Victor Wembanyama left the court in the first half, returned and got over the 15-minute threshold, then did not play in the second half with what the Spurs called a rib contusion suffered against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he had no information or update on Wembanyama's status going forward. The injury occurred with 10:47 left in the second quarter when Paul George went to steal a pass meant for Wembanyama as he ran in transition. Wembanyama sat on the court for a minute, then checked himself out of the game and went to the locker room. He returned to play a few more minutes in the first half but did not come out for the second half, with the team announcing he would not return.
Because Wemby played more than 15 minutes, this game counts as his second "near miss" game, so it counts toward his 65-game total needed to qualify for postseason awards (Wembanyama is considered a heavy favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and is pushing the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP). Wembanyama needs to play 20+ minutes in one of the Spurs' remaining three games to reach the league-mandated 65-game threshold. While Wemby is officially listed as having played in just 63 games, he played in the NBA Cup championship game, and that counts toward the total even though it does not show up in his official stats.
Wembanyama's early exit ended a fun head-to-head matchup with Philadelphia's Joel Embiid. Wemby finished with 17 points in his limited minutes, while Embiid went on to have 34 points and 12 rebounds. The Spurs still got the win behind a triple-double from Stephon Castle.
The 2024-25 season did not treat Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen kindly. The 27-year-old goaltender finished this past campaign with a 24-24-5 record, an .887 save percentage, and a 3.20 goals-against average.
With how last season went for Luukkonen, some had questions about his future with the Sabres. While this was the case, there is no question that he has silenced his critics with his play this season.
Luukkonen has been one of the Sabres' big reasons for their major turnaround this season. In 33 games this season with Buffalo, he has a 20-9-3 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals-against average. With this, he has not only had a bounce-back season with the Sabres but has been among the NHL's top goaltenders.
Luukkonen is only continuing to impress as the season rolls on, too. In his most recent start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, he stopped 23 out of 25 shots in Buffalo's big 4-2 win.
Overall, it is hard not to be happy with Luukkonen's play this season. He has been taking his game to a new level for the Sabres, and it will be fascinating to see how he finishes off the campaign from here.
After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters that he did not know the status or severity of Wembanyama’s injury.
“I think it would be a positive that he felt he could play the last four-to-five minutes of the half,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters after the game. “That’s a positive from my perspective, but I have nothing (on his future status).”
Presumably, Wembanyama will undergo testing and imaging Tuesday, April 7, at which point the Spurs will be able to diagnose the issue, though Johnson didn’t have an answer for the timeline on that, either. Monday night’s game against the Sixers was the first game of a four-game homestand, which facilitates the process.
“At halftime, I was told he wasn’t coming back, and honest to God, I haven’t heard anything else at this point,” Johnson added.
Wembanyama appeared to suffer the injury in the second quarter, after he collided near mid-court with 76ers forward Paul George. Wembanyama went down and immediately favored his side. He would go into the locker room briefly, but returned to finish the half.
Later in the second quarter, with 2:56 left to play in the half, Wembanyama made a layup and bumped into Spurs forward Keldon Johnson as he landed. Wembanyama immediately grimaced and labored through the free throw.
What does Victor Wembanyama’s injury mean for his MVP and DPoY eligibility?
In short: Wembanyama needs to appear in at least one of San Antonio’s remaining three games, and he needs to play at least 20 minutes to meet the 65-game threshold required for individual awards eligibility.
Technically, and even though he played just 15:40 against the 76ers, Wembanyama officially played his 63rd game of the season. The 65-game rule stipulates that a player needs to play at least 20 minutes in each game to be eligible, but the NBA has two “near-miss” exceptions for when a player records between 15 and 20 minutes in a game. Monday night will go down as Wembanyama’s second exception, after he played just 17:18 in a December 18 victory over the Washington Wizards.
In addition, and even though the stats from the NBA Cup Championship do not count to his season totals, Wembanyama’s participation in the final does count toward the 65-game rule.
All of which puts him at 64 games for this season and necessitates that final 20-minute performance.
What does Victor Wembanyama’s injury mean for the Spurs?
Without knowing the severity of the injury, this is tough to project. Wembanyama, however, is one of the Top 5 players in the world, so any time missed is a blow.
His dominance on defense completely changes the way opponents can attack San Antonio. His length and versatility on offense make him a singular, three-level scorer.
All that said, the Spurs are a deep and talented team, one that is well positioned to weather a short-term absence; San Antonio went 11-5 in games this season that Wembanyama missed.
Backup Luke Kornet would presumably start in Wembanyama’s place, and even more responsibility would be placed on guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.
The Vancouver Canucks (22-46-8) hit the ice on Tuesday as they battle the Vegas Golden Knights (35-26-16). The Canucks will be looking for an elusive home win, as they have just eight in 39 games at Rogers Arena this season. As for the Golden Knights, they have been on a roll of late as they enter Tuesday with three-straight victories.
For Vancouver, the power play will be a focus. The Canucks have scored with the man advantage in the last five games and seven of the past eight. At this stage of the season, it is a positive to see the power play clicking, as it means Vancouver's top players are finding the back of the net.
As for second periods, they remain a topic of discussion surrounding the team. The Canucks have allowed a goal in the second period in each of the past 22 games and lead the NHL with 111 allowed in the middle frame. While Vancouver won't set the record for goals allowed in the second period, they are well on their way to the most against in the 21st Century.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) checks Vancouver Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Players To Watch:
Marco Rossi:
Marco Rossi has been a bright spot over the past few weeks. He is contributing to the power play and is showing he can be an impactful second-line center. If the Canucks have eyes on a win on Tuesday, they will need a big performance from Rossi both with the man advantage and at even strength.
Mark Stone:
Mark Stone continues to be Vegas' heartbeat. The Olympian is up to 67 points in 55 games, which includes 24 goals. With points in each of his last three games, odds are Stone will once again find his way onto the scoresheet.
Vancouver Canucks (22–46–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–33–48
Filip Hronek: 8–38–46
Brock Boeser: 21–23–44
Jake DeBrusk: 19–19–38
Linus Karlsson: 15-18-33
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 9–26–5
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–9–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Vegas Golden Knights (35–26–16):
Points:
Jack Eichel: 25-57-82
Mitch Marner: 23-54-77
Mark Stone: 24-43-67
Pavel Dorofeyev: 35-26-61
Ivan Barbashev: 22-36-58
Goaltenders:
Akira Schmid: 16-10-6
Adin Hill: 10-9-5
Carter Hart: 7-3-3
Carl Lindbom: 2-4-2
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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For one last time this season, the Montreal Canadiens will take on the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. This will be the third meeting between the two sides, and the Habs will be going for the season sweep after winning the first two matchups. In fact, Montreal has now won seven consecutive games against the Florida outfit, with the visitors only having won three of the last 10 tilts.
While the hosts have a fantastic 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games, the visitors have a 4-6-0 record over the same span and have lost their last two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins, being outscored 14-6 in the process. It should be noted that Florida is playing without many of its regulars right now: captain Aleksander Barkov, who has missed the entire season; Brad Marchand; Evan Rodrigues; Sam Reinhart; Anton Lundell; Aaron Ekblad; and Jonah Gadjovich. Most of whom are likely to be out for the rest of the season.
Both teams had a day off yesterday and have yet to confirm who will be tending the net, but I would expect Jakub Dobes to be back in the net after Jacob Fowler lost 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils in his last outing. The Czech netminder has won his only game against the Cats, shutting them out 4-0 in his NHL debut back in December 2024. As for Fowler, he has never faced them since Samuel Montembeault was on duty for both games against his former team this season.
Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky has a 16-10-1 record against the Canadiens with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, while backup Daniil Tarasov is 0-1-1 with a 2.72 GAA and a .897 SV. The backup was in net for the Cats’ last game, so the smart money is on Bobrovsky being back between the pipes, eager to bounce back after being yanked in a 9-4 loss against Pittsburgh.
Up front, fans and media alike are still on the “Cole Caufield 50-goal watch”, and the sniper has put up 14 points in 16 duels against the Cats, including eight goals, but only one of those was scored against Bobrovsky. Brendan Gallagher remains the Canadiens’ most productive player against Florida with 24 points in 42 games, but captain Nick Suzuki is fast catching up with 23 points in just 21 games. That bodes well for Suzuki, who currently has 95 points and just needs one to tie Pierre Turgeon as the Canadiens’ captain who has put up the most points in a single season with 96 in 1995-96. With five games to go, chances are Suzuki would also like to reach the century mark, and a depleted Panthers side might just be exactly what the doctor ordered. Finally, Josh Anderson is tied with Caufield as the Habs’ third most productive player against the visitors, but he needed 25 games to register his 14 points.
As for the visitors, uber pest Matthew Tkachuk is their most productive player against Montreal with 28 points in just 26 games, followed by Sam Bennett, who has 24 points in 30 games and Seth Jones, who has 15 points in 28 tilts. Reinhart, Ekblad and Marchand would all have been up there, but as mentioned earlier, they are all out of commission.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch the game on RDS, TSN2, and SCRIPPS. Eric Furlatt and Justin Kea are set to officiate, while Trent Knorr and Jeremy Faucher will be the linemen. The Canadiens are currently third in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Buffalo Sabres and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who now both have 102 points thanks to the Sabres’ 4-2 win over the Bolts on Monday night. As for the Carolina Hurricanes, they lead the Eastern Conference with 104 points, and are still mathematically catchable.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils runs downt the court against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
College basketball season is over, and the Michigan Wolverines are national champions. Now the 2026 NBA Draft is on the clock.
This has long been considered a strong class due to the three star freshmen expected to go with the first three picks. The draft lottery on May 10 will determine in what order Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa come off the board. The rise of fellow freshmen like North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings makes this class even stronger in the first half of the lottery.
The Final Four had so many great NBA prospects on display. This mock draft features a whopping nine players who competed in Indianapolis for the national semifinals. Wagler will have a chance to go as high as No. 5 overall, and Brayden Mullins’ incredible Elite Eight buzzer-beater to stun Duke now has him in his highest mock draft position all season.
Here’s our latest projection of the 2026 NBA Draft. The order is determined by the NBA’s current lottery position standings.
Pick
Team
Player
Position
School
Age
1
Washington Wizards
Cameron Boozer
Forward
Duke
Freshman
2
Indiana Pacers
Darryn Peterson
Guard
Kansas
Freshman
3
Brooklyn Nets
AJ Dybantsa
Wing
BYU
Freshman
4
Utah Jazz
Caleb Wilson
Forward
North Carolina
Freshman
5
Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff
Guard
Arkansas
Freshman
6
Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)
Keaton Wagler
Guard
Illinois
Freshman
7
Memphis Grizzlies
Kingston Flemings
Guard
Houston
Freshman
8
Dallas Mavericks
Mikel Brown Jr.
Guard
Louisville
Freshman
9
Chicago Bulls
Aday Mara
Center
Michigan
Junior
10
Milwaukee Bucks
Brayden Burries
Guard
Arizona
Freshman
11
Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg
Forward
Michigan
Senior
12
Portland Trail Blazers
Nate Ament
Wing
Tennessee
Freshman
13
Miami Heat
Karim Lopez
Forward
NZ Breakers
Born 2007
14
Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)
Jayden Quaintance
Center/Forward
Kentucky
Sophomore
15
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)
Hannes Steinbach
Forward/Center
Washington
Freshman
16
Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson
Center/Forward
Michigan
Sophomore
17
Toronto Raptors
Labaron Philon
Guard
Alabama
Sophomore
18
Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)
Braylon Mullins
Guard
UConn
Freshman
19
Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)
Bennett Stirtz
Guard
Iowa
Senior
20
San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)
Patrick Ngongba
Center
Duke
Sophomore
21
Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)
Thomas Haugh
Forward
Florida
Junior
22
Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)
Cameron Carr
Wing
Baylor
Junior
23
Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)
Motiejus Krivas
Center
Arizona
Junior
24
Los Angeles Lakers
Dailyn Swain
Forward
Texas
Junior
25
New York Knicks
Tyler Tanner
Guard
Vanderbilt
Sophomore
26
Denver Nuggets
Allen Graves
Forward
Santa Clara
Freshman
27
Boston Celtics
Tounde Yessoufou
Guard
Baylor
Freshman
28
Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)
Joshua Jefferson
Forward
Iowa State
Senior
29
Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)
Koa Peat
Forward
Arizona
Freshman
30
Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)
Tarris Reed
Center
UConn
Senior
Some do some quick takes here:
Boozer is my No. 1 prospect because he was obviously the best player in the country this year, he’s the youngest of the big three, he has the strongest feel for the game, and the best offensive versatility. I don’t understand the skepticism about his upside as he goes to the next level. All he does is impact winning to the highest degree. I really like his fit in Washington with a mobile defensive center in Alex Sarr.
I love the fit with Mikel Brown Jr. going to Dallas. The Point Flagg experiment was cool, but let’s get him focused on playing elite level defensive again.
Bennett Stirtz is my favorite prospect after the lottery this year. He’s an elite shot-maker with the strong feel who should thrive once he exits Iowa head coach Ben McCollum’s super slow offense.
The toughest evaluation this year is Jayden Quaintance. He looked like a stud as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State a year ago, but recovering from a torn ACL wiped away almost his entire season at Kentucky this year. Quaintance has great physical tools, but his offensive impact is questionable. I thought he’d be a lock for a top-10 pick coming into the year, and now it’s extremely difficult to project where he could go.
Got a question or comment about this mock? Leave a comment and I’ll respond
Let’s start by making a few things clear. This is not about wins and losses. This is not even just about the Phoenix Suns. This is about the NBA.
This is about a billion-dollar product that a lot of us pay a lot of money to watch. This is about a league which claims to “encourage[e] communication, dialogue[,] and transparency with NBA fans…” while showing little to no effort to meet such a goal. But it is becoming clear to me that this may not be an issue if Adam Silver actually put competent leadership in place.
Let’s also be clear that these failures of NBA executives are not a new development. Not at all. The NBA’s leadership void has persisted for years – and evidence suggests the problem is only becoming exacerbated.
Let’s start with Kathy Behrens
Behrens is the Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs for the NBA. According to her bio, she “oversees a group that manages all of the NBA’s programs that coordinate league and player social responsibility efforts, support player growth and development, and enhance the marketing opportunities for current and former players.”
For instance, after Draymond Green punched Jusuf Nurkic on December 13, 2023, the NBA suspended him indefinitely, and Behrens played a role in regular “check-in calls” with Green before he was allowed to return from suspension.
Sounds like Behrens is a real difference-maker in a positive way, right?
That might be the case if you are able to ignore the fact that Kathy Behrens enabled Green’s violent behavior before finally seeing what the rest of the world had seen for years.
Let’s go back to October 5, 2022, when Draymond Green attacked his teammate, Jordan Poole, during a Golden State Warriors team practice. Frankly, my legal background made it an intriguing situation, so I reached out to Behrens via email, asking why the NBA had not issued any discipline to Green. While, for reasons I will not get into here, my email (curiously) never reached Behrens, she eventually provided me with some insight via a Twitter DM.
With respect to Green, Behrens told me that “the [Warriors] disciplined him and [the NBA] determined that was sufficient.”
Public reports regarding the incident, however, suggested that Green faced potential discipline, but that it would be handled internally. So, I asked Behrens if she could clarify the “sufficient” discipline that the Warriors had levied.
In response, Behrens stated, “The warriors suspended him and it was made public…” and that the NBA believes that “was the right outcome.”
The problem with Behrens’ statement, however, is that public reports stated that Green “was fined but not suspended.”
I pointed this out to Behrens, and she changed her response to me: “Draymond was kept out of practice for a number of days and then fined by the team.”
I followed up and asked Behrens how Green’s actions and the NBA’s response fit within the league’s social responsibility principles – what did that result in?
So, let’s recap:
Draymond Green attacks his teammate in 2022.
The NBA’s Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs, admittedly, does nothing about it – in fact, does not even know what discipline was levied by the Warriors.
When I ask whether Green’s conduct falls within the purview of her job, Behrens blocks me.
One year later, Green attacks Nukic in the middle of a game and THEN the NBA – and Behrens – decide something needs to be done.
What took Behrens so long to take action against Green?
Why did Behrens not even know what discipline – if any – was levied the first time around?
Why would Behrens block someone for asking about the NBA’s role in social responsibility?
All signs point to complete ineptitude in her role. Nothing more, nothing less.
Let’s move on to officiating – and the man responsible for NBA officials – Albert Sanders, Jr.
Sanders is the NBA’s Executive Vice President, Head of Referee Operations. You can learn more about him in this lovely puff piece written by Dan Woike.
According to Woike, Sanders took his job with the NBA “[b]ecause the rules matter.” Which is ironic, considering the fact that Sanders’ officials consistently fail to enforce the rules.
Now, before diving deep into the failures of Sanders and his officials, let’s provide some context for these referees. NBA referees are touted as being the best of the best. That, presumably, is why they are paid between $250,000 and $550,000 per year. They are paid very well to perform in a high-profile job in – as referenced above – a billion-dollar industry.
This, of course, makes their constant failures – and the lack of any discipline or transparency from Sanders – particularly frustrating.
Now, I could post video after video of NBA officials missing calls, but that does not seem productive. Even the most egregious misses, in theory, can be explained by the game speed, angles, etc. So, for purposes of this article, we’ll give officials the benefit of the doubt for on-floor calls.
Let’s focus on more objective standards.
First, the pool reports that are done by NBA officials after certain games and numerous instances where NBA referees have provided explanations/answers to pool questions that are inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook.
Why focus on that? Because these are irrefutable instances where NBA referees demonstrate a complete lack of understanding when it comes to the NBA Rulebook – a circumstance that, for individuals being paid as much as they are and who are as imperative to the game as they are, should be unacceptable to Albert Sanders, Jr.
In the NBA Rulebook, can profanity lead to a technical foul? Yes, it can.
But “Cursing at or blaspheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls.” (emphasis added.)
So, Foster states that Kidd was ejected for using profanity at an NBA official on two occasions, but the NBA Rulebook provides that such conduct is not even sufficient grounds for one technical foul, let alone an ejection. Objectively, Scott Foster’s response to the pool reporter’s question is inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook.
While Scott Foster may have been besties with Tim Donaghy and, therefore, of questionable ethical makeup in the first place, he has been an NBA referee for more than 30 years, and his inability to grasp the rules is inexcusable.
In any other workplace, such incompetence would not be tolerated. In the NBA, it seems as though it is almost celebrated.
Exhibit 2
You all may recall this one. On December 14, 2025, LeBron James manhandled a referee in a game against the Phoenix Suns and what came of it? Zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
And why was that, you may ask?
Well, according to Tyler Ford (I know, I know…), “During instant replay review, we have the ability to review all unsportsmanlike acts. There was no unsportsmanlike act observed for making contact with a referee.”
Pool report with lead official Tyler Ford on Phoenix Suns 116-114 loss to Los Angeles Lakers Dec. 14 at Mortgage Matchup Center. #Suns#LakeShowpic.twitter.com/wIxfZQrphq
Once again, an NBA official makes a statement that is entirely inconsistent with the NBA Rulebook, which states:
Let’s break this language down, shall we?
According to the dictionary (yes, it needs to be this elementary for NBA officials), “shall” means, “expressing an instruction or command.” In other words, if someone “shall” do something, they are required to do something.
Applying the foregoing to the NBA Rulebook means that an NBA referee must issue a technical foul if a player makes contact with a referee because, by definition, contacting a referee is an “unsportsmanlike act.” The Rulebook does not provide a subjective aspect where the official can decide whether or not an “unsportsmanlike act” exists.
But, apparently, Tyler Ford believes that this subjective element exists. In reality, however, LeBron should have been assessed a technical foul for contacting a game official. Tyler Ford’s explanation indicates that either (1) he expressly ignores the NBA Rulebook and calls games on his own prerogative (which is not entirely out of the question), or (2) he does not know the NBA Rulebook.
Either way, Ford’s nonsensical explanation is another demonstration of Albert Sanders, Jr.’s failures as an NBA executive.
Exhibit 3
OK…this one is not from a pool report, but it is equally objective.
How many times have we seen a referee allow a challenge by an opposing team after a member of the Phoenix Suns has already been given the ball at the free throw line?
Well, guess what? The NBA Rulebook says that cannot happen.
Not to belabor the point – because it is explained in the tweet – but, under the NBA Rulebook, to initiate a Challenge, the team challenging the call “must call a legal timeout immediately after the call….”
Going back to our trusty dictionary, “must” means “to be obliged or bound to by an imperative requirement.” In other words, “must” – much like “shall” – indicates a “requirement.”
Lucky for us, the NBA Rulebook actually defines the term “immediately.”
In the clip referenced above, Ray Acosta passes the ball to Devin Booker, looks to the bench, then blows his whistle and awards the challenge – a decision that Crew Chief, Tyler Ford (yeah, that guy, again), should not have allowed. But, of course, Ford has already demonstrated his inability to grasp the rules.
At the point where Acosta releases the ball to give to Devin Booker, there is no longer the ability to challenge the call. Objectively, that is what the NBA Rulebook says.
So, again, why this error? Incompetence.
And it all starts at the top with Albert Sanders, Jr.
While we are at it, it bears noting that this has happened to the Phoenix Suns at least three times this season – and at least twice to Devin Booker.
So, if the NBA is becoming less watchable for you, these are two individuals who can carry a large load of the blame.
Lastly, I will note that I reached out to Behrens, Sanders, and even Sanders’ boss, Byron Spruell, about these issues. Perhaps not surprisingly, I received no response. Which begs the question: why is the NBA so scared of transparency? Why would Behrens, Sanders, and Spruell not want to demonstrate that the NBA operates with integrity?
Their silence provides all the answers I need.
But, hey…maybe I’m wrong about everything. Maybe every piece of analysis in this article is wrong.
If so, Kathy, Albert, and Byron know how to find me.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- Top forward prospect Victor Eklund could be a call-up option for the New York Islanders before the season comes to a close, per general manager Mathieu Darche.
"We're looking at everything for sure," Darche said as his team tries to recover from a four-game slide to get back into a playoff spot with four games to go. "Eklund has done really well in Bridgeport. Obviously, he's put up points. There are other aspects of the game. Obviously, there's a first adjustment. What makes the adjustment maybe a bit easier for him is that he played against men this year in the SHL."
Through his first four AHL games, the Islanders' second of three first-round picks at the 2025 NHL Draft (No. 16) has recorded six assists.
But, as Darche said, it's more about points, and well, he's been really strong in all three zones. He has a tremendous grasp of where he needs to be positioned, too, and he's got a drive, a motor that will make him a fan favorite.
Eklund, who signed his three-year entry-level deal last August, is eligible to be recalled without the Islanders having to make any kind of roster moves.
The first season of his ELC will slide if he plays fewer than 10 NHL games, including the postseason, if the Islanders qualify.
Even if recalled, the 19-year-old will be eligible for the AHL Playoffs.
If not this season, Eklund will be a player to watch at training camp, as he'll certainly be fighting for a roster spot ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Detroit Red Wings - 40-29-8 - 88 Points - 4-6-0 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 6th in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-27-12 - 88 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Lost 3 - 5th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus fell 2-1 to Winnipeg in its most recent contest on Saturday. It begins its final road trip of the regular season on Tuesday at Detroit and includes games at Buffalo (Thursday) and Montreal (Saturday).
The Blue Jackets play all four of their games this week against the Atlantic Division. The club has earned points in 18 of its last 22 games against the division dating back to Apr. 8, 2025 (13-4-5).
CBJ rank second in the NHL in scoring the first goal of the game (46) and fourth in goals scored in the opening period (79).
The Jackets have also earned points in 25 of their past 33 contests overall since Jan. 11 (20-8-5, 45 pts.). The club ranks third in the league in goals-against per game (2.61) and fifth-T in points pct. (.632) over that stretch.
The team has earned points in 10 of its last 14 road games, ranking fifth in the league in points pct. since Jan. 11 (9-4-1, .679).
Columbus leads the NHL with a franchise-record 57 goals scored by defensemen in 2025-26 (57-133-190, 77 GP).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli has set single-season career highs in assists and points with 21-34-55 in 77 contests.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 15 of his last 19 starts (12-4-3, 2.34 GAA, .913 SV% in 20 GP), ranking fifth among goaltenders in GAA and seventh in SV% since Jan. 11 (min. 6 GP).
Kirill Marchenko has posted assists in three of the past four games (1-4-5) and is the fifth player in Blue Jackets history with 25-plus goals in consecutive seasons (31 in 2024-25; 26 in 2025-26).
Mason Marchment has collected assists in each of his past three outings (1-4-5) and has 2-5-7 in his last six games. He ranks second on the team in goals since making his CBJ debut on Dec. 20, 2025 (14-14-28 in 34 GP).
Zach Werenski, with 21-57-78 in 70 games in 2025-26, sits two assists shy of tying the franchise's record for assists in a single season set by Artemi Panarin (79 GP in 2018-19) and matched by the defenseman in 2024-25 (81 GP). He's also two points away from becoming the third American-born defenseman in NHL history with consecutive 80-point campaigns (Brian Leetch, 1990-91 - 1991-92 with NYR; Phil Housley, 1991-92 - 1992-93 with WPG).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.5% - 21st in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.3% - 27th in the NHL
Goals For - 236 - 18th in the NHL
Goals Against - 234 - 22nd in the NHL
Red WingsStats
Power Play - 22.0% - 13th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.3% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 223 - 22nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 231 - 12th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheRed Wings
Columbus is 49-52-1-15 all-time, and 21-28-0-8 all-time in Detroit.
Columbus has earned points in four-straight meetings of the series vs. Detroit (3-0-1) and five of the last six (3-1-2).
CBJ have earned points in three consecutive road games (1-0-2) and five of the past six at Little Caesars Arena (3-1-2).
After going 19-39-11 vs. Detroit from 2000-12, the Blue Jackets are 30-13-5 since the 2012-13 campaign.
The road team has recorded points in 10 of the last 12 games of the series dating back to Apr. 9, 2022 (7-2-3).
The teams have combined for seven or more goals in 13 of the past 16 contests, including the last seven-straight.
The winning team has scored four or more goals in 16 consecutive games since May 7, 2021, and in 18 of the last 20 in the overall series dating back to Mar. 2, 2021.
Five of the past six games at Detroit have been decided by a single goal with three decided in overtime (CBJ; 1-2).
CBJ has scored a power play goal in five of the past six meetings overall (6-of-13; 46.2 pct.)
Who To Watch For TheRed Wings
Alex DeBrincat leads the team with 39 goals and 81 points.
Lucas Raymond leads Detroit with 48 assists.
Goalie John Gibson is 28-20-3 with a SV% of .904.
CBJ Player Notes vsRed Wings
Boone Jenner has 29 points in 35 games vs. the Red Wings.
Zach Werenski has 25 points in 27 games.
Charlie Coyle has 14 points in his career against Detroit.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 39 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Damon Severson - Missed 5 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
Dmitri Voronkov - Missed 4 Games - Upper Body - Week-to-week
Mathieu Olivier - Missed 3 Games - Upper Body - OUT FOR THE SEASON
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 198
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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INDIANAPOLIS — You wouldn’t think Michigan would be all smiles at halftime.
Yes, it had a four point lead over Connecticut in the national championship game, but it was an unattractive four-point lead. It was arguably the worst first-half performance of the season. Not only did the Wolverines fail to make a single 3-pointer in the first half – the only time that’s happened this season – but there were no makes outside of the paint.
An awful first 20 minutes, but the Wolverines weren’t just staying positive, they were beaming in happiness.
Why?
"It can’t get any worse," Michigan guard Nimari Bennett told USA TODAY Sports.
True, but it’s not like the second half was any better. Michigan struggled offensively for all 40 minutes. The 69 points were Michigan's third lowest of the season. It was the worst 3-point shooting night of the season.
Actually, it was the worst shooting performance of the season, period.
UConn needed to make Michigan look ugly to win. It did that – and it still lost.
So, how did the Wolverines do it?
Because of one thing hiding in plain sight; while Michigan was lighting up the scoreboard with its prolific offense all tournament long, it made everyone forget one thing: they are just as good on defense.
The Wolverines made sure to remind everybody on Monday, resulting in a national championship as those halftime smiles carried over to after the buzzer sounded and Lucas Oil Stadium rained maize and blue confetti.
It’s not like Michigan’s defensive prowess wasn't there for all to see. Three players – Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara – were Big Ten all-defensive players, with Mara the conference defensive player of the year.
That’s why teams’ defensive shooting percentage of 38.4% and average of 6.1 blocks per game were each the second best mark in the country, and it was on full display in the NCAA Tournament.
The reason why Michigan won its first five tournament games by an average of 21.6 points per game wasn’t just because it was scoring at least 90 points, but because it harassed opposing offenses every night.
No team shot above 45% against the Wolverines, and the collective opponent shooting percentage from those games? A whopping 37.9%. The defense got better in the tournament.
"The statistics, it speaks for itself," Bennett said. "I feel like we're the best defensive team in the country."
Bennett and company did prove it. UConn shot a season-worst 31% from the field. A team that was top 10 in assists with more than 18 per game had just nine, the only time it was held to single digits.
Despite making nine three pointers, UConn missed 24 attempts. Shots were constantly getting contested by the the Wolverines' quickness to the ball. Even with the looks UConn wanted, not many of them were wide open.
It didn't get any easier near the basket. Six shots inside the paint got swatted away, making it tough for the Huskies to prevail even with their own defensive toughness.
"It's hard to have a level of disappointment where literally it just came down to we just didn't make enough shots in the basket," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "To be able to keep that team under 40% from the field – 38% – this team has destroyed everyone they've faced in this tournament."
In the NCAA Tournament, teams are 1-50 all-time when:
- scoring under 70 points - shooting under 40.0% from the field - shooting under 15.0% from three on 15+ attempts - getting outrebounded
For all of its defensive success, Michigan still had to find a way to score, and it did so in an uncharacteristic way.
If there was one thing Michigan wasn’t good at, it was free throws. The Wolverines entered the night 109th in the country with a 74.3% mark from the charity stripe. They drew fouls, resulting in 28 free throw attempts.
How many makes? How about 25 for an 89.3% clip.
All of it proving to be just enough to get the biggest win of the season.
"We started off really, really bad offensively, our defense was the reason why we won most of those games, today is the same thing," Lendeborg said. "We had to dig deep."
While it wasn’t pretty by any means, how Michigan won showed there is nothing to doubt about this title. Since the statement it made at the Player’s Era tournament, Michigan had been a relentless machine on both sides of the ball, churning blowout after blowout, no matter who was on the other side.
Even when it isn’t able to do that, instead of falling apart like most teams could, the Wolverines opted to hone in on one of its many strengths and ride it toward a win.
"They're legit. They definitely deserved to win the national championship. They're clearly the best team in the country this year," Hurley said.
UConn wanted a slugfest, and it’s exactly what it got. Michigan coach Dusty May actually admitted the Huskies "had a masterful game plan to beat us." All of it pointed to a third national title in four years to cement Hurley’s dynasty.
Little did UConn and the rest of the country realize Michigan had been throwing it down all season, and it didn’t need another offensive surge to do that. The defense carried Michigan just as much to this point, and in the end, it proved defense wins championships.
"Obviously, it's a big stage, but we deserve to be here," Bennett said. "We deserve this moment."
One area the Philadelphia Flyers still need to address, regardless of a successful playoff push, is the center position. By the sounds of it, they'll be one of many teams queueing up to sign a burgeoning KHL star.
On Monday, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that north of 15 NHL teams--effectively half the league or more--have interest in Dinamo Minsk center Vitali Pinchuk, who had 31 goals and 66 points in 65 games this season.
And, a few hours later, Daily Faceoff NHL insider Anthony Di Marco added that the Flyers have at least some degree of interest in the 6-foot-3 center, which we can assume places them within Seravalli's group of teams as well.
Pinchuk, 24, has steadily improved each year he's been in the KHL, progressing from zero points in 12 games in 2021-22, to 14 points in 61 games in 2022-23, to 43 points in 66 games last year, to 66 points in 65 games this year.
Not sure if it's already been said, but I'm told the Flyers do have some level of interest in Vintali Pinchuk.@DailyFaceoff
With Trevor Zegras, Noah Cates, Sean Couturier, and Christian Dvorak all in the fold for the foreseeable future, any center the Flyers sign will have to be a meaningful addition.
Pinchuk's rather steady developmental curve bodes well for an NHL future, even if he isn't necessarily a star at the end of the day.
The Flyers, of course, also covet size, as evidenced by many recent draft selections. Jack Berglund, Porter Martone, Spencer Gill, Shane Vansaghi, and Carter Amico are all physical forces who bring other positive traits to the table, be it skating, intangibles, or just raw skill.
Pinchuk, we can safely assume, has the skill, evidenced by his 31-goal explosion this year, and he's plenty big for the NHL.
If the Flyers need a second opinion to complement the scouting reports they will invariably have in-house, they don't have to go very far to find one.
Now that two trustworthy insiders have come together to virtually guarantee the Flyers' interest, at least to some extend, it's a situation to watch for the fast-approaching NHL offseason.
Apr 6, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Baltimore Orioles players celebrate teams win against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Is it dramatic to suggest that last night’s Orioles game against the White Sox was a must-win? Probably. But if the O’s had followed up an ugly sweep in Pittsburgh by losing to the two-time reigning worst team in the American League, even the most level-headed fans among us might have thrown their TVs out the window.
Fortunately, it didn’t happen. The O’s escaped the opener in the Windy City with a 2-1 victory to snap their three-game losing streak. Their record is now 4-6, which isn’t good but somehow ties them for third place in the AL East. Brandon Young, fresh up from the minors for his season debut, played the hero with five shutout innings of work, immediately making him the second-best starter on the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson hit a massive dinger. Ryan Helsley overcame control problems in the ninth to strand the tying and winning runs on base. Check out Stacey’s recap for the full breakdown of the action.
Was it the kind of game that will make anyone feel better about the Orioles? No, not really. The O’s offense again was utterly inept aside from the Henderson homer. Their only other run scored on a routine fly ball that fell in for a single when Austin Hays strained his hamstring on the play. The O’s went hitless with runners in scoring position, grounded into two double plays, and struck out seven times (three by Henderson) with just one walk. Tyler O’Neill failed to hustle on the Hays play, settling in at first base when he should have easily been on second. There was plenty of the typical O’s sloppiness, and you get the feeling that the Birds wouldn’t have been so fortunate to win if they’d been playing against a better team.
Still, a win is a win, and the Orioles will gladly take one however they can get it. They’ve got two more games to try to keep taking advantage of the White Sox. A reminder that today’s game has been moved up to a 3:10 ET start time rather than 7:40 in hopes of avoiding the bitter cold that’s sweeping through Chicago. Trevor Rogers will start for the Orioles against 2025 All-Star Shane Smith.
The O’s have yet to win two games in a row this season. Maybe today is the day that changes.
Based on last night’s game alone, I don’t know who Adley is. He went 0-for-3 and committed a throwing error, but also hustled into a run and threw out two base stealers. The guy is all over the place.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with two former Orioles: right-hander Ricky Bones (57) and the late Baltimore-born righty Tom Phoebus (b. 1942, d. 2019), who threw a no-hitter for his hometown team in 1968. I’ll also give an honorable mention to fellow Maryland native Josh Hader (32), who isn’t technically a former Oriole but started his pro career in the O’s system before being traded as a prospect for Bud Norris.
On this date in 1977, a 20-year-old designated hitter named Eddie Murray made his major league debut for the Orioles, going 1-for-4. His first career hit was a seventh-inning single off the Rangers’ Bert Blyleven. Murray went on to win AL Rookie of the Year that season on his way to an incredible 21-year MLB career that led him to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (where he was later joined by Blyleven). The Orioles’ starting pitcher in Murray’s debut was another Hall of Famer, Jim Palmer. Quite the star-studded affair.
Random Orioles game of the day
Despite popular demand, it’s the return of the Random Orioles Game of the Day feature. I’ll use a random number generator to pick a season from Orioles history and check out how they fared on this date. Today’s random year is: 2023. Ooh, that was a good year.
On April 7, 2023, the Orioles beat the Yankees in a 7-6 barnburner in their home opener at Camden Yards. In front of a sellout crowd of 45,017, the O’s took a 4-0 lead, then fell behind 5-4, then tied the game on an Adley Rutschman RBI single in the sixth and took the lead on a Ramón Urías double in the seventh. Félix Bautista allowed the potential tying run to get to third base in the ninth before nailing down the final out. It was a great start for an Orioles team that ultimately was 17 games above .500 at home that year.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 04: Kerry Carpenter #30 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his first inning two run home run with Riley Greene #31 behind Pedro Pagés #43 of the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park on April 04, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 St. Louis Cardinals season is off and rolling! So far, they have displayed a gritty never-say-die attitude and style of play that Cardinals fans have historically appreciated. Rookie top prospect JJ Wetherholt is leading off (almost) every game and doesn’t look out of place doing it. Alec Burleson is doing Burly things, playing a solid defensive 1B and providing steady, consistent, offensive production. Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, and Victor Scott have each displayed varying levels of steps forward in their performances thus far! Obvious caveat that it’s still early, and we have much larger previous sample sizes to suggest that Cardinals fans should be rightfully skeptical, but also optimistic, that these improvements can be sustainable.
Ivan Herrera is really starting to lock in offensively. After a 1-13 (.077/.071/.154) -45 wRC+ to start the season in the Tampa Bay Rays series. Since then, Herrera seems to be locking in as that offensive threat once more, going 5-15 (.333/.545/.467) 189 wRC+. Small sample sizes abound! (sorry, Morty)
The other prominent Catcher on the team has once again drawn the ire of Cardinal nation as Pedro Pages is off to a relatively rough start offensively, going 3-16 (.188/.278/.375) 94 wRC+. Which isn’t THAT big of a deal if it weren’t for another young catcher putting up an early-season performance that seems to have Cardinals fans really revved up for a changing of the guard.
Jimmy Crooks is 8-18 (.444/.545/1.000) 285 wRC+ against AAA pitching in a 5-game sample size.
Crooks is off to a really good start, and when he makes contact with the baseball its really exciting. The defensive acumen is big league caliber, and Crooks clearly has a big league future. What still needs work is the quality of the at-bats. As you can see here from Prospect Savant, the swing decisions and the chase rate would only get worse, not better, as he faced the next level of pitching. Which we watched play out at the big level in his cup of coffee at the end of the 2025 season.
As we’ve seen with the likes of Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker. All of these players have exciting traits when they impact the baseball, but controlling the strike zone, getting their pitch to hit, and covering areas of the zone that big league pitchers will pick apart are elements that prevent them from displaying their talents to their fullest potential.
Rebuilds are hard for fans. Especially a fan base that hasn’t experienced one in over 30 years. Patience is important for fans who hope to return to being a perennial force in the National League. I liken Cardinals prospects to a casserole. The likes many of you probably experienced this past Easter Sunday. Cardinals prospects like Jordan Walker once again, for example, have been elevated before they were “fully baked” at the minor league level. As an organization, you don’t want to “pick around the raw parts.” Chances are you’ll be left disappointed with your experience. Cardinals prospects should be viewed in a similar light. Despite your “hunger,” exercising caution and allowing players to fully develop at the minor league level will ultimately pay off long term.
The Cardinals took what I consider to be the right decision in demoting players like Josh Baez, Blaze Jordan, Jimmy Crooks, and Richard Fitts before the season. I also thought Nathan Church was someone who could benefit from more AAA seasoning, and after an electrifying performance on Opening Day, Church’s numbers early aren’t all that great. 3-22 (.136/.174/.136) -7 wRC+ I seem to have been correct (early) about that observation.
As all listed players above display exciting potential but aren’t quite ready to impact the major league level, and while the allure of something new and exciting at the AAA level will be tempting, as a majority of Cardinals fans watch a sub standard product that they’re not accustomed to, the Cardinals front office will exercise discipline and patience to ensure that players are fully ready to make the transition to the major leagues. Which means, barring injury, a lot of what you see is what you get early in 2026!
BINGHAMTON, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: George Lombard Jr. #2 of the Somerset Patriots Warms-up during the game between the Somerset Patriots and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Mirabito Stadium on Thursday, September 18, 2025 in Binghamton, New York. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
For the first time this year, all four Yankees full-season affiliates were in action this past week, as Somerset, Hudson Valley, and kicked off their seasons on Friday night while Scranton put in a full week of work. Some bad weather led to several postponements around the system, but we got to see a great deal of the organization’s top prospects on both sides of the ball. With the first full week of the season beginning Tuesday night, let’s recap the appetizer.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 6-3, 1 GB in the International League East after a 4-2 week against the Rochester Red Wings (Nationals)
Run differential: +29
Coming up: Home vs. Durham Bulls (Rays)
The RailRiders got off to a bad start to their first full week of the year after Tuesday’s opener was rained out, and they dropped back-to-back games to open the week. Poor defense doomed a less-sharp Brendan Beck on Wednesday, while the bats fell silent in Elmer Rodriguez’s season debut on Thursday. The right-hander tossed five solid innings, allowing one run with two strikeouts in a losing effort. He spent the first week of the season on the Temporarily Inactive List on paternity leave.
Scranton rebounded in a big way by dominating a Friday twin bill, taking the opener 4-2 before blasting their way to a 17-4 win in the nightcap that required Braden Shewmake (yes, the infielder) to get the final out. Remember Zack Short from spring training? He was the sacrificial lamb for Rochester in the seventh inning of that game. Carlos Lagrange pitched in the matinee and only lasted 3.1 innings, walking five batters in a choppy outing. It’s the first time we’ve really seen those command issues pop up.
Dom Hamel had a second straight mediocre start on Saturday, but was picked up by home runs by Paul DeJong and Seth Brown, who was promoted to Scranton after being in a weird, organizational limbo for a week without an assignment. The offense exploded again on Sunday, putting up 16 runs to secure a series victory, while Luis Gil made his season debut and allowed three runs in 4.2 choppy innings.
There are a lot of standout performers here. Ernesto Martinez Jr. had a very strong week as he makes his case as next-up on the first base depth chart. Yanquiel Fernández absolutely had a case to be the Prospect of the Week, but I’m not sure he counts. Either way, he went 8-for-25 with three home runs, five extra-base hits, and eight RBIs. It makes you wonder why a team like the Rockies gave up on someone who just turned 23, who’s able to put an absolute charge into the ball.
Why did the Rockies give up Yanquiel Fernandez after one poor showing in the bigs? pic.twitter.com/zWVRnXshJZ
While other veterans like DeJong and Ali Sánchez had strong weeks, the focus is naturally on the prospects. Jasson Domínguez is hitting the cover off the ball to start the year and went 7-for-16 with two home runs and two doubles in four games this week. He’s only taken four at-bats against lefties this season, but the quality of his at-bats looks significantly better than it did last year. The defense remains an adventure, but he’s on the right track.
As for Spencer Jones… not so much. He came on towards the end of the week with two doubles and a home run, but he struck out a staggering 14 times in 23 plate appearances this week and has 19 in 37 PA on the season. It just has to be better.
On the pitching side, Scranton’s gotten great starts to the season from Yerry De los Santos, Kervin Castro, and Yovanny Cruz, whose longstanding command issues have yet to pop up with seven strikeouts to just one walk in 4.1 innings. With the current volatility of the bullpen, you can’t rule out that a few more sharp weeks will have him in pinstripes sooner than later
Record: 1-1, 0.5 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 1-1 week against the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox)
Run differential: +15
Coming up: Away @ Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
Somerset was rained out on Sunday, so we only managed to get a pair of very, very different games in against Portland in the Double-A version of The Rivalry.
Friday’s season opener was a blowout from the very start, with Somerset pouring on 18 runs on 22 hits thanks to big days by George Lombard Jr. (more on him later), Coby Morales, Garrett Martin, Marco Luciano, and Tyler Hardman. Saturday’s game was more of a pitcher’s duel, where Somerset lost 1-0, and the bats were held to just four measly hits.
Ben Hess started his season in unbelievable fashion, striking out the first seven hitters he faced on Friday before starting to struggle with command. The walks came back to bite him, but he settled in to fire five solid innings of two-run ball with nine strikeouts in his season debut. Kyle Carr and Xavier Rivas both pitched on Saturday, with Rivas as the piggyback, and walked seven hitters in 6.1 one-run innings, albeit with nine strikeouts. All five natural relievers used delivered scoreless relief.
Only two games means there isn’t much to go off of, but Morales drilled two home runs and had six RBIs, Hardman went 4-for-8 with a homer, Luciano went 5-for-9 with two doubles, and former Mexican League MVP Nick Torres went 3-for-5 in his first game of MLB-affiliated ball since 2018. Through all of it, the star of the show was the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect, who you’ll hear about later on.
Players of Note:
Ben Hess: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K Marco Luciano: 5-for-9, RBI, 2 2B, 5 R Tyler Hardman: 4-for-8, HR, 4 RBI, 2B Coby Morales: 3-for-8, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 K
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades
Record: 2-0, 0.5 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 2-0 week against the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets)
Run differential: +9
Coming up: Home vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)
Like Somerset, storms in the Northeast postponed Sunday’s game against Brooklyn, but the Renegades still managed a successful mini-week that featured a plethora of 2025 draftees, including a pair making their professional debuts.
Hudson Valley took Friday’s season opener, 3-1, behind a strong start from Pico Kohn and steady hitting from the middle of the order. Sean Paul Liñan made his organizational debut after being acquired from the Nationals in the Jorbit Vivas trade and didn’t make it out of the third on Saturday, but the offense put up eight runs, and the bullpen did more solid work in relief to finish what turned into a two-game sweep.
Kohn, the team’s fourth-round pick last year out of Mississippi State, tossed 5.2 strong innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts in his pro debut. Statcast is (still) not available for High-A and Double-A, so we don’t have data on what was working for him on a pitch-by-pitch level, but it’s likely he did a lot of his work with the slider, which complements his low-90s fastball. After the success we saw with Cam Schlittler, the Yankees will definitely try to bump up the 6-foot-4 right-hander’s fastball velo as he gets situated.
Elsewhere on the pitching staff, 2025 11th-rounder Ben Grable struck out two and got the save on Friday night in his pro debut, while Tony Rossi and Chris Veach, two intriguing former undrafted free agent relievers, combined for seven strikeouts in 2.1 scoreless innings.
Liñan struck out four in 2.2 innings to start Saturday’s contest and was mostly followed by strong relief. After Tanner Bauman’s rough outing, Hudson Valley got 5.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts from the trio of Hansel Rincon, Baron Stuart, and Jackson Fristoe.
The 2025 draftee trio of Kaeden Kent (3-for-7, 3 BB), Core Jackson (3-for-9, HR, 2B), and Kyle West (3-for-9, RBI) anchored the lineup this week, as did a familiar face looking to get off to a strong start in a new location. Former top prospect Roderick Arias made his High-A debut on Friday after two frustrating years in Single-A, and he looked sharp, going 4-for-8 with a walk and an RBI. Fingers crossed that a guy with his skillset can finally figure it out.
Record: 0-3, 3 GB in the Florida State League West after a 0-3 week against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers)
Run differential: -21
Coming up: Away @ Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)
For those who’ve followed Tarpons baseball for the last few years, it usually doesn’t matter who goes through the system; it’ll look like this more often than not. The top 2025 draftees, both pitchers and position players, get aggressively pushed to High-A in their first full season, so Tampa is usually left with late-round finds who need more development, undrafted arms, and international prospects graduating to full-season ball.
Tampa lost 12-7 on Friday, 13-4 on Saturday, and 13-6 on Sunday. They walked 32 batters, which is somehow even more than the Marlins against the Yankees at the same time. There’d be stretches of these games where you’d see good pitching, but more often than not, it was a Single-A classic: guys struggling to find the strike zone.
On the hitting side, it was good to see Brando Mayea make his Single-A debut after a few years of underperformance and injuries had harmed his trajectory. He had multiple singles registering over 105 mph, but also struck out a few times. 2024 seventh-rounder JoJo Jackson and 2025 UDFA Logan Maxwell had good weeks, as did Hans Montero. Rough week for Engelth Urena, who’s 0-for-10 to start the year.
On the pitching side? Oh boy. 2025 18th-rounder Justin West, Danny Flatt, and Henry Lalane got the starts, and none of them opened the 2026 season on a high note. Lalane, in particular, struggled with command as he tries to rebound from an injury-riddled 2025. One bright spot: the velo on his four-seamer is on its way back up.
The bullpen was a trainwreck. 2024 fifth-rounder Greysen Carter, who was sent to the Tampa backfields midseason last year to work on his command, continued to struggle with walks. Jose Ledesma and Jordarlin Mendoza got hit around, the team had to use multiple position player pitchers, and the only relievers who had scoreless innings were 2025 UDFA Matthew Tippie, Pedro Rodriguez, and Josh Tiedemann.
Players of Note:
Brando Mayea: 3-for-14, 3 RBI, 2B, 4 K JoJo Jackson: 4-for-12, 3 RBI, BB, 2 SB Henry Lalane: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K
Prospect of the Week:George Lombard Jr.
Weekly Stats: 6-for-9, HR, RBI, BB, 2 2B, SB
The Yankees’ No. 1 prospect got off to a tremendous start to his 2026 season on Friday. After a strong spring training as a non-roster invitee on both sides of the ball, he blasted a home run in his first at-bat of the season and opened the season with a 5-for-6 performance, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
He followed it up with a more modest performance on Saturday, but he still doubled, walked, and stole a base in the shutout loss. It was only two games, but it was a dream start for a prospect whose biggest goal in 2026 is to improve his hit tool after an up-and-down start to his Double-A career last year.
Lombard started 2025 on a torrid hot streak in High-A to get him a promotion in early May, and another hot streak to start 2026 could make his dreams of a promotion to the Show more and more realistic in the near future.
