Another interesting development from Sunday’s game was that Drake Baldwin batted second in the lineup. He certainly has the potential to be productive from that spot, especially with the hitters batting behind him. He also homered on Sunday.
Phoenix, AZ - February 20, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) plays catch during Los Angeles Dodgers' spring training in Camelback Ranch, Phoenix, AZ on February 20, 2026. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Before the Dodgers played the Padres on Sunday in Peoria, morning work at Camelback Ranch included both Shohei Ohtani and Edwin Díaz pitching to hitters.
The appetizer before the Dodgers play the Padres later today: Shohei Ohtani and Edwin Díaz live BP at Camelback Ranch. Batters included Muncy, Betts, Freeman and Pages. pic.twitter.com/HAewicjVkO
Ohtani did not make the trip to play in Peoria and be the designated hitter in part because he pitched two simulated innings against Dodgers hitters in his final day of this sting in camp. That’s part of his pitching ramp up toward the season which, like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be interrupted as the duo heads to Tokyo to be with Japan for pool play in the World Baseball Classic. Yamamoto will pitch once more for the Dodgers, on Friday, before departing.
But unlike Yamamoto, Ohtani won’t pitch during the WBC. So he’ll have to find time to build up his arm in preparation to pitch near the beginning of the regular season, in what will be his first full two-way season since 2023 with the Angels. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch said Ohtani is expected to be ready to pitch in the rotation at the beginning of the season, even though the path to get there might not be traditional.
“For now we’ll continue his throwing progression, but not necessarily getting into games, and figure out what he’s able to accomplish while he’s in Japan on those off days,” Friedman said. “Then we’ll be to slide him here back into our rotation as quickly as possible.”
Manager Dave Roberts on Sunday talked about Ohtani leaving for Tokyo.
#Dodgers Dave Roberts: "He is ready to leave. I don’t know if he is leaving today or tomorrow but today was his last day here in Arizona. … We’re going to miss him but I’m looking forward to watching him compete for Team Japan."
“In December, January,” Yada said, “he pushes himself to the point of complete exhaustion.”
The training program isn’t designed so that Yamamoto can take his turn in the rotation every six or seven days. The regimen is structured so that Yamamoto can peak in the second half of the season.
The arrival of spring training baseball sets off sonic, tactile memories — smells, sights, and sounds that are entwined with both spring and baseball. It ignites memories collected across more than 50 years as a fan of the sport. I store those recollections in a small compartment in my mind until the start of each season. And then, on some February morning, I open my eyes and the floodgates open, the light streams in.
Here’s a blast from the past from 58 years ago, offering a ticket deal for a stadium in Chavez Ravine that was entering its then seventh season.
The 19,630 folks who were at that May 18, 1968 game saw Don Drysdale pitch his second straight shutout, on his way to a record six shutouts in a row and 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. The Dodgers beat the Astros 1-0, with the only run coming in the sixth inning on a Wes Parker single, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout, then an error by shortstop Héctor Torres.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 04: A detailed view of helmets and bats of the San Diego Padres is seen in the racks prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on June 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning baseball fans!
As we approach the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!
Today’s question: How worried are you about a work stoppage?
The current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1st of this year, which means that we could be right back in another lockout in this upcoming offseason.
I am, by no means, an expert in this topic, though we do have some of those among the community, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting those perspectives from you all.
But I will say that I am quite worried about another work stoppage. It seems pretty much inevitable after the way the last one played out after the 2021 season, and the fact that the divide between the players and owners has only seemed to grow since then.
I think it’s quite likely to be another ugly mess. But there is still plenty of time for it to be avoided, if it possibly can be. So I’ll try to retain some optimism.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - JUNE 11: Brycen Mautz #49 of the Springfield Cardinals walks off the field during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Shanna Stafford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Brycen Mautz is a hard player to place, because scouts don’t really seem to believe in him, believe that he has enough good pitches to start, and yet statistically speaking, it seems hard not to believe in him. In a hitter friendly league, he struck out over 28% of batters, didn’t walk many, and had a reasonable groundball rate. His only real flaw was he allowed a few extra homers over what you’d like, but I refer you back to the hitter friendly league. He’ll be 24 in AAA and on the doorstep of the majors. He’s also on the 40, so if he performs, we’ll probably see him in the majors this year. Here is the list right now:
JJ Wetherholt
Liam Doyle
Rainiel Rodriguez
Quinn Mathews
Jurrangelo Cjintje
Joshua Baez
Leonardo Bernal
Jimmy Crooks
Brandon Clarke
Tink Hence
Tekoah Roby
Tanner Franklin
Brycen Mautz
Comparable Player Poll
Today, we’re tackling two players who will be in Memphis in the upcoming season (well probably in one player’s case) and yet few expect to actually make much of a difference in 2026. Both have at one time been considered legit prospects and have fallen out of favor for different reasons. They differ in that one is an outfielder who can maybe play center and the other is a first basemen that can maybe play third.
Chase Davis had a 105 wRC+ in Springfield, although it came with an elevated K rate and not much power. Fangraphs gives him a 55 future grade on his defense so it is within the realm of possibility that he comes a defense-first player. But it’s defense in the minor leagues, so who knows. He will be 24
Blaze Jordan had a 167 wRC+ in AA on his third attempt at the level, getting promoted by June to AAA. While he played reasonably well initially, his numbers tanked as a Cardinal and he ended up with an 83 wRC+ in AAA for the season. He will not strike out nor walk very much, so the question is how much power he’ll have at next level. He will be 23.
If you had told me that I’d add Chen-Wei Lin into the polling on the 14th vote, I would have expected people to have been clamoring for him to be on the voting at least a little bit. But nobody has complained. I even put him in the comparable player poll, so it’s not like he was forgotten. Anyway, I thought it was about time for last year’s #11 prospect to be on the voting, despite somewhat of a down year.
Scouting (FG): 30/45 Hit, 35/50 Game Power, 50/55 Raw Power, 40/40 Speed, 40/45 Fielding
The biggest weakness, near as I can tell, is that Baez is immature. He is also about to be 21-years-old. I’ll be very interesting to see how Baez pans out specifically because I kind of want to know how much weight to put on when a scout like Keith Law essentially goes after his character. It’s one sample, so I shouldn’t use his example for all prospects like him but nonetheless I really am not sure how to handle it.
Scouting: 55/55 Hit, 35/35 Game Power, 40/40 Raw Power, 55/55 Speed, 45/45 Field
Will Nathan Church get the spring training boost after hitting a homer? If that exists, I imagine one plate appearance probably isn’t doing it. But it will be curious to see if spring training does in fact impact how people vote. Ignore the 45 fielding rating, that seems to be really outdated, can’t imagine they’ve seen Church field recently or… look at his numbers? I don’t know.
Roster Resource currently lists Fajardo in Low A, which I assume is because of his age. He certainly played well enough to get promoted though. But it also might just be because someone has to pitch in Low A. The amount of starting pitching prospects who could pitch in High A to begin the season is a greater number than can actually start in High A at the beginning. Or so I would think. I expect him there soon enough in any case and expect him to throw a lot of his innings at High A.
I’ve mentioned this before and I don’t know how accurate the scouting is, but I am surprised his pitch profile supports a potentially great reliever if this starting thing doesn’t work out. I viewed him from the outside as similar to a Max Racjcic, where he might be a long reliever, but it doesn’t seem like high leverage is in his future. But a 60 potential fastball with a 50 potential slider is a strong 1-2 punch, especially with command. And sometimes all you need is a strong 1-2 punch in the bullpen to be great.
I hesitate to say this about a pitcher drafted in 2022 who has a career professional high of 52 innings, but he had his Tommy John surgery in April of last year, so he should be able to pitch quite a bit this year. With a normal recovery, you’d think he would be able to match his career high in professional innings. He is on the 40 man roster, so a good recovery and we might see him this year. Totally makes sense why you wouldn’t trust this though.
What a crazy season. Limited by injuries – you’ll notice the innings per start is pretty low – he struggled with control all season. Walked a lot of guys. But he also struck out a lot of guys and I actually find it crazy that he struck out 20 of the 48 batters he faced in Springfield. Other things went wrong, but that’s a lot of strikeouts. I’d like his stats a lot more if he had thrown 5 innings per start.
Ryan Mitchell, 19 – OF
I do not have stats to share with you – I’m sure I can find high school stats, but they aren’t a lot of use on this kind of list. It doesn’t appear Fangraphs has given him scouting grades, I can’t find MLB Pipeline (and I don’t like how they give grades anyway, too high generally). I have access to Baseball Prospectus’ top 20, and while they don’t give Mitchell a scouting grade, I thought just sharing their blurb would suffice:
“Mitchell, a toolsy overslot second-rounder, didn’t play after the draft. For much of his high school career, he would rotate so early that he was more or less standing up when making contact, but his swing became one of the most fun to watch in the class. He dips down a bit and explodes from the lower half. There is some risk he won’t be able to get around against higher velocity fastballs, but his contact rates on the circuit were adequate, and there’s enough athleticism, present bat speed, and physical projection to expect some power. Defensively, he has good actions but could be forced to second base in pro ball. There aren’t any elite tools here, but he presents a pretty well-rounded infield profile and had an arrow up coming into the draft.”
We’ve been through this. Only so many ways I can say the same thing. Ortiz does not have scouting, because Fangraphs does not consider him a prospect. Which is slightly weird given how much he demolished the two leagues he was in. I would have to think if he has a similar 2026, that he would then get an actual scouting grade. But yeah, you really have to lean on the stats on this one.
Scouting: 25/55 Hit, 20/55 Game Power, 40/60 Raw Power, 50/40 Speed, 30/40 Field
Presumably, Padilla will be spending the 2026 season in full-season Low A. That means he’ll be at Palm Beach, an incredibly hard place to have power. I would not not necessarily expect his potential power to show up and really any increase in power, however marginal, should be seen as a huge positive given the difficult run environment he will be entering. But yeah as things stand, it doesn’t seem like 2026 will answer the question on Padilla’s power and if it does, he’s going to be way higher on this list next season.
Scouting: 20/30 Hit, 30/50 Game Power, 50/60 Raw Power, 60/60 Speed, 45/55 Fielding
And here we have, we hope, a future Josh Baez. A player who cannot make any contact, but has still managed to maintain some pop. He differs from Baez because he spent last season in High A at age 19. Baez didn’t reach High A until he was 21. I think that gives some perspective on his poor offensive numbers and that he still has quite a bit of time to figure things out.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 19, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“It’s not about getting hits or results but more about what it looks like,” Pasquantino said. “That’s what I didn’t like about that month — why am I swinging on all these backfoot sliders? Why am I swinging at this? Why am I swinging at that? It was more about what I can do to clean up the decision-making earlier in the year. It seems to be that when it gets later in the year and we’ve seen so many pitches, that piece gets a little bit easier.”
She also writes about the roster battles in camp, such as the fifth starter spot in the rotation.
“That’s been one of my things that I think I haven’t utilized enough,” Kolek said. “And then just quality two-strike pitches, whether it’s spin to my glove side or changeups, just the ability to execute those at a higher level and have more competitive pitches over the plate and near the zone.”
While Noah Cameron is viewed as having the advantage for the fifth spot in the rotation, the Royals do want to give Kolek, Falter and Bergert, along with the other starters building up, a true chance at earning a spot. Falter is out of Minor League options, so he could find a spot in the bullpen. If Kolek and/or Bergert aren’t in the MLB rotation, the Royals probably want them starting in Triple-A to preserve the depth.
“Obviously I’d like to land one of those starting rotation roles,” Falter said. “But honestly, after having my son, it doesn’t matter to me. Whatever the team needs. If you want me in the bullpen, you want me to start, you want me to piggyback, it doesn’t matter. Whatever I need to do to help this team win the division, win the pennant, get to the postseason. Whatever the team needs, I’m cool with it.”
“(I just want) to be consistent again,” he said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries the last two years — in 2024 and 2025. Just want to be consistent on the field every day and, you know, be myself again.”
Thomas has an avenue to get consistent at-bats. The Royals like to utilize their entire roster and that gives him a chance to stick in the lineup.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Outfielder, Brenton Doyle get ready for batting practice during spring training for the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 19, 2026. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Shortly before the 2025 All-Star break, a combination of personal tragedy, injury, and on-field struggles had Colorado Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle on the back foot.
The Rockies’ most-valuable player in 2024 with 4.0 wins above replacement per Baseball Reference, Doyle ended the first half as baseball’s least valuable qualified player. Worth -2.0 rWAR as late as July 5th, both his bat and his glove suffered under the weight of poor performance.
The two-time Gold Glove winner out of Division II Shepherd University had been proclaimed the Rockies’ potential franchise center fielder before the season started. Before the trade deadline there were serious concerns about his future in Rockies purple.
“It was a bumpy year for me,” Doyle told Purple Row on Saturday, “and just being able to reset after those lows and get back to those highs was the biggest thing and finding ways to do that.”
Doyle indeed found the highs again in the second half. He turned things around both at the plate and on defense in the final 56 games of the season to finish with a positive wins-above-replacement score.
Looking much more like the Brenton Doyle of 2024, the center fielder looks to continue his “reset” and help the Rockies find their way forward in 2026 after an organizational overhaul.
“I just want to win some games,” Doyle explained of his goals for 2026. “Honestly, my personal goals are always going to intertwine with the team goals, and that’s to win more more games for this ball club.”
The Rockies finished 2025 with a brutal 43-119 record. Losing only 100 games would mark a substantial improvement for a rebuilding ball club looking to establish a solid foundation.
“Guys lose weight, especially here in altitude, and when a young player loses his weight, and he’s not accustomed to playing a long season with that toll on your body, it’s just not a good combination,” Schaeffer explained at the end of the 2025 campaign.
For Doyle, that’s already part of his regular routine. Patrolling the cavernous outfield at Coors Field is an exhausting job. Doyle lost over 20 pounds during his Gold Glove rookie season in 2023 and was reported to have lost over 10 pounds during the course of the 2025 season.
“I always try to work on my speed, putting on weight,” Doyle said. “I lose so much playing center field during the season. So [I worked on] packing on some good weight and just always trying to stay fast.”
During the off-season, Doyle also worked with his personal hitting instructor Kevin LaChance in Virginia. LaChance is a former minor league player and is currently a minor league hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. This coming season he will be the hitting coach for the High-A Great Lakes Loons.
Doyle has experimented with and adjusted his hitting mechanics since his rookie year, often in real time during the regular season. He credited mechanical adjustments made mid-season last year with helping him find his form at the plate again.
“It just eliminated the move I naturally make in my swing,” Doyle said. “And maybe that’s helped me get to some pitches (against right-handers) I was a tad bit late on in the past … It was something I did throughout my whole minor league career, and then last year I made a swing change. And then this year, I went back to what was more comfortable for me, and it’s been good.”
Doyle hit .282/.307/.462 through the last 56 games of the 2025 season with 11 doubles, eight home runs, nine stolen bases, and 27 RBIs. He felt confident enough to not make any additional major changes over the off-season.
“Nothing too major this year, just some very, very subtle changes,” Doyle said of his work with LaChance.
Now that spring training is fully underway, Doyle has praised the new coaching staff assembled by Schaeffer and new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta.
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I’ve had some really good conversations with with them. We have a really good plan in place and and we’re all on the same page, which is awesome.”
A major part of that plan in place is a focus on fundamentals. This includes Doyle’s work with new first base outfield coach Doug Bernier alongside the rest of the outfield group.
“A lot of stuff we’ve been working on has been reaction stuff. So just making sure we’re making the right first quick step, [and that] moves are super efficient. That’s basically been the focus of the work so far.”
Doyle made his first appearance of the Cactus League on Saturday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He started in center field and went 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs.
“I just had a good game playing against the guys I was facing,” Doyle said after the game. “I [was trying] to stay as stubborn as possible up there at the plate, getting the pitches I wanted to swing at and put some good swings on everything I fired at.”
Brenton Doyle is one of just a handful of Rockies guaranteed a single starting spot for the upcoming season, but his future with the Rockies has yet to be set in stone. He could be extended as the franchise center fielder for the foreseeable future, or he could be traded at the deadline to clear way for younger players and help restock the farm.
Whichever path the 2026 season leads him down, his reset from a miserable start to 2025 will continue to be a critical part of the Rockies’ season.
After making his debut last season, prospect third baseman Kyle Karros is off to a solid start this spring. However, he isn’t aiming for just solid. Karros would like to continue the Rockies’ tradition of turning out superstar third baseman.
Top prospect Charlie Condon made his Cactus League debut over the weekend in an unexpected way: by starting in right field for the first time in his professional career. Condon had two hits on the day and impressed skipper Warren Schaeffer with his preparation.
“I figured I wasn’t going to be playing only first base while I was here at camp,” said Condon, who also logged 11 games in left field and five at third base last season. “This offseason, I did some outfield work — drop-step stuff — just knowing that.”
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Jesús Made #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers continue to have one of the best farm systems in Major League Baseball. In fact, they are ranked the best farm system by ESPN and The Athletic heading into 2026. The Brewers’ collection of talent is ever-growing, with some late offseason additions from the Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin trades.
It makes the challenge of ranking the top prospects in this system all the more difficult, but a challenge I gladly take on. This list will run 50 players deep, but honestly, it could go much further than that. There are simply that many quality young players in this system that deserve attention and recognition.
The Brewers graduated several prospects from last year, including Durbin, Jacob Misiorowski, and Chad Patrick. In 2026, they’re projected to graduate several more, including Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams, Jeferson Quero, Craig Yoho, and Tyler Black. All but Williams are already on the 40-man roster, but are still prospect eligible, so they will make this list.
Not only are the Brewers loaded with blue-chip talent at the top of the system, but they also have some really intriguing players with high upside throughout the lower levels and tons of depth across the board.
Honorable mentions: RHP Josh Flores, SS Daniel Dickinson, RHP Chase Bentley, SS CJ Hughes
All four of these 2025 Draftees were in strong consideration to make this Top 50 list until the Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin trades added several new names that needed to be included. All four will make their professional debuts this season and will likely push their way into the first midseason update of the Top 50.
Brewers Top 50 Prospects
1. Jesús Made, SS
A consensus top-five prospect in all of baseball, the Brewers have hit the jackpot in the international market once again with shortstop Jesús Made. Made tore up Low-A and High-A last season with the Carolina Mudcats and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, earning himself a late promotion to Double-A Biloxi to finish out the year. Made is a five-tool player at a premium position with top-tier exit velocities. Although he had just six home runs last season, there is more power within him. He also possesses elite speed, stealing 47 bases last year. He’s likely to start the season in Double-A Biloxi and won’t turn 19 years old until May.
Luis Peña perhaps had more impressive surface stats than Made in Low-A Carolina, which certainly helped boost his prospect stock throughout 2025. He was promoted along with Made to High-A Wisconsin mid-season, and he ultimately struggled with such an aggressive promotion at 18 years old. Peña is a pure hitter and rarely strikes out. He may be a better hitter for average than Made, but without the same power potential. Still, there’s star-level upside up the middle here, or even a possible move to third base because his throwing arm is good enough for it.
3. Cooper Pratt, SS
Cooper Pratt’s 2025 season went under the radar a little bit. The surface numbers were down for the 2023 sixth-round pick, but he was also playing in a horrendous hitting environment in the Southern League. Pratt brings excellent defense at shortstop to go along with speed and power potential. He also displays a patient eye at the plate. This season, Pratt will start the year in Triple-A Nashville, where his hitting numbers should trend back up. If they do, and the Brewers have an opening pop up in their infield, we could see Pratt make his MLB debut sometime this season.
Cooper Pratt continues to post, winning the Brewers Minor League Player of the Month award in August 🏅
Pratt keeps putting up Gold Glove level defense and collected a line of .396 OBP / .446 SLG / .842 OPS with a 16/16 BB/K rate and 7 SB in 26 games!#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/R0iXMbcCly
The Brewers acquired Jett Williams in the Freddy Peralta trade as they continue to stockpile top infield talent. Williams is the closest to being MLB-ready of this top group, as he has 34 games of Triple-A experience already under his belt. Williams had a strong 2025 season, slugging 17 homers between Double-A and Triple-A with the Mets, also stealing 34 bases with an .828 OPS. Williams has more pop than you’d expect from his 5-foot-7-inch frame. The 22-year-old former first-round pick can play all over the field, shortstop, second base, center field, and this spring, he’s learning third base as well. That versatility can get him in Milwaukee sooner than later.
5. Brandon Sproat, RHP
The other piece in the Peralta trade, Brandon Sproat gives the Brewers another MLB-ready rotation piece with a full slate of team control. Sproat throws six pitches in his arsenal: Sinker, sweeper, curveball, changeup, 4-seam, and slider. He sits at 96 mph on his fastball and can peak in the triple digits. Sproat made four starts with the Mets last year with a 4.79 ERA. He’ll need to tighten up his command a little, averaging nearly 4 BB/9 last year, but the Brewers clearly see a lot to work with in his expansive arsenal, and I’d expect him to improve under the tutelage of Chris Hook and the rest of Milwaukee’s coaching staff.
6. Logan Henderson, RHP
A JuCo success story the Brewers love to write, Logan Henderson was able to make his MLB debut last season and lived up to the hype with a 1.78 ERA in five starts. He was later sidelined with an injury and missed the push to the postseason, but Henderson is primed to factor in this rotation again. He’s adding a curveball back to his mix this spring after pitching primarily with a fastball-changeup combo. Two pitches might be able to get him through those five starts, but if he’s going to remain successful, he needs something moving glove side. Henderson also mixes in a cutter and a slider, but that changeup is his best pitch and re-introducing his curveball is his most important one.
Robert Gasser also has a couple of starts of experience at the MLB level and did well in them with a 2.67 ERA. He was taking the league by storm in 2024 when he suddenly required Tommy John surgery. He recovered and returned late last season, making two starts in the regular season and a couple of appearances in the postseason. Gasser has a five-pitch arsenal with a sweeper, sinker, 4-seam, changeup, and cutter. He doesn’t have the eye-popping velo, averaging just 93 mph on his fastball, but he mixes well and keeps hitters off balance.
8. Bishop Letson, RHP
Bishop Letson might have the highest upside of any of these pitchers atop the Brewers system, but he’s also currently the furthest away from reaching it of this top group of four. Letson missed a lot of time last year, from May until August, with a balky shoulder. He returned in the last few weeks and eventually got a taste of Double-A Biloxi, where he’s expected to spend this entire season. The 21-year-old stands at 6-foot-4 and 170 pounds, so there’s room to fill out the frame, which could lead to more velocity gains as he’s currently sitting 92-94 mph. Letson gets great extension down the mound, and his stuff, which includes a four-pitch mix of a 4-seam, sinker, slider, and changeup, is some of the nastiest in the organization.
9. Jeferson Quero, C
It seems like Quero has been a top prospect forever, even though he’s just 23 years old. A freak labrum tear in 2024 derailed his quick ascent to the big leagues. He finally returned to action last season after a hamstring injury also delayed his return. The concern with Quero is how his shoulder is responding after surgery. He had one of the most elite throwing arms from behind the dish before, and last year, his arm strength was down significantly. Perhaps being further away from that surgery will help his shoulder be stronger in 2026. Quero can hit for some power and a decent average, making him a solid starting catching option if his defense returns to previous levels.
10. Andrew Fischer, 3B
The Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick got off to a great start in pro ball in High-A Wisconsin, hitting .311 with a .848 OPS in 19 games. Fischer was regarded by many in the Brewers draft room as the best college hitter in the Draft last year. His combination of hitting prowess and raw power is one of the best in the system. The Brewers intend to develop Fischer at third base despite spending most of his draft year at first base for Tennessee. He’ll likely spend some time back in High-A to start the year, but it might not be long until he’s headed for Double-A Biloxi.
Marco Dinges had a breakout 2025 campaign, dominating the Low-A Carolina League and quickly getting promoted to High-A, where he continued to torment pitchers. He missed a little over a month with a hamstring injury, but finished the year with a .300/.416/.514 slash line with 13 homers across the two levels. The power is the true carrying tool for Dinges’ profile, but he also has a strong throwing arm that has worked well for him at catcher. The Brewers will continue to develop him behind the plate with a corner outfield spot as a potential fallback. He’ll start the year in Double-A most likely.
12. Blake Burke, 1B
It surprises me that Blake Burke hasn’t generated more attention for his season last year. Across High-A and Double-A, Burke hit .292/.379/.453 with 27 doubles, 16 homers, and 15 stolen bases. Firstly, for a 6-foot-3-inch, 236-pound first baseman, stealing 15 bases is an incredible feat. Secondly, power was his calling card, but Burke was hitting for a much higher average than expected, and then his power finally came through upon his promotion to Double-A. The Southern League is hard on hitters, but not Burke; he hit .300 with 11 homers in 37 games there. The one concern is 135 strikeouts in 567 PAs, which is just a shade under 24%. It’s not horrible, but something to watch.
13. Luis Lara, OF
Your reigning minor league Gold Glove winner in center field, Luis Lara put up a very good season in Double-A last year at age 20. Lara hit .257 with a .369 OBP, 32 doubles, and 44 stolen bases. Power is not Lara’s game, standing at 5 feet, 8 inches and 167 pounds, but getting on base and stealing bases is, and he does that very well. The switch-hitter doesn’t strike out much but is patient at the plate, and his elite defense gives him a very high floor. Lara will be in Triple-A this year at 21 and could be the future in center in Milwaukee.
Luis Lara was named Minor League Gold Glove winner in Center Field for 2025 🏅
Lara threw out 10 baserunners, made numerous diving catches, and ran down balls in the gap with his elite speed, all as one of the youngest players in Double-A this year (20 years old) 🔥… pic.twitter.com/lY81G3xOZy
Of all the top hitting prospects that started last year in Low-A Carolina, Josh Adamczewski was the most impressive of them for a long stretch. A back injury kept him out for around two months, but upon returning, he continued to rake. Adamczewski finished the season with a .320/.420/.490 slash line with 18 doubles and five homers. He then went on to the Arizona Fall League, where he raked some more with four homers and a .953 OPS in 20 games. He also worked on a position change to left field. Given the amount of infield talent above him on this list and further along in development, a move to the outfield may be necessary.
15. Luke Adams, 1B/OF
Luke Adams continues to simplify his pre-swing mechanics and just put up numbers. For three straight years, Adams has slugged 11 home runs with a batting average between .225 and .235 but an OBP above .400. How, you ask? A whopping 85 hit-by-pitches in that time helps, along with a 17% BB rate. The Brewers are trying to encourage him to be more aggressive at the plate to further tap into his immense raw power, given his 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound frame. A strong AFL stint has Adams potentially in Triple-A and on the doorstep of the majors. It’s a high ceiling here, but also a low floor.
16. Tyson Hardin, RHP
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Brewers have taken a late-round draft pick from Mississippi State and turned him into a stud pitching prospect. While Tyson Hardin may or may not end up with a similar career arc to Brandon Woodruff, he’s certainly improved his stock as much as anyone over the last year. Hardin has a four-pitch mix with average fastball velocity but excellent movement and traits that help it play up. His slider is his best secondary pitch. Hardin could stick as a back-end starting pitcher and will likely hit Triple-A this year.
17. Brady Ebel, SS
The Brewers used the compensatory pick they received for losing Willy Adames to nab another young shortstop with Brady Ebel. Ebel was on the Brewers Area Code Games rosters as an amateur, so they knew him well when they signed him to a $2.75 million bonus. Ebel’s profile seems very similar to Brice Turang back when he came out of the SoCal prep ranks, with not a lot of present power but good feel to hit and excellent defense at shortstop, but there have also been some Corey Seager comps, which isn’t too shabby either. He’ll start in Low-A Wilson.
18. Craig Yoho, RHP
Craig Yoho was generating as much hype as a relief prospect could heading into 2025. He earned a couple of trips to the majors but struggled with command and ultimately spent most of the year in Triple-A. Provided the command improves, Yoho should graduate and earn a regular spot in the Brewers bullpen this year. He works with a fastball-changeup combo; the fastball sits around 93 mph, but his changeup is just filthy, generating 18 inches of induced horizontal break. Likely a middle reliever, Yoho could also work his way into a setup role.
19. Brock Wilken, 3B
Back-to-back years with unlucky and fluke injuries have delayed the rise of 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken, who was thought to be a quick mover through the minor leagues. Wilken was having a strong season in Biloxi before a dislocated kneecap sidelined him. Wilken has power in spades and could be the future at the hot corner in Milwaukee. He won’t hit for a high average, but Wilken draws his walks and hits bombs. A move up to Triple-A Nashville could help his numbers improve even more, and we could see him in Milwaukee before too long.
Brock Wilken mashed his way to another award, this time the Southern League Player of the Week! 🏅
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) June 17, 2025
20. JD Thompson, LHP
A pitchability lefty, JD Thompson was the Brewers’ top pitching selection in last year’s draft out of Vanderbilt. Vandy is historically a great program for pitching development, and Thompson comes with a nasty four-pitch mix. His fastball sits in the low-90s, reaching 95, but the movement it generates is filthy. He also has a slider, curveball, and changeup. He should remain a starter as he develops. He’ll likely begin in Low-A Wilson.
21. Mike Boeve, 1B/3B
Boeve was one of the few Brewers prospects who had a truly down season in 2025. He had shoulder surgery following the 2024 campaign, and it took him a while to recover. Once he did return, he was limited to a DH role, but he just wasn’t hitting like he was before the injury, as it was still bugging him. After hitting .338/.415/.471 the year before, Boeve limped to a .239/.336/.341 slash line in 2025. I’m still a big believer in Boeve’s bat, and now that he’s 100% from after that surgery, I expect him to have a huge bounce-back in 2026.
22. Shane Drohan, LHP
Acquired in the Caleb Durbin trade, Shane Drohan might be a very underrated acquisition. He’s 27 years old and hasn’t made his MLB debut yet, which likely contributes to him being underrated, but he feels like someone the Brewers will be able to unlock. He’s had some injuries in the past, delaying his development. Drohan’s stuff ticked up last year in Triple-A, and he was able to improve his command. He has starter potential, but given the sheer number of starters the Brewers have, it’s more likely he makes his impact in 2026 out of the bullpen.
23.Coleman Crow, RHP
The Brewers added Coleman Crow to the 40-man roster in November, and even though it’s a crowded rotation picture, Crow is right in the mix. Acquired from the Mets in the Tyrone Taylor/Adrian Houser trade, Crow returned from TJS last season and lit up Double-A, making 12 starts with a 3.24 ERA and 64 Ks in 50 IP. Crow’s stuff was trending up before his surgery, and the Brewers got him, banking on that to continue, and so far it has. Look for him to compete for a rotation spot midseason.
24. Tate Kuehner, LHP
Tate Kuehner was an underrated NRI this spring, and it shows just how close he is to the majors. Kuehner dominated Double-A with a 2.50 ERA in 21 starts before a late promotion to Triple-A. A senior sign out of Louisville in 2023, the 25-year-old Kuehner has transitioned to being a starter and moved quickly. Don’t be surprised if Kuehner gets to the big league roster this year. He’ll start in Triple-A.
Wichrowski has seen his velo tick up since becoming a professional and had a pretty solid season in Double-A last year, posting a 3.44 ERA in 99 1/3 IP. The strikeout numbers aren’t very high for the stuff that he has, and he also allows around 4 BB/9. Wichrowski carries some reliever risk, and given the sheer depth of starting pitchers the Brewers have in the upper levels, that may end up being his ultimate home.
26. Bryce Meccage, RHP
A prototypical projectable prep righty, Bryce Meccage had a solid first season in pro ball in 2025, pitching to a 4.35 ERA in Low-A while making 19 starts. The stuff is electric, reaching the mid-90s on his fastball with a high-spin curveball and slider, and a changeup that lags behind. Meccage will take a little bit to develop, but he’s going to turn 20 years old in March and will likely spend the year in High-A Wisconsin.
27. Ethan Dorchies, RHP
Another projectable prep righty, Ethan Dorchies took a big jump in his first pro season over some of the others from his 2024 draft class. Armed with a low-90s fastball, slider, cutter, and a nasty splitter, Dorchies carved up the ACL and then Low-A to the tune of a 2.74 ERA. Standing at 6 feet, 5 inches, Dorchies generates elite extension down the mound, which the Brewers love almost as much as they love high-spin breaking balls. He’ll need to continue to add velocity as he matures, but he’ll play all of 2026 at just 19 years old.
Manuel Rodriguez doesn’t get talked about enough as a pitching prospect. He has elite command, allowing just 1.5 BB/9 over his career, and posted a 3.01 ERA last year across High-A and Double-A in his age-19 season. Rodriguez doesn’t have high velocity, which is why there is some concern about how good he’ll be as he rises through the minors, but he’s still so young. Rodriguez will be in Double-A this year, and if his stuff takes another step forward, watch out.
29. Braylon Payne, OF
The Crew’s first-round pick in 2024, Braylon Payne had a solid first pro season in Low-A Carolina, showcasing surprising exit velocity numbers. Known as a speedster, Payne stole 31 bases but was also caught 10 times. What’s concerning to me is the 103 strikeouts in 342 PAs. That’s a 30.1% K rate in Low-A, which generally is not a great indication of future success. He’s still just 19 years old, and the Brewers knew he was a long-term project, but those whiffs need to be improved.
30. Eric Bitonti, 1B/3B
Similar to Payne, Eric Bitonti is a high risk-high reward type of player who is a long way from reaching his potential. The power is certainly present with Bitonti, slugging 19 homers last season with a .762 OPS. However, like Payne, the concern is the strikeouts. Bitonti punched out 169 times in 505 PAs, a 33.4% K rate. That’s way too high for Low-A. He will likely be sent to High-A this year, and if those strikeouts don’t come down, he’ll continue to drop down this list.
31. Carlos Rodriguez, RHP
Carlos Rodriguez throws a kitchen sink arsenal without an overpowering fastball. He mixes well and could fit as a back-end of the rotation starter, but the Brewers’ rotation depth has made it difficult for him to stick in the majors. He’s likely on the outside looking in on that rotation again in 2026 and will need to bide his time for an opportunity.
32. Josh Knoth, RHP
Knoth missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. A projectable righty drafted in 2023, Knoth should return to the mound early this season and showcase his high-spin curveball and slider to go with his mid-90s fastball. Knoth has some of the highest upside of the Brewers’ crop of projectable righties, but he still has a long way to go and will be just 20 years old this season.
33. Jayden Dubanewicz, RHP
If you’re tired of reading the phrase “projectable righty,” well, too bad, here’s another one. Jayden Dubanewicz was a 16th-round pick in 2024 but signed for fourth-round money and pitched really well across the ACL and Low-A last year. He stands at 6 feet, 3 inches, and 160 pounds, giving him plenty of room to pack on muscle and add velocity. Dubanewicz has a three-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup.
Jayden Dubanewicz keeps shoving in Carolina, throwing 22.1 innings with a 19:5 K:BB ratio and only 3 earned runs since July 11th 🔥#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/XFEqsjvusV
The Brewers CB-B pick in last year’s Draft, Cairone was all set for his first spring training and pro debut this year until a scary head-on car crash left him hospitalized for several days. He has since been recovering and is back to some light baseball activities, but getting back on the mound in game action is going to be delayed until later this year. Cairone, a prep lefty from New Jersey, has a four-pitch mix, including a 3,000 RPM slider. He gets great extension down the mound and is the type of projectable young lefty that the Brewers thrive on developing.
35. Tyler Black, 1B/LF
Drafted in the same class as Sal Frelick, Tyler Black showed a lot of hitting ability coming up through the minors, but has only gotten limited MLB action and is without a real path to playing time in Milwaukee. He’s not strong enough defensively at second or third base, limiting him to first base or left field. Black won’t have much power, but hits for a good average and can steal bases. He’s likely just an average hitter with little pop, but without strong defense, it’ll be tough for him to break through here.
36. Tyler Renz, RHP
Back to the projectable righty well, Tyler Renz got the highest signing bonus of the 2024 Day 3 crop, signing for third-round money despite being an 18th-round pick. Renz also carved up the ACL and Low-A like the other names on this list. His fastball is in the low-90s, but at 6 feet, 4 inches, and 190 pounds, there’s room to fill out and add more velocity as he matures. Renz will return to Low-A and could take some more big steps forward this year.
37. Ricki Moneys, SS
One of the top international signings the Brewers made this January, Ricki Moneys has a superstar name already and the upside to go along with it. Moneys has big-time bat speed and power, and if the 17-year-old infielder can consistently tap into that power as he develops, then he has a bright future. He has the defensive chops to be able to stick at short, but likely will be moved off the position at some point, especially given the shortstop depth in this organization.
38. Diego Frontado, SS
Another one of the top Brewers international signees, Diego Frontado received the largest bonus the Crew gave out this year at $1.6 million. Frontado is a great athlete who’s more hit-over-power at the plate. He also possesses great speed, and defensively, he should be well-suited to stay at shortstop. Frontado will spend his age-17 season in the DSL, where he and the rest of the international class will get their first taste of pro ball.
39. Jaron DeBerry, RHP
DeBerry was a money-saving signing in 2024, getting just a $25,000 bonus despite being a third-round pick. That hasn’t stopped him from showing why the Brewers wanted him in the first place. He quickly worked his way up to Double-A in his first pro season and covered more than 100 IP. DeBerry has a three-pitch mix that all generate a ton of spin, extends down the mound, and pitches from a low arm slot.
40. Brian Fitzpatrick, LHP
Standing at 6 feet, 7 inches, Brian Fitzpatrick was a 10th-round pick in 2022 and has steadily risen through the ranks as a reliever. He reached Triple-A last year and will likely start the season in Nashville’s bullpen once again, and if he continues to pitch well, he could earn a call up this season.
41. Handelfry Encarnacion, OF
Just 18 years old, Handelfry Encarnacion has emerged as one of the top players from the Crew’s 2024 international class that are not named Jesús Made or Luis Peña. He did well in his stateside debut last year in the ACL, but struggled upon his promotion to Low-A. He’ll return to Low-A this year.
42. Melvin Hernandez, RHP
The Brewers signed Melvin Hernandez in the 2023 international class from Mexico. He turned in a stellar 2.00 ERA over 121 2/3 IP last year for Low-A Carolina with just a 1.6 BB/9. He stands at 5 feet, 11 inches, and just 139 pounds, so to say there’s room to put on some weight would be an understatement. Hernandez won’t turn 20 until July.
43. JoséAnderson, OF
José Anderson has a ton of power from the right side, but he struggled overall with a promotion to Low-A Carolina, hitting just .193 with a 29.6% K rate. He’ll repeat in Low-A at age 19 with the hope he’ll make some more consistent contact to tap into that power even more.
44. Griffin Tobias, RHP
Another projectable young righty for the Brewers, Tobias didn’t have as much immediate success in his first pro season as some of the other arms, so he falls further down the list. There are good ingredients here to work with in his three-pitch mix. He’ll likely be back in Low-A to start 2026.
45. Dylan O’Rae, 2B/OF
Dylan O’Rae missed the entire regular season in 2025 after undergoing wrist surgery. He’s a speedy contact hitter at his best who can play up the middle. O’Rae was healthy for the Arizona Fall League and hit .302 with a .783 OPS. He’ll likely return to Double-A in 2026, and his ceiling is probably that of a utility player.
46. Pedro Ibarguen, OF
Ibarguen bounced back after a tough 2024 season and put together a .290/.408/.407 slash line across the ACL and Low-A in 2025. He doesn’t have a ton of pop, but still will be just 19 years old until July and will return to Low-A this year.
47. Ethan Murray, 2B
Murray was a fifth-round pick and did pretty well last year across Double-A and Triple-A. He has some pop and speed and posted a .726 OPS. He can play all over the infield and is likely a utility player if he makes the big leagues. He’ll start the year in Triple-A.
48. KC Hunt, RHP
An undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, KC Hunt had a breakout 2024. He wasn’t quite able to repeat that performance last year, but still ate up innings and got some solid results. Look for Hunt to get a chance in Triple-A with back-end starter upside but also a high floor out of the bullpen.
49. Jacob Morrison, RHP
A third-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, Jacob Morrison stands at a towering 6 feet, 8 inches, and 245 pounds. He was a big piece of Coastal’s run to the CWS finals last year. Morrison has a four-pitch mix and figures to stick as a starter with mid-rotation upside. He’ll make his pro debut this season.
50. Ryan Birchard, RHP
Birchard is in a long line of JuCo arms the Brewers have taken in recent years. He spent last year with High-A Wisconsin and had some mixed results. The major problem is walks. He allowed 6.3 BB/9, and until he reins in that command, he won’t be able to climb up this list. He should be in Double-A this year.
Sam Blum and Dennis Lin examine how teams are going to approach utilizing the ABS system. (The Athletic sub. req.) As I’ve written before, teams are going to be reluctant to let pitchers challenge a call because they think everything is a strike. Chris Sale says as much in this article.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Why does it seem like the NBA is always facing a crisis right after the Super Bowl? Sometimes it’s load management, sometimes it’s players not trying in the All-Star Game, and this year it’s tanking. The moral outrage about teams losing on purpose is overwhelming all other coverage of the league right now, but it’s important to note where it’s coming from. Surely there’s some Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards fans upset their teams are refusing to play their best playersin the fourth quarter of close games, but I’d wager most of them are fine with the plan to increase their lotto odds during a lost season in hopes of adding a future star.
The outcry over tanking mostly amounts to outside noise, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. There’s nine or 10 teams incentivized to lose every game the rest of the season right now, and that’s not a good look for the league. It’s just that in rushing to find a medicine to cure tanking, the NBA risks giving itself bigger problems from the side effects.
The NBA is going to address tanking for next season, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania, and former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is on the panel advising Adam Silver. Here are the ideas under consideration to fix tanking, according to Charania. I’ll give my take on each of these as we go through them.
First-round draft picks can be protected only for top-four or top-14-plus selections (pretty good)
Lottery odds freeze at the trade deadline or a later date (Pointless)
No longer allowing a team to pick in the top four in consecutive years and/or after consecutive bottom-three finishes (Feels too drastic … how about can’t do it three years in a row?)
Teams can’t pick in the top four the year after making the conference finals (Stupid)
Lottery odds allocated based on two-year records (Don’t love it)
Lottery extended to include all play-in teams (Don’t hate it)
Flatten odds for all lottery teams (A step too far)
Some of these ideas are fine and some of them are terrible. I still haven’t seen a really good tanking fix that both helps bad teams get a shot at acquiring stars and also incentives teams to win every game. What I do know is that a lot of the proposed tanking fixes would have unintended negative side effects and open up new pathways for bad PR for the league.
My two main takeaways on these anti-tanking measures are this:
NBA tanking won’t be as bad as it is right now every year, and the problem should correct itself next season
None of these get to the heart of what really is the NBA’s biggest issue.
Why is tanking so bad right now? It’s because the 2026 NBA Draft is loaded, and because one player can make a bigger impact in basketball than any other sport. If you’re a team without a star, you have three ways of trying to acquire one: draft them, trade for them, and sign them in free agency. A real star hasn’t changed teams in free agency since Kawhi Leonard joined the Clippers in 2019, so that one is mostly off the table. Trading for stars usually requires a ton of assets out the door that makes it really different to build around the star once you get them. Drafting stars is the best pathway because it gets a young player on a cost-controlled contract and allows them to forge a stronger connection with a fanbase that watches them grow up over the years.
Tanking is the most sensible path for a bad team to take; to me, it’s just part of the NBA lifecycle. The Jazz and Wizards both already decided they won’t be tanking next year by acquiring Anthony Davis and Trae Young (in Washington) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (in Utah). Teams already know they can’t tank forever, and they shouldn’t be. A rule change that bans teams from moving up in the lottery three times over four years seems like a modest fix that could really help. In this scenario, the Spurs couldn’t have moved up for Dylan Harper with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft because they already moved up for Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle in the previous two years.
Coming up with new rules now hurts the teams who already made their rebuilding decisions at the trade deadline. Take the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, for example, who have been forgoing tanking for years to try to get in the playoffs. This plan has led the Bulls to pure mediocrity, and at the trade deadline they finally came to their senses to sell Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, and others. The Grizzlies couldn’t break through in the West either and started trading their best players. If the NBA puts in anti-tanking rules now, then it essentially punishes teams that just chose this path instead of the ones who made it a problem in the first place.
Tanking isn’t the NBA’s biggest problem. The number of games is.
Most of the NBA’s problems can be fixed by shortening the schedule. The 82-game regular season is just too long. Today’s game has more space to cover and more movement than ever before, and it’s simply too physically demanding on players’ bodies over the course of the regular season plus playoffs.
High school and college teams play about 40 games max in a season, usually a little less. The WNBA plays 44 games right now. A European powerhouse like Real Madrid plays something like 68 games between a couple different leagues, then has shorter playoff run. Only the NBA makes its champion play 100+ games per season (the Thunder played 105 games in their 2025 championship season), and in this era of modern basketball, the game is way worse off for it.
Trimming the season to 60 or 65 games would be an ideal number. Suddenly “load management” isn’t as much of a concern because games are more spaced out. Tanking isn’t as much of a problem either because there’s fewer games to light on fire. The standings usually don’t really change that much after the 60-game mark as it is. Every game would feel a lot more important, which is the main thing the NBA wants to establish.
Trimming the season down by 20 games would be costly for both the owners and the players, but it’s possible some of that money could be made up in the long-run with a better overall product. Sometimes, you need to take a step back to take a step forward, and that should be the NBA’s intention as it evaluates what’s wrong with today’s game.
It’s wild that the NBA got terrible press for a bad dunk contest, which is a meaningless event. Meanwhile, this Super Bowl was unwatchable, uncompetitive trash, and so was the Super Bowl before it, but no one ever uses that as an example of why the NFL is broken. The last NBA Finals featured incredible competitive play, a true Cinderella story in the Indiana Pacers, and a superstar putting his body on the line to try to win a championship in Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles.
The NBA Finals had toughness, drama, great competition. The Super Bowl had none of it. So why are we always stuck arguing about tanking with people who don’t watch the Jazz or Wizards, or something similar?
The NBA has dissolved the value of each game because there’s too damn many of them. It’s the one thing that ties all of the league’s problems together. There is no real way to fix tanking, at least not one I’ve seen. I’m in favor of reasonable tanking measures, but not wholesale changes. If the NBA wants to address its underlying problems, start by shortening the season.
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the third quarter of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on February 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’ve watched the Cleveland Cavaliers recently, you’ve probably seen a jaw-dropping pass or two from James Harden. Most fans knew of Harden’s playmaking — but actually seeing it in action, with those dimes being thrown to the players on your favorite team, is an entirely different experience than watching it happen for other franchises.
Harden’s dishing out nearly nine assists per game since joining the Cavs. While it’s a small sample size of just six games, he’s yet to finish with fewer than seven assists as a Cavalier. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. He’s a legendary passer who’s now running point guard for a Cleveland squad that set the league ablaze last season.
The Cavs had the third-highest offensive rating in league history last season. And even though their personnel have changed quite a bit since then, they still have enough firepower to make life feel like a playground for someone like Harden.
Whether it’s throwing lobs to Donovan Mitchell, spraying out to shooters like Sam Merrill, or dissecting his opponents in the pick-and-roll with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley — Harden’s arguably never had more options to pass to.
So, without further ado, here are 10 passes that show why Harden is having so much success on his new team.
Let’s start with the biggest difference Harden brings to Cleveland. He’s a BIG playmaker who can use his 6’5” 220-pound frame to navigate the floor and unlock options they haven’t had before.
Can you imagine Mitchell or Darius Garland playing with their back to the basket in the high-post like this? Probably not.
You might envision Evan Mobley in this spot, as he has operated this action before, but there’s a huge difference between being an above-average playmaker for your position (like Mobley) and being one of the greatest playmakers in league history. Advantage: Harden.
So what exactly makes the above play special?
Harden sets up in the high post. This starting position changes the dynamic of Allen/Merrill’s action. Being here allows Harden to deliver the ball to the roller or to the perimeter more easily than if he were standing in the corner or on the wing (where would Merrill even pop out if Harden is on the perimeter?).
The spacing just doesn’t work the same if Harden isn’t able to secure a deeper position.
Now watch the screen set by Allen. Washington isn’t willing to switch or play at the level of the screen because they recognize Allen’s threat to roll or catch with a mismatch. That means Merrill’s defender is on an island with no hope of contesting his shot.
The pass itself isn’t anything special. But Harden’s size permits the entire play to develop. Look below for another example of this.
The Cavs set up in horns with Harden and Merrill on the elbows. Again, Harden’s ability to comfortably operate inside the perimeter sets him apart from Mitchell and Garland.
Jaylon Tyson cuts through the middle after entering the ball to Harden. From there, Allen sets a flare screen for Merrill — and when the Wizards (again) choose to prioritize covering Allen’s roll, Merrill wisely uses his man’s momentum against him and cuts backdoor for a layup.
But check the bounce pass from Harden. Specifically, where and when he throws the ball.
Harden has a knack for leading his teammates into open space. This pass is zipping towards the basket before Merrill even realizes he’s going to be open. So not only is Harden able to initiate plays from more advantageous angles — but he can read a defense to filth and deliver the ball with precision to generate easy buckets.
Harden’s one of the best pick-and-roll operators the game has ever seen. This behind-the-back pocket pass is one of the reasons why.
This begins with a subtle move to lead his defender into the screen. Then, when Harden senses that Kyshawn George is trailing behind the roll, he realizes the only way to deliver the ball through this window is to zip it behind his back before the pocket closes.
There’s really not much else to say about this. Anyone with eyes can tell you how ridiculous this is.
Harden’s size isn’t just an advantage when playing with his back to the basket. He can also use it to absorb more contact and play at a deliberate pace when driving to the hoop.
In this play, Harden is being hounded by Tim Hardaway Jr., but he never has to speed himself up to avoid losing control. He takes the contact, burrows his way into the paint, and then jumps to find the open man when Denver’s defense collapses.
Again, compare this to Mitchell or Garland. Undersized gaurds ineherently have to play with more speed in these scenarios. They don’t have enough size to play through this much ball pressure. But because Harden is able to take his time, it allows this entire play to materialize.
A quick dash to the hoop wouldn’t leave enough time for this to develop. Harden’s pace allows Mitchell to cut to the opposite corner. That causes Sam Merrill to dive to the corner, taking Christian Braun out of Harden’s space. Then, when Bruce Brown stays to clog the lane — Mitchell makes it to the other corner — and Jamal Murray has to dig down to cover the skip pass. All of this culminates in Harden walking into the lane and spraying it out to Tyson, who is now wide open.
But none of that happens if Harden isn’t able to work through contact and control the tempo. A smaller player would have attacked the rim at breakneck speed and had nowhere to go because the rest of the play hadn’t formed.
Here we see another example of Harden’s deliberate pace.
Watch the consecutive hang-dribbles that Harden uses after curling around Allen’s screen. This momentary hesitation forces the Kings’ big man to commit to his drive. And that gives Allen the time he needs to claim space inside the paint.
And because Harden isn’t going from zero-to-100, he’s able to gently drop this bounce pass to where only Allen can catch the ball. Perfect process and execution.
Harden’s bounce pass might be the most underrated aspect of his game. He makes this pass look easier than it is.
The extra beat he takes to look at the corner and open Noah Clowney just enough to squeeze the ball through that window is the difference between an Allen dunk and a turnover.
We’ve seen the bounce pass. Now let’s look at a different delivery.
This is an easy read. Harden comes off the screen and immediately draws two to the ball. But watch how he releases this pass. Harden jumps and floats this over-the-top pass with a downward trajectory to drop the ball perfectly into Mobley’s hands.
Once more, Harden’s height gives him access to a pass that Mitchell and Garland don’t have. Both could have made this read — but only Harden could serve this dish as cleanly as he did.
Harden recognizes that Mobley has drawn a mismatch and is being fronted in the post. So while all eyes are on Tyson’s screen — Harden sails a pass over the defense for an easy dunk.
Making this pass from the logo, without wasting any time dribbling, is why Mobley is able to punish his mismatch before Brooklyn recovers.
In this clip, we get to see our first drive-and-kick from Harden.
It begins with a nasty crossover to get around Michael Porter Jr, a skill that we haven’t focused enough on. Harden’s as slippery as they come, and his ability to break his defender in isolation is what makes him such a threat, to begin with.
After dispatching Porter, the Nets are forced to send a second defender to stop Harden’s drive. Now Harden can either dish to Allen in the dunker’s spot — or — more effectively, jump hook a pass to the 47.5% three-point shooter in the corner. Harden chooses the more difficult pass and is rewarded with an assist.
I don’t need to tell you that this pass was nasty. I just figured we’d end on a high note.
Draw attention to the touch required to throw a lob this softly after breaking out in transition. Harden floats this pass gently to the rim, and all Mitchell has to do is jump and guide it home.
Seriously, I can’t comprehend how the ball hangs in the air for so long when taking into account how fast Harden is running. It’s the type of pass that only an all-time great can make.
If you want to watch all of these plays together, check out the tweet below.
Put together some of James Harden's best passes as a Cavalier (so far). Here's what stands out:
– He's the first BIG playmaker on this team. Has access to angles that Garland/Mitchell don't
– Can play with his back to the basket. Unlocks so many options they didn't have before pic.twitter.com/chWeGQo8uW
The long history between Warriors forward Draymond Green and former NBA center Kendrick Perkins continues to live on.
With Golden State’s star guard Steph Curry expected to be sidelined for at least three more games with right patellofemoral pain syndrome, Perkins suggested that the Warriors simply should rest their stars for the rest of the season.
“Shut ‘em down for the remainder of the season,” Perkins expressed on “The Road Trippin’ Show.” “Let’s be real, this Warriors team is not going anywhere. Draymond Green, I don’t know where his mind is at, but it’s definitely not on the game of basketball. He looked horrible [on Thursday against the Boston Celtics].
“Shut Steph down. Let those guys play it out. See what guys fit. Right now, I would let the rest of the Warriors team outside of Steph play this season out and audition to see if they want to be here.”
Of course, Green did not back down and hilariously responded to Perkins’ comments that were most specifically directed at him.
“In the world we live in, these guys need something to talk about every day,” Green stated on “The Draymond Green Show”. “And so, they make the biggest deal out of [something with] no deal.”
In the Warriors’ last two games before the All-Star break against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 9 and the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 11, Green finished strong, combining for 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Unfortunately, the 35-year-old had a rough game in Golden State’s 121-110 loss to the Celtics on Feb. 19, scoring zero points in just 19 minutes played.
“Going into the All-Star break, everybody was like, ‘Oh my god, man, Draymond turned back the clock. Draymond played great,” Green said. “And then one game after the All-Star break, you have a rough game, and then this guy goes, ‘I don’t know where his head is at, but it ain’t on basketball.’ You’re not allowed to have a bad game anymore. I think it’s very interesting.”
Green then turned his attention to Perkins, who only averaged more than 10 points per game in a season once in his 14-year NBA career.
“Needless to say, yeah, Perk, you never had bad games,” Green responded to Perkins’ comments. “Perk, we’ve seen you play, big fella. We saw you, big dog, you played. To go in on a bad night, Perk, you played.
“We got the clips. We got clips of your screen-setting. We got clips of your jump shots, Perk. We got clips of your jump hooks. You played big Perk. Careful, man. We can start pulling clips now, big Perk…You know how it goes to have one bad game. I can promise you, big Perk, I ain’t where you were at the end of yours.”
"You're not allowed to have a bad game anymore!" Draymond Green reacts to "Big Perk" comments in the media about him lately…
During the 2025-26 season, Green is averaging 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, but is shooting at an abysmal rate of 40.9 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range.
The Warriors certainly will need every bit of help they can get to make a playoff push with 25 games left to play in the regular season, and that starts with Green and Curry, who have been the pillars of the team and the organization for over a decade.
Back in December, the Montreal Canadiens acquired center Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. This was after the Canadiens were heavily linked to the 32-year-old forward.
There was no question that Danault needed a change of scenery, as he struggled mightily with the Kings this season before the trade. In 30 games with the Kings, he had zero goals and just five assists. This was after he had eight goals and 43 points in 80 games this past season with Los Angeles.
While Danault started the season ice-cold with the Kings, there is no question that he has been bouncing back nicely during his second stint with the Habs so far.
The trade to Montreal has given Danault a nice boost, as he has recorded three goals, six assists, and nine points in 21 games. He also recorded a point in each of his two final games ahead of the Olympic break.
The Canadiens have also benefited by bringing back Danault, as he has once again been a nice part of Montreal's forward group and penalty kill.
Overall, it is clear that both the Canadiens and Danault are benefiting from reuniting. It will be interesting to see how Danault performs during the final stretch of the year for the Canadiens from here.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets poses for a photo during the New York Mets Photo Day at Clover Park on February 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments. We’ll see you there and plan to have staff chiming in, too.
Which Mets player will have the biggest bounce back season in 2026?
A childhood photo is bringing things full circle for Moses Moody.
Moody’s mom, Rona, shared a throwback image on social media from Chris Paul‘s 2015 “CP3 Camp,” showing a 13-year-old Moody posing in front of a display featuring Al Horford’s wingspan.
At the time, Horford was in the middle of his prime with the Atlanta Hawks, fresh off multiple NBA All-Star seasons and widely regarded as one of the league’s most versatile big men.
Moody, meanwhile, was just beginning his own basketball journey.
Six years later, the Warriors selected Moody with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He quickly carved out a role as a steady presence on the wing, contributing to Golden State’s 2022 championship run and continuing to develop into a key rotation piece.
Horford’s path, too, eventually brought him to the Bay.
After stints with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder — including an NBA title with Boston in 2024 — the veteran big man signed with the Warriors ahead of the 2025-26 season.
That move ultimately connected the two in a way neither could have imagined back in 2015.
What once was a simple camp photo now stands as a rare full-circle moment — a young Moody posing in front of an NBA star, years before becoming his teammate on the same court.
And while the moment centers on Horford, it carries another subtle layer: the photo was taken at Paul’s camp — years before Moody and Paul briefly shared a locker room during the Warriors’ 2023-24 season.
Now, the picture looks less like a coincidence — and more like a preview.
Broadcaster Stephen Nelson, left, sharing a laugh with Shohei Ohtani during DodgerFest last month, enters his fourth season with the Dodgers. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of last year's World Series, Ernie Clement smacked a fly ball off Yoshinobu Yamamoto into the left-center field gap with the bases loaded and the score tied.
As Andy Pages, just inserted into the game in center field, ran over left fielder Kiké Hernández to make the catch, Dodgers play-by-play announcer Stephen Nelson summed up the high drama unfolding in front him.
“Oh my gosh, we’re going to extra innings,” Nelson exclaimed on the Dodgers' radio broadcast. "A Yamamoto miracle in the ninth! Rogers Centre in stunned silence!"
A couple of innings later, Nelson found himself calling the final outs of his second consecutive World Series.
“Broken bat, ground ball. Betts has it, steps on the bag, the throw to first — double play! From backs against the wall to back-to-back, the Dodgers cement their dynasty!”
When asked about his place in history last week during spring training at Camelback Ranch, Nelson demurred.
“I don’t really let myself think about it,” Nelson said, underscored by laughter. “I don’t have a very high opinion on myself or my work.”
Nelson, who turns 37 next month, joined the Dodgers before the 2023 season to back up Davis on the club’s SportsNet LA broadcast package. Prior to that, the Southern California native hosted studio shows for the MLB and NHL Networks and did play-by-play work for both leagues.
“I kind of feel like I fell into a fire, and now I’m just trying to survive,” said Nelson, who began his fourth season with the Dodgers as their lead radio play-by-play announcer as Cactus League play got underway on Saturday against the Angels.
A graduate of Marina High in Huntington Beach and Chapman University in Orange, Nelson readily understood the lineage of the booth, the standards that existed within the organization, even if he grew up rooting for the White Sox just like his father.
“All my cousins around the Southland… they all bleed Dodger blue,” he said. “I was coming home when I took this job in a couple of different senses.”
During his first year with the team, instead of being himself, he catered to what he felt the fans deserved from the person holding down the mic. His said his new position gave him a feeling of impostor syndrome. As his first season progressed, Nelson leaned on the color analysts he worked with like Eric Karros, and the rest of the SportsNet LA crew to help restore some self-confidence.
Nelson still feels like he’s new to the role of a play-by-play commentator. He compared his daily approach to the age-old athlete’s cliché of “just trying to get one percent better every day,” with the main goal being not ruining Dodger games for fans.
He started to get more comfortable with his job once he realized he doesn’t have to try to be Scully.
“Those are shoes that are impossible to fill,” Nelson said. “It’s actually made the job easier in a way, because I ain’t touching that bar.”
As he prepares for the new season, Nelson visits the clubhouse during spring training, trying to get to know the new guys on the club and the prospects who are going to be the next wave. On top of that, the season previews put together by Rick Krajewski — “the doctor of research and stats,” as he calls him — help him paint the picture for the fans throughout the season.
Getting to call the last out on consecutive World Series wins, to be on the radios of people across L.A. during “the best game he’s ever seen,” and to call a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a Game 7 in the World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“This is a tremendous blessing,” Nelson said. “There are a thousand other broadcasters who are more experienced and certainly more talented and for whatever the reason, I’m here. And so I gotta earn that blessing.”
