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January 29, 2026

Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2026: Brandon Sproat (5)

On January 21, 2026, Brandon Sproat was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. This list, and Sproat’s place on it, was compiled back in late-November. For continuity’s sake, I decided upon including Sproat’s profile, but for all intents and purposes, every player on our list below Sproat can be considered to have moved up a spot on it.

Always more focused on hitting than pitching while playing little league and travel ball in the Pensacola area, Brandon Sproat left coaches stunned when he finally tried out for the Pace High School varsity baseball team in his junior year there. With a fastball that sat in the high-80s-to-low-90s and a full arsenal of secondary pitches, the right-hander instantly became the best player on the team. He dominated hitters not just across Santa Rosa County, but all over Florida, a baseball hotbed. In his junior year, he posted a 1.78 ERA in 59 innings, helping lead Pace to Florida’s Class 7A State Championship Game, and in his senior season, he posted a 1.53 ERA in 32 innings. Over the two seasons that he pitched for the Patriots, he made 27 starts and 5 relief appearances, posting a cumulative 1.83 ERA. The Texas Rangers selected Sproat in the 7th round of the 2019 MLB Draft and offered him an over-slot deal, but the right-hander elected to honor his commitment to the University of Florida instead, looking to really develop as a pitcher with the Gators and hear his name called earlier in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Overview

Name: Brandon Sproat
Position: RHP
Born: 09/17/2000 (Age 25 season in 2026)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2023 MLB Draft, 2nd Round (University of Florida)
2025 Season: 26 G (25 GS), 121.0 IP, 97 H, 62 R, 57 ER (4.24 ERA), 53 BB, 113 K, .271BABIP (Triple-A) / 4 G (4 GS), 20.2 IP, 18 H, 11 R, 11 ER (4.79 ERA), 7 BB, 17 K, .310 BABIP (MLB)

Initially, it looked like turning down the Rangers and their money might have been a miscalculation, as the right-hander missed most of his freshman season thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared in 4 games out of the bullpen at the beginning of the season prior to the suspension and eventual outright cancellation of the season, and allowed 1 earned run over 6.0 innings, giving up 2 hits, walking 3, and striking out 8. That summer, as many players did, he supplemented his time on the mound by pitching in an independent collegiate league, the Texas Collegiate League. Pitching for the Tulsa Drillers, the right-hander allowed 4 earned runs over 10.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, walking 11, and striking out 7.

In 2021, he returned to Florida and appeared in 16 total games, starting 2 midweek games and making 14 appearances out of the bullpen. All in all, he posted a 6.65 ERA in 21.2 innings, allowing 29 hits, walking 15, and striking out 18. Over the summer, he made a brief appearance with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Collegiate Baseball League, allowing 3 earned runs in 2 innings with 3 hits allowed, 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts.

In 2022, his junior season, Sproat finally established himself, serving as the team’s Saturday starter following an injury to Hunter Barco. Making a team-high 16 starts, the right-hander posted a 3.41 ERA in 89.2 innings, allowing 84 hits, walking 33, and striking out 82. Analysists believed that based on his stuff and performance, Sproat would be selected early on the second day of the 2022 MLB Draft, and sure enough, he was. With their third round pick, the 90th selection overall, the Mets selected the right-hander. The two sides were unable to agree to terms, and Sproat ended up returning to Florida for a senior season, fulfilling a promise to graduate from college and potentially fulfilling a promise to teammates, classmates and Florida fans to bring a championship to Gainesville.

Sproat gave it all he could, but he and the Gators ended up falling just short of winning that championship in 2023. The right-hander appeared in 19 games as the staff ace and posted a 4.66 ERA in 102.1 innings with 81 hits allowed, 43 walks, and 134 strikeouts. Florida made the College World Series, defeating the University of Virginia in the first round, Oral Roberts University in the second round, and TCU in the semifinals, but lost to Louisiana State University in the finals two games to one. Sproat took the mound in game one, matching up against Tigers ace Ty Floyd, and pitched four innings in Florida’s one and only win in the series, allowing two runs on six hits, with five walks and seven strikeouts and not factoring into the decision. With the Gators’ eventual loss, Spoat’s career at the school came to an end. In total, he appeared in 56 games for them, starting 37, and tossed 223.2 innings. He posted a cumulative 4.27 ERA over the course of his four seasons at Florida, with 202 hits allowed, 99 walks issued, and 242 strikeouts.

Having given the Mets permission to potentially select him a second time around prior to the start of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Mets did just that, selecting him a second time, this time in the second round, the 56th player selected overall. The two sides agreed to a $1,474,500 signing bonus, exactly the MLB-recommended slot value, and Sproat finally became a professional baseball player. He did not suit up for the Mets for the remainder of the season.

Over the off-season, Amazin’ Avenue ranked Sproat the Mets 14th top prospect on the Mets Top 25 Prospects list for 2024. He was assigned to start the season with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, but it quickly became apparent that he was not being challenged at the level. He appeared in 6 games for the Cyclones, starting 5 of them, and posted a 1.07 ERA in 25.1 innings, allowing 12 hits, walking 16, and striking out 33. He was promoted to Double-A Binghamton in mid-May and was just as good against Double-A hitters, posting a 2.45 ERA in 62.1 innings over 11 starts with 39 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 77 strikeouts. He was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse in early August and the wheels finally fell off of his excellent season. The right-hander wrapped up his first professional season there, making 7 starts and posting a bloated 7.85 ERA in 28.2 innings, allowing 36 hits, walking 11, and striking out 21. Despite its poor ending, the right-hander had a successful season and catapulted his name into the discussion not only for Mets top prospect, but among the best nationally as well.

Amazin’ Avenue ranked the right-hander the Mets’ top prospect coming into the season, but he stumbled out of the gate, once again struggling at the Triple-A level. In March/April, he posted a 5.48 ERA in 23.0 innings over 6 starts, allowing 21 hits, walking 12, and striking out 17. In May, he posted a 6.56 ERA in 23.1 innings over 5 starts, allowing 25 hits, walking 10, and striking out 17, and in June, he posted a 4.15 ERA in 21.2 innings over 5 starts, allowing 19 hits, walking 13, and striking out 15. In late June, a lightbulb finally went on. It wasn’t one thing specifically, but suddenly everything started clicking for Sproat. Thanks to a combination of throwing his fastball harder and using a more effective pitch mix, the right-hander went on a terrific run in the month of July. In 27.0 innings over 5 starts, the right-hander posted a 0.67 ERA, allowing 14 hits, walking 8, and striking out 33. His streak of success ended in August, but by that point, the organization was looking at internal options to bolster the starting rotation and the Mets’ dwindling playoff aspirations, and Sproat was in consideration for a call-up. Sure enough, in mid-September, the Mets selected his contract from the Syracuse Mets, joining fellow recently-promoted right-handers Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong.

In his first big league start on September 9th, Sproat allowed 3 runs on 3 hits over 6.0 innings against the Cincinnati Reds, walking 4 and striking out 7. In his next start, against the Texas Rangers on September 13th, the right-hander threw six scoreless innings, scattering 6 hits and not walking a single batter while striking out 3. His next start, which came on September 19th against the Washington Nationals, was his first real clunker, allowing 4 runs over 4.0 innings. His next and final start of the year, September 26 against the Miami Marlins, was a similar clunker that saw him allow 4 runs over 4.2 innings. All in all, Sproat posted a 4.49 ERA in Queens, allowing 18 hits, walking 7, and striking out 17 in 20.2 innings of work and a 4.24 ERA in 121.0 innings with the Syracuse Mets, allowing 97 hits, walking 53, and striking out 113.

The 6’3”, 210-pound Sproat has a solid pitching frame. The right-hander throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a long, whippy arm action through the back. His delivery is fairly simple with few moving parts, and he repeats it well. He struggled with his control earlier in his career while playing at Florida, but has improved in that regard since turning pro, as the Mets worked with him to raise his arm slot a bit and remove some of the crossfire from his delivery, as they identified his lagging arm being the root cause of his control issues.

Sproat has a wide assortment of pitches that he is comfortable using, incorporating multiple fastballs, breaking balls, and off-speed pitches. His pitch mix changed slightly in Queens as compared to his mix while in Syracuse. In Triple-A, he threw his four-seam fastball 26% of the time, his sinker 21.3% of the time, his sweeping slider 16% of the time, his gyro slider 15% of the time, his changeup 15% of the time, and his curveball 7% of the time. In Queens, Jeremy Hefner had Sproat throw his sinker 34% of the time, his sweeping slider 19% of the time, his curveball 15% of the time, his changeup 15% of the time, his four-seam fastball 14% of the time, and his gyro slider 3% of the time.

Sproat’s four-seam fastball averaged 96.2 MPH while playing in Syracuse and 96.7 MPH in his cup of coffee with the Mets, topping out at 100 MPH. While it has plenty of velocity- the pitch was in the 94 percentile in Syracuse and in the 78 percentile in the majors in terms of average velocity- it features a well-below average spin rate. With an average spin rate hovering around 2,000 RPM, the pitch has minimal life and movement. Batters hit .258/.390/.423 against it in Triple-A with a 24.3% Whiff% and in a much smaller sample size, .143/.282/.143 with a 6.3% Whiff% in Queens. The pitch is almost a brute pitch offering, with Sproat having success with the pitch when he is throwing it as hard as he can and sniffing triple-digits but missing considerably fewer bats when the pitch’s velocity backs up.

His sinker sits in a similar velocity band, averaging 95.7 MPH in Syracuse and Queens, topping out at 100 MPH. Triple-A batters hit .268/.366/.366 against it with a 13.7% Whiff% while MLB batters hit .333/.262/.519 against it with a 6.7 Whiff%. Jeremy Hefner had Sproat throw the pitch more than his four-seam fastball, and while its metrics aren’t that great either, the bit more vertical and horizontal movement that it has helped with its damage suppression, resulting in more ground balls and weaker exit velocities in batted ball events.

Sproat’s sweeping slider averaged 85 MPH, while his harder gyro slider averaged 89 MPH. Like his fastball, both pitches recorded spin rates well below average for their respective pitch types, with his sweeping slider averaging 2,400 RPM and his gyro slider averaging 2,090 RPM at Triple-A and the MLB combined. While his sweeping slider has less movement than the MLB average in 2025, the pitch was effective against Triple-A and MLB hitters alike, resulting in a .104./211/.269 BAA in Syracuse with a 33.8% Whiff% and a .077/.268/.077 BAA with a 34.6 Whiff% in the small sample size of his MLB call-up. His gyro slider, used more in Syracuse than in Queens, did not achieve such results, resulting in a .291/.381/.382 BAA with a 29.3 Whiff%.

His changeup, which was an effective offering and arguably his most effective offering while a collegiate player, has remained an effective pitch against professionals. Triple-A batters hit .194/.243/.284 against it with a 29.7% Whiff%, while MLB batters hit .182/.234/.273 against it with a 8.3% Whiff%. The pitch hovers around 90 MPH with a spin rate of 1650 RPM, giving it roughly 30 inches of vertical drop and 16 inches of horizontal movement. Ironically, despite its arm-side fade, the pitch was more successful against right-handers than the left-handers change-ups usually neutralize.

Rounding out his arsenal, Sproat also throws a high-70s-to-low-80s curveball with big 11-5 shape. Much like his change-up, while conceptually his bender should have been more effective against left-handed hitters, it was actually better against right-handers.

Trouble against left-handers has plagued Sproat for his young professional career. In Triple-A, right-handers hit .180/.276/.272 against him with a 28.1% Whiff%, as opposed to the .260/.353/.390 left-handers hit against him with a 23.6% Whiff%. Left-handers also hit the ball harder and further, with more advantageous launch angles.

2026 Mets Top 25 Prospect List

6) A.J. Ewing
7) Jacob Reimer
8) Ryan Clifford
9) Will Watson
10) Jack Wenninger
11) Mitch Voit
12) Jonathan Santucci
13) Elian Peña
14) Zach Thornton
15) Nick Morabito
16) R.J. Gordon
17) Chris Suero
18) Dylan Ross
19) Ryan Lambert
20) Antonio Jimenez
21) Edward Lantigua
22) Eli Serrano III
23) Randy Guzman
24) Daiverson Gutierrez
25) Boston Baro

January 29, 2026

Rockets NBA trade rumor round up

Why are we talking about trade rumors? How many of these articles…

Oops. Sorry. Thought I was in the comments section.

Look. It’s trade season. There will be trades. There will be trade discussions. If you’re someone who gets irrationally furious at the mere mention of an NBA trade (a surprisingly common cohort), the internet is not for you. Go to the park.

If you’re still here, let’s take a look at some Houston Rockets trade rumors.

Coby White

We’re mostly talking about guards here, for obvious reasons.

Whether those reasons are obvious to Ime Udoka is a different question.

To us laymen, it sure looks like Houston needs a player who can handle the ball. It ought to be someone who also has at least a semblance of off-ball value. The Rockets don’t need to revolutionize their offense by bringing in a ball-dominant star. Alperen Sengun is doing well with playmaking reps, and both Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard are making progress throughout the season.

White would suffice. He’d make the offense more dynamic. He’s averaging 19.0 points and 4.7 assists per game this year, and shooting 37.0% from long-range.

There are complications. White’s on an expiring deal. The Rockets would likely be looking at flipping Dorian Finney-Smith’s nearly identical contract and a heavily-protected first-rounder for a potential rental. It doesn’t feel like Stone’s style.

Let’s look at some lower-risk moves.

Jose Alvarado

Here’s the conundrum: lower risk means lower reward. Spoiler: The other guards on this list would not be certain to usurp Aaron Holiday in the rotation.

Although it wouldn’t be absurd to prefer Alvarado’s statistical profile. He’s averaging 12.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per 75 possessions to Holiday’s 15.9, 2.7, and 1.1. Alvarado (-2.2) has a marginally better Box Plus/Minus than Holiday (-2.6). He may be the better player.

Does he move the needle enough to be worth doing – well, anything? That’s a different question. If Alvarado can be had for a couple of second-round picks, the juice should be worth the squeeze, but parting with anything substantial would be a mistake.

On that note…

Chris Paul

The Clippers have to trade Paul. They won’t get anything valuable in exchange for the right to roster him for the second half of the last season of his career. The Rockets could send Jeff Green, and unless the Clippers are including Paul in a larger deal elsewhere, they’d have to accept that deal.

So, for the Rockets, the question becomes three-pronged: Will they play Paul, do they want his voice in the locker room over Uncle Jeff’s, and will they play him enough to justify making that deal if not?

It seems like Paul began to grate on the Clippers. He’s always been prickly. It shouldn’t have shocked anyone if he wasn’t able to co-exist with James Harden.

…

Personality-wise, it feels like he’d be a better fit in Houston. There’s no coddling under the Ime Udoka regime. If Paul is cussing Reed Sheppard out for overhelping on defense, Udoka is likely to nod in agreement.

Still, there are basketball realities to consider. Paul averaged 7.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per 75 possessions in 16 games for the Clippers. This is a man who can no longer score at an NBA level, as evidenced by Paul’s 41.3 True Shooting % (TS%) during that stretch. It’s hard to think of the right adjective for that number. Horrifying? Yes. Paul’s efficiency this year should make you feel horrified.

Still, as Sigmund Freud said, sometimes a 16-game stretch is just a 16-game stretch. If Paul even just caught fire from beyond the arc at the right time for Houston, he could change their season. He’s still evidently haunted by nightmares where he makes the wrong read in the pick-and-roll. Paul can still orchestrate an offense as well as anyone.

Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe? That’s where I stand on any of these. An emphatic maybe.

Here comes a stronger opinion…

Another Big

Here’s what I initially wrote:

No!

No, no, no. One more no: No. Wait, that’s two more no’s. Nooooooo!

On the buyout market? Sure. Where is Nerlens Noel? Isn’t it time for his annual half-season of NBA basketball?

Trading for a big man would be comically absurd. If the deadline comes, and the Rockets acquire Yves Missi at nearly the same price the Timberwolves pay for Coby White…

Well, I’ll write an article about it.

That was before the Adams injury. Hopefully, the big man rests up well and is back on the floor as soon as possible, but there may be an opportunity here.

I’ll cede some ground: Get a stretch big. Adding another non-shooting big – so, not Missi – would still be senseless. The double big lineups have been lacklustre this year. Now that we’re tinkering, let’s try something new. Someone like Andre Drummond (yes, he shoots now), Bobby Portis, or Zach Collins would be good. Just know that if the Rockets get a non-shooting big…

I will write an article about it.

January 29, 2026

Sharks vs Oilers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

The Edmonton Oilers welcome the San Jose Sharks to Rogers Place on Thursday, January 29, and all eyes will be on superstars Macklin Celebrini and Connor McDavid.

While San Jose is treading water in the Western Conference playoff race, my Sharks vs. Oilers predictions and top NHL picks expect Edmonton to win convincingly.

Sharks vs Oilers prediction

Sharks vs Oilers best bet: Oilers -1.5 (+120)

The San Jose Sharks are turning heads, but they’re sinking against the NHL contenders and have lost each of their past three games against teams occupying a postseason position by a combined score of 15-5.

Going into Rogers Place to face the Edmonton Oilers and superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is another huge uptick in class for the Sharks.

Edmonton has scored 13 times across its past two games, and San Jose has allowed the third-most goals per game this season.

Sharks vs Oilers same-game parlay

In addition to the highlighted San Jose defensive shortcomings, Edmonton has had its own trouble keeping the puck out of its net, allowing 15 goals over the past three games.

Turning to Oilers winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, he’s been a consistent scoring source and plays with McDavid in all offensive situations.

Nugent-Hopkins has marked the scoresheet in nine of his past 13 games, and he’s been on the ice with McDavid for a monster 6.84 goals per 60 minutes.

Sharks vs Oilers SGP

Oilers -1.5
Over 6.5
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Over 0.5 points

Sharks vs Oilers odds

Moneyline: Sharks +175 | Oilers -215
Puck Line: Sharks +1.5 (-130) | Oilers -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-135) | Under 6.5 (+115)

Sharks vs Oilers trend

The Edmonton Oilers have hit the Over in 17 of their last 25 home games (+8.10 Units / 28% ROI), and the San Jose Sharks have played to the Over in 13 of their last 20 games (+6.15 Units / 26% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Sharks vs. Oilers.

How to watch Sharks vs Oilers

Location	Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date	Thursday, January 29, 2026
Puck drop	9:00 p.m. ET
TV	Sportsnet One

Sharks vs Oilers latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

January 29, 2026

‘I’m battling Father Time’: LeBron James reflective and tearful in possible Cleveland farewell

LeBron James is nearing the end of his long NBA career.Photograph: Jason Miller/Getty Images

A 60-second tribute video honoring LeBron James has become routine over the past eight years whenever he returns to Cleveland, the city where his NBA journey began.

But Wednesday night at Rocket Arena was different – and it felt that way long before James’s Los Angeles Lakers fell 129-99 to the Cavaliers in a nationally televised game.

For the first time, James struggled to contain his emotions.

As his name was announced during pregame introductions, the crowd rose in a thunderous standing ovation that lingered longer than usual. Minutes later, during the game’s first break, the tribute video played on the jumbo screen hanging above the court. James remained seated on the Lakers’ bench, watching intently along with nearly 20,000 fans who understood they were witnessing something more than a routine return.

The video featured a montage of historic moments from James’s Cavaliers career, highlighted by his unforgettable performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals – when he scored 25 consecutive points, capped by a game-winning layup against the Detroit Pistons. It was the night that first cemented James not only as a superstar, but as Cleveland’s own.

Several times Wednesday night, James lowered his head and wiped away tears with the inside of his jersey. He later reached for a paper towel, dabbing his eyes before the game resumed.

“The moment they put up [the tribute video], the Detroit game, looking up in the rafters and I saw our championship banner [from Cleveland’s 2016 NBA title] … it was a lot of reflection,” James said after the game. “Being present in the moment. It got to me a little bit for sure. I was super thankful.”

On Wednesday, James finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers – his worst performance in his return games – but the stat line was secondary to the night’s emotion.

Now in his 23rd NBA season since he was drafted No 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, James’s Hall of Fame résumé includes being the league’s all-time leading scorer, four championships with three different teams, countless playoff moments and nearly every significant individual milestone the league has to offer. Yet as the finish line slowly comes into view, whenever that may be, moments like Wednesday carry deeper meaning. This may have been the final time James played an NBA game in the city where it all began.

“Because it could be [my last season]. I haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be [my final game in Cleveland],” James said. “No matter if it’s here or in Washington playing in our next game, or in the Barclays on this road trip. Obviously, it means more here for me personally because I grew up 35 miles south of here.”

What made the night feel different wasn’t the tribute itself – the Cavaliers have done this many times before – but the collective awareness inside the building. This didn’t feel like a reunion tour stop. It felt like a pause. A moment when a city and its greatest athlete quietly acknowledged, without saying it out loud, that there may not be many of these nights left.

The ovation lingered. Fans stayed on their feet. Some recorded on their phones. Others simply watched. Cleveland no longer demanded anything from James. The city was offering gratitude.

The emotions extended well beyond the court. The night was even more meaningful because James was able to share it with his son and teammate, Bronny, along with several family members watching from a suite.

“It was pretty cool just sitting over there and watching [Bronny] continue to live out his dream,” James said. “My mom was here watching her son and her grandson. I don’t even know how to wrap that all into one in my brain. It’s so weird and so cool and so surreal.”

Bronny, who scored eight points in the loss, felt the weight of the moment himself. As in his game at Rocket Arena last season, the crowd erupted when he entered the game and cheered loudly after his fourth-quarter dunk. It was a symbolic passing of time inside the same building where his father once ruled the league.

“Very nostalgic to be here,” Bronny said. “I was here pretty much every day as a kid, so it feels good to be out here. I was almost emotional myself. Being home is another feeling. It’s crazy to come back and have so much love. It got him. It almost got me.”

James’s mother, Gloria James, was also reflective. She has been present for nearly every step of her son’s career, from his earliest NBA games to the moment he lifted Cleveland’s first championship banner in 2016.

“I don’t get as emotional as I used to, but I did a little,” Gloria James told the Guardian. “I’ve been there from day one, every single game he’s played in the NBA. Thinking about all of those years and being here tonight – it’s memorable and awesome.”

For those who know James best, the emotion wasn’t surprising.

Chris Dennis, once a James family adviser, said the reaction inside the arena reflected how intertwined James’s story is with Cleveland’s identity.

“They were hyped when LeBron came back into the game after the video, because the fans are a part of who he is,” said Dennis, who is managing partner of Tribute Sports. “A lot of those fans grew up watching LeBron. When you grow up with a dude that represented your city, you’re going to show that love.”

Dennis said the moment hit harder because James understands, even if he hasn’t said so publicly, that time is no longer on his side.

“I’m not basing this on anything I’ve heard,” Dennis said. “But he knows he’s toward the end of his career. It’s harder for him to prepare for games. It’s not easy for a 41-year-old to get ready and play at this level every night.”

Planning for the end is new to James, whose career for most of its duration centered on what he would accomplish next. Now, the question lingers quietly in the background: what comes after?

Several paths remain. James, who spoke before the game about mapping out offseason golf plans, could retire. He could re-sign with the Lakers. Or, in a storybook ending, he could return once more to Cleveland.

Only James knows which direction he will choose.

“The question gets asked more, and the thought creeps into my mind more at 41 years old,” James said. “Of when the end is and where the finish line is when it comes to hanging this thing up. I’m in a battle with Father Time, and I’m taking it personally – seeing how many times I can be victorious over him. But I won’t be one of those guys who won’t be able to walk off the court. That’s for sure.”

On Wednesday night, near the Lakers’ locker room after the game, James gathered with family members, including his mother, surrounded by love, memories, and reflection – not knowing if it would be the last time in this arena.

Time will tell.

January 29, 2026

Charles Barkley calls out NBC over Michael Jordan controversy: ‘Bad look’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Former Phoenix Suns player Charles Barkley in attendance at an NBA Cup game, Image 2 shows Michael Jordan speaking while seated in a brown armchair — Barkley on Jordan

This won’t help Charles Barkley re-enter Michael Jordan’s good graces.

Barkley called out NBC for its controversial Michael Jordan usage during its NBA coverage, with one interview being splintered into different segments to be used throughout the season instead of regular chats with the legendary player that some expected for the format.

“It’s a bad look for NBC and it’s just a bad look, plain and simple,” Barkley said on SiriusXM Radio on Wednesday, according to Awful Announcing.

“They couldn’t fly to Michael like once a month and do a new interview? That makes NBC look really bad, plain and simple.”

Charles Barkley in November 2025. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Many NBA fans loved the idea that Jordan — who can be reclusive — agreed to contribute to the new “NBA on NBC” coverage in its return to the air, hoping to regularly here his takes on the league.

NBC stated Jordan would be a “special contributor.”

Barkley, who had a falling out with Jordan due to critical comments about his Charlotte ownership, said in May that he was “shocked” to learn of Jordan’s decision, but added that he did not expect a ton from him.

Well, it turns out the Round Mound of Rebound had the right idea.

The special contribution from Jordan consisted of one sit-down interview with Mike Tirico that has been cut into different clips for his “MJ: Insights to Excellence” segment.

Instead of Jordan touching on the topics of the day, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo asking out of Milwaukee, the interviews are focused on broader topics.

Michael Jordan during a clip used by NBC. @NBAonNBC/YouTube

“I was excited. We need Michael Jordan affiliated with the NBA, but now you see this thing coming out with NBC and you’re like, ‘Wait, y’all did one interview like five months ago and y’all gonna sprinkle it throughout the season?’ Come on, man,” Barkley said. “That’s disingenuous by NBC. That’s crazy, man. I’m so disappointed at the way that worked out.”

Tirico recently addressed the pushback against the segments, focusing on the positives while noting there are no plans yet for a second interview.

“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not,” Tirico said on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast earlier this month. “Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was. And if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You betcha. In our world right now, all you want to do is make the final answer before you know everything. I love that Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something that he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time.”

As Barkley criticizes NBC, he’s also expressed some frustration with his new bosses at ESPN over the lack of usage of his “Inside the NBA” show in its transition after exiting TNT.

January 29, 2026

Pistons at Suns predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for January 29

MVP candidate Cade Cunningham leads the Detroit Pistons (34-11) into Phoenix for a game tonight against the Suns (28-19) minus Devin Booker (ankle).

The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference by six games over the Knicks and the Celtics. Cunningham and co. have won four straight on the road and own one of the league’s best road records this season with 15 wins in 21 games. Cunningham leads the Pistons in scoring (25.3ppg) but is also averaging nearly 10 assists per game (9.8).

The Suns are one of the real revelations this season. Winners of six of their last ten, Phoenix sits just a half-game behind Luka Doncic and the Pacific Division-leading Lakers and seventh overall in the Western Conference. However, Devin Booker is sidelined tonight and for at least the next week. While this is a team whose identity lies in its defense (No. 3 in the West allowing just 111.6PPG), they will need to find a replacement for his presence on the court and his 25 points per game.

This is the second meeting of the season between these teams. Detroit won earlier this month on January 16, 108-105, in Motown. Grayson Allen poured in 33 points for Phoenix in a losing effort.

Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Pistons at Suns

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 9PM EST
Site: Mortgage Matchup Center
City: Phoenix, AZ
Network/Streaming: FDSN Detroit, Suns Live

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Pistons at Suns

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-180), Phoenix Suns (+150)
Spread: Pistons -4.5
Total: 214.5 points

This game opened Pistons -5.5 with the Total set at 215.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Pistons at Suns

Detroit Pistons

PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren

Phoenix Suns

PG Collin Gillespie
SG Grayson Allen
SF Dillon Brooks
PF Royce O’Neale
C Mark Williams

Injury Report: Pistons at Suns

Detroit Pistons

Caris LeVert (illness) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game

Cleveland Cavaliers

Collin Gillespie (hand) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Devin Booker (ankle) has been ruled OUT of tonight’s game
Jalen Green (hamstring) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons at Suns

The Suns are 15-6 at home this season
The Pistons are 15-6 on the road this season
The Suns are an NBA-best 31-16 ATS this season
The Pistons are 23-22 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 19 of the Suns 47 games this season (19-28)
The OVER has cashed in 19 of the Cavs’ 45 games this season (19-25-1)
Grayson Allen is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers in his last 10 games
In 8 games in January, Jalen Duren has pulled down more than 9 rebounds just twice

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Pistons and Suns’ game:

Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Pistons on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 214.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

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January 29, 2026

Penguins recall forward Rutger McGroarty

With forward Bryan Rust serving a three-game suspension and defenseman Jack St. Ivany now sidelined following surgery, there was going to be a roster move coming for the Pittsburgh Penguins before they begin their current three-game home stand. That roster move came on Thursday morning, and it is the return of forward Rutger McGroarty.

The Penguins officially announced the recall of McGroarty after a four-game stop in Wikes-Barre/Scranton following his recovery from a concussion. He was injured during a collision with a teammate in practice. During his four-game stay in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton he recorded five assists, furthering his impressive AHL numbers for the season. He has four goals, eight assists and 12 total points in nine games at the AHL Level.

He has two goals and an assist in 16 games with the Penguins.

With McGroarty back, the question now becomes what sort of role he take with the Penguins and where he will slot back into the lineup.

The Penguins have recalled forward Rutger McGroarty from the @WBSPenguins (AHL).

Defenseman Jack St. Ivany has been placed on Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/HQBbqkxtSH
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 29, 2026

The Penguins have really settled their forward line combinations and have four lines that are working extremely well together at the moment. The easiest solution would be to simply plug McGroarty into Rust’s spot on the top line and keep the Evgeni Malkin-Tommy Novak-Egor Chinakhov line together, the Ben Kindel-Anthony-Mantha-Justin Brazeau line together and the Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Accairi line together.

Why disrupt multiple lines that are all working if you do not have to do so?

Crosby and McGroarty also produced well together in their brief ice-time together at the end of the 2024-25 season.

The other option could be a potential reunion of McGroarty with Ben Kindel, with one of the veteran forwards (Brazeau or Mantha) getting bumped to the top line.

Based on the lines at the morning skate, the Penguins are going to go with the latter option as Brazeau has skated on the right side of the Crosby-Rakell line, while McGroarty is on the left side with Kindel and Mantha.

At the end of the day, just so it is not Kevin Hayes drawing back into the lineup there really is not a bad decision here. The important thing is just putting a good lineup out there that can keep this run going. The other important thing is McGroarty making the most of this opportunity and making a good impression no matter what line he plays on. Making the playoffs is now a very realistic goal for this season, and perhaps even an expectation at this point, but seeing growth from young players and positive development there is also a big priority. Bryan Rust’s suspension is unfortunate for the Penguins, but it is still a big opportunity for McGroarty to get another look with the NHL team.

January 29, 2026

Palat Dealt to Islanders: Devils React to Sudden Trade

The New Jersey Devils may have lost to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, but before the game began, news broke that forward Ondrej Palat was inactive.

Later on in the night, it was announced that Palat had been traded to the New York Islanders along with New Jersey’s third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and the club’s sixth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft in exchange for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.

The trade was finalized right before the game began, head coach Sheldon Keefe explained.

"It's challenging. It's not ideal. It happened so close to the game. He's there saying goodbye to all the guys,” Keefe said to NJD.tv. “It's challenging, but it's part of the business, part of the deal. You have to press on and get ready for the game. You have to be a pro in those moments. That's the reality of it."

The team played without the left winger and fell 4-3 to the Jets. Lenni Hameenaho scored his second NHL goal, but it was not enough for a comeback.

While the team suffered another loss, Tsyplakov's addition took the headlines that night.

Tsyplakov is in his second season in the NHL, having recorded 2 points in 27 games.

The Devils were able to offload Palat’s entire $6 million salary cap hit for this season and next.

The team had reportedly been discussing trading Palat for some time; his hefty contract was not aligning with his production for the Devils this season.

In return, the Devils acquired Tsyplakov, a younger, less expensive player. Captain Nico Hischier shared how he felt about Palat’s sudden departure.

"Definitely not easy. Everybody in here knows what Palat meant to this team, to this organization. He's a guy who won it. He taught us a lot. A great teammate. It's never easy to see a guy go like that, but we wish him all the best. We all know it's part of the business."

The Devils now prepare to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday at 7 PM.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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January 29, 2026

Who Is The Newest Devil, And What Should You Know?

The New Jersey Devils have made a move, acquiring Maxim Tsyplakov from the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Who is the newest Devil, and what should you know? Everything about Tsyplakov is below.

Tysplakov joined the Devils in exchange for Devils’ Ondrej Palat and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and the club’s sixth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Tsyplakov was undrafted but has played 104 NHL games in two seasons with the New York Islanders.

He joined the Islanders on May 16, 2024, as a free agent.

In his entire career, the 27-year-old has recorded 26 assists and 11 goals, totaling 37 points.

This season, Tsyplakov has played 27 games, earning 2 points, 1 assist, and 1 goal.

The right wing joins the Devils in the midst of his second NHL season. The 6’3” Russian is currently in the first year of a two-year contract worth a total of $4.5 million.

He spent seven seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League before joining the Devils.

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

January 29, 2026

Spinners end Pakistan's eight-year T20 drought against under-strength Australia

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan beat Australia in a Twenty20 for the first time in eight years on Thursday.

The comfortable 22-run win to open the three-match series pitted a full-strength Pakistan against an under-strength Australia just over a week out from the T20 World Cup.

The spin quartet of Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz — all selected for the T20 World Cup —- shared six wickets to restrict Australia to 146-8 in reply to Pakistan's 168-8.

Ahmed led with 2-10 off four overs and Ayub's two wickets included Australia stand-in captain Travis Head for a 13-ball 23.

“It was a great game,” captain Salman Ali Agha said. “I felt 170 was enough on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstanding.”

In the absence of five World Cup players, Australia also benched captain Mitchell Marsh and handed debuts to Matt Renshaw, Jack Edwards and Mahli Beardman on a slow Gaddafi Stadium pitch.

Head holed out to long-off off Ayub’s fuller delivery but Australia recovered to 51-2 at the end of the power play with Renshaw and Cameron Green set.

But in the eighth over, Renshaw was run out while attempting a needless single and Cooper Connolly was clean-bowled by Ahmed.

Green top-scored with 36 and Xavier Bartlett, 34 not out, narrowed the margin of defeat by hitting three fours and two sixes.

“It was disappointing, but that’s how batting goes sometimes,” Head said. “We felt like we dragged it back well after the first 10 overs … but the conditions made it difficult.”

Earlier, Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4-24) put the brakes on Pakistan’s strong start after Ayub (40) and Agha (39) shared a 74-run second-wicket stand off 43 balls.

Agha smashed four sixes and a boundary while left-handed Ayub’s 22-ball knock featured his trademark no-look boundaries over fine leg against pace. Zampa removed both set batters in his first two overs.

Babar Azam, who made a scratchy 20 off 24 balls in his 100th T20, struggled to keep the momentum going. Zampa pinned him in his return spell when Babar went for a reverse sweep.

Zampa missed a difficult return catch which could have dismissed Usman Khan on the next ball but ended up with brilliant figures when Khan holed out to long-on.

Lahore will also host the final two games on Saturday and Sunday.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

January 29, 2026

Red Sox farm system still ranked in upper half

Good morning! It’s prospect ranking season, and we’ve already seen a few new top-100 lists, most of which feature the same quartet of Red Sox minor leaguers: Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Franklin Arias, and Kyson Witherspoon. Today, we’ve got a couple of rankings of the system as a whole, with Keith Law giving the Sox the 10th-best farm system in the majors, while ESPN put them at 11th. Not bad for an organization that has graduated and traded away a lot of prospects lately.

Talk about what you want and be good to one another.

January 29, 2026

BYB 2026 Tigers prospect reports #36: RHP Ryan Hall

Despite the wealth of injuries among this cohort already, the Detroit Tigers didn’t back off of their draft strategy in 2025. They went prep heavy from the start, sprinkled in some college players they hope to improve, and tried to save money to lure some talented high schoolers into signing and starting their pro careers. Right-hander Ryan Hall gives the Tigers yet another talented young arm to try and develop. Hopefully things will go more smoothly than the front office’s first two draft classes to date.

The Tigers took the 6’1” 175 pound right-hander in the fifth round last year. Hall got a bonus of $997,500, roughly $550,000 over the slot value, to pass on Georgia Tech. The Georgia raised, North Gwinnett High School product didn’t pitch after the draft, and odds are he’ll get extended spring training time this spring before going out to pitch in the Complex League in May or June, depending on how things are progressing.

Hall was a two-sport athlete in high school who played football as well as baseball. He was a good, if undersized, high school quarterback, but wasn’t really a standout on the mound until his senior year, when he grew a few inches and added muscle and better velocity on his fastball. He went from scraping 90-91 to sitting pretty comfortably in the low-90’s and hitting 95 on the radar gun. Hall moves well on the mound and gets pretty good extension for his size. He backs the heater up with a low 80’s slider with good two plane break and a spin rate that can top 2600 rpms. That pitch flashes above average already while Hall showed some feel for a circle changeup as well.

This is a bit of an upside play based on Hall’s overall athletic ability. His strike throwing is still pretty raw, but that athleticism should help him develop well in pro ball, and the Tigers will expect his balance and coordination to translate into good command in time. He’s got the projection to be a mid-90’s right-hander with a good breaking ball, a solid changeup, and good command eventually. The fact that he was a late bloomer who didn’t really start coming into his own as a pitcher until his senior year prior to the draft doesn’t hurt his profile either. He’s got a fairly low mileage arm as a pitcher and the Tigers scouts no doubt liked adding a young, athletic pitcher with this background who broke out late in his high school career.

Hall is more of a project rather than an established prep standout that tons of teams were on in the early rounds of the draft. He’ll probably take time to find his footing and is unlikely to move quickly in his first pro season. In year one we’re just looking for improved strike throwing and a more consistent breaking ball. He’s got the raw ingredients to be a mid rotation starter someday, but the risk level is high and the road is long.

January 29, 2026

Avalanche vs Canadiens Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

The Montreal Canadiens will host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, January 29. This marks the second matchup between these two teams this season after Colorado claimed a 7-2 victory back in November.

My Avalanche vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest a different outcome tonight as the Avs have come down to earth, losing to the lowly Ottawa Senators last night.

Avalanche vs Canadiens prediction

Avalanche vs Canadiens best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goalscorer (+135)

Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, the hottest goal scorer on the planet right now, has nine goals across a current six-game goal streak.

It seems he's made it his mission to make Team USA General Manager Bill Guerin look like a fool for omitting him from their Olympic roster.

Caufield has been on an absolute tear for the last two weeks. He may not be able to throw hits or play defense, according to some, but he sure knows how to put pucks behind goaltenders.

The only players who've scored more than the Wisconsin native are Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.

Avalanche vs Canadiens same-game parlay

Canadiens captain and Team Canada representative Nick Suzuki is on pace for 67 assists. He's racked up nine in his last eight games and has shown tremendous chemistry with Caufield, especially on the man advantage.

On the topic of Habs players hot in the assist department, look no further than Mike Matheson. Once a flaky bet due to the presence of Lane Hutson, he's racked up a helper in five consecutive games and has one on a Caufield goal in three straight.

Avalanche vs Canadiens SGP

Cole Caufield anytime goalscorer
Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists
Mike Matheson Over 0.5 assists

Avalanche vs Canadiens odds

Moneyline: Avalanche -130 | Canadiens +110
Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+175) | Canadiens +1.5 (-215)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-125) | Under 6.5 (+105)

Avalanche vs Canadiens trend

Montreal has won three of the last five against Colorado. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Canadiens.

How to watch Avalanche vs Canadiens

Location	Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date	Thursday, January 29, 2026
Puck drop	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	TSN2

Avalanche vs Canadiens latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

January 29, 2026

LIV and let die: Reed’s return to PGA fold shows why Saudi golf experiment is doomed | Ewan Murray

Despite an estimated outlay of $6bn since 2022, LIV appears to be far away from establishing itself in the the manner of PIF projects in other sports

In one sense, it is difficult to detect anything warm and cuddly in all of this. Elite golfers, who were already obscenely rich, take the bounty on offer from a Saudi Arabian-backed disruption model before shuffling back whence they came – essentially for a trivial penalty – when the novelty wears off. This is hardly sport at its purest. Instead, an admission by Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed that they blundered in believing the fairways were greener on the LIV side. The PGA Tour, desperate to portray itself as the big boy in the playground, welcomes one-time pariahs back with open arms. Other golfers who spurned LIV’s fluttering eyelashes scratch their heads, wondering why they bothered.

There is, however, an underlying and endearing point. All the petroleum pounds in the world are no substitute for legacy. Trying to match the achievements of Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy carries significance. LIV golf has no relevance beyond its own domain. Saudi Arabia has made inroads into various sports but, in golf, the kingdom is unquestionably doomed. LIV is on the road towards oblivion, far earlier than most had anticipated. Only those who will gain financially from its continuation can try to spin an alternative story.

January 29, 2026

Daniel Espino is our No. 12 Guardians prospect. Who should be No. 13?

It’s been quite a journey for Daniel Espino as Covering the Corner readers have selected him as our No. 12 Cleveland Guardians prospect. Espino won a nailbiter earning 24.6% of the vote, beating out Jace Laviolette (23.7%) and George Valera (22.9%). Espino returns to the prospect rankings after missing out last year and previously being No. 1 in 2023 and No. 4 in 2024.

Espino was a first round draft pick by the Guardians back in 2019 when the then-Indians selected him from Georgia Premier Academy with the No. 24 pick overall. He impressed in his professional debut in 2019, then got a year off due to the lost MiLB season from the COVID pandemic. In 2021, he split time between Single-A and High-A, improving his numbers after his promotion.

In the leadup to the 2022 season, Espino’s hype started to skyrocket and he became a top 10 overall prospect in MLB. He blew away Major League hitters in Spring Training, then dominated Double-A to the tune of a disgusting 51.5% strikeout rate.

But then the injuries began.

It started with some knee soreness, and while rehabbing the knee, he sustained a compensation injury to his shoulder, causing him to miss the final four months of the 2022 season. Many hoped the injuries would heal on their own, but Espino instead required anterior capsule repair surgery on his shoulder in May 2023. To make matters worse, he required additional surgery on the same shoulder the following year.

In total, he missed over three full years of baseball before he finally returned to the mound to pitch two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Columbus late last season. He zipped his fastball at 98 mph and his slider looked as devastating as ever. He then logged 4 and 2/3 scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League with seven strikeouts. He’s back … knock on wood.

I doubt Cleveland stretches Espino back out to be a starting pitcher again, but if he does — and he stays healthy — Cleveland has an ace up its sleeve. More likely is him becoming a key cog in the back end of the bullpen. Regardless, I couldn’t be more excited for his 2026 season.

Now, it’s time to determine who is number 13 in the Guardians’ loaded farm system and you now have a whopping 10 players to choose from! Your options are below:

Juneiker Caceres, OF (Age 18)
2025 (CPX) 160 PA, .289/.419/.469, 3 HR, 5 SB, 16.9 BB%, 11.3 K%, 139 wRC+
2025 (A): 130 PA, .250/.331/.345, 1 HR, 2 SB, 6.9 BB%, 13.1 K%, 103 wRC+

Impressed at the complex league, then hit the ground running in a late season promotion to Single-A before running out of steam late in his age-17 season. Loaded with potential.

Dauri Fernandez, SS (Age 18)
2025 (ACL) 176 PA, .333/.398/.558, 6 HR, 16 SB, 9.1 BB%, 12.5 K%, 147 wRC+
2025 (A): 24 PA, .273/.250/.318, 0 HR, 2 SB, 0 BB%, 12.5 K%, 57 wRC+

One of Cleveland’s top performers in the Arizona Complex League in 2025. Undersized, but makes solid contact and doesn’t strike out often. Earned a small taste of full-season ball at the end of the year.

Franklin Gomez, LHP (Age 20)
2025 (A): 14 G, 82.0 IP, 1.85 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 21.4 K%, 11.7 BB%, 1.09 WHIP
2025 (A+): 6 GS, 48.2 IP, 1.70 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 23.4 K%, 9.9 BB%, 1.83 WHIP

Acquired from the Mets in a trade for international bonus cash, Gomez lit up Single-A in his age-19 season, then improved his walk and strikeout numbers after being promoted to High-A.

Yorman Gomez, RHP (Age 23)
2025 (A+): 17 G, 76.0 IP, 2.84 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 27.3 K%, 9.5 BB%, 1.11 WHIP
2025 (AA): 10 G, 45.2 IP, 3.15 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 28.0 K%, 9.5 BB%, 1.25 WHIP

Venezuelan prospect who broke out in with increased velocity in 2025, putting up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. Gomez was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster.

Josh Hartle, LHP (Age 22)
2025 (A+): 22 GS, 103.1 IP, 2.35 ERA, 3.06 FIP, 24.0 K%, 8.9 BB%, 1.05 WHIP
2025 (AA): 2 GS, 10.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 16.3 K%, 4.7 BB%, 1.50 WHIP

Acquired from Pittsburghin the Spencer Horwitz trade, Hartle was one of Cleveland’s most successful starting pitchers in its minor league system in 2025. Stands 6-foot-6, but doesn’t have a ton of velocity.

Jace LaViolette, OF (Age 22)
2025 (NCAA) 262 PA, .258/.427/.576, 18 HR, 7 SB, 21.8 BB%, 25.2K%, 120 wRC+

Cleveland’s first round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-6 LaViolette instantly becomes one of the top power hitting prospects in the system. Strikeouts and contact have been an issue, however.

Joey Oakie, RHP (Age 19)
2025 (ACL): 9 GS, 35.0 IP, 7.46 ERA, 4.67 FIP, 27.6 K%, 13.5 BB%, 1.69 WHIP
2025 (A): 6 GS, 24.1 IP, 2.22 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 30.7 K%, 14.9 BB%, 1.32 WHIP

Cleveland’s 3rd round pick in 2024 out of high school, Oakie got off to a rough start in the Complex League, but then absolutely dominated when promoted to Single-A Lynchburg with a pair of 11 strikeout performances.

Austin Peterson, RHP (Age 26)
2025 (AA): 11 GS, 55.0 IP, 1.47 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 23.9 K%, 4.9 BB%, 0.84 WHIP
2025 (AAA): 15 GS, 90.2 IP, 4.27 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 20.2 K%, 7.8 BB%, 1.37 WHIP

Absolutely dominated Double-A to begin 2025 looking well on his way to repeating his tremendous 2024 season, but then struggled after an early-season promotion to Triple-A. Remains on the 40-man roster.

Alfonsin Rosario, OF (Age 21)
2025 (A+) 354 PA, .268/.362/.490, 16 HR, 12 SB, 10.8 BB%, 25.1 K%, 139 wRC+
2025 (AA): 145 PA, .211/.303/.391, 5 HR, 2 SB, 10.3 BB%, 33.1 K%, 105 wRC+

One of Cleveland’s most impressive hitters in its minor league system during his stint at High-A Lake County as a 20-year-old. Rosario has a unique combination of speed and power, but will need to overcome his strikeouts.

George Valera, OF (Age 24)
2025 (ACL) 63PA, .421/.460/.702, 4 HR, 0 SB, 7.9 BB%, 17.5 K%, 196 wRC+
2025 (AAA): 107 PA, .255/.346/.457, 3 HR, 0 SB, 12.1 BB%, 25.2 K%, 114 wRC+
2025 (MLB): 48 PA, .220/.333/.405, 2 HR, 0 SB, 14.6 BB%, 27.1 K%, 113 wRC+

Former top prospect returned from a torn knee and put up good enough numbers to finally make his MLB debut with Cleveland in 2025. Hit a memorable home run against the Detroit Tigers in the playoffs.

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Our list so far:
1. Chase DeLauter, LHH OF
2. Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B
3. Parker Messick, LHP
4. Ralphy Velazquez, LHH 1B/RF
5. Angel Genao, SH SS
6. Braylon Doughty, RHP
7. Cooper Ingle, LHH C
8. Khal Stephen, RHP
9. Juan Brito, SH 2B/1B/RF/3B
10. Jaison Chourio, SH OF
11. Kahlil Watson, LHH OF
12. Daniel Espino, RHP