PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
There were a lot of things that contributed to the Pittsburgh Penguins strong 2025-26 performance and their return to the playoffs, and one of the biggest was the number of players that exceeded individual expectations. In some cases, it was not just a case of exceeding expectations, but having career years.
When that happens across an entire roster you do not have many bounce-back candidates for the following season.
There are, however, still a handful of players that the Penguins will be hoping for a bounce-back performance from during the 2026-27 season. So let’s take a look at a few of them and how likely it will be for them to perform better on an individual level.
Most-likely bounce-back: Sam Girard
Girard’s brief time with the Penguins has produced some mixed results, and I would say the majority of those results have been on the disappointing side. He initially struggled after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche in the trade for Brett Kulak. His work alongside Kris Letang produced some ugly moments in both the regular season and playoffs. Early on, he looked like a player that was doing more thinking on the ice than playing. Sometimes he seemed more interested in just spinning around with the puck than making a decision with it.
But for all of the negatives there were still some flashes of strong play (both with and without Letang) and some games where he truly did shine. It was not all bad.
I have seen enough defenseman come through Pittsburgh, initially struggle while trying to fit in with a new team and system, have people get down on them, only to have them bounce back with a fresh start in the next season and play at a really high level.
Sergei Gonchar had some rocky moments early on and then became a pivotal part of a Stanley Cup winning team.
Paul Martin was viewed as a liability with an albatross contract after one year before playing like the rock-solid, two-way defender he was in New Jersey.
Erik Karlsson was completely written off by many until he bounced back this season.
Is Girard going to be Gonchar or Karlsson next season? No. Because even at his peak he was never that type of player. But given his talent and track record as an NHL player (which is very good!) I do not think it is a stretch to believe he can come back next season and be a productive, top-four defenseman. It would be a welcome addition if he does.
Possible bounce-back: Arturs Silovs
Recency bias might tell us there is nothing for him to bounce back from because of how he played in the playoffs when he got his opportunity. And he was fantastic in those three games, giving the Penguins a fighting chance and nearly pushing them to a Game 7 out of a 3-0 series hole.
But his season overall wasn’t great.
His .887 save percentage ranked 44th out of the 59 goalies that appeared in at least 25 games.
His minus-8.3 goals saved above average ranked 79th out of 98 goalies that played in at least one game.
His minus-11.9 goals saved above expected ranked 89th of 98 goalies.
Objectively speaking, he was not great. His rebound control needs work, his puck-handling needs work and sometimes he has a tendency to just let in some absolutely ugly goals.
Even with that being the case, he is still only 25 years old and has shown flashes of being a good goalie at both the AHL and NHL levels, especially in big-game moments. Goalie performance is also completely unpredictable at times and it wouldn’t be a shocking development to see him come back next season and put together a strong season in a platoon role with Sergei Murashov.
You need to bounce-back: Ville Koivunen
There were some reasonably high expectations for Koivunen going into the 2025-26 season, and he started off with a prominent role on the NHL roster. He did not always take advantage of it, finishing the season with just two goals and seven assists in 39 games.
The AHL numbers since coming over in the Jake Guentzel trade have been consistently excellent.
The talent and vision are not in question.
The underlying numbers when he is on the ice are consistently solid, and he always seems to find himself in good positions with open looks.
But none of it has translated over to NHL production just yet, and those open looks too often turn into harmless possessions with blocked shots, deflected shots or shots that just do not find their way into the net.
He is going to be 23 years old at the start of next season and with 94 points in 97 games over the past two years he is going to have nothing left to prove in the AHL. It is time for him to take the next step and start to show something at the highest level. If he doesn’t, he officially goes from NHL prospect to NHL suspect.
Not likely to bounce-back: Ryan Graves
Kyle Dubas’ first year running the Penguins produced more strikeouts than home runs. The only strikeout from that offseason that has not either 1) bounced back, or 2) been jettisoned somewhere else is Ryan Graves. And unless it is part of another salary dump from another team, or unless he gives up an asset to get rid of him (which he should not do) the Penguins are going to still have Graves playing somewhere in the organization. Most likely in the AHL.
He is going to be 31 next season. He has had three seasons here under two different head coaches. It is just not in the cards here for him to be anything more than an organizational depth defenseman with a high price tag. Sometimes when you swing big, you miss. They missed with Graves. It happens more often than not in free agency.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils have hired Braden Birch as an assistant general manager, the first front-office addition by Sunny Mehta since taking over as the team's head of hockey operations.
“His blend of on-ice experience, management background, and intellect will serve him well in his new role," Mehta said. "Braden will work to bolster all areas of our operation, and I look forward to him joining our existing front office, where his personality and work ethic will fit in excellently.”
The Devils, as expected, did not renew the contracts of executives Dan MacKinnon and Chuck Fletcher as Mehta remakes the organization. They had reported to longtime GM Tom Fitzgerald, who parted ways with the Devils in early April.
Birch spent more than a decade with the Panthers, much of it as director of hockey operations and most recently overseeing salary cap management.
“I am really excited to take this next step in my professional career,” said Birch, who turns 37 just before the NHL season begins in late September. "I want to thank Bill Zito, the Viola family, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for 12 amazing years, and the ability to help a front office achieve the ultimate goal of Stanley Cup championships.
"I also greatly appreciate them giving me the opportunity to grow my professional career in New Jersey. I look forward to working with Sunny and his group on returning the Devils to the levels of success that we believe they can achieve.”
Zito called Birch a great person who will be missed by the Panthers and wished him the best.
“When you have success like we had the past few seasons, individuals are going to get opportunities to advance and it’s only a good thing for everyone,” Zito said.
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) during the first quarter of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Steal a road game, steal the series. That is what both the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers must be thinking as they enter Game four with Detroit up 2-1. That means Cleveland will be looking to protect its homecourt advantage, where it is unbeaten these playoffs, while Detroit attempts to take full control with a win in enemy territory. All three games in this series have featured one team seemingly to roundly outplay the other before the opponent somehow storms back to take a late lead that they can’t quite maintain. Will that trend continue tonight?
Much attention was paid to Cade Cunningham’s three consecutive turnovers, which allowed the Cavs to pull away in the fourth quarter of a tied game. Fair enough. Cade giveth great performances, and Cade taketh away in a critical moment. The bigger issue, to my mind, is Detroit’s biggest problem in these playoffs — its big men.
Jalen Duren is straight up having a bad playoffs, and it’s now stretched to 10 games. It’s not just that opponents are taking away his opportunities, though they are doing that. It is that Duren is fumbling away the opportunities he does get, sometimes literally.
This season for Duren has been all about an elevated level of skill and assuredness that he added to his prolific strength as a big man. He was no longer strictly a rim-running big; he was a center who had a dangerous face-up game, who could make the right decision in the short roll, and who could combine burst with a new level of touch and finesse that made him a lethal scorer within eight feet.
Duren shot 67.3% on 10.6 attempts within eight feet in the regular season. That trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo for players with at least eight such shots per game. Duren was a monster. In the playoffs, Duren’s attempts have been whittled to just over seven per game, and his field goal percentage has plummeted to just 50%. Of the 17 players in the playoffs who have averaged that many shots within eight feet, only Paolo Banchero and Jamal Murray shoot worse than Duren. The 22-year-old big man has also seen his free throws and rebounds tick lower while his turnovers have increased.
No problem, you might think, Detroit’s deepest position was at the center spot, and Isaiah Stewart was a whispered defensive player of the year candidate before a suspension and injury took him out of contention late in the season.
Stewart has been a bit of a disaster in these playoffs. There has been no definitive indication of any health concerns, but something simply doesn’t look right. In the regular season, Stewart’s impact was felt up and down the floor. His absence in last year’s postseason matchup against the Knicks is often cited as one that swung the series.
Well, Stewart is available in these playoffs, but he isn’t making any impact. He’s been limited to just under 14 minutes per game, but that is masking just how little he is accomplishing on the floor. On a per 36-minute basis, Stewart’s scoring has plummeted from over 15 to around 10, his three-point shot has almost completely disappeared, down by 66%. Detroit’s defense has been stout throughout the playoffs, and is a mighty 94.1 when Stewart is on the floor. The issue is that offense, already a middle-of-the-road offense in these playoffs, falls off a cliff with Stew on the floor. It goes from a modest 110.2 to a 93.7. Looking at Stewart’s on-off splits, the team is 20 points per 100 possessions better on offense with him off the floor compared to on the floor. That’s not all on Stewart, of course, but it’s been a black hole of a position for the Pistons, and it’s so bad not even Stew’s defense can make up for it.
It was no surprise to many Pistons fans that when the Pistons finally made their run to take the lead in game 3, it was with Paul Reed on the floor. He scored 11 points in just over nine minutes of action and breathed some actual life into a very stagnant offense.
JB Bickerstaff has to figure out this big man conundrum, and he’s got to be willing to ask some hard questions and come to some hard conclusions. The Cavs, with both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, were always going to present some challenges for the Pistons bigs, but I think we can definitely say whatever the team is doing is not working. Maybe it’s more Paul Reed; maybe that means resting Isaiah Stewart. Maybe it means whoever starts the game isn’t necessarily finishing the game, and instead riding whatever is the closest resemblance to a hot hand.
It feels like if Detroit can get a good to great game from a big, they are almost defacto going to win that game, and if they win that game, they will be on the doorstep of winning the series and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals (with its own matchup issues for bigs against the mighty New York Knicks).
If you’re a golfer, odds are you’d do just about anything if you had the chance to tee it up with Tiger Woods—especially in the mid-2000s during the peak of Tiger Woods’ career. That was the situation former MLB player Jeff Francoeur found himself in before a spring training game while on the Atlanta Braves.
Francoeur, a huge golfer, was just 22 years old and about to play his first full season with the Atlanta Braves. So asking his manager if he could play hooky to go play golf would’ve been a bold move. Luckily, he had an even bigger golfer on his team—John Smoltz, who was legendary for his golf escapades en route to a Hall of Fame Career, was buddies with Tiger Woods and heard about the offer Francoeur had to play with Tiger.
Smoltz put in a good word with legendary Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, and well, we have to just let Francoeur tell the story because he does a great job. Have a listen to Francoeur’s chat on a recent episode of Tim Kirkjian’s podcast with his son, Jeff.
How hilarious is that? Imagine your manager having your back that hard? Then after the game, reporters probably asked Cox about Francoeur’s sudden injury in the first inning, and Cox double-downed on it and called his infielder “day to day” with a “high ankle sprain.”
The extra cherry on the top of the story? This was 2006, when Francoeur played in all 162 games, making him only the fourth Braves player in franchise history to do so. The media must’ve been impressed by Francoeur’s iron-man-like streak, especially how he recovered so quickly from that spring training injury.
We still have a few more follow-up questions as golf sickos ... who else was in the group with Francoeur and Woods? How did Tiger play that day? We'll have to get Francoeur on our podcast, The Loop, soon so we can dive deeper into this hilarious story.
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES - MAY 10: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers falls during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, United States. (Photo by Nathan Morris/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Would you believe the aftermath of a sweep is one week without the Knicks?
On why he trusted Miles McBride in OG Anunoby’s absence:
“Deuce, he’s not afraid. He gives us the ability to make shots from range and or the ability to go get a shot. He gives us another ball handler. He’s a really good defender, and he’s versatile. When he’s on the floor with Jalen, analytically, they’re pretty good together. But he just brings a lot to the table for us on both ends of the floor, last thing offensively he’s got to be guarded because he can makes shots.”
On McBride’s mental toughness during the series:
“He’s just tough-minded. In order to have success in anything you do in life you need to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”
On how McBride’s shooting performance elevated the team in Game 4:
“Obviously, all of our guys, starting with Jalen [Brunson] and KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], were really good, but Deuce — he was unbelievable. His ability to stretch the floor and create space for others is second to none. He’s got a confidence about him and in himself that just makes us take another level on both ends of the floor.”
On where McBride’s resilience comes from:
“It’s Mother’s Day. It comes from his mom. Get that correct. It comes from his mom. [Deuce is] just tough. He’s tough. He’s a football player, you know? In order to have a chance in life and at anything you do, you have to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”
On embracing criticism while making bold adjustments:
“We made a lot of moves throughout the course of the year and throughout the course of the playoffs, and you just keep trying to do what’s best for the team. I don’t care what team I’m with. When you’re talking about being in the NBA, even if you do stuff right, you’re going to get criticized. So you just embrace whatever’s out there and you keep trying to do what’s best for the team. And at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, the one thing I know I can do is I can go look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, I tried to do the best I could for this group, regardless of anything else.’ I try to do the best I could, and that’s what keeps me going.”
On gaining appreciation for the Knicks’ traveling fan base:
“I obviously didn’t know how well they traveled and stuff like that, because I was out of coaching, so I watched [them] once in a while. I watched ESPN and all of that stuff during basketball time. And they showed videos of fans after first-round wins climbing light poles. So I’m like, wow. You love it. You love seeing stuff like that. But I got a lot of respect for them. And the more you’re around, the more you appreciate and understand why they are like that. But more than anything else, they’re knowledgeable. It’s a knowledgeable group, a knowledgeable fan base, and you respect that just as much as their passion shows.”
On the timing of the next game after a sweep:
“I wouldn’t want to play [Monday] or Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday?”
"I definitely knew the Knicks had crazy fans…but for them to travel the way they've traveled, be as loud & always have our backs…I've never seen anything like [this arena takeover] honestly. It really does give us energy"
On meeting the expectations placed on him in a starting role:
“This is what I expect to do. I feel like that’s why the coaching staff trusts me in the lineup, my teammates trust me out there, and just I trust my work.”
On his mindset when stepping into bigger minutes:
“I just want to win and do what I can to help this team win.”
On the significance of being part of a record-setting playoff performance:
“It’s definitely special. I didn’t even know honestly. To have anything like that on your name is a legacy you want.”
On capitalizing when the Sixers left him open:
“They left me open. This is what I expect to do. That’s why the coaching staff trusts me, my teammates trust me. And I trust my work.”
On seeing Knicks fans hand out posters of Mitchell Robinson’s dunk on Embiid:
“Man, Mitch did his thing right here, so shout-out to the fans.”
On how the team’s mentality shifted after an earlier loss in the series:
“I feel like our mindset shifted. We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”
On the internal standard the team is holding itself to:
“People on the outside always have their expectations, but internally we have our own. Our expectations are a championship, nothing less. So, this series is done, enjoy it. Obviously we’re happy, can’t take it for granted but we have a lot more to go.”
"This year we just have another year with each other, it's just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there's a lot more work to do"
Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about the mindset switch from advancing to the ECF last season vs. this season: pic.twitter.com/5WwEnUvT5x
On the team’s maturity heading into another Eastern Conference Finals:
“This year we just have another year with each other, it’s just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there’s a lot more work to do.”
On how McBride’s early barrage set the tone in Game 4:
“He was fantastic. The start of the game really was the Deuce McBride show. He went out there and hit some really big shots that gave us momentum. We talked about how we wanted to start fast and we’ve talked about starts, and Deuce allowed us to do that. Shout out to Deuce. That’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen Deuce play, especially in the moment.”
On adjusting the team’s approach after the first-round struggles:
“Shout out to our team. We found a way to, in a way, stabilize our season and do what was needed to adjust to Atlanta. And [we] found ourselves in a better position. It’s a shout-out to the coaching staff for realizing adjustments that needed to be made and also [a] shout-out to me personally that they trusted me.”
On the difficulty of closing out a series and ending another team’s season:
“It’s great when you see a team having that kind of focus and discipline and execution. I’ve always said that the toughest games are to end someone’s season and to see us taking that to a series, it’s great. It’s great for us to see. But now we’ve got to reset. We’ve got to readjust. Get our minds back right and enjoy this time with our family and get back to business.”
On staying grounded despite outside criticism during the season:
“It was a rollercoaster for sure. I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on. There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”
On what lies ahead despite the sweep:
“We have a lot of work to do.”
"Roller coaster for sure…
Outside the NY Knicks organization
Things looked worse…
Inside the building…
We were working every day to be the best team we could be…
“We’re focused. We’re staying poised, staying composed. Just focusing on the little things. One day at a time, one game at a time. Not looking ahead at all, staying in the moment.”
On whether it matters who they face next in the conference finals:
“One game at a time. One game at a time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
On hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas:
“It’s one of the coolest things in the world hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas.”
On how team chemistry has developed over time:
“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better. It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”
On reflecting on his growing legacy in New York:
“I think that’s a question I would love to answer when I retire. This place means a lot to me. We’re still writing our story. I’ll answer that another time.”
“I used to think Philly was a sports town. I don’t know if it is anymore. Everybody was begging for Philly (fans) not to sell their tickets. It never felt like a road game.”
On keeping emotions in check after advancing to the ECF:
“No relief, no jubilation. Just another step in the process. The way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was — I don’t wanna say it was celebratory — but it hit a little bit differently. Here, it’s business as normal, and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused.”
On the ball movement that fueled the Knicks’ historic shooting night:
“Guys were sacrificing good shots for better shots, and when you do that, the ball has energy and we have to knock down shots. So playing a style like that is fun.”
On rediscovering his three-point touch in Game 4:
“My right hand remembered that the goal was to make 3s. So happy to have her back.”
On how the Sixers’ arena atmosphere felt during the takeover:
“It was like a branch of MSG here today.”
On the importance of recovering during the playoff break ahead:
“We’re a little banged up. We need to get some treatment, get some rest, recover a little. And be ready to go.”
On how he plans to spend the downtime before the next series:
On Jalen Brunson’s long-term impact on the franchise:
“He’s definitely proved himself. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done for this team for, what, the last five years? S—, they don’t give him his credit.”
Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk … Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this … Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult … Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K
“We ran into a hot New York team. They’re getting momentum. And they’re playing better and better as these games are coming. And they came out hot. They threw haymakers early and they kept throwing them.”
On the Knicks being simply superior to the Sixers:
“I mean, they were just better. I’m proud of this group. I feel like we play hard, we tried, as we have done all season, and at times it’s OK to say that the other team was just better. Tonight, they made every shot, they made every single play, we didn’t make shots. We just got to get better from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches … everybody just got to get better.”
On the organization-wide need for improvement after the sweep:
“So, we just gotta get better, from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better.”
On taking personal responsibility for the team’s shortcomings:
“Frankly, they were just better than us. So, we have to look at each other, and that starts with me. I wasn’t around for much of the season for a lot of things. So, moving forward, I have an understanding of what it takes to make sure that I get to play. I think we will be better next year. But, for now, I’m disappointed we didn’t get a chance for a championship. So, everyone has to look at themselves, starting with me.”
"It actually really sucks
It just sucks bruh
It just sucks man
Yeah It just sucks…
It felt louder here than it did for them in the Garden…
On the frustration of Knicks fans taking over Philadelphia’s arena:
“It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks. That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult. It’s only one way to put a stop to it and it’s, we have to go out there and win these games. Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in the Garden this entire season. I know we lost Game 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them, it felt louder here for them than it did in the Garden. We got to put a stop to it as a team. Winning these games, that’s gonna make our fans louder than theirs or whatever. I don’t know how to keep them out. I don’t know the logistics of it, but it does suck. I can’t even lie. It definitely does suck.”
On Joel Embiid battling through injuries during the series:
“I commend him man, he worked his ass off to get out there and play. He certainly was trending upward toward the end of the Boston series…obviously, he gets the hip, ankle, injury that took him out a game, and I don’t think he ever got back to where he was trending.”
Chad ochocinco calls out Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson for doubting the New York Knicks all postseason and now what are y’all going to say after they swept the sixers pic.twitter.com/WIDBskPyJA
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 11, 2026
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock when Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview:
The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109 on Saturday, cutting Detroit's series lead to 2-1. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden added 19 points and 7 assists.
Cade Cunningham finished with a 27-point triple-double (10 rebounds, 10 assists) but committed eight of Detroit's 15 turnovers.
“That’s too many turnovers for us as a group. Sixteen is too many,” said Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the game. “Give up 27 points off those turnovers … our defense is so stingy if we get you in the half court. We’ve just got to make sure we get shots on goal so we can set our defense and make people have to work through it.”
The Pistons are looking to reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2008, while the Cavaliers look to reach their first Conference Finals since 2018.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18: Drew Millas #14 of the Washington Nationals throws the ball to second base against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on April 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the offseason, Nats fans knew that one of the biggest needs on the team was behind the plate. Paul Toboni knew too, with the Jose A Ferrer for Harry Ford trade being his first major move. However, Ford did not make the team and is struggling in AAA. Meanwhile, neither Keibert Ruiz nor Drew Millas are hitting their weight in the big leagues.
The only positive development we have seen behind the plate is the fact that Keibert Ruiz has become competent defensively. That is actually a big win for the organization, and something I thought was impossible. With the help of Bobby Wilson, Ruiz now has a +2 fielding run value.
The big problem for Ruiz this year has been the bat. Outside of a monster game against the Twins, the bat has shown no signs of life. He is hitting .205 with a .224 on base percentage. The crazy part is that Ruiz is pretty easily the best option behind the plate right now.
Ruiz has been in a 50/50 timeshare with Drew Millas this year. While Ruiz has been far from great, he has been better than Millas and deserves more playing time. It just feels like Millas makes at least one massive mistake in every game he plays. Yesterday it was his awful challenge. Millas challenged a pitch 3 inches off the zone, wasting the Nats last challenge. Later in that at bat, there was a pitch in the zone that was called a ball, but Millas could not challenge.
Millas has been a complete liability on both sides of the ball this season. In his brief call ups in the past, Millas showed promise on both sides, but has been exposed as a regular big leaguer. His plate discipline and blocking have completely cratered this season. As we saw yesterday, his baseball IQ is also shaky.
This would be a perfect time for the Nats to call up Harry Ford if he were performing. However, Ford has had a disastrous start to the season. After having a good season in AAA last year, the 23 year old catcher looks to have regressed a lot. He is hitting just .192 with a .572 OPS, and that number has risen a lot lately.
His strikeout rate is up nearly 10% and he is not hitting the ball as hard. It has been a real disaster for a guy who was supposed to come in and be the catcher of the present and future. The only thing that has remained a constant is his ability to draw walks and not chase. He needs his hit and power tools to get closer to big league average though.
If you want to be optimistic about Ford, he has been better in May. He has gotten on base in his last six games, and hit his first home run of the season the other day. Ford has a .778 OPS in the month of May, but that number has mainly been driven by walks.
It has been a brutal start, but with the way Millas is playing, Ford should only be a couple more good series away from a call up. Eventually we need to see what Ford has to offer. The Nats traded a good reliever for him, so we want to see a return on investment.
However, with the way Ford has started the season, it would be irresponsible to call him the nailed on catcher of the future. Scouts already had some questions about him before the season, and those concerns have only grown now. Besides his plate discipline, Ford does not have a standout trait. Hopefully his numbers last year were not just a product of the hitter friendly PCL.
If the Nats wanted to spend some money on a catcher, this offseason could be a good time to do it. I was really impressed with what I saw from Ryan Jeffers of the Twins when they were in town. Jeffers has been a solid starting catcher for a number of years, but is having a career year this season. He is also just 28 years old. Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson are also going to be on the market.
While the Nats are already paying Keibert Ruiz, we all know he is not the catcher of the future. With his improved defense, he could stick around the roster as a backup, but his bat has not been there for three seasons now.
Another catcher on the Nats books with big league experience is Riley Adams. He had been the backup the past few seasons, but the new regime picked Drew Millas over him. I think Adams is better, but he has not played since April 26th, so he must be dealing with an injury.
When the Nats picked up Harry Ford, I hoped that would be the answer to their catching woes. The early returns on that have not been positive. It is also clear that neither Keibert Ruiz or Drew Millas are the guy going forward. Beyond that, there is not a whole lot to love. Caleb Lomavita is tracking like a backup catcher, and Sir Jamison Jones has had moments, but remains a massive project.
Paul Toboni and the Nats are going to have to keep taking dart throws at catchers until they find an answer. Hopefully we can find one soon because I miss having a good catcher on this roster.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals bats during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
About seven or eight years ago, there was an established adage/joke among baseball fans, and it went something like this: the MLB season doesn’t officially start until Mike Trout leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. At the time, Trout was the undisputed best player in the league, and eventually other players’ hot starts would fade—leaving Trout standing alone at the top of the leaderboard.
It’s 2026 now, so maybe it’s time to give it a good ol’ update. Let’s say, oh, something along the lines of: the MLB season doesn’t officially start untilBobby Witt Jr. leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. In any case, the season has officially started, because if you go look at the Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference version of WAR, you’ll find that Witt has indeed accrued more WAR than any other American League player.
Over on Bluesky, Kevin O’Brien of Royals Keep posted Witt’s season batting percentiles and wondered if this could be the year that Witt wins the MVP. Yes, it’s just May, but again, Witt is already leading the league in WAR. Is it his to lose? Is it finally his time?
But something Kevin said in the post also stuck with me: “[Witt] doesn’t have the home runs (yet),” Kevin wrote. And while it’s very clear that Witt is an excellent and extremely valuable baseball player, I think that idea deserves a little more exploration as it pertains to Witt’s MVP chances.
There have been arguments about MVP forever, with some of them semantic and some of them philosophical. It’s the “most valuable player” award, but are we talking overall value or value to the team? To what extent do we reward individual accomplishment or positional difficulty? Do past MVPs factor into it? What about pitchers? Are there certain kinds of player who are rewarded more often?
These are all interesting arguments, but the reality is that the Baseball Writers’ Association of America—the MVP voters—essentially consider the MVP to be a “best player” award, and they generally only award a pitcher if that player is clearly the best player. But there are some other things at play, too, and I have a chart to illustrate them: the position player winners of the AL and NL MVP award dating back a dozen years, with 2020 and Shohei Ohtani’s awards thrown out for obvious reasons.
Player
Year
AVG
wRC+
HR
fWAR rank
bWAR rank
Aaron Judge
2025
.331
204
53
1
1
Aaron Judge
2024
.322
220
58
1
1
Ronald Acuna Jr.
2023
.337
171
41
1
2
Aaron Judge
2022
.311
206
62
1
1
Paul Goldschmidt
2022
.317
175
35
3
2
Bryce Harper
2021
.309
170
35
3
9
Cody Bellinger
2019
.305
161
47
1
1
Mike Trout
2019
.291
177
45
2
3
Christian Yelich
2018
.326
167
36
1
1
Mookie Betts
2018
.346
185
32
1
1
Giancarlo Stanton
2017
.281
158
59
2
1
Jose Altuve
2017
.346
160
24
2
1
Kris Bryant
2016
.292
148
39
1
1
Mike Trout
2016
.315
170
29
1
1
Bryce Harper
2015
.330
197
42
1
1
Josh Donaldson
2015
.297
154
41
2
2
Mike Trout
2014
.287
167
36
1
1
AVERAGE
.314
176
42
1.5
1.8
First, the best way to get an MVP award is by being the best player, but the thing about that is that there are other great players also trying to be the best player. Kris Bryant’s 2016 is a prime example here: a 7.5 fWAR season is, in the context of other MVPs, just ok. But no one else in the NL was as good, and so that 7.5 fWAR cleared. Witt, on the other hand, has had to content with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh the last two years, both of whom put together historically great campaigns. Just no fighting that.
Second, MVP award winners clear a gigantic offensive bar. The average position player MVP winner since 2014 has had a batting average of .314 and has swatted 42 home runs en route to a wRC+ of 176. That’s the average hitter. In Witt’s best season (so far) in 2024, he was double-digit home runs away and seven points of wRC+ away from both figures.
Third, there is simply a bias towards offense in MVP award voting. Most votes go how the WAR total goes, with nearly all winners on this list ranking as the top or second-best WAR in both Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference versions. There were only three players who won
MVP and ranked below second place in either fWAR or bWAR: Mike Trout in 2019, Bryce Harper in 2021, and Paul Goldschmidt in 2022. In all three situations, the voters prioritized bat over glove, overlooking WAR to do so. In 2019, it was Alex Bregman and Marcus Semien who lost out. In 2021, it was Trea Turner and Fernando Tatis Jr. who lost out. And in 2022, it was Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado who lost out.
Witt’s game particularly vulnerable to the biases of MVP voters. Witt is a very good hitter who also happens to be the best defensive player in baseball and also one of the deadliest basestealers in the league. But Witt is not going to hit 50 home runs. He’s not going to walk at a 15% clip. He’s probably never going to hit a 169 wRC+ again. There’s a reason that none of the platinum glove winners have ever won an MVP; Arenado came the closest, but again, even though he accrued more WAR than Paul Goldschmidt, voters thought Goldschmidt’s offense was more important than Arenado’s defense.
So, is it Witt’s year to win MVP? I doubt it. That’s not because I don’t think Witt is good; on the contrary, I think Witt is clearly the best player in baseball because how he can impact the game every second he’s on the field. I’m just jaded about the process and about what voters value. I hope it is Witt’s year to win MVP, because he certainly deserves it for how good he’s been over the last two plus seasons.
May 10, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) goes to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
I will attempt to refrain from commenting too much on the play that defined last night’s game and will instead try to focus on the optimistic fact that this young and inexperienced Spurs team very nearly scored a road playoff win against a very good (and extremely desperate) opponent without the support of their best player for nearly three quarters. Especially considering how critical Victor Wembanyama’s role is in this particular matchup, it was impressive to see how effective the team managed to be for long stretches. In any case, for the moment I’ll set my broader feelings about the game aside and focus on the box score, which has a number of striking highlights:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of May 10, 2026, this group include 1,183 games.
Factors that decided the game
Both teams had numerous mild edges in this game, though they were often offsetting. For example, Minnesota won the offensive (+2) and defensive (+6) glass, but San Antonio had three fewer turnovers.
San Antonio also fouled less and earned a FTA margin of +5. However, the Timberwolves’ big advantage in FT% (+13.13 percentage points) drove the Spurs FTM differential down to just +1.
San Antonio had a +2.99 percentage-point edge in FG%, which should have put them in a great position to win. Unfortunately, Minnesota offset this with two big advantages. First, they attempted eight more total shots, and thus had a FGM margin of +1.
Second, the Spurs’ overall edge in shooting efficiency emphatically did not extend to the three-point line, as the Timberwolves had a 3P% margin of +13.96 percentage points. As a result of all this, Minnesota outscored San Antonio by six from the field despite their FG% deficit.
Rare Box Score Stats
San Antonio and Minnesota combined for 53 shots from distance in this game, which is unusually low but for from unheard of in today’s game. In fact, there have been three other cases in the 2026 playoffs alone (i.e., excluding the play-in) where two teams combined for a 3PA total as low or lower (that’s about once in every 15-16 games). However, what is amazing is how quickly this outcome has gone from being completely expected to notably rare. As recently as the 2016 playoffs, an absolute majority of true playoffs had a 3PA total of 53 or less, and wen the Spurs won the title in 2014 this share was north of 84%. Prior to that, games with more than 53 three-point attempts were exceptionally rare, with no instances in several years.
This is just the 11th postseason game since 2013 (that’s about 1-in-108, or 0.93% of games) in which the winner had a FG% margin at least as bad as -2.99 percentage points and a 3P% margin as good or better than +13.96 percentage points.
This was also just the ninth postseason contest in the same period in which the loser shot at least as 47.67% from the field and at least as bad as 23.08% from distance. Oddly enough, one of the other cases happened yesterday as well, as the 76ers shot 50% from the field and 22.86% from distance.
Though San Antonio’s blocks were (for obvious reasons) way down in this game, they did have 13 steals and thus combined from a total of 16 stocks (steals + blocks), which is 10 more than the Timberwolves’ total of six. Since 2013, only seven other postseason winners (about 1-in-169) have had a stock differential as bad or worse.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
The Dodgers are looking to defend home field in LA, just as the Giants did weeks ago in the Bay. San Francisco won two during a three-game series with Los Angeles on April 21-23 at Oracle Park.
On the field, the two go into the series with opposite records. While the Dodgers are 24-16, the Giants are 16-24. While Los Angeles is tied for first in the NL West, San Francisco sits in fourth place.
It's the Giants, though, who have the all-time series lead, although slim at 1,290-1,288-17 during regular-season meetings. It's Los Angeles with the edge in the postseason, beating San Francisco, 3-2. The last laugh goes to the Giants, who have one more championship than the Dodgers, 10 'chips to nine.
However, the Dodgers are favored to win in 2026, and tie them at 10. Los Angeles has won back-to-back World Series in 2024 and 2025. The Dodgers' run of three World Series wins in the last six seasons is how the Giants climbed the ranks during their run of three World Series wins between 2010 and 2014.
The two are comparable in many ways. Even in stadiums.
Oracle Park is beautiful. The weather. The ocean breeze. The crab sandwiches. What's there not to love about the San Francisco ballpark. Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly called Oracle Park the best stadium in MLB.
"It's impossible to look at what was originally called Pacific Bell Park and not think of Barry Bonds hitting a myriad of milestone home runs, many of which ended up in the possession of the kayakers who populate McCovey Cove in right field," Kelly wrote.
Dodger Stadium is iconic in its own right. It's been the home of the Dodgers since 1962. The stadium can get electric and make for one of the best atmospheres in baseball. It was ranked No. 8 best ballpark by Bleacher Report.
He wrote: "The scenery leading you up to the stadium is incredible, and even if the path to your seat is a bit rocky, there's such a simplistic feel to watching a game on a sunny day at Dodger Stadium with the '76' gas station sign spinning in the distance. Once you hear the recording of Vin Scully saying 'It's time for Dodger baseball,' all feels right in the world."
With the NBA Draft Lottery in the rear view mirror, we now know the official order for the 2026 NBA Draft. Indiana may have been the biggest loser, as its pick went to the Clippers after falling outside the top-4, with Brooklyn and Sacramento also going home disappointed.
Washington was the biggest winner, as it became the first team since 2019 to land the top pick after finishing with the league's worst record. And with Memphis landing the third overall pick, the question is how this affects their approach with Ja Morant, who could be on the move this summer.
Below is the first Rotoworld mock draft of the spring, with writers Raphielle Johnson and Kurt Helin making their picks and providing some analysis.
The Wizards winning Sunday's lottery makes this the first time since 2019 that the team with the league's worst record won the right to select first overall. While the franchise has loaded up on young wings in recent drafts, they aren't in a position where they can afford to pass on a talent like Dybantsa. The former BYU star was effective on and off the ball offensively, and he has the length and athleticism needed to be a factor on the wing defensively. - Raphielle Johnson
2. Utah Jazz: G Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Jazz fans may have dreamed of BYU's Dybantsa, but they are going to love having the explosive Peterson next to Keyonte George in the backcourt for years to come. Peterson said he now understands what caused his cramping issues, and if true, and he finds his explosiveness again, he is the best shot creator and maker in the draft. - Kurt Helin
3. Memphis Grizzlies: G Kingston Flemings, Houston
At this point in the draft process, there appears to be a feeling in some circles that Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer have separated themselves from the pack. However, Memphis has shown a willingness in the past to go after "their guy" and disregard conventional wisdom. With Ja Morant's future with the franchise undetermined, and that may be generous, Flemings would be a good fit for the new era of the franchise. - Johnson
4. Chicago Bulls: F Cameron Boozer, Duke
The last time the Bulls drafted No. 4 was 2020, just after Arturas Karnisovas had taken over as the head of basketball operations in Chicago, and he rolled the dice on an athletic but very raw player in Patrick Williams. New head of basketball ops, Bryson Graham, is not going to make that same mistake. If Boozer — the player with the highest floor in this draft — is available at No. 4, Graham is going to take him. - Helin
5. LA Clippers (from Indiana): F Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Indiana falling out of the top-4 means the Clippers land a lottery pick, which is a huge deal for the franchise. Wilson's lone season at North Carolina was shortened due to a fractured right thumb, but his athleticism makes the 6-foot-10 forward a highly intriguing prospect in this draft class. While there is room for him to grow as a shooter, Wilson has the tools to make an immediate impact as a finisher and defender. - Johnson
6. Brooklyn Nets: G Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Wagler came out of nowhere this season to become a top-10 pick. He had a standout season at Illinois, averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists a game, while shooting 41% from 3-point range. - Helin
7. Sacramento Kings: G Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
The Kings head into the offseason finding themselves in the same spot they were in last summer, in desperate need of addressing the point guard position. Acuff ended his freshman season at Arkansas with a flourish, leading the Razorbacks to an SEC tournament title and a Sweet 16 appearance. While finishing in traffic and on-ball defensive ability are concerns, Acuff's on-ball playmaking makes him an intriguing prospect for any team in need of help at the point. - Johnson
8. Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans): G Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Trae Young has been sent to the nation's capital and Brown could be the point guard of the future in Atlanta. Brown is lightning-quick and a player who is going to look better in the NBA, with a more open floor and shooting all around him. - Helin
9. Dallas Mavericks: C Aday Mara, Michigan
Used mainly in a reserve role in his two seasons at UCLA, Mara was a high-level performer as the starting center on Michigan's national championship team this past season. At 7-foot-3, he was effective as both a facilitator and shot-blocker for the Wolverines. While the Mavericks still have Dereck Lively II, his offensive ceiling is not on par with Mara's. - Johnson
10. Milwaukee Bucks: G Brayden Burries, Arizona
The Bucks need all the backcourt help they can get, and Burries may not be flashy, but he does a lot of things well — he can play on and off the ball, can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers but also attack closeouts, and he gets downhill off screens and has a midrange pull-up game. - Helin
11. Golden State Warriors: F Nate Ament, Tennessee
With head coach Steve Kerr agreeing to a two-year extension, there's some clarity regarding the franchise's approach to the 2026-27 season. However, there's still a need to add pieces that can both fit alongside the team's established veterans and potentially develop into key options for the future. The 6-foot-10 Ament can score at all three levels, and playing alongside someone like Draymond Green would help his development as a defender. - Johnson
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers): F Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Lendeborg looks ready to step in and be an NBA rotation big man, although with the Thunder, cracking that rotation will be the hardest part. Lendeborg has the kind of versatility NBA teams crave. - Helin
13. Miami Heat: F Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers
Will the Heat go "big game hunting" this summer? If so, moving up in the lottery would have given lead executive Pat Riley a more attractive chip to sweeten a potential deal with. While he does need to clean up his perimeter shooting and playmaking, Lopez is a talented forward with upside that's likely to land him on the back end of the lottery. - Johnson
14. Charlotte Hornets: F/C Hannes Steinbach, Washington
One of the best rebounders in this draft. He's a little raw and needs some development, but has great hands and a good touch, and scored 18.5 points per game while pulling down 11.8 rebounds at Washington. - Helin
15. Chicago Bulls (from Portland): C Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Due to a torn ACL suffered during his lone season at Arizona State, Quaintance was limited to four games at Kentucky before being shut down in early January. His medical reports will obviously be reviewed by any team evaluating the 6-foot-10 pivot, and the Bulls are in a position where they need to strongly consider drafting a post player. Quaintance's athleticism and rim protection abilities are why he's projected to be a first-rounder despite the knee concerns. - Johnson
16. Memphis Grizzlies (from Orlando via Phoenix): G Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
He was Mr. Everything for Alabama, averaging 21.5 points and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range despite playing through injuries. He has to show he can work off the ball, too. - Helin
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia): G/F Dailyn Swain, Texas
Swain began his college career at Xavier, following head coach Sean Miller to Texas for the 2025-26 campaign. At 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, he has excellent size for a pro wing and improved as a scorer throughout his three seasons in college. Oklahoma City has plenty of depth, but the inability to pay everyone may open up minutes in the rotation for a player like Swain. - Johnson
18. Charlotte Hornets (from Phoenix via Orlando): G Cameron Carr, Baylor
Carr is a bit of a project (and he's got to add a lot of muscle), but he's a pure scorer from all over the court who averaged 18.9 points per game while shooting 37.4% from beyond the arc. - Helin
19. Toronto Raptors: C Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
Given Jakob Poeltl's struggles throughout the season after injuring his lower back during training camp, the Raptors can use additional depth in the frontcourt. After drafting Collin Murray-Boyles last summer, adding Cenac to the mix would help address that issue. While the stats won't jump off the page, the 6-foot-10 frontcourt player made strides throughout his lone season at Houston. - Johnson
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta): F Koa Peat, Arizona
Peat has the size and physicality the Spurs like in their players; he's 6-foot-8, crashes the boards hard, and can do some playmaking. But his shot needs a lot of work, which is why he's a bit of a project. - Helin
21. Detroit Pistons (from Minnesota): G Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Despite winning 60 regular-season games for the first time in 20 years, the Pistons still have a clear need for shooting around star point guard Cade Cunningham. Stirtz, who ran the point for Ben McCollum at Drake and Iowa, is one of the best shooters in this draft class. - Johnson
22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City via Houston): G Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
You can't go wrong drafting the best shooter in the class, and Anderson is that guy, hitting 42.5% from 3-point range this season. - Helin
23. Atlanta Hawks (from Cleveland): G Isaiah Evans, Duke
Between CJ McCollum's free agency and Jonathan Kuminga's team option, the Hawks have some important matters to address this summer. And with former first-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher not panning out as the franchise had hoped, adding a shooter like Evans would not be a bad idea. The former Duke standout shot 36 percent from three and 86 percent from the foul line as a sophomore. - Johnson
24. New York Knicks: F/C Morez Johnson, Michigan
He was at the heart of the Wolverines' championship team, he's physical, and he plays bigger than he looks thanks to a 7'2" wingspan. He's going to be a defensive guy in the NBA who can score a little, and he can step in and help right away. - Helin
25. Los Angeles Lakers: F Allen Graves, Santa Clara
The biggest question hanging over the Lakers is what LeBron James will decide to do: retire, re-sign with the team or sign elsewhere? Regardless of what he decides, the Lakers need to strengthen the bench through the draft and free agency. The 6-foot-9 Graves, who entered the transfer portal after his freshman season, could land in the first round despite starting just four games at Santa Clara. At this stage of his career, Graves' strengths are perimeter shooting and on-ball defense, although he does need to limit the fouling. - Johnson
26. Denver Nuggets: C Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Reed helped himself (and the Huskies) with a strong NCAA tournament. He's more of a defender than a scorer at the next level, but he might be able to help off the bench as a rookie. - Helin
27. Boston Celtics: C Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
The 7-foot Veesaar transferred to North Carolina after two seasons at Arizona, taking on a larger role for the Tar Heels. His production jumped significantly as a starter, putting up 17 points per game. The Celtics are in a position where they can afford to strengthen the center position, even with Neemias Queta enjoying the most productive season of his career. - Johnson
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit): F Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
It's easy to love watching Yessoufou play: very high motor, very physical and he averaged 17.8 points per game while grabbing 5.9 rebounds per night as a freshman. He hunted mismatches and overpowered players in college; will that translate to the NBA? - Helin
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Atlanta via San Antonio): G Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
Along with Boozer and Wilson, Okorie was one of the best freshmen in the ACC this season. An honorable mention All-American, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 23.2 points per game on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 83.2 percent shooting from the foul line. Cleveland doesn't necessarily need a point guard with James Harden and Dennis Schröder in the fold, but a talented scorer of Okorie's caliber could prove difficult to pass on. - Johnson
30. Dallas Mavericks (from Washington via Philadelphia and Dallas): G Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
Thomas was an impressive offensive player for the Razorbacks, averaging 15.6 points per game while shooting 41.6% from 3. Jason Kidd will have to help him mature his game and decision-making, but he has potential because he can flat-out score. - Helin
Baseball: New York Mets mascot Mr. Met wearing mask in stands during game vs Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Flushing, NY 8/12/2020 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163326 TK1 )
Recaps
[Arizona Sports] Eduardo Rodriguez nearly earns complete game in win vs. Mets – Torey Lovullo and starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez made a deal after the eighth inning of Rodriguez’s gem during a 5-1 win over the New York Mets on Sunday. Rodriguez had thrown 91 pitches and held the Mets to one run, so he asked to go back out for 10 more pitches to try and earn his first career complete game. Lovullo obliged. A strikeout and a bloop single later, Lovullo predictably heard the ire of booing fans at Chase Field as he collected the baseball from Rodriguez at 100 pitches, and Rodriguez received a standing ovation for a series-clinching performance.
[Dbacks.com] Not satisfied with an 8-inning gem, E-Rod talks his way into starting the 9th – The 33-year-old spun 8 1/3 dominant frames, not allowing a hit until the sixth inning. He scattered four knocks – none of which registered as hard-hit (95-plus mph) per Statcast – and walked three, but allowed just one run. His outing marks the sixth consecutive game in which a D-backs starter has gone at least six innings, the longest current streak in the Majors. “You see a guy on the mound that doesn’t give you a lot of emotion,” bench coach Jeff Banister said of Rodriguez pregame. “But under the hood, this guy is competing as much as anybody that we’ve got on the field.”
[New York Post] Mets’ no-show offense, brutal defense sink them in loss – The Mets disrespected all mothers on their day by not playing nice. A no-show lineup has become the norm, but Sunday they added shoddy defense — or run prevention, if you prefer — into the equation and departed the desert with sand in their pants in a 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. It was a second straight game the Mets (15-25) scored only one run after scoring only once in nine innings Friday before adding two in the 10th to win. The Mets lost the series, completing a 5-4 road trip that also included stops in Anaheim and Colorado. Juan Soto, the team’s best hitter, went 4-for-33 (.121) on the road trip with one homer.
Team news
[Dbacks.com] McCann’s wife Jessica the glue that holds it all together – There’s not a day that goes by that the Diamondbacks catcher doesn’t marvel at what she’s done to hold their family together. “For lack of a better term, mothers married to professional baseball players are essentially single parents for nine months out of the year,” McCann said. “It’s been especially tough for her recently since the boys have started school. It used to be that they were at least with me full-time. Now they’re back home. And when they’re home, I mean, she’s truly the definition of a single parent. She’s home alone and taking the kids to school, sports, birthday parties, you know, everything by herself.”
[SI] What D-backs’ Huge Series Win vs Mets Told Us — And What it Didn’t – Lovullo has tried to avoid taking credit for the turnaround of the rotation, but it’s a fact that the starting pitcher group has performed at a high level since their “one-way” meeting with their manager. That continued in a massive way against the Mets. [But] How much success was owed to Mets’ struggles? It’s a good sign that the D-backs’ pitching was able to capitalize on poor offense. It’s also worth noting they held Juan Soto and Bo Bichette to a combined 0-for-20 in the series. But the Mets’ offensive track record does put a bit of an asterisk on the overall pitching results.
[AZ Central] Lovullo dealing with illness, but not missing work – For a while Sunday morning, it was unclear whether Lovullo was going to be able to manage the game. Battling an illness, he did not do his usual pregame session with reporters and did not decide he was managing until less than an hour before the game. “Rough morning — real early this morning all the way up until about 7:30, 8 o’clock,” Lovullo said, adding that he decided to manage after a team doctor assured him he wouldn’t get anyone sick. The club announced about 20 minutes before first pitch that Lovullo would manage. Bench coach Jeff Banister said he found out around 6:30 a.m. that Lovullo was not feeling well. Banister was ready to step in for Lovullo.
And, elsewhere…
[MLB] Here are MLB’s top Mother’s Day moments – Each Mother’s Day, players swing pink bats and don pink gear to pay tribute to mom. They also sometimes honor mom with a memorable moment, like when Brandon Nimmo talked about his mom during an interview and cranked a walk-off bomb several innings later. Here’s a look at that special home run and a few other recent Mother’s Day memories.
[New York Post] Yasiel Puig homers twice in debut for Canadian baseball team weeks before facing possible prison sentence – Puig signed with the Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League late last month and Sunday was his first game with the semi-pro team. All of this occurred 20 days out from a sentencing hearing slated for May 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. He was found guilty of obstruction of justice and providing false statements to federal investigators who had been looking into an illegal sports gambling operation. He is potentially facing 15 years in jail, though he could receive a more lenient sentence for the situation.
[AP] Turang’s homer off Bednar in 9th helps Brewers complete sweep with 4-3 win over Yankees – Brice Turang homered off David Bednar with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees with a 4-3 victory Sunday. Milwaukee had not swept the Yankees in a series of at least three games since August 1989. The Brewers improved their interleague record since 2022 to a major league-best 116-65. They are 14-7 against American League teams and 8-9 against National League squads this season. [Fun fact: Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby currently leads all MLB pitchers in wins, with seven]
The results of these Cubs games are getting more stratified. Four of the last five losses have felt pretty lopsided. Even in that other game, the Cubs allowed nine runs. You do expect to lose nearly 100 percent of the games in which you allow nine runs. Also, the Cubs have only lost five of their last 25 games. The Cubs either feel a little overmatched, or they find a way to win the game. When those proportions are 4 to 1, you have to feel pretty good about your chances to make a very deep run in the season.
As a blogger, the way these losses are going doesn’t make a lot to talk about. This feels like a just throw it away and move on, just like Saturday’s game. The larger concern out of this, to the extent that there is one, is the offense getting stifled for two straight games. I’m not ready to worry about it. Certainly, before Sunday’s game we talked about it. When healthy, Jacob deGrom has been a borderline Hall of Fame pitcher. The only question that will ever exist with him is if the body of work is large enough to justify his inclusion.
Even with the two shutouts over the weekend, the Cubs still own the top team on base percentage in baseball. Their slugging still sits fifth. The net result has their team OPS at fourth overall. By pretty much any objective measure, they have a top five offense. The offense failed them this weekend. But I do not think this was some kind of gateway drug to a punchless offense and a lot of losses. There are more tough games ahead, but I expect the team to bounce back quickly.
Your mileage may vary, and all of our expectations are probably drifting upwards, but none of us suddenly thought this team was heading for 110ish wins.
Three Positives:
Nico Hoerner had a single, a double and a stolen base. He should have been on Team USA. He’s a great bench player for a team like that.
Phil Maton faced four batters, retiring them all and striking out two.
Michael Busch had a single in three plate appearances.
Game 41, May 10: Rangers 3, Cubs 0 (27-14)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Jameson Taillon (.111). 5.1 IP, 22 BF, 4 H, 2 BB, ER, 4 K (L 2-2)
Hero: Phil Maton (.082). 1.1 IP, 4 BF, 2 K
Sidekick: Nico Hoerner (.071). 2-4, 2B
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Moisés Ballesteros (-.130). 0-4
Goat: Daniel Palencia (-.110). 0.2 IP, 4 BF, 2 H, 2 ER, K
Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.110). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: Evan Carter hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning to increase the Ranger lead to three. (.114)
*Cubs Play of the Game: Jameson Taillon faced Josh Jung with no outs and runners on first and second in the first inning, the game scoreless. He coaxed a double play ball, contributing to a scoreless first. (.085)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 40 Winner: Ethan Roberts received 40 of 91 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Conforto +13
Michael Busch +11
Shōta Imanaga +10
Dansby Swanson/Jacob Webb/Caleb Thielbar/ -6
Matt Shaw -9
Seiya Suzuki -15
Current Win Pace: 106.68 wins
Up Next: A rare off day Monday, following 10 games in a row and 23 games in 24 days. Tuesday night, they face the Braves (28-13) in Atlanta. Colin Rea (4-1, 4.03, 38 IP) makes his sixth start (ninth appearance) of the year. Last time out, he allowed one run on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He’s been better at home (2.66 v 5.60) but also better at night (2.77 v 675) than during the day time.
30-year-old Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.34, 37.1 IP) makes his eighth start of the year. The first round (22nd overall) pick of the Dodgers (2014) allowed five runs in five innings in a start against the Rockies. Better away (3.63 v 5.40) than home. Also better during the day than at night (3.86 v 4.56).
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 12: Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves bats against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 12, 1996 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Braves 16-8. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
The modern MLB Draft format only really started in 1987, as there used to be multiple drafts in each year, with January and June drafts plus secondary drafts for each. That means we are entering the 40th draft under the current format, though the number of days and rounds has changed at times in those 40 years.
I thought with this being the 40th draft, now would be a good time to take a look back at some of the best and worst picks that the Atlanta Braves have made during that time. The majority of the best picks will be all over the place, while the majority of the worst picks will come from the top two rounds.
The only qualification for making this list is the player had to have signed as a part of that draft. For that reason, you won’t find Anthony Rendon on the best picks list. For the same reason you won’t find Carter Stewart on the worst picks list.
Best Picks
1. Chipper Jones, SS, 1990 – It’s not easy for a #1 overall pick to make this list, let alone top it – but Chipper Jones wasn’t ordinary by the standards of the top overall selection. The Hall of Famer, and one of the faces of the Braves dynasty run was an MVP, Batting Champion, and World Series winner who hit .303/.401/.529 with 468 homers as a career-long Brave.
2. Freddie Freeman, 1B, 2007 – It’s easy to forget that Freddie Freeman wasn’t the Braves top pick in the 2007 class, or even the most hyped prospect out of that group thanks to Jason Heyward. However the Braves second rounder has carved out a future Hall of Fame career, hitting .299/.385/.509 with 370 homers, an MVP, Gold Glove, and 3 World Series rings – including one World Series MVP. Though he if now in his fifth season with the Dodgers, Freeman’s contributions to the Braves and helping lead them from rebuilding organization to 2021 World Series champs won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
3. Brian McCann, C, 2002 – The second round pick in 2022, Brian McCann took over the Braves catching job in 2005 and held it through the 2013 season, before leaving to sign with the Yankees. He returned home to play his final season as a Brave in 2019, posting a career .262/.337/.452 slash with 282 homers. The seven-time All Star even won a World Series ring with the 2017 Astros. McCann reached the Hall of Fame ballot in the 2025 voting, but was removed after receiving just 1.8% of the vote.
4. Adam Wainwright, RHP, 2000 – The 29th pick in the 2000 draft never saw Atlanta, thanks to being traded to the Cardinals for JD Drew after the 2003 season. Still he deserves to be ranked high on this list as a player who will be getting considered for a possible spot in the Hall of Fame. Waino spent his entire career in St. Louis, going 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 2202 strikeouts over 2668.1 innings. He might have had even better counting stats, but missed all of 2011 and parts of 2015 and 2018 with injuries, along with the shortened 2020 season. He retired after the 2023 season at the age of 41.
5. Craig Kimbrel, RHP, 2008 – Craig Kimbrel was actually drafted out of his Alabama JUCO twice by the Braves, though he didn’t sign as a 33rd round pick in 2007. He did sign as a third rounder in 2008, and went on to become arguably the greatest closer in franchise history. A current Met, he has a career 2.63 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 440 saves, and 1293 strikeouts over 830 innings pitched. Out of his 440 saves, 186 came in a Braves uniform, and he pitched to a 1.43 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with the team. He was traded to the Padres just before Opening Day in 2015, right at the start of the Braves rebuild – a move that netted the Braves another member of this list with the Competitive Balance Round A pick that was part of his return. He will likely be considered for the Hall of Fame once that time comes for him.
6. Kevin Millwood, RHP, 1993 – An 11th round pick in 1993, Kevin Millwood reached the bigs in 1997, and had his breakout in 1999 when he finished third in Cy Young voting. He was a bit more up and down over the next three seasons with the Braves, before they flipped him to the Phillies after the 2022 season for catcher Johnny Estrada. Overall he went 169-152 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 2083 strikeouts in 2720.1 innings, earning 29.8 bWAR. Millwood was an All Star just once, in 1999, but twice received Cy Young votes, and led the AL in ERA with Cleveland in 2005.
7. Jason Schmidt, RHP, 1991 – An eighth round pick in 1991, Jason Schmidt became a top prospect for the Braves. He hadn’t quite broken out yet in 22 big league games, when the Braves flipped him to the Pirates in 1996 for Denny Neagle. Schmidt ended up going on to win 130 games with a 3.96 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 1758 strikeouts over 1996.1 innings. He was a three-time All Star, and led the NL in ERA in 2003 when he finished second in the Cy Young voting with the Giants. Overall he posted 29.5 bWAR, which turned out to be a steal in the eighth round.
8. Andrelton Simmons, SS, 2010 – Andrelton Simmons was taken in the second round in 2010, and by 2012 had become the Braves starting shortstop. Although he was a career .263/.312/.366 hitter with 70 homers, he was a highlight machine that became the best defensive shortstop – and possibly even player, in baseball. That led to Simmons posting 36.5 bWAR. Like Kimbrel he was traded in 2015, after the season, to the Angels as the Braves got further into their rebuild.
9. Jermaine Dye, OF, 1993 – A 17th round pick in 1993, Jermaine Dye quickly became a top prospect for the Braves. They brought him up in 1996 and saw him slash .281/.304/.459 with 12 homers in 98 games. Unfortunately the Braves were in win-now mode at that time, and after the year sent him to the Royals in the deal that brought in Michael Tucker and Keith Lockhart. Dye went on to slash .274/.338/.488 with 325 homers in 14 big league seasons with four teams. He was a two-time All Star that finished fifth in AL MVP voting in 2006, when he hit 44 homers with 120 RBI for the White Sox. Dye, who put up 20.3 bWAR, also won a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and was the World Series MVP in the White Sox 2005 title run.
10. Austin Riley, 3B, 2015 – The player acquired with the Competitive Balance pick received in the Craig Kimbrel trade is Austin Riley. The 41st pick in the 2015 draft, a former two-way high school star, Riley has been a two-time All Star and Silver Slugger, as well as winning the 2021 World Series. For his career Riley is hitting .267/.332/.486 with 174 homers – and won’t turn 30 until the start of next season. He has already produced 22.5 bWAR for the Braves.
11. Ryan Klesko, LHP, 1989 – A fifth round pick in 1989, future Braves slugger Ryan Klesko is actually listed as being drafted as a left-handed pitcher. That is because he was seen as a guy with real potential on the mound, though his impressive power ended up continuing his development as a bat. Klesko slashed .279/.370/.500 with 278 homers over parts of 16 big league seasons. The one-time All Star, who won a ring as a member of the 1995 Braves, put up 26.9 bWAR – a number that would surely be higher if not for his well below average defense bringing that total down. Klesko hit 20+ homers in four of the five seasons he played 100+ games with the Braves, before being traded to the Padres after the 1999 season in the deal that brought Reggie Sanders, Wally Joyner, and Quilvio Veras to Atlanta.
12. Michael Harris II, CF, 2019 – The third round pick in 2019 rose quickly through the minors out of high school to win the Rookie of the Year in 2022 – despite losing his 2020 season to the Covid shutdown. After posting OPS marks of .853 and .808 in his first two years, injury and issues with his swing resulted in marks of .722 and .678 in his next two years. Harris did come back on in the second half of last year, and presently has a .841 OPS this year, while also being one of the top defensive centerfielders in the league. For his career he is a .275/.309/.454 hitter with 80 homers, and is still in just his age-25 season with 15.2 bWAR produced.
13. Spencer Strider, RHP, 2020 – A fourth rounder in that weird 2020 draft, Spencer Strider has quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game. After finishing second in the Rookie of the Year to a teammate, and fellow member of this list in 2022, Strider finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2023. Unfortunately Tommy John hit him after just two starts in 2024, and he spent 2025 trying to get himself back into form. An injury has kept him to just one start, which had to be at Coors Field, so far this year as we wait to see what version of Strider is really in there right now. Overall he is 39-24 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 632 strikeouts in 458.1 innings.
AJ Smith-Shawver, JR Ritchie, and Hurston Waldrep have not done enough to qualify for the list, but this group could move their way up in the coming years – just like other recent draftees Schwellenbach and Baldwin can.
Worst Picks
1. Mike Kelly, OF, 1991 – The year the Braves turned around to start their great 90s-00s run, they were given the second overall pick. They went for a college star from a top program, with a pick they were hoping could front the lineup with Chipper Jones. However things didn’t quite work out for Kelly, as he produced just 0.3 fWAR over 327 big league games. That 1991 draft produced guys like Manny Ramirez, Shawn Green, Cliff Floyd, Aaron Sele, and Doug Glanville among others. One of those guys would have helped that special run much more than Kelly did. It is worth noting that the Braves picked second because the AL and NL alternated years with the top pick for the worst team, and if they picked first they likely would have taken generational pitching prospect Brien Taylor – whose career never really got going due to an injury in a bar fight.
2. Tyler Houston, C, 1989 – Houston was the second overall pick in 1989, and he produced 1.4 fWAR over 700 big league games. Similar to Lilliquist, that’s just not enough impact this high, and he was selected second when Frank Thomas and Charles Johnson were among the Top 10 picks. That doesn’t even include Mo Vaughn and Chuck Knoblauch in the first round.
3. Derek Lilliquist, LHP, 1987 – The sixth pick in the famous Ken Griffey Jr. class had a 262 game big league career over the course of eight seasons, including 41 starts for the Braves and producing 4.7 fWAR. The reason he made the list is because a couple of picks later Kevin Appier was selected. A few of the other players in that first round include Craig Biggio, Delino DeShields Sr., Mike Remlinger, Travis Fryman, and Pete Harnisch. When you’re picking that high, you’re hoping for a little more impact than a guy who ended up being a journeyman reliever.
4. Sean Gilmartin, LHP, 2011 – This was a questionable pick right from the start, as the Braves used the 28th pick on a soft tossing lefty that was a college ace. Gilmartin did appear in 81 big league games over six seasons with three different teams, pitching to a 4.34 ERA in 112 career innings. There were plenty of other options in that first round including Blake Snell, Trevor Story, Joe Musgrove, Michael Fulmer, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Chafin, and Joe Panik.
5. Jason Hursh, RHP, 2013 – The 31st pick in 2013 was seen as a questionable pick at the time, as most thought he would end up being a reliever. That ended up being exactly what happened, as he ended up moving to the bullpen within two years of being drafted. Hursh appeared in 11 big league games with the Braves, during the 2016 and 2017 seasons – while the team was rebuilding, and pitched to a 8.25 ERA in 12 innings. The very next pick ended up being Aaron Judge, while Sean Manaea, Michael Lorenzen, and Corey Knebel were among the other first rounders taken after Hursh.
6. Jamie Arnold, RHP, 1992 – The 21st pick of the 1992 MLB Draft, Arnold actually appeared in 50 big league games with the Dodgers and Cubs after becoming a free agent after the 1998 season – though he racked up a 5.73 ERA in those games. The reason he makes this list is because the next two picks in that draft were Rick Helling and Jason Kendall, a pair of players that put up 61.9 bWAR over their careers. Charles Johnson again went within the next 10 picks, this time signing with the Marlins.
7. Matt Lipka, SS/OF, 2010 – The 35th pick in 2010 was a former two sport star in high school that the Braves wanted to continue developing as a contact and speed oriented prospect. It never worked out, as he topped out at Triple-A and never truly settled into one defensive position. Some of the other options here included Noah Syndergaard, Nick Castellanos, and Taijuan Walker.
8. Ryan Cusick, RHP, 2021 – A year after taking Jared Shuster in the first out of Wake Forest with mixed reactions, the Braves doubled down on Wake arms. Cusick was met with an even tougher reaction when announced, and so far he hasn’t really done much to prove the team right. As of now he is in Triple-A with the Phillies organization, but he owns a career 5.55 ERA in his minor league career. The Braves were widely expected to take Gavin Williams with this pick, but he came off the board one pick earlier by Cleveland, and they pivoted to Cusick over Jackson Merrill and Carson Williams among others. This would rank higher on the list if not for the fact the Braves traded him to then-Oakland as part of the deal that brought Matt Olson in to replace Freddie Freeman.
9. Braden Shewmake, INF, 2019 – The Braves surprised people when they took Texas A&M infielder Braden Shewmake with the 21st pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. That pick was one I was known to be very critical of at the time, and to date he has played in 39 career big league games since the start of 2023 – though he is on the Astros active roster at the moment. Shewmake has a career .447 OPS, though he is five for 16 with a pair of homers this year. Anthony Volpe and Michael Busch were the best players in the remainder of that first round, though Gunnar Henderson was the first pick of that second round.
10. Cole Phillips, RHP, 2022 – The Braves used a second round pick on an injured prep pitcher in 2022 named Cole Phillips. He was seen as a potential first rounder that spring, before his injury happened. He wasn’t expected to pitch until at least mid-to-late 2023, but has never pitched in a professional game almost four years later. Some of the other second rounders that year included Jacob Misiorowski, Roman Anthony, and Chandler Simpson.
11. Joey Devine, RHP, 2005 – The Braves used the 27th pick in 2005 on a college closer that they thought they could quickly get to the big leagues to help fix a bullpen that was a problem at the time. Devine was actually rushed to the big leagues, making his debut in August, but never did much in a Braves uniform. He did have one great season in Oakland, pitching to a 0.59 ERA in 42 appearances, but only pitched in 93 games as injuries took their toll on him. The Braves could have taken Colby Rasmus, who went with the very next pick, or fellow first rounders Clay Buchholz or Jed Lowrie instead.
12. Beau Philip, INF, 2019 – Philip is the rare second round pick to make this list, but that is because he was seen as a head scratching pick at the time. Most expected Philip to go somewhere between the fifth and seventh rounds, but the Braves took the Oregon State product with the 60th pick. He played 352 games in the Braves system, posting a career OPS of just .615. Some of the names drafted after him in that second round include Kyle Stowers, Josh Smith, and Jared Triolo. The only reason Philip isn’t even higher on this list is the fact that he took an underslot bonus of $700k to sign, which saved the Braves about $450k – money that was used to sign Michael Harris.
13. Jared Shuster, LHP, 2020 – The 25th pick in the weird 2020 MLB Draft, Shuster was a pick who was met with mixed reactions from the jump when the Braves took him out of Wake Forest. He has pitched in 66 big league games, including four with the Cardinals this year, though has a 5.12 ERA in 149.1 career innings – including 11 starts with the Braves in 2023, before going to the White Sox in the Aaron Bummer deal. After Shuster, Tyler Soderstrom was the next pick, and Jordan Westburg, Austin Wells, and Carmen Mlodzinski also came off the board in the next six picks.
Kurt Helin
