The Knicks lost to the Miami Heat, 115-113, on Monday night despite an exciting comeback late in the fourth quarter and are still in search of their first road win this season.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- Without starters OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, New York went with a starting five of Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. That unit struggled to get things going offensively from the jump as the Knicks managed to score just 20 points in the opening quarter.
In fact, only McBride, Bridges and Josh Hart were able to hit a shot in the first 12 minutes in which New York shot 3-for-9 from deep and 7-for-21 overall. But thanks to an equally poor offensive showing from Miami (25 points on 9-for-25 from the field), the Knicks trailed the Heat by only five points heading to the second quarter.
-- New York changed its tune in the first few minutes of the second quarter and took the lead on a 7-0 run with Jordan Clarkson and Shamet getting in on the action. Things went back and forth from there as both teams exchanged buckets which lead to multiple ties and lead changes.
The Knicks' last lead in the quarter came on Hart's two-pointer with 2:33 left in the half that gave his team a 46-44 advantage. From there, the Heat went on an 11-5 run, including Davion Mitchell's 25-foot three-pointer with less than 10 seconds remaining, to enter halftime with a four-point lead.
-- Out of the break, Towns took over offensively for New York, which needed someone to step up without two of its starters. Towns scored eight of the team's first 10 points of the second half, making his presence felt underneath the rim. Along with Towns were Robinson, Bridges and Hart, who all scored their points inside the paint.
-- Amazingly, the Knicks scored 31 points in the third quarter without making a single three-pointer after they finished the quarter 0-for-5 from deep. As for Miami, it went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, but the team missed multiple mid-range shots to allow New York to climb back with its patient but effective offensive approach.
-- Down one headed to the fourth quarter, the Knicks took multiple leads in the first few minutes. They even hit a three-pointer when McBride drilled a deep one to untie the game with 10:44 left in the game. It would be the only triple made by either team for nearly eight minutes as both offenses leaned on attacking the rim.
-- During that time, the Heat went on a 14-3 run to take the lead and separate themselves by 10 points with 3:10 to play. However, McBride would hit two threes to cut Miami's lead to four points and after Towns drilled two free throws with 1:10 left the Knicks were down by just two points.
After a Norman Powell two-pointer upped the Heat's lead back to four, Towns buried one from deep to make it a one-point game with 22.4 seconds left. New York immediately fouled on Miami's next possession and had a chance to tie or take the lead on its next possession after Mitchell made one of two free throws.
-- It appeared as though the Knicks did tie it after Kel'el Ware was called for goaltending on Towns' two-point shot with 13.2 seconds remaining, but after a ref-initiated review the goaltending call was overturned. New York had another chance to tie it or win the game, but McBride missed a shot from four feet out and the game was over.
-- McBride finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-for-23 shooting (5-for-12 from deep), but came up short on the biggest shot of the night.
-- The Knicks are now 0-4 away from MSG this season.
Game MVP: Kel'el Ware
Not only did his controversial block (one of three on the night) at the end serve as the game-winning play, he also had a double-double (16 points, 14 rebounds).
If there was ever a night for the Edmonton Oilers to show up and find a higher level of play, Monday night was it. Their matchup with the Buffalo Sabres was a chance to handle business. The Sabres had a losing record in their past ten games; they were playing a backup-to-the-backup in net, and everything screamed “just don’t screw this up.”
But, as the Oilers have often done this season, they found a way to bring less than their A-Game. In fact, it wasn't a B or C-level effort. Edmonton lowered the bar… and then proceeded to crawl under it.
Buffalo started Colten Ellis, a goalie with three NHL games under his belt. Edmonton responded by barely testing him. No urgency. No desperation. No recognition that they had been handed the softest landing spot of their seven-game road trip.
The first period summed up the vibe perfectly with just seven shots after the Sabres opened the door with only six shots of their own. It was 1-0 at the end of the first for the Sabres. The Oilers tied it in the second when Jack Roslovic roofed it, scoring his 15th point in 19 games. Leon Draisaitl fed Roslovic with a slick little backhand tee-up, and Roslovic finished the play, suggesting the Oilers were right back in the game.
But instead of building on the goal, the Oilers did what they’ve perfected this season: took their foot off the gas.
Chaos in the defensive zone led to Bowen Byram making it 2–1. Then Rasmus Dahlin tossed a puck from the point that found a tip for 3–1. Edmonton was getting caved in. The Sabres smelled blood. Meanwhile, the Oilers looked lifeless and unprepared to put forth the effort required.
Knoblauch Pressed The Big-Line Panic Button
When it was clear the Sabres were tilting the ice, head coach Kris Knobloch went to the “break glass” move: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman on one line. Small moments hinted the move could help the team, but it didn’t shift the momentum. To end the second, the Oilers pushed, and Darnell Nurse got a perfect pass from Roslovic and couldn’t finish. A late scrap saw Vasily Podkolzin stand up for McDavid after a nasty hit, but even that spark didn’t transfer to the bench.
Bob Stauffer summarized it between periods: “Lifeless. Chasing games. Same thing every time in Buffalo.” Hard to argue.
Sabres Pull Away, Oilers Fold
Ostlund scored again in the third—his second of the night—with way too much time and space as he circled behind the net. There was no resistance, no urgency, and no coverage. For the most part, it was just a team watching the play happen.
Knobloch pulled the goalie, and Edmonton finally took some shots on an inexperienced goalie -- one who was available to the Oilers via waivers on October 6 --, but by then, Ellis looked like a seasoned pro. McDavid capped the disaster by coughing up three times in one shift, finally to Tage Thompson, who fired it into the empty net.
Not Good Enough—Again
The Sabres wanted the game more. Full stop. Edmonton tied it 1–1, and instead of pushing, they sagged. Buffalo pushed, and the Oilers let them.
After the game, Podkolzin summed it up: “We better figure it out as soon as possible" He was one of the few Oilers who had any sense of urgency. When asked about his fight with Peyton Krebs, he noted he didn't have much to say, but did respond, "No one can play against our leaders like that. The whole team will protect them.” He walked the walk. Not many others did.
"After their power play goal, we let up a little bit just with confidence or emotion, we just didn't have the same jump we had starting the game.... Buffalo played with that emotion, that speed, and were the better team the second half of the game," Knoblauch said of the team's effort. He said they let the Sabres run around too much. "I have expectations that we can better... there's a lot of things we can get better, make our team harder to play against. A lot of things to clean up."
Another night, another game where Edmonton got exactly what they deserved. Until they stop lowering the bar—and tripping over it—nothing changes.
Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey scored 23 points apiece and No. 16 Iowa State pulled away late in the first half of a 96-57 win over Stonehill on Monday night. Jefferson added nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals in a terrific all-around performance that helped the Cyclones (4-0) to another lopsided victory. Iowa State missed all seven of its 3-point attempts in the first half but went 5 of 8 to start the second and put away the game.
John Blackwell scored 24 points, Nick Boyd added 22 and No. 23 Wisconsin closed a four-game, season-opening homestand by defeating SIU Edwardsville 94-69 on Monday night. Wisconsin has scored at least 85 points in each of its first four games for the first time since the 1975-76 season. Wisconsin plays its next three games away from Kohl Center as its schedule gets tougher.
In their first game since the massive news of Adrian Kempe signing long-term, the Los Angeles Kings fell to the Washington Capitals by a score of 2-1. The loss ends the Kings impressive four-game win steak.
The score makes the game seem closer than it was thanks to Darcy Kuemper, who gave his team a chance to make it a game with due to his terrific play throughout. LA's offense was silenced aside from a second period tally by Anze Kopitar on the man advantage.
Only one team seemed ready to play out of the gate and they were rewarded for it quickly. The Capitals were the better team for much of the opening frame as they wasted no time getting on the board.
Washington took a 1-0 lead just under four minutes into the first thanks to blue-liner Matt Roy. Roy, who spent the first six years of his career in Los Angeles scored his first of the season with an impressive tip-in past Darcy Kuemper. The Kings were punished for the defensive breakdown as the 30-year-old defenseman was all alone in front of the net while all five LA skaters were at, or above the hashmarks.
The Kings had a brief three-minute stretch where they showed some push back after falling behind but the Capitals took control of the period shortly after. Let's just say Darcy Kuemper's teammates should have been showering their goaltender with compliments and 'thank you's' as he made plenty of important saves including a terrific stop on a breakaway chance from Tom Wilson.
The Captains Shine In The Second
This could be a hot take, but it might not be a good idea to leave the greatest goal scorer in the history of the planet alone in front of the net.
'The Great Eight' proved why as he buried his sixth goal of the season early in the second period to double the Capitals lead. Kings defensemen Cody Ceci and Jacob Moverare did not communicate with each other as they both left their positions in front of the net to help out in a puck battle, leaving Ovechkin open and of course the puck found his stick. Ovechkin's 903rd career goal which is also his 13th career goal against the Kings gives the Capitals a 2-0 lead early in the second period.
Much like the majority of the first period, things were looking bleak for the Kings. That was until their captain cut the deficit in half with a power play goal. After they failed to score on their first power play opportunity, the Kings got on the board thanks to Anze Kopitar having his stick on the ice in front of the net. Corey Perry continues to play like its 2011 again as he hit Kopitar with a beautiful pass and all the LA captain had to was be strong on his stick. Perry and Kevin Fiala pick up the helpers. Kopi's third goal of the season brings the score to 2-1, keeping his team in the game entering the final 20 minutes.
Although they had plenty of opportunities to tie this game, the Kings were unable to capitalize. The final 40 minutes were much better than the opening 20 but it was clear which team deserved the two points tonight.
Washington did a great job not allowing LA to get their mojo going and when they did stumble upon some scoring chances, Charlie Lindgren was there to shut the door.
Washington hands Los Angeles their first loss of the road trip. Coming into the trip it wasn't very realistic to expect the Kings to go 6-0 so a close loss against a hungry Capitals team isn't the end of the world.
However, the Kings (10-6-4) will look to end the six-game road trip on a high when they visit the San Jose Sharks (8-8-3) on Thursday, November 20th at 7:00 PM PT/10:00 PM ET.
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It has been exactly two weeks since Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke dressed for a game day.
And, now, the 19-year-old is eligible for an AHL loophole that may benefit both him and the Penguins.
As of Sunday's win against the Nashville Predators, Brunicke was a healthy scratch for a fifth consecutive game at the NHL level, meaning he is now eligible to be sent to the AHL on a conditioning loan.
Normally - per the current NHL-CHL agreement - teenagers are not eligible to play in the AHL. However, with this loophole, Pittsburgh can loan Brunicke to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins for a maximum of either 14 days or five games. They can only do this once, and WBS is scheduled to play exactly five games within the next 14 days.
Brunicke - selected 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024 - has played in nine games at the NHL level this season, which means his entry-level contract has not yet been activated. His last NHL appearance came in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 3, and he was a minus-2 in that game alongside fellow defensive prospect Owen Pickering.
It has been a bit of a mixed bag for Brunicke to begin his NHL career, as he has shown high-ceiling potential in transition and offensively but is still working to get up to speed on NHL reads and his net-front work. Should the Penguins elect to send him to WBS on a conditioning loan, it would push out their decision on activating his entry-level contract, and the end of the stint would also bring him closer to the World Junior Championship - which Brunicke is eligible to be lent to Team Canada for.
At the end of his 2024-25 junior season with the Kamloops Blazers - in which Brunicke worked around a wrist injury setback and registered five goals and 30 points in 45 games - he played in 10 regular season games with WBS as well as in two postseason contests. By the end of his AHL stint, he rounded into top form, as he put up a goal and two points in the two playoff games playing in WBS's top-four as an 18-year-old.
Pittsburgh's next game is Friday against the Minnesota Wild, and WBS also plays Friday, when they will travel to Hartford, Conn. to take on the Wolf Pack.
The Florida Panthers continued their second-longest homestand of the season on Monday night when they welcomed the Vancouver Canucks to Sunrise.
On a night there was no shortage of offense that will have both coaches wanting to set the game tape on fire, Florida found the back of the net eight times, skating to an 8-5 victory at Amerant Bank Arena.
Florida played some very strong defensive hockey during the game’s early stages, holding Vancouver without a shot for the game’s first 11 minutes.
Just a few minutes later, the Canucks broke the ice for the first goal of the night.
Sergei Bobrovsky thought he had the puck covered after a wraparound chance by Drew O’Connor, but the puck slipped under Bob’s glove and right back to O’Connor, giving Vancouver a 1-0 lead with 5:10 to go in the first period.
A tripping penalty on Uvis Balinskis gave Vancouver a power play moments after their goal, and the visitors made sure to take advantage.
Right off the ensuing draw, Vancouver quickly got set up and Jake DeBrusk slammed home a perfect cross-ice pass from Keifer Sherwood to five Vancouver a 2-0 lead on consecutive shots.
The two-goal lead didn’t last long, though.
Carter Verhaeghe found A.J. Greer gliding into the Canucks’ zone, and his quick wrist shot went sailing past the blocker of Jiri Patera to get the Cats on the board with 4:12 to go in the period.
Florida then cashed in with a power play goal in the final seconds of the period to tie the score at two.
Seth Jones worked a nice give-and-go with Sam Reinhart while crossing the Canucks blue line, and then Jones went in all lone on Patera and beat him five hole with just 7.7 seconds on the clock.
It didn’t take long once the second period began for Florida to take their first lead of the game.
Working with the puck in Vancouver’s zone following a faceoff, Luke Kunin found a Noah Gregor rebound and deposited the puck into a yawning cage at the 2:23 mark of the middle frame.
They weren’t done there.
A perfect no-look pass from behind the net by Sam Reinhart found the stick of Evan Rodrigues on the doorstep, and his fifth goal of the season gave the Panthers a 4-2 lead.
Then, just 67 seconds later, Anton Lundell collected a Brad Marchand pass from the corner and his shot from inside the right circle went over Patera’s blocker to make it five straight goals by the home team.
A mere 38 seconds after that, Elias Pettersson finished off a 2-on-1 with Evander Kane to cut into Florida’s newfound lead, making it 5-3 with 12:05 to go in the second period.
Less than two minutes into the final frame, Pettersson scored again, this time flipping a quick backhand over Bobrovsky’s glove to make it a one-goal game.
After a Jeff Petry high stick just moments after the goal, Vancouver’s Filip Hronek finished off a rush play to tie the game at five with 16:46 to go.
Just 48 seconds after that, Sam Bennett deflected a point shot by Niko Mikkola past Patera to quickly put the Cats back in front.
Jones would add a second power play goal with 11:41 to go in the period, taking a smart pass from Reinhart after cutting down from the point and one-timing the puck into an open far side of the cage.
A Marchand empty-net goal with 1:46 to go would seal the deal for the Panthers.
Photo caption: Nov 1, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates with defenseman Seth Jones (3), defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) and right wing Mackie Samoskevich (11) after the game against the Dallas Stars at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Darrion Williams scored 28 points, Tre Holloman added 25 and No. North Carolina State marked its first appearance in the national rankings this season by beating VCU 85-79 on Monday night. Matt Able had 12 points off the bench and Ven-Allen Lubin provided 11 points and nine rebounds for the Wolfpack (4-0), who overcame 17 turnovers.
Even after a trade deadline when the Mets parted with 10 prospects to make a run in 2025, their farm system still ranks among the best in the sport. Notably, ESPN notably ranks the Mets first.
It is a good blend of high-end, close-to-major-league-ready talent and players at the lower levels with real upside -- especially on the pitching side. Nine of the top 10 prospects below finished the season in either Double-A, Triple-A or the majors while still maintaining prospect eligibility.
The 2026 season is a big year for the organization. There should be a real expectation to get impact from the farm system. Mets fans saw some of the top pitchers debut in 2025, and there should be a 2026 expectation to see more pitching -- as well as some position-player impact.
As tough as 2025 was for the Mets, they are still set up well for near-term success with young talent and payroll flexibility with potential for long-term stability.
Here are the Mets’ top 30 prospects for the 2025-26 offseason:
1. RHP Nolan McLean
Nolan McLean is a prospect I was high on entering the 2025 season when I ranked him third in the system, and it turns out I was not high enough. He had a breakout 2025, rising to the big leagues and posting a 2.06 ERA in 48 innings, just staying under the threshold to remain prospect eligible.
McLean can spin a baseball as well and efficiently as anyone in baseball, and he made significant strides in 2025 against left-handed hitters. He emphasized his sinker and curveball, the latter being a pitch he hardly threw before 2025. The next step in his development is improving his control and command -- not that it was a big issue, but there’s always room to grow.
McLean should be lined up to pitch at or near the top of the Mets’ rotation in 2026. He should be considered one of the early favorites to win the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year, which, if he did, would net the Mets a pick just after the first round in the 2027 MLB Draft.
MLB ETA: Already made it
2. OF Carson Benge
It was close between McLean and Carson Benge for who would top this list. Both are likely to be considered among the top 20 prospects in baseball when national outlets re-rank their top 100 lists.
After being selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Benge had a meteoric rise from a prospect who appeared on only one top 100 list (Baseball Prospectus) before 2025 to one of the best outfield prospects in baseball. Benge will get the chance to compete to be the Mets’ Opening Day center fielder in 2026, David Stearns said.
Benge played at three levels, finishing the season at Triple-A. He posted a .281/.385/.472 slash line with 25 doubles, 15 home runs and 73 RBI in 116 games.
He has an above-average offensive profile across the board. His power coming into pro ball was more naturally to left-center field and the opposite way. There are some moving parts to his swing, but he showed the hand quickness to pull the ball more as the season went on.
Defensively is where the questions arise. In talking to evaluators, the ideal outcome would be Benge in a corner outfield spot because he is more of an average or slightly above-average athlete with a plus arm. However, his defense in center field improved throughout 2025. He could have a defensive center field profile like Trent Grisham, who makes it work on reads, reaction and jumps rather than pure athleticism. Benge has a chance to be a core member of the Mets’ offense.
MLB ETA: 2026
3. INF/CF Jett Williams
Jett Williams had a bounce-back season in 2025 after he missed all but 33 games in 2024.
In 96 games in 2025 with Double-A Binghamton, Williams hit .281/.390/.477 with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 37 RBI and 32 stolen bases. Like Benge, Williams had an adjustment period in Triple-A but did hit seven home runs in just 34 Triple-A games.
He has an above-average hit tool and plate discipline with some sneaky power. Despite his smaller stature, he posted an above-average 104.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity in Triple-A, which is right in line with Benge’s number. At times, there is some over-swinging in his game. But when Williams is at his best, he smacks line drives to all fields. He is capable of jumping on a mistake pitch and doing some damage.
Defensively, he has played all three up-the-middle spots with second base likely being his best long-term home. He is a plus runner who has flashed some potential in center field but is clearly more natural in the dirt.
Williams projects as a top-of-the-order, everyday player who should get on base at a good clip with 30-plus-stolen-base potential. He may not be as likely for an Opening Day role, but he should push for a job in the big leagues in 2026.
MLB ETA: 2026
4. RHP Jonah Tong
Jonah Tong had an uneven first seven starts to his big-league career, but that debut came on the heels of one of the best minor league seasons in recent memory. In 22 minor league starts, 20 of which came with Double-A Binghamton, Tong posted video game-like numbers with a 1.43 ERA in 113.2 innings. He allowed only 58 hits and led minor league baseball with 179 strikeouts.
He comes with two plus pitches in a fastball that averaged 95 mph in the big leagues and will get up to 98 mph. What makes that pitch special is not just the velocity, but the induced vertical break or “ride” on it. Tong’s 19.8-inch IVB was tied for fourth best of any pitcher in baseball.
Tong has tinkered with different changeup grips since turning pro, and before 2025 he settled on a Vulcan changeup grip, which was a menace to minor league hitters.
At the major league level, he needs to develop a third pitch he can rely on. Tong has the old-school, slow, 12-6 curve that flashes but must land it for strikes more often than he has. He has tinkered with slider/cutter grips but yet to find one that he can land consistently.
He comes from an extreme over-the-top arm angle, which adds deception and borderline elite extension that makes pitches feel as if they are jumping at hitters. Tong could use a little more minor league time, but with improvement in command and refinement of a third and maybe fourth pitch, the sky’s the limit. Without that development, there is a non-zero chance for some reliever risk.
MLB ETA: Already made it
5. RHP Brandon Sproat
Brandon Sproat is the third prospect on this list to have already made his major league debut. He was the last of the three starting pitchers to get called up, but the Mets were impressed by his growth in 2025.
Entering the 2025 season, Sproat was the consensus No. 1 prospect in the Mets’ system despite struggling in his first taste of Triple-A action in 2024. That struggle carried over into the early part of 2025, then there were a couple of changes. Sproat had not been the aggressive pitcher he was in college and early in his pro career.
He began to throw more sinkers and sweepers, which were pitches he learned in 2024 but took time to perfect and trust in-game. He also had a mental shift where he was just going to let it loose and pitch.
Everything ticked up velocity-wise, and he had a 30% strikeout rate, which was double his number from earlier in the season.
This led to Sproat’s call-up, where his poise stood out. He has to continue to work on his control and command and continue to refine his pitches to try to miss bats at closer to his rate at the end of his run in Triple-A than he did in his short stint in the majors.
He threw six different pitches, according to Statcast, headlined by his mid-to-upper-90s sinker and four-seam fastball. He had an uptick in curveball usage, similar to McLean, as a way to combat left-handed hitters. Sproat may be more floor than upside at this stage, but he appears big-league ready now. It will come down to whether the opportunity is available for him.
A.J. Ewing was the biggest riser in the Mets’ 2025 system. He began the season outside the top 30 and climbed all the way to No. 6.
The 20-year-old played across three levels, ending the season with Double-A Binghamton. In 124 games, he hit .315/.401/.429 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, three home runs and 70 stolen bases.
Ewing’s game is based primarily on bat-to-ball skills, limiting swing-and-miss and spraying line drives while using his legs. He can turn on a mistake to the pull side, but home run power is not likely to be a big part of his game. He showed growth by increasing his line-drive percentage from 20.1% in 2024 to 29.3% in 2025, which is a good sign.
Defensively, he has played all three outfield spots as well as second base. He is an electric athlete with true plus speed and a tick-above-average arm. The Mets feel comfortable that he will handle center field at the next level but have the versatility to play anywhere in the outfield.
His strikeout rate ticked up in Double-A, so that will be something to watch in 2026. If he can add strength to hit the ball harder, that will elevate his upside. Either way, Ewing profiles as a center fielder who projects to hit for average, get on base and be impactful on the basepaths. The Mets’ scouting department may have found something in the 2023 fourth-round pick. One scout who saw him play said Ewing looks like a Pete Crow-Armstrong-lite type of player.
MLB ETA: 2027
7. 3B/1B Jacob Reimer
After missing nearly all of the 2024 season because of a torn hamstring, Jacob Reimer put together a complete 2025.
He made mechanical adjustments to his swing and opened his stance slightly. He increased his bat speed, and those changes showed in the results.
In 122 games, evenly split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, Reimer hit .282/.379/.491 (.870 OPS) with 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 77 RBI.
Reimer has always been considered to have raw power, and he displayed it in batting practice, but 2025 was the first time it translated into game action and graded out as above average, borderline plus. He has an advanced plan at the plate and probably an average to slightly above-average hit tool.
Reimer is a below-average athlete with plenty of arm for third base, but he may profile best across the diamond at first, which will put more pressure on the bat to continue to grow. Reimer’s 2025 season is a feather in the cap for the Mets’ player development department, helping him turn raw tools into game action across a full season. He could be a future 25-home-run corner bat.
MLB ETA: 2027
8. 1B Ryan Clifford
Ryan Clifford unquestionably has the best power tool in the Mets’ system, grading out at least plus.
In 139 games, most of which were with Double-A Binghamton, Clifford hit .237/.356/.470 with 23 doubles, 29 home runs (fifth in all of minor league baseball) and 71 RBI.
His hit tool is below average, with a strong lean toward fly balls that will make it unlikely for Clifford to sustain a high batting average. To his credit, Clifford decreased his strikeout rate from 29.6% in 2024 to 25.6% in 2025.
Clifford’s profile is likely to be based on on-base ability and power. He will take his walks, posting a 15% walk rate in 2025. At the Triple-A level, he showed elite exit velocity and hard-hit rate numbers.
Defensively, he has played some corner outfield with plenty of arm strength to handle it. But his athletic profile fits better at first base, where he could be above average defensively.
The 2026 season will be big for Clifford. If he can continue to trim his strikeout rate, he could become an impactful middle-of-the-order bat with the potential for 30-plus home runs. It will come down to making enough contact to maximize that tool.
MLB ETA: 2026
9. SS Elian Peña
Elian Peña signed with the Mets this past January for $5 million, a franchise-record bonus for an international amateur.
Peña started his professional career in the Dominican Summer League by going 0-for-26. However, in the remaining 46 games, Peña hit .342/.463/.618 (1.081 OPS) with 13 doubles, nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 18 stolen bases while walking more (33) than he struck out (29).
The 18-year-old, while still incredibly raw, possesses strong bat-to-ball skills with a compact, quick swing and plus plate discipline. As he physically matures, he should develop at least above-average power. There are 25-plus home runs in the bat, scouts believe, and his raw power showed with two separate three-home-run games in 2025.
Defensively, he is playing shortstop. However, as he matures, he is most likely to end up at third base long term, scouts believe.
Peña has the type of potential that a year from now he could top this list. It will be a good challenge for him to come stateside in 2026.
MLB ETA: 2029
10. LHP Jonathan Santucci
Jonathan Santucci entered the 2024 season, his last at Duke, looking like a potential mid-first-round pick. He dealt with injuries that led to him falling to the second round, where the Mets felt fortunate to land him.
Santucci struggled to begin his professional career (8.14 ERA in his first six starts), but he performed like one of the best pitchers in the minors the rest of the season.
In his next 17 starts across 96.2 innings, Santucci posted a 1.96 ERA with 117 strikeouts. Opposing batters hit only .180 against him, and he walked three batters per nine innings.
Santucci starts with a clean, athletic delivery and two plus pitches: a mid-90s fastball that touches 97 and an upper-80s power slider that he leaned on. He also has a changeup and dabbled with a curveball, but those pitches need work.
There is reliever risk if he cannot fine-tune his command and develop that third pitch. If Santucci can turn in average command and an average third offering with a fourth he can sprinkle in, there is mid-rotation upside.
MLB ETA: 2026
11. RHP Jack Wenninger
Jake Wenninger had an excellent campaign with Double-A Binghamton, posting a 2.92 ERA in 135.2 innings and ranking within the top 20 in minor league baseball with 147 strikeouts. He also played a pivotal role in Binghamton’s Eastern League championship run.
Wenninger has a four-pitch mix with a fastball that ticked up in velocity, touching 97 this year. His best pitch is his plus splitter, which he uses as a swing-and-miss offering. He also has a slider and curveball. He projects as a potential No. 4 starter.
MLB ETA: 2026
12. RHP Will Watson
The 2024 seventh-round pick pitched across three levels in 2025, reaching Double-A and posting a 2.60 ERA in 121.1 innings, allowing only 88 hits and striking out 142. Will Watson has a four-pitch mix headed by a four-seam fastball that ticked up in pro ball, up to 97 mph from a low three-quarter slot with ride. He also throws a slider, changeup and cutter.
Watson needs to refine his command, but he could be a future big-league starter. If Watson does not take that step, he has previous relief experience and could fit as a power reliever.
Nick Morabito had a solid season with Double-A Binghamton, slashing .273/.348/.385 with 27 doubles, six home runs, 59 RBI and 49 stolen bases. He needs to impact the baseball more and hit it less on the ground, scouts said. He had a huge Arizona Fall League, slashing .362/.450/.464 in 17 games with 16 stolen bases. Importantly, he flashed plus exit velocities with a 108.6 mph 90th percentile EV and 111.8 mph max EV. Morabito is an excellent athlete who can play center field at the next level.
The impact of the bat will determine whether he becomes an everyday player or more of a fourth outfielder. The Mets will need to add him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
MLB ETA: 2027
14. 2B Mitch Voit
Mitch Voit was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Michigan, where he had a breakout year for the Wolverines with a 1.140 OPS in 56 games. The former two-way player will focus exclusively on offense in pro ball, and he got a taste with Low-A St. Lucie, where he posted a .638 OPS in 22 games with 20 stolen bases.
Offensively, Voit has excellent bat speed and in-zone contact rates. His swing naturally lofts the ball in the air, and he posts above-average, at times plus, exit velocities.
He is a good athlete who thrived at second base despite never playing it before this season, making multiple highlight-reel plays in his first pro stint. He projects more as a high-floor player than a high-ceiling one.
MLB ETA: 2028
15. C/1B/OF Chris Suero
Chris Suero followed up a season split between High-A and Double-A, where he posted a .786 OPS with 16 home runs in 115 games and an excellent Arizona Fall League. He slashed .283/.353/.567 with five home runs (tied for second in the AFL) in 15 games.
Suero lacks a true standout tool but is average across the board with the chance for more power. In Scottsdale, he posted a max 112.5 mph exit velocity and a 60.5% hard-hit rate. His versatility could carry him to the big leagues, even in a reserve role, where his ability to catch adds value.
MLB ETA: 2027
16. OF Eli Serrano III
Eli Serrano III had a strong start to his pro career in 2025, then suffered an ankle injury and never performed offensively like he did early on. There is belief that he will take a step forward when he gets out of the confines of Brooklyn. Serrano hit .189 with a .635 OPS at home and .255 with a .743 OPS on the road.
He added weight to his 6-foot-5 frame and has above-average raw power and a solid plan at the plate. Serrano played all three outfield spots with right field being the best fit for his plus throwing arm.
MLB ETA: 2027
17. RHP Dylan Ross
Dylan Ross was called up to the majors for the last weekend of the 2025 season but will have to wait until 2026 to make his MLB debut. The 24-year-old pitched at three levels, primarily Triple-A. He posted a 2.17 ERA in 54 innings, allowing only 29 hits and striking out 80. It’s a pure power-reliever profile with a fastball that averages 97 mph and touches triple digits. He generated big swing-and-miss numbers on both his low-90s splitter (48.3% whiff rate) and upper-80s slider (67.7% whiff rate).
Ross will need to work through command issues (5.5 walks per nine), but there is belief that being another year removed from Tommy John surgery could help. Ross will compete for a spot in the Mets’ Opening Day bullpen.
MLB ETA: Already made it
18. SS Antonio Jimenez
The Mets selected Antonio Jimenez in the third round of the 2025 draft after he posted a .982 OPS with 11 home runs in 55 games for UCF. He possesses above-average bat speed, and in college he punished velocity to the pull side. Jimenez has work to do on recognizing spin, but Hitting 101 starts with hitting the fastball.
In a small sample with Low-A St. Lucie, he posted strong zone-contact numbers and avoided swing-and-miss issues. Defensively, je has a plus arm but may lack the range for shortstop long term. Jimenez may project best as a utility infielder.
MLB ETA: 2028
19. RHP Ryan Lambert
Ryan Lambert is a pure reliever who posted a 1.62 ERA in 46 games (39 at Double-A), allowing only 31 hits in 50 innings while striking out 81. He is a prototype reliever prospect with two pitches: a plus fastball that sits 96-97 mph and touches 100 mph, and a power mid-to-upper-80s slider.
Lambert currently has below-average command, but if the Mets can extract a little more, he has the stuff and bulldog mentality to be a high-leverage reliever. Expect him to make his MLB debut in 2026.
MLB ETA: 2026
20. LHP Zach Thornton
Zach Thornton was pitching as well as anyone in the Mets’ organization before an oblique injury at the end of June ended his season. He posted a 1.98 ERA in 14 starts across 72.2 innings, striking out 78 and walking only 11 batters.
He can control a four-pitch mix with a fastball that sits in the 91-94 mph range, supplemented by a slider, curveball and changeup. He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
MLB ETA: 2027
21. RHP R.J. Gordon
R.J. Gordon starred at Oregon and was a 13th-round pick in the 2024 draft. He was mostly a reliever his first two seasons with the Ducks, then had internal brace surgery and returned as a starter in 2024, struggling to a 5.13 ERA. His first pro season was a success, posting a 3.36 ERA in 128.2 innings with 147 strikeouts.
His stuff has ticked up, with his fastball now touching 95 mph, and there is belief that he has more in the tank. He added a “kick change” this year, which was a source of swings and misses. Gordon has two solid breaking balls in a slider and curveball. He could be a back-end starter or a multi-inning reliever.
MLB ETA: 2027
22. RHP Peter Kussow
Peter Kussow was the Mets’ fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft out of high school in Wisconsin. The Mets signed him for $897,500, which is second-round money. He is already well built at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds with broad shoulders and natural stuff.
Kussow is raw, as is usual for cold-weather pitchers, but has a fastball that will touch 97 mph and a power slider that reaches the upper 80s. He has a changeup, but it needs work as he didn’t need it in high school. Kussow is a name to watch entering 2026.
MLB ETA: 2030
23. RHP Jonathan Pintaro
Jonathan Pintaro briefly appeared at the big-league level in 2025 after being signed out of independent ball just more than a year ago.
He converted from starter to reliever but still manages a five-pitch mix with a four-seam fastball up to 97 mph, plus a cutter, sweeper, changeup and slider. He projects best as a potential multi-inning relief option.
MLB ETA: Already made it
24. INF Boston Baro
Boston Baro was a hyped prospect entering the 2025 season and even homered in the Spring Breakout game. Baro didn’t have that type of season, hitting only .224 with a .602 OPS.
He is still only 21 years old, puts the ball in play and is a good athlete with a strong throwing arm. He will need to find a way to impact the baseball to climb back up this list.
MLB ETA: 2028
25. INF Marco Vargas
Marco Vargas was once the headlining piece in the trade that sent David Robertson to Miami.
The hit tool hasn’t translated as expected, but Vargas still has excellent plate discipline and avoids strikeouts. He is a quality defender up the middle, but it’s hard to see anything more than a utility-infielder ceiling.
MLB ETA: 2027
Yovanny Rodriguez / Courtesy of Klutch Sports Group/SNY treated image
26. C Yovanny Rodriguez
Yovanny Rodriguez was the Mets’ top international signing in the 2024 class. After a tough first pro season, the 18-year-old hit .336/.446/.493 (.939 OPS) in 44 games while repeating the Dominican Summer League. He is a hit-over-power profile with above-average plate discipline. Defensively, he has grown as a receiver, but his strength is his plus arm. He threw out 29% of baserunners this year.
MLB ETA: 2029
27. INF Jeremy Rodriguez
Jeremy Rodriguez struggled with a .540 OPS as an 18-year-old for Low-A St. Lucie. Now 19, Rodriguez needs to physically mature. His average and 90th percentile exit velocities were well below average. His max EV of 109.4 mph was above average, so there is something there.
He ranked near the best in the league in whiff rate and in-zone contact percentage. He is an average athlete who can play both second base and shortstop. Rodriguez should repeat Low-A in 2026.
MLB ETA: 2028
28. C Daiverson Gutiérrez
Daiverson Gutiérrez’s best trait is putting the bat on the ball and avoiding strikeouts. In 91 games with Low-A St. Lucie, he had almost as many walks (53) as strikeouts (58). Gutiérrez shows the natural ability to loft the baseball, but he needs to hit it harder more consistently.
Defensively, Gutiérrez is an average receiver with above-average arm strength, but suboptimal pop times have led to stolen base issues. He threw out only 17% of runners in 2025.
MLB ETA: 2029
29. RHP Camden Lohman
Camden Lohman was the Mets’ eighth-round pick in the 2025 draft out of high school in Missouri. He signed for $797,500, which is third-round money. Lohman is a projectable 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds with room to grow.
He was a late bloomer with his fastball up to 95 mph and shows the ability to spin the ball with a slider and curveball. Lohman is a fun developmental project for the Mets’ player development group. Don’t be surprised if he takes a big step forward in his first pro season.
MLB ETA: 2030
30. RHP Nathan Hall
Nathan Hall was the Mets’ sixth-round pick out of Division II Central Missouri. After four starts in 2025, he underwent internal brace elbow surgery. When healthy, he features a mid-90s fastball that touches 98 mph, a mid-80s sweeper and a curveball.
Hall could have gone in the second or third round if not for his injury, MLB.com’s Jim Callis said at the time of the draft. The expectation is that Hall should be ready not long into the 2026 season and for the Mets to deploy him as a starter.
Yoshimobu Yamamoto celebrates after beating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
In a series of photos filled with cuteness coming from his fur baby, the Dodgers pitcher showed off his best friend, Carlos, on Instagram during the weekend.
“He’s gentle and loves a slow life,” Yamamoto wrote in his post. “He loves naps, walks, and eating good food.”
In the series of wholesome photos of Carlos in his dad’s arm, wearing sunglasses and resting, the pitcher included a video of when he first met his future K9 in August.
“I’m really happy mi Carlitos is with me now,” he added.
The two-time World Series winner adopted him from Best Friends LA, which replied to his post saying Carlos was a fan favorite in their location — loved by staff and volunteers.
“We’re so happy Carlos has found such a happy home with you,” Best Friends LA's Instagram account commented on Yamamoto’s post.
Yamamoto joined the Dodgers in 2023 after signing a 12-year, $325-million deal. Since joining them, he’s won back-to-back championships.
Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo injured his groin just three minutes before halftime in the Milwaukee Bucks' game on Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The nine-time All-Star appeared to tweak something earlier in the game but had played through it. Then, with 3:16 left in the second half, he attempted a layup through contact and missed. As soon as he landed, he winced in pain but was able to get down the court to commit a foul on defense. He immediately walked off the court and into the locker room and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo started grabbing at his groin as soon as he went down on that last attempt at the rim.
He hobbled down the floor, committed a quick foul and immediately walked off the floor and into the locker room.
It's too early to have any firm timeline on how long Antetokounmpo could be out, but the way that he was unable to run and the quickness with which he left the court and headed to the locker room are not positive signs. Even groin injuries that don't appear significant at first, like the one suffered by Magic forward Paolo Banchero last week, can lead to at least a week's absence. Teams also tend to be more cautious with stars like Antetokounmpo, especially this early in the season, as we saw with the Spurs deciding to hold Victor Wembanyama out for 2-3 weeks with a calf strain.
Antetokounmpo was in the middle of another solid performance on Monday, posting 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 13 minutes on 6-10 shooting from the field. On the season, the 30-year-old is 2nd in the NBA in points per game with 32.6, while also averaging 11.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks for the Bucks.
Milwaukee started the second half with Jericho Sims in the lineup for Antetokounmpo. That was the first time Sims had entered the game on Monday, and the 27-year-old came into the game averaging 1.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 6.8 minutes per game on the season. If Antetokounmpo were to miss an extended period of time, it remains to be seen how Milwaukee would try to plug the hole in their lineup, but his loss would be close to an insurmountable one.
It’s long past time to dispense with the euphemisms: Scott Wedgewood isn’t merely playing like a No. 1 goaltender — he is one.
They say you ride the rested goaltender, the one who gives you the best chance to win on any given night. For the Avalanche, the numbers make a compelling argument. In 19 appearances last season, Scott Wedgewood posted a career-best 1.99 goals against average along with a .917 save percentage. This year, through 15 starts, many of them against opponents coming in on lengthy winning streaks, Wedgewood has remained remarkably consistent, carrying a 2.17 goals against average while matching that same .917 save percentage.
Since the end of last season, critics have insisted that Wedgewood’s career resurgence was a mirage and that, sooner or later, he would deliver the kind of disastrous performance that would drag him back to the form he showed in his early years with the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes and the New Jersey Devils. But what can anyone say about him now?
Outpacing The Reigning League MVP
Let’s not forget that Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck is the reigning recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy, recognized as the most valuable player in the entire league for the 2024–25 season. Yet at this moment, Scott Wedgewood isn’t merely outperforming Hellebuyck in every meaningful category; he sits atop the entire NHL in all of them — wins, goals against average, and save percentage. Even more striking is the fact that several goaltenders across the league have logged more starts than Wedgewood this season and still do not have even half his number of victories.
Goalies Who Found New Life Late in Their Careers
Wedgewood isn’t the first goaltender to experience a dramatic late-career revival. The most fitting comparison is Chris Osgood, a key figure on the Detroit Red Wings’ 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup–winning teams. Osgood was always a reliable presence in net, but he was rarely considered among the league’s elite for sustained stretches. Detroit even moved on from him in the 2002 offseason to acquire Dominik Hasek, prompting Osgood’s departure to the New York Islanders.
He eventually returned to the Red Wings in 2005, and three years later delivered one of the finest seasons of his career. In 2008, at 35 years old, Osgood posted a career-low 2.09 goals against average and backstopped Detroit to its most recent Stanley Cup championship. Meanwhile, the aging Hasek, though no longer the dominant force he once was, concluded his Red Wings tenure as the backup — but still as a champion.
Another example is Tim Thomas, who didn’t find his footing in the NHL until his mid-30s. But then everything changed. He won the Vezina at 34, the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup at 37, and posted some of the best statistical seasons of his career well after most goalies begin to fall off the cliff.
Some honorable mentions include Dwayne Roloson, who backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final and remained a dependable starter well into his early forties, and Mike Smith, the former Arizona Coyote–turned–Oiler, who posted a .923 save percentage at age 39 while carrying Edmonton to the 2022 Western Conference Final. The Oilers’ run ended there—Colorado swept the series in four games en route to the Stanley Cup they ultimately claimed.
So what we’re witnessing with Scott Wedgewood, albeit rare, is not a new phenomena. This is something that has happened in the sport before and everyone should be grateful that they get to witness this sort of resurgence again, regardless of what team you’re rooting for.
Bednar Stands Firm
What this means for Mackenzie Blackwood, moving forward, could very well define the trajectory of his NHL career. After the 6–3 win over the Anaheim Ducks, Jared Bednar made it clear he intends to start the goaltender who is not only rested but also gives Colorado the best chance to win. Right now, that’s Wedgewood. And if Blackwood can’t rediscover his form, the organization might as well make it official and anoint Wedgewood as the starter. Blackwood, in three starts this season has a record of 2-0-1 with a 3.28 goals against average and a .870 save percentage. There's a clear-cut favorite.
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Cedric Irving Jr., 27, of Oakland, has been charged with the murder of John Beam, a well-known football coach in Oakland who was shot to death last week.
After a strong preseason, Detroit Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard earned a surprising spot on the team's main roster coming out of training camp. However, after nine games in which he recorded an assist and delivered 28 hits, the 20 year old Norwegian winger was reassigned to the AHL. The goal was to give him more ice time than the limited bottom six role he held in Detroit and to help him continue developing important parts of his game.
The Hockey News recently spoke with Brandsegg-Nygard about his transition back to the AHL. After appearing in five games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, he has returned to the team and still looks confident in both his abilities and playing style. That level of confidence should reassure Red Wings fans that one of the organization’s top prospects is not discouraged by the move.
Brandsegg-Nygard has now played six games with the Griffins this season, scoring two goals and adding one assist. When asked about the adjustment, he expressed that he is genuinely happy with the environment in Grand Rapids. The Griffins have started the season strong and are viewed not just as playoff hopefuls like Detroit, but as one of the top teams in the AHL.
"Yeah I mean they've done a really good job at the beginning of the season and the vibe of the group here is good, too so, I mean, I really like being here," Brandsegg-Nygard explained "I'm gonna go out there and do my job and do what I can to help the team win."
Fans often worry about young players losing confidence when they move between leagues, but Brandsegg Nygard does not seem concerned. He continues to project self assurance and focuses on staying positive even during challenging stretches.
"Confidence goes up and down but at the end of the day, I always know what I can do on the ice and and always like trying to think as best as I can possible because, if you start to think negative, everything just goes bad," Brandsegg-Nygard said "So by just trying to stay positive, and when you stay positive, it's easy to have confidence, too."
While the reassignment seemingly did not affect his confidence, Brandsegg-Nygard admitted that making the Red Wings roster at all was a surprise. He was simply grateful to experience NHL action earlier than he had expected.
"Yeah like I said it was a dream come true to get in and I wasn't expecting to start with them this season, so that's what was a little bonus and I was pretty happy with that," Brandsegg-Nygard stated.
He also acknowledged that one of the biggest areas he needs to improve is his speed of decision making at the NHL level, noting that the pace of play requires quicker reads and execution.
"I'm a young player, so there's always something to work on. I mean, just trying to, like, make faster plays that's one thing I think I have to work on, especially in NHL," Brandsegg-Nygard said "When everything goes faster, trying to, like, make the decision faster and everything just makes everything faster."
Brandsegg-Nygard finished the interview by sharing some of the meaningful advice he received from Red Wings veterans. He said he appreciated learning from pros like Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, observing how they handle themselves each day and using that guidance to shape his own development.
"Couple of them said just go out there and be yourself. Just show everyone that you're good enough to be here and hopefully, I get up soon. I know what to do, so I'm just trying to focus on that and just trying to improve myself," Brandsegg-Nygard stated.
Red Wings fans will need to wait a little longer for the Norwegian winger to fully develop, but his early NHL showing provided a glimpse of the physical presence he can bring. With continued improvements in key areas, Brandsegg Nygard could be a player to watch closely next season.
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Nationals manager Blake Butera, left, and president of baseball operations Paul Toboni meet the media Monday in Butera's formal introduction as the franchise's top man in the dugout. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
His age, or lack thereof, was a main character at Nationals Park on Monday afternoon as the eighth skipper in franchise history was formally introduced. The stadium’s subterranean press conference room, adorned with red, white and blue roses, was packed to the gills for the occasion. Members of the club’s elusive ownership group, the Lerner family, peppered the front few rows. A large throng of front-office officials, clad in a department store’s worth of obligatory quarter-zips, crammed themselves into the back of the room.
Up on the podium sat just two placards; one for Butera and one for his new boss, Paul Toboni, the team’s recently hired president of baseball operations.
“As you've heard me say many times over the course of the last six weeks, I'm a strong believer that you win with people,” Toboni, 35, offered during his opening statement. “And Blake's character and ability to connect with everyone across the baseball spectrum is second to none.”
The two men then shook hands before Butera, 33, curved a red cap onto his head and pulled a crisp white uniform over his 5-foot-9 frame. He and Toboni, formerly an assistant general manager for the Boston Red Sox, briefly posed for a few pictures before the skipper, still too young to run for president, settled in to introduce himself.
“As we move forward, our identity is going to start with character,” Butera proclaimed. “I believe true leadership is built on real relationships, relationships that create unity, clarity and a shared purpose.”
Since raising the World Series trophy in 2019, the Nationals have slogged to baseball’s second-worst record, better than only the catastrophically discombobulated Colorado Rockies. The trades conducted in the teardown of that core have borne some fruit, most notably the Juan Soto deal that brought young All-Star outfielder James Wood to D.C.
But in the main, Washington has been a draft-and-development disasterclass, an organization distinctly unskilled at making players better. That half-decade run of ineptitude reached a turning point this past July, when a pair of title-winning stalwarts, GM Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, were simultaneously fired.
And now, into that void, charge Toboni and Butera, a pair of unwrinkled, clean-shaven 30-somethings. Together, they come armed with fresh perspectives, cathedral expectations of themselves and almost zero big league experience. Butera, in fact, has never spent a day in a Major League dugout.
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 35th round of the 2015 MLB Draft after a plucky four years at Boston College, the infielder’s playing career petered out after two minor league seasons. But Butera quickly and successfully made the transition to coaching. In 2018, still just 25 years old, he was named manager of Tampa’s short-season Hudson Valley affiliate. After two strong years there, Tampa pushed him to Low-A Charleston, where he won back-to-back league championships and a Manager of the Year award. That eventually earned him a big new gig as the Rays’ senior director of player development, a role that he served in until his hiring a few weeks ago. Butera was also the bench coach for Team Italy under manager Mike Piazza during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
It’s an impressive résumé, but not necessarily one that would have pointed to a big league head job, at least not in such short order. In fact, Butera admitted that he entered this winter not expecting to be a part of the managerial carousel. His biggest concern was much closer to home: Butera’s wife Caroline was set to have the couple’s first child around the last week of October, right as the Nats were trying to finalize the hiring.
To simplify things, Toboni flew down to Raleigh, where the Buteras live, so that Blake could stay close to home just in case Caroline went into labor. It all came together on the same day, with Blake receiving the job offer before the birth of their newborn Blair and accepting it later that day after having become a father. It has been a whirlwind, to say the least.
But Butera, ever-youthful, did not appear worn down by the taxing, early days of parenthood. That is, by all accounts, par for the course. Despite being “young for the level” at every turn, the new skipper has thrived. Butera draws rave reviews for a special ability to communicate with players, empowering them to get the most out of their skills. In that sense, his lack of trips around the sun have proved helpful, allowing him to relate better to players close to him in age.
That will remain an important dynamic in D.C., as a young Nats roster attempts to author a pivot back to contention. A whopping 60 percent of the team’s plate appearances last season were taken by players aged 25 or younger. After a brilliant first half, Wood scuffled down the stretch. Consistency from the spindly slugger is key. So is developing the other kids on the roster, players like Dylan Crews, Brady House, CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile, into needle-moving pieces.
The pitching staff presents an even more formidable task. Only the Rockies, in their launching pad of a ballpark in the sky, had a higher ERA last season. Improvement on that front will largely be the responsibility of new pitching coach Simon Mathews, formerly an assistant with the Cincinnati Reds. Mathews, whose hiring was first reported by Yahoo Sports, is even younger than his skipper, having turned 30 just two months ago.
His hiring was yet another data point that Toboni and Co. plan to chart a new path. That dynamic was further reinforced at Butera’s news conference Monday. For better or worse, this era of Nats baseball will not unfurl with a strategy of half-measures. Over the last half decade, the Nationals have been an emblem of regressive, archaic baseball thinking. Unwilling and unable to adapt, the game passed them by, leaving them playing catch-up.
The shift under Toboni will be significant, comprehensive and immediate. Big swings will be taken. Character will be prioritized over experience. They will dream big. It is risky and refreshing. Butera may well be too young, too green for such a big job. He might be great at the gig and the players fall short anyway. Perhaps he’ll manage here for decades and oversee the glory years of D.C. baseball. Time will tell. But on Monday afternoon, he certainly looked the part and said all the right things in the right way.
For Nats fans, it is, at the very least, a plan to believe in.
