Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia (29) swings for the ball during an NCAA Baseball Regional game between Southern Miss and Virginia at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Saturday, May 30, 2026. | Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Virginia baseball was far from perfect in Chris Pollard’s first season, but one thing nobody could dispute was their quality top end talent. Five Wahoos were selected by pro organizations in the 2026 MLB Draft last weekend.
A.J. Gracia did not have to wait long to hear his name called, as the Atlanta Braves picked the two-time all-ACC outfielder ninth overall. Gracia becomes the sixth all-time Cavalier to go in the top ten, and the first since Pavin Smith (7th to the Arizona Diamondbacks) and Adam Haseley (8th to the Philadelphia Phillies) in 2017. Some scouts have been skeptical of Gracia’s long-term outlook defensively, but his bat was too good to resist.
Eric Becker was also selected on day one, joining fellow UVA alumni Andrew Abbott and Ethan O’Donnell in the Cincinnati Reds organization as a second round pick. Becker’s stock dropped slightly as a result of a “down” junior season in Charlottesville. Still, he finishes his college career with a .348 overall batting average and 1.048 OPS.
The third ‘Hoo off the board was sixth-round selection Kyle Johnson, who will more than likely specialize as a pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Joe Tiroly, a seventh round selection by the San Diego Padres, and Tyler Kapa, the Miami Marlins’ 14th round pick, round out the list.
As far as committed high schoolers are concerned, call it a small victory for the UVA program. The only member of the 2026 recruiting class that will not make it to Grounds is, as expected, infielder Bo Lowrance, who went 40th overall to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, highly rated recruits such as RHP Wyatt Clatur, LHP Sean Loggie, and SS Will Yow (as confirmed earlier this offseason) all will join the Cavaliers roster for the 2027 season after going undrafted.
Grateful to have been part of Bo’s journey. The @Dodgers got a great player and a world class family! https://t.co/05TWxpC2p4
Catcher Jake Weatherspoon also did not hear his name called and may very well be returning next season. The JUCO transfer tallied ten multi-hit games and 13 extra base hits in 2026, slashing .272/.337/.429.
Elsewhere around the country, former Cavaliers pitchers Bryson Moore (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Evan Blanco (Athletics), as well as position players Henry Ford (Seattle Mariners) and Aidan Teel (Minnesota Twins) were all middle round draftees.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Koby Brea #14 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the Phoenix Suns tipped off their third Summer League game against the Milwaukee Bucks, a rolling monsoon made its way into the Valley of the Sun. Dust, wind, rain, lightning, thunder. ’Twas the first big storm of the summer, and it coincided with the storm brewing on the court in Las Vegas.
For the first time this summer, the Suns looked cohesive and connected in the opening quarter, scoring 19 points after totaling only 22 first-quarter points in their first two games combined. From there, the aggression and pressure continued. And as I watched, I could feel the overreactions boiling inside of me.
Because how can you not be excited about how comfortable and mature Khaman Maluach looks? How can you not be impressed with the way rookie Koa Peat demands the ball and makes a beeline toward the cylinder? How can you not be thankful that Koby Brea was knocking down three pointers? How can you not be pleased with how Rasheer Fleming’s defensive acumen appears to have progressed?
When the regular season arrives, the minutes for these players will most likely dwindle. Players ahead of them on the depth chart will receive more opportunities, and that’s fine. That’s what makes what the Suns are doing right now so impressive. They have a deep roster with a talented starting five and legitimate position battles behind it.
The youth movement on display in Vegas felt as impressive and mighty as the storm rolling across the desert Monday night. And like the rain, sometimes you have to wait for it. This was the first measurable rain in 100 days. It might be a couple of years before these young players truly make their impact in Phoenix. But if they continue to progress, they’re going to force the organization’s hand. They’re going to force some decisions.
And that’s where the excitement lives. Not in Summer League wins or stat lines, but in the pressure these players can create within the organization. Development changes timelines. Competition changes rotations. Young players who demand opportunities eventually receive them. The Suns don’t need Maluach, Peat, Fleming, or Brea to arrive tomorrow. They need them to keep pushing. Keep progressing. Keep making the decisions ahead more difficult. Because when that happens, the forecast in Phoenix begins to change.
Summer Bright Side Baller Standings
Two games. Two Bright Side Baller awards for Khaman Maluach. And you know what? I wouldn’t want it any other way…
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s one hard and fast rule when it comes to evaluating player performance at NBA Summer League: it’s only okay to overreact if it strengthens your pre-existing beliefs and narratives. There are worse ways to spend one’s time in Las Vegas than searching for confirmation bias on the frantic courts of summer league.
In reality, the only universally agreed upon summer league truth is that it’s a very bad sign if second and third-year players are struggling as former first-round picks. For everyone else, what happens in Vegas should be taken with a grain of salt yet enjoyed to its fullest because it’s awesome to have NBA basketball back in July even if it’s only JV teams duking it out for a couple weeks.
Summer league is mostly about watching the NBA’s recent draft picks, but it’s always nice when young veterans show they might be taking a leap for the upcoming season. A year ago, Ajay Mitchell was on my too good for summer league list and then proceeded to have a breakout year for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here are the players who look too good to be in Las Vegas this summer.
Will Riley, G, Washington Wizards
Riley measured above 6’8 barefoot at the combine ahead of the 2025 draft, and he’s reportedly gotten even taller since then. Now standing around 6’10, the 20-year-old wing showed off his deep bag of scoring moves with fearless takes to the rim, spot-up threes, and solid rebounding for his position in Las Vegas. Riley is really slippery off the bounce to beat the first line of the defense, and his long strides and extension finishes help him finish at the basket even with his thin frame. His shooting tends to run hot-and-cold, but he has real utility in his three-point shot both off the dribble and on spot-ups, and there’s no doubt he has NBA range on his jumper. Riley is just a really fluid athlete for his size with real shooting upside, and he has the awareness to relocate off the ball to put himself in a better position to score. There are suddenly a lot of mouths to feed in Washington, but Riley seems like a walking bucket who is just starting to scratch his long-term upside.
Slawson was a 2023 NCAA tournament hero for helping lead Furman to a first-round upset over Virginia, which helped him get selected No. 54 overall by the Kings. He’s bounced around the G League in his first few years as a pro with only 13 NBA games under his belt, but he’s coming off an excellent season for Pacers’ G League affiliate. Slawson is proving he deserves a real shot at an NBA roster spot with a fantastic showing in summer league that has displayed his downhill athleticism and defensive playmaking as a 6’8 forward. He had five blocks in the SummerPacers’ Vegas opener in a win over the Cavs, then turned up the heat on offense by scoring 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting in Indiana’s next game against the 76ers. Slawson’s defense will have to be his calling card to earn a roster spot, and he has all the tools you need at that end with a strong frame, a near 7-foot wingspan, and good instincts to both play the passing lanes and rotate for supplemental rim protection. Offensively, he’s best when he has a clear lane to the basket as a cutter or in transition. The three-point shot remains his swing skill, but after making 34.5 percent from deep in the G League last year, it’s clear he’s making progress. This summer league run has been another step forward.
Egor Demin, G, Brooklyn Nets
It’s time I fill out an apology form on Egor Demin. Ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, I named Demin one of the most overrated prospects in the class, and gave the Nets a D for his selection at No. 8 overall in my instant grades. My main arguments against Demin were that I didn’t think he could score efficiently inside or outside the arc, and I didn’t think he had the frame to play through contact on either end. Well! Demin massively improved as a shooter as a rookie, going from 27 percent from three and 69 percent from the foul line in college to 38.5 percent from three and 83.1 percent on free throws as a rookie. A year in an NBA strength and conditioning program helped his body quite a bit too, and he continues to show the gains he’s made during summer league. Demin scored 20 or more points in all three of his summer league games this year on 61 percent true shooting. He looks improved attacking the basket off the bounce, and he’s showing he can hit the defensive glass, too. The Nets have done a really good job developing Demin’s frame, and it’s paying off on both ends. Demin deserves a lot of credit himself for putting in the work to improve his jumper. I’m happy to be wrong about this one because Demin is a cool player with a fun skill set who should be a nice piece in Brooklyn’s rebuild for a long time.
Beringer didn’t play much as a rookie after being the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 draft, but he’s in line for a bigger role this season after the Timberwolves traded away Julius Randle. The 6’11 big man only needed one summer league game to show off his spectacular athleticism and skill set improvements that should have Minnesota fans very excited for his sophomore season. Beringer runs the floor incredibly well for a center, and he has crazy bounce when he gets near the rim. It feels like a lock that he’s going to have a few of the NBA’s most impressive dunks this season, but his shot-blocking will be just as valuable backing up Rudy Gobert. The most surprising thing about his summer league performance might be the development of his handle: he looked comfortable attacking off the dribble far away from the hoop, showing good footwork and enough ball control to get to the basket. The Wolves need some big bodies to help protect Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball this season, and Beringer is showing he can be a contributor.
Tre Johnson, G, Washington Wizards
The Wizards vs. Jazz opener in Las Vegas was hyped as the first meeting between A.J. Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, but Johnson was the best player on the floor. The No. 6 overall pick from the 2025 draft showed what he could do in a high-usage role, splashing shots from deep, attacking off the dribble, and keeping constant pressure on the opposing defense with his gravity. Johnson’s ability to self-create threes off the dribble is going to be huge for his scoring utility as teams load up to stop Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis. If you crowd his dribble, Johnson has the quickness and the handle needed to beat his man to the cup and get the defense rotating. His playmaking and defense still needs some work, but he should take a step up after a decent rookie year in Washington.
Khaman Maluach, C, Phoenix Suns
Khaman Maluach's second straight double-double in Vegas
Maluach essentially got a redshirt in his rookie season in Phoenix, but the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft seems poised for a breakthrough this year. The former Duke center is absolutely gigantic at nearly 7’1 barefoot, 252 pounds, with a nearly 7’7 wingspan and 9’6 standing reach, and he looked like a man amongst boys in summer league. It’s impossible to keep Maluach out of deep post position on offense, and all it takes is a quick turn to the basket for him to be in position to dunk the ball. His length is even more effective on the defensive end, and he looked quicker to the ball with his ground coverage in Las Vegas. The thing that makes Maluach really exciting is his potential to shoot threes, and he continues to take and make them in summer league. His hands and passing are still a question offensively, but Maluach is so big with a rapidly rising skill level that he still has tons of upside for the Suns even after a quiet rookie year.
Cedric Coward, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Coward solidified his meteoric rise from DIII to lottery pick in his first season in the NBA by earning All-Rookie First-Team honors. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 draft is a long (7’2 wingspan) and strong swingman who locks down on the defensive end, shoots an easy ball from three, and adds value as a rebounder. It would have been easy for Coward to skip summer league after such a strong rookie year as a soon-to-be 23-year-old, but instead there he was defending full court, crashing the glass, and trying to add new elements to his game with pull-up threes. Coward feels like the perfect connective tissue between Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey in the Memphis frontcourt, and these early reps playing with Boozer could help jumpstart their chemistry next season. Memphis’ rebuild already looks promising, and Coward is a big part of it.
Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings
Raynaud might have been the best second-round pick of last year’s draft, going from the No. 42 overall selection to All-Rookie Second-Team honors for the Sacramento Kings. The Stanford product has a diverse offensive game with impressive post moves inside, an easy shooting stroke from three, and the ability to make plays for teammates in dribble-handoff actions. He should be a true stretch five in time, but he needs to up his volume from behind the arc, and that shouldn’t be a problem after he again showed off his deep touch in Las Vegas. The real questions for Raynaud come on the defensive end, where he’s just not a very strong rim protector. The Kings are going to need to find playmaking defensive wings to insulate Raynaud on that end of the floor, but his offensive game is good enough to demand minutes for a Sacramento team that continues to rebuild.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Caglianone belted eight home runs in the first round of the annual tournament. He got off to a slow start before settling in with some mammoth homers.
In his session, Caglianone blasted homers well into the third deck at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also hit a baseball over the batter’s eye in center field before bowing out after 20 swings.
However, Caglianone wouldn’t move forward. He was not one of the final four participants after Willson Contreras (13 homers), Jordan Walker (13), Junior Caminero (12) and Kyle Schwarber (10) advanced in the competition.
Caglianone finished tied for sixth among the eight contenders with eight home runs, and only the top four advanced. While CBP doesn’t have a reputation as being especially friendly or unfriendly to right- or left-handed hitters, it certainly seemed the righties had the most fun in the first round. All three right-handed hitters — Willson Contreras, Jordan Walker and Junior Caminero — launched at least 12 homers, placing first, second and third in the opening round. Meanwhile none of the five lefties — Kyle Schwarber, Ben Rice, Caglianone, Bryce Harper and Munetaka Murakami — tallied more 10, and among them, only Schwarber advanced to the second round.
The Royals slugger found himself in fourth after four batters, but withstood a challenge from Rice. However, when Caminero hit his ninth on the way to 12 total, Caglianone was eliminated.
Ultimately, Jordan Walker prevailed in the Derby on a thrilling walk-off finish against Philly favorite Kyle Schwarber.
After Schwarber clubbed 11 homers to send the crowd into a frenzy, Walker found himself sitting on eight with one swing left in the finals. Batters who end on a homer are allowed unlimited swings after that until a ball doesn’t go over the fence, and Walker took full advantage, hitting four in a row to upend Schwarber.
In doing so, he became the first Cardinals player to win the Derby.
No matter the outcome Monday night, Caglianone will be a winner because of who will be throwing to him: Jeff Caglianone, his dad. Father and son practiced on the Camden Yards field on Sunday, a day later than planned. They hoped to do it Saturday but were rained out. So they worked in the cages and began forming a plan.
“It’s funny. We talked about that yesterday,” Jeff Caglianone said Sunday. “He was looking (for pitches) a little bit up and in, and then I was throwing him some pitches down, and he was hammering them. As long as he gets a barrel to it, we’ll be OK.”
The Caglianones have Home Run Derby history, as dad pitched to his son at the 2024 Arizona Fall league event.
David Lesky ruminates on the first half of the season.
There has absolutely been some good. We’ve seen some of those young hitters have big moments. We’ve seen great moments like Stephen Kolek’s complete game, the crazy game against the Phillies, the walkoff against the Angels and others. But this was supposed to be a year to compete for the division title, not be the worst team in baseball. The Rockies are a half-game better! Some of it is injuries. The start was just bad baseball. Cole Ragans, Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and the bullpen in general just weren’t good enough. But as I’ve said, the injuries piled up, and they couldn’t really overcome that brutal start. The 40-48 first half of 1986 might be more disappointing than this, only because they were coming off the title, but even so, this is pretty close.
Mike Gillespie at Royals Keep raises three questions the Royals should think about during the break.
The White Sox are going to sign number one overall pick Roch Cholowsky to a big deal, apparently a record bonus.
We got some more contract details on JJ Wetherholt’s deal with the Cardinals.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, I haven’t felt this way in years. Monday night’s MLB Home Run Derby reminded me of the romance and sheer delirious joy that this sport can give us. That’s why I’m convinced that Jordan Walker’s Home Run Derby victory will rank among the best moments in St. Louis Cardinals history.
You never know how a player will respond to moments on a national stage. When I learned that Jordan Walker was going to be a part of the Home Run Derby, I had several hot takes. First, what a great opportunity for Jordan. Good for him. Second, he’ll surely have nerves since this is his first All-Star game experience and first Home Run Derby. As the night started, the first thing that struck me was how relaxed Jordan Walker appeared. He said in interviews that he was nervous, but everything about him just projected calm, cool and collected.
As the Derby began, Willson Contreras launched an impressive 13 home runs in 20 swings. Jordan Walker then calmly matched him with a smooth, easy swing that carried him into the semi-finals.
Prior to the Home Run Derby, many prognosticators predicted that Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays would win it. He was Jordan’s competition in the semi-finals and not only did Walker defeat him, but he did it with 7 swings not needed. Jordan seemed like a man with ice in his veins.
As the final round began, I was overwhelmed with how proud Cardinals fans should be of what Jordan Walker achieved. Making it to the finals in his first All-Star game, his first Home Run Derby…that’s such an accomplishment. Surely he won’t win this thing, will he? After Kyle Schwarber hammered 11 home runs in 15 swings, I (and thousands of fans in the stands in Philly) thought it was over. The one person who didn’t believe that? Jordan Walker. Even after he only had 8 home runs with 1 swing remaining, he appeared at ease. Smooth swings…4 in a row as he took advantage of bonus swings on his last ball sailed into the night as the fans in Philadelphia watched in a stunned silence.
As Jordan’s 12th finals home run flew deep into the left field stands, I screamed, fist in the air like I haven’t done in years. The last time it happened? Albert’s 700th home run in 2022. World Series games 6 and 7 in 2011. Before that, it was the World Series clincher against Detroit in 2006. I was also reminded of that night in September in 1998 when Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run barely cleared the left field wall in the old Busch Stadium. Same emotions that night that I feel right now. I’m elated. Blown away by how Jordan Walker rose to the occasion and faced a fierce Philly crowd and hoisted a trophy that he wasn’t supposed to get and then maintain his humbleness as the MLB world started reacting to this huge upset.
Major League Baseball needs more of what happened Monday night in Philadelphia. St. Louis Cardinals fans need more of what happened Monday night in Philadelphia. A reminder of the romance of a baseball upset that shouldn’t be possible from a small market player who is what he is because of the strong family that stood behind him when the rest of us doubted him. Thank you, Jordan Walker and family. I felt like I was 10-years-old again thanks to what you accomplished. You will now forever be a part of some of my favorite St. Louis Cardinals memories ever and with the rich history of this team, that’s saying something.
July 18 update With a last flurry of bonus amounts via Baseball America and Future Sox, we now has a complete class of signings, as Draft Camp in Charlotte gets underway. Round 20 pick Connor Fennell will not be signing with the White Sox. The club apparently did push $643,200 past their bonus pool, meaning it will pay an additional 5% tax ($32,160) on that amount.
July 16 update The White Sox have sent out a release, proclaiming their first 20 picks are all signed; Round 20 pick Connor Fennell is not among them. However, we don’t have bonus amounts for 18 of the 20 picks. The first 20 picks are updated as “signed” per the White Sox, but we will have to fill in bonus information as we get it.
The 2026 MLB Draft is over, and the White Sox targeted outfielders and power bats.
This year’s signing deadline is July 22, although the White Sox are expected to ink at least 20 of their 21 picks. As you are probably aware, each pick in the draft is assigned a specific and unique value, and the sum of those values is the amount a team is allowed to spend on their draft selections.
For the first 10 rounds of the draft, every dollar spent counts against that total (the bonus pool). All picks after the 10th Round are assigned $150,000 as the signing bonus; players can be (and often are) signed for more or less than that — but anything more than $150,00 counts against the bonus pool.
HOWEVER, teams are allowed to overspend their bonus pool by up to 5%. If a team spends more than 105% of their bonus pool, stiff penalties are introduced: the loss of future draft picks. For this reason, under these rules no MLB team has ever exceeded that 5% overage.
There are various strategies employed to maximize pick value, which often ends up on the backs of college seniors with no leverage (i.e. cannot refuse to sign/return to school); the White Sox in fact have paid signing bonuses as little as $10,000 or perhaps $5,000 under such circumstances. The unused money is then poured into enticing one of the “money picks” (Nos. 1-10, but more likely in the first five rounds) to sign. Or, as was the case DJ Gladney in 2019, a “steal” in the lower 10s of the draft will have such savings steered to him to ensure signing/eschewing a college scholarship commitment.
Our tracker is below. Scroll right for additional details, and scroll all the way down for details on undrafted free agent signings.
Director of scouting Mike Shirley has indicated already that 20th Round pick Connor Fennell may not be signed, as he was chosen as insurance against another player refusing to agree to terms or not passing his physical. But with 21 picks, the White Sox will very likely ink at least 20 players out of this draft.
If a player doesn’t sign with the White Sox, the money slotted for their pick is lost; it cannot be used to sign other players in the draft class. The White Sox would, however, get a compensation pick in 2027 that is one slot lower. That is, if the White Sox failed to sign Cole Prosek, they would get the No. 42 pick in the 2027 draft. If a pick lower than the first two rounds doesn’t sign, the White Sox get a compensatory pick the next year at the end of the round; if third-rounder Joey Volchko doesn’t come to terms, the White Sox will get an extra pick at the end of 2027’s third round.
Undrafted free agents (UDFA) Among the immediate batch of UDFAs this year, lefty starter Michael Sharman stands out. The Clemson lefty pitched much older than his college competition (he’s now 24) but in two major college seasons was fantastic. In 2026 he started 15 games with a 3.39 ERA — terrific enough, but also consider his 77 strikeouts, 11 walks and tiny 1.091 WHIP.
Two weeks have passed since the beginning of the NHL free agency period, and future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane remains unsigned.
Kane, who signed with the Detroit Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent in December 2023, subsequently signed a one-year contract on June 30 of both 2024 and 2025, and has spent the last two and a half seasons wearing the Winged Wheel.
And while Kane spoke openly at the end of the 2025-26 campaign about his interest in remaining with Detroit, circumstances may have changed, especially in the wake of Dylan Larkin's explosive trade request that went public in early June.
In mid-April, Kane expressed interest in running it back in Detroit.
“I think there is mutual interest for me to come back and continue my career here. It’s been a great spot for me, my family, and my son, and I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here," Kane said in April during Detroit's season-ending media availability. "But there’s no rush. I’ll talk things over with my agent and my family, and we’ll see how everything plays out.
“I’d love to be part of the solution that gets this team over the hump. We have a good team here, and we can win. I think this team is better than some teams that are in the playoffs.”
Larkin had a similar sentiment, saying he wants to remain with Detroit and be part of the solution that gets them back to the postseason.
However, Larkin had a change of heart and officially requested to be moved by GM Steve Yzerman, who confirmed the report that was first made public by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman in early June.
While there remains an avenue for Kane to return to the Red Wings after testing the market, his potential departure would represent yet another blow to Detroit's offense.
In 67 games last season, Kane produced 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points, ending the year fifth among Detroit's leading point producers.
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Bruce Thornton has us acting like Bart Simpson at a whiteboard:
“I will not overreact to Summer League. I will not overreact to Summer League. I will not…”.
OK, fine: I might overreact to Summer League. Through two games, Thornton is averaging 22.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 steals in two games.
Sure, he’s shooting 37.1% from deep. That’s where we should – you guessed it – not overreact to Summer League. He’s had one efficient game, and one inefficient one.
Bruce Thornton will not be the Houston Rockets’ starting point guard in 2026-27. That’s obvious. Still, he may be forcing his way into the rotational conversation. It raises a larger question:
What is the team’s point guard rotation even going to look like?
Rockets point guard rotation worth keeping an eye on
Fred VanVleet is the presumptive starter, but whether he’ll be the player he used to be is an article in itself:
And wouldn’t you know it, I already wrote it.
That was before VanVleet gave an interview and explained, in medical language, that his knee had kabloomed into a bazillion pieces. He’ll likely be on the floor when the opening buzzer sounds for the 2026-27 season, but his grip on the starting position feels tenuous.
The obvious heir to his throne would be Reed Sheppard, but Ime Udoka could have other plans. Whatever you think of Udoka’s defensive leanings, he may have a point.
If you’re deep enough into Rockets lore, you’ve probably seen the DataBallr stats. When Sheppard shares the floor with Alperen Sengun and without Amen Thompson, the Rockets are -3.9. With all three on the floor, they’re just +0.3. When Sheppard is with Thompson and without Sengun, they’re +12.4, and when he’s without either of his star teammates, the Rockets are +14.5.
The prevailing assumption is that Sheppard and Sengun can’t defend together. That’s not actually what the data shows, as it’s their Offensive Rating that drops. Still, this could be a case of noisy numbers. The broader point would be that, as of now, Sheppard and Sengun, for whatever reason, don’t seem to mix.
The Rockets were a jarring -9.7 when Sengun was without either Thompson or Sheppard, so maybe he’s the root of the problem. In any case, he’ll be the starting center for game one, even if we can’t speak to Game 42.
So maybe Marcus Smart is the best option.
There’s a bit of an uncomfortable tension (understatement) surrounding the conversation about Sengun. His most devout followers will tell you that he needed a quality point guard in 2025-26, and that’s why he had a bit of a rough season.
Only, he was less efficient around the rim next to Fred VanVleet the year prior. More broadly, if Sengun is a play-finishing big who needs a star point guard to succeed, what’s his purpose? Isn’t he the star playmaker? If he’s a star player, shouldn’t he thrive next to a floor spacer who can make a simple entry pass without activating him in the pick-and-roll?
Smart meets the criteria. If Sengun can’t succeed with him, there are bigger conversations to have about his viability as a star player. He’s also the perfect point-of-attack defender to offset his limitations on that end of the floor:
Should he be the starter in 2026-27?
Rockets must explore all backcourt options
It’s going to be a committee, and that’s perfectly fine.
VanVleet has earned the initial nod. The Rockets should see who he is in 2026-27 before making systemic changes.
If he isn’t the man he used to be, it’s fair to assume Smart is next in line. It’s probably more optimal to maximize the minutes Sheppard spends piloting the second unit. His minutes will ideally increase in 2026-27, but a higher spike in his usage would be more significant.
If he’s wildly successful in that role, he should be starting by the end of the year. Sheppard is, above all else, confounding. One would like the third overall pick to be starting at the beginning of his third season, but painful as it is to accept, Sheppard is a tremendous defensive liability. He’ll likely have to be a top 5 shooter in the NBA to be worth starting, so that’s the bar he should be looking to clear with the second unit to begin the season.
If VanVleet is good to go, or Sheppard breaks out, it shouldn’t affect Smart too much. He’s probably a natural two, and he can even play the three. Smart can get in where he fits in.
Then, there’s Thornton. Pencil him in for the Aaron Holiday role – for now. With his unique weight and strength for his height, Thornton plays bigger than 6’1″. By the end of the year, he may be making a case for a bigger role in 2027-28:
Although we’ve only seen him in two Summer League games so far.
TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 7: Kyle Lowry poses for a photo during his retirement ceremony on July 7, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Lowry’s legacy is bigger than himself, and every basketball fan should know that
7. 7. is for #7
Kyle Lowry calls it a career, and he couldn’t have asked for a better ending to it. The franchise legend signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors seven days ago, capping off a storied career in the most poetic way possible. His resume speaks for itself. Lowry is the franchise leader for assists, steals, triple-doubles, and three-point field goals, and to top it off, he’s a champion.
Despite his accolades, some fans think that he still falls short of the highest recognition in basketball — a Naismith Hall of Fame induction. A netizen commented on X, “Not quite an NBA Hall of Famer but a Raptors legend,” while another fan stated, “He’s not a HoF, but he’s a hell of a ball player,” on a video clip from Sportsnet where Lowry is greeted by a round of applause as he bids farewell in the ceremony.
Discussions like these may feel reductive for a Raptors great among Toronto fans, but comments such as these also subtly indicate what it is that makes us consider him a potential Hall-of-Famer that others may overlook.
Vince put Toronto on the map, but Lowry elevated them to a winning territory
The 2010s saw a mediocre expansion team become the fourth-winningest franchise in the decade, and Lowry was an instrumental piece to that turnaround. In hindsight, no one saw this coming. The Raptors were just four seasons removed from their last playoff contention in 2008. Their star power forward, Chris Bosh, left in free agency to join the superteam in Miami. The Raptors thought they had found a franchise saviour in Bosh — someone who could finally get them over the hump, especially after Vince Carter left on estranged terms.
Carter was the Raptors’ first superstar. He and a rookie Tracy McGrady filled the seats not just in Toronto, but in visiting cities as well because of their high-flying dunks and electrifying playing style. During his stint, however, the Raptors didn’t see much post-season success, with the second round being the farthest they have gotten. Vinsanity made the Raptors a spectacle, which barely translated into winning basketball.
Fast forward to the 2012 off-season, and the Raptors took a chance on a journeyman guard whose reputation shadowed his upside. Lowry got traded from the Houston Rockets after growing frustrated with his backup role. Lowry’s growing pains persisted for a while, as he tried to get used to head coach Dwane Casey’s system while playing second-fiddle to Jose Calderon. Instead of allowing himself to stunt, Lowry brought the same defining characteristic he had to practice to win the starting job — his tenacity.
Coach Casey recalled, “Kyle would come in on a mission every day in practice and kick Jose’s butt… Kyle was on a mission to prove that ‘hey, I’m better than Jose Calderon,’ which it turned out he was, and the rest is history.” The following season, the Raptors secured a postseason berth for the first time since 2008. The Raptors have made the playoffs in each of the next six years, but the same critique always stuck with this team, especially Lowry — the inability to deliver when games finally matter.
The height of his slump came against the Washington Wizards in the 2015 playoffs. Despite holding home-court advantage, the Raptors got swept by the Wizards. Lowry was held to a playoff-low 12.3 points on a 31.6 per cent shooting from the field and 21.7 per cent from deep. Lowry also faced major criticism after his 0-point performance in the playoff opener against the Orlando Magic in the 2019 playoffs.
Reducing Lowry based on these playoff woes discredits the improvements he has made to be able to contribute to a winning team. In his postseason appearances with the Raptors, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, with consistent shooting percentages across three levels. In the biggest game of his career, Lowry put up 15 points on 5-6 shooting (a perfect 4-4 from three) to build a sizeable advantage for the Raptors in the first frame, setting the tone for the title-clinching game of the 2019 NBA Finals.
Lowry was never the 1A on the Raptors, but for many, he’s the greatest to have ever worn their colours. Lowry understood his role on the floor — a point guard who sets plays for teammates to put them in the best possible position to score. While scoring is not his main priority, he also has a knack for it when the defence allows him. On the other end, Lowry took on a scrappy, “bulldog” persona, and Raptors fans know this play all too well. Lowry was willing to put his body on the line to draw charges, and Toronto came to embrace him for it. As great as he is on the floor, his body of work transcended his playing career. His teammates, past and present, reflect the legacy Lowry has had as a basketball player, as they continue to grow in their respective careers.
“Those guys are my little brothers (…) they’re making me proud every single day”
When asked about getting the chance to play with eventual stars, Lowry credited their work ethic and expressed his delight at seeing them flourish on the court. “They worked hard (…), but those guys were [also] talented, and they wanted it,” said Lowry. Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet were all named All-Stars at some point in their careers. While not having earned an All-Star nod himself, OG Anunoby is the only 2x champion from that crop. While known for his team-first mentality, Lowry was not shy about taking responsibility in player development, considering the work ethic he and former running-mate DeMar DeRozan displayed on the court.
A place in basketball history
NBA history wouldn’t be complete without each of the 30 teams that have competed for the past 75 years. For the Raptors, many chapters have been written about them. From its early years with Vince, to being stuck in mediocrity, to finally bringing a title back to the country where basketball was invented, Toronto always has its place in basketball history.
During the press conference, GM Bobby Webster announced that number seven will be hung in the rafters, immortalizing the career and legacy of arguably the Greatest Raptor of All-Time. While his name doesn’t scream the likes of Vince Carter, Kawhi Leonard, or even his former teammate, DeRozan, Lowry made the Raptors a winning franchise, not as its alpha, but as an impactful player who settled for a role that his team needed him to fill. Through his strong work ethic, Lowry also inspired a crop of would-be stars, who continue to prosper with their respective teams.
His story does not belong to just Raptors fans. Lowry left an indelible mark on Raptors history. For that, he deserves to be memorialized in the Hall of Fame.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 22, 2026: José Anderson #97 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the field during the seventh inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on March 22, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Current record: 53-38 Record this week: 3-3 This week’s opponent: @ Charlotte Knights Next week’s opponent: vs. Norfolk Tides
Standout performances: Luke Adams: 7-for-15, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K Tyler Black: 7-for-16, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K Ethan Murray: 8-for-19, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Thomas Pannone: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
With Luis Lara and Cooper Pratt now in the big leagues, the Sounds are down to just one Top 100 prospect in Jett Williams, who appeared in only one game this week. Nashville still features Luke Adams and Jeferson Quero (7-for-24), both of whom continued to produce, but the promotions of Lara and Pratt have opened up more playing time for some of the organization’s less-heralded players — and they’ve taken advantage.
Four Sounds hitters batted over .400 this week. One was Adams. The other three? Ethan Murray, Darrien Miller, and Tyler Black. None are currently considered to be among the Brewers’ top 30 prospects (though Black once was), but all three have played an important role in Nashville’s success. Murray is hitting .272 with a .712 OPS on the season, while Black owns a .781 OPS and has continued to show the on-base skills that earned him opportunities in the majors. Miller has only been in Triple-A for a few weeks after earning a promotion on June 27, but before leaving Biloxi he posted a .943 OPS with the Shuckers.
— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) July 9, 2026
A lot of attention naturally goes to the organization’s biggest names, but weeks like this are a reminder that a healthy farm system needs more than just blue-chip prospects. Players like Murray, Miller, and Black may not generate the same headlines as guys like Lara and Pratt, but they’ve consistently produced, helped their clubs win games, and provided the kind of depth that allows top prospects to develop in competitive environments. Not every player has to become a star to play an important role in the organization’s success.
The offense carried the Sounds this week, but the pitching staff had a much tougher time. Only four pitchers logged more than three innings: Coleman Crow, Carlos Rodriguez, Gerson Garabito, and Thomas Pannone. Pannone was the lone bright spot, holding the Charlotte Knights to two earned runs over six innings. The other three, however, struggled.
Crow, who recently completed his rehab assignment and was optioned back to Triple-A, allowed four runs on four hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Rodriguez made two appearances as an opener, surrendering eight runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings, while Garabito was tagged for seven earned runs across five innings.
Tyson Hardin also turned in a solid outing, allowing one earned run on two hits over three innings while striking out three. His ERA is now down to 3.63 through his first 10 Triple-A starts.
Double-A Biloxi Shuckers
Current record: 46-37 Record this week: 3-3 This week’s opponent: @ Knoxville Smokies Next week’s opponent: vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Standout performances:
Matthew Wood: 5-for-13, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K Mike Boeve: 6-for-20, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K Josh Adamczewski: 5-for-21, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K Andrew Fischer: 5-for-21, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 10 K Jaron DeBerry: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 K Braylon Owens: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Bishop Letson: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
This part of the column is getting so predictable. Guess who this week’s standouts were? Yep: Josh Adamczewski, who had more hits than strikeouts yet again. Andrew Fischer, who racked up four extra-base hits, including another home run, despite striking out in nearly half of his at-bats. Mike Boeve hit .300 and walked more than he struck out. Rinse, repeat.
Adamczewski is now officially a top-100 prospect after MLB Pipeline updated its rankings. He wasn’t even a top-30 Brewers prospect at the start of last season. It’s been a meteoric rise for Milwaukee’s new No. 6 prospect, who has done nothing but hit since joining the organization. Frankly, the recognition from Pipeline feels overdue.
No baseball for a couple days.
Just wanted to show you guys a couple of #Brewers prospects (Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski) who are absolutely MASHING in MiLB this year!
On the pitching side, Jaron DeBerry continues to impress. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since May 17—almost exactly two months ago. After that outing, his ERA sat north of six. Following this week’s seven-inning, two-hit, 11-strikeout gem, it’s all the way down to an even 4.00. Braylon Owens was excellent as well, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings.
Good news: Bishop Letson allowed three runs while striking out six over 5⅓ innings. Bad news: he also walked four and surrendered eight hits. As soon as Logan Henderson graduates, Letson will become the Brewers’ top pitching prospect, but he’s taken a step back in his first full season at Double-A. He owns a 4.62 ERA and a 4.91 BB/9, and the command has been inconsistent. If he can tighten that up, the stuff is still good enough to make him a successful major league starter.
Jesús Made and Blake Burke both went 3-for-20 this week, which happens. It’s baseball. Check back next week.
High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Current record: 46-33 Record this week: 3-3 This week’s opponent: vs. Beloit Sky Carp Next week’s opponent: vs. Quad Cities River Bandits
Standout performances:
Luiyin Alastre: 5-for-11, 2 2B, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K Blayberg Diaz: 5-for-11, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K Daniel Dickinson: 9-for-20, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB, 6 K Tyler Rodriguez: 6-for-14, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 7 BB, 2 K Braylon Payne: 4-for-11, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K Wande Torres: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K Ethan Dorchies: 9.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K Daniel Corniel: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K Garrett Hodges: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K Tanner Perry: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Wisconsin’s top performer this week was Daniel Dickinson, who turned in arguably his best performance of the season. The 2025 sixth-round pick went 9-for-20 (.450) with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, and seven walks, good for a ridiculous 1.593 OPS. Dickinson got off to a slow start in his professional career, but he’s quietly raised his OPS to .786 through his first 225 at-bats and is beginning to look like the polished college bat the Brewers thought they were drafting.
Daniel Dickinson won the Midwest League Player of the Week award 🏅
Dickinson had a 1.593 OPS on the week, getting on base more than half of his PA and smacking 3 home runs and 2 doubles 🔥
He has played all of his 72 games in High-A Wisconsin his first full professional season… pic.twitter.com/1cXUQiSvUt
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) July 13, 2026
Eric Bitonti struck out 10 times in 20 at-bats, but he also collected five hits — three of them home runs. Not bad. Some evaluators started to sour on Bitonti after his strikeout issues persisted this season, and while 109 strikeouts in 254 at-bats is still a glaring concern, he’s also hitting .264 with an .894 OPS and 15 home runs. Bitonti nearly fell out of the Brewers’ top 30 prospects before the latest rankings update, but he’s continuing to make adjustments at the plate. He’ll spend the rest of the season as a 20-year-old, so there’s no reason to rush the development of a player with this kind of raw power.
Bitonti is 20 years old still, he has 15 homers and an .896 OPS in High-A. He’s also been playing third base a lot more since Fischer went to Biloxi, and I still think that’s a position he can handle.
Braylon Payne continued his breakout campaign, going 4-for-11 with a home run and four RBI. At this point, he’s officially on promotion watch. Tyler Rodriguez also stayed hot, going 6-for-14 with seven walks against just two strikeouts. Through his first 11 games with Wisconsin, Rodriguez is hitting .368 with a .974 OPS. Listed as a shortstop, he’s spent this season exclusively in the outfield and at first base, making him another intriguing player to watch as he settles into High-A.
The pitching staff had plenty to celebrate this week as well. Wande Torres and Ethan Dorchies, both of whom have struggled at times this season, turned in their best outings of the year against Beloit. Torres tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking nobody and striking out eight. Dorchies was nearly as impressive across two starts, surrendering just two earned runs over 9⅓ innings while striking out 11. Daniel Corniel also contributed four solid innings of one-run ball, while Garrett Hodges and Tanner Perry each chipped in quality performances to help Wisconsin secure the series win.
Single-A Wilson Warbirds
Current record: 47-38 Record this week: 4-1 This week’s opponent: vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers Next week’s opponent: @ Hickory Crawdads
Standout performances:
Juan Ortuno: 6-for-15, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K Brady Ebel: 5-for-14, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 6 BB, 1 K Alexander Frias: 6-for-18, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K Filippo Di Turi: 4-for-13, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K Pedro Ibarguen: 4-for-13, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K Jarrette Bonet: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Miqueas Mercedes: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K Andrew Healy: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Enderson Mercado: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Alexander Frias went 6-for-18 with a home run and eight RBIs, only striking out twice. After posting a .441 average in rookie ball, the 18-year-old is showing he belongs in full-season ball.
Brady Ebel, whose brother was drafted by the Brewers with the 25th pick in this weekend’s MLB Draft, notched three extra base hits and six walks while only striking out once. Juan Ortuño matched Ebel with six hits of his own while adding three doubles, four RBIs, and five walks, continuing a quietly productive season in Wilson. Filippo DiTuri and Pedro Ibarguen both also hit over .300 with four RBIs apiece.
The best performance of the week wasn’t any of those guys, but rather Jose Anderson. In true Jose Anderson form, Anderson had five hits this week, but four of them were home run — bringing him to 21, the most in the Carolina League.
Jose Anderson’s 2nd HR of the game and 20th of the season is a walk-off homer for Wilson
The strikeouts remain a big issue for him, but the power is definitely impressive pic.twitter.com/7yUtU67r6K
Led by the usual suspects, the pitching staff also turned in another strong week. Jarrette Bonet was dominant, striking out seven over four scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. Miqueas Mercedes went six innings of one-run ball, striking out seven, and Andrew Healy limited Fayetteville to one run over five innings. Enderson Mercado allowed nine batters to reach base over just 4 2/3 innings, but managed to escape while only allowing two runs.
Player of the Week
I’m giving this one to the only Brewers prospect to hit four home runs this week. No, it’s not Andrew Fischer again.
José Anderson is one of the more fascinating prospects in the system. The power is impossible to ignore — he’s already up to 21 home runs on the season, and his .752 OPS is respectable — but the swing-and-miss remains a major hurdle. Anderson has struck out 125 times in 328 plate appearances, good for a staggering 38% strikeout rate. Despite his OPS, he’s hitting under .200. That’s simply not sustainable as he climbs the minor league ladder.
Still, the raw tools are intriguing. Power like Anderson’s doesn’t grow on trees, and if the Brewers can help him make enough contact and refine his approach at the plate, there’s a legitimate player in there. I’d love to see him put it all together and eventually tap into that power in Milwaukee.
Most HR in the minors by players under the age of 20
Jose Anderson (MIL, A) – 18 HR Emil Morales (LAD, A+) – 17 HR Braylon Payne (MIL, A+) – 16 HR Nathan Flewelling (TB, A+) – 16 HR Eduardo Tait (MIN, A+) – 15 HR Ching-Hsien Ko (LAD, A) – 15 HR Josiah Hartshorn (CHC, A+) – 15 HR
Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
How are you spending your four days off from Orioles baseball (assuming you hadn’t already bailed on Orioles baseball by, like, May)? Me, I’m going to take care of important things around the house, by which I mean catching up on TV. I’m still working my way through the Fallout season that ended in February, so there’s a hefty backlog.
Of course, there’s still baseball to enjoy if you’d like to do so. The MLB All-Star Game is tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, airing on Fox at 8:00. It’ll be the usual fun showcase featuring the majors’ biggest stars, but unfortunately precious few Orioles. The Birds’ lone representative, Adley Rutschman, will be among the American League reserves, so we should see him come in midway through the game.
Rutschman is a deserving All-Star, but the fact that he’s the Orioles’ only one is kind of a bummer. I know this season hasn’t gone particularly well for the Birds, but it’s not as if they just have one good player. There are worse AL teams with more representatives. Fellow sub-.500 teams like the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Twins, and Tigers all have multiple All-Stars. Even the lowly Royals and Athletics have two apiece.
I’m a little surprised that Pete Alonso didn’t get selected to the team, especially after a fellow first baseman, the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz, bowed out with injury. The Polar Bear is already a five-time All-Star and is putting up another strong year in his Orioles debut. But I suppose the AL is stacked with first basemen even without Kurtz (and the fan-voted starter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who also won’t be playing), as Boston’s Willson Contreras, the Yankees’ Ben Rice, and White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami are already on the roster. At the very least, I would’ve liked to see Alonso participate in the Home Run Derby, which he has won twice in his career (including a defeat of the Orioles’ Trey Mancini in 2021, which was annoying at the time).
Still, the 2026 Orioles’ fate won’t be decided by how many guys they’ve got playing in the All-Star Game. They’ve got 65 more games of baseball to play when the season resumes on Friday. And with a little momentum on their side after heading into the break on a four-game winning streak, they’re going to need to stay hot for pretty much the entire second half to stay in contention. So let’s hope that Adley enjoys his time at the Midsummer Classic, and that the rest of the team gets a nice breather and comes back ready to win a lot of games.
There aren’t normally a lot of stolen base attempts in the All-Star Game anyway, but I don’t think the National League will dare try it when Adley is behind the dish.
The O’s acquired Cam Sanders, and before you ask, no, he’s not a third baseman, and he’s not even joining the major league roster. We’ll have to wait another couple days to find out who Blaze Alexander’s replacement will be.
Alexander called out Lucas Erceg for quick-pitching him on the fateful HBP, and got in a dig on Vinnie Pasquantino for good measure. Blaze’s troll game is on point.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And there’s a good chance that you used to play for the Orioles, because a whopping nine players in O’s history were born on July 14. I would venture a guess that that’s more O’s birthdays than any other date on the calendar, but I’m not going to do the legwork of looking it up.
That lengthy birthday list includes three players currently active in the majors or minors: infielders Joey Ortiz (28) and Andrew Velazquez (32) and right-hander Isaac Mattson (31). It also includes the Orioles’ most recent Cy Young Award winner, right-hander Steve Stone (79). Other ex-Orioles born on July 14 include infielders Bernie Castro (47), Victor Rodríguez (65), and Billy Smith (73); outfielder Derrick May (58); and the late catcher Earl Williams (b. 1948, d. 2013).
On this date in 2012, the Orioles pulled off a wild win in a season full of them with an 8-6 walkoff against the Tigers at Camden Yards. After closer Jim Johnson blew a 4-1 lead in the ninth to allow Detroit to tie, the Tigers took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11th, only for Adam Jones to deliver a two-out RBI single to tie it in the bottom half. The Orioles fell behind again in the 13th, but J.J Hardy promptly tied the score with a solo homer, and light-hitting backup catcher Taylor Teagarden — making his team debut — played the hero with a walkoff two-run blast. It was the Birds’ 10th consecutive extra-innings win, a streak that would eventually reach 16.
And on this day in 2019, the Orioles nearly became the victims of the first combined perfect game in MLB history, as two Rays pitchers — Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough — combined to retire the first 24 batters of the game. Hanser Alberto finally broke up the perfecto in the ninth with a leadoff single. The O’s lost, 4-1.
Random Orioles game of the day
On July 14, 1973, the Orioles beat the White Sox, 5-4, in Chicago. The O’s pounded out 12 hits, including three from DH Tommy Davis and a homer by Paul Blair. Earl Williams, on his 25th birthday, contributed two RBIs. Hall of Famer Jim Palmer worked eight strong innings for the win, but gave up three runs in the ninth before reliever Bob Reynolds escaped a bases-loaded jam on a game-ending double play.
Florida Complex League Yankees:W, 3-2 (7) vs. FCL Phillies
3B Richard Matic 0-4, 3 K DH George Lombard Jr. 1-2, HR, RBI, BB, CS — first AB back was a dinger! RF Wilberson De Pena 0-3, 2 K C Queni Pineda 1-2, BB, passed ball 2B Leni Done 1-3, 3B, RBI, 2 K CF Jose Castro 0-3, 2 K LF Francisco Vilorio 0-3, 2 K SS Dexters Peralta 0-3, 2 K 1B Justin Capellan 1-3
Anthony Mena 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR Sunayro Martina 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K (win)
🚨George Lombard Jr CRUSHES 2nd pitch of his rehab for a solo shot!
Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 16-10 at DSL Phillies — between this scoreline and the line for the DSL Yanks, the DSL is clearly a land of contrasts
2B Dariel Santana 1-4, RBI, BB C Alessandro Rodriguez 0-2, RBI, BB, SF, throwing error SS Carlos Bello 1-5, RBI, K, fielding error DH Kenneth Melendez 1-3, 2B, 2 BB RF David Carrera 0-1, 3 BB 1B Poly Ojeda 2-4, 2B, RBI, K, fielding error 3B Germayhoni Beltre 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB, two throwing errors LF Sebastian Pinto 0-3, RBI, BB, K, SF CF Alfiery Matos 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, K, SB, CS
Randy Angomas 0.1 IP, 3 H, 7 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 1 K (loss) — poor Randy has had a rough go of it, with 5+ runs allowed in five of seven starts Breidy Adames 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K Oscar Vasquez 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR Mauricio Vargas 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K Josue Silvestre 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K Andre Avila 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 12: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On paper, this cross-country road trip is where even the most optimistic Red Sox fans were supposed to reach a capitulation point. Despite a mostly successful 5-2 homestand to close out June against the Yankees and Nationals, reality and time were growling at the door in the form of an abysmal record and the aggressively approaching trade deadline.
The team was still 11 games under .500, and they were flying to California with no games at Fenway Park appearing on the schedule until July 17th. Suspensions for Willson Contreras and Nate Eaton were handed down and had to be served within days, and to make matters worse, Connelly Early just hit the IL, joining Roman Anthony, Garrett Crochet, Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Johan Oviedo, Nick Sogard, Tristan Casas, and Kutter Crawford without a timeline. The final death blow of this woefully disappointing season felt imminent and inevitable — Probably in the form of some walk-off in LA while the clock appropriately struck midnight on the east coast. Barring a miracle, this thing was over, and colossal consequences were coming.
And yet, in quintessential baseball fashion, this is the exact moment the seas parted, and the ship turned. Because baseball, despite being its own galaxy of numbers that revolves around strict rules, trends, data, and deep statistical blueprints, will every once in a while take all that logic and math, and light it on fire.
There’s no way this lineup, down on power to start the year, down Roman Anthony and Trevor Story for half the season, and down Willson Contreras for half this road trip should’ve had enough ammunition to make it through any game, let alone nine straight wins and the best Red Sox road trip since 1977. But it did.
There’s no way this rotation, down 80 percent of the guys who made the first five starts of the season (Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Connelly Early and Brayan Bello) for a solid chunk of the trip, should have pieced together a collection of gems that would make a pirate blush. But it did.
There’s no way Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler — all three guys the Sox got back in the Kyle Harrison trade with Milwaukee — should have started making major, meaningful contributions on a nightly basis right when the team was at its most vulnerable, but they did.
None of this makes sense, and that’s exactly why it’s so magical. We watch the 99 percent of the time to get the high off the one percent where everything goes haywire. In simplest terms, THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF!
As a proud nerd who spends hours looking at spreadsheets, tables, and trends, it’s the moments where sanity melts under a mushroom cloud of chaos that make life interesting, and in turn, baseball worth watching for weeks on end.
People complain life is monotonous and baseball is boring, and much of the time, they’re right ….. Until they’re absolutely not! Every once in a while, the daily box of possibilities bursts at its barriers and deals you an extreme, unexpected fate (good or bad) — And the next thing you know, you’re in a car accident, you receive a profoundly positive update after a cancer diagnosis, you’re meeting your soulmate for the first time, a tornado siren is blaring through your neighborhood, or the most disappointing baseball team you’ve ever watched is going on a road trip with a WooSox looking lineup and rescues the baseball summer that felt stolen three weeks ago.
It doesn’t have to make sense. It’s better that way.
If the Red Sox continue their heater into the second half and make a deep playoff run in the fall, the active roster will most certainly look a lot different than the group that just pulled the wagon from the cliff’s edge while traveling the Oregon Trail in reverse. (It has to if this front office is remotely serious about trying to take advantage of this historically weak American League.)
But while this group who just played their hearts out may not get October playing time, they could end up being the reason those opportunities exist at all, making their efforts an integral chapter in a much longer, more complex story.
Deep within the DNA of any successful baseball season are things like Tsung-Che Cheng’s three straight multi-hit games while playing solid defense at short, Patrick Sandoval returning to a Major League mound for the first time in two years while holding an explosive White Sox lineup to a single run, and Eduardo Rivera and Brayan Bello being great straight out of Worcester to help keep a long winning streak alive. They just don’t usually come piled on top of each other in such short order.
But for a week and a half, these delightful surprises fell like snowflakes in a ferocious February blizzard. Only here, they came in the blistering heat of summer, and turned a Red Sox road trip that was supposed to be a funeral, into a miraculous resurrection.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Labaron Philon #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on July 11, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Summer Sixers have gotten off to a hot start in the desert, winning their first two games against Detroit and Indiana. Two more wins and they’ll be on their way to the Summer League semifinals, in search of the organization’s first Summer League title since Hollis Thompson and Casper Ware were doing their thing in Orlando back in 2014.
Encouragingly in the big picture sense, this squad’s success has been led by the two Sixers under standard NBA contracts. Rookie guard Labaron Philon has averaged 21.0 points and 6.5 assists across the two games, and despite some inefficiencies inside the arc, is very much looking the part of a three-level scorer. Meanwhile, second-year big man Johni Broome is also averaging 21.0 points per game, along with 12.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. I understand the notion of wanting to see Broome do it against NBA-level competition, but you can only play the opponent in front of you, so it’s at least an encouraging sign for a better sophomore season from the 2025 35th overall pick.
The Houston Rockets are 1-1 in Las Vegas, topping Denver in their opener before losing to the Raptors. Here’s a look at Houston’s group for Summer League action:
Bruce Thornton is a guy to keep an eye on this afternoon. The 31st overall pick out of Ohio State exploded for 27 points in the opener against Denver, and chipped in 17 points and five steals against the Raptors. 6-foot-6 guard Quadir Copeland is on a two-way contract with Houston after going undrafted out of NC State.
We’ve seen a pair of entertaining games so far from the Summer Sixers. Let’s hope TJ Dileo has the guys ready to play once again to keep the undefeated stretch in Vegas intact.
Game Details
When: July 14, 4:00 p.m. ET Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus, Prime Video Follow:@LibertyBallers
