for the field of 64 teams.
Connection, normalcy and fierce loyalty: why life is sweet on small market NBA teams
Two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus remembers the 1981 playoffs. In a “big time” opening round series, his Chicago Bulls faced the New York Knicks. The first game tipped off in one of the world’s most famous arenas, Madison Square Garden, and it included stars such as Artis Gilmore, Bill Cartwright and Michael Ray Richardson. The Bulls won game one and went on to win the series, playing Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the next round. Theus scored 37 points in the clincher against New York, an overtime victory in the Windy City. But it was a thrill he never quite felt again.
While Theus made the playoffs three more times in his long career, he never again featured in such a glitzy postseason showdown like Chicago versus New York. During his 13-years in the league, the he suited up for teams like the Kansas City and then Sacramento Kings (the team relocated to NorCal in 1985) and Orlando Magic. In a way, he was like a kettle moving from the front to the back burners. Indeed, more often than not, the NBA’s glamour markets – cities like Los Angeles, Boston, New York and Chicago – get the attention. But those aren’t its only teams, nor are they necessarily the places with the most success in any one season.
Related: The strange twilight of Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s ultimate fetish player
In this year’s playoffs, many of the franchises came from small markets, including the top seeds in each conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as several of its now-Conference finalists. But while big markets like New York, Miami or Golden State can draw free-agents thanks to their reputations and attraction for nightlife and entertainment, it’s hard not to wonder what life is like for the pros who live and hoop in smaller, more modest locales?
For Theus, who played more years in places like Sacramento than he did Chi-town, the difference felt obvious. “You just get that hometown feel that small markets have,” Theus says. “Everyone sort of knows each other on a personal level.” Some teams, he says, just have a family feel to them. One organization he cites is San Antonio. While Theus never played for the Spurs, he sees how the culture that squad built over decades led to winning, stability and consistency. “There aren’t a lot of different things getting in the way there,” he says.
While some fans may think that small town life for an NBA star is boring, Theus explains that it was quite the opposite. “You end up doing what the city has to offer,” Theus says. “I’m an archer and [Sacramento and Orlando] had a lot of hunting and fishing for me. It was great. I don’t know anybody that was bored or didn’t have fun. You did a lot more things together with your teammates. Small towns are personal, which is part of the charm.”
When Theus played in the 1980s and 1990s, life was different than it is today. If you were in Sacramento, there wasn’t much national media exposure. Today, though, the reigning NBA MVP, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has already been featured in a number of significant TV commercials. As have players like Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Thanks to social media, NBA League Pass and streaming services, any player anywhere can become a household name. But when Theus played, it wasn’t nearly so easy to get national attention.
“Small markets sometimes feel like they’re on an island by themselves,” he says. But there’s also a big benefit to that, he notes: “[The players] become closer.” Theus says he is still in regular touch with teammates he had in Sacramento and Orlando. But that’s not the same with those in Chicago. It’s a tradeoff. In smaller markets there’s less attention but with that comes, perhaps, a more normal life.
“If you’re in Chicago, LA, New York, there are no other places like that,” Theus says. “Those are the three biggest media markets around. So, obviously there’s no place like that. The nightlife – and when I say the nightlife, I’m thinking of dinner spots, entertainment and so forth – those three places are unique.”
Age can also be a factor in how you see playing in a smaller market. When Theus played in Chicago, he was in his early 20s – and the world was his oyster. When he was in Orlando, he was more mature, and in his 30s. In between, he was in sleepy Sacramento. Today’s NBA stars earn tens of millions of dollars a year. That affords a lavish life, from private jets to vacations around the globe. If you’re young and want to party, you can find a way today, even if you’re in a smaller city. Still, though, when it comes to a city’s reputation or celebrity fans? Some have all the luck.
“There is no place like Madison Square Garden,” four-time All-Star Michael Ray Richardson tells the Guardian. “Sugar,” as he was known then, played in the Big Apple for four years before suiting up across the river in the smaller New Jersey for four more. “In New York, you got all the movie stars and actors and all of that,” he says. “In New Jersey, you really didn’t have none of that.”
For Richardson, who now lives in Lawton, about 70 miles south of Oklahoma City, he’s seen what a winning team can mean to a region that is otherwise devoid of major pro sports. It’s something to rally around, he says, to enjoy together as a community. A winner like OKC can make a state feel like one giant college campus. “The whole state is going crazy,” says Richardson, “because there’s no other professional team here. So, if you go to an Oklahoma City Thunder game, it’s like a college atmosphere. It’s unreal.”
Robert Parish won three titles with Bird and the Celtics in the prime of his career, and a fourth with Michael Jordan’s Bulls. But in between, he played for two years in Charlotte, which at the time was an expansion team in one of the NBA’s smallest markets. Comparing the places, Parish says tradition stands out. If there’s history, there’s more to cheer for, although history is not always connected to size – just look at how the Packers are intertwined with the lore of Green Bay and the NFL. The same goes for the Spurs in San Antonio
“The obvious difference is reputation,” Parish says. “The larger cities [often] have that long, rich history of being loud, loyal and appreciative with crazy fans.” Still, Parish says, victories translate to both types of NBA cities. “The celebrity athletes got the love [in Charlotte] because the Hornets gave the fans a reason to be proud – winning! Same reason for the fan loyalty in bigger markets.”
There may be no team in the world with as much tradition as the Celtics – thanks, in part, to Parish. But it’s something Theus recognizes, too. “When you think about the Boston Celtics,” Theus says, “when you think about LA and Chicago, the sports history is a big factor. The lineage runs deeper because it’s been there for so long.” He adds, “Of course, Sacramento has grown up quite a bit now. But when we first got there, we had to tell the fans they weren’t supposed to clap so hard for the other team! … There was a real learning curve.”
Top fantasy baseball prospects: Jac Caglianone crushing in Omaha, Travis Sykora impressing on the mound
A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.
That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.
1. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
2025 stats: 47 G, .321/.453/.518, 7 HR, 3 SB, 42 BB, 43 SO at Triple-A Worcester.
Anthony moves back to his usual top spot, and I’m getting a little tired of updating his stats if I’m being honest with you. It was nice to see some power this week with his two roundtrippers over the week, as they were the first homers he’s hit in the month of May. He’s also hitting .362 during the month, so yeah, he can hit. Fantasy managers who have rostered Anthony have every right to be frustrated, but they need to remain patient. There’s no prospect in baseball who offers close to his upside in the minors.
2. Jac Caglianone, 1B/OF, Kansas City Royals
2025 stats: 326/.389/.607, 8 HR, 2 SB, 20 BB, 41 SO at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.
Caglianone makes his debut, and I won’t be terribly surprised if he’s off the list due to promotion when we do this again next week. The 2024 first-round pick has been outstanding since his promotion to Omaha with a slash of .346/.357/.923, and he’s homered in four-straight games including a two-homer game Sunday. His patience at the plate has been a bit of a question mark, but there’s 80-grade power in his left-handed swing, and the ball jumps off his bat. That’s an understatement, really. The Royals have an outstanding pitching staff and an offense that leaves a lot to be desired. This seems pretty obvious.
3. Cole Young, 2B, Seattle Mariners
2025 stats: 50 G, .260/.374/.433, 5 HR, 3 SB, 26 BB, 27 SO at Triple-A Tacoma.
We mentioned it last week, but Young’s numbers are so much more impressive when you consider how bad he was to begin the year. After going 3-for-5 with a homer Sunday for the Rainiers, Young is now slashing .345/.436/.667. That slash in April, you ask? How about .200/.327/.274. Yep, that’s some improvement, folks. Meanwhile, the Mariners are starting Leo Rivas and Miles Mastrobuoni at second base on a relatively consistent basis. The Mariners may want to see a little more sustained success from Young, but he’s absolutely worthy of a fantasy addition if/when they do it this summer.
4. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
2025 stats: 10 G, 52.1 IP, 1.55 ERA, .157 BAA, 20 BB, 63 SO at Triple-A Nashville.
Misiorowski only went three innings in his last start; but he struck out four and allowed just a run in the second game of a doubleheader. The right-hander has not allowed more than in a start since April 16, and his command seems to get better in each start. Misiorowski has as much upside in his right arm as any starter in the minors, and it’s a bit weird that he hasn’t gotten a chance to help the Brew Crew and their rotation. Whenever they realize the folly in their ways, fantasy managers should add him, even acknowledging that there’s some WHIP risk in his profile.
5. Christian Moore, 2B, Los Angeles Angels
2025 stats: 40 G, .272/.377/.374, 2 HR, 8 SB, 25 BB, 48 SO at Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake.
It’s a little surprising that a first-round pick from the previous year hasn’t gotten called up yet based on their recent history, but Moore did receive a promotion to Triple-A, and it has gone well so far, albeit in a small sample. The eighth-overall pick has hit .478/.552/.652 since joining the Bees over six games, and he’s stolen three bases with a couple of extra-base hits. Moore has plus power and speed in his bat, and while he will strike out, he’s also a patient hitter who can draw free passes and put those wheels to work. The Angels have been playing well, but their middle infield still leaves a lot to be desired. I like his chance for fantasy success whenever he does get the call.
Around the minors:
Justin Crawford has a really good last name, but has also performed really well in Triple-A for Lehigh Valley. The son of former All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford is hitting .326 with an OPS of .832, and he’s stolen 16 bases in that timeframe. The one concern for Crawford is a lack of power -- he’s hit one homer in 183 at-bats -- but he’s an 80-grade runner with a 60-grade hit tool with enough strength to put the ball into the gaps. The 21-year-old offers some risk because of his less-than-ideal power, but it’s not hard to see him helping in several categories, and it’s not hard to see it coming before the end of 2025. Also, he has a really good last name. Did I mention that?
Travis Sykora missed the first month of the season while recovering from offseason hip surgery, but he’s done nothing but impress since his return to the mound. His latest outing saw him strikeout nine over four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, and he’s given up just one run over his 15 innings (0.60 ERA) with an other-worldly 32/4 K/BB ratio. Sykora has three pitches that can miss bats in his fastball, splitter and slider, and the 6-foot-6 21-year-old has above-average command of those offerings, too. Sykora is likely a year away from making the majors, but he has a chance to be a fantasy ace someday.
After going just 1-for-12 in his limited time with Baltimore, Coby Mayo has unfortunately brought those struggles with him to Triple-A. Over his last 10 games with Norfolk, Mayo has hit just .189/.231/.351, and he’s struck out in 15 of his 39 plate appearances, giving him a K rate of 38.5 in that timeframe. The 23-year-old still has the tools to be a successful MLB player -- successful is really an understatement -- but he needs to get the contact issues in check if those tools are ever going to translate.
One of the more tough prospects to get a read on from a fantasy perspective is Sal Stewart, and there are certainly things to like, especially in the month of May. He’s hit .349 over his last 30 games, and the third baseman has also added four stolen bases for good measure. He’s also hit only one homer in that sample, and there’s a chance he won’t provide even average power production from the hot-corner position. That being said, the hit tool has a chance to be plus, and he’s a solid athlete who could provide 15-plus stolen bases at the highest level. Stewart might provide more ‘real-life’ value than fantasy, but a chance to play in Cincinnati could allow that skill set to play up, as well.
You’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of Patrick Copen, but there’s a good chance that’s about to change, even for the ever-so-small sample of people who don’t read this article. He’s struck out double-digit hitters in three of his last four starts including 10 in his most recent outing, and he’s now fanned a whopping 73 batters over 44 innings for High-A Great Lakes. The 2023 seventh-round pick has outstanding stuff including a fastball that gets into the high 90 mph range with movement, and he complements that heater with 60-grade offerings in his slider and cutter. He also often doesn’t know where those pitches are going to end up, as he’s walked 29 batters and offers a good deal of effort in his delivery. As long as he keeps the walks to a dull roar Copen has a chance to be a very solid starter. If not, he could be dynamite as a reliever. Either way, a name to keep an eye on.