A.J. Hinch has made plenty of pitching changes, but Saturday, he gave this one to someone else.
After Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe popped out in the sixth inning Saturday, the Detroit Tigers manager signaled to the stands and Justin Verlander's daughter, Genevieve, sprinted out to the mound to get her father.
Justin Verlander was already crying as she closed the gap to the mound quickly. He bent down and wrapped her up in a hug that lasted about 15 seconds as the crowd around him rose. When he stood back up, he took his daughter's hand and walked off the mound for a final time.
It was the final scene of a farewell that Verlander and the Tigers had been building toward since he announced his retirement in July.
After two decades that took him from Detroit to Houston, New York and San Francisco, the 43-year-old came home for one last start, his first at Comerica Park in a Tiger uniform since he was traded in 2017 and only his second of this injury-wrecked season. He leaves as one of the defining pitchers of his generation: three Cy Young Awards, 2011 MVP, Rookie of the Year, three no-hitters, two World Series titles and 3,560 strikeouts, eighth in major league history. Saturday, in the ballpark where it started, he got to go out on his own terms.
As he and his daughter walked off, the crowd and his teammates gave him a standing ovation. The Pirates stood in their dugout, clapping and watching history.
Verlander tipped his cap. His wife, Kate Upton, and their son, Bellamy met him on the dirt for more hugs. He high-fived his way down a line of teammates, tipped his cap again, took a deep breath through tears, waved, tipped his cap again and disappeared down the dugout stairs.
It was the second time in two days Genevieve had been part of the show. Before Friday night's game, she threw the ceremonial first pitch to her dad and put it right over the plate.
Verlander left with the Tigers trailing 2-0 after having allowed two solo home runs and striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers rallied to take him off the hook. Eduardo Valencia's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth gave Detroit a 4-3 win in Verlander's last game.
The Mets and Nationals will play their final game of the regular season on Sunday a little earlier than anticipated due to the forecast of inclement weather in Washington, D.C., the Nats announced.
First pitch will now be at 1:05 p.m. instead of 3:05 p.m.
The nor'easter already caused Saturday's game to be moved up from 4:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 25: Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo with his wife Kate Upton and his daughter Genevieve Upton Verlander while holding Bellamy Verlander during Career Celebration Ceremony prior to playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on September 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Justin Verlander always said he wanted to leave it all on the field when his time came, and he made good on that vow on an emotional Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park. The Tigers long-time ace was pretty good, putting together a solid 5.1 innings of work, more than anyone could’ve expected after nearly six months on the shelf. The emotions were high, and baseball provided a pretty nice send off for one of the greatest to ever do it. After struggling to score all game long, the young Tigers rallied hard in the ninth, and Eduardo Valencia launched a two-run walkoff home run to win in staggering fashion on Justin Verlander day.
We watched Justin Verlander warming up in the bullpen, wondering what we were going to see here on Saturday as he prepared for the last major league start of his incredible career. Eventually he came out and made his walk to the dugout. JK Simmons introduced the Tigers. The opening chords of Til I Collapse sounded, the 43-year-old Verlander took the mound in the throwback Adidas, which he joked later he’d told Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark were older than they were, and now the moment had arrived.
‘Til the roof comes off, ’til the lights go out ‘Til my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth
I couldn’t help feel some trepidation about this. On the one hand, it’s Justin Verlander and he’s not going out there to embarrass himself. On the other hand, even pitching well he might get lit up after nearly six months on the shelf. We just had to have faith in JV, and that’s never been hard. It was a little harder today, but we should’ve known better.
Verlander retired Ryan O’Hearn on a fly out to left to start things off. In classic JV style, he then popped up Brandon Lowe and Brian Reynolds for a snappy 1-2-3 first inning. The veteran was keeping things efficient early to be able to pitch deep into the game.
When the inning ended, Verlander spent a little time congratulating home plate umpire Laz Diaz, who is also retiring, while getting his hands checkecd for illegal substances. All in a day’s work. “The only substance here is joy” was Benetti’s line, and it was a pretty good one.
Leadoff man Max Clark started the bottom of the first with a sharp line drive out to Oneil Cruz in center field. Hao-Yu Lee drove a Kirby Yates offering up the middle for a single, and then Kevin McGonigle dumped a blooper into center field and Cruz got his cleat stuck and took a tumble, unable to catch the ball. He came up limping but was fortunately able to stay in the game. Yates got Eduardo Valencia to chase a splitter down and ground into a 5-4-3 double play, ending the inning.
Justin Verlander bounced back out of the dugout to more applause and took the mound for round two, and this did feel like a boxer in his final fight. He spotted good fastballs to Oneil Cruz, and eventually whiffed him on a backfoot slider for his first punchout of the game.
An 0-2 high fastball to Konnor Griffin was lined into right center for a single. He then tried to steal on a 1-0 pitch to Spencer Horwitz, but Dillon Dingler cut him down with a perfect strike and a slick tag from Javier Báez. A 3-1 fastball to Horwitz faded away for a walk, and we got Verlander barking at himself after a walk. Classic JV. After a lengthy battle with Ronny Simon, the outfielder offered at a slider in the zone and flew out to Zach McKinstry in right field.
Yates got Riley Greene to ground out and then whiffed Spencer Torkelson. Don Kelly then came out to remove him from the game to his own accolades. Applause came from both dugouts, and Yates exchanged congratulations with Laz Diaz and then his teammates in the dugout as the veteran reliever wrapped up his last season in the major leagues. Yates is set to retire at age 39 after a very nice 12 year career. Yohan Ramirez took over and wrapped up a 1-2-3 bottom of the second inning.
Verlander whiffed Gonzalez with a first pitch curveball, and then a high heater was fouled off. A changeup sailed wide, and a slider missed down, but a changeup down for his 40th pitch got a lazy fly ball to Clark in center field for the first out of the third inning. A fastball to Henry Davis was a strike, but a pair of curveballs missed. Another heater was fouled off, but the old dog reached back for 95 and blew him away for his second strikeout.
The fastball had pretty good life, if certainly diminished from his prime, and the breaking stuff was sharp. He legimately looked good. The arm is willing. Some other parts of the body, not so much, but he’ll deal with that on Sunday morning with plenty of ice. Verlander got ahead of Ryan O’Hearn with some changeups, and the left-handed hitter fouled off a pair of breaking balls. A 94.4 mph heater was by him before he got bat to ball, and Verlander had his third strikeout, all swinging. You know it had to be this way as he pushed his career strikeout mark to 3557.
Oneill Cruz did come out of the game, with Jake Mangum taking over center field in the bottom of the third. Ramirez hit McKinstry to start the frame, and Báez ripped a single to left. Clark lined out center but more softly this time, and after a battle, Hao-Yu Lee walked to load the bases with one out for Kevin McGonigle. The Tigers star rookie battled into a 2-2 count. Ramirez landed a breaking ball down, but it was challenged correctly to make it 3-2. McGonigle chopped another sweeper foul, and a sinker was smoked foul the opposite way. The 10th pitch of the at-bat was a heater that locked him up for an anti-climactic strike three. With Verlander no doubt begging for a lead and a chance to pick up one more win, Valencia dueled Ramirez and then whiffed on a sweeper to strand the bases loaded despite a 30 pitch inning for Ramirez.
Verlander had faced 10 hitters through three innings, but after the Pirates escaped that jam, the top of their order took heart and Brandon Lowe launched a first-pitch heater for a solo shot to right field. 1-0 Pirates. All this too, felt very familiar. No run support, and then a solo shot somewhere along the way…
Brian Reynolds bit on a 2-1 slider to even the count with a whiff, and then grounded out to Torkelson at first on Verlander’s 58th pitch. He got ahead of Mangum and whiffed him with a curveball up for strikeout number 3558. Griffin took a 1-1 curveball away to make it 2-1, but Verlander fired a well located 95 mph heater to get back in the count, and a breaking ball drew a lazy fly ball to right field for the final out.
This was going better than expected, despite the lack of run support. And again, even that felt very familiar. If you told Verlander he’d pitch into the fifth before the game, he would’ve taken it. Now he needed his teammates to get it going.
Carmen Mlodzinski took over for the Pirates in the bottom of the fourth. Riley Greene greeted him with a hot shot the opposite way down the line for a leadoff double. Dillon Dingler struck out, and Torkelson took a called third, but McKinstry was again hit by a pitch. Báez pulled a sharp grounder to Griffin at shortstop, and he couldn’t handle it. Everyone was safe, the bases were loaded with two outs, and Max Clark was up to bat. A pair of sinkers got ahead, but a ball call was challenged incorrectly, and the Pirates were out of challenges, as were the Tigers. Diaz was pleased, and there was something hilarious and fitting about the old ump getting to call the game old school the rest of the way. It mattered little as a good splitter drew the whiff as the Tigers continued to strand baserunners at an outrageous rate.
The bullpen was warming as the fifth started, and we knew the moment was coming soon with Verlander at 67 pitches. He worked ahead of Horwitz 1-2. A curveball was fouled off, a changeup missed down, and a slider missed away. Horwitz just got a piece of a 3-2 fastball, but a slider away, his 75th pitch, dropped just close enough to the zone that Diaz rung him up as Verlander’s fifth and 3559th strikeout. Old school indeed.
Simon tried a bunt, drawing boos from the faithful, and eventually fouled off two-strike sliders as Verlander topped 80 pitches. A 2-2 fastball away drew the whiff for strikeout number 3660 and sixth of the day. This rules. Leaving it all on the field. I expected AJ Hinch to pull him here, but he didn’t. Gonzalez stepped into the box and lifted a 1-1 curveball just over the right field wall for a solo shot. 2-0 Pirates.
Davis lined a single to left, and Hinch was at the top of the steps, but wanted to give Verlander the chance to end the inning. He was now at 86 pitches, well beyond what I thought was possible. O’Hearn pulled a curveball into right field, but McKinstry picked it, spun, and fired an absolute strike to third. McGonigle didn’t have to move an inch, snapping the tag down on Davis for the third out. The crowd went nuts, Verlander was fired up, and holy cow that was an elite throw from McKinstry there.
The Pirates challenged, the call stood, and Verlander high gloved McKinstry as he and his teammates came off the field. So, it looked as though we’d see him face one more hitter so Hinch could give him the mid-inning sendoff. Five innings with two solo shots among his five hits and a walk allowed, with six strikeouts, was legimately a good start already.
The Tigers got a walk to Lee in the bottom of the fifth, but no more. They were really going to leave the old ace on the hook for a loss with just two runs allowed.
Verlander took the mound at 87 pitches, bouncing back out of the dugout knowing he was facing the final hitter of his storied career. Hinch really was letting him empty the tank as the sixth began. As he warmed up, Kate Upton and the kids headed down to be ready to come out with Hinch to get him.
He was still hitting 94 as he faced Lowe again. A fastball up and away drew a pop up, and Dillon Dingler hauled it in next to home plate. And just like that, it was over.
AJ Hinch came out of the dugout and walked toward home plate. He signaled to Kate Upton, who sent their daughter Genevieve running out to the mound to get her Dad. Verlander erupted in tears as she reached him for a long hug. Hinch followed for a long embrace of his own, and it was done. All the onions in the building were chopped at once as Verlander’s teammates came to the mound for a hug and a handshake. The dugout emptied into a lineup as Verlander embraced all his teammates and coaches, with a big hug for Kenley Jansen notable as the all-time great reliever is nearing his final moments on the mound as well.
When all the congratulations and love had been exchanged, Verlander was joined again by his wife, and they headed down the dugout steps together as he saluted the crowd one more time and the standing ovation roared down from the seats. Pretty amazing scene, and yes we were crying a bit. Miggy’s final game went so well. It was hard to imagine this turning out so perfectly, but baseball and Verlander had a little magic left for us.
‘Til the roof comes off, ’til the lights go out ‘Til my legs give out, can’t shut my mouth
Justin Verlander’s final final line? 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 6 K. He’s still got it. The problem is recovering from it over the next few days.
Now, it was time to rely on his younger teammates to go and win the game. Tyler Kinley took over and gave up a single, but cleaned up the rest of the inning expeditiously.
Dingler grounded out to start the bottom of the sixth. Torkelson drew a walk, and Don Kelly turned to lefty Evan Sisk. Ben Malgeri pinch-hit for McKinstry and pulled a sharp single to left. Báez smoked a double to left to score Torkelson and make it a 2-1 Pirates lead. Clark struck out, and Lee grounded out to end the threat, but at least there was progress on the scoring front.
Brant Hurter racked up three quick outs in the top of the seventh.
Old friend Gregory Soto took the mound in the seventh and did his thing, pounding McGonigle, Valencia, and Greene into three groundouts with the power sinker.
Hurter gave up a single to Davis to start the eighth. O’Hearn grounded out, moving him to second, and Lowe did likewise, getting Davis to third. Jacob Waguespack took over from Hurter to face Reynolds, but the Pirates third baseman smoked a triple off the warning track in right to make it a 3-1 game. Mangum grounded out, but the hill to climb had gotten a bit higher.
Right-hander Luke Weaver succeeded Soto in the bottom of the eighth. Dingler greeted him with a single, but was erased by a Torkelson double play ball. Malgeri struck out, and we were on to the ninth.
Waguespack gave up a leadoff double to right off the bat of rookie Konnor Griffin to start the ninth. Horwitz grounded out, moving Griffin to third. A good changeup locked up Billy Cook for strike three. Waguespack blew away Jared Triolo with a fastball to send it to the bottom of the ninth.
The Tigers would have to get to a tough, hard throwing left-hander in Mason Montgomery to walk this one off. Báez struck out swinging, but Max Clark singled the opposite way. Hao-Yu Lee battled back to a full count after Montgomery got ahead early. He spoiled a nasty 99 mph high fastball, and then smoked the next one into the right field corner for a double that got Clark to third.
So it was up to McGonigle, and Montgomery missed down twice to run the count to 2-0. Another power sinker in on his hands drew a ground out to second from McGonigle. Clark scored, and it was a 3-2 game. Lee took third, and Eduardo Valencia stepped to the plate. He pulled the first pitch he saw just foul down the third base line, and fouled off the next one as well. Montgomery is nasty. A 101 mph heater missed well high, and Valencia fouled off the next fastball. Was there any magic left in the ballpark? The lefty shifted gears to the breaking stuff…and Valencia launched a curveball out to left and over the wall for a walkoff two-run home run!!! Amazing.
Valencia spent the postgame talking about needing to do that for Verlander, and the party was on. What a swing from the young catcher. Unbelievable stuff. What could be better than baseball? The answer is postseason baseball. Hopefully the organization turns it around in 2027.
LUANDA, ANGOLA - SEPTEMBER 13: Lebron James, Owner of Team AlUla looks on during the E1 Series Luanda GP on September 13, 2026 in Luanda, Angola. (Photo by Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the message of President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick’s press conference on Thursday was one of excitement for the future, it started out with a brief acknowledgment of the past.
LeBron James’ departure this offseason ended his eight-year tenure with the Lakers, the longest single stretch with any franchise in his career. As much as both sides may have been ready to move on, they still accomplished a lot during their time together in Los Angeles.
“I thought it would be appropriate, just at the front, to express gratitude for the LeBron era here,” Pelinka said on Thursday. “Clearly new team, new players, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today, but we, just as an organization, are still grateful for the run that we had with him here. The Lakers have become, as they should, a perennial playoff team, won a championship, went to the Western Conference Finals, and it was a great era and we’re grateful for it.”
After a regular season which started rocky with LeBron on the sideline before he needed time to slot in as a third fiddle behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the dynamic seemed to change a bit in the playoffs when LeBron showed his value once again.
There were also questions about who actually decided to end the partnership. When asked about that at his presser, Pelinka dodged the question while still praising LeBron.
“Again, we’re grateful for the LeBron era and I think the communications with him this offseason were held diplomatically and professionally and honestly,” Pelinka said. “I’m just so thankful for the partnership we had that continued up until this summer when a decision was made for him to play for another team. It was done amicably, professionally, gracefully.
And again, we looked at the whole thing with gratitude because it’s been an incredible era for us here.”
As for LeBron’s take, he spoke about his time with the Lakers on the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast.
“A lot of people said when I came to the Lakers, like I was just coming to be in Hollywood and be in movies and shit like that. But I’ve always loved a huge challenge and to come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports, to be a part of that, one, was a super duper big thing…The expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is like, ‘Let’s win championships.‘ And I heard that and I understood that. For us to be able to win one, that was something that I’ll never forget. With that group, with that team, for this city.”
It’s not common for things to end amicably when LeBron leaves a franchise. All things considered, this is about as good as things could have gone.
Sunday's regular season finale between the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles has been moved up to 1:05 p.m. instead of 3:20 p.m. due to the forecast of inclement weather, the team announced.
The Yankee Stadium Gates will now open at 12:00 p.m. for fans with valid tickets, one hour before the first pitch.
The two teams already moved Saturday's game to Friday to avoid the nor'easter, as they split the doubleheader.
Elmer Rodriguez will take the mound for the Yanks, facing Shane Baz for Baltimore.
Luckily, the results of Sunday's game don't matter too much, as the Yanks have already clinched a playoff spot and know they will face the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series on Tuesday.
In coordination with Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees have announced that the start time of tomorrow’s Yankees-Orioles game (Sunday, September 27) has been moved to 1:05 p.m. due to the current forecast of inclement weather throughout the late afternoon.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Dereck Lively II #2 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half at American Airlines Center on October 26, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dereck Lively II is tired of all the internet chatter surrounding the level of progress — or lack thereof — in his recovery from the foot injury he suffered just seven games into last season.
All you meanies on the internet. All you do is speculate and exaggerate and take things out of context and blow things out of proportion. How dare you, honestly. The nerve. The nerve and the gall.
Lively had season-ending surgery on Dec. 21, as you may remember.
Since then, there was a second procedure, then a startlingly long period of silence about the big man’s recovery, followed by some reports of slower-than-normal progress as the 2026-27 offseason ramped up. In June, the news of note was that, at that point, a full seven months removed from surgery, he hadn’t progressed to running in his rehab. Earlier this week, now more than nine months removed from surgery, it was an ESPN report that Lively had yet to be cleared for training camp, which started Saturday, raising fans’ antennae.
“I’m sick of seeing things on the internet thinking, like, I can’t run, I can’t jump, which I can,” Lively said on the Locked on Mavs podcast on Friday after the team held its media day. “I’m thankful for the Mavs just letting me take my time.”
Oh, you’re tired of it? Two suggestions for the basketball-man-slash-content creator.
Log off, sir. Being terminally online is not a requirement for a career in the game of basketball. Tim MacMahon reported that ESPN bit. Christian Clark reported the June bit. Those are not internet rumors that sprung up out of nowhere. Those are reports from dudes with sources whose job it is to write down what they learn. If they were wrong on a consistent basis they’d be let go. What they’ve reported has been backed up by the lack of progression you’ve showed in your recovery. If the news or the chatter surrounding the news hurts your feelings, you have the option to get rid of X, The Everything App. But that’s not an option for today’s NBA athlete, much less one who was welcomed to life as “a YouTuber now, just like us,” by Locked On host Nick Angstadt at the beginning of the interview.
Don’t protest so much (thou doth), especially when you are not playing basketball 10 months after surgery for an injury that was initially disclosed as “soreness.” And especially, especially when those protests will be betrayed by a clip from practice the very next day. Nabbed by the very same outlet you just used to push your narrative that everything’s fine in your recovery and people should just mind their business.
The Locked On guys charitably used the words “light jogging” to describe the broken-down hobble they recorded from the opposite sideline of the practice court. He runs in that clip with the unmistakable gait of the fat kid on your kid’s tee-ball team.
Lively does not appear ready for anything remotely close to basketball activity at this point. And, to be fair, he hasn’t used the word “close” to describe where he’s at. But get a load of that continued quote.
“I’m thankful for the Mavs, that just let me take my time and be slow. Making sure that I’m doing everything I need to do to make sure my body will never have to worry about anything ever again,” Lively said.
That came out of the mouth of a man who played seven games in the third year of his NBA career. That came out of the mouth of a man whose highest games-played total came in his rookie season (55) and has fallen sharply in each of his three years in a Mavericks uniform. Never have to worry about anything ever again? Buddy, when you are done rehabbing this foot, you will immediately be enveloped by team trainers in rolls upon rolls of heavy-duty bubble wrap.
There is no “never worry about anything” with players like Lively.
He’s an amazing athlete. He had a ton of potential coming into the NBA, and we’ll see how much of that he’s retained at some point in the very open-ended future. But he’s also gaslighting you.
Lively can’t run, and you’re in the wrong for noticing.
Sep 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) looks on during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The end of the 2026 regular season is upon us, as the Dodgers play their 162nd game on Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
Nothing is at stake, and the Dodgers are running a bullpen game.
Jonah Tong’s 2026 season didn’t quite go as planned.
Working through some tweaks to his arsenal and changes in his mechanics, the Mets’ top-ranked pitching prospect was knocked around a bit at the Triple-A level.
Between the majors and minors, he pitched to a 5.27 ERA over his first 22 outings.
Tong continued to battle his way through those struggles, though, and began finding his groove down the stretch in the minor league season. He finally earned himself another call back up to audition for a spot in the Mets’ rotation, and certainly gave himself an encouraging sample to build off of.
The right-hander enjoyed one of his best showings Saturday against the Nationals, closing his season by allowing just one run while striking out a career-high nine batters over five innings. He worked around trouble in the third, and held Washington just one walk and three hits.
“I thought it was great,” manager Andy Green said. “Really encouraged by it -- the changeup was back in the mix, I thought curveball was good, he won with the fastball up in the zone -- that’s a really good version of him and a great way for him to end the season.”
Despite the rough start to the year, the crafty 23-year-old certainly was able to close things out strong. He finished the campaign with a 2.36 ERA over his final eight appearances, and struck out a total of 27 batters across 20.2 MLB innings during the final month of the season.
Destined to battle for a spot in the big-league rotation during spring training, Tong will now look to use this late-season success as a springboard heading into what could be a long offseason.
"It’s one of those things where the moment is going to let you know," he said. “I’m not going to put pressure on myself, I'm up for the challenge -- I know where I’m at, I know what I need to do -- that’s the beauty of the offseason, I can just go out, compete, have fun, and let everything else take care of itself.”
Even if Tong doesn't make the team out of camp, Green expects him to play a big role.
"We've been forthright with him," the skipper explained. "What does an organization desperately need to win a World Series? You need guys that are six and seven starters that start the year in Triple-A that can come up and dominate -- you don't win a World Series with only five starters.
"In that case, his desires don't perfectly align with what our desires would be, because he wants to be here -- his job is to make it so freaking obvious to us that he deserves to be here that we can't make those types of decisions when he comes and competes in spring training," Green continued.
"He has a full understanding of what that landscape looks like, a full understanding of what makes sense for us, and the resolve to go prove that he belongs here -- long-term, I'm a huge believer in Jonah, I think he's going to be a huge piece for us moving forward."
The irony of this season for Fort Wayne is that the infusion of those players who excelled at Lake Elsinore didn’t really help them. They ended the season 56-74, last in the East Division of the Midwest League.
Infielder Justin DeCriscio finished with the best average of the players promoted, hitting .259 with a .759 OPS, nine home runs, and 39 RBI in 73 games.
Outfielder Jake Cunningham had hit 15 home runs with 35 RBI in 57 games when he was promoted to San Antonio. Center fielder Ryan Wideman, who did everything well in Lake Elsinore, struggled to do anything well for Fort Wayne and really slumped in extra-base hits, an area he excelled in with the Storm. In 44 games, he hit four doubles and no other XBH with a .559 OPS.
Outfielder Alex McCoy, who in less than two seasons (injured for part of 2025) reached Double-A and did well, played in 98 games for the TinCaps. He hit .268/.354/.468 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI. The 24-year-old undrafted free agent lists at 6-6, 275 pounds, but is not just a slugger. He runs amazingly well for a big man, finishing the season with 24 stolen bases in 33 attempts over two levels. McCoy was promoted to San Antonio for the final part of the season.
After Miguel Mendez and Kash Mayfield were traded at the deadline, the TinCaps were a bit thin at starting pitching.
RHP Carson Montgomery, in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, started 22 games before being promoted to Double-A. He had a 4.65 ERA in 93 innings with 80 strikeouts to 50 walks with Fort Wayne. Command was an issue at times, which is expected after TJ surgery.
RHP Winyer Chourio started nine games after his promotion to Single-A, finishing with a 6.15 ERA in 41 innings. He still had 48 strikeouts to 32 walks but also struggled with his command at times.
Japanese/American RHP Bryan Balzer has had his first full season as he comes back from Tommy John surgery and begins a career as a starting pitcher. He was primarily playing as an infielder in high school. Over two levels, both A-levels, Balzer started 21 games with 23 appearances total and pitched 98.2 innings. His combined ERA was 4.74 with 100 strikeouts to 48 walks. Balzer, the Padres’ No. 6 prospect, is only behind Schoolcraft and the recently drafted Coleman Borthwick in the Padres rankings per MLB.com.
Losing their most productive offensive player to Double-A seemed to hurt the TinCaps offense. After Cunningham left Fort Wayne, the offense was never as productive.
San Antonio Missions
Outfielder Alex McCoy played in 25 games for the Missions after his promotion from Single-A, and finished with a .314/.360/.467 line, including four homers and 16 RBI. It would not be a surprise to see a non-roster invite to 2027 spring camp in the future.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, another UDFA, tied with Tirso Ornelas for the home run lead on the team with 17. Karpathios had 73 RBI, compared to Ornelas’s 54. His .268/.353/.444 line is not good for a slugger, but the 162 strikeouts in 510 plate appearances will not get him to where he wants to go. At 23, he still has time to work on strike zone command as a hitter, but the fix needs to happen for him to hope for a major league call-up.
Outfielder Jake Cunningham, a free agent signed by the Padres out of the Orioles organization, started at Fort Wayne and hit himself into a promotion to San Antonio. In his 39 games before injury put him on the shelf, Cunningham had 13 XBH and 26 RBI with a .301/.370/.459 line. The 23-year-old should return to Double-A to start next season.
RHP Ian Koenig played most of 2026 with San Antonio. In 24 games started, Koenig had a 4.60 ERA in 121.1 innings pitched. He is a workhorse who had 98 strikeouts and 33 walks over those starts. He doesn’t feature electric stuff but has good command of his pitches. Another UDFA, Koenig could work out to be a back-end starter if he keeps progressing. He finished the season as the El Paso Chihuahuas’ best starter after a late promotion.
RHRP Francis Peña had a bad end to 2025 and a slow start to 2026. A reliever who was a top 20 prospect at the start of last season, Pena finished that season with a 4.99 ERA for El Paso. He pitched 59 innings for the Missions with a 3.05 ERA and was an opener for one game. His return to form could prove helpful if he can stay consistent. His sinker/slider combo requires good control to allow him to play in MLB.
El Paso Chihuahuas
The Chihuahuas were the last affiliate to finish their season. They played against the best team in their division to end the year, losing four of the six games.
The biggest plus to the season for the Chihuahuas was being a proving ground for all the players A.J. Preller signed to supplement the Padres’ roster. Or at least that is the way it turned out.
El Paso finished 30 games under .500, and no wonder. Their roster was in flux for the whole year as players came and went after signing, being promoted or demoted, being released and resigned, and just about every other move that could be made.
They hosted rehabbing big leaguers on multiple occasions and had their early-season success torpedoed when San Diego needed all their good players due to underperformance or injury.
Every Padres fan should be grateful to El Paso for suffering through a season unlike any other that I can remember for the Triple-A franchise.
IF/OF Nick Solak, catcher Carlos Rodriguez, IF Mason McCoy, and IF Marcos Castanon played the season as the only consistent Chihuahuas on the offensive side.
RHP Evan Fitterer started 20 games and finished the season with a 4.06 ERA, remarkably good for the league. He had 64 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched. LHP JP Sears did not fare as well. In 85.1 innings pitched and 20 starts, Sears ended with a 7.49 ERA with 87 strikeouts.
Both Ian Koenig and LHP Jagger Haynes got late-season promotions to Triple-A. Koening had five starts with a 2.33 ERA in 27 innings, while Haynes pitched 40.1 innings with a 5.80 ERA.
El Paso played host to the Padres’ top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas, for 17 games before his promotion to the big leagues. At the time, it wasn’t clear why the organization would need to promote Salas to Triple-A. He was clearly ready, if they wanted to test him during the playoff run for the big club.
After his promotion, the reason for his brief appearance in Triple-A became clear. Salas needed exposure to the ABS system before joining the Padres. Those 17 games provided a base of knowledge that has proven very useful for the young catcher in his early MLB career.
There will be lots of movement this offseason for the Padres minor league system. Multiple players are reaching the end of control for the organization while others were signed as free agents and will need their contracts renegotiated. Outfielder Jake Cunningham has already signed for next season.
Even some of their top 30 prospects are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this December and their future with the organization is to be determined.
Arizona Fall League
Not an actual minor league team, the Arizona Fall League is an instructional and development league used to give extra work to players who are coming back from injury and to players who need to transition into different roles or into professional baseball.
It is comprised of six teams; five MLB teams contribute players to each team roster. The Padres play on the Peoria Javelinas with the Peoria Sports Complex as their home field. Games begin Oct. 3 and continue through the end of their regular season on Nov. 4.
The Padres are sending five pitchers and three position players to play for Peoria.
There will be a full preview before the season begins.
Agbaji is a long shot to make the final roster but carries intrigue as a former 14th overall pick. He finished last season with the Nets and could only secure a non-guaranteed deal in free agency. Has a lot to prove.
OG Anunoby, 29, F, 6-7, 240
Achieved well deserved acclaim after an outstanding playoff run, including the most important shot in franchise history. The next step is a first-time All-Star appearance. But health is always a question.
Mikal Bridges, 30, G, 6-6, 200
A championship means the five first-round picks are an afterthought, perhaps easing Bridges’ mind as he enters Year 3 with the franchise. He’s also set to earn a career-high $33.5 million this season as the fourth or fifth option on offense. Not bad, right? We should see a happier Bridges starting in training camp.
Bruce Brown, 30, G, 6-4, 202
Surprising that Brown was only able to secure a non-guaranteed deal in free agency, leaving him in a tight battle for a roster spot. Brown has better pedigree than the competition as a real contributor to the 2023 Nuggets championship team — not to mention he started every game for Denver last season — but the Knicks don’t need another guard. He will need to impress in camp and preseason to earn a spot.
Jalen Brunson, 30, PG, 6-2, 205
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after sinking a 3-point shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
You don’t have to worry about Brunson’s motivation after being crowned the King of New York. But his surgically repaired wrist is worth watching in preseason. Does it impact his shot? His dribble? Did the two-month recovery disrupt his training?
Jordan Clarkson, 34, G, 6-3, 194
The Knicks elder statesman isn’t expected to have a huge role in a crowded backcourt, but he found a way to contribute by committing to defense. Clarkson made a lot of money in his career, scored a lot of points, won a championship. Now he’s the veteran on a one-year deal who is popular in the locker room.
Pacôme Dadiet, 21, F, 6-8, 220
Entering his third Knicks camp, Dadiet, a 2024 first-round pick, is standing close to the label of draft bust. He underwhelmed in Summer League, and there’s no reason the Knicks should pick up his $5.4 million option by the Halloween deadline. Assuming the Knicks pass, Dadiet will be a free agent next summer. That means he’s a trade candidate — especially if the Knicks want to clear cap space to keep a second training-camp invite. The problem is Dadiet has no value in the trade market, so the Knicks would have to attach draft capital to shed his salary.
Mohamed Diawara, 21, F, 6-9, 225
An encouraging rookie season meant Diawara signed a new contract — four years, $11.3 million. Only about half is guaranteed, which means he still has to show progress to stick around. He has the skill and the prototype NBA body but needs to learn more about schemes to truly grow.
Andre Drummond, 33, C, 6-11, 280
The vet newcomer is attempting to fill the shoes of Mitchell Robinson with a slightly different skill set. Drummond’s conditioning has been an issue the past few seasons, and we’ll get a glimpse of his mobility in preseason. One frontcourt injury could catapult Drummond into a huge role with the Knicks.
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) defends against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the second quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Drew Eubanks, 29, C, 6-10, 245
Needs to distinguish himself in his training camp competition against James Wiseman, who is the other center on a nonguaranteed contract. The Knicks will probably only keep one of them. Eubanks carries an experience advantage as an eight-year journeyman.
Josh Hart, 31, F, 6-4, 215
Dealt with back pain, knee pain, finger pain, ankle pain and just general pain during his tenure with the Knicks. Hart sacrifices his body and, as he enters camp extension-eligible, you wonder whether there’s a limit. The good news is Hart’s fitness and conditioning is top level, even for professional athletes. And there’s no way the Knicks are letting Brunson’s best bud leave.
Tyler Kolek, 25, PG, 6-3, 195
Demonstrated in spurts last season that he can shine as an NBA playmaker, though his defense and inability to break presses ultimately took Kolek off the court. A strong preseason could help Kolek’s case for a rotational spot. As it stands, he’s on the outside with Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet as the backcourt backups.
New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) reacts after sinking a 3-point shot during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Jon Konchar, 30, G, 6-5, 210
Reportedly spurned other offers to join the Knicks, and now has to battle for a roster spot on a nonguaranteed contract. Positionally, he doesn’t fit a Knicks need — they have plenty of guards — but he can be a capable NBA backup. Beating out Bruce Brown in training camp is Konchar’s first quest.
Miles McBride, 26, PG, 6-1, 195
Under a microscope, as the Knicks have to decide what to do with their two-way guard. An extension seems unlikely, leaving McBride as a pending free agent and trade candidate. If the Knicks find a way to keep one of their nonguaranteed guards — Bruce Brown or Jon Konchar — McBride becomes more expendable. McBride struggled in the playoffs but had the excuse of recovering from hernia surgery. Now he’s healthy and has a lot on the line.
Kevin McCullar Jr., 25, G, 6-6, 210
Failed to gain traction in the NBA since being drafted by the Knicks in 2024, but the team has have invested its development resources into McCullar, and he’s a candidate for another two-way contract. It would be McCullar’s third year on a two-way deal, which is the max allowed by the league. Then he has to really make the league.
New York Knicks guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (9) defends against Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) during the first quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden, Monday, October 13, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Tyler Nickel, 23, F, 6-7, 220
Probably the most encouraging Knicks performer at Summer League, Nickel, a second-round pick this year, likely will play in G-League this season. Still, his game translates well to the NBA as a tall catch-and-shoot 3-point specialist.
Landry Shamet, 29, SG, 6-4, 190
Holds the security of a multi-year contract after two consecutive camps of surviving on non-guaranteed deals. Shamet is established in the rotation and has the backing of coach Mike Brown, who always believed in the shooting guard. The key is to stay hungry.
Karl-Anthony Towns, 30, C, 7-0, 260
Coming into camp visibly lighter, which is probably a good thing for quickness and injury prevention. Preseason will be the first look at Skinny KAT in action. Towns is eligible for a contract extension for a second straight year, and that might get dicey if he doesn’t want to accept a discount.
James Wiseman, 25, C, 6-11, 240
The most intriguing nonguaranteed contract in camp for a couple reasons: 1) The Knicks need a third center, and Wiseman is the biggest option. 2) As the No. 2 overall pick from 2020, Wiseman’s upside still carries intrigue. He will get a legitimate opportunity to make the roster.
Sep 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) runs towards third base during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The penultimate game of the Dodgers regular season is upon us.
After the Mets received some good news on Juan Soto after he was forced to leave Saturday's game following a HBP, the outfielder is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's season finale.
"Totally fine," manager Andy Green said pregame about Soto's hand. "I think we were anxious about that in the moment – didn’t want him to have to go into the offseason with a broken hand. He felt really good postgame, I think it just gave him pause when it happened and I think it did the same to all of us."
Greensaid after Saturday's game that Soto got dinged up good, but X-rays came back negative.
The All-Star outfielder was dealing with a right hand contusion, but is good to go -- even playing left field in Game 162.
Soto, of course, was struck by former Mets lefty Richard Lovelady in the top of the ninth.
He appeared to be in immediate discomfort, shaking his hand out for several moments before making his way back to the dugout alongside Green and Mets trainers.
Nick Morabito replaced Soto on-base and then in the field.
Soto enjoyed himself a strong day at the plate before leaving with the injury, reaching base three times with a pair of well-struck singles and then the HBP.
That’s not to imply he has been sitting around doing nothing through his first two seasons with the Nets. But with them overtly tanking, it’s been far more teaching than coaching. That should change, starting with this training camp.
Make no mistake, the Nets are still a young, rebuilding team that’s going to be closer to the cellar than a championship, tabbed to be the third-worst in the league by oddsmakers.
But even if they aren’t likely to be a winning team, at least they’re going to try to be one. That should bring a different feeling into the preseason, and ultimately the regular season.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez speaks with the media during post season interviews at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Monday, April 13, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Michael Porter Jr. has proclaimed they can win 50 games, and newcomer Julius Randle vowed that they would “shock the world. … Whatever your expectations are, whatever expectations are put upon us, we’re going to exceed them.”
Fernández has told Randle — and presumably his team — as much.
“Just talking to [Fernández and GM Sean Marks], they’re really excited to have me here,” Randle said over the summer. “Jordi is really excited. He feels like we’ve got a chance to win every single game.”
Just ingraining that as an expectation will be one of the key tasks this training camp and preseason. There is a fine line between playing hard — which the Nets largely did last season — and expecting to win.
In essence, mentally putting the tank behind them.
Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Miami Heat during the first quarter of a game at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on March 3, 2026. Getty Images
Of course, winning in the short term is going to have to be driven by Porter and Randle. Coming off a 20-62 campaign, they’re projected to win just 19.5 to 24.5 this season, even challenging for the Play-In is unlikely. If either Porter or Randle get dealt, unlikely becomes all but impossible.
But that’s a tomorrow problem, not a today one.
And a worry for Marks, not Fernández. His concern is coaching the players he has, for as long as he has them.
That means using training camp and the preseason to craft a competent offense, because Brooklyn didn’t have one last season. They were dead last in the league in offensive rating, effective field goal percentage, true shooting and 3-point percentage.
Julius Randle meets with the media after visiting The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center for their Back to School Clinic on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. J.C. Rice for NY Post
But Fernández has proven adept at wringing career years out of Cam Johnson two years ago and Porter last season. Now having Randle to pair with Porter should help the Nets, giving them an on-ball scorer and floor raiser they’ve desperately needed.
Though Randle tends to pound the ball — his 4.02 seconds per touch last season would’ve trailed only point guards Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf — his game can accentuate Porter’s. The latter was miscast as an on-ball threat, and is best suited cutting and shooting off the catch. That’s why the pairing should work.
Just 9 percent of Porter’s 3-point attempts were wide open according to the league website, the lowest among 307 players who took at least 100 attempts. But Randle was fourth — behind only Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic — in assists on 3-pointers over the past seven seasons.
Randle has proven in the past he can be a bridge player — one to help a team transition from cellar dweller to competent — and a floor raiser.
Now as the Nets come into training camp, it will be up to Fernández to find ways to make Randle just that, to maximize his two proven talents.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by Oumar Ballo #85 of the Miami Heat during the game against the Detroit Pistons during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 13: Matt Wilkinson #71 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well folks, for worse and most certainly for better, the season is almost over. It’s time for the penultimate game of the 2026 campaign for the San Francisco Giants, who host the playoff-bound Los Angeles Dodgers.
For San Francisco, lefty Matt Wilkinson makes the final appearance of his debut season. The 23-year old nicknamed “Tugboat” has made seven appearances and five starts this year, and is 1-3 with a 3.65 ERA, a 4.24 FIP, and 18 strikeouts to four walks in 24.2 innings. Tugboat was excellent his last time out, tossing five shutout innings against this same Dodgers team.
For LA, it’s former Giant Blake Snell. The two-time Cy Young Award-winning lefty has made just eight starts in his second season with the Dodgers, and is 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA, a 1.73 FIP, and 52 strikeouts against 16 walks in 38.2 innings. Snell made one start early in the year, then missed a few months; since returning, he’s yet to give up multiple runs in a game.
Enjoy the baseball, everyone. You’ll miss it when it’s gone, as hard as that is to believe.
