MACAU, MACAU - OCTOBER 10: NBA legend Vince Carter reacts during NBA China Games 2025 between Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets at The Venetian Macao on October 10, 2025 in Macau, Macau. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First it was the Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2024. Then it was his jersey retirement in Brooklyn in January 2025.
Now, Vince Carter will be honored once again by the Brooklyn Nets. On Sunday, VC will be the Nets representative on the dias for the NBA Lottery, hoping the same luck that sustained them during his four seasons in New Jersey will continue in Chicago.
The names of all 14 reps on the dias will be announced tomorrow along with those who will sit in the actual draft room. Last year, the Nets were represented by Makar Gevorkian, the Nets capologist and vice-president of strategy. Like the Nets, other teams have chosen fan favorites from the past: Chicago with Tony Kukoc and Washington with John Wall.
While the Hall of Fame and jersey retirement honored Carter for his past achievements, Sunday will be about the future. The Nets have a 14.0% chance at the overall No. 1 and can’t fall below No. 7.
Carter, now 49, played for eight teams over 22 seasons in the league, but a strong argument can be made that his time in New Jersey was him at his best.
Carter joined the Nets in December 2004 in a trade that Peter Vecsey, the New York Post hoops writer, called the most lop-sided in 25 years. After controversies arose in Toronto over time lost to injuries and reputed lack of effort, the Raptors sent VC to New Jersey for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams and Aaron Williams and two first round draft picks, neither of which amounted to much.
From his first days in New Jersey, Carter was a fan favorite, his electric play the perfect complement to Kidd’s steady unselfishness. In that year, he averaged 27.5 points a game for the rest of the season compared to 15.3 in Toronto.
Although his role in New Jersey is often overshadowed by what he did in his early years in Toronto — essentially popularizing basketball in hockey-mad Canada, the numbers are similar and Carter re-established his reputation at the Meadowlands after it had been tarnished at the Air Canada Center
Carter played almost as many games for the Nets as he did for the Raptors — 374 to 403 — and actually averaged more points — 23.6 to 23.4 — in his New Jersey tenure. His assists, rebounds and shooting percentage were all higher in New Jersey. And the love was just as strong and it was requited.
Mr. Whammy, who will join VC in Chicago as a guest of Joe Tsai, was asked back in 2025 about what made Carter special.
“I have to describe Vince in one respect: he was the ballet star of the NBA,” Whammy told NetsDaily. “You had to wonder and wonder about the things he did and what he would do next. He would fly. He would spin under the basket. He brought brilliance to the game. I don’t think there’s ever been a player as graceful as Vince Carter. He was the ballet star of the NBA.”
This time around, VC will only have to sit quietly and remain cool while deputy commissioner Mark Tatum open and read the giant cards with team names on them, identifying those who will pick Nos. 14 through 5 first, then after a commercial break, the final four get chosen.
Things begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Carter has become the Nets leading “alumni” in recent years. In addition to being honored after the Hall of Fame and with the jersey retirement, he traveled with the Nets to Macau last October for the renewal of the NBA China Games between Brooklyn and Phoenix.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 17, 2026: Spencer Jones #68 of the New York Yankees puts on his helmet prior to an at bat during an intrasquad scrimmage game on Billy Martin Field 1 at the Himes Complex on March 17, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With outfielder Jasson Domínguez headed to the injured list after crashing into the outfield wall earlier this afternoon, the New York Yankees have opted to promote top prospect Spencer Jones, according to reports.
Soon after, it was reported that, following the bullpen day, the Yankees were recalling Kervin Castro from the minors as well; he likely will be taking Brendan Beck’s spot on the roster, as the right-hander will probably be sent back to Scranton so he can remain stretched out as a starter.
Yankees are calling up big power/speed OF prospect Spencer Jones The Post has learned
By this point, Yankees fans are well-acquainted with Jones, whose rise through the minor league system has come under more scrutiny than any of the organization’s recent prospects, with the possible exception of the man he is replacing. Originally taken with the 25th overall pick of the 2022 draft, the 6-foot-7 left-handed outfielder has steadily climbed through the organization, tantalizing scouts and fans alike with a power potential that is truly only rivaled by now-teammate Aaron Judge – and a similarly high strikeout rate. After yet again making adjustments in an attempt to improve his contact rate, this time by drawing on Shohei Ohtani’s swing as inspiration, Jones has continued to, well, be himself so far this spring, posting a .258/.366/.592 slash line in 33 games, smashing 11 homers and striking out a whopping 46 times.
While Jones was the last outfielder on the 40-man roster not injured or already in the majors, it seemed at first glance like necessity might simply force the organization’s hand. The presence of veterans Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera in Scranton, however – not to mention the ability of Cabrera, Amed Rosario, and Jose Caballero to play the corner outfield spots – means that the Yankees didn’t have to bring him up to ride the pine as the team’s fourth outfielder. And with Giancarlo Stanton already on the shelf – the whole reason the Martian was up in the first place – and Ben Rice missing the last four games due to a hand contusion, it’s clear that the Yankees are finally looking to see if their former top prospect can make the jump to The Show and, like White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami, simply outhit his strikeout woes.
Exactly how the Yankees will line up remains to be seen. Expect Jones to play the outfield more consistently than Domínguez did, however, as defense has been the youngster’s calling card ever since he was drafted. Whether this means that Aaron Judge will get more DH days, or that they will cycle the DH spot through Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Rice (when he’s healthy, that is), we’ll know soon enough.
The Yankees are also calling up Venezuelan RHP Kervin Castro, who will return to MLB, per sources.
Castro, 27, last appeared in MLB in 2022 (Cubs, Giants).
He posted a 1-0 record with a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings and 10 strikeouts at Scranton Triple-A.
Kervin Castro, a 27-year-old pitcher out of Venezuela, was added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster last winter to avoid him being taken in the Rule 5 Draft — which is, coincidentally, how the Yankees acquired him from the Astros in 2023. Although he lost the competition for the final bullpen spots, he has pitched well enough in Scranton, posting a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings, that the Yankees feel comfortable bringing him up to reinforce a bullpen that needs some fresh arms after an unexpected bullpen day.
This is not Castro’s MLB debut, however. He scattered 20 appearances with the Giants and Cubs between 2021 and 2022, allowing 15 runs in 25.2 innings.
Update
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: •Recalled RHP Kervin Castro (#74) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. •Placed OF Jasson Domínguez on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder AC joint sprain. •Recalled OF Spencer Jones (#78) from…
The transactions are official! We kind of wish Jones got to wear a more normal number, but those are the breaks with the Yankees and all those ones out of circulation. (And Domínguez and Will Warren were still wearing high ones until quite recently.)
The Mets failed to complete the sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon, losing by a score of 6-2.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Making his 12th career start (third this season) and still searching for his first career win, Christian Scott looked primed to do that after needing just nine pitches to retire the side in order, with two strikeouts, in the first inning. It was a reversal of fortune for Scott, who had to waste a lot of bullets in the first inning of his first two starts this season.
Scott set down the next four batters he faced before Kyle Karros doubled for the Rockies’ first hit of the game. Scott retired the next two after a couple of long at-bats to leave the inning unscathed.
-- Prior to that, the Mets gave the right-hander the lead by scoring two in the second against former Met Jose Quintana thanks to an Andy Ibañez sacrifice fly and Tyrone Taylor’s RBI single. Austin Slater began the inning with a single as he and Ibañez, as well as Vidal Brujan, were all in the lineup against the left-hander. Slater was the only one of the three to get a hit, finishing 2-for-3.
-- New York had another chance to get to Quintana in the third after Juan Soto tripled high off the right-field wall with one out. But after Bo Bichette walked, Mark Vientos grounded into an inning-ending double play to thwart the threat.
-- From there, the Mets’ bats went quiet as Quintana, who pitched 5.1 innings of one-run ball against New York at Citi Field two starts ago, managed to do it again against them. This time, Quintana lasted 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits.
-- Still, Quintana left the game with his team down 2-1 because of the job Scott was able to do. The rookie allowed a run on three hits and two walks in 4.2 innings while striking out six, but was pulled after a season-high 82 pitches (53 strikes).
Scott pitched well enough to get that elusive first win, but he’ll have to wait until his next outing to try again. Nevertheless, he lowered his season ERA to 3.27.
-- Huascar Brazoban was the first man out of the bullpen and after finishing off the fifth inning, he went back out for the sixth. With New York still clinging to a one-run lead inside Coors Field, Brazoban issued a one-out walk and then unleashed a wild pitch to put the tying run at second base. After a strikeout and another walk, Brazoban gave up a double to Jake McCarthy that tied the game and knocked him out.
-- Austin Warren then entered and loaded the bases with a walk before getting a strikeout to end the frame. Warren faced the minimum in the seventh and gave way to Craig Kimbrel in the eighth.
-- A day after scoring 10 runs on 15 hits, the Mets offense went back to old habits, mustering just six hits and going scoreless after the second inning. They went 1-for-9 with RISP and bypassed a great chance to take the lead in the seventh when Soto came up with runners on first and second. Soto was precisely who New York wanted up in that spot, but he popped out to shortstop to end the inning. Soto finished 1-for-4 atop the lineup.
-- The Mets' inability to tack on runs cost them when Kimbrel loaded the bases to start the eighth on two singles and a walk. McCarthy, who tied the game in the sixth, untied the game two innings later with a grand slam to put Colorado ahead for the first time all game, 6-2. Kimbrel's ERA is now 7.56.
Game MVP: Jake McCarthy
McCarthy tied it, then untied it with one big swing in the eighth inning.
Oklahoma City Thunder have been cruising so far through the 2026 NBA playoffs despite not being at full strength.
Thunder star Jalen "J-Dub" Williams has not played since suffering a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during the first round against the Phoenix Suns on April 22. Williams played in the first two games of the opening series and has been sidelined since.
Oklahoma City finished the Suns in a sweep and have since moved on to the Conference semifinals to face the Los Angeles Lakers, where they hold a 1-0 series lead after their 108-90 Game 1 win on May 5.
Williams missed the first game of the Thunder-Lakers series. His status for Game 2 mirrors his Game 1 status.
According to the NBA injury report (as of 5 p.m. ET), Williams is listed out for Game 2 with a left hamstring.
Williams, 25, averaged 17.1 points and 5.5 assists for the Thunder during the 2025-26 regular-season. He shot 48.4% from the field and just under 30% from 3-point distance. His average plus/minus is +6.9.
Despite missing those numbers, Oklahoma City has shown signs of success without Williams, who has sat out at times throughout the season with injuries. Williams played in 33 regular-season games. He was limited with two wrist surgeries and two hamstring strains.
The Thunder have been breezing by opponents with or without him, defeating their opponents by an average of 17.4 points in five games. Adding Williams would only make Oklahoma City seem unstoppable.
Williams is part of the Thunder core and the team's present run at a dynasty. He signed a five-year, $239.25 million deal as part of a designated rookie contract extension with Oklahoma City in July 2025.
Jalen Williams draft
Williams was selected by the Thunder with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft out of Santa Clara. The pick was originally acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers as a part of a deal that sent Paul George to LA for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jalen Williams stats
Here are Jalen Williams' 2025-26 regular-season stats:
Points: 17.1
Rebounds: 4.6
Assists: 5.5
Field goal %: 48.4
3-point %: 29.9
Free throw %: 83.7
Blocks: 0.3
Steals: 1.2
Jalen Williams highlights
Check out Thunder guard Jalen Williams' highlights from last year's playoffs.
There are a few coaches around the league who, even if their team isn't winning much, the job they are doing catches the eye of scouts and front office people from other teams. They see development, smart use of often-limited rosters, and the building of cultures that will serve as a foundation once the talent is built up.
Charles Lee is one of those coaches, and after leading the Hornets to 44 wins this past season and the play-in, he was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension, the Hornets announced.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team and building on what we've started here in Charlotte..." Lee said in a statement announcing the extension. "I'm excited about the direction we're headed and our team's bright future. Our players have shown a real commitment to growth, and I'm proud of the culture we're establishing together. We're just getting started, and I'm looking forward to the work ahead."
Lee took over from Steve Clifford for the 2024-25 season, and an injury-riddled Charlotte squad won just 19 games — but you could see the development and potential. This season, with a healthy LaMelo Ball and the addition of rookie Kon Knueppel, Charlotte won 44 games, made the play-in and beat Miami in one of the best play-in games ever, but fell short of making the playoffs. Still, that is a 25-game leap from season to season, with a young and improving team.
"Charles has done an outstanding job establishing a foundation for who we want to be as a team," Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said in a statement. "From day one, Charles and his staff have prioritized player development, creating an environment where each of our players are committed to getting better and continue to improve. He has built a team-first culture rooted in accountability, hard work and professionalism."
There are no details on the contract. When Lee signed two years ago to take over as head coach, it was reportedly a four-year contract, likely with a team option on the final year. This contract likely replaces that option year and adds at least two, so that would keep him under contract with the Hornets for at least three more seasons, until the summer of 2029.
RICHMOND, VA - APRIL 21: Jonah Cox #8 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels runs to third base during the game between the Somerset Patriots and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at CarMax Park on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Just three games for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Wednesday, as High-A Eugene and the Arizona Complex League Giants both had the day off. Let’s get into the action that did occur, though, as it was pretty nice!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Not much news. RHP Evan Gray, who hasn’t pitched yet this year, was moved from High-A Eugene to Low-A San Jose, as his season looks ready to commence. To make space in San Jose, RHP Melvin Pineda was moved from Low-A to the Arizona Complex League roster.
AAA Sacramento (18-15)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) 9-5 Box score
The River Cats started the post-Eldridge/Rodríguez era with a whimper on Tuesday, but responded with a very nice win on Wednesday. The biggest hit belonged to third baseman Buddy Kennedy, who smacked a 2-run home run in a critical 6th inning, when Sacramento flipped a 5-2 deficit into a 7-5 lead.
Kennedy, who finished the day 2-5 with 3 runs batted in, is up to an .881 OPS and a 139 wRC+, while maintaining just a 14.2% strikeout rate. As a 27-year old signed as a Minor League free agent over the winter, he probably doesn’t have a way to play his way onto the roster, but he’s having the type of performance that will make the Giants more than comfortable adding him to the roster should an injury facilitate it. I’d assume his play was also part of what made them comfortable DFA’ing Tyler Fitzgerald, which left the Giants with no infielders on the 40-man roster in AAA.
Left fielder Turner Hill continues to look comfortable at the level, as he hit a perfect 3-3 with a double and a walk, though he was caught stealing. Hill, a recently-turned 27-year old UDFA who has a whole lot of Jared Oliva in his game, probably should have been in AAA on merit, but roster logistics sent him back to AA Richmond to start the season. When the Giants called up Drew Gilbert and Will Brennan (the latter was just returned to Sacramento), Hill was called to fill in at the top Minor League level. He’s more than held his own through 14 games, as he has an .809 OPS, a 121 wRC+, just a 7.8% strikeout rate, and 3 stolen bases. Hopefully he’s in Sacramento to stay.
Designated hitter Harrison Bader made his 2nd rehab appearance and went 0-3 with a strikeout, though he did draw a walk and was hit by a pitch. It seems like Bader will have a lengthy rehab stint, as he professed a desire to make up for some of the time he lost in Spring Training …. which hopefully explains his ice cold start to the season. Usually when position players rehab, they’re back in the Majors as soon as they’re back in game shape, but for Bader I’m guessing the Giants will wait until his results are looking good.
Not a very good pitching performance, which started with RHP Spencer Bivens serving as an opener. Bivens again struggled, giving up 3 hits (including a home run and a double) and 2 walks in just 2 innings, which tagged him for 4 runs (3 earned). Bivens, who struck out 2, has now given up at least 3 runs in 4 consecutive outings … during that time he’s thrown 6.2 innings and ceded 12 hits, 3 walks, 13 runs, and 11 earned runs. That’s tanked his ERA to 7.27 and his FIP to 6.67. In 6 weeks, Bivens has gone from looking like a likely Opening Day roster-maker to a potential roster casualty if the Giants need to open up a spot on the 40 (which currently isn’t an issue, since they only have 39 players).
After Bivens was LHP Seth Lonsway, who was not sharp. Lonsway threw just 36 of 68 pitches for strikes while giving up 3 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batter (plus an error) in 3.1 innings, though he managed to limit the damage to just 1 run, while striking out 4. A 27-year old whom the Giants took in the 6th round in 2021, Lonsway has really been having a tough go of it this year, as he has a 6.97 ERA and a 5.69 FIP. That underscores a bigger issue, which is that he is walking a lot of batters and having a very hard time striking people out. Among the 43 Pacific Coast League pitchers who have thrown at least 20 innings this year, Lonsway is 39th in strikeouts per 9 innings (5.2), and 40th in walks per 9 (5.7).
RHPs Tristan Beck and Wilkin Ramos both had nice games though, with Beck allowing just 1 hit in 1.2 shutout innings, with 2 strikeouts, while Ramos had a hit and a strikeout in a scoreless inning. Ramos, who isn’t on the 40-man roster, has sneakily been having a very nice season, as he lowered his ERA to 2.04 (though his FIP is 4.58).
Covering the Giants means I hear a lot of people say, “they should just call up all the prospects from AAA and AA, no way they would be worse than the current players.” The realistic answer to that is: yes they can be, and yes they would be. Shockingly so.
But.
But, but, but.
You kind of have to wonder what would happen if the Flying Squirrels could replace the Giants, because they just seem to have an overflowing cup of magic that San Francisco could greatly benefit from. Richmond keeps winning and winning and winning, and it’s starting to feel like every win is outrageous and full of fairy dust.
Wednesday was no exception. The Squirrels entered the bottom of the 9th inning trailing 4-2. Second baseman Aeverson Arteaga, who had a brilliant game, drew a leadoff walk to bring the tying run to the plate. That tying run just happened to be the hottest hitter in Richmond … and perhaps in the Eastern League who, like Arteaga, was having a brilliant game: right fielder Jonah Cox.
Cox got ahead in the count 2-0, then pounced on a get-it-in fastball, lifting it past the fences and tying the game.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 7, 2026
But Richmond wasn’t content to just get the game to extra innings. They wanted to send the fans home happy before the Manfred Man shenanigans commenced. And so, with one out, third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) bopped a double to get the winning run in scoring position.
And then, with 2 outs (and 2 strikes!), catcher Drew Cavanaugh sent everyone home in a frenzy by cracking a walk-off double.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 7, 2026
Needless to say, Cox was the biggest star of the game, and for good reason. He finished the day 3-3 with a sacrifice fly, which gave him 3 runs batted in … and he stole his 17th base of the season.
What Cox has done is, in my opinion, the most incredible story on the farm this year. I’ve said it many times this year, but I’ll say it again: he entered the year as a Jared Oliva type, who could play great defense across the outfield and steal a million bases, with the hope that he could maybe hit juuuust well enough to survive. You can build a nice career in the Majors that way, as evidenced by the Giants seeing their 2017 6th-round pick, Bryce Johnson, on the Padres this past week.
But what happens when a glove-and-cleat player hits, hits, and hits some more, and is suddenly one of the best offensive players in the farm? I’ve been saying for a few weeks that hopefully we find out with Cox, and now we’re nearing the point where his sample size is big enough to put some serious stock into … the next time he steps into the batter’s box, it will be his 100th plate appearance of the year.
Just to show you how stark the difference is, look at his year-over-year increases, and how they stack up against the rest of the league. And as you look at these shocking figures, remember that he spent last year in High-A, not the AA level that he’s currently annihilating. His 2025 numbers are compared to 67 Northwest League hitters who had at least 200 plate appearances, while his 2026 figures are relative to the 91 Eastern League hitters with at least 80 plate appearances.
Anyway, the point here is clear: Cox has been the Eastern League’s best hitter, and he’s doing it in every way imaginable, while also being one of the best hitters in the league and avoiding strikeouts. That seems mighty sustainable … perhaps not the Bondsian numbers, but very good ones, at the very least. If you’re still not convinced, I recommend reading Roger Munter’s most recent mailbag, which really lays out a lot of reasons to believe in Cox’s renaissance. Maybe one day the Giants lineup will be anchored by Cox and Daniel Susac, and we can really thank the A’s.
As for Arteaga, he’s not quite having the season that Cox is having, but his improvement year-over-year is just as dramatic, given how bad he was last year. Arteaga went 2-2 in this game, while drawing a walk, laying down a sacrifice bunt, and smacking a double. A year after having a .508 OPS and a 49 wRC+ at the same level, Arteaga is up to an .891 OPS and a 134 wRC+ (though it’s worth noting his strikeout rate has gotten a little worse, at a not-good 27.3%).
Given how catastrophic his 2025 was (when he was returning from an injury that cost him virtually all of 2024, it’s worth noting), it’s easy to forget how young and promising Arteaga still is. He only turned 23 in March, and he still has some serious defensive chops. For now, he’s getting the chance to turn himself into a utility infielder, as shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL) has surpassed him on the priority chart, so Arteaga is no longer just a shortstop, but also a second and third baseman as well (although, on cue, Ahuna had a rough game, hitting 1-4 with 2 strikeouts and 2 errors).
On the pitching front, RHP Trystan Vrieling had a really nice start, perhaps his best of the year. The forgotten player in the Camilo Doval trade, Vrieling got the start and ceded just 3 baserunners (2 doubles and a walk) in 5 shutout innings, while striking out 4 batters, and throwing 47 of 71 pitches for strikes.
Vrieling, a 25-year old taken in the 3rd round in 2022, hasn’t been very sharp in his 1st full season in the organization, as he has a 4.00 ERA and a 4.76 FIP in his 2nd pass through AA. Both his strikeout and walk numbers have moved in the wrong direction year-over-year though, interestingly, he’s dramatically increased his groundball rate, from 35.9% to 52.2%. You don’t see that kind of jump very often!
RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) didn’t have the type of game that will get him sent back to Sacramento, where he began the year before roster logistics pinched him down a level. He gave up 2 doubles and 1 walk in just 1 inning of work, getting tagged for 2 runs without a strikeout. You don’t see him have many outings without a strikeout!
Low-A San Jose (18-11)
San Jose Giants beat the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 12-2 Box score
A lot of the Giants prospects came out of the gates with extremely hot seasons. But for a few others, they took a little bit of time getting settled in, and just now are starting to take off. One such player? Third baseman Dario Reynoso.
Wednesday was a spectacular day for the 21-year old righty, who reached base in all 5 of his plate appearances, hitting 3-3 with a home run, a triple, and 2 walks, while driving in 6 runs. Hard to do much better than that, though here’s a video reminder as to why Minor League stats need to be taken with a few grains of your preferred salt.
Blinded by the light. Cam Nelson loses one in the lights, and Dario Reynoso clears the bases with a triple. Giants take a 12-2 lead to the ninth. pic.twitter.com/0H4NxMxloM
Reynoso, who was signed in 2023 out of the Dominican Republic, has started to find the power that he showed last year in the Complex League. After going homerless in his 1st 30 games with San Jose (spanning the end of last year and the start of this year), he’s now gone deep 3 times in his last 5 games, including on back-to-back days. Suddenly, after having an isolated slugging of just .064 with the Baby Giants in 2025, Reynoso is up to .206 this season, and that’s given him a .956 OPS and a 146 wRC+.
For the second straight night, Dario Reynoso has gone deep! Giants up 6-0 in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/mqclEZRuwB
The strikeout rate is still scary high, but it’s also improved over last year’s mark, and not just last year’s Low-A mark … a year ago, Reynoso had a 38.6% strikeout rate in San Jose, and a 31.7% mark in the Complex League. This year, that number is 30.8%. That’s something to work on, but there’s certainly the foundation of a very exciting player in there.
Left fielder Damian Bravo continued his heater, as he went 2-4 with a double, a hit by pitch, a stolen base, and a strikeout. The 22-year old, taken in the 15th round out of Texas Tech in July, now has 3 straight multi-hit games, with 4 extra-base hits in that time. He started the year 7-39 with 1 home run and 2 doubles … since then, the righty is 22-62 with 4 home runs, 1 triple, and 8 doubles, which has brought his OPS up to .905 and his wRC+ to 115.
Undrafted first baseman Hayden Jatczak continued his stellar debut season, as he hit 2-4 with a pair of doubles and a walk, boosting his OPS to .973 and his wRC+ to 148. The righty has absolutely put on a show with the bat this year, though he will turn 25 later this season and is confined to first base (for now, at least). It will be fun to see how he performs at higher levels, and maybe we’ll get to see that soon.
Speaking of debuting players, RHP Jordan Gottesman had the best game of his young career, as he was dominant through 5 shutout innings, giving up just 2 singles and 2 walks, while striking out 5 batters. Gottesman threw 45 of 71 pitches for strikes, and has really started to find his groove. Check out the splits for last year’s 6th-round selection:
First 3 games: 10.2 innings, 7 hits (3 home runs), 5 walks, 6 earned runs, 13 strikeouts Next 3 games: 14.1 innings, 11 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, 2 earned runs, 14 strikeouts
The home runs will certainly have to come down — they explain why he has a 5.97 FIP despite a 2.88 ERA — but it’s been an encouraging rookie season for the 23-year old from Northeastern.
RHP Ubert Mejias struck out 3 batters in 2.1 scoreless innings, with 2 hits and 0 walks. Mejias’ numbers have been dominant this year: in 21.2 innings, he’s allowed just 13 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 26 batters, en route to a 2.49 ERA (3 home runs have given him a 4.82 FIP, though). The cold water is that Mejias is 25, but he only signed in 2023 after defecting from Cuba. He’s starting to settle into his role as a reliever, after beginning his career as a starter.
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Reno (SP: John Michael Bertrand) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs Akron (SP: Darien Smith) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Vancouver (SP: Tyler Switalski) San Jose: 6:00 p.m. PT vs. Fresno (SP: Argenis Cayama)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
Ayton is facing a frontcourt of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, two guys who are known for their elite rim protection.
In Game 1, Ayton had a good performance, finishing with a game-high-tying 12 rebounds along with 10 points.
But he needs to be better.
Ayotn put up a double-double of 10 points in 12 rebounds in the Game 1 loss vs. Thunder. Getty Images
The Lakers need Ayton to play like a No. 1 overall pick.
They need him to take on the challenge of stopping Holmgren, who finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. They need him to pour himself into both sides of the court, owning the paint.
When Ayton is at his best, the Lakers are a different team.
But his effort fluctuates.
In his first postseason appearance wince 2023 with the Suns, Ayton averaged 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in 31 minutes in the 4-2 series victory over the Rockets. Getty Images
That’s a major reason why the Suns traded him to the Trail Blazers in Sept. 2023 and the Blazers bought out his contract last June.
When Ayton signed with the Lakers as a free agent this summer, he knew he had a golden opportunity to turn things around.
But his struggles followed him to Los Angeles.
He became disengaged when he felt he wasn’t getting enough touches. Sometimes he was a force. Other times, he was going through the motions.
His immaturity issues were present, too.
He infamously declared in the locker room in February, “I’m not no Clint Capela.” He was sometimes snappy with reporters.
But things shifted during the Lakers’ 16-2 run this spring. Instead of trying to be a star, he fully bought into starring in his role.
It has been a difference-maker for the Lakers.
“DA’s had a great season,” Redick said. “He was instrumental in us getting past Houston. His baseline of who he is every day for the last two, two-and-a-half months has been awesome.”
Now the Lakers need Ayton to lock in even more.
He needs to make Holmgren think twice about shooting in the paint. In addition to grabbing rebounds, he needs to be physical. He needs to be disciplined.
In Game 1, Ayton helped the Lakers go on a 7-0 run to open the game. He was active. He made a putback layup. He was grabbing defensive rebounds. He was flying around everywhere.
But things fell apart for him in the second half.
He was assessed his fourth foul a few minutes into the third quarter and only played 4 minutes in the period. In the fourth quarter, he had only one rebound and one shot attempt in nearly 9 minutes.
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Before facing the Thunder, Ayton was well-aware of the task ahead of him.
“It’s going to be big with me protecting that paint this series,” he said. “Them having 50-plus points in the paint — they’re a really unstoppable team.”
Often labeled as passive and overrated, Ayton can use the postseason to rewrite his narrative. NBAE via Getty Images
Well, Ayton, this is your chance to prove what you can do.
You were solid in Game 1, but that’s not enough. You need to be great.
The Lakers need you. And you need them.
You want to change your narrative. You want to show the world who you are. You want respect.
The Lakers and Ayton are in a symbiotic relationship, with both needing each other in this series to thrive.
But if the Lakers are going to have any chance of beating the Thunder in their best-of-seven second-round playoff series, they’re going to have to reverse the trend regardless of Doncic’s status.
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves (left) must attempt more 3-point shots to give LA a chance to defeat the Thunder. Getty Images
The Lakers were a low-volume 3-point shooting team even before Doncic and Austin Reaves (left oblique) suffered their regular-season-ending injuries April 2 against the Thunder.
Just 36% of their shot attempts came from beyond the arc through April 2, according to Cleaning The Glass, which ranked 22nd among NBA teams.
But Doncic, through his perimeter shooting and playmaking, helped the Lakers become a more threatening team from deep.
The Lakers’ 3-point frequency increased by 5.7% when Doncic was on the floor compared to on the bench, by far the highest mark on the team.
But then the shift came.
The Lakers’ 3-point frequency dropped to 30% (28th) in the final five regular-season games without Doncic and Reaves.
And through their first seven playoff games, their 3-point frequency has stayed at 30%, the lowest among all playoff teams.
The Lakers were one of the league’s most efficient scoring teams during the regular season because of their free-throw shooting and dominance on scoring inside of the paint — areas in which Doncic played a significant role.
That hasn’t been the case during the playoffs, with their true shooting percentage of 56.6 a strong mark but still fifth among playoff teams compared with ranking second (60.9%) during the regular season.
The Lakers’ LeBron James made three 3-pointers in the Game 1 loss to the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
Their 2-point shooting dropped from 59.5% during the regular season to 50.8% in their seven playoff games entering Thursday, including 45.5% in their Game 1 loss to the Thunder. They also only took 13 free throws in Game 1 after averaging 26.3 attempts during the series against the Rockets.
The Lakers should shoot better on 2s.
But getting more free throws will be challenging against a physical Thunder team that has the league’s best defense and doesn’t foul frequently.
The Thunder don’t allow a lot of shots at the rim and are elite at protecting it once opponents get there.
But the areas they allow a frequent number of shots are from midrange and beyond the 3-point arc.
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“They give up the most spray 3s in the NBA, and they have heavy shifts, and they always make [Chet] Holmgren [the] low [man], so you’re likely going to be able to shoot more 3s against them,” coach JJ Redick said before the series started. “But, again, you have to base that on what the coverages are. And are they helping off, are they not helping off?”
Redick added: “It’s based on the coverage. If they’re not willing to give up 3s, you can’t force up the 3s. We gotta be ready to launch.”
With the Thunder primarily playing drop against the Lakers, being ready to launch off the dribble will be an important factor for LA.
They took just eight pull-up 3s in Game 1.
Reaves and Luke Kennard should be the primary players taking pull-up 3s if the Thunder continue to prioritize protecting the paint like they do best.
The Lakers can’t be expected to be a high-volume 3-point shooting team without Doncic, but they can be a higher-volume 3-point shooting team.
And they need to be to have any shot of beating the Thunder in this series.
After the New York Yankees lost one of their long-ballyhooed prospects to injury on Thursday, May 7, they called up the latest much-anticipated rookie to the major leagues.
Spencer Jones, the 6-foot-7 power-hitting, base-stealing lefty swinger with a penchant for striking out, will be called up to the Yankees roster, the New York Post first reported. Jones' promotion comes hours after left fielder Jasson Dominguez suffered a sprained shoulder crashing into the wall making a first-inning catch in their 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
Jones, 24, was drafted 25th overall out of Vanderbilt in 2022 and has hit the ball very hard and far from the jump, with an .848 career OPS and 83 homers in 415 career minor league games.
The pattern continued this spring, as Jones posted a .958 OPS and hit 11 homers for Class AAA Somerset. Yet his swing-and-miss habit has hung around, as well, as he's struck out 32.4% of the time in his 142 plate appearances. That rate is almost identical to his 32.7% career mark.
But that-swing-and-miss is accompanied by a maximum exit velocity of 117.4 mph, tops in Class AAA this season.
Jones also brings an athletic dimension to his game, with a career-best 43 steals in 55 attempts in 2023; he stole 29 in 35 attempts across Class AA and AAA last season. He was ranked the No. 46 overall prospect by Baseball America in 2024, but has since fallen out of the top 100; Jones is currently the consensus No. 6 prospect in the Yankees' system.
Meanwhile, Dominguez suffered yet another frustrating setback in his efforts to stick as a full-time major leaguer. He hit the chain-link fence hard reeling in a drive by Rangers leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo, held onto the ball, but stayed down on the ground for several minutes, eventually walking to a cart to leave the field.
He underwent concussion tests, which were negative, and an MRI that revealed a low grade AC sprain, manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the Yankees victory. Dominguez, the former top 20 overall prospect, had six hits in 30 at-bats after his recall late last month.
Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn gets the start today against the Phillies | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics will finish off the three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon before continuing this road trip in Baltimore. The A’s squandered a (lower case) quality start by Jeffrey Springs yesterday to add to a 1-4 last five games at home and on the road.
But they hope to turn that around when J.T. Ginn gets the start for the A’s today. Ginn is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA over five starts and eight overall appearances in 2026. He’ll go up against 23-year-old righty Andrew Painter for Philadelphia. He is 1-3 on the season with a 5.28 ERA over twenty-nine innings. He will face this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s:
Historically, it makes sense given this tournament has had significant growth since the first edition of eight teams in 1939. In fact, the 42 years without a major shift was the longest it had gone without expanding.
Why so long? That’s because it finally found the perfect balance. Now, the NCAA is trying to ruin its most sacred postseason, dismantling all the work necessary to make March the spectacle it is.
The organization will tell you it’s expanding the field because it was necessary, giving one-fifth of its 361 teams a shot at the exclusive spot. More teams means better matchups, so more drama and opportunities for madness. The NCAA also won’t mind the extra money that comes with it.
However, do those teams that are just missing out really deserve a shot? Because it has shown none of it looks pretty.
It has everything to do with who is getting these extra spots. You know who this expansion is really for, and if you need a hint: it’s not those small schools.
The NCAA tried to say since the first four out started in 2011, 42% of teams to just miss the cut came from non-power conferences. With that logic, more of the mid-majors will get in, right?
No way. The smaller conferences have dwindled recently. Of the 24 teams to miss out since 2021, just seven were mid-majors. That’s just 29%. Plus with the new seeding, automatic qualifiers all get bumped a seed down. So a No. 13 seed in the field of 68 can end up a No. 14 in the field of 76.
That’s why those at the mid-major level are skeptical they will see any benefits of this.
“I think the intention of expansion is only to get more power conference teams in the tournament, and that's frustrating. Every year, there's a couple of teams in that mid-major group that I think would add a lot to the tournament that get excluded,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner told USA TODAY Sports in July. “You could be optimistic, but knowing how the tournament bids are being chosen with the formulas that they're using, I don't think that optimism is well placed.”
More and more, the selection committee has pushed away mid-majors in favor of power teams, and it’s an ugly way to go about it. Just look at who barely missed out on the field in 2026.
Congratulations, 18-14 Indiana and 17-16 Auburn get a shot to play for a title. Quality wins or not, they have zero business being in the bracket compared to teams that did more in their respective conferences.
With the way the tournament is trending, the regular season loses even more of its luster, and puts a bigger spotlight on the bigger conference teams that should be behind the curtain.
Now, those fringe contenders are going to do everything to schedule easier buy games to make the lipstick look a little bit better on the pig, leaving those quality mid-majors scrambling for opponents like Miami (Ohio).
When the race to the tournament really begins in February, we’re going to be discussing teams hovering around .500 because they are getting punched around in the Big Ten or SEC, but that one or two Quad 1 wins suddenly makes them a contender. Rather than make it an exciting sprint to the end, we’ll be spending time focusing on teams you want to shield your eyes from. It’s getting close to the “SEC-Big Ten-Big 12-ACC-Big East” invitational status.
It’s unfortunate, because the build up to Selection Sunday is part of the magic. You want to see quality teams fighting to get in, not a mid-off between squads fighting one of the worst fights you’ll ever watch.
The NCAA wants to get more people inside the door. The problem is the teams being let through are ones that shouldn’t even be knocking in the first place, and those that should get in aren’t even getting the invite. Let in a 26-6 Belmont team that won the Missouri Valley regular-season title over middling Indiana who’s limping on the porch because of program recognition.
Thankfully, this isn’t the complete end of the tournament. Teams like 2024 Indiana State and 24-win Boise State in 2025 that barely missed out then will get a shot in the future, and that’s what most teams are asking for. If there is a better focus on getting the right teams – not brands – then expansion wins.
The days leading up to Selection Sunday will be ugly, but this doesn’t wreck the tournament completely. The first round and everything after stays intact, meaning the first round madness is still going to happen. For as much has been changed, the best part is untouched. It will just be an unfortunate start before the greatest show in basketball can officially begin.
The NCAA hasn’t killed the NCAA Tournament, but it’s getting better at ruining it.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (4-4) was back on the ice for a practice at home. The Wild will square off for Game 3 against Colorado Avalanche (6-0) in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday.
It will be the first home game of the series. The Wild are behind 2-0 and will look to show up in a must-win game. They are 1-8 when down 2-0 in a series.
The only win?
2014 against the Avalanche.
But this Avalanche team is different. The same can be said about the Wild, though. Nathan MacKinnon was just a rookie back in 2014. Now he is a superstar. Jared Spurgeon was 24 that season. Now he is 36 and is the team captain.
Not to mention other star players like Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy for Minnesota and Martin Necas and Cale Makar for Colorado.
The thing that is interesting about this go around and in this series in general, is how the Avalanche are beating the Wild at their own game.
It is a hard thing to do, but the Avalanche have completely bought into the style and have now taken the Wild's game and shoved it against them.
The Wild used to have the mantra of grit first. The physicality to wear teams down with hits and grind down defensemen. They did it against the Dallas Stars in round one this year, but haven't gotten to that in round two.
Every coach in the league has been saying it for the last couple of years. Things like the Wild are hard to play against. Minnesota is a big and hard team. Or, as head coach Jared Bednar said, “they’re a big and physical team.”
So what happened to that?
"I mean, that was part of the game plan," Marcus Foligno said after round one. "Get to their defensemen and especially, star players like Miro Heiskanen, and just make it really tough on them. Obviously, no one likes to go skating backwards for it. Those guys are very offensive. And you know, the more you can play in their end, or take some energy out on them from the defensive side of the pocket, it limits their chances of what they can do offensively. So that was good. I mean, I think our heads were right as well."
There is no doubt that Dallas is a different team from the Avalanche. Just look at the defense corps.
Heiskanen is an offensive guy and is just a notch under Makar in terms of offense. The only thing, Heiskanen played through a torn oblique muscle in the playoffs.
Makar at 100% is much more dynamic than Heiskanen at 70% or whatever he thought he was. Devon Toews of the Avalanche and Esa Lindell of the Stars are similar in terms of defensive play and the ability to break the puck out.
Thomas Harley and Nils Lundqvist are no slouches either, but here is where it gets different. Tyler Myers is 6-foot-8 and Lian Bichsel is 6-foot-7. Bichsel also suffered a strained shoulder in round one.
The two can clear the puck and defend, but they aren't as quick-moving as the Avs' defenders.
Guys like 5-foot-9 Nick Blankenburg and 5-foot-10 Sam Malinski are much more elusive than the towering Myers and Bichsel pair the Wild went up against in round one.
The point is, the Wild are having a harder time chipping the puck in and grinding down the defense corps of the Avalanche like they did to the Stars. This has allowed the Avalanche to play quickly and move the puck to their game-breaking players like MacKinnon, Necas, Brock Nelson, and others.
“Colorado plays different. Dallas was bigger. These guys move really well back there," Michael McCarron said. "When you chip the puck in, they keep the puck moving really well, and they move with the puck as well. So they’re hard to touch. We’re gonna have to find our way to stop these, slow these D down more. But imposing our will, I thought five-on-five, we did really well.”
In round one, the Wild finished second in the NHL in hits with 219 for a hits/60 minutes of 31.92. Through two games of round two, the Wild have 55 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.50.
The Avalanche had 109 hits in round one against the Los Angeles Kings for a hits/60 minutes of 26.40. Through two games of round two, the Avs have 54 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.00. They went from last in the NHL to eighth in the NHL in that category.
After the second period of Game 2, ESPN Analyst and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier talked about how the Wild just haven't been able to get to their game.
Their game is what was alluded to above in the story. Wearing down the opposition, forcing them to make mistakes, capitalizing on the mistakes, and beating them 5-on-5.
Colorado is outscoring Minnesota 9-7 at 5-on-5 after the Wild allowed just four 5-on-5 goals to the Stars in six games of round one.
They were able to break down the Stars by physical play and it took a toll on them as the series went on. This led to less offense from Dallas.
Colorado is the best team in the league and is the best team when it comes to off the rush as well. The Wild held the Stars in check off the rush, but have not done the same to the Avalanche.
"Exactly. You want to play with the puck. I think the biggest thing is to not get beaten back by the dman," Nico Sturm said on how important physical play will be to stop the Avalanche off the rush. "Sometimes, that's the thing with physicality. You can also overdo it, and then you kind of get yourself out of position because you want to finish a hit, and it ends up, you know, you take yourself kind of out of place. So, you've got to tread the line. You want to be physical, but you don't want to run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, right? So it's, it's always a fine line to tread."
Unfortunately, the Wild have done neither. Two different goalies in two games, and Minnesota has allowed 14 goals.
Back to Messier's point, the Wild have not been able to get to their game. They aren't able to hit the oposition like they did against Dallas because the makeup of the Avalanche is different and they are able to move past those plays.
Minnesota has shown that it can't adjust. At least through two games.
Along with the Wild's awful penalty kill, to be blunt, Minnesota doesn't want to take a penalty because being shorthanded is almost always a goal. Exactly was Messier's point.
Even against the Avalanche, who went 1-for-11 in round one on the power play and are now 3-for-7 in two games against the Wild.
They went from 9.1% on the power play to 42.9%. That is what the Wild's PK can do.
Minnesota allowed ten power-play goals to the Stars in round one in 25 times shorthanded for a 60% PK. They are at 57.1% right now.
It is the same story year after year for Minnesota. A PK that lets them down in the playoffs. Since 2022, the Wild's PK sits at 65%, which ranks 27th out of 28 teams.
The power play?
4-for-30. 13.3%. This postseason.
But if the first two games were an indication for what is to come, the Wild are in for one. The Avalanche stars want it more. They are willing to do what it takes to win games.
MacKinnon leads the NHL in points for round two with six. He is also doing everything it takes in this series to try to advance.
MacKinnon, who has won the MVP, led the NHL in goals and points, is a five-time All-Star and is coming off a Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy season, has blasted both Boldy and Quinn Hughes this series.
The Avalanche just seem to want it more and are willing to do whatever it takes to shut down the Wild's stars. Boldy has zero goals and just four shots in the first two games.
It is easy to say, but if the Wild were at their game, this would be a series they could win and would be the first time since 2003, and the second time in franchise history, they would be in the conference final.
If the Wild can't get back to their game, this won't be a long series. If they can't adjust, this won't be a fun extended series with multiple superstars going at it.
Minnesota has talked all season about identity. About being hard to play against. About winning the hard areas of the ice and wearing teams down over a seven-game series. Against Dallas, that identity showed up. Against Colorado, it seems to have disappeared.
Now, down 2-0 with the series shifting back to St. Paul, the Wild are out of time to search for it. Because if they can’t find a way to slow down the Avalanche and get back to the style that made them successful in round one, this series won’t turn into the heavyweight battle many expected.
It will turn into another short playoff exit for a team still searching for answers this time of year.
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Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones #78, hitting a solo homer during spring training.
Spencer Jones is finally getting his chance.
The Yankees’ No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline, who has collected 11 homers and a Triple-A leading 41 RBIs to start the season, has been called up after Jasson Domínguez was injured during Thursday’s game, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.
It’s unclear how the Yankees will immediately plan to utilize Jones, who has been in the mix to finally break through and crack the MLB roster for years because of his power, but has struggled with strikeouts — and had another 46 through his first 33 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2026.
Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones hitting a solo homer during spring training. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The potential has always been evident for Jones, though, with his towering 6-foot-7 frame and crushing home runs defining cameos at spring training.
“That’s a large man that hits the ball very far,” Cody Bellinger said after the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Rangers on Thursday, before the decision involving Jones had been revealed. “But no, honestly, freak athlete, too. I didn’t know like the speed. Very athletic, moves well. So yeah, just a good baseball player.”
Spencer Jones of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, during a game against the Worcester Red Sox. Arthur Mansavage for NY Post
A complicated path to the majors received an opportunity Thursday after the Yankees needed to replace Domínguez— who crashed into the outfield wall while making a catch during the first inning of their latest victory — on the 26-man roster, with Domínguezalready filling in for an injured Giancarlo Stanton.
When asked about Jones after Thursday’s game, manager Aaron Boone cited the better at-bats since an early funk at Triple-A.
He referenced the 41 RBIs and how that led all players at that level.
“Feel like the last three, four weeks, been having a lot of consistent at-bats,” Boone said. “The power’s been there. Less swing and miss. … The signs have been encouraging.”
And hours later, the Yankees opted to give Jones his first window to stick in the majors, his first chance to test if all that power — and all that potential — can translate to the ultimate level after years of waiting, hype and, most of all, uncertainty.
NEW YORK — New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Domínguez sprained his left shoulder while crashing into the wall as he caught Brandon Nimmo’s drive leading off the first inning of Thursday’s game against Texas.
After the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Rangers, the team said Domínguez has a low grade AC sprain of his left shoulder, and will be put on the injured list. Concussion tests thus far were negative.
Domínguez, playing outfield for the Yankees for the second time this season, ran 81 feet to catch Nimmo’s 101 mph shot. He gloved the ball 375 feet from the plate as his shoulder hit hard against the video advertising board.
Domínguez’s sunglasses flew off as he fell to the warning track chest first, prompting center fielder Trent Grisham to come over as manager Aaron Boone jogged out to check on Domínguez along with head athletic trainer Tim Lentych, assistant athletic trainer Jimmy Downam and director of sports medicine and rehabilitation Michael Schuk.
Domínguez cupped his head in his glove and sat up after about a minute. He pointed to his shoulder and craned his neck as he was being examined, then walked to a cart under his own power and was seated as the cart drove away.
Cody Bellinger moved from right to left, Amed Rosario switched from third base to right and Ryan McMahon entered the game at third.
The Yankees are calling up one of their top offensive prospects, Spencer Jones.
According to multiple reports, the Yankees will replace Jasson Dominguez, who will be placed on the IL after crashing into the left field wall during Thursday's game, with Jones.
Jones has 11 home runs with 41 RBI and seven stolen bases while batting .258 across 33 Triple-A games.
Following Thursday's 9-2 win over the Rangers, manager Aaron Boone was asked about potential Dominguez replacements, and when it came to Jones, specifically, the Yankees skipper spoke about the young slugger's improvements as the year has progressed.
"Got off to an ok start and then hit a snag," Boone said. "The last three, four weeks have been having a lot of consistent at-bats. The power’s been there, less swing and miss. Those are some of the things we were seeing in spring training.
"Second week of Triple-A, where he struggled a bit with the swing-and-miss. He’s cleaned that up. I think I saw he leads all of minor leagues in RBI. He’s put himself in the mix. That doesn’t mean that’s the way we go, we have to talk about it, but the signs have been encouraging."
Those signs were encouraging enough for the call to be made, but the swing-and-miss has been the knock on Jones for years.
He's struck out 46 times already this season after striking out 179 in 116 games a year ago, and 200 times in 122 Double-A games in 2024.
But Jones also brings an athleticism that rivals Aaron Judge. He stole 29 bases a season ago and plays outfield very well.
"That’s a large man that hits the ball very far," Cody Bellinger said of Jones after Thursday's win. "Freak athlete, too. I didn’t know the speed. Very athletic, moves very well, yeah, just a good baseball player."
The Yankees begin a three-game series in Milwaukee starting Friday. Brewers young flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski will take the mound in the series opener.
