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Community Prospect Rankings: #12 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system

Burly right-hander Jose Franco claimed the #11 spot in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, and now we head into the voting for spot #12.

Per usual, here’s a link to the Google Form where you can vote, though it should be embedded at the end of the list if you’d rater read first and then vote on-page after digesting all the glorious information on these up and coming future Cincinnati Reds.

Here’s how the list has materialized so far:

  1. Sal Stewart
  2. Alfredo Duno
  3. Rhett Lowder
  4. Hector Rodriguez
  5. Edwin Arroyo
  6. Cam Collier
  7. Steele Hall
  8. Tyson Lewis
  9. Chase Petty
  10. Arnaldo Lantigua
  11. Jose Franco

A large list of talented names exists below for spot #12. Have at it with the votes!

Adolfo Sanchez, OF (19 years old)

2025 at a glance: .339/.474/.504 with 2 HR, 10 SB in 154 PA with DSL Reds (Dominican Summer League)

Pros: Left-handed hitter who profiles to have a plus hit tool and potentially plus power; arm good enough to play RF if he doesn’t stick in CF; shaved 20% off his K% year over year; plus runner

Cons: Questions whether he’s already physically matured to the point where projecting him to be much better exist

The Reds signed Sanchez for $2.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 and kept him there to ply his trade professionally in the Dominican Summer League. Things went quite poorly for him there during his age 17 season, and he subsequently stuck around there to repeat in 2025 – though this time, things went swimmingly.

He’ll undoubtedly play in the States in 2026, but the question now is just how quickly the Reds might try to move him up if he hits the ground running. At 6’3” and 200 lbs already, he’s not the kind of prospect where you say he’s X now, but when he gets bigger and stronger he’ll be Y in two years. In other words, if he looks the part now, he needs to be challenged immediately, and my hope is that he gets time with Daytona right off the bat.

He’s got a hit tool that comes with all-fields power, excellent patience at the plate, and I really do think his swing will continue to play. Still, it’s likely he ends up in a corner spot in the OF, which means the power’s going to need to continue to show up for him to project as an everyday regular – at least vs. RHP.

Leo Balcazar, SS/2B (22 years old)

2025 at a glance: .263/.339/.381 with 12 HR, 8 SB in 560 PA split between A+ Dayton Dragons (Midwest League) and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Southern League); .277/.340/.340 in 103 PA with Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)

Pros: Good strike zone judgement and plate discipline (52/75 BB/K in 2025); well-rounded tools, continuing to improve off ACL surgery

Cons: Not a ton of power yet; some question whether he’ll be able to stick at SS long term

It’s easy to forget just how good of a start Balcazar had to his pro career after signing with the Reds for $100,000 out of Venezuela. He posted an .882 OPS in 2021 in Dominican Summer League play, an .886 OPS in 2022 with the Arizona Complex League Reds, and was off to a wicked start (.897 OPS) across the first 18 games of his 2023 season with Class-A Daytona before he tore his ACL.

2024 was a bit of a rough year for him, however, as the layoff and working back from the surgery clearly impacted his performance (.264/.295/.354 in 410 PA). However, 2025 saw him look a lot more like his former explosive self – both at the plate and in the field – and he clearly was healthy enough once again as he logged a combined 663 PA across all leagues.

He’s still just 21 years of age (22 in June of 2026), and if he’s shaken the rust off completely and enters this season after a normal winter, there’s a chance we see a whole lot more from him, too.

Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)

2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida

Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in

Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown

One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.

However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.

Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)

2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)

Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF

Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness

If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).

However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.

Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.

Zach Maxwell, RHP (25 years old)

2025 at a glance: 4.50 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 13/4 K/BB in 10.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds; 4.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 59/32 K/BB in 49.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League)

Pros: Huge. Literally gigantic (6’6”, 275-ish lbs). Throws gas (100 mph+) with a devastating slider (70-grade). And he’s titanic.

Cons: Struggles with control (6.1 BB/9 across 172.1 IP in his minors career)

Maxwell, a former 6th round pick out of Georgia Tech, throws the ball up to 102 mph with his heater, and it’s clear that hitters have just about as little idea where it’s actually going to be as Maxwell himself. That’s the rub here, really, in that Big Sugar has the pure stuff to turn even the best hitters into guessers, and it comes down to whether they’ll guess wrong more often than Maxwell misses the zone in each and every PA.

If they swing, though, they’re likely going to miss, and that’s why he’s right in the mix for a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen again in 2026 after making his debut there in 2025. He can be a bit wild if it’s effectively wild, and that’s a tightrope he’s been walking since his days back at North Paulding HS in Dallas, Georgia. When he’s locked in, though, the heater is backed up by an absolutely devastating slide piece, and that two-pitch mix – again, when he’s locked in – is good enough to be closer material. He’s just got to continue to refine his delivery.

Liberts Aponte, SS (18 years old)

2025 at a glance: .247/.368/.461 with 7 HR, 9 SB in 193 PA for DSL Rojos (Dominican Summer League)

Pros: 29/35 K/BB showed greatly improving strike zone awareness; already a plus defender at short where he projects to be excellent both with range and arm long-term

Cons: Still not viewed as a potential plus with the bat, though early returns are already better than original scouting reports; has a long way to go in terms of physically maturing

The Reds doled out $1.9 million to sign Aponte last January, and that marked the single largest contract they doled out in that particular international signing window. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the #18 player overall in that class, noting he was ‘one of the most skilled defenders in his class’ and ‘offers solid wheels’ with ‘magic in his hands’ while doling out a 65 grade on his fielding ability.

The rest, we knew, would take time, as he was just liked at 6’0” and 160 lbs, and that even felt like a slight exaggeration. To his credit, though, he mashed 7 homers as a 17 year old in DSL play while showing more power than anticipated, and if that aspect of his game grows to match what’s already known the Reds have found themselves a gem.

It will be interesting to see if the Reds push him up to Arizona Complex League play at all in 2026 or give him another year in the DSL seeing as he just turned 18 years old in November.

Luke Holman, RHP (23 years old)

2025 at a glance: ER, 2 H, 10 K, 4 BB in 9.0 IP with Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Florida State League

Pros: Two plus breaking pitches (slider, curve)

Cons: Not a ton of velocity on his fastball, which sits 91-94 mph

Luke Holman threw 109 pitches for LSU in a 6-2 loss to North Carolina on June 1st, 2024, a game in which he yielded 4 ER in 6.2 IP with 7 H, 11 K, and a lone walk. Since then, he’s thrown just 9.0 IP on a mound, total.

Holman, Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in 2024, sat out the remainder of 2024 after being drafted, finishing his calendar year with 91.2 IP of 2.75 ERA ball that included a wonderful 0.98 WHIP and 127/33 K/BB. When his 2025 began in Daytona, all signs looked promising in his first pair of starts only for an elbow issue to subsequently sit him down and require Tommy John surgery, and we’ve not seen him since.

He sat 91-94 with his fastball (and touched 96) before, and has a pair of wicked breaking balls that he uses as his out pitches. If he returns to form in 2026 the way he ways before (or even better!), he still profiles as a back-end starter who should move quickly through Cincinnati’s system after dominating SEC play in stints first with Alabama and later with LSU.

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NHL suspends Bryan Rust for three games

Bryan Rust has been suspended by the NHL for three games over a check to the head of Vancouver’s Brock Boeser.

The video states:

During net-front scramble at the Penguins’ goal, Boeser looks to collect the puck as Rust skates in from the slot. As Boeser finds the puck and attempts to play it towards the net, Rust loads up and delivers a high, hard check that misses Boeser’s core, picking his head and making it the main point of contact on a check where such head contact was avoidable. This is an illegal check to the head.

It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this play.

First, the head is the main point of contact as Rust’s shoulder and arm make direct contact with Boeser’s head and it is the head that absorbs the majority of the force. Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable. Rust takes a poor angle of approach, choosing an angle that causes him to cut across the front of Boeser’s body, missing his core. Rust then raises his arm and leans into contact, causing direct contact with Boeser’s head with requisite force for supplemental discipline.

If Rust wants to deliver this check, he must stay low and take an angle that hits through the shoulder and core =, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.

The incriminating angle comes from one not too often seen from the top down, compared to the standard replay. Boeser ended up in concussion protocol, per Canucks head coach Adam Foote and has been placed on injured reserve and will be out for a minimum of a week.

The Penguins were not pleased with the league’s decision, calling it “a lot”. Coach Dan Muse talked about it after practice on Tuesday.

Rust had yet to be suspended in his 685 game NHL career. Despite the heavy punishment, it’s not unprecedented to for a first-time offender to be leveled with a three-game suspension.

Last year Trevor Zegras, another first time offender, was suspended for three games for a hit to the head of Michael Rasmussen.

It’ll be a tough loss for the Pens, who have five games remaining until the Olympic break. Rust worked with his usual first line today in practice with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, which means the teams will have to shuffle some lines around at a time they would prefer not to given how well everything has been rolling in their current four-game winning streak.

Barring an appeal and reduction of the suspension, Rust is eligible to play next on Tuesday, February 3rd when the Penguins play on the road against the New York Islanders. He will miss the team’s upcoming games against Chicago, the NY Rangers and Ottawa.

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Freddy Peralta talks potential Mets extension, embracing New York

Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta has spoken with a bunch of his new teammates since being acquired from the Brewers in a blockbuster trade last week.

In addition to getting a FaceTime from Tyrone Taylor (the two were teammates in Milwaukee), Peralta has also talked to Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, and Sean Manaea. 

"I can't lie. It makes me feel really good," Peralta said during an introductory Zoom on Tuesday. "I told them: I can't wait to be with you guys together and have fun together."

The exuberant Peralta is also excited about making the transition from Milwaukee to New York. 

"I feel really good," he said. "It's a different market, different city. There's a lot more fans, a lot more people watching. I like the competition that we're gonna face."

With Peralta set for free agency after the season, and with the Mets having given up two of their most prized prospects to obtain him and fellow right-hander Tobias Myers, one of the biggest questions following the trade has been whether Peralta would be open to an extension -- with reports beforehand indicating that he was.

"I just got here. I think that I got to share time with my teammates, think about different ideas," Peralta explained. "Learn about everybody -- coaches, the organization in general. And then we can see."

The above scenario -- feeling things out a bit before potentially discussing an extension -- is something that worked out with the Mets and Lindor in the not-too-distant past.

The Mets acquired Lindor from Cleveland on Jan. 7, 2021 and ultimately signed him to a 10-year, $341 million extension on the eve of Opening Day ahead of what was Steve Cohen's first season of ownership.

Sep 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) reacts after striking out Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (not pictured) with the bases loaded in the fourth inning at American Family Field.
Sep 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) reacts after striking out Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (not pictured) with the bases loaded in the fourth inning at American Family Field. / Benny Sieu - Imagn Images

As Peralta gets acclimated to a new team and city, he already has familiarity with president of baseball operations David Stearns.

One of Stearns' biggest moves when he was in Milwaukee's front office was to trade for a then-19-year-old Peralta. And his biggest trade with the Mets was to trade for him a second time.

"It says a lot," Peralta said about the shared history. "It's funny, because my family -- we were speaking about that, too. Being traded for the second time for the same GM, there's a lot of things that come to my mind."

Peralta, who will report to spring training in a few weeks along with the rest of the Mets' pitchers and catchers, said he hasn't yet decided whether he'll be pitching for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic -- which begins on March 5.

The 29-year-old is coming off a phenomenal 2025 season, where he had a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings. He posted a 1.07 WHIP, allowed just 124 hits, and struck out 204 batters -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.

In 139 starts over the last five years, Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and has fanned 895 batters in 738.1 innings while allowing just 536 hits. He has also been reliable when it comes to taking the ball, tossing 165.2 innings or more reach of the last three seasons.

His ability to miss bats and limit hits is elite, as is his stuff. 

Peralta relies mainly on a four-seam fastball (which he threw 53 percent of the time this past season), a changeup, and a curve. He'll also mix in a slider.

In 2025, his pitching run value graded out in the 97th percentile, via Baseball Savant. And all of his individual pitches were tremendous -- the fastball was in the 84th percentile, the breaking balls were in the 88th percentile, and the changeup was in the 96th percentile. 

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Dom Hamel claimed by Yankees

The New York Yankees have claimed pitcher Dom Hamel on waivers from the Texas Rangers, it was announced today. The Rangers had designated Hamel for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster for newly signed reliever Jakob Junis.

If you aren’t familiar with Dom Hamel, that’s understandable. The Rangers claimed him on waivers from the Baltimore Orioles at the end of September. The Orioles had claimed him on waivers a week before that on waivers from the New York Mets. The Mets had drafted him in the third round in 2021 out of Dallas Baptist, eight picks after the Rangers selected Cam Cauley, and 16 picks before the A’s picked Mason Miller, who I think everyone picking ahead of them in the third round wishes they had selected instead of whoever they picked.

The Yankees didn’t have an open 40 man roster spot, so to open up a spot for Hamel, they designated infielder Marco Luciano for assignment. Luciano spent several years early in his pro career as a consensus top 20 prospect with the San Francisco Giants, then a couple of years as a consensus top 50 guy, and is now out of options and bouncing around the waiver wire. The Pirates claimed him on waivers from the Giants in December, then the Orioles claimed him from the Pirates in early January, and then the Yankees claimed him from the Orioles earlier this month.

The Yankees are no doubt hoping to sneak Luciano through waivers so they can outright him, and likely will try to do the same thing with Hamel before too long.

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Premier League has the power but still faces reckoning with European giants | Jonathan Wilson

English clubs stroll through Champions League group phase but fatigue tends to take its toll by the spring

Has there been a great game in the Champions League group stage this season? Probably not. Even if there had been, it almost certainly didn’t mean all that much. But that’s the way of the modern game: an extremely protracted clearing of the throat before the real business begins.

Uefa will proudly tell the world that only six teams have nothing to play for in the final round of games on Wednesday, but whether it was worth 126 games to get to the mild peril of Napoli or Club Brugge possibly going out, or the questionable thrill of finding out whether Tottenham or Atalanta will have to endure the playoff round, is debatable.

Continue reading...
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Warriors ‘less likely’ to trade Jonathan Kuminga following Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear, per report

In today’s Dub Hub:

The Golden State Warriors’ outlook on Jonathan Kuminga may have shifted following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury a week ago. According to a report from ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Golden State has been described as “less likely” to move Kuminga ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Per ESPN:


Multiple team sources have described it as less likely Kuminga is moved following Jimmy Butler’s right ACL tear. Prior to that injury, Kuminga was a $22.5 million wing rotting on the bench, having not seen the floor for 16 straight games. Without Butler, he’s back in the mix, scoring 30 points in 30 bench minutes before the injury. There’s internal conversation that he’d get another crack at minutes post-deadline — if he’s still around. That has yet to be determined, though.

Before Butler went down, Kuminga’s role was effectively diminished. He hadn’t appeared in 16 consecutive games, and yet, the team was still winning, going 12-4 in his absence. Coupling that with his team-friendly contract signed over the offseason and a very public trade demand, Kuminga was looking increasingly expendable as Golden State hoped to make a championship push.

However, that thinking shifted once Butler was lost for the season. In need of additional scoring, Kuminga re-entered the rotation and immediately delivered, scoring 20 points in his first game back. He followed that with 10 points in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks before a knee injury forced him out. Kuminga has since missed the past two games after an MRI revealed a bone bruise in his left knee, with no clear timetable for his return.

This latest report could represent posturing from the Warriors as they attempt to maximize leverage in any potential Kuminga deal. Still, league perception around his market appears relatively settled, and if Golden State isn’t satisfied with the offers available, it’s becoming more plausible that this saga stretches into the offseason.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, January 27th:

Warriors News:

Overmatched Warriors go off script, invite blowout loss to Timberwolves | NBC Sports Bay Area

This was an opportunity for players in this group, mostly reserves, to persuade Kerr and his staff that they deserve more minutes. Regardless of whether minutes are available, the goal always should be to prove you are worthy.

Each of the five starters – Pat Spencer, Moses Moody, Podziemski, Post and Santos – scored double figures. Only Post, however, shot better than 40 percent from the field. Podziemski lapsed into zero-pass, 1-on-1 ball at least four times.

Kawakami: Why I’m not writing off this Warriors era | The San Francisco Standard

6. Once they hit the button and blow it up, they can’t go back.

Ask the Bulls, who thought they could set up a new golden era after Michael Jordan with Toni Kukoc, Tim Floyd, Brent Barry, Corey Benjamin, and others.

That was 27 years ago.

Steve Kerr discusses the team’s experience in Minneapolis this weekend

NBA News:

NBA buzz: Latest updates, trades, intel ahead of Feb. 5 deadline | ESPN

Regardless of whether the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo or keep him past next week’s trade deadline, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Milwaukee’s focus for the remainder of the season should be on improving their draft positioning. The Bucks will have the worse of their pick and the New Orleans Pelicans‘ pick in June’s draft.

“Forget about this season for the Bucks,” Windhorst said. “The tank is now on the table for them, and the tank plus Giannis is what they’re looking at.”

NBA announces the participants for this year’s Rising Stars Game

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors vs. Timberwolves player grades: No stars to be found

Gary Payton II

12 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 6 fouls, 2-for-4 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 50.0% TS, -20

GPII played less than 12 minutes and fouled out. And that’s all I have to say about that, too.

Grade: D
Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

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Bucks vs 76ers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Milwaukee Bucks have been a trainwreck without Giannis Antetokounmpo this season, so there’s not much reason for optimism as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

The Greek Freak is expected to miss at least a month with his latest calf injury, and my Bucks vs 76ers predictions expect Tyrese Maxey & Co. to show no mercy at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Get the latest on this Tuesday, January 27 matchup with my free NBA picks.

Bucks vs 76ers prediction

Bucks vs 76ers best bet: Tyrese Maxey Over 27.5 points (-120)

With Joel Embiid and Paul George in and out of the Philadelphia 76ers lineup, at least Nick Nurse can count on Tyrese Maxey to be ready to roll. Though the heavy minutes seemed to catch up with Maxey in yesterday's blowout loss in Charlotte, I’m picking him to bounce back against the flailing Milwaukee Bucks.

He dropped 54 points on Milwaukee back in November, and I like his chances of nailing this Over, with no Giannis to worry about as a rim deterrent.

Despite cooling off a little, Maxey is still averaging 29.4 PPG, sixth-most in the NBA, and Philadelphia may again be missing Embiid, who’s listed as questionable.

Don’t count on Maxey getting many breaks tonight, either. He leads the league with 39.2 MPG, and he’s averaging 20.8 shots per game this month.

With George set to return and pick up some of the playmaking responsibilities, Maxey should have a little more breathing room to get to his spots, and there are enough minus defenders for him to target on switches.

There’s a growing sense that Giannis may have played his last game for the Bucks, and I don’t see the rest of this roster putting up much of a fight. That’s a recipe for some Maxey fireworks.

Bucks vs 76ers same-game parlay

No one expected Ryan Rollins to be shouldering this kind of scoring burden for the Bucks, and I’m fading his 3-point makes tonight. Though Rollins drilled four triples on Friday against the Nuggets, he had finished with two or fewer threes in his eight prior contests.

I’ll round out my SGP with the Under, which has been a winning ticket in five of the Bucks’ past seven contests. Without Giannis to spark the offense, it could be a long night for the visitors. Meanwhile, the Under is 4-2 in Philly’s last six outings.

Bucks vs 76ers SGP

  • Tyrese Maxey Over 27.5 points
  • Ryan Rollins Under 2.5 made threes
  • Under 219

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bob's Your Uncle

Someone has to soak up extra shots in this Milwaukee lineup, and Bobby Portis won’t be shy about throwing his hat into the ring. He’s knocked down three 3-pointers in three of his past four games, and he scored 19 points last week against the Hawks.

Bucks vs 76ers SGP

  • Tyrese Maxey Over 27.5 points
  • Ryan Rollins Under 2.5 made threes
  • Under 219
  • Bobby Portis Over 16.5 points

Bucks vs 76ers odds

  • Spread: Bucks +10 (-110) | 76ers -10 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Bucks +325 | 76ers -425
  • Over/Under: Over 219 (-110) | Under 219 (-110)

Bucks vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Bucks are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. 76ers.

How to watch Bucks vs 76ers

LocationXfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
DateTuesday, January 27, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBC, Peacock

Bucks vs 76ers latest injuries

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Who's on cover of 'MLB the Show 26' game? This year's athlete revealed

Aaron Judge is coming off his third American League MVP season, and now he gets to run back another accomplishment: being on the cover of MLB The Show 26.

"Aaron continues to rewrite history," San Diego Studio, publisher of the MLB the Show series, said in a statement on Tuesday. "... Aaron’s performances have not only inspired players on the diamond, but athletes and fans around the world. We’re excited to have him back as the cover athlete of MLB The Show 26."

This marks the second time Judge has been featured on the cover of the best-selling video game after first appearing in 2018 following his rookie season, joining Hall of Famer Joe Mauer (2010, 2011) as the only player to be selected for the cover twice. In the eight years since, the Yankees slugger has been a three-time MVP, seven-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger. His 62 home runs in 2022 broke Roger Maris' AL single-season record, which had stood for over 60 years. Judge was recently named captain of team USA ahead of this year's World Baseball Classic.

San Diego Studio teased the reveal on Monday night with a brief statement posted to social media that read, "we wanted to let everyone know we have decided that we will not have a new cover athlete. Please stay tuned to all of our social channels for more information to come."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Judge announced as cover athlete of MLB the Show 26

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Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Jonatan Clase

Jonatan Clase is a 23-year-old (24 in May), switch-hitting outfielder from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He came to us in trade from the Mariners, along with catcher Jacob Sharp, for Yimi Garcia. Sharp played in New Hampshire in 2025, hitting .161/.271/.206 in 68 games

He has played 60 major league games, and lost his rookie status in 2024. In the 60 games, he’s hit .224/.294/.311 with 3 home runs, 6 steals, caught 2 times.

The big news is the MLB has given the Jays one more option year on Clase. Well, good news for the Jays, I’m not so sure it is good for Jonatan. It makes him less likely to be DFAed. But then, if he were on another team, he would be more likely to find a spot on the active roster. With the Jays, he looks to be waiting for an injury or two. He would be a good choice for the 27th man when we have a doubleheader. If you had room on your active roster, he would be the perfect guy to pinch-run in extra innings, being the Manfred Mann. And he would be an excellent defensive replacement. But then, he’d still have to hit better than .161.

At the moment, I’d think he would be behind Joey Loperfido, Yohendrick Piñango, as well as spring training invites RJ Schreck and Elroy Jiménez (though the latter two aren’t on the 40-man roster at the moment) in line for a job in the majors if there is an injury. Of course, we have Daulton Varsho, George Springer, Anthony Santander, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider and Addison Barger all who can play outfield and are expecting a spot on the active roster (I’m not sure how all of them can make it).

Clase played 87 games for the Bisons, last year, hitting .255/.335/.403 with 7 home runs and 30 steals (caught just 4 times). His defense is good, with the occasional poor route (but he generally makes up for that with his speed).

As much as I like him, I really don’t see a path to him getting major league at-bats. I guess a terrific spring training would help.

I often compare him to Otis Nixon. Nixon didn’t have a MLB season with over 200 PA until age 29. Nixon had 727 PA before age 30 and 5073 after age 30. So don’t count Jonatan out. Clase has more power than Nixon had and is a better defensive outfielder.

Steamer projects he will appear in 12 MLB games, hitting .225/.294/.367 in 45 plate appearances.

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Rick Rizzs, the Voice of the Seattle Mariners, will retire after the 2026 season

Rick Rizzs has announced through the Seattle Mariners that the 2026 season will be his final one as the radio voice of baseball in the Pacific Northwest, retiring following this year’s campaign.

The season will be Rizzs’ 41st in Seattle, and his 44th in the big leagues (having spent three years with the Detroit Tigers), and his 52nd overall. Rizzs has been bringing the Mariners to fans over the airwaves longer than any other broadcaster in the franchise’s history, surpassing even his longtime partner in crime, Dave Niehaus, with whom he called games for 25 years. The 72 year old’s career in broadcasting baseball is older than the franchise that he has been the voice of, and the kid from the South Side of Chicago has become a community cornerstone in his adopted home of Seattle for decades.

The Mariners noted that the 2026 season, which will also be the club’s 50th, will be spent celebrating Rizzs’ Hall of Fame-caliber career as the Voice of the Mariners. He is, by all accounts professional and personal, a truly kind man, whose capacity for consistency and warmth is as genuine in the broadcast booth as it is through his interpersonal interactions and indefatigable charitable work. The co-founder of Toys for Kids and the Rick’s Locker program, Rizzs has spent over 30 years raising funds and resources for kids and families in the Pacific Northwest, as well as housing, food, school supplies and scholarships, and baseball gear. Say friends, it’s hard to see him go.

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Yankees claim RHP Dom Hamel off waivers from Rangers

The Yankees announced on Tuesday that they have claimed RHP Dom Hamel off waivers from the Texas Rangers.

Hamel, 26, was originally drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2021 draft. The Arizona native worked his way up the Mets' farm system before making his major league debut in 2025 for the Mets. In that appearance, Hamel allowed three hits and hit a batter across one inning of work against the Padres back on Sept. 17. 

The Mets designated Hamel for assignment on Sept. 18 and he was claimed by the Orioles a few days later. The Rangers would claim him off waivers on Sept. 27 before he was DFA'd last week. 

In the minors last year, Hamel made 31 appearances (11 starts), pitching to a 5.32 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP across 67.2 innings pitched with Triple-A Syracuse.

Across 111 appearances (89 starts) in his five-year minor league career, Hamel has a 4.72 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP and 511 strikeouts across 438.1 innings pitched. 

The Yankees also announced they have designated for assignment LHP Jayvien Sandridge and INF/OF Marco Luciano, who they claimed off waivers from the Orioles a week ago.

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“I’d rather have those conversations”: Joe Mazzulla addresses deadly Minnesota shootings

BOSTON — During what’s become an increasingly dark time in Minnesota, players, coaches, and public figures alike have begun speaking out against the deadly violence carried out by federal immigration agents. On Monday night, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla joined in on the conversation.

Before hosting the Trail Blazers at TD Garden to open a four‑game homestand, Mazzulla was asked about the unrest in Minnesota that so far has resulted in the deaths of 37‑year‑old Renée Good, a mother of three, and 37‑year‑old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital — both killed in separate federal immigration enforcement shootings.

“Everyone’s impacted by stuff differently,” Mazzulla said.

“Everyone has a way to use their platform differently. So I think the most important thing with that is actually the opposite: I’d rather have those conversations with them, or let them feel any way that they can impact the platform that they have — which is way more important than basketball. We have a great group of guys that do that in different ways; some do it in the public, some do it in the private. And I think you just allow for people to do that. That’s my favorite thing, being around them as men — whether they’re fathers, husbands, or just guys that have impact on people. That’s the most important thing you can do.”

The killings of Good and Pretti have triggered outrage nationwide, with protests erupting across the country in response to the increasingly aggressive actions of federal agents — not police officers. Forced stops demanding identification and proof of citizenship, along with escalated use of force, have become more and more common, exposing millions of Americans to the risks posed by immigration enforcement.

Former Celtics Isaiah Thomas and Guerschon Yabusele spoke out on social media after videos of Pretti’s death began circulating Saturday. The widely shared footage drew responses from Thomas, a father of three, and Yabusele, who welcomed his first child last year. Though from very different backgrounds — Thomas, a Tacoma, Washington native, and Yabusele, a Frenchman who first arrived in the United States in 2016 — both expressed similar sentiments on their respective platforms.

The National Basketball Players Association released a statement of solidarity on Sunday, standing by those in Minnesota affected by the ongoing violence that’s plagued the entire state.

“Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice,” the statement reads. “The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.”

Mazzulla, a devout Catholic, understands the weight of today’s political climate. The effects aren’t limited to NBA fans — players, too, feel the impact of a rapidly changing American landscape. They recognize the challenges fans face and the responsibility they carry in using their voices to speak for those who don’t have one.

The NBA has long been at the forefront of speaking out against social injustices — a role Celtics leader Jaylen Brown, Vice President of the NBPA, has embraced. Brown has admired the pioneering work of basketball legend Bill Russell, who, alongside Muhammad Ali and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., led the charge for civil rights activism in the 1960s.

Brown has never feared the aftermath of speaking his mind, regardless of the topic of discussion.

For Mazzulla, creating an environment where players feel comfortable expressing their opinions takes priority. It’s a conversation many are unwilling to have — civilly or in good faith — but one Mazzulla approaches with an open mind and open ears. He doesn’t want anyone in Boston’s locker room to feel censored or unable to speak up, and he’s willing to meet whatever that responsibility demands to ensure players can use their voices where they believe it matters most.

“I think it’s more about listening and allowing people to be who they are, and having a judgment-free zone — looking at people as more than just basketball players. How can I help you with your platform? How can I be there for you? How can I give you the space to be who you are?” Mazzulla said. “That’s one of my favorite things to do — to allow for that. Everyone’s different. It’s a balance. I think it’s more of that, and the other thing is making sure they see the consistency in how I try to live and carry out the platform and opportunity that I have. I think you just kind of keep it to that.”

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Against a tough defense, Jaylen Brown’s controlled performance yielded winning results

There was nothing flashy about Jaylen Brown’s performance on Monday night. 

An efficient 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists with only one turnover to his name and four steals to Portland’s, it wasn’t another 30-point scoring masterclass, but it was patient, winning basketball, and it was done against a defensive coverage hellbent on forcing the ball out of his hands.

Through double-teams, blitzed pick-and-rolls and a reliance on primary defender Toumani Camara, appropriately nicknamed “The Shadow,” the Trail Blazers adjusted out of the first quarter to make life as difficult as possible for the All-Star starter, and yet, a controlled late-game performance proved to be a difference in a midseason slugfest. 

The 12 minutes and 46 seconds Camara spent matching up on Brown was double the amount of time of the next closest Blazer-on-Celtic matchup last night (Donovan Clingan’s 6:12 on Neemias Queta came in a “close” second). It wasn’t a far cry from Portland and Boston’s first meeting, where Camara spent 8 minutes on Brown during the Blazers’ 114-108 win on Dec. 28. 

Considering Camara’s reputation as a star-guarding defender, that’s not an easy day in the office for Brown, especially when pick-and-roll actions are blitzed to force the ball elsewhere. Yet, Brown’s difficult shotmaking gene and ability to force rotations through his own gravity led to a productive 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting against that matchup. Despite just one of his four assists coming against Camara, you could see the hockey assists and extra passes come into play, particularly down the stretch as Boston’s offense did just enough to close the door on a Portland team that lingered around for the bulk of the game. 

For your enjoyment, here is a compilation of that matchup (both makes and misses) out of the halfcourt: 

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What you’ll notice early is the success Brown had in the pick-and-roll game, burying three shots against drop coverage from both Clingan and Robert Williams. Portland didn’t give him that luxury outside of the first quarter, however, jumping those screens and forcing Brown out of the comfort zone he built during Boston’s hot-shooting first quarter.

As that video progresses, you’re seeing more isolation work directly against Camara. On paper, that’s a tall task for any shot creator. Camara is built to sustain drive contact, and his 7-foot wingspan allows him to cover ground even if you get a step on him, but Brown manages to utilize his own strength (and perhaps the occasional push-off) to generate the minimum space requirements needed to bury shots from the mid-range. 

What that isolation work also does is give Brown more court vision to sense where the help is coming from. 

In the fourth quarter, Brown didn’t make a single shot, or register even one assist, but the way he moved the ball into space was instrumental to Boston getting clean looks despite their No. 1 option receiving the bulk of the defense’s attention. 

In the two-clip package below, neither fourth quarter play registers on the box score, and only one ends in a made basket, but notice the attention Brown is drawing at the start of each clip and how he’s working the ball into space. 

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In the first clip, he sees three defenders in his area and breaks down the defense with a tough-angle kickout to Derrick White. The second is a pass over the double team where Sam Hauser wisely cuts into space to give him an outlet over the defense, which generates an open mid-range jumper. 

In this last clip (of lesser quality because NBA.com cuts off the entire possession), Hauser is again the safety valve opening up for Brown, this time on a play that puts this game away for good. 

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Boston wants to get the ball in Brown’s hands, so they run a gut screen that doesn’t shake Camara but at least gets the ball successfully to Brown, albeit far out beyond the 3-point line. Like his namesake, Camara perfectly shadows Brown to keep him from attacking, but Hauser is all over this possession, ghosting a screen that forces Jrue Holiday to communicate to Shaedon Sharpe to take an off-ball switch, which comes just a little too late as Hauser loops back around toward the nail to receive a lofted pass over the outstretched arms of Camara.

Hauser gets to a soft spot in the defense, where he has space to pitch it to White for the game-sealing dagger. 

That possession took three passes and 18 precious seconds off the clock, and the Celtics were able to come away with a home win where their star player made winning plays against a defense that dared anyone else to find the bottom of the net.

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Penguins' Bryan Rust suspended 3 games for an illegal check to the head of Canucks' Brock Boeser

NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver’s Brock Boeser.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the ban Tuesday following a disciplinary hearing with Rust, who will be out Thursday against Chicago, Saturday against the New York Rangers and Monday against Ottawa. He's eligible to return next Tuesday at the Islanders.

Rust lifted his right shoulder into Boeser’s head in the final seconds of the Penguins’ game at the Canucks on Sunday, which they won 3-2. Boeser is out at least a week after going on injured reserve.

Rust will forfeit $80,078 in salary with that money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Line Combinations: Red Wings vs. Kings

The Detroit Red Wings return home Tuesday riding a surge of momentum after a strong three-game road trip, having won eight of their last ten games and four straight at home. They’ll host the Los Angeles Kings in a rematch of an earlier 4–3 shootout win in California.

While Detroit has been heating up, the Kings arrive looking for consistency, posting a 7-8-6 record over their last 21 games. Still firmly in the playoff hunt and tied for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, Los Angeles will be motivated by both revenge and the need to build momentum in a tightly packed race.

Detroit’s recent success has been fueled by balanced scoring throughout the lineup, with several players breaking out of slumps, including J.T. Compher, Marco Kasper, and Emmitt Finnie. That depth has eased pressure on stars like Patrick Kane, who remains on the verge of a historic milestone, while Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond continue to drive offense.

The Kings, meanwhile, have struggled to score consistently and may again lean on strong goaltending from Darcy Kuemper and a defense-first approach, with young blueliner Brandt Clarke and winger Adrian Kempe providing key offensive sparks. With John Gibson expected to start for Detroit, the matchup sets up as a tightly contested game between two teams relying on structure, depth, and timely goaltending.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Minnesota (Thursday)

Kasper – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

Finnie – Compher – van Riemsdyk

Soderblom – Rasmussen – Appleton

Benard-Docker – Seider

Sandin-Pellikka - Chiarot

Johansson – Hamonic

Gibson

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Red Wings, Kings Collide in Motor City With Goaltending Duel Front and CenterRed Wings, Kings Collide in Motor City With Goaltending Duel Front and CenterRed Wings' hot streak meets Kings' desperate playoff push as stellar goaltending showdown awaits in Detroit.
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