ST. LOUIS -- In what will be his last final time at the helm as general manager of the St. Louis Blues guiding the NHL Draft, Doug Armstrong will for the second time in four years have three first-round picks barring trade.
And true to form, in years past, Armstrong has always maintained the mantra that the Blues, who currently have pick Nos. 11, 15 and 29, the ladder two acquired from the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, respectively, pick the best player available on their board when their selection arrives.
They even did such when they had the 10th, 25th and 29th picks in Nashville in 2023. But will that be the case this time? This time, the Blues, who have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in three of the past four seasons, should they make their selections, may be looking at organizational depth.
Should they pick more what they need rather than what they may deem the best player should that player on their board be available?
"I don't want to say what we won't do because then we'll end up doing it," Armstrong said Monday. "But I think we want to get some variety in our picks if possible. We've drafted heavily defensively lately and our organizational depth chart could use players in a couple different slots. We don't want to ask the scouts to jump out of a block to get a position, but we do want to talk about taking a position within a block, if that makes sense.
"So if we have five players in one block that we see somewhat similar, we might say, 'Hey, we're lacking in this area, can we move him up? Tell me the difference between moving up and if this guy's at the top and this guy's at the bottom of the block, is the positional difference great enough?' And that's things that the group will discuss over the next four days. It's a fun four days because our job is to go through every scenario that we can think of and then we get to the draft and then the first phone call is something we never thought of. That's what we like to call in our group, the crazy Ivan's. We've got to be ready for the crazy Ivan's."
The Blues selected Carbonneau, a forward, at No. 19 a year ago; defenseman Adam Jiricek was the 16th pick in 2024. They have focused on the defense position in the later rounds more so in the past couple seasons, so the forward slot, center or wing (preferably a big, powerful one) sounds like the preferred choice at No. 11.
But in a draft where there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut choice past probably Gavin McKenna going to the Toronto Maple Leafs first overall, imagine the scrambling when it gets into the teens when the Blues may make their pick?
"It's probably a couple players wider, but we see a distinction, and then we see probably not a lot greater than other years but more the just the number of players in that group of eight, nine, 10," Armstrong said. "... I think it's exciting, especially when you have the number of first-round picks that we have. Our amateur scouts have put a lot of work in since the trade deadline making sure we're prepared to select that 11, 15 and 29 to move up a few slots, to move into the late teens, early 20s. There's a lot of different options that we have and obviously the landscape has changed in the NHL regarding player movement, so our pro scouts are excited over that part. Everybody's excited for this week to see how it unfolds."
If the Blues don't pick in their positions, what would it take to move up? The Ottawa Senators, who acquired the ninth pick on Sunday from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade, sound like they're open for business should the Blues want to move up a couple spots. Do the Blues trade picks for young players? All options are on the table.
"That's the one constant. That hasn't changed in our game," Armstrong said. "You let people know what you're considering to do and then that's probably a Thursday-Friday thing more than it is a today thing for the teams looking to move and for the teams looking to move up. There's very rarely much movement in that area. I think going from 11 to two, three or four would be seismic, and I haven't seen a seismic move like that in a long time. But maybe moving up two or three slots with our available picks is something. Then you have to weigh that with what you're giving up to move up. I haven't seen a lot of difference from this year. I'm not saying there won't be a difference, but that usually comes Thursday night and early into Friday morning as people have to make real decisions."
When Armstrong said "seismic," it likely means the Blues aren't in a position to pay the price of what it would likely cost to get into the top five. Their best bet is somewhere getting to perhaps No. 8 (Winnipeg Jets), maybe No. 7 (Seattle Kraken) but that's about as high as it sounds without giving up a boatload.
"Maybe Toronto, maybe San Jose this year. There's been teams, Dallas went to four ... usually go through a lot of pain to get that pick," Armstrong said. "So when you're lucky enough to win a lottery, you haven't gone through (just) six months of pain to earn a top three or four pick. I think there's always a difference in ... there's a line usually at every draft and that line is usually at three or four. Sometimes it's at one when it's a [Connor] McDavid. Sometimes it's a two or three. This draft seems to have more volatility to it where you've seen at least, I've seen at least four players go one, but I've seen nine players probably in the top five. That has more variety to it than I've seen in the past. So there could be a little more movement this year because of that variety. We have nine on our list and someone has three and then you make that move. You work in your blocks, I guess."
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Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Carter Bryant stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 14th pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Arizona has been having men’s basketball players drafted since before the NBA was a thing.
The first Wildcat selected to play pro ball was Linc Richmond, who in 1948 was taken in the 4th round of the Basketball Association of America Draft, though he returned to the UA for one more season and never played professionally. The BAA and National Basketball League would merge a year later to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The first UA player to get drafted into the NBA and play was Leon Blevins, a 7th-round pick in 1950 who appeared in two games for the Indianapolis Olympians.
All told, Arizona has had 79 NBA/ABA draft picks, a number that will go up by at least two this week. And with Brayden Burries a lock to go in the 1st round Tuesday, while Koa Peat could join him later on, the Wildcats also are set to climb the list of schools with the most first-rounders.
The UA currently ranks 8th all-time, with 27. That’s one behind Indiana, which isn’t likely to add to its total, giving Arizona the chance to move up to 7th if Burries and Peat both go in the first round.
Kentucky is No. 1, at 60, with Duke right behind it with 59 and then North Carolina (55).
Arizona last had consecutive drafts with a 1st-round pick in 2017 (Lauri Markannen) and 2018 (Deandre Ayton). It’s had multiple first rounders on five occasions, most recently in 22nd when Bennedict Mathurin went 6th overall and Dalen Terry 18th.
Assuming he doesn’t fall out of the top 14, Burries would be Arizona’s 18th lottery pick.
Though they aren’t likely to hear their names called during the first round, Wednesday’s second round could see as many as three UA players (Tobe Awaka, Jaden Bradley and Anthony Dell’Orso) get picked. The only time Arizona has produced four draft picks in one year was in 2001 when Richard Jefferson went 13th overall to the Houston Rockets while Gilbert Arenas, Michael Wright and Loren Woods were all 2nd-round selections.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates during the second half against the St. John's Red Storm in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The tape has been watched, the numbers have been crunched, and the 2026 NBA Draft cycle is finally coming to a close. The draft begins on Tuesday night with the Washington Wizards on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick. By now, everyone has an opinion on this class.
The Nets now take Mikel Brown Jr. over Darius Acuff: The tea leaves are suggesting that Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. will be Brooklyn’s pick at No. 7. This would be wonderful news for the Sacramento Kings, because they reportedly covet Arkansas’ Darius Acuff at No. 7.
It feels like the Hawks will choose between Kingston Flemings and Aday Mara: Atlanta has already re-signed C.J. McCollum, but it was only a one-year deal. Flemings is almost unanimously viewed as a better prospect than Mara. I don’t think this will be that difficult of a call for the Hawks. Flemings is the pick for this mock.
I was tempted to put a Michigan man at No. 9, but stuck with Brayden Burries: Basically everyone’s mock draft has Dallas taking Burries. I thought about putting Yaxel Lendeborg or Morez Johnson here as the Dusty May hire, but ultimately decided to finish the drill.
Let's check the latest NBA Mock Drafts for what the Dallas Mavericks might do… they seem to be a mystery
The Bucks have options at No. 15: Milwaukee brought in Labaron Philon for a workout during the pre-draft process, so I’m assuming they like him. The other guys they brought in for workouts are already gone in this projection (Acuff, Brown, and Lendeborg), and I doubt Cenac is a realistic option here. The Bucks already have two pretty good guards in Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr., and they also added another developmental guard in Kasparas Jakucionis in the Giannis trade. Morez Johnson and Karim Lopez could also make sense here.
I have no idea what the Bulls do at No. 15: I think Chicago would run to select Morez Johnson or Aday Mara, but both are off the board in this projection. I have Hannes Steinbach tabbed here. He’s one of my favorite players in the class (No. 10 on my final board), but he’s not exactly the defensive anchor the Bulls need next to Caleb Wilson long-term. It’s worth noting the Bulls added another center on Monday by taking on Nic Claxton from the Nets in the three-team Julius Randle deal. I have no idea which way new top executive Bryson Graham would be leaning if the board breaks like this.
Chris Cenac falls: I put Cenac top-20 a couple days ago, but that feels a bit too rich. He feels like a little bit of a project as a toolsy big man who needs to develop both physically and mentally right now. Cenac drops to the Knicks at No. 24 in this mock while San Antonio goes with a more ready-made contributor in Baylor wing Cam Carr.
How to watch the 2026 NBA Draft
Here’s how to watch the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft:
Date: Tuesday, June 23
TV and streaming: ESPN
Time: 8 p.m. ET
The second round will begin at the same time and on the same network on Wednesday, June 24.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Khaman Maluach of the Phoenix Suns speaks to the media after being drafted tenth overall during the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Maluach was drafted by the Houston Rockets then traded to the Phoenix Suns. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Malika Andrews, Jay Bilas, Bobby Marks, Brian Windhorst, Shams Charania
When: Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23rd and 24th, at 5 p.m. Arizona Time. Tuesday is the first round, and Wednesday is the second.
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
TV: First Round: ESPN, ABC. Second Round: ESPN
As of right now, the Phoenix Suns have just the 47th pick in the draft, yet Bright Side is staying prepared with East Coast Correspondent at the Barclays Center, ready for the action.
The Washington Wizards will be picking first, where they’re widely expected to take either Kansas’ Darryn Peterson or BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. Picking second is Utah, which is likely to take whoever the Jazz don’t want of the two, or Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
After trading their first-rounder to the Charlotte Hornets during the 2025 trade deadline to get rid of Jusuf Nurkić, Phoenix looks to be without a first-rounder for the first time since 2023. In the first round last year, Phoenix selected Center Khaman Maluach 10th after reacquiring their first-rounder when they dealt Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. In 2024, they selected Ryan Dunn 28th after trading their 22nd overall pick to the Denver Nuggets for the rights to draft Dunn.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Zuby Ejiofor #24 of the St. John's Red Storm looks on during the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game against the Duke Blue Devils at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks are entering the NBA Draft as reigning champions for the first time in 53 years, back when the event saw 178 players getting drafted as New York City hosted it.
This time, the Knicks are holding picks No. 24, No. 31, and No. 55, but they might not have all of them by the time the draft starts on Tuesday night, with the second round taking place on Wednesday.
The front office keeps exploring options to maximize their financial room, and if they ultimately have to draft someone, those options would then include adding depth in the frontcourt or some sort of microwave-shooting combo-guard-wing who can come off the pine and bag a bunch of points quickly.
One of the prospects in the Knicks’ radar, also profiled here at P&T as part of our draft coverage, is St. John’s standout, Zuby Ejiofor. The senior was one of the more productive big men in college basketball this past season.
On Monday, SNY’s Ian Begley reported that Ejiofor “has some fans in the organization,” signaling at least internal consideration as New York shapes its draft board.
“If Robinson and Shamet are back, the Knicks probably look at size on the wing or a player who can handle the ball. Ejiofor has some fans in the organization. If they think they are losing Robinson or Hukporti, maybe the Knicks draft a center? Tarris Reed Jr. from UConn would be a strong pick in New York’s range.”
Zuby Ejiofor, who played his home games at Madison Square Garden, on what it would be like to be drafted by the New York Knicks:
Ejiofor himself addressed the possibility of landing in New York during an appearance on the “Eye on the Storm” podcast, referencing his experience playing at Madison Square Garden while at St. John’s.
“I think it would definitely be crazy (to land in NYK). Obviously, the Johnnies’ fanbase and New York has showed me a lot of love. So if that does happen, I don’t even know how you guys would react, I mean, you guys would go absolutely nuts.
“Obviously, having been there at St. John’s and played at MSG, and then you tie in with the fact that New York just won the championship, so I think it would be a win on both sides if it does happen.
“It’s going to be definitely chaos, not just for me but my family as well—they’re going to go absolutely insane.”
Ejiofor, who averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this past season, has built his resume as a physical, high-energy forward with defensive versatility, earning multiple Big East honors.
His size remains a point of evaluation at the next level, as he’s a bit of a tweener caught in between the three and five without a very defined frame, but his production and motor have kept him in the late first-round to early second-round range.
According to the NBA Draft Network’s consensus big board, Ejiofor would be drafted at No. 28, with the highest projection putting him at No. 21 and the lowest at No. 37, but most of them falling within the 27-29 range.
With draft night just a few hours away, Ejiofor’s connection to New York and the organization’s reported interest place him firmly among the names to watch. Not to mention a certain whiff the Knicks might have the perfect opportunity to fix on what could be a historic June 23 in the franchise’s history.
Basketball: NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) victorious holding NBA Finals MVP Trophy and Khris Middleton holding Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after winning game and series vs Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Game 6. Milwaukee, WI 7/20/2021 CREDIT: Greg Nelson (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163696 TK1)
Here’s to draft night swings and freakish things: chase-down blocks and coast-to-coast dunks. Here’s to the no-look dimes.
Here’s to Bradley Center, to hitching rides with strangers. To smoothie tweets, jaw-dropping feats. Here’s to the Nic Batum comps.
Here’s to nicknames, to the fire, to Mike Dunleavy Jr. Here’s to the walk-off at the Garden, to MIP turned MVP—and DPOY. Here’s to All Star, to All-NBA.
Here’s to the posters. To Chris Bosh, Serge Ibaka. Kosta Koufos and Aron Baynes. Here’s to Nikola Vucevic, to Flagg and Gafford. Here’s to breaking orbit, to Tim Hardaway Jr.
Here’s to the playoffs. To the climb. To conference finals heartbreak and Bubble embarrassment. Here’s to the opportunity for redemption. And seizing it.
Here’s to the Heat, to the Nets, to the Hawks, and to the Suns. Here’s to the glory of ‘21. Here’s to recovery, to being superhuman.
Here’s to the Finals. To back-to-back 40s, to iconic moments: “shot blocked by Antetokounmpo!”, “stolen by Holiday… Antetokounmpo throws it down!” Here’s to Mike Breen. To fifty-pieces at the drive thru.
Here’s to the other voices. To Marques and to Lisa. To Ted and to Dave. Here’s to the pop-up zone, to Jon McGlocklin. Here’s to Mr Jim.
Here’s to the mentors. To Velliniatis and Saratsis, Tough Juice and Pachulia. Here’s to J-Kidd and Prunty and Sweeney and Ham. Here’s to Coach Bud.
Here’s to the brotherhood. To Khash and Splash, to Jrue and Planet Pat. Here’s to the dawgs. To the vets. To names and faces we forget.
Here’s to franchise records, rewriting the books. To 64, to game balls, to no failure in sports. Here’s to the NBA Cup.
Here’s to the features. Articles and trading cards, documentaries and biopics. Here’s to the lore, the mythology, the mythos. Here’s to transcendence.
Here’s to family. To fathers and to mothers. To brothers by your side, always by your side. Here’s to dad jokes and kids. To moments shared, to memories made.
Here’s to calves and ankles, soleus strains and hyperextensions. Trainers tables to trade rumours. Here’s to the blood, the tears; the hurt and the grind. Here’s to all of it.
Here’s to you, Giannis.
For everything.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece qals towards the stage after he was drafted #15 overall in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2013 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 27, 2013 in in the Brooklyn Bourough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks goes up for the dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at The Quicken Loans Arena on December 20, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2013 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – DECEMBER 11: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots against the San Antonio Spurs on December 11, 2013 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2013 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 26: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks fights Nicolas Batum #5 of the Charlotte Hornets for a loose ball during the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center on October 26, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Apr 30, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) looks on after being knocked down by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) (not pictured) during the second quarter in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – JANUARY 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks slam dunks the basketball on Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat during the game at BMO Harris Bradley Center on January 29, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks over Aron Baynes #46 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of game three of round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nov 4, 2018; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks against Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos (41) in the third quarter at the Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
TORONTO, ONTARIO – MAY 25: Norman Powell #24, Fred VanVleet #23, and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks react to a shot during the second half in game six of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Scotiabank Arena on May 25, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 06: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks exits the game after an injury during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 19: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks high-five after Round 2, Game 7 on June 19, 2021 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 14: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks blocks a shot by Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half in Game Four of the NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum on July 14, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Basketball: NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in action, catching ball for dunk from alley-oop pass vs Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena. Sequence. Game 5. Phoenix, AZ 7/17/2021 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163695 TX1)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a free throw to score his 50th point in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks defeated the Suns 105-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 22: Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates with the Larry O'Brien trophy and Finals MVP trophy during the Milwaukee Bucks 2021 NBA Championship Victory Parade and Rally in the Deer District of Fiserv Forum on July 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – JULY 20: Milwaukee Bucks Analyst Marques Johnson hugs Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks after Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals on July 20, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Caron Butler #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks share a laugh on-court during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 18, 2014 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2014 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MILWAUKEE, WI – NOVEMBER 23: Head Coach Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 stand on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at BMO Harris Bradley Center on November 23, 2015 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PHOENIX, AZ – JULY 8: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks help Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Two of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 8, 2021 at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 17: (L-R) MarJon Beauchamp #3, Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate with the championship trophy after the Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 to win the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 22: (L-R) Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mariah Riddlesprigger, and family attend the world premiere of Rise at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California on June 22, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) | Getty Images for Disney
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 21: (L-R) Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Alex Antetokounmpo attend the Rise press junket at The Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, California on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) | Getty Images for Disney
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 23: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sustained an apparent injury on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum on January 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a rainout Sunday and a night game on Monday (which ended up getting rained out), PCA-Mania is continuing (not complaining!). Everybody has a slightly different take, but Brett Taylor’s article is a must-read.
Speaking of PCA-Mania — I’m quite aware that the All-Star Game has lost 98 percent of the allure it had when I was a kid. But I’m rather shocked as to the recent results of voting for PCA. I can only think that it is that bad weekend+ he had with fans and his reaction to it that is holding him back. And the overall malaise of the Cubs. But I thought it would shock some (smart) people into voting for the first time in a while, like myself, and make a difference. I’m hoping that when it comes time to pick the reserves or injury replacements, PCA will be the first outfielder taken. Read the story at the bottom of the PCA section and go vote.
Just like Ben Brown’s great pitching performance was overshadowed by the offensive onslaught Friday, Matt Shaw’s three-run homer was overshadowed by the bullpen’s collapse Saturday. So here’s shout-out to him. Also, when Seiya Suzuki got hurt, he was on an impressive defensive run in right field. Shaw took over the spot and there has been no drop-off. A cap-tip to him for that as well.
I’m sorry, but I don’t remember who asked what would it take to acquire Sonny Gray. A couple of options are listed below.
A very interesting Cub-take from Carson Kelly about the new catching style and its results. It was brought up last week by this article by the Athletic {$}.
I’ll let you get to reading, but remember — Go Vote!
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
More PCA-Mania:
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): My Favorite Bit of Context on Just How Blisteringly Good Pete Crow-Armstrong Has Been, “Given his unbelievable June, on the heels of what was quietly excellent performance at the plate going back to mid-April, it’s been unsurprising to see all manner of “holy crap did you see this!” about Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Garrett Kerman (Clutch Points): Cubs’ perfect trade offer for Red Sox’s Sonny Gray. “Discover the perfect trade proposal sending Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray to the Chicago Cubs for two high-upside prospects.”
Gorden Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs catcher Carson Kelly can’t mask his pain. “Many catchers have abandoned the crouch in favor of one knee down, but they are getting drilled by balls more often.”
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Seiya Suzuki Has Turned a Quick Release into a Real Run-Stopping Outfield Arm. “When it comes to Seiya Suzuki’s arm, the question has never been whether he could throw hard enough. He’s learned to get rid of the ball faster, though, and that’s made a big difference.”
Mike McGraw (Daily Herald): So much for momentum: Cubs bullpen flubs 5-run lead. “In baseball, it’s often said, momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. Sometimes the starting pitcher is very good, though, and the bullpen messes it up.”
Jack de Keyzer is a British-born Canadian blues guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer.[1] He has twice won the Juno Award, Canada’s highest musical honour and seven times received Maple Blues Awards, including for Blues Album of the Year in 2000 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Real Blues Magazine crowned him Live Act of the Year in 2001 and named him Guitarist of the Year twice.
As a solo artist, he has released eleven CDs and one DVD and has appeared as a session guitarist on hundreds of recordings. As a session guitarist, he worked with Etta James, Otis Rush, John Hammond, Jr., Ronnie Hawkins, Duke Robillard, Robert Gordon, Willy Big Eyes Smith, Bo Diddley, and Blue Rodeo.
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.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 16: Luis Arraez (1) of the San Francisco Giants bats in the heavy first inning rain during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants on June 16, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Phase one of the 2026 MLB All Star voting ends later this week. If we want to see a San Francisco Giants player on the starting line-up, we have got to keep our push for Luis Arraez going! As of the last update, Arraez was in fifth place among National League second basemen. And he was (unsurprisingly) the only member of the team to appear in any of the races.
Fans can vote up to five times per day over here on the MLB website. You can vote up to five times per day, and Phase one runs through Thursday, June 25th.
So vote early, vote often, and vote Arraez!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants welcome the A’s to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Memphis’ Leo Bernal (13) is tagged out at first base by Sounds’ Luke Adams during the game between the Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn., on June 19, 2026. Memphis defeated Nashville 4-1. | Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds (43-32)
Opponent this week: @ Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)
Record this week: 2-4
Standout performances:
Jeferson Quero (No. 7): 9-for-21, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K Luke Adams (No. 11): 6-for-16, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K Akil Baddoo: 5-for-15, 1 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K Tyler Black: 5-for-15, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K Garrett Stallings: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Tyson Hardin (No. 16): 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Jeferson Quero is now slashing .274/.372/,452 over the last month. That line is good for an .824 OPS, which ranks second on the Sounds (among qualified batters) to only Akil Baddoo (1.027).
One batter who doesn’t qualify is 1B/3B Luke Adams. Since he was activated from the injured list on June 2nd, Adams is slashing .300/.470/.760 (1.230 OPS) in 50 at-bats. This stretch, as you might be able to tell from his sky-high slugging percentage, has coincided with the best power surge in Adams’ professional career. The twenty two-year-old Adams has hit exactly 11 home runs in each of his three full seasons with the Brewers’ organization, but after hitting three this week (in the same game, nonetheless) he’s now hit seven over the last three weeks.
Baddoo was activated from the IL a little over a week prior to Adams, and he’s also been one of the Sounds’ best hitters since. Baddoo is hitting .275 with a .992 OPS in 24 games (80 at-bats) this season. At twenty seven-years-old, he’s not the future, but he’s been playing well enough to warrant a look should one of the Brewers’ backup outfielders go down.
If a starting outfielder were to miss time, it’s likely the call would go to the recently-extended Luis Lara (No. 5). Lara had a rough week (3-for-21, 5K), but he still ranks second on the Sounds in OPS with an .873 OPS. Jett Williams (No. 3) also went 3-for-21, but all of his hits were home runs, giving him a .788 OPS on the week despite a .143 batting average. Williams is now hitting just .217 with a .702 OPS this season.
Tyson Hardin went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out five as he picked up a win. In seven starts since his promotion to Triple-A, Hardin sports a 2.25 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He’s struck out 41 batters in 40 innings with only twelve walks. Not bad for a pitcher who started more games in High-A (11) than Double-A (10) last season. It’s looking more and more likely that Hardin will make his first big-league appearance sometime this year.
Garrett Stallings also had a solid start for the Sounds, going 5 2/3 innings while giving up six hits, but only two earned runs. Mark Manfredi struck out five in three relief appearances (3 1/3 innings).
Next week’s opponent: vs. Gwinnett Stripers (Atlanta Braves)
Double-A Biloxi Shuckers (35-30)
Opponent this week: vs. Columbus Clingstones (Atlanta Braves)
Record this week: 3-1
Standout performances:
Dylan O’Rae: 8-for-16, 2 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K Jesús Made: 8-for-16, 1 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K Eric Brown Jr.: 6-for-14, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Mike Boeve: 6-for-15, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K Josh Adamczewski: 6-for-18, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 4 K Cameron Wagoner: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Bishop Letson: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K Yorman Galindez: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Jaron DeBerry: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K Manuel Rodriguez: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
The Shuckers’ week was extremely chaotic due to inclement weather rolling through the Biloxi area. Originally, this series was supposed to have seven games — as opposed to the usual six — because of a makeup game that was first scheduled for May 9th.
Five different games this week got suspended, cancelled, or pushed to later in the week because of weather, so Biloxi and Columbus only ended up with four completed games. The first game of the series, originally scheduled for June 16th, got rescheduled two different times. It was a crazy week down in Mississippi, but the Shuckers managed to pull through and win three of the four games.
Jesús Made hit .500 with 10 RBIs in 16 at-bats. That sentence speaks for itself. Biloxi scored 30 runs this week, so Made personally knocked in 1/3 of the Shuckers’ runs.
Dylan O’Rae, the Brewers’ third round-pick back in 2022, has continued to produce this year after missing all of 2025 due to a wrist injury. O’Rae, who’s still only twenty two-years-old, is now hitting .318 with an .853 OPS in 201 at-bats. As I’ve said before in previous editions of this column, keep an eye on him.
Let’s check in on Josh Adamczewski and Andrew Fischer in their first week in Double-A:
Adamczewski: 6-for-18, 2B, 3 K
Fischer: 4-for-14, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 5 K
As a reminder, the jump from High-A to Double-A is often cited as the hardest jump for a prospect to make. Nothing but encouraging results from both players so far.
Blake Burke (4-for-15, 2 2B, HR) and Mike Boeve (6-for-15, 2B, HR) both continue to hit. Burke has been one of the biggest breakouts in the organization over the last calendar year and deserves all the love that he gets. Boeve, despite being ranked as a top-10 organizational prospect just last year, hasn’t gotten the love that he deserves. Over the last month (80 at-bats), Boeve has hit exactly .300 with a .753 OPS. Not Burke numbers, at least power-wise, but he’s producing while showing off his plate discipline and ability to get on base — two of the tools that scouts loved coming into the 2023 draft.
As for the pitching staff, Cameron Wagoner, Bishop Letson, and Yorman Galindez all impressed in their outings. Letson, the Brewers’ highest-ranked pitching prospect, struggled early in his first Double-A season and still owns a 4.60 ERA and 1.43 WHIP on the year. However, he’s looked much sharper of late. Over his last four starts (21.1 innings), Letson has posted a 2.11 ERA and 1.17 WHIP while striking out more than a batter per inning. He appears to be settling in at Double-A, making the Brewers’ No. 8 prospect one to watch over the coming weeks.
Next week’s opponent: @ Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays)
High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (34-28)
Opponent this week:@ Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals)
Record this week: 3-2
Standout performances:
Braylon Payne: 8-for-15, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 1 K Josiah Ragsdale: 8-for-21, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K Daniel Dickinson (No. 27): 5-for-14, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Eric Bitonti: 7-for-21, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 10 K Wande Torres: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K Jayden Dubanewicz (No. 24): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Josh Knoth (No. 21): 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
With Adamczewski and Fischer now in Double-A, offensive firepower will be a bit harder to come by up in Appleton. Luckily, the T-Rats still have Braylon Payne and Josiah Ragsdale, although they won’t for long if both keep hitting the way they have this season.
After this week, Payne is now hitting .282 with a .989 OPS, 13 home runs, and 10 doubles. That’s a significant step forward from his first full season in the Brewers’ organization last year, when he hit .240 with a .736 OPS, eight home runs, and nine doubles. Payne is beginning to look like a player worthy of the first-round pick Milwaukee spent on him in 2024, and if he continues producing at this level, he could join Adamczewski and Fischer in Double-A before long.
PAYNE WITH SOME POWER🏋️♂️💥
A two-run homer from Braylon Payne extends the lead. He's homered in back-to-back games!
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 17, 2026
Payne’s stats are ridiculous, but Ragsdale — drafted in the seventh round in 2025 — isn’t far behind. He’s hitting .316 (.357 over the last month) with a .919 OPS and five home runs in 190 at-bats this year. Ragsdale is already twenty-two, so he’ll probably get moved up relatively soon if he keeps producing.
☄️‼️ RAGSDALE GOES YARD ‼️☄️
Josiah Ragsdale launches a lead-off home run and the Rattlers jump out in front.
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 17, 2026
Former LSU star Daniel Dickinson, the Brewers’ sixth-round pick in 2025, has quietly brought his OPS up to .655 after hitting .241 with a .795 OPS over the last month. The season-long numbers don’t look great yet for Dickinson, especially given that he’s the same age as Ragsdale (and Andrew Fischer), but he appears to be figuring things out at the plate.
Jayden Dubanewicz went five innings in his second start with the Timber Rattlers, giving up six hits but just a single earned run. He didn’t walk anybody and struck out six. Josh Knoth gave up a pair of earned runs in 4.1 innings, but only gave up three hits and struck out seven. Knoth, who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery, now has a 2.70 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP through his first five starts (16 2/3 innings) this season.
Brewers No. 21 Prospect Josh Knoth was DEALING on the mound this week 🔥
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) June 19, 2026
Next week’s opponent: vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins)
Single-A Wilson Warbirds (36-30)
Opponent this week: vs. Charleston RiverDogs (Tampa Bay Rays)
Record this week: 3-3
Standout performances: Filippo Di Turi: 6-for-17, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K Juan Ortuno: 6-for-20, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 0 K Handelfry Encarnacion: 7-for-24, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 5 K Joey Broughton: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Jarrette Bonet: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K Andrew Healy: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K Hayden Robinson: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Di Turi, Ortuno, and Encarnacion were the only Warbirds to hit .292 or better in more than 10 at-bats. While the stats out of Wilson aren’t as impressive as some of the Brewers’ other affiliates, there’s still a lot to look forward to down in North Carolina.
The nineteen-year-old Encarnacion is only hitting .227 on the season, but he’s one extra base hit away from being tied with Jose Anderson for the most on the team. He’s also walked 53 times in 65 games (251 at-bats). Brady Ebel (No. 13) isn’t hitting for average either, but he’s showing enough power (18 extra-base hits, including four home runs). Ebel’s also walking a lot, with 57 walks in 234 at-bats. Despite their youth, both hitters have shown patience at the plate and have been making good swing decisions — things the Brewers look for in their players.
Handelfry Encarnacion threw a runner out at the plate in the top of the first, and then led off the bottom half with a homer. pic.twitter.com/wtFlcnhwrX
Ortuno, a nineteen-year-old infielder, now has a .738 OPS on the season. His .250 batting average ranks third on the Warbirds after Luis Lameda (.303) and Pedro Ibarguen (.280). None of those prospects are ranked as top-30 prospects, but all are producing despite being too young to order a beer at a bar in North Carolina. With a system as deep as the Brewers’, sometimes prospects get lost in the shuffle, and sometimes prospects come from seemingly out of nowhere (Tyson Hardin, for example) to become legitimate prospects. All three of those players are producing at a young age — I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the three, or Encarnacion, ended up as as a top-30 guy sometime in the future.
Juan Ortuno had slowed down a bit of late, but he just went deep for the third time this season. He’s got a .741 OPS with 16 SB and a K% of 18.8% as a 19 year old in Low-A. pic.twitter.com/dDfmK8GlEI
Same goes for the pitching — Joey Broughton, Jarrett Bonet, and Andrew Healy all went at least four innings this week while allowing one run or less. Even if you’ve heard of Bonet, you may not have heard of the other two. Keep an eye on Broughton, who was part of the same 2024 class as Hardin, Dubanewicz, and Ethan Dorchies. The left-hander, signed out of high school, hadn’t pitched until this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024. In eight appearances this year between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A, Broughton has a 2.24 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.
Next week’s opponent: @ Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals)
Player of the Week
Adams, who spent two months on the injured list last season and missed another six weeks this season. As I touched on earlier, Adams has found his power stroke since returning. The twenty two-year-old has always had raw power, but — much like Blake Burke — it hadn’t really translated to games yet.
I haven’t been able to dive into his film much in recent weeks, but aside from any mechanical adjustments, what we’re seeing now may be the natural progression of a prospect who’s getting older and beginning to turn more of that raw power into in-game power. Adams has posted some seriously impressive exit velocities since his return, including a home run on Sunday that left his bat at 113.3 mph. That’s not a flukey minor-league homer, that’s legitimate plus raw power and a significant development for a player that has always had elite plate discipline. If his power surge is for real, watch out.
Luke nukes 🚀⚾️ Luke Adams slugged three out of the park today for his first career multi-HR game. pic.twitter.com/NacJqAQEol
This is the second time Blake Burke has won Play of the Week in the last five weeks. I don’t want to hear another “yeah, but he’ll need to hit enough to DH” take for a while.
Oh, did we mention Blake Burke can play one heck of a first base too??
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 08: The Baltimore Orioles mascot on the field before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 8, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is almost time to turn the calendar to July. Over the next month, the Orioles farm could be drained if the team plays well enough for Mike Elias to try to make real upgrades at the trade deadline. Or it could be stocked again if things go the other way. A lot depends on how the major league team plays.
The minor league teams play on regardless. The lone Orioles affiliate that’s doing well is Frederick, who won its first half division title and is guaranteed a postseason berth. Probably by then many of the players who participated in that will have moved up to Double-A. A-ball leagues moved into the second half over the weekend. Triple-A and Double-A start the second half of their season today.
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 results: 2-4 at Syracuse (Mets)
This week’s opponent: vs. Durham (Rays)
Season record: 28-47, t-ninth/last place (19 GB) in International League East
Jud Fabian will not let us forget about him entirely. The outfielder hit three homers in five games played this week. That didn’t even lead the Tides: 28-year-old journeyman infielder José Barrero hit five, giving him 17 for the season, which leads Norfolk. That was prodigious power, at least among these two guys for this week.
Unfortunately, two guys more worth watching as prospects, Enrique Bradfield and Creed Willems, did not join in on the party. Bradfield batted 6-23, which isn’t bad, but with only one double, the .304 slugging percentage for the week (and .311 for the season) is sad. Creed Willems at 3-17 hitting with no extra-base hits had an even sadder week. Willems, at least, is still OPSing .829 for the year.
Injured major leaguer Dean Kremer started a rehab assignment here over this past week. His first outing saw him toss 3.2 innings with a run allowed on two hits and two walks. Since Kremer has been out for a while, I expect this rehab should go for a few more starts. After Kremer’s rehab start, pitching prospect Nestor German came in for some bulk relief. German also made a start this week, allowing four runs over 10.1 innings. Two dingers elevated his earned run total this week, though this isn’t a recurring problem for him.
Others of interest
RHP Anthony Nunez – Two outings after being optioned to Norfolk, three runs allowed in 2.2 IP
LHP Andrew Magno – Just keeps on putting up zeroes, 2.1 scoreless innings in one game this week, now a 0.59 ERA in 26 games. I like the idea of him more than I like Keegan Akin.
OF Heston Kjerstad – 5-23 with a double and a homer led to a .699 OPS for the week, now .676 for the season. That’s not going to be what gets him back to MLB.
Season record: 29-39, last place (14 GB) in Eastern League Southwest
We must, of course, first check in on Joseph Dzierwa, and I am pleased to be able to share further good results from him: In his start this week, he struck out eight batters in six innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. That’s a 0.50 WHIP for the start, giving him a 0.949 WHIP in six games since getting promoted here. The hype train is still building steam. That’s a great K/BB.
Not quite as much steam on the hype train for fellow Chesapeake pitching prospect Luis De León, who gave up three runs in 4.1 innings, with five hits and three walks allowed. These are fairly characteristic outings of how both pitchers have been doing so far this season.
The Baysox offense was on a heater this week, fueling what’s been an uncommon winning week for them. Prospects who are worth following on this team were a part of that, with Ethan Anderson as just one of four Baysox who had two homers over these six games. Another, Douglas Hodo, has homered four times in eight games since returning from a nearly two-month stay on the injured list on June 9. My guy Aron Estrada had one homer in 12 AB over four games played.
Others of interest
OF Dylan Beavers – Hitless in nine at-bats as he started a rehab assignment, though he did draw four walks
LHP Cade Povich – Also started a rehab: 3.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts
LHP Sebastian Gongora – 24-year-old pitched twice this week, allowing just two runs in 10.1 innings. Sitting at a 3.42 ERA, 1.259 WHIP for the season to date.
LHP Micah Ashman – 3.2 scoreless innings across two relief outings with just one hit allowed, 1.73 ERA in 16 games
Second half record: 2-1, t-second place (1 GB) in South Atlantic League North
Frederick won its first half division with a 41-23 record
Frederick continues to be the Orioles farm team most worth checking out and that’s even with Dzierwa not staying for long. I wonder how many of these other guys will be promoted soon. Their offense was led in these games by Victor Figueroa hitting three homers; the big man from last year’s Padres deal leads the whole organization with 20 dingers in 60 games. My sources say that’s good.
Also doing well this week were other hitters, including Ike Irish (6-20 with three XBH and four walks), Braylin Tavera (6-14 with four doubles and a homer), and RJ Austin (7-22, all singles, four walks, four stolen bases). This is a strong lineup with some recent draftees and still-young players. The team earned its first half title and guys like these were part of why.
The pitching staff isn’t too shabby either! Frederick’s 4.07 team ERA leads the South Atlantic League. They are close to the league lead in strikeouts and have a league-best home run allowed rate. Notable over this past week was six shutout innings pitched by Yeiber Cartaya (1.99 ERA in 12 games), a Boston Bateman start with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings, and JT Quinn striking out six in a game where he allowed two runs over five innings.
Others of interest
SS Wehiwa Aloy – Did not join in the hitting party this week, just 5-22, all singles
RHP Kiefer Lord – Nine strikeouts and no walks over a 6.2 inning start; Lord’s struggled for the season so hopefully there’s something to build on from this outing
Second half record: 2-1, t-first place in Carolina League North (first half: 23-43, last place)
The records getting wiped between the first and second half of a minor league season is great news for Delmarva. They are off to a nice start in the first handful of games that count as the second half.
Recent attention here has been paid to a couple of infielders, DJ Layton and Jaiden Lo Re. These guys are walking a lot. That continued over these games, with Layton drawing six walks to help his weekly OPS even though he batted just 3-15. Lo Re went 6-20 with three walks. Another young infielder, Elvin Garcia, hit his first homer of the season as part of a 5-17 week. Garcia is up to a .770 OPS for the season after this performance.
Outfielder Jordan Sanchez led the way with seven hits in only four games. Sanchez is batting .500 and slugging .750 in the month of June. The 20-year-old Cuban outfielder is not among the more heralded guys in the system, but if he can sustain a hot stretch of baseball, he might be able to make more of a prospect name for himself.
Delmarva’s pitchers… look, the team has a 5.60 ERA. There are some tough stat lines every week and for the season overall. One of the preseason hype prospects was 19-year-old righty Esteban Mejia. He walked six batters in a 1.1 inning start. This is not an outlier start for his season: He has a 12.3 BB/9. Geez.
In last week’s minor league player of the week poll, Delmarva’s Jaiden Lo Re was the choice of 50% of voters to make our seventh different winner in seven weeks of the poll. Other winners have been: Victor Figueroa, Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Caden Hunter, Ike Irish, and Wehiwa Aloy.
We could have a repeat winner this week as at least one prior winner has played well enough to end up on this poll. Will this be the first two-time champion of the season? The choice is yours.
Jun 18, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) reacts after injuring his knee in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
Brian Murphy at MLB mothership has an update on Bobby Witt Jr’s recovery.
Bobby Witt Jr.’s sprained right knee kept him out of the Royals’ lineup for the third straight game Monday. But prior to the team’s series opener against the Rays, the star shortstop went through what manager Matt Quatraro called a “very encouraging” workout.
Witt — who has been sidelined since suffering a Grade 1 MCL sprain during Thursday’s game against the Cardinals — hit in the batting cage, ran the bases and fielded ground balls on Monday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
He did his on-field activity while wearing a brace over his injured knee, which Quatraro said Witt is still getting used to.
“We’re hopeful that in the next couple days, he’s available,” the manager said.
Jaylon Thompson at the KC Star also covered Witt’s workout.
“Felt good,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, he’s been getting accustomed to wearing a brace. So we are trying to get used to that a little bit, but was very encouraging what we saw today.”
Entering Monday, Witt had missed the last two games and was not expected to play in Monday’s road game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, the Royals didn’t rule out a potential return this week. The club is hopeful Witt will play during the upcoming seven-game road trip.
When his streak began on June 6, Jensen had elevated strikeout and whiff rates (30.2% and 32.6%, respectively). Since then, those numbers have plummeted to 15.5% and 18.4%. Meanwhile, Jensen’s hard-hit rate, which was 40.2% prior to the streak, is 53.3% over these past couple of weeks. And that rate went up when he smashed a cutter from Rasmussen back up the middle at 109.2 mph to drive in Nick Loftin.
“I think it all starts with just swinging at my pitches,” Jensen said of his recent success at the plate. “Not getting antsy at the plate to swing at everything or try to get the hit in the first two pitches of the at-bat. I think the strong thing that I do pretty well is take good at-bats. I think earlier in the season I was just trying to do too much with pitches that I couldn’t handle, such as pitches out of the zone.”
Pete Grathoff takes a look at the decision to bunt in the ninth inning of the 12-10 loss to the Cardinals.
But O’Brien got his first out when Kameron Misner’s sacrifice bunt put Massey and Thomas in scoring position. According to Baseball Reference, the Cardinals’ win probability had dropped from 98% to 67% when Misner stepped to the plate. The bunt pushed St. Louis’ win probability 4% higher. O’Brien then struck out pinch hitter John Rave, who was batting for Nick Loftin, and induced a groundout from left fielder Isaac Collins to end the game.
Sam McDowell examines two homers from Jac Caglianone’s recent outburst.
Royals second-year outfielder Jac Caglianone ripped a line drive 110.5 miles per hour and 404 feet into the back of the Cardinals’ bullpen Friday — which is directly to the opposite field.
It’s the kind of thing you rarely see: A left-hander hitting the ball the opposite way that hard and that far.
Except that Caglianone did the exact same thing the night before. On Thursday, he also blasted a home run 110.0 miles per hour, also the opposite way.
Witt remains the top AL SS vote-getter for the All-Star game.
SHORTSTOP
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: 1,701,407 2. Andrés Giménez, Blue Jays: 894,926 3. Kevin McGonigle, Tigers: 460,075 4. Jeremy Peña, Astros: 357,049 5. Colson Montgomery, White Sox: 352,828
Witt is having another fantastic season as he is tops in the AL with 28 stolen bases and 4.4 FanGraphs WAR. However, a recent right knee sprain has his status a little up in the air right now. Barring a late surge from the rookie McGonigle or others, it looks like Witt will take on Giménez in Phase 2. Giménez was the AL’s starting second baseman in the 2022 Midsummer Classic, representing the Guardians. Witt is looking for his first All-Star start.
David Lesky takes a second to note that the recent offensive outburst is taking place without the main players we thought it might before the season.
It’s especially interesting because they’re doing so much of this damage without a good chunk of the crew we expected them to do any damage with. Vinnie Pasquantino is out for a bit. Maikel Garcia has been in and out of the lineup and hasn’t done much, at least power-wise, since April. Bobby Witt Jr. missed each of the last two games, and we have no idea how many more. Salvador Perez has played and had some big moments, but the numbers overall remain putrid. No, they’re doing a lot of this with some players we maybe didn’t expect, or, if we did, not this much. From that perspective, it’s been nice. Of course, it would be nicer if they were doing this with last year’s pitching staff because they’d sure have a lot more wins.
John Schreiber was apparently spitting fire last night. I totally missed that in the recap.
Jacob Milham writes about a few minor league players who may be the next guys up.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray may be open to a trade.
Colorado Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes | Renee Dechert
On Monday, Colorado Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes met with media to answer questions. Below are a few takeaways from that conversation, which has been lightly edited for clarity.
The (Arizona Diamondbacks) had a lot of outfielders — left-hand hitting outfielders, so that’s part of it. . . Their athleticism was on display every night, and he was a big part of that, so we wanted to add some more athleticism, versatility to our team. He makes contact. He can play all three positions. So those were some of the things we were looking for — and he certainly had — and he’s played very well for us.
I think it’s so hard to evaluate hitting in the big leagues. As much as he’d accomplished in Triple-A, I think watching him, we always said, “He’s a creative hitter. You’re going to face righties, lefties, north, south, east, west, and he just seems like he’s got a very good contact skill.” But he’s very creative, and sort of thinking through at-bats when the count’s in his favor, when it’s not, and the consistency of his production. It’s nice to evaluate a player from afar and what he’s done in Triple-A — until you have to go do this every day. I think part of what makes him really good, we probably didn’t know until after we got him. I think he’s just a creative hitter and really can compete against a variety of major league arms.
On Rumfield’s defense:
He’s been really good. I think, first of all, the wingspan, even infielders’ throws, he saves some errors with that, and he’s done a nice job on balls hit to him so he’s been good there, too.
He’s been great. Obviously, we missed his production. But from a clubhouse standpoint — all of us coming in here (knew) what his career has been, from first pick to the stops before he got here — I think we sensed he was primed to really be productive, but also be a leader for our group and help us think through how we can win games and all that goes into it, the game planning. I think the production is important, but I think behind the scenes is really important, too.
On what he’s learned about this team at the halfway point:
I feel like I said it behind the scenes. I’m really encouraged by the progress. I think we still have a long way to go. I think we have to always maintain our standards as we climb out of this thing. For two months, series by series, we’ve been very competitive — probably could have won more games, and in May, we just weren’t very good. So I’m really encouraged that we’re making progress. I’m really encouraged by the effort level and how much guys want to be better individually and as a team. And we’ve just got to maintain what we’re really after, which is winning and playing in October. We don’t want to be delusional. We’ve just got a ways to go, but I’m encouraged by the progress.
On areas where he’d like to see improvement:
I think the game is scoring runs and preventing runs. So in April, we’re probably better at preventing than scoring, and in June, we’ve been better at scoring than preventing. There’s a lot that goes into it. We’ve been tested with injuries. I think pitching is always going to be a challenge here when it’s tested over six months. And it’s our daily ritual of who’s available, who’s not. And it’s been done here before — build a pitching staff that’s playoff caliber and hopefully sustainable for several years. Not just the players, but the methods behind it. I think (that) is probably pretty high on the list for like what we’re trying to do.
On acquiring more pitching depth when it feels like there’s a lack of big-league-ready pitchers:
I think we need more upper-level pitching. We’ve found some in various ways. Andrew Baker is about to go to Triple-A, and we acquired him for international money. Blas Castaño was a waiver claim, etc. Eiberson Castellano was a minor-league free agent, so we’ve got to be always looking for that. And then, the bigger swings, if they materialize in a trade scenario or in the draft. But I would say in order to not be short there, which we probably are now, we just have to constantly be on the hunt for pitching, and hopefully up and down the organization
On MLB draft preparation and emphasizing pitching:
It’s not the roster-fill time of year. I think you’re just trying to add talent, and it takes shape as you get organized towards the big leagues. So I would say probably have a balance and just find the best players we can approaching the draft.
We’re talking to teams constantly. I obviously won’t reveal too much about who or what we’re talking about, but I think teams usually make trades because they have depth there and can trade out of it, and then teams usually make trades because they’re “buyers” or “sellers.” I think some of that is pretty clear where our position is right now, so we’ve just got to touch the market, talk to people, and see if something makes sense to us.
On the value of plate discipline:
I think it’s a big ingredient with all things hitting. Really, for the last few years — majors and minors — it had been, like, 30th. And then you add in contact skills, so how hard you hit it. And then, you make good decisions, you make contact. So we’ve had to address that as best we could every day, every direction, and the players we got.
Even in June, we’ve been sort of average with respect to our chase rate and our contact skill across 30 teams, but we’re, like, third in runs scored. So if we get those in a better place, we can do more with them. They all fit together, and it is important to message it. It’s important to message it correctly but also to have guys come up from the minors — and we’re always tracking that. I think there’s been nine or so players who’ve made their debuts. Can you succeed at first when you’re first going through it? We’re trying to get these guys where when they come up here, they can compete and grow from there.
So, with Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) and Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), they’ve done a nice job at that.
On what he finds encouraging:
First, the effort and enthusiasm, competitiveness is essential. The curiosity, how we’re going to make them better, and take it out on the field, and see some of the things we just talked about take shape. There’s improvement, and that leads to runs, or wins, or preventing runs. So, I think we’ve seen signs of that. I would still like to say it’s progress, not quite at the standard we’re going to need, but I think progress is a good thing. So that’s where we are now, and all of us are excited about the progress. We’ve just got to keep adding to it.
On what it would mean for fans to have a competitive Rockies team:
I just got off the phone with another GM about an hour ago, and he remarked on that — the sort of level his team had played here. The fans are here, they’re loud, they’re into it. I mean, we know from TV, social media, all that. I think it’s amazing, to be honest. The fanbase here is tremendous. I think they’re very optimistic and waiting, and the most important thing we can do is deliver a team they can root for, a team that wins, a team that plays in October. So, I think it’s added motivation. Our fans are here if we do our part, so it doesn’t go unnoticed.
On how Warren Schaeffer is doing:
I think he’s been outstanding. First and foremost, leadership, communication, the human being, but also the puzzle every day to try to win a game, injuries, bullpen availability, how he’s used our roster and communicated that to players, which is hard. I think he’s just done a terrific job of it. So I’m very, very impressed with what Schaeff’s done.
On what he’s learned about baseball in Colorado:
A lot of hits fall in. I guess I knew that, but when you’re seeing it, and your bullpen is a little short that night, “Are we gonna throw a few more pitches to get out of this?” I actually think that’s the most — aside from how pitches move or a fly ball carries — I think it’s just the amount of space, the availability of hits changes the game enough, and what that really means to you in terms of everything we’re talking about, like pitchers you choose or planning for your bullpen or fast outfielders who can catch a few of them, or in McCarthy’s case, any ball that touches the outfield grass is probably going to second. I just think the space affects the game almost constantly, so I would say that’s probably the main thing,
On valuing positional versatility:
Almost everybody — Ryan Ritter, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), you gone on down the list, Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP), all these guys — I think being able to play multiple positions at a good level, it’s good for you, it’s good for us. Let’s do it. And it requires some work, but for the most part, with some of those examples, it’s going very well.
On how he approaches promoting prospects:
It’s one of the things with players, I’m always, “Where’s he been?” “Where’s he now?” “Where’s he going?” And you sort of see him on a timeline. So where is he now? And if you’re in Triple-A and you think you should be in the big leagues, I often say to players, “You’re not a human being if you’re not a little, ‘Why am I not getting a shot?’” That’s a human reaction. We can explain a lot of it. There’s a lot that’s individual player’s readiness. What’s going on with the roster. There’s a lot of reasons, and I almost always say, “Maybe we’re right. Maybe we’re not. Your instinct is you’re ready. We’re saying not quite yet.” But I think the other thing, even talking to the teenagers in our system, we’re going to teach you and develop you based on major-league standards, not like passing this test or shooting for this field. From a player’s journey, only one promotion matters: This one. (He gestured at Coors Field.) Communicating that to them and what our thought process is is important.
Takeaways
For me, I thought Byrnes’ most interesting comments were about pitching and the “space” at Coors Field — and how the latter affects decisions they make with the former.
There’s a lot here, and I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts.
Look, if you can link to a site called “The Fighting Gobbler,” you absolutely have to do it. In this case, the Gobblers in question are the Virginia Tech Hokies, Alma mater of Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield. Scott Roche reviews Rumfield’s trip to Colorado and notes some of his accomplishments in purple pinstripes.
We’ve been talking on the Purple Row board about the best strategy for using an ABS Challenge. Kiri Oler did some math — and Willi Castro and TJ Rumfield are mentioned.
Kevin Henry asks the question we all have on our minds: What will Paul DePodesta do with all those outfielders? Here’s where he lands for now: “Here’s a potential scenario: Moniak and Doyle return to the Colorado roster with Thompson and catcher Braxton Fulford sent back to Triple-A. Beck finishes his rehab assignment with Albuquerque and stays with the Isotopes until he is no longer limited to being a platoon bat.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks prior to the start of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Draft will be held tonight and tomorrow at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the new home of Julius Randle. For once, the Knicks are not scouting for a young buck who can elevate their roster–because they won the championship! You may still have a scrap of confetti lodged in the back of your throat. It’s the cost of fandom.
Free of desperation, Leon Rose & Co. can use tonight’s picks (24, 31, 55) in any number of ways, whether by selecting three talents to be developed at the Westchester farm; swapping for better positioning or an active player, or even punting on the draft altogether.
Leon has never been afraid to hop around the board, and championship contenders often consolidate draft assets rather than adding multiple guaranteed contracts. With the 24th and 31st picks sitting just seven spots apart, New York has ammunition to explore a move up if a desired dude begins to slide. This class of prospects is loaded with big young men, so we expect at least one to leave wearing an orange and blue cap. The Knicks might also pick up a guard while they’re at it. Read our draft guide here.
Details
Round 1: Tuesday, June 23 Time: 8:00 p.m. ET TV: ABC and ESPN Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY Streaming: ESPN App
Round 2: Wednesday, June 24 Time: 8:00 p.m. ET TV: ESPN Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY Streaming: ESPN App
The Trevor Zegras era in Anaheim was one full of high highs, but came crashing to earth with an unceremonious thud exactly one year ago today when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
The Anaheim Ducks drafted Zegras with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, and he’d be the first of seven top-ten selections in consecutive years made by the Ducks through their long rebuild process.
During two of the darkest years in the Ducks’ franchise history, Zegras became one of the faces of the NHL, dazzling with highlight-reel plays on a seemingly shift-by-shift basis. He was the Calder Trophy runner-up in his rookie year of 2021-22, scoring 61 points (23-38=61) in 75 games, and would follow it up with 65 points (23-42=65) in 81 games during his 2022-23 sophomore season.
A lengthy contract negotiation following the expiration of his ELC in 2023 caused Zegras (along with Jamie Drysdale) to miss the majority of the 2023-24 training camp, the first under then-new head coach Greg Cronin. After a surprisingly difficult start to the season, where he was attempting to play through injury, Zegras landed on IR with a lower-body injury (osteitis pubis) early in the season.
He would return to the lineup after missing 20 games, only to break his ankle seven games later. He’d finish the 2023-24 season missing a total of 51 games and only scoring 15 points (6-9=15) in 31 games.
During Zegras’ second stint out of the lineup, Jamie Drysdale was traded to Philadelphia, and speculation surrounding Zegras’ future with the Ducks began. From there, his name was in trade rumors for the next 18 months until his eventual departure seemingly became an inevitability.
With rumors and speculation swirling for the duration and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek appearing non-comital toward his talented forward’s future with the organization, Zegras totaled 32 points (12-20=32) in 57 games during another injury-riddled 2024-25 season.
Zegras’ hands are only rivaled by his vision and creativity on the ice. His game lacks the pace and intensity that many covet, but by all accounts (including former head coach Greg Cronin), he attempted to tweak and alter his game to fit the club’s system and intended direction.
On May 8, 2025, the Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their next head coach. The system Quenneville intended to and eventually implemented, along with his previous success with comparable stylistic players to Zegras like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Huberdeau, had optimists believing a Zegras bounce-back season with the Ducks in 2025-26 was in the cards.
To add to that notion, on June 12, 2025, five weeks after Quenneville was hired, the Ducks acquired Chris Kreider, an offseason training partner and friend of Zegras. With a new compatible coach and a new compatible teammate, it seemed like Verbeek was making moves to get the most out of Zegras as he was entering his prime NHL years.
Zegras was traded 11 days after Kreider was acquired, and that idea was put to rest for good.
Zegras, of course, had his bounce-back year with the Flyers, notching a new career high in points by scoring 67 (26-41=67) in 81 games and leading Philadelphia back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advancing to the second round.
The Ducks found success of their own in 2025-26, making the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 with Ryan Poehling playing a huge role on the Ducks’ bottom six and penalty kill all season. He was one of their most effective two-way, shutdown forwards and contributed a career-high 36 points (11-25=36) in 75 games and added five more (4-1=5) in 11 playoff games.
Poehling will continue to be a significant part of the Ducks’ build toward contention, as on March 5, he signed a four-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $3.75 million.
With the second-round pick acquired in the trade, the Ducks selected forward Eric Nilson (45th overall in 2025), son of former NHL forward Marcus Nilson (48), out of Djurgardens IF in Sweden.
Nilson played the 2025-26 season for Michigan State in the NCAA, scoring 11 points (3-8=11) in 35 games during his freshman season and adding three points (1-2=3) in seven games for Sweden at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal. Nilson projects as a competitive, two-way, middle-six center at the NHL level.
Verbeek’s cited intention of this trade stemmed from roster construction, as he felt Poehling filled a specific role he was looking for, and Zegras did not. Critics of this trade will reference timing as their biggest gripe.
As the months of trade rumors piled up, it became clear Zegras wasn’t in Verbeek’s long-term plans for the Ducks. It was also clear from the second that the trade was submitted that Zegras was sold at his lowest possible value after back-to-back seasons of poor production and injury came on the heels of back-to-back 60-plus point seasons to begin his career.
Those who felt the value was off will suggest Zegras’ value could have been increased by playing any number of games under Quenneville. Others will argue his value could have increased by simply waiting a week or two until the dust of the draft and free agency settled. Much like in 2026, the 2025 offseason, whether analyzing the trade or free agency market, didn’t provide enough available players for the number of teams looking to add top-six forward talent.
Ryan Poehling had an excellent first year with the Anaheim Ducks and will likely remain an impactful piece on the depth chart through his prime years in the NHL. Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden compared Eric Nilson to William Karlsson at the time of his draft, and if Nilson reaches 80% of what Karlsson became, the Ducks will be overjoyed.
The snag with this trade will remain timing, as one may have hoped for a more sizable return when moving on from a talented former face of a franchise (and for a brief period of time, a former face of the NHL).
Jimmy Haslam is one of the rare sports owner to have his fingerprints all over a pair of massive deals in two different sports in the same month.
With the Milwaukee Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, barely three weeks after the Cleveland Browns traded Myles Garrett, Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports reports that the Browns owner was a "driving force" in the decision to pick the Heat deal over an offer from the Boston Celtics that included Jaylen Brown.
As O'Connor explains it, "Haslam didn’t want to risk Jaylen Brown wanting out of Milwaukee in a year after dealing with Giannis and Myles Garrett trade demands." Instead, Haslam wanted the "certainty" that comes from having draft picks. (Until, of course, those players selected with the extra picks want out, too.)
Haslam's involvement with the Bucks is no surprise. It became clear last month that he’d be taking a more active role in the NBA team he partially owns.
Which serves as a reminder that owners always have the right to take an active role in roster management — regardless of whether they have the skills, knowledge, and/or ability to do so.
In Cleveland, Haslam has been the common denominator through the last 14 years of dysfunction. Now, dysfunction could be descending on Wisconsin's NBA franchise.
At least dysfunction is easier to spell than Antetokounmpo.
