Category: Sports News

We’re a mere two weeks away from the 2026 MLB First Year Player Draft, and it’s time for my second annual “listen to the prospects guy shout aimlessly about incoming prospects”. Last season, I highlighted three Tennessee Vols, among others, for the Guardians’ first round pick: Gavin Kilen (SF R1:13), Marcus Phillips (BOS CB-A:33), and Dean Curley. Curley ultimately fell a fair amount in the draft, largely driven by defensive concerns and passivity, but Cleveland ended up getting him anyways at pick 64. Seems like a win? Anyways, Cleveland ultimately went astronomical upside, equally devastating downside at pick 27, selecting Texas A&M outfielder, Jace LaViolette, and with LaViolette, Cleveland’s entire concept of player profile tendency went by the wayside.

Today, I’ll be bringing a handful of pitchers to the table. Next week, I’ll bring a few bats to the plate. I’ll start with names I’ve heard linked to the Guardians at 19, and then I’ll roll through some names further on down the draft that I like for Cleveland.

Starting with R1:19: I strongly think that, unless an AJ Gracia-level bat falls to 19, that Cleveland will be cashing in on a player from a group of the strong college pitching likely to be available to them in this range and bolstering a rather thin, top-heavy pitching system.

We’ll start with A Vol again, Tegan Kuhns.

ROUND ONE: 19th Pick

TEGAN KUHNS | RHP | TENNESSEE | 21

SYNOPSIS: Kuhns makes so much sense for the Guardians for four reasons: good spin, great fastball shape, good command, quality extension. Kuhns has three offerings that will have teams salivating over getting him in their pitching labs, and his long-limbed, athletic movements on the mound signal a pitcher built for consistency.

Kuhns operates with a traditional three-quarters slot, but his release height sits ~65.5 inches, and with that low release height and above average extension, he generates very good metrics for his fastball. Kuhns’s 4-seam sits 93-96, flashing 98 on occasion, and he eats the zone alive with it. He runs an iVB that ranges consistently between 18-20 inches, and that’s with ~11 inches of arm-side run at that release height. Of course, this will naturally deflate a bit with the pro ball, but his vertical approach angle at the top of the zone is as flat as it gets in this draft, and I have no doubts that the fastball will continue to play at a high level as he gets into a minor league system given how terrific his command is of the offering. When he was able to consistently live along the top half of the zone with his fastball, he proved to be borderline unhittable at times.

Kuhns does a great job mirroring his arm action with his changeup, and he combined that with an 8-10 mph difference from his fastball and good fading action. His changeup became a late-count out pitch against lefties, running a whiff rate north of 35% and in-zone whiff rate around 31%. He has a good feel for it, and if he got into Cleveland’s system, this is the pitch most likely to blossom into another plus offering alongside his fastball.

Kuhns drops an upper 70s curveball with around 2600 RPMs to primarily steal strikes, but he got good returns on it, generating a whiff rate of 37.7% against power-4 competition, his highest whiff rate of any pitch. His slider, however, is the breaker that I’m most intrigued by. Kuhns struggled to replicate his shape with his slider consistently, seeing it get too verty and lose its depth, leading to some loud contact, but at its best, it resembles a death ball shape in the 84-85 mph range. What I want to see him do with his slider is add a tick to it while keeping its depth. A slider with sudden drop at 85-87 is so much more effective for what Kuhns wants to do, and it lets him keep it in the zone a bit more safely when needed.

IF CLEVELAND DRAFTED KUHNS, I WOULD FEEL: THRILLED

Kuhns has some acute reliever risk, but I’m fairly bullish on that not becoming reality. I like his repeatable mechanics, I think this is among the best fastballs in the draft, and Kuhns is a massive competitor. The lack of consistency he has with his slider shape and its lack of in-zone whiffs with it make me raise an eyebrow, but I trust that he fleshes it out and pairs with a borderline plus fastball, and I feel the changeup is a great pairing with it. The later the season got, the better the slider shape appeared to be, and he went to his fastball less, showcasing a real starter’s repertoire and usage.

LIAM PETERSON | RHP | FLORIDA | 21

SYNOPSIS: Peterson is a fascinating right-handed pitching prospect in this year’s draft. A mountain of a pitcher, he stands at 6-foot-5 and close to 230 pounds with a higher arm slot, a massive fastball, and big spin capabilities.

There are some concerns here. I’m not the biggest fan of Peterson mechanically. Despite it being a more compact process, it’s far from smooth, and I believe it contributes to his biggest area of concern with consistency. It boils down to not throwing enough strikes with his fastball and throwing too many with it as well, leading to him getting behind in counts consistently early in outings or tagged much harder than he should.

Peterson has a big fastball and gets good extension, generating around 20 inches of iVB on average with a hair under 10 inches of arm-side movement, but a release height just north of 80 inches creates a fastball that does not generate friendly VAA, and the pitch generated under 20% whiff rates this season with Florida. When he stays up in the zone, he finds his most success, but he can miss high and not get any chases or stay lower in the zone at a hitter friendly angle and get touched up. He sits in the mid to upper-90s, typically 94-98 with big spin, and his entire repertoire is built around his heater.

Peterson’s best pitch is his slider. His breakers generate ~2800 RPMs on average. The slider sits 84-87 with good downward depth, and he ran a whiff rate just north of 50% on the season as a whole with the offering and goes to it against either handedness. It’s one of the better breaking pitches in the draft. Its 27% usage is necessary as it’s the only other pitch he can comfortably keep in the zone in any count outside of his 4-seam, and it was his main put-away pitch to righties. Peterson has a curve that generates big drop but works best either as a strike stealer or well below the zone.

Peterson has a changeup that gets vertical, right around 11-12 iVB, with good tumbling action. Its usage is vital for his fastball and keeps him a three, sometimes four pitch guy to lefties.

IF CLE DRAFTED PETERSON, I WOULD FEEL: NERVOUS

Peterson has big velo and a lot of traits to love, but given the names possibly available at this range, he’s the name I’m not totally sold on. I don’t love his command, and if he can’t consistently get swings and misses with his fastball, I’m typically going to push away on a college arm like this in the first round.

CADE TOWNSEND | RHP | OLE MISS | 21

SYNOPSIS: Townsend is my trust your eyes over the stat sheet pick here, largely just with his fastball. Townsend is a smooth mover on the mound, and establishing more consistent, repeatable mechanics was a clear goal moving into his final season at Ole Miss. He noticeably switched from a rested handset at his front hip through his windup in seasons prior to an overhead motion before bringing his hands back down to his chest. This gets him to his release point quicker and more consistently. Townsend gets above average extension (~6.3-6.4) with a deep arsenal of weapons at his disposal, all of which he has a capable feel for that comes from a 40-43 degree arm angle.

Townsend’s 4-seamer struggled this season, getting hit hard, but he was also able to get good in-zone whiff results with the offering. As we get through his write-up here, you’ll see it was just about the only pitch he struggled with. The shape, however, is very good. It’s more ride than run, generating 19.5 iVB to just 7.3 inches arm-side at a quality ~72 inch release height.

Townsend works a really nice cutter that he used almost as much as his fastball. He can get under the hands of lefties and get weak contact, and even with the higher usage, he still generated quality swing and miss stuff with it. His cutter sits along a good vertical plane with ~3 inches of horizontal movement and was a real weapon in both negating hard contact and creating swings and misses. From there, his high-80s changeup creates good tumbling action, generating close to 1100 RPMs fewer than the fastball. Between it, his cutter, and his 4-seamer, it makes for a strong trio pitch group against LHH.

Townsend spent time developing a sweeper this season, and it generated a little under a foot of sweeping action for the season. The returns were really good here as he ran a whiff rate of 46% with a chase rate of 36%. He showed real poise in executing the pitch down and away to RHH. Any added sweep here would be great, but even at where it sits, it’s a quality offering. He also mixes in a low-80s curveball

IF CLE DRAFTED TOWNSEND, I WOULD FEEL: CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

Townsend oozes tenacity and competitive fire, almost to a fault. Between an unrelenting desire to win and a true 5-7 pitch repertoire that has shown flashes of fastball diversity, he has all a team could want in terms of a starting point to develop. His size is going to be something held against him as he stands just 6-foot-1, but I would be willing to take that chance, even at pick 19.

CAMERON FLUKEY | RHP | COASTAL CAROLINA | 21

SYNOPSIS: Flukey will be the final name we touch on here for first round arms. Flukey suffered a stress fracture in his rib back in February, and he didn’t return to the mound until late April, making just six outings after the injury, most of which were short bursts as he tried to build back up. Flukey possesses a big ceiling, thanks in part to his size and velocity capabilities. The long-limbed 6-foot-6 righty is a good mover whose fastball possesses electric stuff with a motion as lengthy as the day is long.

Flukey’s fastball sits 95-97 while being a real threat to reach triple digits. When he lives with the heater up in the zone, he’s borderline unhittable. Flukey is an extension monster, living around the 7-foot range. Finding consistency with the fastball up in the zone is priority number one with this pitch as Flukey, largely due to not having a fleshed out arsenal, had to lean on his fastball to fill out the zone rather than attack it with his strengths. Flukey averaged close to 20 iVB with the college ball, generating just shy of 8 inches of arm-side run. Along with added strength, he worked on truncating his motion a bit, and it returned some promising consistency with the fastball in comparison to the season prior. Flukey’s primary issue with the heater in ‘25 was finding its consistent shape. His extraneous movement before planting his landing foot created a lot of less than desirable shape.

Flukey’s slider is a low to mid-80’s gyro slider that hovers right around the zero axis. It generates hardly any iVB and minimal arm side run and generates a lot of swing and miss and chase. It’s a unique shape, and one that I’d like to see him find a tick or two more velo with. This sitting 85-88 with that kind of sharp drop would be a menace of a pitch. Flukey mixes in a big, loopy 12-6 curve of which the bottom just drops completely out of. It’ll sit upper 70’s.

Flukey showed a changeup in previous seasons, but he was predominantly a three-pitch pitcher coming off his injury. At the very least, we know it’s there.

IF CLE DRAFTED FLUKEY, I WOULD FEEL: ECSTATIC

These are the swings Cleveland needs to take if they fall into their laps. True draft day top-10 college talents don’t typically wind up falling to 19 all that often, and though I don’t think Flukey will (I’m eyeing 12-15 here), it’s not out of the realm of possibility. For reference, Over Slot’s most recent mock draft as of July 1 has Flukey falling all the way to 25. Between the injury and the amount of tidying up needed here, it makes sense, but the stuff is truly electric in spite of a real reliever risk.

ROUND TWO: 59th Pick

Round two is where I will choose to focus on the prep arms possibly available here (except for one). Cleveland will not have pick 29 at their disposal, so we will all be waiting from pick 19 all the way until pick 59. Cleveland has shown a history of going prep in R2, and these are some arms to highlight for this range.

KADEN WAECHTER | RHP | JESUIT H.S. (FL) | 18

Stop me when you’ve heard this before: Guardians target prep arm who’s an athletic mover with refined mechanics on the mound.

Waechter, who is set to turn 19 a couple weeks post-draft, is as advanced mechanically on the hill as any prep prospect in the class with a fastball that generates quality spin. At the 2026 Preseason Classic, Waechter sat 92-96 with the heater, and he throws both a traditional 4-seam that finds 15/8 iVB/HB splits and a sinker that runs more 9/16. Keep in mind, his early season outings were relief appearances as Jesuit wanted to preserve his arm for their season, but the velocity, good shape and control, and big, 2500+ range spin capabilities are there.

Waechter mixes in a tumbling changeup that creeps its way towards the upper 80’s. With more polish, this is a real weapon against lefties. His slider has been touted as one of the better breakers of the prep arms in this draft. It sits comfortably in the mid-80s with good spin, and its sharp bite creates a run and drop action that has had high school bats completely baffled. Waechter has also flashed a seldom used low-80’s curveball.

IF CLE DRAFTED WAECTHER, I WOULD FEEL: ON CLOUD NINE

Waechter has mid-rotation upside, if not higher, with a projectable frame and great spin capabilities to develop into a real deal prospect. There’s already four capable pitches here with potential for more, and if Cleveland saved some money in R1 and threw that money at Waechter that deep into R2, they will have just picked one of the biggest steals in the draft.

GAVIN GIESE | RHP | DANA HILLS H.S. (CA) | 18

Giese has seen a late rise up the ranks boost his draft stock into the stratosphere. Committed to go pitch at San Diego, Giese now has real top three rounds helium, ranging from back of the comp picks all the way to 70.

Giese is a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher who has grown two inches and put on 30 pounds, filling out a prototypical starter’s frame, and finding fastball velo with it. Giese’s mechanics are solid, and he moves down the mound incredibly well. Many reports indicate well above average extension here.

Giese comfortably sits 90-92 now, and there’s more velo to be found here as he generates capable spin and already saw a major spike in velo from his junior year. Giese has a slider and curve that also generate good spin and will need continual refining to find their right shapes. He also throws a quality kick-change, easily his best offering right now that separates well from his fastball at his vertical release point and falls off a cliff.

IF CLE DRAFTED GIESE, I WOULD FEEL: OPTIMISTIC

Late risers can be scary given how much unknown it can entail, but Giese’s rise feels rooted in very trustworthy traits.

WES MENDES | LHP | FLORIDA STATE | 21

One final collegiate starter, and finally, a lefty, and a fun one at that! Mendes is a former two-way player out of the same Jesuit High School as Kaden Waechter. Mendes went the round-about way to get to Florida State, stopping at Ole Miss first.

Mendes is among the more underrated arms with 2nd round likelihood that you’ll find. He’s incredibly refined despite only now fully shifting towards pitching as his focus with a plus changeup and burgeoning slider.

Mendes sits 91-93 with the heater, reaching back for 95 at times. He gets quality ride and ~10 inches arm-side run from a ~71 inch release height. Despite Mendes having a higher three-quarters slot around 55 degrees, his above average extension and lower release height help create optimal shape with a -4.1 VAA along the top third of the zone.

Mendes has good command across his arsenal, primarily with his fastball, changeup, and slider. Mendes was a menace in particular to RHH because of the fastball+changeup combo. His circle-change generates huge horizontal action as it dives down and away. The changeup ran a whiff rate north of 50% with an in-zone whiff rate north of 40%. It was among the very best cambios in the nation.

IF CLE DRAFTED MENDES, I WOULD FEEL: THRILLED

Mendes is a big draft crush for me. His arsenal compliments itself much like a familiar FSU lefty’s arsenal did heading into the 2022 Draft. I see real sudden and quick growth here, and I think there’s comfortable back-end starter ceiling here, pushing fringe middle-rotation.

And that’s it! 3,000 words later, we have covered seven names either linked to the Guardians or are favorites of mine personally. Cleveland has a lot of work to do in regards to replenishing its arms within the system, and this is a very good draft to do exactly that.

Good morning Birdland,

Orioles pitchers have allowed one total run over their last 18 innings. That’s good! Trevor Rogers has allowed one total run over his last 18.1 innings, which included five scoreless in the O’s 3-0 win over the Reds on Friday night.

The lefty’s ERA has dipped from a season-worst 6.96 on May 24 to 4.70 now. That includes his current six-start streak that has seen him allow seven earned runs over 35.2 innings, which translates to a 1.77 ERA in that span. The major key to his return to 2025 form is keeping the ball in the yard. Neither his strikeout or walk rates are too impressive, but it doesn’t matter too much when you avoid the loudest contact.

Rogers is an important figure for the Orioles this month. If they are going to go on a run, they need a few more impressive starts from him in July. And if they are going to see the bottom fall out, it sure would be nice to trade Rogers for a decent haul at the deadline. That is much easier to do with this version of Rogers than what he was putting forth early in the year.

This team won’t be going anywhere if the offense keeps on sputtering, as it has for the entire season. Gunnar Henderson has seemed rejuvenated in the lead-off spot. He had a pair of walks, a stolen base, and a run scored on Friday. He’s 5-for-14 with four walks in the four games since Craig Albernaz put him atop the order. But the lineup, as a group, has been as lethargic as ever. They had four total hits in last night’s win, and only got bailed out by a stellar showing from Rogers and the bullpen.

And that’s really the root of the team’s issues this year. You can complain about injuries, the inconsistency of the starting staff, etc. But the main problem is that they don’t score enough runs or hit enough home runs to justify how little they put the ball in play. The team was built with the expectation that the offense would be among the game’s elite, and it just isn’t.

That puts pressure of folks like today’s starter, Brandon Young, to be perfect. Credit to him, he has been far better this season than anyone expected. You can’t say he “saved” the season given how disappointing things have been overall, but the difference between him and whoever else they would have bussed in Triple-A Norfolk instead is probably a handful of wins alone. Some more of that magical this evening in Cincinnati would be much appreciated.

Links

Orioles Re-Sign Sam Huff To Minor League Deal | MLB Trade Rumors
The Orioles do this a lot with the fringy guys they like: DFA them and quickly re-sign them to a deal that probably comes with a little more guaranteed money. To be fair to Huff, he does seem to be a fine defensive catcher that is valuable to keep in your organization. If he could hit just a little bit more, he might be considered a number two backstop throughout the league. Instead, he bounces up and down quite a bit.

Orioles ‘going for it’ at trade deadline might be difficult for Elias | The Baltimore Sun
We still have a few weeks here, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility for the Orioles to be a few games under .500 and within a couple of games of the final wild card spot. If that is the case, they are probably going to buy and just pray they squeal into the playoffs. But does this team feel like a legitimate contender? The 2022 version of Mike Elias would be selling off anything not bolted to the floor.

Leftovers for breakfast | Roch Kubatko
Included here is the updated Baseball America list of top Orioles prospects. Ike Irish is number one, which isn’t surprising. Joseph Dzierwa, who has had a tremendous season, is up to number two. The 22-year-old is on track to make a big league impact sometime next season.

Orioles’ Robertson on upcoming draft: ‘There’s a lot of depth’ | Baltimore Baseball
The draft is coming up, and the Orioles have a high draft pick. Usually, they have done well under this circumstances with Elias at the helm.

Helsley lands on IL for second time in ’26 with elbow discomfort | MLB.com
In case you missed this from yesterday, Ryan Helsley is going to miss some more time with an elbow injury, and it doesn’t sound good. As a reminder, Helsley has a player option for 2027 worth $14 million. Right now it looks like a guarantee that he will be picking that up.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• The late Babe Birrer (b. 1929, d. 2013) was born on this day. He appeared in four games for the 1956 Orioles as part of his brief MLB career.

This day in O’s history

1944 – Baltimore’s Oriole Park burns down. The ballpark had been built in 1914 for use in the Federal League but was home to the International League’s Orioles at the time it was destroyed. The O’s moved to Venable Stadium, which would later be renamed Memorial Stadium.

1964 – A game between the Orioles and the Kansas City Royals Athletics ends in 6-6 tie due to a special curfew so that a fireworks display can take place in Baltimore.

1971 – Boog Powell and Elrod Hendricks homer in support of Mike Cuellar’s complete game to beat the Tigers 3-2.

1973 – The Orioles score 10 times in the game’s final three innings to beat the Brewers 10-7, making it their third come-through-behind win over their division rivals.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (43-42)

SYRACUSE 8, WORSTER 6 (BOX)

MJ Melendez broke the 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead two-run home run that led Syracuse to victory. Jorge Polance reached base once in his rehab appearance.

• RF Nick Morabito: 1-5, K, SB
• REHAB ALERT: DH Jorge Polanco: 0-3, R, BB
• PH-DH Christian Arroyo: 0-0, BB
• 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 2-4, 2 R, BB, SB
• LF MJ Melendez: 2-5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI
• 1B Ryan Clifford: 1-3, R, BB, 2 K
• 3B Yonny Hernández: 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB
• C Ben Rortvedt: 0-3, BB, K
• CF Cristian Pache: 0-4, 2 K, E
• SS Zack Short: 1-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K, SB
• P Tobias Myers: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• P Xzavion Curry: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Daniel Duarte: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Jefry Yan: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (29-50)

CHESAPEAKE 5, BINGHAMTON 4 (BOX)

The Rumble Ponies scored four runs, but Nick Lucky was the driver, driving in three-runs and stealing a base. R.J. Gordon was good, going five and striking out two, allowing no runs.

• DH Chris Suero: 1-5, 3 K, SB
• CF Jose Ramos: 1-5, K
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-4, 2B, BB, K
• C Kevin Parada: 1-5, 2B, K
• LF Vincent Perozo: 0-3, 3 K
• RF Matt Rudick: 0-1, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 SB
• SS Wyatt Young: 0-4
• 3B Kevin Villavicencio: 1-3, R, RBI
• 2B Nick Lucky: 3-4, 3 RBI, K, SB
• P R.J. Gordon: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Justin Armbruester: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Felipe De La Cruz: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (32-46)

FREDERICK 8, BROOKLYN 7 (BOX)

The Cyclones hit three home runs in their loss to the Keys. The Mets were in the hole early, as Dakota Hawkins gave up six runs (five earned) in two innings pitched.

• SS Mitch Voit: 0-5, 2 K, 2 E
• 3B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-4, R, 3 K
• C Ronald Hernandez: 1-4, 2 K, E
• 1B Corey Collins: 0-3, R, BB, K
• DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-3, BB, K
• CF John Bay: 1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, K
• LF JT Benson: 1-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, 2 K
• 2B Colin Houck: 1-2, R, 2 BB, K
• RF Yohairo Cuevas: 2-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB, K
• P Dakota Hawkins: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• P Parker Carlson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Gregori Louis: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• P Ryan Dollar: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (35-42)

TAMPA 1, ST. LUCIE 0 (BOX)

The Tarpons scored in the second off of Christian Rodriguez, who allowed seven hits across his three and two-thirds innings of work. From there, the St. Lucie bullpen was phenomenal, allowing no baserunners in five and a third innings, striking out nine. Unfortunately, the Mets couldn’t push a run across on their five hits.

• SS Elian Peña: 0-4, 2 K, SB
• CF Trey Snyder: 2-4, 2B, SB
• C Chase Meggers: 1-4, 3 K
• DH Julio Zayas: 1-3, BB
• 2B Branny De Oleo: 0-4, K
• LF Simon Juan: 0-2, 2 K
• 3B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-3, K
• RF Jackson Hauge: 0-3, 2 K
• 1B Jack Scanlon: 0-2, 2 K
• PH Antonio Jimenez: 1-1
• P Christian Rodriguez: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
• P Tyler McLoughlin: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• P Kevin Herget: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Ernesto Mercedes: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (18-24)

FCL METS 1, FCL MARLINS 1 (BOX)

[Game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth)

• DH Bohan Adderley: 0-2, 2 K
• SS Vladi Gomez: 0-2, K
• CF Wyatt Vincent: 0-2
• RF AJ Salgado: 0-1, R, BB, K
• C Yovanny Rodriguez: 1-2
• 1B Josmir Reyes: 0-1
• 3B Roybert Herrera: 0-1
• LF Heriberto Rincon: 0-1, K
• 2B Yorber Semprun: 0-1
• P Roberto Pena: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Rookie: DSL Mets Orange (14-11)

DSL GIANTS BLACK 5, DSL METS ORANGE 4 (BOX)

• SS Wandy Asigen: 0-1, 2 BB
• PR-SS Jose Padilla: 0-1, K
• DH Cleiner Ramirez: 1-4, K
• 1B Cesar Acosta: 0-4, K
• 3B Sebastian Toro: 1-4, R, 2B, E
• CF Jhonael Cuello: 3-4, 2 R, 3B, RBI, 2 SB
• C Yadier Fuentes: 1-2, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
• C Jesus Griman: 0-0
• 2B Oscar Pena: 0-2, BB, K
• LF Anthony Delgado: 0-1, K
• RF Elvis Teran: 0-4, K
• LF-2B Roni Garcia: 1-4
• P Maxgregori Harvey: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
• P Frandy Lora: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• P Mauricio Nunez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• P Derlin Rojas: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Rookie: DSL Mets Blue (9-14)

DSL RANGERS BLUE 13, DSL METS BLUE 12 (BOX)

• SS Johnderis Sanchez: 3-4, 3 R, 2 BB, K, SB
• DH Dayron Oramas: 3-6, 2 R, 3 RBI
• RF Henry Manrique: 1-4, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K
• LF Jonnhan Sanchez: 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K, SB
• 1B Frank Moreno: 0-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
• 3B Michalle Mercedes: 2-5, K, SB
• CF Aiberson Blanco: 0-4, R, BB, 2 K
• C Adrian Silva: 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB
• 2B Jesus Minaya: 2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• P Eduardo Pina: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• P Arnaldo Tejeda: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
• P Enmanuel Feliz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Maykol Vasquez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

STAR OF THE NIGHT

MJ Melendez

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Arnaldo Tejada

For the next few weeks we’ll be doing some theorizing on optimal returns at the trade deadline as the Red Sox look to do another tear down amidst a hopeless season. This week, it’s Sonny Gray—and unlike last week’s Chapman conversation, this one comes with a wrinkle.

Week two of Sock Drawer. Last week it was Aroldis Chapman and a relatively clean simulation—the Sox have the asset, contenders want it, Breslow sets the price. This week is messier, because Sonny Gray has a no-trade clause, and that changes the whole conversation.

Gray has been one of the few things working on this roster in 2026. This season, he’s commanding a 2.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 75 strikeouts across 83.2 innings. He’s somehow 9-1. On a team that’s going nowhere and gives NO support for its starting pitching. As a 36-year-old who wasn’t supposed to be anyone’s ace, that’s not a just real asset. That’s a legitimate AL Cy Young contender, and the market is starting to understand what it’s looking at. The Braves, Cubs, Brewers, Giants, and others are already circling. Jon Heyman has Atlanta’s name attached.

The complication is clearly the NTC. Gray restructured his contract when he came to Boston—the Cardinals are covering $20 million of his $31 million salary, meaning an acquiring team only owes the prorated remainder plus a $10 million buyout on a mutual option. That’s manageable. But Gray gets final say on the destination, and he’s been measured about it: “If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation.”

Open for a conversation is not a yes. The Sox can’t just shop him to the highest bidder. The field narrows to places Gray would actually approve. Frankly, I don’t blame Gray for being measured about it. I would think even for his age and long career, staying settled in one city might be more important to him and his family than title chasing.

The whole situation is actually fine if you’re looking at things from Craig Breslow’s perspective. The teams that make sense for Gray make sense for the Sox, and the NTC creates a different kind of leverage. The places Gray would approve are serious contenders with real farm systems (for the most oart), and serious contenders with real farm systems don’t get to lowball you. If you’re smart.

One more complication: Connelly Early just went to the IL with an elbow injury. On the surface, you might think that makes Breslow more reluctant to move Gray, now that the rotation has lost two legitimate arms and he’s even more exposed. That’s not wrong. But on a team that’s going nowhere, “we need pitching depth” is not a reason to hold a guy you can turn into a top prospect or a real bullpen piece. Early going down hurts the on-field product. It doesn’t change the deadline ethos.

There’s also a decision Breslow has to make before he picks up the phone: how much salary relief is Boston putting in? The answer to that question changes the return completely.

If Boston eats a chunk of salary: the acquiring team’s cost drops, Gray becomes easier to move, and the Sox can push for a real prospect from the top of the system.

If the full contract goes with him: the team absorbs more cost, and what comes back is an MLB piece, a bullpen arm who can contribute now rather than a name on a list, but isn’t the most valuable in general.

Neither is wrong, it just depends on what Breslow thinks this team needs more. I’ll give you both just to show you what that means.

Braves

Eats salary — Owen Murphy (RHP)/Tate Southisene (2B/SS)

Full salary — Dylan Dodd (LHP)/Dylan Lee(LHP)

Atlanta is the most obvious match here and maybe the most likely destination if this deal gets done. Their rotation is beaten up more than a room in Magic City—Spencer Strider, Joey Wentz, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver are all missing some time—and the Braves are still contending, which means they need a real arm, not a depth add. Gray is exactly that.

The NTC nearly solves itself. Gray is from Nashville. Atlanta is close, the organization is stable, and the Braves have been in October almost every year for half a decade. If I were him, I would approve this one. Breslow knows that and should price accordingly. The fact that Gray probably says yes to Atlanta when he might say no to someone else is leverage, not a concession.

Murphy is the arm I want here. He dominated High-A in limited action before the injury, has one of the higher ceilings left in an admittedly thin Braves system, and fits the pitching-for-pitching logic cleanly. If Atlanta pushes back on Murphy, Southisene is the alternative, different profile, still a legitimate top-five piece from a system that isn’t deep enough to be holding onto anyone. The Braves farm being ranked near the bottom of the league is exactly why the salary relief matters here. Boston is making the deal easier in exchange for a sweetened pot.

If the full salary goes with Gray, Dodd gives you a back-end MLB starter with some upside who could slot into a Boston rotation that always needs arms. Lee is the more established bullpen piece, lefty, track record, knows how to get hitters out. Either is a legitimate MLB contributor, not a lottery ticket. In a year where the Sox bullpen has been a problem, adding a proven arm to that mix has real value even if it doesn’t change the rebuild timeline.

Cubs

Eats salary — Jaxon Wiggins (RHP)

Full salary — Phil Maton (RH) or Porter Hodge (RHP)

Chicago’s rotation is a mess and they know it. Two Tommy Johns, two hammies, a neck, a back, you may as well walk into the recovery ward of any ER Northside and see the venerable Cubs starting rotation. They had to trade for David Peterson just to stay afloat right now! If the Cubs are going to make a run, they need another reliable starter, and Gray is the definition of a reliable, veteran presence, experience in big games, innings-eater who won’t need to be pulled in the fourth. The fit is clean.

The double-package angle is worth noting: there’s real reporting floating around that Chicago could go after both Gray and Chapman in the same deal. Whether that’s actually on the table or just a fun idea that got written up is unclear—I get it with Chapman winning the WS in 2016 with the Cubbies—but if Breslow can work that angle, he should. Two complementary needs from one buyer is a GM’s dream negotiation.

Wiggins is the one I want from Chicago. He just cracked the top 100 and the scouting reports have gotten genuinely interesting, the stuff was always there, now the polish is catching up. The Cubs system has thinned out from where it was a couple of years ago (Shaw and Horton graduated, Caissie got traded), which makes Wiggins the clear headliner of what’s left. Pitcher for pitcher makes the most sense for both sides.

Full salary to Chicago means pushing for Maton or Hodge. Maton is a power arm with swing-and-miss stuff who would fit well in the back of a Boston bullpen that needs exactly that. Hodge is the younger option with more upside but less certainty. Either gives the Sox a real MLB reliever back, which is a reasonable ask when you’re handing over a $21 million arm and not asking for a cent back.

Brewers

Eats salary — Jett Williams (SS/CF)/Bishop Letson (RHP)

Full salary — Aaron Ashby (LHP)/Abner Uribe (RHP)

Milwaukee is the most interesting team in this conversation that isn’t getting talked about enough. The Brewers have the best farm system in baseball, by most accounts the best in years, and they’re contending, which means they need what Gray provides. They also develop pitching better than almost anyone in the sport. A guy like Gray going to Milwaukee under their coaching staff could buy him another productive season-plus.

The Brewers tend not to overpay at the deadline—it’s an organizational strength of theirs, which means Breslow has to go in knowing his floor. But their system is deep enough that they can give up a real piece without gutting themselves, and that’s exactly the kind of trade partner you want.

Williams is the intriguing prospect here. Traded to the Brewers from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade, his ranking has slipped slightly but the tools are still there and Milwaukee’s development track record means the ceiling hasn’t closed. Letson is more of a pure pitcher profile with a legitimate shot to move fast. Either way, the Brewers have the depth to make this hurt a little, and when the top farm system in baseball is making a move hurt, that’s a good outcome for the Sox. I’ll also say this: I really want Shane Drohan back. Boston drafted him, developed him, and then let him walk. If there’s any version of this deal where Drohan is part of the return, I’m listening.

Ashby is the name on the full-salary track. Lefty, swing-and-miss, already knows how to pitch at the big league level. He’s exactly what the Sox bullpen needs and the Brewers have the depth to absorb losing him. Uribe is the higher-upside option: the stuff plays in high leverage and if he figures out the command piece, he becomes someone. Either way, Milwaukee has the bullpen to send a real piece back without hurting their October chances.

White Sox

Eats salary — Hagen Smith (LHP)/Tanner McDougal (LHP)

Full salary — Sean Newcomb (LHP)/Grant Taylor (RHP)

Here’s the one nobody is writing about. The White Sox have been one of baseball’s most historically futile franchises for the better part of a decade. Multiple 100-loss seasons. A rebuild that took forever and delivered mixed results. Guaranteed Rate Field on a Tuesday. None of that sounds like a Gray destination.

Except they’re leading the AL Central right now.

That changes everything about this conversation. Chicago isn’t calling Boston because they’re stockpiling assets for three years from now. They’re calling because they have a pennant race on their hands for the first time in years, a market that has been starved for relevance, and a front office that knows exactly how rare and fragile first place feels when you’ve spent most of your recent history losing 95 games. A team in that position does not let a shot at Sonny Gray pass them by.

The NTC is the real question here. Gray has to approve the destination, and Chicago’s recent history is not exactly a draw. But if the White Sox are still in first at the deadline, that’s a different conversation than it would have been in April. Pitchers want to pitch in October. Gray says he’s open to a conversation. A first-place team with a real need is the kind of conversation that moves the needle on a waiver.

The farm depth is real too. All those top draft picks from the losing years are still in the system. Smith is already in the top 100 and has the profile of a back-of-rotation starter with real MLB durability. McDougal is the longer-range bet, younger, rawer, higher ceiling if the stuff develops. The Sox adding another lefty arm to the system is never a bad thing given how they develop pitching.

The full-salary version of this deal is the one I find most interesting. Boston could have a funny reunion on their hands. Newcomb returning to the organization would be interesting, and he’s been more effective in this stint than his previous run in Boston that the Sox would have something to work with. Taylor is the option if Newcomb isn’t available, left-handed, serviceable, fills a need in a pen that has needed help all year.

Giants

Eats salary — Gavin Kilen (SS/2B)

Full salary — JT Brubaker (RHP)/Sam Hentges (LHP)

San Francisco is the most interesting team on this list and probably the most overlooked one. Tony Vitello took over as manager this past offseason, coming straight from Tennessee where he built one of the better college programs in the country. He doesn’t have the personal history with Gray that Bob Melvin did, so the NTC approval is less certain here than it might have been a year ago. Oracle Park is a great place to pitch, San Francisco is a good market, and the Giants are a respectable organization—Gray could do a lot worse. But this one is a harder sell than Atlanta, and Breslow should know that going in.

What makes San Francisco interesting is Gavin Kilen.

Kilen was a Red Sox draft pick. Boston selected him, he went back to college (Louisville first, then transferred to Tennessee), and now he’s a top-five piece in the Giants system. The Tennessee connection is the thread that makes this section worth writing: Vitello coached Kilen with the Vols before taking the Giants job. So you have a manager who knows this prospect intimately, which cuts both ways — Vitello may be the last person who wants to trade him, or he may be exactly the person who knows what Kilen is and isn’t at the MLB level. Either way, Breslow has leverage in asking, because the Giants need rotation help and the Sox hold the asset. He’s the name I want from San Francisco if Boston is putting money in. Jacob Bresnahan and Blade Tidwell are also in the top-five conversation if Kilen isn’t available, Bresnahan is a sneaky-good lefty who keeps getting better, Tidwell has the stuff to move fast.

Brubaker is the headliner on the full-salary track, a legitimate MLB arm who gives the Sox a real contributor and not a project. Hentges is the alternative, left-handed and serviceable, fills a pen need. Carson Whisenhunt is worth a mention too: still a top-30 Giants prospect but he’s been down in Triple-A and could be framed as MLB-ready depth, which makes him an interesting piece that straddles both tracks.

With the tsuris Buster Posey has put himself through this season alone in the Bay Area, I could see Breslow actually end up on the right side of a deal between these former players here. We’ll give Devers to Posey, even with the drama there of late.

Atlanta is the deal that should get done and probably will. Gray approves it, the Braves need it, and the NTC leverage means Breslow can squeeze them. Cubs are the second call because of the double-package angle and the Wiggins possibility. Brewers are the sleeper with the best farm in the sport.

The Giants are the wildcard. The NTC approval is probably the easiest of any team on this list, and the Kilen homecoming angle is the best narrative piece in this whole conversation. The White Sox are the sleeper. Nobody is putting Chicago in this conversation right now, and that’s exactly why Breslow should. A franchise that’s been irrelevant for years just found itself in first place and they know the window could slam shut by September. That’s panic-buy energy, and panic-buy energy gets you Smith or McDougal. Make all five teams think the other four are ahead of them. Then close the right deal.

The salary decision is the only open question. If Breslow is building toward the deadline as a genuine rebuild, eat the salary, get the prospect, add to the system. If he thinks this team has a window to compete sooner than the standings suggest, take the MLB piece and plug the bullpen. Both are defensible. Just know what you’re doing before you pick up the phone.

PHILADELPHIA — When Brandon Marsh jogged back to left field at Citizens Bank Park in the second inning of this past Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he wasn’t just met with applause for his home run the inning before.

Fans greeted him with a vinyl banner reading "Marsh To The Polls," with several supporters sporting beards to match his own.

It marked the official start of the Phillies' final campaign push to send Marsh to the Midsummer Classic at The Bank on July 14, something he told USA TODAY Sports before the game he wasn’t letting himself think too much about.

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That doesn’t mean the All‑Star Game isn’t on his mind.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about the All-Star Game," Marsh said. "But I try my best not to and enjoy the present."

Marsh's rise from a platoon outfielder to one of the Phillies' most consistent bats is one of this season’s great storylines.

The whole city is behind MARSHY! ⭐

🗳️ https://t.co/cdVTjmanhFpic.twitter.com/aEmeQlfZRN

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 29, 2026

He opened the year hitting .295 in April — a far cry from the .095 he posted through his first 17 games last season — and strung together a 13‑game hit streak from April 28 to May 12. He followed his strong month of April with a .333 average in May. That dipped only slightly to .315 in June.

Factor in that he’s tracking toward his first All‑Star nod, and the arc becomes even more impressive.

“It’s been a different season for sure, having to adjust with the body and having to adjust with playing every day,” Marsh said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Just enjoying the ride.”

To reach this point — where he’s sitting among MLB’s top 10 leaders in batting average — Marsh has ridden out his share of turbulence. Dealt from the Los Angeles Angels at the 2022 trade deadline for top catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe, Marsh was seen as an everyday outfielder for both the present and the future. But he sat against lefties to lose starting opportunities and has mustered only two total hits across the last two postseasons, so the potential never fully materialized until now.

His path, once that of the Angels’ former No. 1 prospect, simply developed on a slower burn. It took time, and now the moment has arrived. Inside the Phillies clubhouse, his 2026 breakout hasn’t surprised anyone.

It's a 3-hit night for Brandon Marsh 👏

🗳️ https://t.co/cdVTjmanhFpic.twitter.com/q9hxVC84mQ

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 14, 2026

"He’s always been a good player," Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told USA TODAY Sports in May. "... Other people are starting to recognize him and deserve to do so."

Marsh said his breakout season stems more from a different approach and finding consistency, both with his pregame routine and playing time, than from any physical changes he made in the offseason.

To build his pregame consistency as an everyday player, Marsh has zeroed in on how veterans like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Turner attack their work and how “stubborn” they are about sticking to their routines. He also mentioned he’s trying to keep his own routine simple, hoping that simplicity creates steady production. 

"May not be true, but if you think that way, I feel like it’ll help," Marsh said.

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Marsh finally got that consistent, everyday run when Don Mattingly took over as interim manager on April 28 after the Phillies’ 9-19 start under Rob Thomson. Since then, he’s hit .329, forcing Mattingly’s hand by penciling his name into the lineup every day, including some games at cleanup. 

"It’s definitely helped just with staying in the flow of the game" Marsh said of the consistency he’s received from Mattingly. "Because pinch hitting is one of the hardest things to do in this game. It’s harder than playing every single day. … So there's something to the consistency that Donnie's been giving me and I'm super thankful."

Mattingly said he’s always believed Marsh had a good swing, and even conceded after the Phillies’ April 30 win over the Giants that when he was the manager of the Miami Marlins, the Marlins tried multiple times to trade for Marsh. 

"He’s always been, for me, a good hitter. Been able to see this guy really young and probably just building confidence over time," Mattingly said in May when asked by USA TODAY Sports what he’s seen from Marsh. "Better game planner now (too), it sounds like. Knows what he wants to do with every guy (he’s facing)."

BRANDON MARSH HOMERS FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW!

🗳️ https://t.co/cdVTjmanhFpic.twitter.com/njUInYKqrg

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 7, 2026

One contributing reason to Marsh’s platoon role under Thomson was his inability to hit against left-handed pitching. He’d either come off the bench as a defensive change late in the game once the opposing team’s left-handed starter was removed, or not play at all. 

Last season, Marsh hit .197 against left-handed pitching. He’s hitting .259 against southpaws this season. 

"You always knew he had it just by looking at his numbers based off right-handed pitching," Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott said. "Now he’s getting his chance and probably one of the best hitters in the league. It’s been really fun to watch him."

In just the last week, Marsh has delivered in big moments. In the Phillies’ dramatic 14-9 come-from-behind win over the Washington Nationals on June 23, Marsh crushed a game-tying, two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. 

BIG TIME BIG DAWG

🗳️ https://t.co/cdVTjmanhFpic.twitter.com/TDumesAxch

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 24, 2026

Through the Phillies' first 88 games, Marsh leads the team with a .315 batting average and 97 hits while he’s third in home runs, only trailing Schwarber and Harper, who have combined for 50 home runs themselves. 

Marsh’s .315 batting average is good for the seventh-best among MLB hitters. He’s already surpassed his RBI total from last season, as he has driven in 46 runs thus far in the first half. 

"He’s always asking questions, always wanting to get better. He’s putting it together," Harper said to USA TODAY Sports in May. "But he’s also taking his hits, (which) I think that’s huge also. He hits the ball both ways from left-center to right-center."

Former Phillies shortstop and manager Larry Bowa believes a big part of Marsh’s success at the plate comes from not being as hard on himself as he used to be.

"Sometimes he used to worry about his previous at bat, what he did or didn’t do. He’s finding a way now, whether you get a hit or whether you make an out, it’s a different at bat," Bowa told USA TODAY Sports. “Once you get into that mindset, the game’s never going to be easy, but you can relax a little bit."

Marsh agreed with Bowa and pushed it further. He said he’s made it a point this season not to sulk or dwell on past at‑bats, something that he’s struggled with in the past, especially once he came up to The Show after his success in the minors in the Angels’ organization. 

"Learning how to honestly laugh at yourself a little bit without making a fool out of yourself,” Marsh said. “But (also) don’t be so hard on yourself because it’s already such a hard thing. It’s a game of almost impossible odds stacked against you as a hitter … Just have to know you’re going to fail."

He goes into the Phillies’ upcoming nine-game road trip to close out the first half of the season with 18 hits and 12 RBIs in his last 15 games to go along with six home runs, three of which came in the Pirates series. 

AN ALL-STAR SWING!

🗳️ https://t.co/cdVTjmanhFpic.twitter.com/NyPuzazDQv

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 1, 2026

For all the success at the plate this season thus far, Marsh said it’s made him appreciate the work that it took to get here "a lot more."

"It makes me respect the guys that show up and step in the box or toe the rubber every single day. I now know how physically taxing it can be, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I love everything that comes with it," Marsh said. 

Marsh ranked third among NL outfielders in Phase 1 of All‑Star voting with 668,191 votes, trailing only the Dodgers’ Andy Pages (800,496) and the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. (693,472).

He’ll find out Saturday whether he’s been elected a starter for Dave Roberts’ NL squad. Starter or not, Marsh has more than earned the right to be considered for the Midsummer Classic, even if he’s too modest to say so himself.

“As a kid growing up, it's what everyone wants to be a part of, other than winning a World Series. Getting an All Star nod is pretty freakin cool,” Marsh said. “Hopefully this year I get to check it off of a bucket list. … It would mean the world, especially here in Philly playing for Philly.

“I'm getting chills right now thinking about it."

Happy Fourth of July! Or: Happy 43rd anniversary of Dave Righetti no-hitting the Red Sox at the old Yankee Stadium during another disgustingly hot day! And thank you to Rags for always giving us memories of that highlight every time Independence Day comes around.

There probably won’t be similar no-hit theatrics today, as the Yankees had to reach into the Triple-A cupboard to tap Brendan Beck for his second career appearance today with Carlos Rodón hitting the IL. On the bright side, Beck at least won’t have the pressure of snapping a losing streak, as the Yanks thankfully already did that last night by beating the Twins, 5-2. The seven-game skid is no more! So how about making it two wins in a row?

Today on the site, Nick will consider the rebuilding (but new-look) Rockies as a potential trade partner, Madison will run through the Rivalry Roundup, Jeff will celebrate what would have been the 88th birthday of our recently-departed dear friend John Sterling, and Josh will muse on how sports make us feel, particularly when our preferred team is playing such an ugly brand of baseball that it’s not even entertaining in a gallows humor-esque fashion.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins

Time: 1:35 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, Twins.TV

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. How long do you think rookie Brendan Beck will pitch today? (The Yankees have confirmed that he will start.)

2. Do you have any fun July 4th barbecue plans?