Category: Sports News

Some players are so talented at both hitting and pitching, they are good enough to be drafted either way. Some scouts flirted with the idea of Bret Saberhagen or Zack Greinke playing shortstop (Greinke may have wanted to be a two-way player at one point) but ultimately decided that staying on the mound was best for their respective careers. In recent years, there was some question on where Royals picks like Khalil Lee, Trevor Werner, and Jac Caglianone might end up on the diamond, but all three ended up in the batter’s box.

California prep player Jared Grindlinger is the best two-way player in this draft, with scouts mixed on where he will end up playing. He is the rare player that offers enticing potential both ways, as a legitimate first-round talent both as a left-handed pitcher and as a hitter.

Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF, Huntington Beach High School (CA)

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Draft rankings:

• The Athletic: #12
• Baseball America: #18
• ESPN: #11
• MLB Pipeline: #18
• Perfect Game: #16

Grindlinger is one of the youngest players available after reclassifying from the 2027 class earlier this year. He won’t turn 18 until well after the draft, making him younger than nearly every other prospect in the class. That youth gives him a lot of projectability. At 6’3”, 185 lbs., Grindlinger is still growing into his frame. Most evaluators believe there is significantly more strength and power to come, which explains why teams are willing to bet on his long-term upside despite an already accelerated timeline.

Keith Law ultimately believes the bat is where his future lies. As a hitter, Law praises his “outstanding bat-to-ball skills” while noting that his bat speed still has room to improve. Even so, the ball already carries well off his bat, and as he adds strength, many scouts expect considerably more power to emerge.

Baseball America echoes that assessment, highlighting Grindlinger’s elite contact ability. Despite possessing long levers and a naturally large strike zone, he “almost never swung and missed” during last summer’s showcase circuit. Because he projects as either a first baseman or corner outfielder, developing more over-the-fence power will be critical. He is a below-average runner and will likely not be a defensive asset in the outfield.

His offensive profile is why many clubs prefer him as a position player, but his value is boosted by the fact that he also offers legitimate upside on the mound. As a left-hander, Grindlinger has already touched 96 mph with his fastball, though he generally sits between 90-94 mph. His arsenal also includes a pair of promising offspeed pitches: a slider around 80 mph that he can manipulate into different shapes and a low-80s changeup with excellent arm speed. MLB Pipeline notes that some scouts believe his loose arm action and physical projection could eventually produce a plus fastball as he matures.

There is still plenty of refinement needed. Law points out that Grindlinger’s delivery gets him off the rubber too quickly and causes him to spin off his front side, while Baseball America notes that none of his current pitches grade as true plus offerings. Still, the combination of youth, athleticism, arm strength, and feel for pitching gives him significant long-term upside.

Grindlinger is committed to Tennessee, where he would join his older brother Trent, a former highly regarded prep prospect himself. That commitment provides plenty of leverage, but most evaluators expect a team to select him in the first round rather than allow him to reach campus.

Jim Callis at MLB Pipeline reports that while most teams like Grindlinger as a hitter, the Royals prefer him as a pitcher. The Nationals and Red Sox have been the most-linked teams to him, although Callis thinks the Royals could be “bold” and draft him to let him play both ways.

For a club like the Royals, Grindlinger represents the ultimate upside gamble. There is risk in betting on one of the youngest players in the draft, especially one whose body and tools are still developing. But they seem to love young, athletic players who can go both ways.

San Diego Padres fans would be forgiven if they saw the top of the first inning between the Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night and thought, “Here we go again.” Starter German Marquez was in a bases loaded jam after a leadoff double, a fielding error and a walk allowed the first three batters to reach safely. Marquez induced a ground ball to third baseman Manny Machado who threw to Luis Campusano at home plate to get the force out and keep the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard. That success was followed by a one-out walk to Max Kepler which gave Arizona a 1-0 lead over San Diego. Marquez escaped the jam without any additional damage when he got Nolan Arenado to lineout to Sung-Mun Song at second base who raced to the bag to double off the runner for the unassisted double play to end the inning.

Once again, the Padres found themselves trailing before they even sent their first batter to the plate, but unlike the series opener on Monday, the San Diego offense jumped all over Arizona starter Zac Gallen. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a leadoff double and scored one batter later when Jackson Merrill hit a liner into right field for an RBI-single to tie the game, 1-1. The Padres weren’t done there. Gavin Sheets drew a two-out walk after Merrill stole second base, to put runners at first and second. Jake Cronenworth then hit a 1-2 fastball into the right field bleachers to put San Diego ahead 4-1. If you missed that inning, you basically missed the game because Mason Miller came in for the top of the ninth and locked down the 4-1 win and earned his 23rd save of the season.

Marquez was the story of the night for the Padres outside of the Cronenworth home run. The right-hander, who recently returned from the injured list, completed five innings after a shaky start and allowed one run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The bullpen took down the remaining four innings with Yuki Matsui pitching 0.1 of an inning. Jhony Brito completed 1.2 innings and Bradgley Rodriguez pitched a scoreless eighth before Miller came on for the ninth.

San Diego will try to win their second consecutive game today at 7:10 p.m.

Padres News:

• It been a rough week for the Padres and from ugly losses to injuries, Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball tells you all about it.

• Alek Jacob pitched multiple relief innings on Monday and was sent back down to Triple-A on Tuesday to make room for Jhony Brito on the roster.

Baseball News:

• Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run, but the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Colorado Rockies.

• Ryan O’Hearn hit three home runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a dominant win over the Atlanta Braves.

• Tarik Skubal delivered another solid start to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-2 win.

• Zack Wheeler struck out 14 Cincinnati Reds hitters to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a win.

• The Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants, 9-3.

Aneudis Mejia started for Hickory, allowing two runs in two innings, walking one and striking out two. Geury Rodriguez allowed two runs in 2.1 IP, striking out one and walking one.

Marco Argudin was 3 for 3 with two walks. Yolfran Castillo was 1 for 4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. Marcos Torres had a had a hit, two walks and a stolen base. Daniel Flames had a pair of hits. Dewar Tovar doubled. Angel Arredondo had a hit.

Hickory box score

Hub City starter Enrique Segura allowed one run in five innings, walking one and striking out seven. J’Briell Easley struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning. Case Matter struck out four in two shutout innings.

Yeison Morrobel homered. Maxton Martin was 2 for 4 with a double. Hector Osorio had a hit.

Hub City box score

Frisco starter Aidan Curry struck out 12 in six innings, walking two and allowing a two run homer. Josh Trentadue struck out six in three scoreless innings.

Rafe Perich’s terrorizing of Texas League pitchers continued, as he went 3 for 4 with a double and a homer. In 31 games since being promoted to Frisco, he’s slashing .316/.420/.624.

Frisco box score

Jordan Montgomery made another rehab start for Round Rock, needing just 40 pitches to throw three shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out three. Winston Santos made his AAA debut and got hit hard, allowing six runs in three innings, including a pair of homers, while striking out four and walking three. Luis Curvelo allowed three runs in 0.1 IP, walking one. Wilian Bormie struck out one in 1.2 scoreless innings. Emiliano Teodo walked one in a shutout inning, throwing 11 of his 20 pitches for strikes.

Jarred Kelenic was 3 for 4. Aaron Zavala had a hit.

Round Rock box score

ACL Rangers box score

DSL Rangers Red box score

DSL Rangers Blue box score

For as frustrating as the Sox’s season has been, the Mets have been worse. While it’s not exactly stealing our thunder, it’s arguably more impressive (absolute value), given that they have active legitimate superstars, one of whom, Francisco Lindor, is allegedly on the block. And if Sports Illustrated is going to suggest Boston as a destination, who am I to argue? Not that I’m saying it’s a good fit, but with that sweet, sweet SEO already in the ether, it’s time for us to pick up a slipstream.

On the one hand, Lindor’s a 32-year-old shortstop under contract until 2032 at $32 million each year and having the worst season of his professional career by far, batting .210/.297/.355. On that same hand, the Red Sox are cheap and reticent to reach for older players and don’t seem to be in a position to win now or in the short-term future during which Lindor could theoretically turn it around.

On the other hand, Lindor has been good-t0-great every other year of his career and the Sox cannot find a shortstop to save their lives. Franky led MLB with 732 PA’s last year, which is the stability the team has been sorely lacking at the position since… Nomar, maybe? And maybe he’d be relatively cheap, which would invert the Sox’s way of doing things. He also is cool as hell, which is nice.

I don’t think it makes sense for the Sox because of how they operate, but I don’t care about the money, either. I’m team “add good players.” Though if the money issue wipes out next year, that’s one less sub-35-yr-old year you’re getting from him anyway. But enough blabber: What say you?

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The Toronto Blue Jays go for the rubber match on getaway day with their best arm on the mound, as Dylan Cease faces the San Francisco Giants and their ace, Logan Webb.

Cease has been a must-watch for strikeout bettors, and a soft number this afternoon makes him the headliner of my card.

Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks for this Wednesday, July 8, matchup.

Blue Jays vs Giants predictions

Blue Jays vs Giants best bet: Dylan Cease Over 6.5 strikeouts (-160)

Talk about easy money. No bet is a true lock, but Wednesday’s line on Dylan Cease’s strikeouts is lower than usual. The Over 6.5 Ks comes with a shorter -160 price, and I still see it as a very solid play.

Cease has been automatic for strikeout Overs, averaging 8.6 strikeouts per game, andthe last time he finished Under 6.5 was all the way back on April 27.

Toronto fans saw the best version of Cease last time out against the Mariners, when he tossed seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and just one walk. He’s red-hot right now, and I’d play this bet until -170.

COVERS INTEL: Dylan Cease leads the AL with 137 strikeouts, and he’s cashed the Over on 6.5 strikeouts in 11 straight games.

Blue Jays vs Giants same-game parlay (SGP)

I’m building a +300 ticket around Cease and Toronto’s steadiest bats. I’ll start with the Toronto Blue Jays moneyline, trusting Dylan Cease to out-pitch Logan Webb in the rubber match. 

Ernie Clement Over 0.5 hits rides his hot streak after a three-hit night, and stacking Cease Over 6.5 strikeouts doubles down on my best bet. 

I’ll finish with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over 0.5 hits. Vladdy picked up a hit last night and is 2-for-9 lifetime off Webb with a double.

Blue Jays vs Giants SGP

• Blue Jays moneyline
• Ernie Clement Over 0.5 hits
• Dylan Cease Over 6.5 strikeouts
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 hits

Blue Jays vs Giants home run pick: Ernie Clement (+1350)

This bet is part playing the hot hand, part capitalizing on some misplaced odds. Sure, the San Francisco Giants have ace Logan Webb on the mound, but he isn’t untouchable, especially against Ernie Clement. The Blue Jays infielder is 2-for-4 lifetime off Webb with a three-run homer and four RBI in that tiny sample.

On Tuesday night, Clement racked up three hits, including a double, so he’s swinging it well. The books clearly see him as a long shot to go deep at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park, but I think there’s value. I’d play this at +1000 or longer and keep it to a quarter unit.

Blue Jays vs Giants odds

• Moneyline: Toronto -120 | San Francisco +100
• Run line: Toronto -1.5 (+155) | San Francisco +1.5 (-180)
• Over/Under: Over 7 (+100) | Under 7 (-120)

Blue Jays vs Giants trend

The Blue Jays are 9-5 this season in games Dylan Cease starts as the moneyline favorite, which boosts their chances for the rubber match. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Giants.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Giants and game info

Blue Jays vs Giants latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Giants weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Braves are not having a good time, so let’s do a question that’s essentially a link dump. Or, well, a dump of one very specific link. The emphasis is on the word “effectively,” as we know MLB can and has attempted to tamper with the baseball based on its own information.

A couple of days ago, Bradford William Davis over at Eyeblack pulled together some information he was able to collect from league honcho Morgan Sword (great name, maybe not great… actions).

(The article linked above is free and not gated, you just have to enter an email, and there’s no email confirmation to click to gain access.)

Basically, though, the gist of the entirety of the article can be summarized in one partial sentence from Davis:

On October 17, 2019, current executive vice president Morgan Sword, instructed Rawlings executives to build and maintain a baseball capable of supporting what he called a “target leaguewide home run rate” …

There, that’s it. If you remember, 2019 was the year where ball go very far and there were lots of homers, and after that… less so. The ball has also entered kind of a weird pattern — 2022 was higher-drag, 2023 lower-drag, 2024-higher drag, 2025 had higher drag but the ball was bouncier, and 2026 is its own issue where first it looked more like 2024, then more like 2025, and the summer has seen a bunch of reporting about production issues and discolored baseballs that are being removed from consideration before they roll into play, all while drag readings have plummeted.

(There’s a dark story here. It’s really depressing. The Braves arguably changed their offensive approach in 2025 due to higher drag in 2024. This didn’t work, in part because of the increased bounciness of the 2025 ball(s). Then, in 2026, the Braves went back to pre-2025 stuff, until June, which is right when the returns to hitting a vaguely deep fly ball took off again.)

So, anyway, go read the article and opine about MLB’s effectiveness in attempting to shape the game towards some sort of aesthetic end here.

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It was donuts yesterday for the first time in nine articles, but with a handful of fade-able pitchers on the mound, Wednesday's slate is ripe for dingers and MLB player props.

Dansby Swanson has launched seven homers over the last two weeks, and I'm betting on No. 8 today against Dean Kremer. Juan Soto's home run price has also drifted nearly 100 points from yesterday despite drawing an even better matchup against a parade of right-handed pitching.

To round out the card, I'm going with a big price on an under-the-radar clean-up hitter who is a Top-5 bat over the last two weeks. 

These are my favorite home run props for July 8.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HR	Odds
Dansby Swanson	+493
Juan Soto	+350
Esmerlyn Valdez	+592
💲Today's HR parlay	+9524

Home run pick: Dansby Swanson (+493)

I'm a little late to the Dansby Swanson power surge, but for a guy with seven home runs over the last two weeks and the fifth-best SLG in baseball during that stretch, today might be the best spot yet to ride the hot bat.

Dean Kremer gets the ball for the Orioles, and that pushes a lot of the Cubs' home run props into +EV territory.

Kremer is making just his second start after a lengthy IL stint and is one of the best home run targets on the board. He has allowed a homer in each of his four starts this season, ranks among the Bottom 30 starters in HR/9 over the last three seasons, and gives up plenty of fly balls.

There is also some dugout history, as three Cubs hitters have already taken him deep, albeit in small samples.

I've been hesitant to play Swanson's home run prop because he still hits in the lower third of the order, but he's getting his four plate appearances and has been hitting the ball harder than 99% of the league of late.

The fair price is closer to +400.

• Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MASN, Marquee Sports Network

Home run pick: Juan Soto (+350)

How about a square pick at a good price with an elite matchup?

The Royals are using an opener today before turning things over to Triple-A call-up Mitch Spence for the bulk innings. It's already a bullpen missing three arms after yesterday's "baseball game" that produced 28 runs, 32 hits, and three errors.

Juan Soto went deep against right-hander Seth Lugo last night in the fourth inning, yet his home-run price is nearly 100 points longer today in an even better matchup.

Spence has allowed 11 home runs in 59+ innings this season at Triple-A and has struggled to keep the ball in the park. This has the makings of another loose baseball game with plenty of home run upside for the Mets.

Soto ranks among the Top 25 hitters in both slugging and ISO over the last two weeks, and I make this home run prop closer to +270.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SNY, Royals.TV

Home run pick: Esmerlyn Valdez (+592)

If you sort the best hitters in baseball by slugging percentage over the last two weeks, Pittsburgh's Esmerlyn Valdez sits third and is one of just three hitters with a SLG of .800 or higher. He has been one of the hottest bats in baseball, ranking near the top in offensive production during this stretch.

The Pirates' cleanup hitter has only launched four homers over those two weeks, but the underlying power numbers suggest more could be on the way. That starts tonight against Grant Holmes, who has shown an increase in home run risk compared to last season.

Valdez has been one of the most dangerous young power bats in baseball of late. Everything from his swing speed to his IdealAtkAng% and BlastContact% shows there is more power coming.

At +592, this is the type of price I'm willing to take a shot on.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVision, SNP

Today’s HR parlay

Dansby Swanson	Bet Now +9524
Juan Soto
Esmerlyn Valdez

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Buoyed by the success of last year’s MLB Tokyo Series merch collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, the Dodgers are venturing further into partnerships with cutting-edge artists.

Fans whose eyes are solely focused on the diamond might be unfamiliar with KAWS, aka Brian Donnelly, a Brooklyn-based artist and designer whose signature creation is Companion, an art toy and sculpture that resembles an eerie Mickey Mouse with a skull head and “X” marks for eyes.

How that sensibility meshes with Major League Baseball will be evident when the KAWS x MLB collection is released ahead of the Dodgers visiting the New York Yankees for a three-game series July 17-19. The release was announced by Fanatics and Complex, which will market and distribute the collection.

KAWS’ interpretation of official team gear will reside on Nike-produced jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies and caps. Count on the ubiquitous “XX” that typically stand in for eyeballs on the Companion character and the artist’s other dark cartoonish creations.

The collection also will include baseballs, bats and a limited run of Topps trading cards that promise to feature KAWS’ interpretation of Dodgers and Yankees iconography.

“Timed to one of baseball’s most storied rivalries, the collection brings KAWS’ distinctive visual language to the diamond,” said Aaron Levant, chief executive of Complex. “The result is a crossover moment at the intersection of sport, art, and pop culture, where legacy franchises are reframed through one of the most influential artists of this generation.”

Read more:Dodgers collaborate with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami on merchandise again. Here’s how to get it

KAWS’ body of work spans more than 25 years and includes painting, sculpture and design that straddle fine art and global culture. He is known for larger-than-life sculptures and hard-edge paintings that feature his hybrid cartoon characters.

While studying at New York’s School of Visual Arts, he moonlighted as a graffiti artist, defacing billboards, freight trains and water towers. That changed in 1996 when he was given a skeleton key that opened glass advertising boxes on the sides of phone booths and bus kiosks.

KAWS stopped writing his name on walls and began altering ads. He would steal ad posters, paint over them with rudimentary cartoon skulls with X’ed-out eyes in pastel colors, then carefully replace them.

Now his creations range in value from under $20 to millions. His 2005 remake of the the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album cover using characters from “The Simpsons” sold for $14.8 million at Sotheby’s in 2019. His 9-foot-tall painting of Simpsons characters on a couch sold for $7.4 million. His piece showing a screaming “Kawsbob” (SpongeBob) fetched $6 million.

The MLB collection will debut at Fanatics Fest in New York from July 16 to 19 and in the Yankees team store July 16. The full collection — including the Topps trading cards — will launch globally July 20 on Complex.com, Fanatics.com, MLBShop.com and Nike.com.

Items will be available at select Dodgers team stores July 20 and in the Dodger Stadium team store July 31.

“KAWS is one of the defining artists of our generation, and bringing his artwork together with Major League Baseball and two of the most iconic franchises in sports creates something that speaks to fans far beyond baseball,” Levant said. “This collection is designed to live at the intersection of sport, art, fashion and collecting in a way that only this group of partners could bring together.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Cubs have been desperately seeking solid starting pitching and Tuesday night in Baltimore, they got it from Matthew Boyd.

Boyd threw six shutout innings against the Orioles, allowing just three hits and striking out seven, as the Cubs defeated the Orioles 5-2 in the first game of a six-game road trip.

The game went scoreless into the top of the third. With two out in that inning, Miguel Amaya drew a walk and went to second on a single by Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Alex Bregman’s single scored Amaya to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead [VIDEO].

The game remained 1-0 Cubs until the top of the fifth. Dansby Swanson led off with a single. Amaya, having himself a nice game, doubled to center. PCA then singled, scoring Swanson [VIDEO].

Amaya took third on the play, and then scored on this fielder’s choice by Bregman[VIDEO].

As you can see, Bregman was called out at first on the field, but it was quiekly overturned by the replay review crew. The Cubs had a chance for more in the inning when Michael Busch walked, but Seiya Suzuki then hit into an inning-ending double play.

Boyd was outstanding in his six innings of work. He threw 93 pitches (64 strikes). Here are his seven K’s [VIDEO].

Here’s more on Boyd’s outing [VIDEO].

That’s definitely Boyd’s best outing of the year, and now he’s thrown 15.2 innings since his return from the weird knee injury, allowed three runs in that span (1.72 ERA) and struck out 13. If he can keep this up, that is a huge boost to the rotation. More on Boyd from BCB’s JohnW53:

Matthew Boyd is the fourth different Cub this season to pitch at least six shutout innings.

Shota Imanaga had starts of 7.0 and 6.0; Javier Asasad, of 6.1 and 6.0; and Edward Cabrerea, 6.0. Cabrera’s and both of Imanaga’s came in the Cubs’ first 33 games, through May 2.

The next, Assad’s first, came in their 66th game, on June 7. His second came five days later, in their 70th, so this was the Cubs’ first in 21 games.

The Cubs extended the lead to 4-0 in the top of the seventh. Amaya led off with a single and one out later, advanced to third on a double by Bregman, who had himself a nice game.

Michael Busch’s sacrifice fly scored Amaya [VIDEO].

Ryan Rolison relieved Boyd and got himself in trouble with a pair of singles, followed by two strikeouts and a walk, loading the bases. It might have been worse if Amaya hadn’t correctly challenged a possible ball four call [VIDEO].

Rolison, who threw 27 pitches, was relieved by Jacob Webb. Webb got Adley Rutschman to hit a ground ball, but it went just out of Nico Hoerner’s reach into right field for a two-run single to cut the lead in half. Webb then struck out Gunnar Henderson to end the inning.

The Cubs got one of those runs back in the eighth. With one out, Nico singled and stole second. A ground out advanced Nico to third, where he scored on this single by Swanson [VIDEO].

Tyler Ferguson, who’s rapidly getting into Craig Counsell’s Circle of Trust, threw a 1-2-3 eighth on only eight pitches.

Trent Thornton was given the save opportunity. He retired the Orioles 1-2-3 on two ground outs and a strikeout to post his second save. Here’s the final out [VIDEO].

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments [VIDEO].

Overall the Cubs went 3-for-8 with RISP, cashed in on several situations and in general, got good relief pitching (save the two-run single given up by Webb), a really nice way to start the road trip.

The Cubs will go for two in a row over the Orioles Wednesday evening in Baltimore. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Dean Kremer goes for the O’s. Game time is 5:35 p.m. CT (that is, if they don’t have another “rain delay” without rain) and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

One way or another, the Orioles are going to decide whether they are buyers or sellers by the end of this month. Perhaps they will come to the conclusion that many of you have already reached, or maybe Mike Elias will double down on this team’s diminishing playoff odds. Either way, the decision will not happen overnight.

The organization should be constantly taking stock of the team and each position group. The front office knows that the bullpen needs help. It’s aware that the rotation is trending upward and that the infield misses Jordan Westburg. But what about the outfield? I’d love to ask Mike Elias to evaluate the group’s performance this season and his expectations moving forward.

The unit can be broken up into players born in the 20th and 21st century. Taylor Ward has been an everyday player this year after coming over from the Angels. The 32-year-old has experienced a power outage but is less than 10 walks away from his career high. Ward has emerged as a decent table setter, and the free-agent-to-be has contributed more in Baltimore than Grayson Rodriguez has provided in LA.

The Orioles signed Leody Taveras to a one-year, $2-million deal early in the offseason. Despite his major league deal, it was never a guarantee that Taveras would break camp with the team. The 27-year-old made the team as a backup outfielder but proceeded to slash .288/.397/.455 over the first month of the season. Taveras temporarily became an everyday player when Colton Cowser got off to a hot start, and he remains a serviceable fourth or fifth outfielder.

The same cannot be said for Tyler O’Neill. O’Neill has managed to stay relatively healthy this season while reaching a new level of disappointment. The man signed to hit lefties holds a .184 batting average and a .141 average against southpaws.

O’Neill has become a symbol of Elias’s recent failures. The Orioles waited and waited to sign a player to a multi-year deal before settling on this guy. At the end of the day, O’Neill only has his contract and some general stubbornness from the general manager to thank for his spot on this team.

Cowser slashed .186/.269/.220 over his first 26 games while struggling to make contact with offspeed pitches. The Milk Man eventually snapped out of his funk with four homers in May and four more in June. The former first round pick has yet to reach the offensive potential that he displayed during his rookie season, but his quality outfield defense has marked one of the only bright spots on that side of the ball.

Cowser clearly has the chops to play center field. He may never hit for a high average, but his .317 on-base percentage is only four points below the number he posted in 2024. The former Player’s Choice for the AL’s Most Outstanding Rookie has played his way back into an everyday role and could be poised for a strong second half.

The Orioles waited to promote Dylan Beavers last season because they believed he had at least a slim chance to compete for a rookie award this season. Beavers fell out of the running early when he suffered a strained oblique back in mid May. Now healthy, Beavers is looking to build on his reputation of getting on base.

Beavers, the 33rd-overall pick in the 2022 draft, entered last night’s game slashing .222/.313/.342. He posted a 119 OPS+ over 35 games last fall, but his numbers are only good for an 86 OPS+ so far this year. Baseball development is non-linear, and Beavers is still settling back in after rejoining the Orioles at the end of June.

The Orioles could deal Ward if they decide to sell. There’s a chance the team holds on to the future free agent and extends him a qualifying offer at the end of the year, but his Baltimore tenure could end early if a team is willing to part with some value.

The same cannot be said for O’Neill. The former Cardinal still has a year remaining on his albatros of a contract, and it’s unlikely that any team would be willing to take on that deal. Even if Baltimore expressed a willingness to eat the money, O’Neill’s presence would represent a regression for almost every roster in the league.

The Orioles will have a hole to address in the outfield this offseason, but how they feel about the position group could hinge on Cowser and Beavers taking a step in the right direction.

Beavers can play center field in a pinch, but he’s a far cry from Cowser in the outfield. His value will likely depend on his ability to get on base while continuing to add some power.

The Orioles could eventually make room for a pair of outfielders currently at Triple-A. The hype has simmered for Heston Kjerstad and Enrique Bradfield Jr., but both players are healthy and suiting up for the Tides. Kjerstad entered last night’s game slashing .288/.316/.442 over 41 games at Norfolk, and Bradfield Jr. is slashing .258/.323/.342 with 15 stolen bases in 34 appearances.

Either player developing into a quality major leaguer would represent a massive win at this stage. Both players are flawed but possess valuable skills that can translate at the next level.

Ward—and even Taveras under the right circumstance—could call another city home by the end of the month. Even if the team refuses to sell, the Orioles will still look to Cowser and Beavers for production in the second half. A few young outfielders taking another step in the right direction could represent a high point of an otherwise disappointing season.