New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) is substituted as the Reds change pitchers in the seventh inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, June 15, 2026. The Reds won the series opener, 12-0. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets fell behind 9-0 in the first two innings and never recovered as they were bludgeoned by the Reds 12-0 in the first game of their three-day set at Great American Ball Park. The less we say about this one, the better.
The Mets congratulated the Knicks on their championship and looked to draw inspiration from their magical run to the NBA title, though they certainly didn’t do that last night.
The Mets made a few roster moves before the series began, including calling up Tobias Myers, who got rocked in 1 1/3 innings of work last night, and Jonathan Pintaro, who pitched in relief following Myers’ ineffective start. The club also sent Daniel Duarte down to Triple-A and placed Christian Scott on the IL with a right hip impingement.
The Mets announced that Kodai Senga would be starting tonight’s game for the team after the news of Scott’s injury.
Ronny Mauricio could start a rehab assignment towards the end of the week as he continues his recovery from a fractured left thumb.
The Mets claimed Zack Short off waivers from the Tigers and transferred Jorge Polanco to the 60-day IL.
Juan Soto is ninth in All-Star voting among NL outfielders, while Bo Bichette is eighth among third basemen.
Soto is taking pieces from his past as he mentors the team’s young outfielders, explains Laura Albanese.
Around the National League East
The Braves have shut down Spencer Strider for four weeks, and Strider says he is eyeing a late season return.
Atlanta’s JR Ritchie is ready to make the most of his second stint as a major league starter.
The Phillies blanked the Marlins 7-0. In the win, Philadelphia’s Number 6 prospect, Gabriel Rincones Jr., got his first hit, a home run, in his Citizens Bank Park debut.
The Nationals scored five in the fifth to top the Royals 7-3.
Around Major League Baseball
The MLB Power Rankings feature Atlanta retaining their top spot and the White Sox jumping 20 spots from where they were ranked on Opening Day.
The first update on MLB All-Star balloting was released, with Shohei Ohtani and Yordan Alvarez cruising atop their respective leagues.
Jared Greenspan broke down the closest races in Phase 1 of the ballots.
The MLB.com staff picked the biggest surprise for each team this season.
Sam Blum identified some cases of potential nepotism in baseball which are now standing out.
Adam McCalvy profiled two high school friends: Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby, who leads the NL in wins, and Landry Shamet, who just won an NBA Title with the New York Knicks.
The Giants are starting to test the waters on the trade market, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Padres reliever Ron Marinaccio was suspended for three games after hitting Gunnar Henderson with a pitch in their win against the Orioles last Saturday. San Diego skipper Craig Stammen received a one-game suspension.
San Diego placed closer Mason Miller on the bereavement list and recalled reliever Kyle Hart to take his place.
Corey Seager is heading to the concussion IL after a collision at the plate.
Texas Longhorns sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez hit for the cycle in the team’s 14-2 victory. In the process, he became the third player to hit for the cycle in the Men’s College World Series.
The Cardinals blanked the Padres 3-0, as Dustin May hurled a complete game one-hit shutout.
The Cubs scored one in the eighth and two in the ninth to earn a 5-4 comeback win over the Rockies. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit for the cycle in the victory.
The Twins defeated the Rangers 4-2.
The Tigers beat up the Astros 9-3. Colt Keith hit three homers in the win, becoming the youngest Tiger to accomplish the feat since Al Kaline in 1955.
The Diamondbacks held off the Angels 4-3.
The surging Athletics broke out yet again for an 11-2 win over the Pirates, proving their offensive display in Vegas was hardly a fluke.
On this date in 2024, the Mets topped the Padres 11-6 to complete a 5-1 homestand and make it five straight wins after Grimace threw the first pitch heard round the world. Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Luis Torrens each contributed a home run in the team’s victory.
On this day 118 years ago, Patsy Dougherty led a mild offensive attack that helped stretch a White Sox win streak to 13 games. | (Photo by FPG/Getty Images)
1908 The number 13 proved lucky for the White Sox, as a 3-2 win over the New York Highlanders ran their winning streak to 13 games. Ed Walsh went the distance to improve to 14-3 on the season, while the Sox offense buffeted just five singles in the game with eight walks and five stolen bases. Patsy Dougherty and Jiggs Donahue had nearly identical starring turns, both going 1-for-2 with an RBI, two walks and a strikeout; the only difference came from Dougherty swiping two bases to Donahue’s one, plus a hit-by-pitch.
1969 By all accounts, during a horrible summer of baseball on the South Side, the White Sox found some relief — north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border. With an 8-3 win over the Seattle Pilots as one of 11 games played that season at Milwaukee County Stadium, the White Sox stretched their “Milwaukee White Sox” winning streak to five games (not consecutive wins, however, as each game at Milwaukee was a single contest, with the White Sox opposing every other AL team up north once during the season).
Chicago struck early and often, going up, 8-1, through three. Future Dodgers relief ace Mike Marshall took the brunt of the damage as Seattle’s starter, while the White Sox took advantage of three Pilots errors in the early going, and four total in the game.
The five wins equaled what would become the team’s longest outright winning streak (later that year, in September) and was not an indication of how good the team was; while this win improved the White Sox to 24-32, they still sat two games behind the expansion Pilots. In the end, the White Sox finished 1969 with a 68-94 record that was good for sixth place in the AL West and just four games better than Seattle.
1989 At 37, former Tigers farmhand Rick Wolff (drafted out of Harvard in 1972) makes a one-series comeback with the South Bend White Sox of the Midwest League (Single-A) for the purposes of a Sports Illustrated article. Wolff pinch-hit at the end of his first game, then starts the next two, batting ninth and then creeping up to eighth — and finishes the series 4-for-7 with a ground-rule double, three RBIs and a .571/.556/.714 slash line. His one error at second base comes when a pickoff throw travels through the pocket of his 20-year-old glove. Wolff himself was 15.1 years older than league average.
This was no end-of-season stunt in a lost season, a la Minnie Miñoso two decades earlier. South Bend won its division in 1989 with an 85-47 record, and featured such future White Sox as Scott Radinsky and Roberto Hernández, along with four other future major leaguers.
1997 After numerous charity and exhibition games, the White Sox and Cubs played for real for the first time in the regular season. The Cubs crushed their former starter, Jaime Navarro, jumping to a 6-0 lead and hanging seven earned on him in an 8-3 win. Lyle Mouton had a solo blast with the game out of hand in the sixth for the first Sox-Cubs interleague homer for the White Sox, while the Cubs went roundtripper-free in their first Crosstown interleague game. This was also the first interleague game ever played at Sox Park, and thus Mouton’s was the first home four-bagger in interleague play for the White Sox.
2023 The White Sox struck out 16 times in a 3-2 loss in Seattle against the Mariners. This came on the heels of striking out 16 times the night before in a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles. That tied the club mark first set in 2018.
Another oddity was the Sox hit six home runs in the two games but because they couldn’t get runners on base, every single home run was a solo shot!
Luis Robert Jr. and Jake Burger both homered once over the two games — and struck out seven times apiece!
There is sad news to report on Tuesday morning with the passing of former NHL forward Kyle Calder, who spent part of his career with the Detroit Red Wings, at the age of 47.
The daughter of former Blazer Kyle Calder (1998-99) has posted about his passing on Instagram. 47 years old. Played in Regina for most of his WHL career. Sad news to pass on. pic.twitter.com/nf3h0qpwcQ
Born in 1979 in Mannville, Alberta, Calder broke into the game with the WHL's Regina Pats before eventually being selected in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 1997 NHL Draft. He would continue his career playing with the IHL's Cleveland Lumberjacks before eventually transitioning to the AHL's Norfolk Admirals.
He would play several years as a member of the Blackhawks, which included a stint in the SHL with Södertälje SK during the 2004-05 NHL Lockout.
His time in Chicago ended in 2006 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Michal Handzus. As part of a three-team trade, he would be sent back to Chicago at the 2007 NHL Trade Deadline, who immediately flipped him to the Red Wings in return for Jason Williams.
Ironically, Calder's first game as a Red Wing took place in Chicago at United Center against the Blackhawks, and he scored a goal just 1:45 into the contest, converting on a centering feed from Johan Franzen.
He played in 19 total regular season games with the Red Wings, scoring five goals with nine assists. He also had an assist in 13 postseason games as Detroit advanced to the Western Conference Final.
Not retained by the Red Wings after the 2007 postseason, he signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings. He would spend time with both the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks organizations, and later played 13 games in the KHL with Barys Astana.
In 590 career NHL games, Calder scored 114 goals with 180 assists, and added two goals and one assist in 18 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded, there is nothing left for teams to do except gear up for the future.
Next week, the 2026 NHL Draft will take place in Buffalo, and a few days later, the new league year begins on July 1 with the start of free agency.
There are going to be plenty of changes across the league landscape between now and Opening Night in October, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start predicting who is going to win the next Stanley Cup.
That’s right, official betting odds on the next Cup winner are out.
Checking in with BetMGM, the official betting partner of The Hockey News, the favorite to win the Stanley Cup didn’t even reach this year’s Final.
The favorite to win the 2027 Stanley Cup Final is the Colorado Avalanche, coming in at +700.
This year’s champion, the Carolina Hurricanes, are next at +750.
As for the Florida Panthers, they come in with the fifth-shortest odds to win the Cup next year, which isn’t bad considering the Cats didn’t even make the playoffs this past season.
For Panthers fans who are feeling confident that a healthy Florida squad will get back to their Stanley Cup winning ways, they can lock it in at +1100 odds, the same as the Edmonton Oilers.
Only the aforementioned Avalanche and Hurricanes, and the Vegas Golden Knights at +1000, come in with shorter odds than Florida and Edmonton.
Photo caption: Nov 30, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (center) celebrates with center Aleksander Barkov (left) and left wing Matthew Tkachuk (right) after scoring against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
It was an off day for the Atlanta Braves but also a positive one in terms of injury updates on Monday. Drake Baldwin is back, returning from a 4-week absence due to an oblique strain. Spencer Strider will not need surgery, but instead will be shut down for four weeks and then will be on a rehab plan to hopefully return later in the year. It seems wise for the Braves to add him to the list of pitchers they hope to get some value from this season but are not relying on.
Braves News
Austin Wynns was outrighted to AAA in the corresponding move for Baldwin.
Jun 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard Azzi Fudd (35) walk back on to the court during the first half against the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Dallas Wings want to win, and the New York Knicks’ championship run teaches the Wings that a cohesive bunch of college teammates can indeed translate to success in the professional ranks.
While the Wings were playing the Portland Fire on Saturday night, the Knicks were playing the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. After a 94-90 win over of the Spurs, the Knicks won their first NBA Championship since 1973.
Jalen Brunson finished with 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting from the field and was awarded the Finals MVP trophy after the Knicks secured the Game 5 win.
Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combined for 27 points in support of their Villanova teammate. It was not the first time that Bridges and Hart helped Brunson in a critical game.
Hart scored 12 points while Brunson scored four points in the 2016 National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Kris Jenkins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a dramatic 77-74 win in that one.
Bridges scored 19 points, and Brunson chipped in nine in the 2018 National Championship between Villanova and the Michigan Wolverines, as Donte DiVincenzo led the team with 31 points in the 79-62 victory.
Bridges, Hart and Brunson won in college. The Knicks decided to see if the trio could do it in the NBA, and it worked.
The Knicks signed Brunson as a free agent on June 30, 2022 — Mavericks fans will no doubt remember that one. The signing came after Brunson was part of the supporting cast surrounding Luka Doncic in Dallas during the 2021-22 playoffs. Brunson averaged 21.6 points per game and helped Dallas defeat the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. He scored 41 points in Game 2 and 31 points in Game 3 as Doncic sat those games out with injuries.
Because of Brunson’s playoff success with Dallas and his two National Championship rings, the Knicks decided to give the keys to Brunson. At the time, New York had not won a playoff series since the 2012-13 postseason, and the Knicks believed Brunson could change that. He lifted his game to a new level as soon as he got to New York.
After averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game in the 2021-22 season, Brunson finished his first season in New York averaging 24 points and 6.2 assists per game.
The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with the help of Hart, who New York traded for on Feb. 9, 2023. During the playoff run, Hart averaged 10.4 points while Brunson averaged 27.8 points.
In the 2023 offseason, the Knicks signed DiVincenzo, bringing another Villanova teammate. All of a sudden the New York Knickerbockers were known as the “Nova Knicks.”
The Knicks finished with 50 wins and returned to the playoffs. During a playoff run that ended with a loss in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, DiVincenzo averaged 17.3 points per game, Hart averaged 14.5 points per game and Brunson averaged 32.4 points per game
In the 2024 offseason, Bridges was brought in through a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Then, DiVincenzo was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves to bring Karl Anthony-Towns to New York.
After a 51-win season, the Knicks made it to the playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Nova Knicks continued being a bright spot for New York as Brunson averaged 29.4 points per game, Bridges averaged 15.6 points per game and Hart averaged 11.6 points per game in the playoffs.
This season, New York won 53 games and returned to the playoffs. Once again, the Nova Knicks dazzled in the postseason. Brunson averaged 28.4 points per game, Bridges averaged 13.5 points per game and Hart averaged 10.4 points per game.
Betting on team chemistry and success in college led to the Knicks becoming a consistent playoff team, leading to an NBA Finals run.
The plan started with Brunson, who evolved into a top-guard in the NBA. Then, New York added players to help with the scoring as well as defense with Bridges and Hart. The trio already knew each other and how to win.
New York took a gamble with adding players from a specific college team, and it was new to the NBA. The Wings did the same thing with pairing Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers. Both were drafted number one overall in the WNBA Draft after the duo starred at UConn.
In the 2024-25 season, Fudd and Bueckers won the National Championship under Geno Auriemma in the third season Fudd and Bueckers played together.
UConn lost 15 games during that three-year run. In comparison, the Wings have lost 65 games combined over the last two seasons as well as not being in the playoffs since 2023.
You might call Bueckers the Jalen Brunson of this iteration of the Wings. She is becoming one of the best players in the WNBA, just like Brunson in his ascendancy.
It is not as easy to compare Fudd to one of the other Villanova players because she is still navigating through her rookie season. Fudd has shown glimpses, but she is not a finished product like Bridges and Hart were when they joined Brunson in New York. But the flashes Fudd shows portend big things — she could end up being much more than a role player.
While the Nova Knicks were important to the championship run, OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony Towns were added to the roster and were important pieces to help New York break its 53-year drought. New York also changed coaches.
The Wings understood the roster needed work and brought Jessica Shepard and Alanna Smith to Dallas. They also hired a new coach. Jose Fernandez has installed an exciting offense in his first year with the team that seems to be addressing the team’s lack of 3-point shooting in the prior two seasons.
Shepard is off to a record start, while Smith has started slowly. The roster will most likely need more changes for Dallas to compete in the playoffs and eventually win a championship. It took a while for the Nova Knicks, but the UConn guards are already impacting Dallas with a strong start to the season. Time will tell if the Wings can replicate the Knicks’ success.
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: The Toronto Blue Jays mascot waves a flag during the MLB baseball postseason Wild Card game 1 between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays on October 7, 2022, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Red Sox did the near-unthinkable: they won 2 games in a row at home! A whole series! And it was against a team right in the playoff mix and just 1.0 game back for the lead in the AL West. At 35-36 the Rangers just left Boston under .500.
Also under .500 are the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays are sitting at 34-38, which isn’t great. They were down to the final outs of a World Series and are now sitting on the outside looking in, hoping they can turn things around in the remaining 90 games. Boston is 3.0 games back of Toronto and Baltimore. Despite a better run differential and expected winning percentage than those teams, the Red Sox are in last place in the AL East. This is a very important series for the bottom three AL East teams. Unfortunately, the Jays, decimated by injuries, are bringing some good pitchers.
Dylan Cease was their big acquisition last winter and he’s pitched like an ace. An ERA under 3.00, 103 strikeouts in 68 innings. But the Red Sox got to him in April. Over 5.2 innings, Cease allowed 4 runs, all earned. His second highest runs allowed of the year after a 5-run outing against the Yankees in May. He spent a couple weeks on the IL before his last outing: 6.0 innings, 1 run against the Phillies. Hopefully the Sox offense is prepared.
Payton Tolle is coming off maybe his most disappointing start of the season. And it was still a 6-inning outing where he allowed just 4 runs against Tampa Bay. He faced the Jays on April 28 and allowed 3 runs over 4.2 innings. That was his lone start on 4 days rest. He’ll have 6 days this time. In a very small sample size discussion, the two teams he’s faced twice – Atlanta and Tampa – have had more success the second time. Considering the first time was Tolle on shorter rest, there probably isn’t much to read into even that limited data point.
Max Scherzer is probably not long for MLB at this point. He started the season with 6.0 innings against the Rockies and tossed 6.0 against the Diamondbacks on April 18 but around those starts has tossed 10 total innings across 4 starts with a lengthy IL stint that cost him all of May. He hasn’t faced Boston this year. In 2025 he made one start in September against the Sox going 5.0 innings while allowing 4 runs in an eventual 7-1 loss. He’ll face Jake Bennett, who is at the other end of his career: the beginning. In three major league starts he’s gone 5.0 innings twice and 5.1 once. With Brayan Bello in the minors, Bennett has time to prove himself. And even 4 runs is better than some of the Bello starts (not his solid relief outings).
Trey Yesavage burst onto the scene in September 2025 and pitched in the World Series. Expectations were sky high. Injuries kept him out for most of April, but he’s been pretty good until recently. In his season debut he shut down the Sox for 5.1 innings, striking out 3, walking none, and not allowing a run. His most recent two starts haven’t gone well: 11 runs in 10.2 innings against the Orioles and Yankees with 8 of each Ks and BBs. Sonny Gray was excellent against the Texas Rangers, holding the club to a single run in 6.0 innings. He struck out 7, which has become more of a weapon again since his return from the IL. Gray was on the IL during the first series against the Blue Jays so he hasn’t faced them this season.
The Jays have a franchise record of 3889-3894 so a winning season for them could flip them into positive over their history.
Vlad Jr. has just 3 homers on the season.
Ernie Clement leads the league with 20 doubles.
New third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has slugged 15 homers.
George Springer had a bounceback 2025 but is hitting just .208/.303/.354 on the season.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, June 16: Dylan Cease (2.91 ERA / 2.36 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (2.70 ERA / 2.71 FIP)
Wednesday, June 17: Max Scherzer (10.23 ERA / 8.79 FIP) vs. Jake Bennett (5.28 ERA / 3.89 FIP)
Thursday, June 18: Trey Yesavage (3.78 ERA / 3.59 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (3.03 ERA / — FIP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 27, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández (37) gingerly walks back to the dugout after injuring a hamstring running to first base in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
After Miguel Rojas hit the second pinch-hit home run of his career to win Monday night’s game in the seventh inning, here are a few Dodgers news and notes for a Tuesday morning.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame has a series on its website called Card Corner, in which they use a baseball card as a jumping off point to explore a player’s career. The latest such card is a 1970 Topps Bill Russell, and Craig Muder wrote about the career about the first member of the famed Dodgers infield from 1973-81, and who played 18 seasons with the Dodgers, tied for the most in franchise history.
When it comes to making offseason NBA roster improvements, the paths are clear even when the eventual outcomes aren’t.
There are unrestricted free agents.
There are restricted free agents.
There are trades.
Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance (left) didn’t play much due to an ACL injury sustained at Arizona State, but he is an intriguing NBA draft prospect. Getty Images
And then there’s the draft — the most volatile path when factoring in that NBA franchises are taking shots on players who are typically teenagers or in their early 20s.
But the Western Conference finals between the Spurs and Thunder showed how consequential the draft can be for setting up short-term and potential long-term success. Especially in the modern NBA in which teams’ spending and roster machinations can be limited depending on whether they’re over the first or second apron.
And after their last two first-round picks haven’t produced in the ways they’ve hoped (2023 pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, no longer in the NBA; 2024 pick Dalton Knecht, fell out of the rotation last season), the Lakers can’t afford to whiff with the No. 25 pick in the NBA draft in less than two weeks.
Who should the Lakers target with their first-round pick?
The skinny: Quaintance started his collegiate career at Arizona State, where he quickly became one of men’s college basketball’s most versatile defenders. But he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in February 2025 during his freshman year with the Sun Devils, cutting his first collegiate season short. Quaintance only played 67 minutes across four games with Kentucky after making his season debut in the Dec. 20 win over St. John’s because of swelling in his right knee. His medicals and health will be a significant factor in where he winds up being drafted, but Quaintance’s shot blocking, defensive switchability, athleticism and finishing could make him an impactful player as a rookie.
Tarris Reed Jr. of the UConn Huskies goes up for a shot surrounded by Seton Hall players. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The skinny: Reed played collegiately at Michigan for two seasons, including a full-time starter as a sophomore, before transferring to UConn for his last two seasons. He led the Big East in field-goal percentage in 2025-26 at 60.7, showcasing good touch around the basket after powering his way toward the rim. He weighed in as the second-heaviest player at the NBA draft combine, and he uses his strength very well on the interior as a scorer or rebounder.
The skinny: Cenac was a consensus five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, immediately starting for a Houston team coming off a runner-up finish in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. His mix of size, fluidity and athleticism make him an intriguing long-term prospect. But he needs to get stronger. Although he likely won’t be ready to contribute to an NBA team as a rookie, taking a patient approach with his development may be worth it.
St. John’s Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor dunks the ball during game action against the Duke Blue Devils. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
The skinny: Ejiofor played for the Red Storm under Rick Pitino the last three seasons after starting his college career at Kansas. Though undersized, Ejiofor projects to be a versatile defensive big man who can switch 1-5 and protect the rim because of his motor, strength, length, quickness, awareness and IQ. He’s a more limited offensive player because of his lack of shooting but can make up for it with quick decision-making as a passer and sound screening, which further unlocks his playmaking.
The skinny: Graves was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and an All-WCC first-team honoree after putting up tremendous counting and advanced stats coming off the bench for the Broncos. His combination of size, defensive playmaking, shooting, passing and general all-around skill set made up for his lack of traditional athleticism.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: Owner, Glen Taylor of the Minnesota Timberwolves presents Karl-Anthony Towns #32 with the NBA Cares Community Assist award on December 17, 2021 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This isn’t just another puff piece by a Minnesota Timberwolves fan celebrating Karl-Anthony Towns.
As much as I would love to flood the internet with more positivity and reveling in Towns’ most recent accomplishment, I’ve actually been thinking about why I’ve been rooting for Towns to win the championship this postseason.
When watching an NBA game, my flowchart of “Who am I rooting for?” has usually gone something like this:
Are they the Timberwolves?
If they aren’t, which team’s victory/loss would benefit the Timberwolves more?
Which team’s victory/loss would lead to the Timberwolves catching fewer straws?
*Just as important, everything would be inverse if you replace Timberwolves with Lakers
During the 2026 NBA Finals, all indications should’ve pointed towards me rooting for the San Antonio Spurs. If the Spurs won it all, it would likely mean they would keep the team together. A team that the injury-riddled Wolves took to six games (astronomical point differential aside). A San Antonio loss would likely prompt them to add more firepower in the offseason, rebalancing their roster along the way. Additionally, Minnesota losing to the eventual champs sounds a lot better than losing to the eventual runner-up.
Additionally, a New York Knicks victory should be to the Wolves’ demise. Fans and talking heads would be champing at the bit to ridicule Minnesota for giftwrapping banner number two to New York in the form of Towns. In fact, Towns would be just the latest top-10 draft pick that the Wolves failed to build around, then traded, and then won the Larry O’Brien Trophy in just two seasons with their new team. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Timberwolves’ offseason content is about how they can try to trade one of the players they received in that very same trade.
By this logic, rooting against the Knicks should have been a no-brainer.
However, I still found myself pulling for New York. I was willing to ignore my aforementioned flowchart even if it came at the expense of my favorite team. Why was watching Towns claw his way towards a title with the Knicks so much different than, say, Andrew Wiggins with the Golden State Warriors four years ago? I’ve met both players face-to-face multiple times, and they were always nothing but pleasant to me. They both tried, to the best of their own respective abilities, to win in Minnesota without ever the peep of a trade request.
It was because of how I personally viewed these individuals as humans.
My admiration for Towns has already been detailed here on Canis Hoopus. He’s someone who, by multiple accounts, is a grade A person off the court. Whether it’s been within the local Minnesota community or as someone who regularly uses his platform to uplift the disenfranchised, Towns is someone that I’ve always been proud to root for. It’s always been about more than basketball with him.
Conversely, I wrote a whole piece about players I love rooting against four years ago. So much angst, Leo! So, have I just become soft now? Has the birth of my first child turned me into a “snowflake” who just wants everyone to get along? I doubt that very much.
What I’ve grown to realize over the years is that everything shouldn’t have to be in binaries. Just because I was rooting for Towns didn’t mean I was rooting against the Wolves. That didn’t even mean I was rooting against Victor Wembanyama, who was openly critical of ICE activity in Minnesota, nor the Spurs franchise, who are one of the NBA organizations most openly critical of our current government.
On the flip side, rooting for Towns didn’t mean I was rooting for former Wolves assistant coach Eric Daniel “Rick” Brunson, given the previous sexual assault allegation raised against him. It didn’t mean I was rooting for James Dolan and his laundry list of transgressions (including an eerily similar SA allegation). There are often both good and bad people on both sides. And there are usually more than just two sides.
Can I root for an athlete even if they play on a team with a rotten owner, or have rotten teammates?
Can I root for a musical artist even if they’re signed to a rotten label?
That’s perhaps a different discussion for another day, but in this particular case, I find it easier to cheer for and follow athletes who are simply good people and not overanalyze the rest.
People like Ricky Rubio, who has had huge success the last couple of years playing with his first professional team, Joventut Badalona (sadly, they just got eliminated in the semi-finals of the Spanish Liga ACB playoffs), while continuing to do great work in the cancer research arena with his foundation.
People like Gorgui Dieng, who has continued to pour into his home country of Senegal, uplifting the youth and sports communities along the way. This is why Canis Hoopus writes stories about these former players, all three of whom were recipients of NBA Cares Community Assist awards.
There will always be people who root for players for different reasons. Some may root for players that have an aesthetically pleasing style of hooping (Curry, Kyrie). Some may root for players of the high school jock ilk (Kobe, or the ringless Jimmy Butler). Some may not even care about the players themselves, as long as they help bring a championship to your favorite team.
People will try to change you or ridicule you for your choice.
But this is a reminder that it is always okay to root for good people.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 24: AJ Dybansta #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars warms up before their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Delta Center on October 24, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are a little under a week away from the 2026 NBA Draft and that means we are getting a little closer to seeing the Washington Wizards make one of the most important picks in their franchise history, with the #1 overall pick in the draft. This draft is littered with some amazing talent, but there are certain players who fit this roster better than others. Let’s break down the top draft prospects’ fit on this roster as well as what FanDuel has as their odds being picked by the Wizards at #1.
1. AJ Dybansta
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 12: AJ Dybantsa looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Why does AJ Dybansta fit in so well with the Wizards core? Let’s start with his positional length. The Wizards have built a team that has the ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the floor. Having a 6’9” athletic wing fits into the archetype that this front office has sought after in each of the past few drafts. Dybansta also has the offensive potential to be a #1 option. The Wizards just don’t have anyone with the combination of size and scoring prowess on the roster currently, which makes Dybansta a great fit for this team.
His ceiling as an offensive player is much higher than anyone on the current roster. Adding AJ could also create a positional mismatch on most nights that the team lacks at times. At his best, Dybansta could make the Wizards an elite offensive team, with the potential of being a strong contributor on defense as well.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: -450
2. Darryn Peterson
Is Darryn Peterson more like Kyrie Irving or Devin Booker? | Getty Images
There is a lot of controversy about Peterson’s time at Kansas, but make no mistake about it, the talent is there. Even with the athleticism already on the roster, Peterson would be arguably the most athletic of the bunch. Combine that with his ability to attack off the dribble, you would be adding a player that can go get his own shot at a moment’s notice.
Peterson does not possess the positional size that Dybantsa has, but because of wing span (6’9”), he still has the ability to guard multiple positions and allows the Wizards to mix and match him in match ups that would allow the team to throw multiple defenders at the other team’s best ball handlers. Peterson has the best all-around game of the top prospects and is a tough choice to turn down.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +320
3. Caleb Wilson
CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 07: Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles around Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils on February 07, 2026 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 71-68. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Are you surprised to see Caleb here? Although Cameron Boozer is the more polished player coming out of college, Wilson fits the current Wizards roster better, in my opinion. Can you imagine a front court rotation of Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis and Caleb Wilson? You would have three bigs who are athletic enough to guard on defensive switches on perimeter players. This would help them hide some of their weaker defenders, like Trae Young, by having two rim protectors on the court at a time.
Additionally on offense, Wilson’s rim-running style compliments Alex Sarr quite well. This combination allows Wilson to play to his strength offensively, while allowing Sarr to keep the spacing on the floor, playing more as an offensive “stretch 4”. If this team does not see Anthony Davis on the team beyond the next year or so, Wilson provides a strong replacement and maintains strong depth in the front court.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +8000
4. Keaton Wagler
Like many teams, the Wizards current roster is not built around the idea of having a traditional point guard. Having the ability to have multiple ball handlers, who can also play off the ball, helps the team find continuity on the offensive end. That’s where Illinois guard Keaton Wagler could fit in. Wagler had a strong showing in the NCAA tournament, while helping the Illini get to the Final Four. While he does not possess the athleticism the previous three options has, his ability to fit next to players like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Trae Young, etc. would greatly enhance the depth at the guard position.
Perhaps not likely an option if the Wizards stay at the #1 pick, but if the Wizards ever did decide to trade down, Wagler would be a good option that has a mature enough game to be an instant contributor.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: N/A
5. Cameron Boozer
I have Boozer lower on this list just strictly off of his ceiling. Boozer was an excellent college player with high basketball IQ, capable of doing a little bit of everything, but the reality is the NBA is largely about how well you can guard your position and possible other positions when you are forced to switch on defense. He does not possess the athleticism to project to be a good defensive player at the NBA-level. Offensively, Boozer has a strong lower base that will allow him to be an effective post player. He also possess high basketball IQ and is a great shooter.
On the Wizards, Boozer has the ability to compliment Alex Sarr. His overall skill set offensively makes him a great fit in the front court on this team. Boozer has a mature post game that gives him a unique skill set that this team simply does not have a lot of.
With all of this in mind, Boozer is a safe pick. He is not likely to be a superstar, but he has the ability to be a contributor right away. He is not likely to be the #1 pick, but if the Wizards decide to choose him, they would have a player who is a sure thing.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Karl-Anthony Towns #32, OG Anunoby #8 and Ariel Hukporti #55 of the New York Knicks pose with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Shocker: The New York Knicks are your NBA champions.
Proper: The New York Knicks are being disrespected as they always have been.
Not even five seconds after the final buzzer sounded inside that random arena in San Antonio, with the Knicks—organization and fans alike—still in disbelief of what had just happened, haters and doubters were already at it.
In the economy we live in, however, that was to be expected. Ask Terry. Anyway, early projections for the 2026-27 NBA season are already available, and nobody outside of NYC and its surroundings seems to remember a damn thing about the historic moment they just witnessed.
And obviously, the Knicks are not viewed as the favorites to repeat next season, even if their oldest players will be 31 next season, their core of the team has been together for four years, and well, they won the freaking championship going on an imposing 16-3 run.
Sportsbooks such as FanDuel have placed the Knicks fourth in early odds for the 2027 championship, trailing three teams: the losing San Antonio Spurs, the double-loser Oklahoma City Thunder—both atop the board as co-favorites at +250—and the don’t-know-how-they-will-look-in-a-week Boston Celtics, at +600.
New York checks in behind them at +750, a hellaciouslly good distance ahead of joint-fifth-favorites Denver and Detroit, both at +2500.
Has any franchise repeated as champion since the 2017-18 Dubs? Nope. Has any team even won two titles in the last eight seasons? No.
There are good reasons to be down about the Cubs’ 3-3 road trip against a pair of weak opponents, but one needs to look at the positives. PCA and Michael Busch extending their on-base game streaks. PCA finally, consistently, pairing his power and speed. Seiya Suzuki finding his power bat, and has raised his defensive game (hopefully that will continue when he’s 100%). Javier Assad continuing his strong pitching of late.
Yes, a 6-0 trip out west would have been spectacular. But a three-game win streak and increased contributions on offense have the Cubs going in the right direction. At least for now.
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Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs’ bid for SF sweep disrupted by Giants ace Webb. “Stretching a brief hot streak into the weekend — a run of wins that felt more like the baseball displayed early in the season — was important for the Cubs.”
Matt Ostrowski (North Side Baseball): Anatomy of an At-Bat: Revisiting Alex Bregman’s Bizarre Home Run Against the Rockies. “Alex Bregman isn’t known for his ability to handle pitches low in the zone, though he successfully pulled the nine iron out of his bag against the Rockies last week. Is that feat repeatable for the Cubs’ slugger?”
Mighty Mo Rodgers (real name Maurice Rodgers) was born in Indiana in 1942 where his father owned a club that featured blues performers. When Rodgers wasn’t studying classical piano he was checking out the blues artists that played there. Growing up, Rodgers was deeply affected by the mid-’60s soul music from the Memphis-based Stax label. He finally decided to quit college, move to L.A., and give music his full-time attention. There he played gigs and recorded with many blues and R&B legends.“
After growing tired of tedious session work, he continued to write songs and became a house songwriter for Motown and Chappel Publishing. Rodgers also continued to produce sessions for other artists and decided to go back to school where he received a degree in philosophy. In 1999 he released his first solo effort, Blues Is My Wailin’ Wall, on Blue Thumb. The recording contained all original material, mixing his philosophical views with blues/soul musical roots.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
The Royals traded for Toronto Blue Jays reliever Connor Seabold.
Seabold, 30, was designated for assignment on June 10. The Royals will offer him a fresh start and chance to carve out a role in the bullpen.
This season, Seabold owns a 4.26 ERA in 16 relief appearances. He appeared in five games with the Blue Jays after beginning the 2026 campaign with the Detroit Tigers.
“Another guy with some experience to be able to fit in the middle of the game,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Give us some length at times. He’s been pretty much one inning lately, but we’re not going to designate a role for him.”
Anne Rogers writes about Mitch Spence’s spot start amid the injuries to the rotation.
The Royals’ depth is stretched thin with three starters sidelined right now. Despite Lugo’s placement on the 7-day concussion IL due to the line drive that hit him last week, the hope is that he’ll be able to slot back in by this weekend as long as his health stays on track over the next few days. But Cole Ragans (left elbow impingement) and Kris Bubic (left elbow soreness) have both suffered setbacks in their recoveries, extending their time on the IL.
Ragans was awaiting MRI results Monday to see what is going on with the latest soreness that crept in over the weekend, so his timeline has yet to be determined. Bubic pressed pause on his rehab assignment with shoulder discomfort, although an MRI showed that nothing was structurally wrong, so his throwing progression has continued. It’s unclear when he’ll get back on the mound.
Bobby Witt Jr leads AL shortstops in All-Star voting.
SHORTSTOP
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: 890,575 2. Andrés Giménez, Blue Jays: 354,651 3. Kevin McGonigle, Tigers: 266,239 4. Colson Montgomery, White Sox: 176,673 5. Jeremy Peña, Astros: 162,537
One of the best all-around players in MLB, Witt advanced to Phase 2 in each of the past two years but lost out both times, with Gunnar Henderson earning the AL’s starting shortstop spot in 2024 and Jacob Wilson prevailing last season. Witt is still searching for his first All-Star starting nod. McGonigle is the AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner, but he has some ground to make up if he’s going to usurp Giménez as one of the AL shortstop finalists.
David Lesky believes it’s time for all of us to shift our priorities for the rest of the season.
So now the successes shift to evaluation, which nobody likes, and with the injuries they now have, they’ll get that chance. I mentioned in the newsletter about priorities shifting that I’d like to see them get a look at Kameron Misner and maybe get John Rave one more shot. Well, now it’s happening because of the injuries to Kyle Isbel and Vinnie Pasquantino. We’ll see Jac Caglianone at first base a lot and probably hitting in a more prominent spot in the lineup. We’ll see much more of Luinder Avila starting, which has produced a couple of fun starts and one that wasn’t quite so fun. I hope they get Matthew Lugo to the big leagues and ship off Starling Marte soon. I’ve heard there’s a market for Marte, so let’s see that happen, too. We’ve watched a team make the playoffs two years ago and contend in September last year, so we have to re-learn how to watch a bad team, but it’s in our blood. It shouldn’t be too hard to remember.
There is a petition regarding the new Royals stadium ($). It looks like a low-wage worker group is trying to force a vote on the matter.
If at least 2,068 petition signatures are certified, Kansas City voters could see two ballot measures over the next 10 months. The first would ask whether stadium subsidies should require a public vote. If that’s approved, a second ballot question will appear at the next election asking whether the city should contribute public dollars to the proposed Royals stadium.
But timing is everything, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas believes the petition may be too late.
“I think the deal is likely to get done before we even have some of these discussions,” Lucas said, “if we ever get to the point of a public vote.”
Royals top prospect Kendry Chourio was promoted to High-A Quad Cities.
Andrew Banks at Kings of Kauffman talks about Jac Caglianone’s recent hot streak.
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit the first cycle of the 2026 season.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 20, 2026: Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the seventh inning of a Spring Breakout game against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
We are into the middle of June and the Orioles are still playing a confusing season where they seem to be teetering on the edge of making it a lost season where there’s no consolation but what is happening on the farm. They also are managing to avoid falling over the edge, at least so far. That’s a good thing because there hasn’t been much consolation from the farm.
These weekly updates focus on the team’s top prospects, particularly those on Camden Chat’s composite top 20 Orioles prospect list from before the season. They also include other guys who interest me who might develop into prospects over time. I do not tend to spend much time on non-prospect journeymen.
Here’s how things went this week:
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Last week’s record: 1-5 vs. Memphis (Cardinals)
This week’s opponent: at Syracuse (Mets)
Season record: 26-43, last place (17 GB) in International League East
Veteran major leaguer Tommy Pham opted out of his minor league deal this week. My standard advice is: Don’t freak out about minor league deals until they become major league deals.
Enrique Bradfield is back with Norfolk after about six weeks on the injured list. Did he play well? No, he had four hitless games before getting two hits in his last game of the week. Okay, what about Creed Willems? Just 3-15, all singles, though he did walk five times, so that’s something. Then there’s Heston Kjerstad, not a prospect but still someone we want to see playing well. 7-20, all singles, with no walks for a “OBP lower than both BA and SLG” line that you don’t see every day. Jud Fabian managed just one hit in 12 at-bats.
Two guys who did hit well for Norfolk over the past week are 40-man players who are retreads from other organizations. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had six hits, including a pair of homers, and outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez had a 5-14 week with two doubles. I suspect that I do not want to experience the set of circumstances resulting in these guys getting an extended MLB look by the O’s.
Not much excitement among the pitching prospects either. With Trey Gibson in MLB and Levi Wells on the injured list due to core surgery, the only guy here is Nestor German. He was blitzed for five runs in only 1.2 innings this week. This team has earned its record.
Others of interest
LHP Andrew Magno – Not sure if this 28-year-old lefty is anything but he’s added three more scoreless innings and now has a 0.64 ERA in 24 relief outings
RHP Yaqui Rivera – Notched a three-inning save. He’s walked too many guys across six outings (10 BB in 17 IP) but for now the 0.53 ERA looks pretty good
Season record: 25-37, last place (16 GB) in Eastern League Southwest
It’s all about Joseph Dzierwa until such time as he pitches well enough that the team deems it’s time to get him up to Triple-A. Two outings for Dzierwa this week, totaling ten innings, with ten strikeouts across those innings. That’s not going to dampen the enthusiasm. Batters did hit him a bit, with 11 hits, and between two walks and three hit batters that’s a lot of traffic. Have to like that 2.70 ERA and 1.050 WHIP through five games.
Even better than Dzierwa this week, though, was fellow lefty Luis De León, whose one start this week saw him throw five hitless innings with seven strikeouts. That’ll do! Command problems remain evident with a hit batter and two walks. He’s struggled at this level, with a 6.09 ERA on the year after this outing. It would be nice to see progress from him through the summer.
Some less than optimal batting lines this week from a number of the players I’ve been following here. My guy Aron Estrada was 5-22 at the plate with a double and a homer, but with only one walk, the OBP is rough. Still, he’s OPSing .779 for the season and for an age 21 guy here, that’s interesting. Catcher/first baseman/whatever Ethan Anderson scuffled to the tune of just two hits in 18 tries.
One guy who didn’t struggle is infielder Griff O’Ferrall. He’s not beating the “this guy can’t hit for power” charges with all singles. Still, 7-21 is 7-21, and he stole two bases. O’Ferrall remains under the Mendoza Line for the season, so he needs more good weeks. And maybe he could get some extra-base hits too? That’s what outfielder Douglas Hodo did. Hodo is 25 at this point, old for the level, but if he can play well here he could still earn a promotion and be at least sort of vaguely interesting. Hodo had a pair of homers and two doubles this week and may tempt me to put him on the player of the week poll even though I don’t usually mention non-prospects.
Also of interest
RHP Juaron Watts-Brown – My honorary hyphenated cousin had another rough one, with five runs (four earned) in three innings. 8.78 ERA in eight starts.
Season record: 38-22, second place (0.5 GB) in South Atlantic League North
This has been the most exciting team on the Orioles farm all season long, a trend that continued over this past week thanks to the 2025 draft duo of Ike Irish and Wehiwa Aloy. Although Irish only had five hits in 24 at-bats, all went for extra bases: three doubles and two homers. He also drew three walks. Aloy’s 6-24 included two doubles, a triple, and a homer. Aloy’s season OPS is .835; Irish’s is .801. These guys just keep on doing the thing. It’s fun to see.
On the topic of high Orioles draft picks last year, although he’s no longer in the organization, catcher Caden Bodine has a combined .967 OPS between Low-A and High-A this year. This draft class is like the opposite of the cursed 2024 one.
One of the other standouts for Frederick this year has been the big man, Victor Figueroa, from last year’s Padres swap. His season OPS remains .945, which is great, but this wasn’t a good week overall. Though he did hit two homers, he was just 4-23 at the plate and struck out 13 times.
Keys pitching prospects could not match the excitement, as they generally have not been able to ever since Dzierwa was quickly promoted up from this level. One guy who did do well is Twine Palmer, from last year’s Urías trade with the Astros. In two relief outings that totaled eight innings, Palmer did not allow an earned run and he allowed just eight runners in total. The 21-year-old Palmer has a 3.28 ERA and 1.136 WHIP through 12 games. Something might have clicked here over the offseason.
Also of interest
OF Vance Honeycutt – Five strikeouts in eight at-bats this week. I feel mean to continue this bit and may abandon it.
LHP Boston Bateman – Excellent May has not continued into June; he went just 7.2 innings across two starts and gave up five runs.
Season record: 23-40, last place (21 GB) in Carolina League North
Although it’s not showing up in the win-loss column yet, this roster has gotten a lot more interesting with the recent arrival of 19-year-old infielder Jaiden Lo Re, the Orioles fifth round pick a year ago. Lo Re got promoted out of the Florida Complex League after just 20 games and has been on fire in his first couple of handfuls of Low-A games. In five games for the Shorebirds this week, Lo Re went 7-17 with three doubles, drew six walks, and stole six bases. That’s good.
Other prospects here had a good several games, including fellow 19-year-old infielder DJ Layton, the Orioles sixth round pick from 2024. Layton’s been with Delmarva all year long and keeps hitting well. He added a 5-21 week with a double and a homer, plus four walks and three stolen bases. This could be a dynamic pair of guys. Let’s see whether the Orioles decide they want to try to develop these guys or trade one of them. Not that they’re looking like trade deadline buyers right now.
When this season began, the one real pitching prospect of note on this team was 19-year-old Esteban Mejia. The notable thing about him at this point is that he just keeps walking dudes. Mejia made two starts this week and walked seven guys in 6.2 innings, of a piece with his 11.3 BB/9 for the season. The Mike Elias international effort still waits for its first pitching success story.
Also of interest
OF Braylon Whitaker – 19th rounder from 2024 is still just 20 and he batted 9-23 this past week. .395 OBP for the season, though only slugging .316.
The FCL Orioles team is 15-15. The guy I’m keeping an eye on down here is 18-year-old infielder Wilfri De La Cruz, who arrived from the Cubs when the Orioles traded Andrew Kittredge last year – only to reacquire Kittredge after the season for cash. Not a bad bit of pilfering. In 26 games, De La Cruz is hitting .232/.411/.391. We may need to see him face pitchers who actually throw him strikes to get a better sense of who he is.
Your choice in the minor league player of the week poll for last week was Victor Figueroa, who had about a 60/40 edge over his competition. Margins continue to be slim, so if you have feelings about them, vote in the poll below.
Figueroa joins the following other winners: Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Caden Hunter, Ike Irish, and Wehiwa Aloy. We haven’t had a repeat winner yet. Will that change this week? The choice is yours.
