Happy birthday to Terrance Gore, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1933 – Jimmie Foxx hits three home runs in his first three at-bats as the Philadelphia Athletics outscore the New York Yankees, 14-10. Foxx had homered his last time up the previous day to give him four consecutive home runs, and other stories as well.
1976 – Bobby Orr signs a five-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
2002 – British-Canadian Lennox Lewis retains boxing’s WBC Heavyweight title with eighth-round knockout of American Mike Tyson at The Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee.
2013 – Patrick Kane scores a playoff hat-trick against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
2021 National Geographic announces it is officially recognizing the South Ocean as the world’s fifth ocean.
Today in music history:
1964 – “The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)”, recorded by 1960s American pop singers, Jan and Dean, is released.
1968 – Gary Puckett and Union Gap release “Lady Will Power.”
1968 – Rolling Stones release “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
DENVER, CO - June 7: Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5), left fielder Jackson Chourio (11), and right fielder Sal Frelick (10) celebrate the win after a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Brewers 16, Giants 2
Tuesday: Brewers 8, Giants 3
Wednesday: Giants 1, Brewers 0
Thursday: Giants 12, Brewers 9
Friday: Brewers 9, Rockies 7
Saturday: Brewers 7, Rockies 1
Sunday: Brewers 12, Rockies 4
Division Standings
Brewers 40-23
Cardinals 35-28 (5 GB)
Cubs 34-32 (7.5 GB)
Pirates 34-32 (7.5 GB)
Reds 31-33 (9.5 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 5-2
Cardinals: 4-2
Cubs: 2-4
Pirates: 2-4
Reds: 1-5
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
Several Brewer pitchers performed well this week, but in what is becoming a frequent occurrence, this “award” needs to go to the Brewer ace, Jacob Misiorowski. On Saturday night in Denver, Miz wasn’t quite as sharp as we’ve seen him at times in the last month-and-a-half, but he threw seven innings with only an unearned run allowed while striking out eight and working around three walks. His staredown of his manager, who was contemplating taking him out of the game with two on and one out in the seventh, became a signature moment of the season when Misiorowski struck out the next two batters.
In what is also becoming a weekly tradition, we need to acknowledge Kyle Harrison in this space. Against the Giants team that traded him for Rafael Devers just under one year ago, Harrison struck out 12 batters — including Devers three times — in just 5 2/3 innings while allowing one run in what was eventually an 8-3 Brewers win. Special mention also to Chad Patrick, who pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen across three games this week.
Top Hitting Performance of the Week
It was quite a week for the Brewer offense. Colorado helps, of course, but six different Brewers had an OPS of at least 1.075 this week. At the top of that list, and the recipient of the prestigious Brew Crew Ball Week in Review Hitter of the Week Award for the second straight week, is Jake Bauers. In six games, Bauers went 5-for-17 (.294) with two homers, two doubles, and seven RBIs… but he also walked 10 times. He had an OBP of .556 on the week and slugged .765, and he’s now up to a 149 wRC+ on the season.
A quick rundown of those other five 1.075+ OPS Brewers:
Brice Turang broke out of his slump in a big way: he played in all seven games and went 11-for-27 (.407) with two doubles, a triple, two homers, four walks, and eight RBIs
Jackson Chourio was 11-for-29 (.379) with two homers and four doubles
Garrett Mitchell was 6-for-16 with three doubles and a triple
David Hamilton hit .348 and hit his second and third homers of the season
Gary Sánchez went 3-for-8 with a double, a homer, a walk, and three RBIs
Injury Notes & Roster Moves
The Brewer bullpen was hit with some injury trouble this week. First, on Thursday, DL Hall and Grant Anderson both had to leave the game with injuries; Hall was diagnosed with a pectoral strain and landed on the 15-day injured list. Anderson was hit on the pitching arm with a baseball, and while it looked pretty nasty, he was able to get back into game action after a day off.
Then, Brian Fitzpatrick, who was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take Hall’s roster spot, suffered what unfortunately appears to be a serious elbow injury while warming up between innings on Friday.
The Brewers also cut ties with Jake Woodford on Friday after a rough outing in the last game of the Giants series. He was designated for assignment. Craig Yoho was called up to replace him on the major league roster.
After Fitzpatrick was placed on the IL, Drew Rom was recalled from Triple-A Nashville and made his Brewers debut on Saturday.
Milwaukee also acquired reliever Joel Kuhnel from the Athletics. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, Quinn Priester was switched over to the 60-day injured list. (That move doesn’t make any functional difference; Priester has already served more than 60 days on the 15-day IL, and those count toward the 60-day count.) Kuhnel will presumably report to Triple-A Nashville, though Rom or Yoho could be sent back there before the series in Las Vegas against Kuhnel’s former team this week.
Earlier in the week, Rob Zastryzny, who’d just been activated from the injured list on May 31, strained his trapezius and found himself back on the injured list before appearing in a game. He has yet to pitch for the Brewers this season.
Priester, who has struggled badly on his rehab assignment, had that assignment shifted from Nashville to Phoenix, where he’ll pitch in the Arizona Complex League.
On Deck
Monday: @ Athletics (in Las Vegas, not Sacramento) (9:05 p.m.)
Bryant Park has been added as an extra Knicks watch party location for Monday night’s NBA Finals Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs, it was announced early Monday.
The addition was made after the NYPD and Secret Service axed the planned watch party outside of Madison Square Garden due to heightened security requirements for President Trump’s planned attendance.
Bryant Park will serve as a Knicks watch party location for Monday night’s NBA Finals match-up, giving thousands of fans the chance to come together and watch the hometown heroes battle the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3. Rawf8 – stock.adobe.com
“These watch parties have become a celebration of New York City itself,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“From every borough and every neighborhood, this city has come together to cheer on the Knicks and share in a moment that belongs to all of us. That’s why we’re adding Bryant Park as an additional watch party location, so even more fans can be part of this incredible Knicks Finals run.”
New York Knick’s fans outside Madison Square Garden during game 2 of the NBA Finals with the Knicks playing the San Antonio Spurs. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
Knicks watch parties will also be held at Central Park and Brooklyn Bowl so fans across the Big Apple can watch the team make their first run at an NBA championship since 1973.
Boston, MA - June 2: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early reacts in the sixth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Hello and happy Monday, folks—and happy World Cup kickoff week, too.
The tournament starts on Thursday, but the Red Sox’s series in St. Pete against the Tampa Bay Rays starts tonight at 6:40 p.m. EST. Toeing the rubber for Boston will be left-hander Connelly Early, who’s been by-and-large very good in 2026 in spite of a pretty bleh outing last time out against Baltimore. The O’s hung four runs on him across 5.1 innings, and that damage was enough to secure the win for them. Still, Connelly’s got an impressive 3.26 ERA on the year.
So, simply put: do we think Early’s gonna get right back on the saddle at the Trop tonight? Personally, I do—the Rays have a team OPS that’s considerably worse against lefties compared to righties. But that’s just my take; let me know what you think below.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will have a chance to close out the series at their home arena after winning the first two games on the road at the Frost Bank Center.
The Knicks' last NBA finals appearance was in 1999 against the Spurs, who went on to beat New York 4-1. The Knicks won their only two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will have to crawl back into the series, in search of the franchise's first title since 2014.
Here’s what NBA experts think will happen in Game 3 of the series:
Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 predictions
USA TODAY Staff: Knicks will continue to pull away
Most of the USA TODAY Sports staff believes the Knicks will continue to run away with the series in Madison Square Garden.
There will be an infusion of new blood when Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game descends upon Philadelphia next month.
So many of the main characters and stalwarts from recent years – think Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Tarik Skubal, Mookie Betts – have been slowed by injury or poor performance. Yet the show must go on and, unsurprisingly, a slew of players – some rookies, others very veteran – have stepped forward to replace them.
Ready for American League starting pitcher Cam Schlittler? How about NL starting center fielder Michael Harris II?
Sure, plenty can happen between now and early July, when the full roster will be announced. Yet with fan voting now open and early surprises starting to solidify, USA TODAY Sports examines nine players on track to earn their first invites to the Midsummer Classic:
CF Andy Pages, Dodgers
It’s so very Dodgers that as they come under fire for All That’s Wrong With The Game – good luck finding an MLB press release about the impending lockout that doesn’t invoke their name – that their best player is making just $800,000.
OK, we’ll allow that Shohei Ohtani is their “best” player, but nobody in the big leagues has produced 3.8 WAR without both pitching and hitting. With that in mind, behold Pages, with 14 homers and an .852 OPS, five outs above average defensively and a trove of clutch at-bats that have kept the Dodgers atop the NL.
It will be a typically large Dodgers contingent on hand, with the likes of Max Muncy and Justin Wrobleski as equally deserving as Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But Pages will be flying the charter.
CF Oneil Cruz, Pirates
Remember this guy? Stands 6-7, slated to be Pittsburgh’s answer to Elly De La Cruz as a massive and massively talented shortstop before he was relegated to the outfield?
Well, Cruz is more than justifying the great expectations heralding his arrival.
The big fella is on pace for a 30-homer, 40-steal season and, with his long levers and elite bat speed, ranks in the 100th percentile for both average exit velocity (96.4 mph) and hard-hit rate (59.2%). Sure, the big hacks and larger strike zone have resulted in a majors-leading 98 strikeouts, and he’s a below-average center fielder.
But with a .350 OBP and a did-you-see-this element to his game, this guy should get Cruzed to Philly.
C Shea Langeliers, Athletics
Just a remarkably steady climb for a player who endured a trade from Atlanta and a move down I-80 to Yolo County in his first few seasons with the A’s. Langeliers leads AL catchers in home runs (16), OPS (.880) and average (.281), all while handling an inexperienced pitching staff that’s already deployed 10 starters this season.
RHP Nick Martinez, Rays
Perhaps this will be the winter Martinez again receives a multiyear contract after two seasons of accepting the qualifying offer from Cincinnati and then a one-year, $13 million deal with Tampa Bay.
It was once again a shrewd pitching investment for the Rays: Martinez is second to Schlittler in the AL with a 2.29 ERA and has given up two or fewer runs in 11 of his 12 starts.
It’s tempting to call this a 12-month All-Star nod, piggybacking off Clement’s excellent 2025 followed by his record-setting 30-hit postseason. But let’s check the tape: Clement leads the AL with 77 hits, ranks fifth in the majors with a .306 average and first with 19 doubles and naturally leads all AL second basemen in almost every meaningful statistical category.
He remains an excellent defensive second baseman while filling in at shortstop against left-handers, and should piggyback his eye-opening World Baseball Classic nod by joining this AL super team.
LHP Eduardo Rodríguez, Diamondbacks
Wait a minute: Rodriguez, a World Series champion with Cy Young Award votes on his resume, has never been an All-Star?
Perhaps that’s about to change.
It’s been an injury- and illness-laden journey for Rodriguez, 33, the past six seasons, but he’s absolutely found his groove in Arizona, where he’s fifth in an overly loaded NL ERA race and has posted three starts of seven innings and no earned runs.
INF/OF Casey Schmitt, Giants
Wow, what a disappointing season for the Giants. Yet Schmitt has been a consistent power source through it all, with 15 homers, 28 extra-base hits and an .868 OPS.
It’s been a most pleasant surprise for a guy who has never been able to solidify a position nor play 100 games in a season. Now, he’s forced the issue even as top prospect Bryce Eldridge has arrived and Rafael Devers has started producing. An everyday player, and the Giants’ best representative in Philly.
It will be interesting to see how engaged the hometown fan base is at the virtual ballot box, with longtime faves Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both worthy of selection, and though Schwarber has a more viable case, he’s blocked in fan balloting at DH by Ohtani.
Amid all that, let’s not forget about Marsh, whose damp mane and thick beard are familiar to fans after four straight playoff appearances.
The dude leads the majors in batting (.338), is OPS-ing .889 and for a while was the only guy keeping the Phillies afloat as manager Rob Thomson got fired and others struggled.
Sure, our preliminary plan is for the NL to carry a dozen or so outfielders, but alas: If ever there’s a time Marsh gets a nod, this would be it.
2B Brice Turang, Brewers
Yet another “Wait, he hasn’t been an All-Star yet?” Nope, that was the World Baseball Classic we saw Turang taking a star turn and emerging as one of the most respected ballplayers on that vaunted Team USA squad.
Now he and the Brewers are at it again.
The eternal “surprises” in the NL Central are 39-23 and Turang leads them with 3.0 WAR. With nine homers and 11 steals, he’s creeping toward a 30-30 season and his .881 OPS leads all major league second basemen.
With the Brewers’ fan base activated and the generally wiser habits of voters in the dot-com era, this should be an easy, righteous outcome in the voting booth.
Unfortunately for New Yorkers, the Knickerbockers haven't hosted an NBA Finals game at MSG in 27 years. That all changes on Monday, June 8, when the San Antonio Spurs come to the Big Apple for Game 3.
Let's take a look back at what happened the last time the Knicks were the talk of the town.
Not in the West, where the Spurs − led by big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan − tied for the league's best record and cruised into the NBA Finals.
In the East, however, the Knicks knocked off the top-seeded Miami Heat in the opening round. (Just the second time in NBA playoff history a No. 8 seed defeated a No. 1.) They went on to defeat the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers to reach the Finals.
Duncan, Robinson and guard Mario Elie hounded the Knicks into 44% shooting from the field (1-for-9 from 3-point range) and held New York scoreless for the final 3:12 of the game for a 78-77 win.
Behind guard Latrell Sprewell, the Knicks jumped out to an early lead. The Spurs came back to open up as much as a nine-point lead in the third quarter, but a 16-3 Knicks run put them back on top.
That's when Duncan took over. He scored 14 of the Spurs' next 15 points and assisted on an Elie 3-pointer to tie the game at 75 with 3:36 left.
On the next possession, Duncan fouled Sprewell, who hit both free throws to give New York a 77-75 advantage. But the Knicks missed their final five shots and Avery Johnson's 18-foot jumper with 47 seconds left proved to be the difference.
Sprewell had a chance to win it at the buzzer but his baseline jumper didn't fall and the Spurs won the series four games to one.
Finals MVP Duncan finished with 31 points and nine rebounds, while Robinson had a double-double (15 points, 12 boards) to lead San Antonio.
Sprewell scored a game-high 35 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Allan Houston chipped in 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on prior to a game against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re beginning our end-of-season review series for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This time, we’re going to go with the report card format.
As is the case with our postgame report cards, a “B” grade represents a player or group meeting their standards.
We’ll start with Koby Altman and the front office.
Key moves
Traded Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball.
Didn’t re-sign Ty Jerome
Re-signed Sam Merrill
Signed Thomas Bryant
Signed Larry Nance Jr.
Drafted Tyrese Proctor
Traded De’Andre Hunter for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis
Traded Darius Garland for James Harden
The Cavs had more postseason success this year than they have at any point since LeBron James left for Los Angeles. That’s an accomplishment.
The front office played a large role in that happening. They reshaped the roster at the deadline to one that could win multiple playoff rounds. However, that overhaul was only needed because of their missteps over the last few years. Additionally, the runway for success has been significantly shortened. They deserve criticism for that.
In many ways, the Cavs tried to build a roster to compete against the 2025 Indiana Pacers — a team they would never face again.
They weren’t the free-flowing motion offense that defined the 64-win version. Instead, they were mostly a jump shooting team that had very few on-ball playmakers. The Cavs didn’t lose their free-flowing offensive identity after the Garland trade — as he suggested last week — they simply never established it at all this year.
This season’s plan fell apart shortly after takeoff. Ball, Nance, and Bryant didn’t provide much versatility, with the main failure being Ball.
Injuries zapped Ball of being a productive player at all. He wasn’t able to get into the paint, and the outside shot abandoned him. Additionally, the defensive versatility wasn’t there due to his diminished lateral quickness. In the end, this all led to Ball not even being in the league by the end of the season.
These failed acquisitions, in addition to the team’s overall injuries, exposed the lack of playable depth during the regular season.
The front office made the best of a bad situation at the deadline. However, it was a mess they created over the past several years.
The Cavs made the wrong bet on Hunter at the previous deadline. He was supposed to solve the team’s ongoing issue at the wing and did for a short time, but it didn’t carry over to this year.
Hunter was bad this season for the Cavs. Fourteen points per game on .423/.308/.869 shooting splits isn’t worth $21.6 million for a team in the second apron. This is in addition to Hunter providing little to no value on the defensive end. Saving some money while finding much-needed depth was the right thing to do, but it was more of a band-aid than a solution to the real issue.
Now, they’re left in a worse spot on the wing than they were before the initial Hunter deal. The Cavs have fewer assets and are at risk of losing Dean Wade, their only truly capable wing defender, in free agency. There are limited avenues to improve on the wing outside of trading a member of the core four, or hoping LeBron decides to come home in free agency for less money than he’s worth.
The Harden trade was a somewhat similar situation.
The real issue was that this version of Garland isn’t worth a max contract based on how he’s looked after the toe injury. But even before the injury, there were reasons to be skeptical of his fit next to Donovan Mitchell well before this past trade deadline.
The front office continually dug its heels in with the previous core four group, despite warning signs that the talent didn’t mesh. Instead of moving Garland when he had more value — as he did in 2024 — they were forced to trade a hobbled version in addition to a second-round pick just to bring back a 36-year-old Harden.
On their own, none of the moves that the front office made this season were indefensible. Trading Okoro for Ball was a worthwhile gamble at the time, not re-signing Jerome made sense, and the moves at the deadline were correct in the moment. Only when you zoom out do the issues become clear.
The Cavs have the highest-paid team in the league, and still have a lot of the same issues that have haunted them each of their past postseason runs, despite winning three more playoff games this year. Except now, they have far fewer avenues to improve, and they have a much more condensed runway to compete.
Realistically, this group has two more years to be a threat to win the conference. That’s a timeline they imposed on themselves. And figuring out how to make the leap is harder now than ever.
The mistakes of the past caught up to the Cavs this year and could haunt them for the remainder of this era unless something drastically changes.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 04: Cody Bellinger #35 talks to Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Yankees announced Aaron Judge would miss significant time with a right rib fracture, the most immediate concerns centered on the team’s offense. They’ve often struggled to score on the occasions when Judge has missed time, and with a number of bats playing below their standards to start the year, there was an understandable worry that the lineup would struggle without their captain.
But the impacts of Judge’s absence are far-reaching, and his injury also has forced the Yankees to answer interesting questions about their defensive alignment. How exactly should the Yankees align their outfield with Judge down?
There are seemingly endless permutations the Yankees can evaluate. The foundation of their outfield without Judge will consist of Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, with both players having the ability to play across the outfield, though Bellinger is the only one who has consistently played at multiple positions in recent years. Beyond those two, the Yankees have a number of players across the roster and returning from injury to consider, including Spencer Jones, Max Schuemann, infielders who can also play corner outfield like Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario, and the recovering Jasson Domínguez and Giancarlo Stanton (even if the latter is very unlikely to actually play the field coming off a calf injury).
So far, the Yankees have stayed committed to two-thirds of their Opening Day construction with Bellinger in left and Grisham in center. They’ve rotated options in right, with Caballero, Jones, and Schuemann all getting some time there in the last week. Domínguez’s impending return complicates things further; the Martian has struggled in the cavernous left field in Yankee Stadium, yet also has limited experience in the other corner.
What should the Yankees prioritize among all these variables? Bellinger’s excellence in left? Should they give Jones a run in center, the mammoth prospect having come through the minors with decent grades on his glove? And how should they handle Domínguez? His bat could prove useful with Judge out, but his defensive home is not easy to find.
The good news is the Yankees have options to weather the storm. The bad news (other than the fact that Judge will be out for several weeks) is that there’s no obvious way to align their outfielder without their captain. What would you do in Aaron Boone’s shoes?
It’ll be a fairly light day on the site today, with Sam previewing the series with the Guardians this morning, and Andrew recapping Sunday’s American League action. Later, the latest entry in our Yankee Birthday series will feature Tacks Neuer, and Madison will put out the call for the mailbag ahead of the 6:40 pm EST start for tonight’s game.
Editor’s note: welcome to the official Twinkie Town top prospects list. This is a living document we’ll update throughout the season as your one-stop shop for all things Minnesota Twins prospects.
Now over two months into the 2026 season, we are starting to get a good idea of where the Minnesota Twins organization is at. While the pitching side of the system is loaded with risky arms, the hitting side holds a wide variety of profiles, with a lot of the top talent being concentrated in Triple-A. This sets us up to see a handful of long-awaited debuts this summer.
To be eligible, a player must have less than 40 innings pitched or 150 plate appearances at the major league level. Connor Prielipp and Travis Adams are the two most recent Twins to graduate, while Andrew Morris and Kendry Rojas are likely to do the same within the next month or two. Without further ado, we begin.
1. OF Walker Jenkins (AAA)
The injuries have been incredibly frustrating for the 2023 5th overall pick as Jenkins has played just 82 and 84 games in his first two full seasons as a pro and is back on the shelf with a shoulder injury this season after crashing into the outfield wall in early May.
Still, the five tool potential that Jenkins possesses cannot be matched by any other prospect in the Twins’ system. His raw power is borderline plus, but his lower fly ball rates may limit his power output. Even if Jenkins is only hitting 10-15 homers a year, he has the talent to spray doubles all over the field while batting near .300 with a high walk rate. While he has a chance to stick in centerfield, he would fit seamlessly into a corner spot with his plus arm and above-average athleticism.
In his last 6 games before hitting the injured list on May 5th, Jenkins slashed .429/.556/.762 with 6 walks and 4 strikeouts for a 235 wRC+. Jenkins is a complete prospect and an incredibly mature hitter at just 21 years old. With Emmanuel Rodriguez likely out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Walker Jenkins could debut soon after returning from injury.
2. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (AAA)
Emmanuel Rodriguez is averaging just 65 games played per season since reaching full-season ball in 2022 and could now be out for the rest of the summer due to torn ligaments in his thumb, but the upside on both sides of the ball is too high to let injuries get me down on him as a prospect.
His max EV of 118.3 MPH is the 3rd-highest in all of baseball this season. Rodriguez has become well-known for his patient approach at the plate, but he has become more aggressive in the zone this season while maintaining a low chase rate. The contact skills are the only question with his offensive profile, but with great swing decisions and some of the most impressive power this organization has ever seen, he should thrive if he can keep the strikeout rate in the 30% range. Like Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez is on the fence between centerfield and corner outfield, but an impressive arm and good legs give him a strong basis for success either way.
This is the 2nd hardest hit ball in baseball this year and the hardest hit home run. Emmanuel Rodriguez with a 118.3 mph @ticasino BLAST to right. Only O'Neil Cruz has hit a ball harder (119.0 mph). Rodriguez has two of the 8 hardest hit balls in baseball this year pic.twitter.com/FKzfDqN5vH
As the Twins’ 2024 1st round pick, Kaelen Culpepper has developed nicely over the past 2 years and is now on the brink of a major league debut. Culpepper is a talented hitter with good contact skills and average power, but has a tendency to chase. The bat projects to be an asset towards the bottom of the order, while a refined approach could truly make him an impactful hitter.
Defensively, it seems that the Twins are preparing to make Culpepper their next starting shortstop. While he doesn’t have the range of a truly elite shortstop, he has developed into a reliable fielder and has enough arm and athleticism to play a rock solid shortstop at the major league level. Culpepper also provides a speed element on the bases. He stole 25 bags last year and is well on his way to beating that this season. Culpepper has caught fire throughout May and into early June as his major league debut awaits.
Kaelen Culpepper absolutely launches his 13th homer of the season!
It has been an underwhelming season for the power-hitting catcher thus far, as the swing decisions continue to be extremely concerning and the contact rates have taken a step back. Still, Eduardo Tait is putting up respectable offensive production as one of just seven qualified teenage hitters at the High-A level, thanks to his immense raw power. Tait has special power potential and is still in position to have a good offensive season if he can get his contact rates back to their career norms.
Tait also has a rocket arm at catcher and projects as at least a passable defender behind the dish. It has been a frustrating start to the season, but he is still well ahead of the development curve at 19 years old and has the potential to be one of MLB’s premier power-hitting catchers.
5. RHP Charlee Soto (A+)
It’s easy to forget about a low minors prospect after missing so much time due to injury, but Charlee Soto is finally working his way back after missing 13+ months. Soto didn’t start focusing on pitching until just before being drafted out of high school, but is already showing eye-popping velocity and a natural changeup feel.
The upper 80s changeup looks like a plus pitch while the mid 80s slider is well on its way to being above average as well. Early in 2025 before the injury, Soto was touching 100 mph, missing bats at the top of the zone and generating ground balls with his sinker.
It’s an impressive pitch mix on a big, young, and athletic pitcher who has a ton of room to grow. This summer should give us a good idea of where he is headed as a prospect, and it has a chance to be a really exciting few months.
6. LHP Kendry Rojas (MLB)
Kendry Rojas struggled in his first stint in the Twins’ org last fall, finishing with a 6.59 ERA in 27.1 innings in Triple-A St. Paul. This year, Rojas came back as a completely different player. He added two ticks to his fastball and is now sitting 96. He’s throwing his slider harder and getting more spin while his changeup has found more depth.
Some inconsistent command has limited the success of his slider and changeup. Both can be excellent putaway pitches if he can hone in the location a bit better. Rojas is 23 and already making positive contributions at the major league level. He has mid-rotation potential if he can find more consistent command, otherwise he projects to be a really fun bullpen arm.
7. SS Marek Houston (A+)
The Twins’ 2025 first round pick has played pretty much as expected so far this season and looks primed for a call-up to Double-A Wichita soon. At 22 years old, Marek Houston possesses elite defensive traits and has a chance to develop into an impactful shortstop.
Offensively, Houston has posted good contact rates with a batting average over .300 this season. The hit tool will have to carry the load, because he lacks power. He has shown off a patient approach at the plate, but pitchers won’t be afraid to throw him strikes if he can’t consistently drive the ball into the gaps. While there are questions about whether he has a major league caliber bat, Houston’s defense will make him a valuable player if he can just be passable at the plate.
Riley Quick’s first season as a pro has gotten off to a bit of a slow start due to some minor finger issues, but he seems to be fully healthy now and is displaying the electric stuff that made him such a highly touted draft prospect. Only Paulshawn Pasqualotto has a higher K-BB% in the Twins’ organization right now.
Riley Quick’s mid-90s sinker does a lot of the dirty work, generating high ground ball rates as his primary pitch. He complements it with a trio of offspeed pitches, his best pitch being the mid 80s slider that sits around 2,800 RPM and gets sharp two-plane movement. His low 90s cutter complements the sinker extremely well, and his changeup in the upper 80s has been almost untouchable as a weapon against lefties.
Quick has struck out 43 batters in 28.1 innings of work between Single-A and High-A. He’s throwing a ton of strikes, and at 22 years old, Riley Quick is dominating the lower levels as expected. A move to Double-A should be coming this summer and will give us a much better litmus test.
9. LHP Dasan Hill (A+)
After being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft straight out of high school, the lanky lefty was really impressive in his first year of pro ball, posting a 2.77 ERA and 3.51 FIP in 16 starts at Single-A Fort Myers last year. While the eye-popping strikeout numbers have carried into High-A this year, so have the major command concerns.
Hill’s fastball is sitting in the 95-97 range and occasionally flirting with triple digits, but lacks carry and he has struggled to command the pitch. While the fastball will play at that velo and there is potential for it to become a plus offering with improved shape, the low 80s slider is the highlight of the arsenal. He also features a mid 80s changeup with great arm action and mixes in a loopy curveball.
While Dasan Hill has struck out 47 batters in 30 innings, he has also walked 27. His stuff is playing extremely well at the lower levels, showing flashes of complete dominance in High-A at just 20-years-old, and while the command issues are likely going to push him to the bullpen, the sky is the limit for Hill as a back-end reliever who can run it up to 100 from the left side with some tantalizing secondaries.
10. OF Hendry Mendez (AAA)
Rounding out the top 10 is breakout outfielder Hendry Mendez, acquired from the Phillies in the Harrison Bader trade last July, which already appears to be paying off for the Twins.
The 22-year-old is showing off a plus hit tool, batting north of .300 with elite contact rates this season. He pairs it with a patient approach but also finds his spots to attack. Mendez has a violent swing on a flat bat path that produces great bat speed while maximizing contact. While it creates extreme ground ball rates and will limit his power output at the major league level, there are no signs of it stopping Hendry from being a good big league hitter.
Mendez has the tools to be a .300 AVG/.400 OBP hitter who can still produce some thump. Defensively, there was talk about moving him to first base last fall and throughout the offseason, but the Twins have seemed comfortable enough throwing him out in left field. He is a solid athlete that can develop into a passable corner outfield defender. Either way, the bat has a chance to make a big impact and a MLB debut could be coming very soon.
Hendry Mendez, who we acquired for Harrison Bader, had himself a day yesterday in the @StPaulSaints win⚡️
4-4 / 2 2B / 2 R
In 80 PA since getting promoted to Triple-A he is slashing .400/.513/.600 (1.113 OPS) with 3 HRs and more BBs than Ks💥 pic.twitter.com/IAhCICAVFr
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) May 27, 2026
11. RHP Ryan Gallagher (AAA)
Acquired in the Willi Castro trade at last year’s deadline, Ryan Gallagher resembles Simeon Woods Richardson a little bit with the low 90s fastball from a high release point, but I think Gallagher has better secondaries and potential for some added velocity. The fastball is below average but playable at the moment, sitting 91-94 with a little bit of loft. His best secondary is his changeup, which doesn’t get particularly sharp movement, but has great arm action and gets nearly 15 MPH of velo separation from his fastball. Also has a trio of breaking balls, none of which are particularly sharp, but he locates them well and they provide different shapes and velocities for hitters to think about. Gallagher is already having some success at Triple-A just two months into his second pro season. He is a starter-type arm in a system full of risky profiles, and I think he has a good chance to provide value at the back end of a big league rotation.
12. RHP Andrew Morris (MLB)
If this is his last month as a qualified prospect, it was a great run for the 24-year-old right-hander. However, it is time for Andrew Morris to move on, because he is looking like an anchor in this Twins’ bullpen for years to come. Morris was widely viewed as a back-end starter type over the last couple years, but has been pushed into the Twins’ bullpen this year with strong results. His fastball has played well, sitting 95-97 and running up to 100 with some ride at the top of the zone. He complements it with a couple of good secondaries, most notably the low 80s sweeper that generates nearly 16 inches of horizontal break. With good command and good stuff that is only getting better, Andrew Morris looks like a mainstay in this bullpen for years to come.
13. OF Yasser Mercedes (A+)
After struggling in his first full season at Single-A in 2025 but still showing off the exciting tools that made him a highly-rated international prospect, Yasser Mercedes has taken off this year. He possesses easy plus power with a strong feel for pulling fly balls. Patient approach generating above average walk rates, and has carried solid contact rates into High-A at 21 years of age. Big speed as well, as Mercedes stole 36 bags in 39 attempts last year and is off to an even better start in that category this season. Plus arm and athleticism that could keep him in center, but would play very well in a corner. He’s cooled down a bit with the move to High-A, but is too talented to not find it again soon. Walker Jenkins is the only player in the system who is closer to being a five tool prospect.
An excellent athlete with plus power who was drafted out of high school in 2023, Brandon Winokur has hit tool concerns, but exhibits some of the best raw talent in the system. Got off to a slow start this year despite repeating High-A, but caught fire in May, posting an OPS north of .900 with some of the best strikeout and walk numbers of his career thus far. He has looked much improved at third base this season and fits well there with his rocket arm. Also playing significant time in center. Should see Double-A soon if the bat stays hot.
15. RHP Adrian Bohorquez (A+)
Bohorquez missed all of May with a forearm strain, but he is ripely 21 and has already started to find success in High-A. His fastball sits mid 90s and runs up to 99 with some life. He has a slider in the upper 80s and a curveball around 80, both of which are plus offerings with great spin and sharp break, running whiff rates around 40% in the low minors. He has a developing low 90s changeup/splitter that has had success against lefties. A control over command arm at the moment with a bit of an injury history. Significant reliever risk, but the stuff is absolutely legit.
16. RHP James Ellwanger (A)
Selected in the 3rd round of the 2025 draft, James Ellwanger hit the shelf early in the season with a significant elbow injury, but showed plenty of promise already, throwing 11.2 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts at Single-A. His fastball sits mid 90s and tops at 98 with poor shape but room for growth. His low 80s curveball gets big two-plane movement and has the potential to be a big whiff pitch. Power changeup in the low 90s with great dive, maybe his best pitch. Mixes in a hard cutter as well. Big velo and stuff, but command and injuries give him high reliever risk, where he could be an electric high-leverage arm.
17. RHP Marco Raya (AAA)
Raya had a rough month of April, but luck has not been on his side and he has found much more success in May, attacking the strike zone with some of the best stuff in the org. His mid 90s fastball has poor shape, but should be playable around the edges of the zone. The mid 80s sweeper is not only his best pitch, but is one of the best pitches in the entire org. He mixes in a curveball, changeup, and cutter that can all be weapons if he can command them. Still just 23 years old, Raya has the potential to be an electric reliever if he can find some consistency.
Marco Raya pitched 3 scoreless innings last night picking up the win for the @StPaulSaints 👊
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) May 23, 2026
18. RHP John Klein (MLB)
John Klein’s fastball spiked up last year as he broke out in Double-A Wichita. His fastball has been fringy, sitting mid 90s with deadzone tendencies, but we’re yet to see him in a true one-inning relief role, where I think we could see him run it up to 100 and have some real success. His changeup has been his best putaway pitch and should be successful in the majors, sitting mid 80s with great depth. His curveball sits around 80 and gets solid two-plane movement. Cutterish slider grades out fairly well but has been crushed this year. At 24 years old, Klein is a strike-thrower with average stuff. Fastball development will determine how good he can be as he eventually settles into more of a traditional relief role.
19. SS/3B Quentin Young (A)
At just 19 years old, Quentin Young is putting up some of the most impressive raw power that we have ever seen at Single-A Fort Myers, and he’s making encouraging swing decisions in his first year as a pro. His hit tool is in critical condition, but the potential is immense if he can just make enough contact. He’s playing mostly short right now, but his rocket arm and good-not-great range and athleticism will likely push him to third base or right field. Extreme volatility, but the power potential is enough to put him inside the top 20.
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) June 6, 2026
20. 1B/OF Gabriel Gonzalez (MLB)
After an incredible 2025 season, Gabriel Gonzalez cooled off this spring and is showing shades of Brooks Lee as a hitter. The hit tool that is supposed to be the highlight of his skillset is looking average. Swing decisions are improving, but I still don’t see him doing much in the walk department. While he has average raw power, high ground ball rates are going to limit his true power output. Defensively, he is a fringy outfielder who is now spending most of his time at first base with the Saints. Still just 22 years old with plenty of time to grow, but his profile is one that tends to fail at the major league level.
21. OF Kala’i Rosario (AA)
Kala’i Rosario mashed all summer in 2025, but is back in Double-A this year with the logjam of outfielders in the upper minors. He has hit tool concerns, but is a patient hitter with plus power and showed off improved speed in 2025, stealing 32 bags. Rosario has a solid arm and is playable in right field. Projects as a solid platoon outfielder with some real offensive upside.
22. C/1B Enrique Jimenez (A)
Acquired in the Chris Paddack trade last July, 20-year-old Enrique Jimenez has done nothing but hit so far in the Twins’ system. He has some natural whiff given how much elevation he has in his swing, but he’s a pulled fly ball machine and has posted a massive power output because of it. He’s also a very patient hitter who has posted a walk rate over 22% with the Mighty Mussels. Jimenez is a bit short for first base at 5’9” but has a solid arm and there is hope that he can develop into a solid major league catcher.
23. 2B/SS Kyle DeBarge (AA)
Kyle DeBarge hasn’t had a good start to the season in Double-A and has seen spikes in strikeout and whiff rates, but he has a mature approach and continues to tap into more power. He’s been heating up throughout May, and assuming he will run into more contact, it could turn out to be a good summer for DeBarge. He’s a reliable middle infielder who can move around the field and provide value both defensively and on the bases. Being an average big league hitter would make DeBarge a lot of money.
It is a lost season for Eduardo Beltre, who suffered a season-ending knee injury after just 16 games at Single-A. Still, there is a lot to be excited about as the 19-year-old has posted a max EV just shy of 110 while contact and swing decisions have been good enough to let the power play. Beltre is a solid athlete with a good arm and projects well as a corner outfielder.
25. RHP Jose Olivares (AA)
It was a tough spring for 23-year-old Jose Olivares, who began the season on the injured list and then was immediately pushed to Double-A for the first time after a quick rehab assignment in Single-A. Still, Olivares has an excellent mid 90s fastball with elite carry. He complements it with a solid cutter and changeup, both in the upper 80s. Mixes in an occasional curveball. He’s worked in a hybrid role this year, pitching roughly 3 innings every 4-5 days. Command has been the main issue for him this year, and while major league starter is pretty much out of the question at this point, he has big upside out of the bullpen, especially if we can see his fastball push into the upper 90s in one inning stints.
26. RHP Alejandro Hidalgo (AAA)
Alejandro Hidalgo’s stuff is looking better than ever in 2026 as he has struck out over a third of the batters he has faced between Double-A and Triple-A. His fastball has been barrelled this year, but it has strong characteristics in the mid 90s with carry. His changeup and cutter are both strong pitches that have generated elite whiff rates. While the results haven’t been there for Hidalgo, he is ripely 23 years old and has the potential to be a high-leverage bullpen arm.
27. RHP C.J. Culpepper (AAA)
C.J. Culpepper has settled into a bullpen role in Triple-A and been one of the more reliable relievers for the Saints lately. He has a lower release point that gives his mid 90s fastball extreme sinking action, generating high ground ball rates while his sweeper and slider have big whiff potential if he can locate them. While command is sporadic, Culpepper keeps the ball around the zone and has enough movement to consistently miss barrels. His movement profile and command tendencies remind me of Kody Funderburk, who has shown flashes of dominance, but hasn’t been consistent enough to maintain a big league role. We’ll see if Culpepper is any different.
28. 1B/3B Billy Amick (AA)
After a couple of injuries shortened Billy Amick’s 2025 season, he has transitioned really well into Double-A this year. Lots of strikeouts and whiff this year for Amick, but it comes naturally with the extreme loft in his swing. He’s getting the ball in the air more than ever this year, maximizing his raw power, which is flirting with plus territory. He’s also making excellent swing decisions and drawing walks at a good clip. 23 years old and could be headed to Triple-A this summer if he keeps hitting well. Corner infield defense continues to develop. Fringy third baseman who is more likely to settle in at first.
Billy Amick just continues to hit as he produced another three-hit night in the @WindSurgeICT win🧃
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) May 9, 2026
29. INF Bruin Agbayani (A)
Since being drafted out of high school in the 6th round last year, Bruin Agbayani has only played 15 games in the Twins’ system due to a couple of injuries, but he has already shown off intriguing tools at 19 years old. His contact skills are looking impressive, posting zone contact rates over 90%. He has an extremely patient approach and has an incredible 16 walks to 6 strikeouts so far in Single-A. He has shown very little pop, but at 6’2”, there is reason to believe he could grow into some playable power. He’s an above-average runner and has solid actions defensively, but likely ends up at second base or left field due to his below average arm.
30. C/OF Khadim Diaw (A+)
Khadim Diaw is repeating High-A after an injury-riddled 2025 season, and is a good athlete who looks like he could play a solid backstop while spending time in a corner outfield spot. He is a patient and contact-oriented hitter with limited power. His development as a utility catcher with some speed and a high-OBP skillset could make Diaw a fun and valuable player at the major league level.
31. RHP Matt Barr (FCL)
Matt Barr’s professional career started with a broken arm, but the 20-year-old righty possesses exciting stuff and will be a big name to watch the rest of the season. After dominating JuCo for two years, Barr committed to Tennessee but chose to sign with the Twins, who drafted him in the 5th round last year. He is a tailor-made high-leverage bullpen arm, having some command concerns but running his fastball into the upper 90s with a slider and curveball in the 3,000 RPM range.
32. RHP Santiago Castellanos (FCL)
While Santiago Castellanos has seen very limited action this year, he carved up the DSL at just 16 years old last year, posting a 2.79 ERA and 29.8% strikeout rate in 29.0 innings. He leads with a low 90s fastball with good carry and some armside run. He has the makings of some good breaking balls, featuring a sweeper in the upper 70s and a harder slider in the mid 80s. Also already has a good feel for his mid 80s changeup. Albeit undersized at 5’10”, a good feel for command and a strong four-pitch mix are making 17-year-old Castellanos an intriguing starting pitching prospect.
33. UTIL Ben Ross (AAA)
Ben Ross has found something offensively this season, dominating Double-A’s Texas League in April and carrying his success up to Triple-A with the Saints. While he’s making very strong swing decisions and posting career-high walk rates, Ross has fringy power and questionable contact skills. Much of his offensive success this year has come from consistently finding the barrel against inferior pitching, and I don’t see much offensive upside in the majors. The value here is coming defensively, where Ross has good speed and actions, playing all over the field at a high level. Ross is freshly 25 and if the Twins can find some utility in his bat, there is serious value here.
34. OF Jhomnardo Reyes (FCL)
It’s an aggressive ranking for the 18-year-old lefty outfielder, but Jhomnardo Reyes has been one of the best hitters in complex ball, showing off his impressive raw power along with much improved swing decisions and encouraging contact skills. He’s 6’3” with some speed and a good arm, suited well for corner outfield. The power potential is immense and may be enough to carry his profile, even if the hit tool doesn’t get there.
Jhomnardo Reyes, a $300K int’l sign in 2025, has been unstoppable to start the FCL season🔥
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) May 24, 2026
35. OF Kyler Fedko (AAA)
Kyler Fedko broke out in Double-A last year and has carried it to St. Paul this season. At 26 years old, he’s mashing in Triple-A thanks to an aggressive AirPull approach. He has average raw power with a fringy hit tool and an aggressive, chase-heavy approach. I question if his bat will translate to the major league level. Meanwhile, Fedko is an average runner who is a fine corner outfielder. Not much upside to dream on, and at 26 years old, there likely isn’t much room left for development.
36. OF Luis Fragoza (A)
Luis Fragoza is a guy that I need to keep a closer eye on throughout the summer. Signed in 2024 with really steady production in rookie ball. He got the call to Single-A towards the end of May and has absolutely crushed it. Steady and simple swing with some big loft and impressive power to all fields. He’s sitting on a 104 90th and 110 max EV in his first taste of Single-A at just 19 years old. He is running average contact rates and has been on the more aggressive side. He’s a solid athlete who has split time between all three outfield spots and will likely end up in a corner. Development of the hit tool will be key for Fragoza as a prospect, but the power is already very exciting.
37. RHP Reed Moring (A)
Of all the 2025 draftees pitching in Fort Myers right now, Reed Moring is the one that intrigues me the most. Moring never really pitched in length at UC-Santa Barbara, but is working 3-5 inning stints at Single-A now and is showing off a deep arsenal of quality pitches. He leads with a low 90s fastball with good carry. His mid 80s slider is sharp and has posted solid whiff rates despite being thrown in the zone a lot. Mid 80s changeup gets excellent depth and plays off the fastball very well. Mixes in a curveball and a cutter. Moring is struggling to find the balance between too many strikes and not enough strikes right now, but he’s 21 with promising stuff. If the fastball can sneak up into the mid 90s, then we’re really looking at a mid-rotation arsenal.
38. C/OF Ricardo Olivar (AAA)
Ricardo Olivar finished May with a significant knee injury and will be out for the foreseeable future, but was off to a strong start in his first taste of Triple-A at age 24. He’s a fringy catcher who has also spent a lot of time in left field. Offensively, he is an aggressive hitter with extreme chase tendencies. He has an impressive bat with above average contact skills and some solid pull-side power, but likely needs an altered approach if he wants to have success at the major league level. Olivar is a talented hitter, but with the knee injury, chase-heavy approach, and lack of a true position, all while creeping up on 25, there are a lot of factors working against him.
39. RHP Geremy Villoria (FCL)
Much like Santiago Castellanos, Geremy Villoria is a 17-year-old right-hander who has looked the part so far in rookie ball, although Villoria is a bit more of a projection. He’s 6’2” and has shown a good feel for command. Fastball is sitting around 90 with good carry and can morph it into a sinker with big armside run. He throws a slower slider around 80 with some sharp late break and strong spin rates. Solid feel for a mid 80s changeup with good depth. Villoria already has some strong traits, and if he can get the fastball closer to the mid 90s, there is mid-rotation potential.
40. RHP Jason Reitz (A)
Standing at 6’11”, Jason Reitz is such an absurd profile that it almost feels like it has to work. The fastball sits in the 92-95 range with deadzone tendencies. He has a handful of secondaries, including a pair of breaking balls in the mid 80s with average shape and spin. He also has tested a curveball in the low 80s, but the key to success may be his upper 80s changeup that strong movement on both planes and will be incredibly difficult to barrel at that attack angle. There are questions about his command and the stuff looks average right now, but Jason Reitz has a level of funk that can only be matched by a few pitcher in MLB. He creates tough angles that hitters aren’t comfortable with, and if the stuff can improve, that’s only going to help.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 7: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts after a double during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a collective gasp from Pirates’ fans on Saturday evening when second baseman Brandon Lowe was unable to exit the field under his own power after a deflected foul ball met his kneecap in Atlanta. Luckily for Pittsburgh and for Lowe the temporary scare is as bad as it’s going to get as no major injury was sustained.
General Manager Ben Cherington revealed on Sunday ahead of the team’s contest against the Braves that Lowe had not suffered any kind of significant injury.
“Tests last night were negative for any sort of fracture,” Cherington said. “He got hit pretty good, he’s pretty sore and right now, we’re looking at this as a day-to-day thing and hopeful that we’ll see him back in there against the Dodgers at some point.”
Despite Cherington describing Lowes’ situation as day-to-day, it took less than 24 hours for “Bam Bam” to be right back in the mix. In a tight contest against the Braves, Lowe told Pirates’ manager Don Kelly that he was “good to go whenever” in the event that the team needed a pinch hitter. Kelly took Lowe up on his offer in the top of the ninth, as the injured second baseman pinch hit to lead off the Pirates in the last frame. Despite not being able to walk off the field less than a day before, Lowe came up big in his relief appearance, as he crushed a double into deep right field. Cruz was the pinch runner for Lowe, and despite the Pirates’ loss, the team wouldn’t have likely been in such a good position were it not for Lowe stepping up.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, BRANDON LOWE?!
First pitch he sees after being helped off the field last night he doubles, and in the 9th inning no less
“Huge after last night,” Kelly said. “He came up with a big hit.”
The team is hopeful that Lowe will be able to contribute in the team’s upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he’s been one of the team’s top contributors on offense. This season the 31-year-old is slashing .252/.336/.522 and has 15 home runs. Without Lowe in the lineup, the Pirates would be missing their best power hitter of the season, and after being swept by the Braves, they need all the help they can get in the runs department.
Lowe avoiding a major injury is huge for his season and the success of the Pirates moving forward, especially considering the history he has with being sidelined. In 2023, Lowe had a very similar injury to his right knee when a deflected foul ball resulted in a fractured right-patella that ultimately ended his season prematurely. For the past four seasons in a row, Lowe has experienced some kind of injury that has kept him off the field for significant amounts of time. 2022 saw Lowe miss 97 games because of lower back tightness and a right tricep contusion.
The Pirates have a day off before their home series against Los Angeles gets underway, and Lowe is hopeful that the time off will have him feeling prepared to play against the Dodgers.
“This off-day lining up the way that it is is probably the best timing I could have ever hoped for, following something like this,” Lowe said. “Hopefully, my kids take it easy on me tomorrow and we show up on Tuesday ready to rock.”
The Rockets debuted new jerseys and a complete makeover late last week. This makes sense because the video was a follow-up to the Rockets account’s Twitter video, which featured Rudy Tomjanovich’s dinner and honored the ‘93-‘94 and ‘94-‘95 Rockets teams that wore the Ketchup and Mustard jerseys, making them a fan favorite remembered by Rockets fans worldwide, regardless of age. Finally, Ketchup and Mustard are back.
In addition to the Ketchup and Mustard jerseys, the Rockets also unveiled a new black alternate that will be their signature jerseys and a new pin-stripped version. The Rockets also changed their emblems, giving the famous Dunkstronaut and the trademark R a new border. I personally am glad they kept the Dunkstronaut.
“We heard our fans…Ketchup and mustard are back!” said Patrick Fertitta, Vice Chairman of the Houston Rockets and Comets. “From the time my family bought the team in 2017, we’ve heard from countless fans about how deeply those colors are tied to their memories of Rockets basketball. We wanted to create something that celebrates the generations of fans who built Rockets basketball while inspiring the next generation of Rockets fans.”
The Rockets will continue to promote their new design by holding a celebratory event at The George R. Brown Convention Center on Friday from 10 to 8 in honor of the new uniforms. The first 100 fans who spend $100 or more will receive a free T-shirt. Rudy Tomjanovich, Steve Francis, and Vernon Maxwell, who will sign autographs from 12-1, 2-3, and 4-5, respectively, are just a few of the many Rockets icons that will be present to sign autographs.
Having stated all of that, what are your thoughts? Are the jerseys appealing to you? Do you not like the jerseys? Tell me, and don’t forget to return to The Dream Shake for all Houston Rockets news.
Aaron Judge is such an impactful player, the New York Yankees must figure out how to recreate themselves without him.
And will they face an identity shift, or an identity crisis?
The Yankees lost three of their first five games without Judge after the 6-foot-7 slugger and three-time MVP was lost for several weeks with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. Now, they face a key six-game road swing to Cleveland and Toronto that may answer the question everyone's wondering: How good are they without him?
The Yankees slid one spot to No. 5 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings, as an already muddled AL field gets even further complicated. That's not to say the Yankees will get pulled back to the pack. They'll simply have to lean a little more on a starting rotation that ranks fourth in the AL with a 3.12 ERA. And continue getting contributions from players like Jazz Chisholm, on a 19-game heater (four homers, .919 OPS).
And hope for positive updates on Judge.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Atlanta Braves (-)
Among the many reasons they call him Money Michael Harris II: He's 4-for-6 as a pinch-hitter, including a game-winner Sunday.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
Very fortunate a grisly collision didn't disrupt one of Max Muncy's finest seasons.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett wants a new contract and has skipped the team's voluntary offseason work, but he plans to show this week for mandatory minicamp.
Brissett will be in attendance, but it's unclear how much on-field work he will do, according to ESPN. If he were to skip mandatory minicamp, the Cardinals could fine Brissett $107,911.
Last offseason, Brissett signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals. Heading into the second year of the deal, Brissett is due a salary of $4.9 million, of which $1.5 million is guaranteed.
This year, quarterback Gardner Minshew signed a one-year, $5.8 million contract with the Cardinals, and almost all of that is guaranteed. The Cardinals reportedly view Brissett as the starter and Minshew as the backup, at least until rookie third-round draft pick Carson Beck is ready to start, and Brissett may be questioning why his backup has a bigger guarantee.
Whether the Cardinals are willing to give Brissett the contract he wants remains to be seen, but now that the work is mandatory, Brissett is ready to get to work.
Perhaps the best way to humanize the world's biggest celebrities is to get them talking about sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden for a New York Knicks game.
Rapper Fat Joe always says a prayer once he's in his seat, grateful he no longer has to watch from the top of the "World's Most Famous Arena." Actress Anne Hathaway says Knicks' games give her "a fairytale feeling," with flashbacks to her childhood spent dreaming of being where she watches the games from now.
The stars will be out in full force when the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game since 1999 at the Garden on Monday, June 8, with President Donald Trump among those expected to be in the building for Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Celebrity row is a tradition at Knicks games. There are mainstays who span generations of Knicks teams, such as Spike Lee and Ben Stiller, still in the crowd. But many of the names and Knicks regulars have changed after so many years between Finals appearances.
Tony Bennett sang the national anthem before the Knicks played Game 3 against the Spurs 27 years ago. John F. Kennedy Jr., Tiger Woods, Adam Sandler, Billy Crystal, Woody Allen, James Caan and Evander Holyfield showed up to Game 4 at Madison Square Garden that year. Actors Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Rick Moranis and Matthew Modine were shown by NBC during Game 5.
What celebrities will be there in 2026? The possibilities are part of the fun in having the NBA Finals in New York again. But there are a group of diehard Knicks fans who also happen to be extremely famous.
Here's a fun breakdown of Knicks celebrity row, featuring fan origin stories and anecdotes for Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, Stiller and more of the most well-known New York Knicks basketball fans:
How much have things changed since 1999? Here's what celebrity row looked like for Game 4 of the Finals - the last year the Knicks made it that far until 2026 pic.twitter.com/6cf6mrxDCy
Chalamet has become one of the most recognizable Knicks fans in recent years, with his courtside appearances alongside girlfriend Kylie Jenner going viral during the past two postseasons. He previously called last year's postseason run "the most fun period of my life."
But the movie star, who grew up in Manhattan, didn't just join the bandwagon when the Knicks got good again with their current nucleus. There are photos of Chalamet, then 14 years old, winning a social media contest hosted by former Knicks players Landry Fields and Andy Rautins.
"He's the real deal," Stiller told "The Howard Stern Show" in December 2025. "…I've sat with him, I don't know him that well, but this year we sat at a bunch of games. He reminds me of my level of just, he lives it, he feels it. He really is experiencing it inside … but there are others who don't."
Chalamet, 30, told the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast in December 2025 he used the money he received from a Disney commercial when he was 12 or 13 years old to buy "the cheapest season tickets I could find thinking LeBron was coming to the Knicks." He would go to as many games as he could walking from where he lived at 43rd Street and 9th Avenue, or sell the tickets he couldn't use to scalpers outside Madison Square Garden.
Chalamet revealed to Anthony that he was at the 2006 game when Anthony, then with the Denver Nuggets, was involved in a brawl with the Knicks.
"It's very pixelated on the footage, but you can see a little kid going nuts on the players," Chalamet said. "That was me."
"My whole life, my grandma was a huge Knicks fan, so that's what turned me on to them," Chalamet explained. "If you live in New York, you are a Knicks fan. My grandma had a New York Giants teddy bear and a New York Jets teddy bear, but she only had a New York Knicks teddy bear. … That's what made me a fan and I went to as many games when I could afford a ticket growing up."
Ben Stiller
Stiller has become one of the more engaged celebrities among Knicks faithful in recent years, with his social media commentary during games and throughout the season serving as a connection point for the team's diehard fans.
Stiller began following the Knicks in the early 1970s and witnessed their championship runs in 1970 and 1973, attending games with his late father, Jerry Stiller, according to a 2024 ESPN story. Stiller's wall included a poster of Knicks star Willis Reed.
"The 10-year-old in me is like this is the coolest thing ever," Stiller told Stern last October.
Tracy Morgan
"There's only one problem with being a Knicks fan," Morgan said during an NBA on NBC voiceover earlier this season. "I was 4 years old the last time we won a championship. A baby."
Morgan told MSG Network in 2018 he's been "watching Knick games my whole life" and he's been a passionate supporter for decades at home and away games ever since he broke through as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live."
Tina Fey, Morgan's co-star on "30 Rock," said in an interview on "The Today Show" last week that Morgan is the source of her courtside seat at Knicks games. She was optimistic about being a guest of his again at the NBA Finals when they return to New York.
"Sitting next to Tracy Morgan at a Knicks game is an experience," Stiller said to Howard Stern. "My son's 20 now, but sitting next to Tracy Morgan when he was 10, Tracy Morgan's pointing out all the Knick dancers and telling him what he wants to do."
"Don't spill beer on the parquet and don't get Reggie Miller mad," Morgan told MSG Network about the unofficial rules of sitting courtside. "That's basketball. That was me in the projects, T-shirt backwards, tag hanging out, sneakers untied, snapping on everybody on the court, criticizing everybody's game."
Spike Lee
Lee became famous as a Knicks superfan for his trash-talking courtside exchanges with Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller in the 1990s, but he's been going to games at Madison Square Garden for 60 years. He initially bought season tickets ahead of Patrick Ewing's rookie season in 1985.
"My father started taking me 8, 9 years old, and my father is a great, great musician … his lawyer had season tickets to the yellow seats," Lee during an NPR interview recently. "May 8th, 1970, Game 7, he said, 'You go to the game.' I was at the Willis Reed/Walt Frazier game, where the Knicks won their first NBA championship. So I said, 'Lord, if I ever make any money, I just want to get season tickets.'"
Anne Hathaway
After Knicks forward OG Anunoby nearly ran over Hathaway while seated courtside at Madison Square Garden last season – she called it a "bucket-list moment" on Instagram – Hathaway explained her fandom on "The Jimmy Fallon Show."
"I'm very chill. I'm very loving and calm. But I'm also the type of fan that I considered wearing an OG (Anunoby) jersey out here today," Hathaway told Fallon on April 29. "… When I'm at the game, I want them to know that I know who they are and that they're going to win. … I want them to know you can do no wrong. I'm trying to be a gentle, loving motherly fan."
But Hathaway, a Brooklyn native, also has a deeper connection to the team related to her childhood.
"The Knicks, to me, that's where I have a fairytale feeling whenever I go to The Garden and I see them," Hathaway told ESPN's Sportish, "because when I was growing up, going to a game was such a huge deal and the closest we ever got was nosebleed, and I remember looking down and seeing the people who sat close up and some people got to sit courtside."
"And so when I get to go to The Garden now and I get to sit in those beautiful seats," she continued, "I'm like, 'Oh my God, 8-year-old me is up there looking down and I'm one of those people now.' It's so special and I love the team. I'm such a huge fan of Jalen Brunson. I think he's such a brilliant player and such a phenomenal leader."
Fat Joe
Rapper Fat Joe has been a fixture at Knicks games over the years and made some headlines earlier this postseason when he revealed the Cleveland Cavaliers took away his courtside tickets to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Bronx-born entertainer told Eli Manning in 2023 he "was just born into the Knicks" and would sit in the highest parts of Madison Square Garden growing up as a fan.
"I used to see Michael Jordan this little, the last (row)," Fat Joe said on "The Eli Manning Show," while squeezing his fingers together. "… Something I do courtside at the Knicks game, I always give a prayer appreciative of being here and not being all the way at the top."
Michael J. Fox
The "Back to the Future" star and longtime Parkinson's Disease advocate has been a regular at Madison Square Garden for decades along with his wife, Tracy Pollan. He's been pictured seated with Stiller and Chalamet courtside this season.
The origins of Fox's Knicks fandom are unknown, but the Canadian-born actor was watching games long before this current run.
Mariska Hargitay
Hargitay's relationship with Knicks star Jalen Brunson has been a constant the past couple years, with the two often hugging after wins at Madison Square Garden. Stiller has said Hargitay is "the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan" because of her bond with Brunson.
"How it started is they let me know Jalen is a big fan, and I was so flattered and thrilled because I was such a huge fan," the "Law and Order: SVU" star said on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers. "I think Jalen sort of grew up on 'SVU' … He felt, as many people do, that intimacy and safety that one does growing up on 'SVU.'"
Brunson said he would often watch "Law and Order" with his father, former NBA player and current Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. Jalen Brunson told Hargitay he plans to attend her new Broadway show, "Every Little Thing" after the Knicks' NBA Finals run is over, according to NBC. He previously attended the premiere of her recent HBO documentary.
"I’ve never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, 'Oh, (wow),'" Brunson said during a May 2025 episode of his "The Roommates Show" podcast, which he hosts alongside teammate Josh Hart. "Then, the first time we met, it was awesome, we talked and everything."
It's unclear how long Fallon has been a Knicks fan, but several current players have been on "The Tonight Show" in recent years and his presence at playoff games this spring produced a noteworthy gag initiated by Knicks forward Josh Hart.
Cameras originally caught Hart untying Fallon's shoe as Hart was leaving the Madison Square Garden court during a 137-98 blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Fallon then attended Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals with his daughter, when the Knicks erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers.
Fallon recounted on the May 20 edition of "The Tonight Show" that when the Knicks were losing, he had his daughter untie his shoe to help encourage a potential comeback. Afterwards, as everybody inside Madison Square Garden celebrated the win, "Josh Hart runs by me and he unties my other shoe," Fallon revealed.
