Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 9-8 vs. DSL Miami
CF Isaias Castillo 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 SB — 20th stolen base of the year in 37 games with a major leap in power, a strong second season surge SS Stiven Marinez 0-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K 2B Juan Torres 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB — second straight year tearing up the DSL with a 1.075 OPS at just 18 years old, could potentially see time stateside next year C Cesar Lopez 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K DH Poly Ojeda 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K RF Manuel Aguilar 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K 3B Abrahan Pichardo 0-1, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K 1B John Rosillo 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K LF Kendry Diaz 0-2, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB
Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 7-5 at DSL Rangers Blue
CF Ruben Castillo 1-4, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 CS SS Dariel Santana 1-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K C Alessandro Rodriguez 1-5, 1 R, 2 K DH Carlos Bello 0-4, 2 K RF David Carrera 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K 1B Kenneth Melendez 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 K — capped off a 7-0 run with an RBI single in the eighth 3B Germayhoni Beltre 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB, throwing error — got the scoring started with an RBI double in the second LF Sebastian Pinto 1-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 K 2B Alfred Ciriaco 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS, throwing error
Andre Avila 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 5 K Randy Angomas 4.2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K (win) Oscar Vasquez 0.2 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K — an error, a wild pitch, and a passed ball combined to allow three runs through in the eighth Ronald Tejada 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB (save)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Jesús Made #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during batting practice prior to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
For the second week in a row, this week’s roundup is going to look a little different. This time, it’s because MLB Pipeline released its first midseason update to their Brewers’ Top 30 prospects list, and a lot has changed — including some major shakeups within the top half of the list.
Like last week, I’ll still include the week’s standout performances, but instead of the usual affiliate-by-affiliate breakdown, the rest of this roundup will focus on the new landscape: the system’s biggest risers, a couple of fallers, and a few prospects I think should have made the list.
Standout Performances:
Luke Adams: 8-for-19, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K Lyon Richardson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Coleman Crow: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Thomas Pannone: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K Tyson Hardin: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Blake Burke: 9-for-21, 1 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K Josiah Ragsdale: 7-for-24, 4 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 10 K Jesús Made: 6-for-24, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Andrew Fischer: 6-for-25, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 9 K Yorman Galindez: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Braylon Payne: 8-for-23, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K Luis Castillo: 7-for-21, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Luis Peña: 6-for-20, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Chandler Welch: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Garrett Hodges: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Daniel Corniel: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K Josh Knoth: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K Brady Ebel: 8-for-21, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K Carlos Carra: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Hayden Robinson: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Miqueas Mercedes: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K Diustin Mayorquin: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The Top 10:
Most who follow the Brewers probably know who the organization’s consensus top four prospects are: SS Jesús Made, INF Luis Peña, SS Cooper Pratt, and OF Luis Lara.
Made is the consensus top prospect in baseball. He has a beautiful swing, great numbers, and a five-tool ceiling, while Peña (No. 18 overall) may have just as high a ceiling but has missed weeks at a time this season due to what have been reported as heat-related health issues. Lara and Pratt aren’t quite in the same tier as Made or Peña, but both have star potential. Both have already debuted, signed long-term extensions, and played well in limited time with Milwaukee.
Since so much ink has already been spilled on those four — along with Andrew Fischer (No. 7) — I wanted to focus on a few players I’ve been especially excited about over the last year and a half. It’s awesome to finally see three prospects I really believe in — Braylon Payne (No. 8), Josh Adamczewski (No. 6), and Tyson Hardin (No. 9) — ranked among the Brewers’ top 10 prospects.
When I started writing for BrewCrewBall, Adamczewski and Hardin weren’t on the Brewers’ Top 30 at all. Neither prospect is especially young, flashy, or toolsy, but both have been remarkably steady producers throughout their minor league careers.
The 24-year-old Hardin is a great story. He attended junior college out of high school before transferring to Mississippi State, where he posted an ERA over 5.00 out of the bullpen in his first season. He improved enough in his second year (3.22 ERA over 23 relief appearances and two starts) for the Brewers to select him in the 12th round of the 2024 draft.
Hardin is exactly what you’d expect from a Brewers pitching prospect who’s climbed the rankings through consistent production. He doesn’t throw especially hard, but he has a low release point, a flat approach angle, good extension, and a slider that’s become his best pitch. His fastball and cutter have both shown promise, and—most importantly—he gets results.
Last year, his first full professional season, Hardin posted a 2.72 ERA between High-A and Double-A. This year, he’s put up a 3.48 ERA in 12 Triple-A starts while striking out exactly nine batters per nine innings. Milwaukee has found another pitcher it can develop, and we’re seeing the results.
While their ace is throwing harder than any starting pitcher ever has before, the Brewers continue to churn out another type of pitching prospect: command-first starters with average velocity who consistently miss bats and get outs. Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick, and Coleman Crow have all pitched well for the Brewers this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hardin was next.
Adamczewski has one of the prettiest swings in the farm system, and he’s hit .315 or better in each of his first three professional seasons. His power numbers — and his prospect stock — have risen after he lowered his hands to produce more line drives. Questions remain about his long-term defensive home (probably left field, maybe designated hitter), but the bat has played at every level.
Josh Adamczewski (@Brewers) ups his system-leading batting average to .328 with his 13th homer of the year!
While Adamczewski had already posted an OPS above .900 in each of the previous two seasons, Payne didn’t necessarily need to hit like that to justify his place among the organization’s top prospects. Milwaukee’s first-round pick in 2025 was drafted primarily for his speed, giving him a high defensive ceiling and making him a weapon on the bases. Scouts believed he could eventually grow into home-run power, and after showing flashes with 22 extra-base hits (nine home runs) in Single-A, he’s taken a huge step forward this season. In High-A, Payne has already hit 15 doubles and 18 home runs.
Payne’s profile isn’t perfect. He strikes out too much, is still somewhat unrefined defensively, and uses a leg kick that can throw off his timing, meaning a swing or approach adjustment could come at some point. Still, it’s hard not to be excited about a 19-year-old budding power hitter with 70-grade speed, and Payne has given the Brewers every reason to believe he’ll someday be an impact player.
INF/OF Jett Williams (No. 5) drops a spot after an underwhelming season at the plate (.726 OPS). Williams entered the year looking like a possible option at third base or a replacement if Milwaukee suffered injuries in either the infield or outfield. Instead, he watched both Pratt and Lara outperform him and earn the call before he did. He’ll be fine, and he’s picked things up lately, but it makes sense that he’s now behind both of them.
The Biggest Risers:
Even with Payne, Adamczewski, and Hardin all climbing into the top 10, the biggest jumps on the list belonged to Alexander Frias, Josiah Ragsdale, Josh Knoth, and Ricki Moneys.
Frias (No. 29 —> No. 12) has quietly put together one of the better seasons in the farm system. The 18-year-old outfielder, signed as an international prospect out of the Dominican Republic, hit .441 in Rookie ball before earning a promotion to High-A. With Wilson, he’s already collected eight extra-base hits in his first 92 at-bats. Frias boasts a 60-grade arm and an enormous ceiling thanks to his athleticism. There’s still plenty of development ahead of him, but it’s easy to see why MLB Pipeline is buying in. If he ends the year hot, he’ll be in the top-10 going into next year.
Alexander Frias just hit a go-ahead solo HR in the 8th inning.
Ragsdale (No. 30 —> No. 14), a seventh-round pick last year, was drafted at 21 and was 22 by the start of this season, so he was expected to be a relatively developed prospect coming into this season. I don’t think many people expected a combined slash line of .319/.446/.554 through eighty games. Between his bat, his glove, and his 70-grade speed, he suddenly looks much more like a legitimate major league prospect than an organizational depth piece.
Knoth’s (No. 22 —> No. 11) rise is slightly surprising, even though he has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. Knoth debuted with the organization in 2024 and showed up on end-of-year prospect lists due to his filthy stuff and despite his 4.48 ERA. Unfortunately, he ended up missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery.
The stuff — headlined by his 60-grade curveball and slider — is still there, but so is the high ERA, Knoth’s ERA is now at 5.49 through over 40 innings this year, although he’s striking out almost exactly a batter an inning and still has his 60-grade curveball and slider after surgery. Ranking him here could honestly look bad in a year —either way — but I’m willing to bet on the young prospect to bounce back and keep doing stuff like this.
So Josh Knoth threw a 3,518 RPM curveball in the Complex League today
No MLB pitcher has thrown one over 3,500 in 2026
Only 33 total pitches since 2022 (sticky stuff crackdown had begun)
Been a little more common in the minor leagues, but still only 22 such pitches this year. pic.twitter.com/jRMjF4rzrk
On the bright side, most of the Brewers that fell more than a couple spots had more to do with the talent around them. Jeferson Quero’s arm isn’t yet what it used to be, but he has a .757 OPS and plays good defense. There’s also not a spot on the major league roster right now, and several younger prospects have taken big steps in the meantime. Because of his arm, Quero probably won’t be what the Brewers thought he would after 2023, but it wouldn’t be unexpected to see him end up as a solid starter when given a shot
The same is true for Marco Dinges. Dinges’ numbers (.838 OPS) are good, but they’re not quite as good as last year, and he’s not a standout defensive prospect, so he’s dropped a couple spots. Nothing to see here has continued to show the offensive approach that made him an intriguing prospect after last year’s draft, but other players have simply passed him on the list. Another player that fits this mold is Luke Adams, who has a .965 OPS in Triple-A, but dropped three spots to No. 16.
Finally, JD Thompson, picked in the second round last year, fell from No. 14 down to No. 26. Thompson’s stuff has looked as expected, with 25 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. He’s also allowed 15 hits and walked 15 batters in those 21 innings. That’s a walk rate of 71.4%, which is about as bad as it can get. With that being said, Thompson still has the stuff to strike out more than a batter an inning while seemingly unable to find the zone, and he had great command in college. I have a feeling he’ll figure things out and end up closer to 14 by the end of the season.
Honorable Mentions:
— Matthew Wood, who’s quietly been great at the plate for Double-A Biloxi and, like Ragsdale, has played his way into being considered a legitimate prospect
— Mike Boeve, who’s had a bounce-back season at the plate (.289, .792 OPS) and nobody cares, maybe because he kinda reminds some people of Tyler Black.
— Daniel Dickinson, who fell off the list entirely after a rough start but has bounced back recently. The 22-year-old infielder now sports a .411 OBP and an OPS inching closer to .800 (.774). I wouldn’t write off the LSU alum after a slow start to his professional career.
#Brewers C Matthew Wood (#36) is one of five prospects that BA lists as outperforming their stats despite his already strong results. “His bat looks like a surefire major leaguer” with an expected OPS nearing 1.000, almost .100 higher than his actual OPS (.896)#BrewersFarmhttps://t.co/mAvBkRDwU7
The Detroit Tigers opened up the back leg of their current homestand with an 8-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Keider Montero was far from his usual self, surrendering six runs in four-plus innings, while the offense just did not have enough to dig out of the hole.
Taking the mound for Game 2 of the three-game series for the Motor City Kitties is right-hander Troy Melton, who has held his opponents to two runs or less over his last six games. The 25-year-old has posted a 1.31 ERA and 3.08 FIP over the past 34 1/3 innings, allowing 18 hits (three home runs) and 13 walks while striking out 41.
Melton faced Baltimore at Camden Yards in his first start of the 2026 campaign back on May 24 in the second game of a doubleheader, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 5 2/3 frames for the win in a 4-1 final.
Opposite him for the Orioles is fellow righty Dean Kremer, who has struggled a bit over his last three starts. The 30-year-old has put up a 7.20 ERA and 6.58 FIP stretching across his last 15 innings, surrendering 18 hits (five home runs) and five walks while striking out 14, taking losses in two of those three appearances.
Kremer missed more than two months from the end of May to the beginning of July due to a right quad strain. His first game back was a beauty, throwing six innings of one-run ball on three hits — including a solo homer — and a walk while striking out four. However, it has been since then that he has hit that aforementioned rough patch.
Here is a look at how the two hurlers match up on Tuesday night in the D.
Detroit Tigers (50-57) vs. Baltimore Orioles (52-55)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Camden Chat Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 108: RHP Troy Melton (5-1, 1.95 ERA) vs. RHP Dean Kremer (1-3, 5.06 ERA)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 24: Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after a bases loaded out in the eighth inning during a game against the New York Yankees at Citizens Bank Park on July 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James ultimately did not choose to sign with the Warriors, and Draymond Green believes there was one main reason why.
The Golden State forward discussed James’ decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” and hypothesized why the 22-time NBA All-Star might have been hesitant to join the Warriors.
“You look at Golden State, and I ultimately don’t think Bron was ever able to get over the history, and I understand it, I get it,” Green said. “What we all ultimately always knew was like, that’s the hurdle to get over. I don’t think it’s the team, the organization, anything else. I think it’s the history.
“We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn’t have anything to say has something to say. And so, he’s gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, ‘Ahh man, you went to team up with Steph, you had to go to them.’ All the things people would have said, and I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot.”
James famously faced off against Golden State in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing three of the four series against Green, superstar Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Green believes James, a longtime Warriors rival, might not have wanted the backlash that could have followed had he joined forces with the organization — or just Curry and Green at this point — he went to war against time and time again on the biggest stage.
“Because I’ve never seen so often and so much people — and when I say ‘people,’ I’m talking about media, I’m talking about fans — I’ve never seen so many people who want to find something to tear someone’s legacy down,” Green added. “We live in a miserable ass world where people just want to find anything to tear someone’s legacy down, and this for sure, had he come to the Warriors, would have been something that everyone would have tried to use to tear his legacy down.
“… Needless to say, I think there’s always this narrative of people trying to tear guys down, tear their legacy down, and I ultimately think that played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron.”
James, despite having a longstanding respect for the Warriors organization, and being close friends with both Green and Curry, ultimately decided it was best for him to take his talents elsewhere.
RUSSIA, NOVOSIBIRSK - MARCH 31: A polar bear cub is seen at the Novosibirsk zoo named after Rostislav Shilo in Novosibirsk, Russia on March 31, 2026. The cub was born 7 December 2025 to polar bears Kai and Gerda. Biologists haven't yet examined it or determined its sex. (Photo by Rostislav Netisov/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
A lot of no-story stories going on in the middle of the summer as we patiently wait for something—anything, God please help me—to happen. Here’s today’s dose of links and notes.
The more the offseason advances, the more we’re hearing about Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation as the biggest unresolved issue around the Knicks heading into next season. The New York Post’s Jared Schwartz broke it down as the big man approaches a $61-million decision, with New York already able to offer him a four-year extension worth up to $272 million.
Josh Hart’s future also remains uncertain, with a team option worth roughly $22 million for 2027-28 and his eligibility for an extension starting on Aug. 10.
Miles McBride presents another looming cap decision, and Daily Knicks’ Jack Simone compared it to what happened to the Celtics and Al Horford.
Are the Pelicans showing more willingness to discuss deals involving some of their younger players? Could that lead to another attempt at landing Knicks fans’ favorite target Yves Missi? Questions, questions!
A trade for Milwaukee center Kel’el Ware has been floated by SI’s Steven Simineri as an aggressive solution to the Knicks’ frontcourt problem. I think we all agree that’s a lovable idea, but at the same time a very far-fetched one.
Karl-Anthony Towns talked about everything in an interview with The New York Times and among all the quotes, he explained why he was so vocal after scoring against Victor Wembanyama during the NBA Finals.
Another interesting nugget was Towns admitting it will feel strange seeing Mitchell Robinson in a Celtics jersey next season.
“I don’t even know if I could look at Mitch with a Celtics jersey on after everything. He owes me a pickup truck.”
Our own John Gove decided to build his Mt. Rushmore of Knicks’ all-time point guards. The list centered on winning and cultural impact rather than empty statistics, with the championship years of 1970, 1973 and 2026 serving as the obvious foundation. Do John a favor and read it all.
LeBron James is expected to spend significant time playing point guard for the 76ers. ESPN’s Shams Charania said Philadelphia wants James to initiate the offense and create opportunities for usage-rate monsters Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe.
The Knicks might never call James one of their own, but it feels James will never get over the idea of one day represeting New York. That’s why he is expected to live at least part-time in NYC despite signing with Philadelphia.
Back to NYP’s Schwartz, he believes the Knicks’ decision not to seriously pursue LeBron will remain a season-long storyline and could come back hunting them.
“The Knicks’ decision to not make a real effort for LeBron, coupled with his interest in the team, his availability at a cheap price and his eventual signing with a rival, puts pressure on the Knicks. They are doubling down on the belief that their roster is good enough to repeat as champions, with LeBron and the 76ers now representing the opponent that oddsmakers believe will serve as the Knicks’ greatest obstacle in the Eastern Conference.
“In head-to-head games, in the standings, in a potential playoff matchup — this will be a talking point. The Knicks must prove themselves right. They must prove that they do not need The King.“
At least 18 men’s college basketball players are projected to earn more than LeBron next season, with James making just under $4 million in Philadelphia next year.
Remember the Heat employee who accidentally scheduled a “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” video? Now we know the real reason why he did it.
Yo @spidadmitchell trade deadline coming up. Yall might want to make a move…it’s looking dark at the bottom
Josh Hart trolled Donovan Mitchell over the Mets’ struggles.
OAKAAK Mario Hezonja is really really returning to the NBA after agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with Cleveland after the Cavs whiffed on LeBron’s homecoming. Hezonja, for what it’s worth, said he had no interest in returning to the NBA when he first left the league because he felt disrespected.
“No, I’m not going to return to the NBA. There was a lot I didn’t like there, I didn’t get the respect that I deserved. In my opinion, the NBA is more of a show than the game itself.”
There are similarities between the tournaments – three co-hosts, England challenging and diaspora players – but tickets are cheaper and there are half as many matches
Gianni Infantino said the World Cup was like 104 Super Bowls. The men’s event at the Rugby League World Cup will be more like 18 Super League games. Some matches will attract four-figure crowds while others will be played in front of full houses of 50,000. There will be tens of thousands fans visiting rather than millions, but they will have fewer visa issues.
“I wasn’t blindsided because I know a few people that know a few people,” he said. “And I knew the stuff was in the works. So I wasn’t quite blindsided. However, I didn’t know exactly when the announcement would come. I didn’t know exactly how the announcement would come.”
Green was spotted with James several times leading up to the decision, raising eyebrows across NBA circles as Green’s Warriors were viewed as a finalist to win the LeBron sweepstakes.
Ultimately, it came down to Golden State, Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
Green explained why he believes James ruled out the Cavaliers and Heat, stating that since James already won with each team, it wouldn’t be as special to run it back with them. Plus, Green added, it could risk James making his legacy with those organizations worse than when he originally left them should things not go as planned this time around.
As far as the Warriors, Green believes it was the history between James and Golden State, dating back to those intense consecutive NBA Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018 when James was Dub Nation’s biggest villain.
Jun 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with right fielder Spencer Jones (78) and designated hitter Jasson Dominguez (24) after defeating the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Yankees won their fourth game in five tries on Monday as they opened their White Sox series up with a bang, Ali Sánchez collecting his first career home run to put the game out of reach despite some late antics in the ninth making it closer than it should’ve been. Max Fried only lasted three innings, but the Yankee bullpen was largely up to the task of surviving six innings without worsening an early deficit and the team rallied for two big innings to take the game.
As fun as the outburst was to see, overall the Yankee offense has been struggling their way through most of their games and the absence of two-thirds of the starting outfield plays no small part in it. Cody Bellinger was the latest to fall victim to an injury scare, straining his hamstring on Saturday night, and Aaron Boone had an update on Monday that wasn’t promising: Bellinger sustained a grade 2 strain and will be out for four-six weeks. That means that the Yankees will be without him and Aaron Judge until the final stretch of the regular season at best, and there’s the real potential that the team will miss them both until the postseason. There’s been a heavy emphasis on upgrading at catcher to help the lineup regain some life, but now the question has to be raised whether they should look for an additional outfielder as well to help bridge the gap left behind by their All-Star bats being on the shelf.
To start, we have to look at the current options for the Yankees. Jasson Domínguez was already slotted in with Judge’s injury as one of their starting outfielders, and he’s had a rough go of it. Domínguez has cut down on his strikeout rate by over eight percent but at the cost of his lowest walk rate of his career, a measly four percent that has brought his on-base percentage down to a terrible .261 mark. Max Schuemann has been the utility man of the outfield, playing the most games he’s ever ventured out of the infield this year with 29 of them compared to the over 200 games he’s spent across the diamond when he was with the A’s. Despite being a light-hitting backup Schuemann has held his own at the plate working walks at a 15.2 percent rate, giving him a 114 wRC+ for the year, but he’s playing out of position and it tends to show. Finally, the team called Spencer Jones back up after Bellinger went down and likely will give him some runtime if all stays the same, the rookie working his fair share of walks while also owning a gaudy 39.3 percent strikeout rate. Jones is the best defender of the three, but that’s not a high bar as he also hasn’t exactly flashed Gold Glove defense.
That’s not an outfield corps that inspires much confidence, and its emphasized by the rumors floating that the organization is willing to include Domínguez and Jones in potential deadline deals this year after holding fast on them in previous conversations. Perhaps that gets dashed now that the team is down another outfielder, but even still bringing in a stopgap solution could be the best play to revitalize the offense and keep the team as close to the top of the standings as possible. Since they only need the reinforcements for another month or two, a rental would be the best option, but with Trent Grisham on the qualifying offer deal he received over the offseason it’s not impossible for the team to consider adding a bat that could carry over into 2027 as a flexible candidate to fill the gap or slide into a fourth outfielder role. Names like Lane Thomas, Jo Adell, and Spencer Steer all carry inexpensive contracts and are playing on dead last teams looking to sell, and could be the types of outfielders the team looks into if they go this route.
The Yankees will look into every avenue available to them over the course of this next week with the deadline approaching fast, but does the outfield now shift to the top of the queue? Is the priority still getting a catcher to support Austin Wells and some bullpen arms to solidify what has quietly turned into one of the team’s strengths? Personally, I think it slots right in the middle in terms of importance, but let us know what you think of the whole situation.
Today on the site, we’ll lead off with Jeff considering a reunion with an old friend in Luke Weaver as a bullpen upgrade. Sam will be up next with the Rivalry Roundup, Jonathan reminisces on the first Yankee to ever take an at-bat in a World Series on Elmer Miller’s birthday, Michael walks us through the last week down in the minor leagues, and then Peter gives Domínguez the At-Bat of the Week treatment.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 26: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Busch Stadium on July 26, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday afternoon, Kyle Leahy pitched yet another great performance, going 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, while striking out a career-high 9 batters and only walking 1. On June 17th, Kyle Leahy entered his start against the San Diego Padres with a 4.64 ERA, and I, among many others, questioned whether or not this experiment of converting Leahy back into a starter at the big league level was plausible and if he was capable of giving the Cardinals a fighting chance on his turn. Since then, Leahy has made 7 starts, pitching to a 1.69 ERA in 37.1 IP. This drops his full-season ERA to 3.55.
During Leahy’s start, I was curious and wondered what his performance numbers looked like over this stretch, and when I looked at his profile on MLB.com, I noticed that Leahy was drafted in the 17th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft. This, to me, is even more unbelievable to witness the results the Cardinals are getting from a late-round draft pick. Surely, this has to be one of the best 17th-round picks in Cardinals history? So, I researched because I’m a deranged baseball fan. I went over to the baseball almanac, which has listed every player drafted by the Cardinals since 1965; here’s what I found:
17th Round Picks since 1965
1965 – Bruce Hinkel 1966 – Dale Reed 1967 – John Carroll 1968 – George Greer 1969 – Andres Frank 1970 – Joe Ford 1971 – John Park 1972 – Gary Hernandez 1973 – Ronald Aront 1974 – Michael Murphy 1975 – Randy Rhodes 1976 – Frank Marsalan 1977 – Richard Murray – Debuted for Giants in 1980, played in 57 Games 1978 – Mark Smith – Debuted for Athletics in 1983, pitched in 8 games 1979 – Tony Hudson 1980 – Paul Cherry 1981 – Keith Gilliam 1982 – Ted Carson 1983 – Chuck McGrath 1984 – Joe Murtagh 1985 – Jim Puzey 1986 – Scott Hamilton 1987 – Kevin Robinson 1988 – David Richardson 1989 – Danny Davis 1990 – Ricky Kimball 1991 – Ron Warner 1992 – Scott Lair 1993 – Travis Welch 1994 – Mark Roettgen 1995 – Britt Reames – Debuted for Cardinals in 2000, pitched 6 seasons for STL, MTL, OAK, PIT. 101 GP 5.28 ERA 1996 – Keith Gallagher 1997 – Tim Davis 1998 – Michael Gargano 1999 – Michael Perkins 2000 – Kaulana Kuhaulua 2001 – Josh Merrigan 2002 – Chad Clark 2003 – Kevin House 2004 – Chris Noonan 2005 – Michael Cooper 2006 – Nathan Southard 2007 – Matt Arburr 2008 – Joshua Hester 2009 – Jonathan Rodriguez 2010 – Corderius Dodd 2011 – Dutch Deol 2012 – Christopher Perry 2013 – Richie Pedroza 2014 – Dustin Beggs 2015 – Chris Chinea 2016 – Matthew Ellis 2017 – Will Latcham 2018 – Kyle Leahy – Debuted for Cardinals in 2023, 117 GP, 3.62 ERA 2019 – Michael YaSenka 2020 – N/A 2021 – Elijah Cabell 2022 – Brody Moore 2023 – Trey Paige 2024 – Brandt Thompson 2025 – Cameron Nickens
Only 4 players in Cardinals history drafted in the 17th round have made an MLB debut. Kyle Leahy is only the 2nd player in Cardinals history to debut for St. Louis from that round, joining pitcher Britt Reames from the 1995 draft (the year I was born).
What Kyle Leahy is doing from a talent standpoint isn’t all that unusual; we’ve seen the arm talent for the last couple of seasons. To get the value of a potential mid-rotation starter out of the 17th round is an incredible coup for the Cardinals, considering that before the 2024 season the Cardinals paid 20+ million dollars for Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson to get this type of production. From how St. Louis was able to bring Leahy into the organization, these are the types of marginal wins that can have long-term payoffs that will be cost-effective and allow the DeWitt ownership group to focus their financial resources on more valuable assets. Another Randy Flores win- who could have seen that coming?
How many 17th-rounders’ names do you recognize? I was at 7. Let me know in the comments!
For most of LeBron James’ career, the Celtics have been waiting for him somewhere.
Sometimes, they were the wall he could not get over. Other times, they forced him to find another way around it. Eventually, they became the opponent he could dismiss on command, no matter which players happened to be wearing green.
The rivalry went quiet when James moved west, but it never disappeared completely. Even without a Finals meeting, he joined the Lakers and helped Los Angeles pull even with Boston at 17 championships. Now, almost two decades after their first playoff series, the rivalry is back in a form no one saw coming.
James is a Philadelphia 76er. So is Jaylen Brown.
The player who spent years tormenting Boston has joined forces with one of the stars who carried the rivalry into its next generation. The Celtics will see James again in the Eastern Conference, only this time, Brown will be standing beside him.
Before we find out how this chapter ends, it’s worth going back to see how they got here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of their game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The wall
LeBron had already reached the NBA Finals by the time he first encountered Boston in the playoffs. He was a scoring champion, a perennial MVP candidate and the Chosen One expected to eventually inherit the league.
The 2008 Celtics did not care.
Boston had won 66 games after bringing Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen together with Paul Pierce. They had the best defense in basketball and the confidence of a team that believed its championship window had opened immediately.
Practically all by his lonesome, James still nearly took them out.
The series went seven games, and the Celtics needed every piece of their newly constructed superteam to survive. James scored 45 points in the finale at TD Garden. Pierce answered with 41, and Boston escaped with a 97-92 win on its way to Banner 17.
Years later, Brian Scalabrine remembered how quickly James challenged the Celtics’ belief that even the league’s best individual players could be swallowed by their defense.
“He could beat you with his brain, he could beat you with physicality, and he could beat you at the rim,” Scalabrine told ESPN.
That series established the first version of the rivalry. Boston was the finished product. LeBron was the singular force still trying to figure out how to defeat one.
The Celtics had Garnett directing the defense, Pierce accepting the scoring duel and a rotation built to make every drive exhausting. James could easily blow past his primary defender, but still look up to find several more bodies waiting for him.
Boston became the standard he had to reach.
The breaking point
Two years later, the Celtics became something more consequential.
Cleveland entered the 2010 postseason with the NBA’s best record and what appeared to be James’ clearest path yet toward a championship. Boston had slipped to fourth in the East, looked old at various points during the regular season and no longer carried the same aura as the defending champions.
Despite it all, the Celtics beat the Cavaliers again.
James struggled badly in Game 5 at home, finishing with 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting as Cleveland was booed off its own floor. The Cavaliers’ season ended two nights later in Boston. James walked off the court in a Cleveland uniform, removed his jersey in the tunnel and entered an offseason that changed the NBA.
— Boston Sports Throwback (@BOSthrowback) May 13, 2026
The Decision is remembered as a response to years of organizational failure in Cleveland, the lure of playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and James’ growing desperation to win his first championship.
The Celtics did not make The Decision for him, but they certainly helped turn up the heat.
Boston had eliminated James twice in three years. Its own Big Three had demonstrated the value of stars sacrificing individual control to extend their championship window. The Celtics had also made clear how difficult it would be for James to keep dragging an overmatched Cleveland roster through the East by himself.
Miami’s new superteam was built with Boston in mind.
The Celtics understood that too, and they enjoyed it. Doc Rivers later recalled Garnett refusing to recognize Miami as a legitimate Big Three because, in Garnett’s mind, that title still belonged to Boston. The Heat may have assembled the league’s most hated team, but the Celtics saw them as challengers who still needed to take the conference away.
Boston won James’ first game with Miami, an ugly season opener at TD Garden that briefly made the league’s grand new experiment look vulnerable.
The Heat eventually found their footing. More importantly, James finally found his way through Boston.
Miami eliminated the Celtics in five games during the 2011 conference semifinals. When the series ended, James dropped to his knees near midcourt. Beating Boston did not bring him a championship that year, but it removed an opponent that had come to represent every doubt surrounding him.
He had cleared the wall, but would soon need to do it again.
The stare
The Celtics arrived at Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to end the Heat’s season in Boston.
It was the kind of night TD Garden had been built for. The veteran Celtics were nearing the end of their run together, but they had one more chance to break the team created to replace them. Miami faced an offseason of impossible questions if it lost. Erik Spoelstra’s future would have been uncertain. The Heat’s Big Three might not have remained intact.
James entered the building looking as if he had already considered every possibility.
The expression from that night has become one of the defining images of his career. Eyes forward, jaw set, locked in beyond measure. We all know the picture.
Then, the game started.
James scored 30 points in the first half and finished with 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. He made 19 of his 26 shots. Jumpers that Boston’s defense had once invited became automatic. Every time the Celtics threatened to pull the crowd back into the game, James answered.
Scalabrine later called it “the most dominant performance” he had ever seen. Rivers believed Boston would have won the series without James producing that kind of game and admitted that the result might have broken Miami apart.
Instead, the Heat won Game 6, returned home to finish the series and captured James’ first championship two weeks later.
Boston had initially shown James what he lacked. Four years later, it provided the stage where he showed everyone what he had become. The Celtics had helped push him toward Miami. Now, they had helped summon the version of James they spent years trying to prevent.
The gatekeeper
At first, Boston was LeBron’s wall. Eventually, he became theirs.
The Pierce-Garnett era ended in 2013, but James’ relationship with the Celtics continued. The uniforms stayed the same. Nearly everything else changed.
He eliminated an overmatched Celtics team in 2015 after returning to Cleveland. He swept Boston again in the 2017 conference finals, although Avery Bradley’s Game 3 winner at least spared them the indignity of going quietly.
OTD in 2017: Avery Bradley's last-second 3-pointer in Cleveland caps stunning 21-point comeback for the scrappy 2017 Boston Celtics 😤 pic.twitter.com/qDEOMj8bRV
By then, the rivalry had become lopsided. Boston kept finding its way back into the postseason while Danny Ainge rebuilt the roster, and like clockwork, James kept sending the Celtics home.
He beat them five straight times after losing the 2008 and 2010 series, winning matchups in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The power had shifted so completely that James became the expiration date stamped on nearly every promising Celtics season.
The characters in green kept changing. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett gave way to Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford. Brad Stevens replaced Doc Rivers. Boston moved from squeezing one last run out of its veterans to building around draft picks who had grown up watching James dominate the league.
The Celtics changed, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. LeBron just kept getting better.
The kids
The 2018 Eastern Conference finals should have been a transition year for Boston.
Gordon Hayward had been lost five minutes into the season. Kyrie Irving underwent knee surgery before the playoffs. Jayson Tatum was 20 years old. Jaylen Brown was 21.
Somehow, the Celtics reached Game 7 against James anyway.
That series produced the image Boston fans remember most: Tatum driving the lane, throwing down a dunk over James and bumping him afterward as TD Garden erupted.
Then-rookie Jayson Tatum threw down a MONSTER poster dunk on LeBron James in Game 7 of the ECF on this day in 2018 👀pic.twitter.com/CjkXqdzl7P
For a moment, it felt like the future had arrived early.
But as he so often did during that decade, James won.
He played all 48 minutes in Game 7, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Cleveland survived 87-79, and James reached his eighth consecutive Finals.
The young Celtics had their chances. They led the series 2-0 and 3-2. They held a fourth-quarter lead in the deciding game. Marcus Smart blocked a James dunk attempt in Game 6. Tatum put him on a poster in Game 7.
None of it was enough.
“We were right there,” Smart later told ESPN. “But LeBron turned into LeBron on us. There was nothing we could really do that day.”
Smart also believed the experience accelerated Boston’s young core. Tatum said being placed in those high-pressure moments as a rookie helped prepare him for everything that followed. Brown later described those early playoff runs as the place where the Celtics learned the maturity required to win.
The 2018 series was different from the battles with Pierce and Garnett. Those Celtics were established champions trying to hold off a still young but dominant James. Tatum and Brown were only beginning to understand what they might become.
James was no longer trying to prove he belonged in that setting. He had become the test that Boston’s next generation needed to pass.
They came close. He left the conference before they had another chance.
The distance
James’ move to Los Angeles placed the rivalry into something resembling hibernation.
The Celtics and Lakers remained the NBA’s foundational enemies, and James added his own history to that tension. His 2020 championship in the bubble brought the Lakers level with Boston at 17 titles, giving Los Angeles something it had spent years chasing.
Still, Boston and James never met in the Finals.
Their regular-season games produced occasional drama. There was Tatum’s late scoring duel with James in 2020. There was the chaotic overtime game in Boston in 2023, when James erupted over a missed foul call at the end of regulation and Patrick Beverly tried his hand at photography. There were the usual split crowds, national broadcasts and debates about how much hatred Celtics fans should direct toward James compared to the uniform he now wore.
It never carried the same weight.
The Celtics were building toward a championship with Tatum and Brown. James was trying to extend his career on the other side of the country. For the first time since Boston assembled its Big Three, their seasons no longer seemed destined to collide.
The rivalry had started to look like history, something to revisit through grainy highlights and increasingly dramatic anniversary posts. But the 2026 offseason pulled off a twist even the most deranged NBA trade machine user probably would have rejected: LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, together in Philadelphia.
The finale
James will return to the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia, joining Joel Embiid and the former Celtic who helped shape the last chapter of this rivalry.
Their history has not always been seamless. Cameras caught Brown questioning whether Bronny James belonged in the NBA during the 2024 Summer League. James referenced the incident after playing Boston last season, though he also praised Brown’s leap and questioned why he was not receiving more MVP consideration.
“We’ll be all right,” James said of their relationship.
Now, they have to be.
The visual will take some getting used to. James and Brown sharing the floor as teammates. Brown returning to TD Garden in a Philadelphia uniform. The two of them trying to end the Celtics season.
For Boston, James will once again be attached to a defining emotional question. The first version asked whether the Celtics could contain the league’s rising force. The next asked whether their aging champions could hold him off one more time. In 2018, Tatum and Brown had to prove they were ready to occupy the stage he had controlled for years.
In 2026, the Celtics may need to confront James alongside a player who helped deliver Banner 18 and once appeared certain to spend the rest of his prime beside Tatum.
That is what has allowed this rivalry to survive several different Celtics teams, four LeBron uniforms and enough roster turnover to make the original cast nearly unrecognizable. Boston has been his obstacle, inspiration, victim and measuring stick.
Now, he will battle the Celtics with Jaylen Brown at his side.
Maybe this final chapter ends quietly. James is deep into a career that has already lasted longer than the entire Celtics tenures of most players who opposed him. Philadelphia’s collection of stars brings obvious questions about age, health and fit.
History suggests Celtics fans should expect something more complicated.
For nearly 20 years, whenever the Celtics and LeBron James have appeared to be finished with each other, another chapter of the rivalry has emerged.
This is almost certainly the last one. After everything that came before it, good luck predicting the ending.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 24: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 24, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: By now, we’ve all heard the gut-punch news that Cody Bellinger will head to the IL for some time. While initially optimistic that the hamstring suffered while legging out an eighth inning double in Saturday night’s win over the Phillies wasn’t too serious, an MRI scan on Monday revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that will keep Bellinger out of action for 4-to-6 weeks. Despite hitting a bit of a slump to open the second half, Bellinger has been one of the Yankees’ most valuable contributors on both sides of the ball, and his absence robs another impact bat from a shaky offense already suffering from Aaron Judge’s extended absence. Spencer Jones was called up to replace Bellinger on the active roster, and the performance of what has now become a ragtag team of assembled bats will likely make or break the Yankees season over the next month-plus.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Despite the Yankees facing the weakest remaining strength of schedule of any AL East team, it’s hard not to feel there is rough water ahead as they weather the absences of Judge and Bellinger. There is a very real scenario where neither player returns for the remainder of the regular season, meaning the Yankees need serious reinforcements on offense if they are serious about keeping their division hopes alive. The biggest name that has surfaced in recent rumors linked to the Yankees is the Nationals’ two-time All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams. However, Abrams is in the midst of a career year, leading all shortstops with 27 home runs while also leading all of MLB with 82 RBI and placing in the top-eight in wRC+ (153) and fWAR (3.9), and would therefore cost a king’s ransom to pry from Washington, any prospective conversation guaranteed to start with Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr.
MLB.com: Abrams is not the only position player the Yankees have been linked to in the wake of Bellinger’s injury. With the MLB Trade Deadline just a week away, the front office has called multiple teams to enquire on the availability of several right-handed hitting outfielders. Lane Thomas is the name that has popped up the most, the Royals outfielder on an expiring contract and posting a .799 OPS against lefties. Jo Adell, Taylor Ward, and Heliot Ramos have also been floated as potential targets. Among the players the Yankees are less likely to pursue are Luis Robert Jr. (injury) and George Springer and Jorge Soler (full-time DHs), while Spencer Steer might have been an option before landing on the IL with a right wrist sprain.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): The one name the Yankees have been most concretely linked to all summer is Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, recently returned from a broken hamate and picking up right where he left off at the time of his injury. He is one of the best hitting catchers in the league this year with a 160 wRC+ in 185 plate appearances and is familiar with Yankees catching coordinator Tanner Swanson after the latter was instrumental in the Twins drafting Jeffers in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. However, messaging from the front office and Aaron Boone suggests that the Yankees still have faith in Austin Wells turning his season around and prize his framing and game-calling abilities above all else, which is steering them toward the pursuit of a platoon partner to split reps with Wells rather than take over primary catching duties. To that end, the Yankees may be more in the market for established backups including Tyler Stephenson and Luis Torrens, both of whom hit lefties better than the 11 wRC+ Wells currently sports against southpaws.
As the paddock disperses for its traditional mid-season three-week break, the race is on to catch Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes came into the season as favourites and have lived up to the billing. Their car has been dominant with eight wins from 11 meetings, a strike rate greater perhaps even than the team had expected. Despite the rather skewed conclusions of the Aduo engine assessment, which declared the Red Bull the cream of the crop (on the basis of internal combustion output rather than overall capacity) the Mercedes power unit as a whole, including the hybrid electrical element which is now so vital, is without doubt the class of the field.
Danny Serretti on a night when he reached base all five times without recording an out for the AAA Reno Aces
2025 Rule 5 draft, AAA Phase
All the way back in December during the AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft, the Diamondbacks made three picks, RHP Antonio Menendez from Tampa Bay, RHP Sean Harney from St. Louis, and finally, infielder Danny Serretti from the Detroit Tigers.
To briefly discuss what the two pitchers have done: Sean Harney actually hasn’t pitched an inning with his new organization yet, as he’s had some kind of undisclosed injury that has him missing the entire 2026 season. Antonio Menendez was excellent in Amarillo (2.60 ERA, 4.19 xFIP), but has been hit extremely hard (12.74 ERA, 8.22 xFIP) after being promoted to Reno. That leaves us with the subject of this article, Danny Serretti, who has been outstanding in 2026, and deserve a closer look.
Struggles in Detroit’s Farm System
The Detroit Tigers selected Danny Serretti in the 6th round of the 2022 draft with the 177th overall pick. A switch hitting shortstop out of the University of North Carolina, Serretti would jump from A ball to AA in the span of just 27 games the same year in 2022. Across the three levels, he hit .315/.474/.472, a .442 wOBA and a 177 wRC+.
In 2023, the Tigers decided to put him in High A to begin the season. In 53 games he’d hit .284/.367/.441 with a .370 wOBA and 134 wRC+. This earned him a promotion to AA, and in 49 games he’d hit 205/.314/.269 .281 wOBA and a 70 wRC+. The next season, the Tigers had Serretti return to high A, where the struggles continued. In 87 games, he hit just .190/.287/.293, a .279 wOBA, and a 78 wRC+. Serretti would spend the last 12 games in AA, where he’d hit .206/.372/.206 with a 91 wRC+. 2025 wouldn’t go much better for Serretti, as he hit just .209/.313/.311 in 62 games.
Considering the struggles in AA, it’s no surprise that the Tigers would leave Serretti unprotected before the 2025 Rule 5 draft. It is somewhat surprising that Arizona took Serretti considering those same struggles, but it appears that move has paid off.
New Organization, New Hitter?
In 53 games in AA Amarillo, .283/.447/.553 with a .443wOBA and a 144 wrc+. In 21 games in AAA Reno he’s hitting .352/.465/.563 with a .461 wOBA, an expected wOBA(xwOBA) of .413, and a 153 wRC+. Looking at his minor league splits across both levels, Serretti is absolutely destroying left handed pitching as a right handed batter. In 102 plate appearances as a right handed batter, he’s hitting .345/.461/.679, compared to the .285/.453/.493 in 191 plate appearances against right handed pitching as a left handed batter.
One could write off Serretti’s success in Arizona’s farm system as a result of the extremely hitter friendly environments in the Texas League and Pacific Coast league, but I think there’s a few statistics that show that’s not the only reason for the turn around in 2026.
Firstly, as indicated by the wRC+ stats, he was 43% better than the average hitter in the Texas League, and 53% better than average PCL batter. Secondly, he’s dramatically increased his BB% from his previous high of 14% in AA up to 20.2% in AA and 17.2% in AAA with Arizona, while drastically cutting down on his strikeouts to a more reasonable rate of 21.6%(AA) and 20.7% in 2026. (Although this after getting his SO% down to 19.6% in 2025 from 25.6% in 2024)
Serretti has drastically count down on the frequency of pop ups, going from as high as 41.7% in AA back in 2024, down to 13.3% (AA) and 7.7% (AAA) this season. Finally, looking at the breakdown of his hit distribution, Serretti pulled the ball 46.1% in Amarillo compared to just 37.9% of the time in Erie the year before. While we don’t have any statcast data for Amarillo, we do for Reno, but it’s such a small sample that’s not worth going into too much depth.
Defensive Versatility
While in Detroit’s farm system, Serretti played all four infield positions, as well as designated hitter. Since coming over to Arizona he has played only one game at first base and none at shortstop at all. He’s recieved the majority of his playing time at second and third, with some occasional starts at designated hitter.
Serretti is a solid, reliable fielder, who’s only defensive limitation is an underwhelming throwing arm. There were questions on draft day if that would keep him from sticking at shortstop, which appears to have been quite prescient.
Future Outlook
I would not expect Serretti to put up anywhere close to the SLG% he’s put up in Arizona’s farm system, and his is expected slugging percentage of .477 vs his actual slugging of .563 in Reno backs that up. I do think he’s capable of being a lefty mashing utility infielder, as his swing in general looks better to me from the right side. His left handed swing isn’t bad enough to ditch entirely, but might be something to be considered in the future.
Serretti will have to be protected and placed on the 40 man roster at the end of the season if the Diamondbacks don’t want to leave him exposed in this year’s Rule 5 draft. If he is added at the end of the season, I think that will tell us a lot about how the front office views Serretti’s future outlook.
In this week’s Injury Report, Shea Langeliers will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Juan Soto’s calf issue resurfaces. Cody Bellinger isn’t expected back for 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. And Kyle Harrison is set to make what should be his only minor league rehab start this week before rejoining the Brewers’ rotation. All that and more as we cover all of the most relevant injury updates around baseball.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Shea Langeliers (knee)
In devastating news for both the A’s and fantasy managers, Langeliers was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury he apparently suffered while running the bases on Friday against the Twins. He was placed on the 10-day injured list, but his season is effectively over as he opted for surgery to repair the tear. The 28-year-old backstop has been one of the game’s premier catchers, hitting .263/.332/.497 with 23 homers, 55 runs scored, and 51 RBI across 416 plate appearances. There is simply no replacing that production at this stage in the season.
A look at the playoff landscape with the MLB Trade Deadline one week away.
D.J. Short
,
Juan Soto (calf)
Soto was removed from Friday’s game against the Dodgers with left calf soreness, an issue that forced him to miss time earlier this season. He’ll be sidelined once again as the team placed him on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain. The 27-year-old star outfielder was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain and is expected to be out for at least three weeks. Fantasy managers probably shouldn’t expect him back until late August or early September.
Shohei Ohtani (knee)
Despite remaining in the lineup as the everyday leadoff man and designated hitter, Ohtani hasn’t been able to make a start on the mound since July 3 as he tends to his ailing left knee. He threw a 31-pitch bullpen session last Wednesday, but didn’t come out of it feeling 100 percent and was held back from his next session, which was supposed to happen on Saturday. Manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism that the 32-year-old star would pitch again this season, but there’s really no reason for the Dodgers to push him until the playoffs. While nothing is ruled out, fantasy managers shouldn’t count on much pitching production from Ohtani over the final two months.
Spencer Steer (hand)
Steer came out of the game on Sunday in the fifth inning against the Cardinals after fouling off a pitch. He shook his right hand, prompting a visit from trainers, then departed in the middle of the at-bat. On Monday, it was reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney that Steer was dealing with a wrist injury and was heading to the injured list, set to miss “significant time”.
Cody Bellinger (hamstring)
Bellinger was hobbled running out a double in the eighth inning against the Phillies on Saturday. He initially waved off trainers and stayed on the bases before he was replaced defensively. Bellinger came out of the game with left hamstring tightness, which he initially downplayed, but was ultimately placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Word came down on Monday that he’s dealing with a Grade 2 strain and is set to miss 4-6 weeks.
Kyle Harrison (forearm)
Harrison, out since July 11 with forearm tightness, threw a batting practice session on Saturday in which he was aiming for four innings of work. Coming out of that without any issues, he’s now set to make one rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday. Harrison is aiming to go 5-6 innings and shouldn’t require any additional buildup before returning to the Brewers rotation next week, potentially against the Pirates on Wednesday or Thursday.
Connelly Early (elbow)
Early was involved in a bit of a surprise move as the Red Sox shipped him to the Nationals in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead. The 24-year-old left-hander has been on the injured list since July 1 with left elbow inflammation. In an update by Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Taboni, he announced Early would make his first rehab start in the organization on August 3. Early threw a bullpen session at Nationals Park on Monday and would likely need a few starts to build back up before making his team debut, so we’re looking at a potential mid-to-late August activation, barring any setbacks.
Casey Schmitt (knee)
Schmitt was pulled early from Monday’s contest against the Brewers, leaving in the second inning with a trainer after pulling up awkwardly rounding first on a single. He’s set to undergo an MRI on his left knee on Tuesday, but manager Tony Vitello has already stated that the 27-year-old infielder is set to miss some time. He’ll presumably be placed on the injured list on Tuesday with an update on his imaging results. With Matt Chapman not quite ready to return from an abdominal strain, Christian Koss will likely handle third base duties.
Kerry Carpenter (foot)
Carpenter departed Sunday’s game against the Royals with a right heel injury, the same issue that caused him to sit out last Tuesday’s game against the Cubs. Set to miss Monday’s series opener against the Orioles, the team opted to give him extra time to rest by placing him on the 10-day injured list with left foot plantar fasciitis. Even in a strict platoon, Carpenter hasn’t found much success this season, slashing .208/.276/.416 with 13 homers and 36 RBI across 259 plate appearances.
Daniel Palencia (elbow)
Palencia, out since mid-June with right elbow inflammation, came away from a bullpen session without any issues and feeling great on Saturday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell iterated that the next steps would be an up-and-down session for Palencia, followed by facing live hitters, before embarking on a minor league rehab assignment next week. By the looks of it, barring any setbacks, Palencia could be in line to return to the Cubs’ bullpen in mid-August. The 26-year-old right-hander has been limited to 16 2/3 innings this season, converting three saves with a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts.
Maikel Garcia (hamstring)
Garcia has spent the last month on the injured list with a left hand muscle strain. He’s finally ready to return to action as he begins a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday. It’s an overall lost, down season for the 26-year-old third baseman. He’s hit .261/.320/.373 with only three homers and five steals across 294 plate appearances.
Corey Seager (back)
Seager took batting practice for the second straight day on Monday at Globe Life Field, ramping up the intensity and volume of his session. The 32-year-old slugger has been out since July 1 with lower back inflammation. Coming out of the batting practice feeling good, he could begin a minor league rehab assignment this week and possibly join the Rangers in early August.
Edwin Díaz (elbow)
Blake Snell (elbow)
With Ohtani not ready to return to the mound, the Dodgers are getting some reinforcements back soon. Both Díaz and Snell are coming back from elbow surgery to remove loose bodies. Díaz made his final minor league rehab appearance on Sunday and is set to be activated from the injured list by Wednesday. He’ll likely assume the closer role, or primary share of it. Meanwhile, Snell is aiming to go four innings or 60 pitches on Wednesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Concluding that start, he’ll be reevaluated and potentially join the Dodgers rotation during their upcoming stretch of 10 games in 10 days that starts on Tuesday and runs through August 6. After that stretch of games, they’ll play 13 straight, so getting Snell back would help keep the team on a six-man rotation.
D.J. Short