The Detroit Red Wings' farm system saw one of its most notable breakout performances in recent memory this past season in winger John Leonard, who dominated at the AHL level for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The 27-year-old finished the year with 33 goals and 21 assists for 54 points in just 47 games, leading the Griffins in scoring during a record-breaking season for the franchise and earning a spot on the AHL's Second All-Star Team for the second consecutive year.
When Leonard finally got extended NHL minutes, he made the most of them too, recording two goals and two assists for four points across 11 games with Detroit over a pair of recalls. It was enough to have some believing he could carve out a role in the bottom of Detroit's lineup, and he'll need to bring that same level of production next season as he enters a contract year, having signed a one-year extension in April.
Detroit could look to give the former San Jose Sharks sixth-round pick, 182nd overall in 2018, an extended NHL look this coming season. Leonard has been an AHL standout for years now, first with Charlotte and now Grand Rapids, but hasn't gotten a real, extended chance at the NHL level since his rookie season back in 2021-22, when he was still in the San Jose organization.
Since then, he bounced through Nashville and Arizona before signing with Detroit last summer, using a career-high 36-goal season in Charlotte to earn his one-way deal.
If Leonard can't find his way into a full-time role with the Red Wings this season, the hope internally would likely be that Detroit can either finally carve out a spot for him in the bottom six or, if that doesn't materialize, find a trade partner willing to give him the full-time NHL opportunity he's earned through his AHL production.
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The Knicks picked up their first win in Summer League action on Monday, beating the Pistons, 86-75.
New York was without two of their regulars, as Mohamed Diawara sat with a ring finger injury and Pacome Dadiet was sidelined due to foot soreness.
With them sitting, it gave other youngsters the opportunity for extended minutes.
Second-round pick Jack Kayil shined in just his second Summer League appearance, leading the team with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting and three threes. He also pulled one board, dished four assists and had a steal in 28 minutes.
Dillon Jones finished second behind him with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, six rebounds, and four assists.
7-foot 27-year-old Liam Robbins was a strong presence downlow, pulling in five boards and blocking four shots. He also drilled a three as part of his 15 points, had three assists, and swiped a pair of steals.
Tyler Nickel struggled from the field, but drilled three more threes as his strong showing continued.
St. John's product Oziyah Sellers enjoyed himself a strong showing, chipping in 10 points on an efficient 5-of-9 from the field while bringing in seven defensive rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
On the other side of things second-year guard Chaz Lanier led the way for Detroit, knocking down a whopping eight threes as part of a game-high 22 point effort.
What's next
New York closes Summer League action Thursday night against the Warriors.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Summer Suns vs. Summer Bucks
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: Arizona Family Sports, Amazon Prime
LAS VEGAS — We are in the dog days of summer…league! Typical sideline reporters are calling nationally televised games, many stand sections are not filled to the brim, and many high level NBA members are slowly departing from Las Vegas.
But Bright Side is there and will be giving exclusive live updates from the game!
— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) July 12, 2026
After a close 81-75 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans that went down to the wire on Sunday, the Summer Suns are back in action just a day later, but this time against the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s safe to say that the stakes and the matchup look just a bit different from when the two teams faced off in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Just like the Suns, Milwaukee is coming off a loss to a Western Conference foe after San Antonio beat them 90-80 loss led by RJ Davis’ 20-point game.
With both teams playing the day before, it’s possible we don’t see the same rotations and starting lineups from either team, since they suffered losses a mere day ago. Teams tend to be very cautious with some of their key Summer League players to protect them from injuries that could affect their ability to make the regular-season roster. That being said, it’s a great opportunity for undrafted players like Sam Hoiberg and Corey Camper Jr. to make memorable impacts that could get them a spot to end up on the final roster.
Probable Starters
In the Summer League, it’s so hard to predict, especially on a back-to-back. Here’s the team’s starters from their last games.
Suns
Darius Brown II
Koby Brea
Rasheer Fleming
Koa Peat
Khaman Maluach
Bucks
Brayden Burries
Kasparas Jakučionis
Nate Ament
Pete Nance
Bogoljub Marković
Injury Report
Suns
Nothing Reported
Bucks
Nothing Reported
What to Watch For
Koby Brea. The 2025 second-rounder has struggled in his first two games of Summer League after being on the team as a two-way player during his rookie year. Averaging just 3.5 points per game so far, he went 0-of-6 from deep and 1-of-10 from the field yesterday vs the Pelicans, which has gotten Suns pundits concerned.
Trying not to overreact, but…
….when your two-way contracted three-point specialist can't hit a three through a game-and-a-half…
While the status of Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming may be more in question, considering their firm position on the roster and Fleming having his left hand wrapped after yesterday’s game, expect Brea to be playing. Drafted after a strong shooting season at the University of Kentucky during the 2024-2025 season, a bounce-back game from Brea after two-straight games of struggles could go a long way.
A game akin to his performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the last game of the regular season would give Suns fans reasons to rejoice.
Prediction
In a game where many of the possible main players’ status is hard to predict, it’s impossible to pinpoint what the contest will look like. If both teams play the rosters they used in their games yesterday, I like the Bucks because of the young talent they acquired after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in the Summer League. If that’s the case, give me a final score of 88-83. However, regardless of who is playing for both teams, I like the Suns to have a stronger shooting performance than they did against New Orleans, when they shot 6/30 from downtown. A progression back to the means.
No matter the score, make sure to follow along on X @BrightSideSun for live updates from the game!
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James announced he wouldn’t be re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers13 days ago. Since then, there’s been countless rumors about who he would sign with. At this point, those are only rumors, and we’re still just as much in the dark now as we were then about where James will play next season.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, James “inches closer” to a decision every day.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
This update doesn’t shed too much light on what is happening behind the scenes. Technically speaking, LeBron is closer to a decision every day. How much closer is anyone’s guess.
There’s growing speculation that James will make a decision at Fanatics Fest NYC. He is scheduled to have a live recording of his podcast, “Mind the Game,” on Thursday. He is also set to record an episode of “The Shop” there on Friday. It would make sense that a decision will have been made by then, or announced during one of those shows.
At this point, though, nothing is confirmed. Everything is mostly just speculation. People are trying to read the tea leaves and figure out what that means. The truth is, we don’t know much.
Jul 14, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) holds the trophy after winning the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby will take place on Monday night, with eight players set to compete for the title. There will be a new champion this year, as Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, who has had a disappointing, injury-riddled season, will not defend his title. Among this year’s participants, the only former winner is the Phillies’ Bryce Harper, who won while with the Nationals at his home park in 2018.
The derby takes place at 7 p.m. CT on Netflix, with the order of players and format listed below.
Batting Order
Willson Contreras, Red Sox (20 HRs) — Pitched to by Red Sox interim bench coach José David Flores
Jordan Walker, Cardinals (22 HRs) — Pitched to by Cardinals bullpen catcher Kleininger Teran
Jac Caglianone, Royals (15 HRs) — Pitched to by dad, Jeff Caglianone
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox (20 HRs) — Pitched to by White Sox coach Luis Sierra
Ben Rice, Yankees (29 HRs) — Pitched to by dad, Dan Rice
Junior Caminero, Rays (28 HRs) — Pitched to by Rays major league field coordinator Tomas Francisco
Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (32 HRs) — Pitched to by Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena
Bryce Harper, Phillies (20 HRs) — Pitched to by Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel
Since 2015, the Derby has been constrained by a timed clock. That has been eliminated in 2026.
Instead of trying to hit as many homers as possible during timed rounds, each of the eight Derby participants will start each round with a finite number of swings: 20 in Round 1, 15 in Round 2, and 15 again in the final round.
All swings count against a player’s swing allotment, whether it results in a homer or not. However, a player who homers on his final swing of a round can keep swinging until he doesn’t hit one out.
The players with the top four home run totals from the first round will advance to the semifinals, where they’ll be seeded based on their first-round homer totals. They will face off head-to-head (No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3) to determine the two finalists.
Any ties in the first round will be broken by home run distance, with the player who hit the longest homer among the tied participants advancing. In the semifinals and finals, ties will be broken by three-swing swing-offs until a winner is determined.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies and Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls boxes out during the game during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks play their third NBA Summer League game tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. It’ll be broadcast on ESPN and is likely the last meaningful game for most of the Dallas roster. The Mavericks got waxed by the Los Angeles Lakers so badly on Saturday night that we didn’t really cover it (though Michael did write game grades late at night because he’s insane). Hopefully, the Mavericks show up for this one. Here’s the main things to know.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Memphis Grizzlies
WHAT: NBA Summer League, Game 3 for Dallas
WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
WHEN: 6:00 pm CST
HOW: ESPN
UPDATE: Ryan Nembhard is missing the game due to illness and Morez will is likely done for the summer with calf soreness.
As of this writing, it seems like everyone of consequence for both teams is available to play. Cameron Boozer did play in the Utah Summer League, so at this point I’m skeptical he’ll suit up, but I’d really like to see him play. Morez Johnson should also suit up, so if they play, hopefully we’ll see minutes with them guarding one another.
Of course, Summer League injury information is hard to come by (no one’s asking) but the usual beat reporters for Dallas aren’t reporting anything.
What I’m looking for in this game is for anyone on the Mavericks to hit a shot. Of the top 7 Mavericks getting minutes, only one (Morez Johnson) is shooting over 40%. So preferably, anyone among the usual guys getting hot would make this game a lot more tolerable. Dallas can’t seem to play any defense either, but I bet if they see some shots going down, we’ll get a better-looking defense as well.
I’m pretty disappointed in the team performance through two games. I know it’s just Summer League, but I really thought this team might be good (for once). If I’m here watching basketball, I’d prefer it not to constantly suck.
Ziaire Williams controls the ball during a game between the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets on March 31. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)
The Lakers signed free-agent forward Ziaire Williams to a one-year, $3-million deal on Monday, people not authorized to speak on the matter publicly confirmed to The Times.
Williams, 24, was available after the Brooklyn Nets declined his team option of $6.25 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The 6-foot-9 Williams gives the Lakers an athletic wing player. He averaged a career-high 10.2 points last season in 56 games, 13 as a starter.
He shot 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range.
NBA scouts who requested anonymity to speak candidly on the matter said Williams is athletic but hasn’t figure out his game yet. He’s seen as an inconsistent three-point shooter.
Williams, who attended Sierra Canyon High with Bronny James and Stanford, gives the Lakers a maximum 15 roster players.
Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid still don’t like each other, per Tracy McGrady.
The NBA legend said on his show “Cousins” with Vince Carter that Brown and Embiid have not spoken despite being on the same team for almost two weeks.
Brown was traded to Embiid’s 76ers on July 1 in exchange for Paul George and draft picks.
Tracy McGrady talks about Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown’s relationship after teaming up in Philadelphia. @VinceAndTmac/X
“I don’t think there’s been a conversation between the two, at least not to my knowledge,” McGrady said.
McGrady said Brown has reached out to Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.
McGrady and Carter said Brown should have reached out because it’s been Embiid’s team for so long, but the former Kansas center also should have made an attempt to have a conversation.
“We’re getting off to a fresh start, Joel; you’re getting off to a fresh start, and now you add in another MVP, along with the young boys that you have to make things easier for you,” McGrady said.
Jaylen Brown attends a game between the Pacers and 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images
T-Mac reveals that, at the time of taping, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid still hadn't spoken.
"I don't think there's been a conversation between the two, at least not to my knowledge." pic.twitter.com/thcuA452fv
— Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady (@VinceAndTmac) July 13, 2026
Embiid and Brown’s relationship was first called into question after they went head-to-head during the NBA playoffs in May.
Brown said in a press conference and on a livestream after game four that Embiid was “flopping.”
“We tried a bunch of different things. He’s a big body,” Brown said. “He also was flopping around. He got some extra calls and they rewarded him for that, but that’s the league we’re in.”
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid #21 walks back to the bench as the Knicks lead by 29 points during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After the trade, though, 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said “they’re welcoming the change” and Embiid, who has battled numerous injuries in recent years, is in a really good spot this offseason.
“He is fired up. I called him right after the trade, and he was excited” Gansey told 97.5 The Fanatic.
The addition of Brown should lessen the workload and pressure on Embiid as Maxey emerges into one of the stars of the league.
It could also allow Embiid to take a lighter workload and worry more on recovery.
The 76ers were swept by the Knicks in dominant fashion after they upset the Celtics in the first round.
As the lone player representing the Mets at the All-Star break this year, Juan Soto had no competition when it came to media availability and answered a myriad of questions ranging from who he’s most looking forward to seeing over the course of the event to why New York struggled so mightily during the first half of the season despite such high expectations.
To be clear, the Mets’ tumultuous season to date has nothing to do with Soto’s production as he has been the team’s MVP and was deservedly named an All-Star for the first time as a Met despite missing time early in the season with a calf injury.
An All-Star once again after missing out last season, Soto is excited to be back alongside the game’s best and to see players and even old teammates that he can talk to simply as friends as well as to pick their brains to get better himself.
“It feels great to be a part of another All-Star [team],” he said. “It’s always great to see so many good players, so many guys that have been putting in the work to be who they are right now. It’s really cool to see.”
With the spectacle taking place in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park, Soto is getting a chance to rekindle his relationship with former teammates with the Washington Nationals in Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, now current Phillies.
The outfielder had nothing but good things to say about each of them, even if they are rivals of the Mets.
“I haven’t shared a locker room with [Harper] in a long time and Schwarber, all those guys,” Soto said. “I feel like we have such a great talent in that clubhouse, like you would love to be around them. I’m gonna try to pick their minds and see where they’re at.”
With Harper and Schwarber both participating in Monday’s Home Run Derby as the hometown heroes, Soto stopped short of picking either of them to win it and instead went with last year’s runner-up and fellow Dominican Junior Caminero.
As for who Soto is most looking forward to speaking with over the next couple of days, that’s Yordan Alvarez who is representing the Houston Astros in the opponent’s dugout.
“I will find him,” Soto said.
Despite the levity and distraction of the event this week, the issue of the Mets’ disappointing first half came up and Soto discussed what’s gone wrong in New York this summer while also defending his teammates regardless of the team’s record and the standings.
May 21, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) and center fielder A.J. Ewing (9) and right fielder Carson Benge (3) celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. / Brad Mills - Imagn Images
“I’ve been trying my best to win games, to help my team,” he said. “It’s definitely not easy, I know how hard my team is working and I appreciate that they come in day in and day out. They never stop, they keep grinding, they try to find a way every day so nothing else I can ask for.
“I’ve been doing my best and we haven’t gotten to the spot that we want to be so it feels like a little bit of failure so I gotta keep going, I gotta keep getting better and I gotta try harder.”
After limping into the All-Star break following getting swept by the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field, the Mets at least will have some time to clear their heads before getting back on the field in the second half in an attempt to finish strong.
Soto thinks the time off will do everybody some good.
“I feel like everybody needs a couple days off after a tough stretch,” he said. “To get the days off and kinda like start over I think is gonna be good for the guys.”
The biggest bright spots for New York has been the breakout of rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing who have played alongside Soto in the outfield for the majority of the season. Benge, of course, broke camp with the team as the starting right fielder while Ewing was called up in early May to inject some energy into the team and they both have played extremely well.
Not only is their development a reason for the fans to keep watching, it’s been fun for Soto, still only 27 years old, to play with them and watch them continue to get better. And even though Soto has years of experience, he still is and feels young at heart.
“For me I’ve just been having fun,” Soto said. “I always call myself the forever rookie. I always try to handle myself the right way, but definitely enjoy the moment, don’t try to be hard on anybody.
“That’s one of the things that I take every time, the transition, guys looking over and looking for advice or anything. I’m always gonna be there for them, but at the end of the day I always feel like one of them, I always try to have fun.”
With the emergence of the two rookie outfielders giving the Mets an outfield that appears to be one they can trust for the long term, as well as a staff filled with rookie starting pitchers that have shown elite stuff, there’s reason to believe the team can quickly turn things around, if not this season than seasons to come.
In fact, Soto had a message to the fans who have endured a lot during this disappointing season.
“Keep believing. We’re gonna turn things around,” he said. “We have a lot of talent, we have a lot of players that can be elite so don’t give up on them, we’re gonna turn this back [around].”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 6: Gabe Madsen #22 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during a 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game on July 6, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Nicoll/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Hawks try to take their Las Vegas Summer League record to 3-0 against the Boston Celtics today.
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Unsurprisingly, that list includes some of baseball’s best home run hitters this season. Schwarber leads MLB with 32 homers, while Rice is third with 29 and Caminero is tied for fourth with 28. Four of the remaining five have gone long at least 20 times.
Track all the regular-season home runs belted so far in 2026 by the eight players below. This graphic has their homers laid over Citizens Bank Park, providing a glimpse of how they might fare in the Derby itself:
Citizens Bank Park has seen 121 home runs across 46 Phillies home games in 2026. Statcast rates the park as the fifth friendliest for home runs in MLB by its home run park factor calculation.
Among this year’s participants, Harper won the Home Run Derby in 2018 as a member of the Washington Nationals. Caminero finished runner-up last year to Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, while Schwarber participated in the 2022 Derby, but lost to Albert Pujols in the first round.
This year’s Home Run Derby will consist of a three-round format. In the first round, players will have 20 swings to hit as many home runs as they can. The top four will advance to a head-to-head second round, and the two winners from that round will face off in the final. The semifinals and finals will have 15 swings, and players who homer on their final swing can continue until they don’t hit a homer.
Methodology note: Home run data from Baseball Savant. Home run locations are plotted over Citizens Bank Park using available Statcast hit-location data; homers without hit-location data are approximated using available distance data.
The Lakers are still working to land a starting wing in Jonathan Kuminga via a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, but in the short term, they have added some depth and defense.
The Lakers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Ziaire Williams, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. This deal would be for the minimum of $2.9 million.
Williams comes in with the reputation of a versatile, switchable defender, something the Lakers need. What has always held him back were concerns about offense and efficiency.
Williams has spent five years in the NBA, his first three in Memphis and his last two in Brooklyn. In 56 games last season for the Nets, he averaged 10.2 points a game, shooting 42.5% overall and 34.2% from 3-point range. How big a role he might have in the Lakers' rotation would come down to improving that offensive efficiency (which is what Brooklyn was hoping for a season ago.
Signing Williams does not change the Lakers' desire to complete a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. However, that has a ways to go: The Lakers and Hawks are well apart on what the trade package should be; and the Lakers and Kuminga's representatives are reportedly not close on what his next contract should look like (he reportedly wants around $25 million a season, the Lakers offered two years, $20 million total).
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Dakota Jordan #23 of the San Francisco Giants on the National League Team runs during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the All-Star break for Minor League Baseball too, but not before a hectic and happening weekend for the San Francisco Giants affiliates. Here’s everything you need to know about the action on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
The biggest news over the weekend was, of course, the 2026 MLB Draft, which saw the Giants add 21 prospects (though they have some serious work to do to sign all 21). You can see all 21 selections here.
But there was more big news, as a trio of top prospects were promoted: center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) and middle infielder Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) were promoted from High-A Eugene to AA Richmond, while center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) was promoted from Richmond to AAA Sacramento. Huge and tremendously exciting news! Jordan and Kilen celebrated the news by playing in the Futures Game on Saturday, where they each got 1 at-bat. Jordan doubled in his, while Kilen went 0-1.
In other exciting news, Low-A San Jose shortstop Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) won Player of the Week honors in the California League. But in less happy news, the Giants released AAA Sacramento LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL).
AAA Sacramento (49-41)
Friday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Salt Lake bees 12-5 [box score] Saturday: Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees 9-2 [box score] Sunday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Salt Lake Bees 11-8 [box score]
Well, the River Cats limped into the All-Star break … they did so with a winning record, but they’re not playing their best baseball at the moment. The highlight over the weekend came from a pair of rehab appearances from catcher Daniel Susac, who hit 4-8 with a 3-run home run, a double, a walk, and a stolen base. Quite a performance!
Contrary to popular belief, Susac didn’t actually hit very well in AAA with the A’s last year, as he finished with a 94 wRC+ and a 26.8% strikeout rate. But in 8 rehab games with the River Cats, spanning 2 injuries, he’s rocking a 247 wRC+ and just a 6.1% strikeout rate. Tony Vitello revealed on Sunday that Susac is expected to rejoin the Giants when they return from the break on Friday, and hopefully he can carry his AAA momentum into the Majors, as he was really slumping at the time of his injury.
The other standout offensive weekend belonged to center fielder/right fielder Turner Hill, who hit 7-14 with 2 doubles, 2 stolen bases, and 0 strikeouts. I thought there was a chance the Giants would promote Hill when Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) injured his oblique, but they opted to call up Grant McCray straight from his rehab instead. That’s probably sensible given the proximity to the All-Star break and a desire to not clog up another 40-man spot, but still … hopefully Hill gets his chance in the Jared Oliva/Jonah Cox role some day. The undrafted free agent will never be a blue chip prospect, and he is 27 already, but he also has an .886 OPS and a 135 wRC+ in 67 AAA games this year, with a minuscule 8.2% strikeout rate and 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He doesn’t hit the ball hard, but his contact skills are phenomenal: he’s 96th percentile in in-zone contact rate and 97th percentile in whiff rate.
HILL STAYS HOT 🔥
Turner kicks today's game off with an RBI double to get the Cats on the board pic.twitter.com/xXP2WVjABo
Solid weekends for second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL) and first baseman Jake Holton. Furman went 4-14 with a double, a walk, 2 stolen bases, and a strikeout, while Holton hit 4-11 with a 2-run home run, a double, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. Furman has a .765 OPS and a 106 wRC+, while Holton now has a .708 OPS and a 95 wRC+. They are both in their AAA debut seasons.
HOLTON HOME RUN ‼️
Jake Holton homers in the 6th to cut our deficit by 2 runs
It wasn’t a good weekend on the mound. The only good start came on Saturday, when LHP Matt Wilkinson pitched 4 solid frames, allowing just 1 hit (a single), 2 walks, and 1 unearned run, while striking out 4. It was Tugboat’s 5th start since getting promoted, and there’s been a lot of good (3.93 ERA, 10.3 strikeouts per 9) and some bad (4.88 FIP, 4.2 walks per 9). Personally, I’d like to see him ride out the year in AAA to get as much development as possible, but given that the Giants are likely to trade a handful of pitchers at the deadline — and seeing as how Wilkinson will be Rule 5 eligible this winter — I think we’ll probably see him in the Majors in the second half of the season.
Following Tugboat was LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL) who made his 3rd appearance since moving to Sacramento’s bullpen, and gave up 1 hit and 1 run in 1.2 innings, with 1 strikeout. It’s still not entirely clear why the Giants moved Whitman to the bullpen, but it certainly can’t be that they gave up on him as a starter (he’s a significantly better option than some of Sacramento’s rotation pieces right now, and was having a quality season). It could be that they’re gearing him up for an MLB debut (like Wilkinson, he’ll be Rule 5 eligible), but my guess is they’re just giving him a little mid-season break so he doesn’t get worn out, as he’s been quite a workhorse this year. Hopefully he’s back in the rotation soon.
The other starters were bad. On Friday, LHP Seth Lonsway allowed 8 baserunners (including 3 home runs) and 8 runs in 2.2 innings, raising his ERA to 6.75 and his FIP to 6.37. On Sunday they went for an opener, using recently-claimed RHP Eric Cerantola, who made his 2nd appearance with the organization. Cerantola faced 6 batters and walked 5 of them so … yeah.
RHP Ryan Walker also made his Sacramento return after getting optioned and it didn’t go well, as he gave up a home run, 3 walks, and 2 runs in an inning of work. Gotta think his spot on the 40-man roster is getting a little bit toasty.
Nice performances for RHP Marques Johnson and LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL), though. Johnson pitched twice and struck out 5 batters in 2.2 shutout innings, with 2 hits and 1 walk, while Sánchez threw 2 scoreless frames with 2 hits and 3 strikeouts … and then was promptly released.
AA Richmond (53-32)
Friday: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Altoona Curve 5-4 [box score] Saturday: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Altoona Curve 5-1 [box score] Sunday: Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Altoona Curve 5-3 [box score]
Center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) is leaving Richmond, and he’s doing so with a bang. The lefty’s final weekend as a Squirrel was yet another dynamic one, as he hit 6-15 with a solo home run, 3 doubles, and 3 strikeouts. It has been one dynamic game after another for Davidson ever since the calendar flipped to June … since the start of that month, he’s hit a staggering 43-138 with 13 home runs, 6 doubles, 16 walks, and 38 strikeouts.
Davidson, who turned 24 last week, departs AA with an .861 OPS, a 122 wRC+, and 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts. Given San Francisco’s outfield issues this year, and considering his upcoming Rule 5 eligibility (where he’ll be a slam dunk protection barring falling on his face in AAA), there’s certainly a path for the undrafted free agent to make an MLB debut this year. The sky is the limit for Davidson, who still has some swing-and-miss and pitch recognition issues to work out, but who really has every tool in the box. Can’t wait to watch him in AAA!
Richmond’s other star hitter is not joining Davidson in AAA — yet — but probably isn’t too far behind, and he had a decent weekend as well. That would, of course, be third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL), who hit 4-14 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts. After a June swoon, Harber has rebounded brilliantly: in his last 14 games, the 24-year old slugger is 19-57 with 4 home runs, 5 doubles, 4 walks, and 11 strikeouts, bringing him up to an .879 OPS and a 131 wRC+.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 12, 2026
Nice weekends for right fielder/center fielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL), shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL), and second baseman/left fielder Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL). Sio hit 3-12 with a home run, a double, and 2 strikeouts, giving the lefty a .775 OPS and a 97 wRC+ since getting promoted; Ahuna went 4-9 with a double, 2 walks, a hit by pitch, a strikeout, and a caught stealing, boosting the lefty’s OPS to .661 and his wRC+ to 71; and Velasquez hit 6-11 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and 3 strikeouts, raising the switch-hitter’s OPS to .795 and his wRC+ to 117. Velasquez, who also has 18 stolen bases, played in the outfield for the first time in his career on Sunday. He’s been on absolute fire lately, hitting 17-37 with 4 extra-base hits, 6 walks, and just 5 strikeouts over his last 12 games.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 12, 2026
LHPs Charlie McDaniel and Tyler Switalksi, who are quite new to AA and in an adjustment period, struggled in their respective starts on Friday and Saturday, but RHP Trystan Vrieling had another strong outing on Sunday, pitching 6 quality innings with just 1 hit allowed (a single), 2 walks, and 1 run. Vrieling, who struck out 4, struggled a bit to find the strike zone, as just 49 of his 85 pitches were strikes. But being hard to hit is an important skill, and one Vrieling has excelled at lately: in his last 3 starts, the 2022 3rd-rounder has given up just 9 hits (and 3 runs) in 17 innings.
Strikeouts and walks remain a bit of an issue for the 25-year old, who has a 4.04 ERA and a 5.43 FIP … he has just 8.1 strikeouts per 9 innings and 6.1 walks. But great to see him starting to put some of the pieces of the puzzle together.
Yet another dominant relief outing from RHP Christian Alvarado, who struck out a pair of batters in a perfect inning to end the first half of the season for Richmond. Alvarado’s numbers are almost unfathomably good since the Giants signed him to play affiliated ball for the first time in 7 years: in 6 appearances and 6 innings, he’s given up just 2 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs, while striking out 13. The only question is how long the Giants will want to see him do this before testing him in AAA.
RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) has had a disappointing season, but Friday was a good game, as he threw 2 no-hit, no-run innings with 1 walk and 1 hit batter, while striking out 3. The former 1st-rounder’s strikeouts are down quite a bit this year as he repeats AA, from 14.9 to 11.7 per 9 innings, while his walks (6.4 per 9) remain an issue. He has a 4.24 ERA and a 4.53 FIP and, more critically, his fastball velocity isn’t what it was a year ago.
Also a great relief outing from RHP Ryan Vanderhei, who struck out 4 batters in 2 shutout innings, with a walk and a hit allowed. The 2023 10th-round pick has a 4.38 ERA and a 4.64 FIP in 10 relief appearances since getting promoted.
If you think that Davidson had a nice going away party with Richmond, just wait until you see what center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) did with Eugene! Jordan played his final High-A game on Friday, before departing for the Futures Game on Saturday, and then heading to Richmond after the break.
And how did he do in that final game? Thanks for asking! Just a casual 4-5 with 3 home runs and a double. If that’s not a “get me out of here I’m too good for this level” performance than I truly don’t know what is!
Dakota Jordan homered THREE times tonight for the Eugene Emeralds 👀
While questions about his swing-and-miss issue remain — he has a 27.6% strikeout rate and a 16.1% swinging strike rate on the year — it does seem time for Jordan to square off against better competition, as he had an .879 OPS and a 129 wRC+, while leading the Northwest League with 18 home runs. Jordan departs the Pacific Northwest on a serious heater: in his final 14 games with the Emeralds, he hit a jaw-dropping 23-55 with 9 home runs, 6 doubles, 2 walks, and, critically, just 7 strikeouts. His power has been at a whole new level lately, and it’s going to be so much fun watching him in the Eastern League.
A pair of Jordan’s teammates also had multiple home runs: right fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL) and first baseman Jakob Christian (No. 40 CPL). Diaz hit 3-12 with 2 home runs, 1 double, and 4 strikeouts, while Christian went 4-8 with a pair of dingers and a quartet of punchouts.
You’re not seeing double, Lisbel Diaz did it again!
Diaz has been on a heater lately, with 8 home runs in his last 13 games (3 of them came while moonlighting in San Jose when he couldn’t travel with Eugene to Canada). Still, as I’ve written about a few times, Diaz’s season has been funny … despite his 17 home runs trailing only Davidson and Jordan in the farm system, the right-handed Cuban — who turns 21 in a few days — has just a .788 OPS and a 101 wRC+ with Eugene, which is partially the result of having a lowly 3.6% walk rate. Still and all, if you’re a young prospect who is going to hit at a league average clip, I’d much rather it be due to home runs than due to walks, especially since Diaz has just a 17.0% strikeout rate.
Speaking of strikeouts, Christian’s season remains a funny one, as he really only seems to do 3 things: strike out, draw walks, and get extra-base knocks. The 23-year old lefty, taken in the 5th round in 2023, has 199 plate appearances this year, and has struck out 68 times (34.2% rate), walked 23 times (11.6% rate), and registered 21 extra-base hits (.220 isolated slugging). The result is an .827 OPS and a 121 wRC+, but needless to say, the strikeouts need to come down for him to have any chance of success against better pitchers.
And finally, good weekends for the middle infielders, as shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) hit 5-12 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, a stolen base, and a strikeout, pushing his High-A OPS to .798 and his wRC+ to 113, while second baseman Zander Darby went 3-11 with a home run, a double, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, moving his OPS to .744 and his wRC+ to exactly 100. Another infielder joined the home run party, as third baseman Walker Martin smashed a 3-run shot, but also hit just 2-12 with 7 strikeouts and his 20th error of the season.
Friday featured a great pitching performance, as RHP Niko Mazza showed out in his final start of the half, tossing 7 innings while allowing just 2 hits (including 1 home run), 1 walk, and 1 run, and striking out 6. What a showing!
Mazza, taken in the 8th round in 2024, has developed a hilarious reputation for ERA/FIP splits. In his debut last year, in Low-A, he sported a glorious 2.22 ERA with a 4.36 FIP. He’s back at it this year, as this start lowered his ERA to 2.50 … but with a 4.12 FIP. That FIP is high primarily because of his 5.1 walks per 9 innings, so very nice to see him issue just one free pass in 7 frames, while throwing 55 of 82 pitches for strikes. Just excellence all around. Mazza is also up to 10.6 strikeouts per 9 innings, after sitting at just 8.7 a year ago. Perhaps most impressive, however, is that he’s allowed only 44 hits in 72 innings.
As is probably evident from those stats, Mazza has some pretty exciting stuff, he just hasn’t fully harnessed it. He ended the half in style though: over his final 6 starts of the first half, the 24-year old pitched 32.1 innings and allowed just 19 hits, 10 walks, and 6 earned runs, with 35 strikeouts. Excited to see what he does in the second half.
LHP Luis De La Torre (No. 14 CPL) started on Sunday and had a game emblematic of his season: he struck out a whopping 9 batters in 5.1 innings while only allowing 3 hits, but also walked 4 and gave up 2 home runs and 4 total runs. That’s been the season for him: he’s only allowed 48 hits in 69.2 innings, and has struck out 93 … but 8 of those 48 hits have been home runs, and he’s issued a stunning 55 walks, leading to a 5.17 ERA and a 5.07 FIP. The magic is there … it just needs to be harnessed.
Not a very memorable weekend for the relievers, though RHP Cole Hillier struck out 3 in 1.1 scoreless frames, while giving up just 1 hit. A good bounceback performance after getting rocked in his previous outing.
Low-A San Jose (53-34)
Friday: San Jose Giants lost to the Visalia Rawhide 12-5 [box score] Saturday: San Jose Giants lost to the Visalia Rawhide 2-1 [box score] Sunday: San Jose Giants beat the Visalia Rawhide 12-5 [box score]
The Baby Giants saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end with a pair of losses, but bounced back to enter the break with a win. As has been the case for much of the year, San Jose showcased the long ball, with 4 different players leaving the yard. We’ll talk about that quartet, and then move to the pitchers.
Shortstop Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) hit 4-10 with a home run, a double, 4 walks, a hit by pitch, and 2 stolen bases, with 2 strikeouts. Last year’s 4th-round pick is up to a .787 OPS and a 96 wRC+, and seems to be relishing being the everyday shortstop with Level promoted (though we’ll see how long that lasts, given who is coming up behind him). He’s still striking out too much, but he’s showing good power, drawing a lot of walks, playing great defense, and has 11 stolen bases on the year.
First baseman Jerimiah Jenkins continued his power year, hitting just 3-13, but bopping both a home run and a double with a walk, albeit with 5 strikeouts. The 2024 14th-round pick has a .912 OPS, a 122 wRC+, and a .270 isolated slugging, a mark that ranks 4th out of the 90 Cal League hitters with at least 150 plate appearances this year. That’s pretty damn impressive, though the 30.8% strikeout rate remains quite concerning.
Corner outfielder Oliver Tejada, who was only recently promoted to A-ball, hit 6-12 with a 3-run home run, a double, a walk, a stolen base, and 5 strikeouts. The 19-year old has a .793 OPS and a 91 wRC+ through 10 games at the level, though he also has a 36.4% strikeout rate.
And finally, catcher Daniel Rogers went 3-9 with a home run, a double, a strikeout, and a caught stealing. After a fairly brutal 11-game stretch with High-A Eugene, Rogers has posted a .857 OPS and a 132 wRC+ in 13 games with San Jose.
Not a very exciting weekend on the mound. The best outing belonged to Saturday’s starter, LHP Ricardo Estrada, who pitched 6 strong innings while allowing just 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, 2 runs, and 1 earned run, with 3 strikeouts. Estrada, a 24-year old, has a 3.92 ERA and a 5.64 FIP on the season, with fairly uninspiring strikeout and walk numbers. He’s been so much better since moving to the rotation, though, and in his last 7 games has pitched 37.1 innings and allowed just 23 hits, 12 walks, and 8 earned runs, with 32 strikeouts.
RHP Samir Chires, a 22-year old, made his 2nd appearance since getting promoted, and allowed just a hit in 2.2 shutout innings, though he didn’t strike anyone out. The Venezuelan has been excellent in a tiny sample since his promotion. Sadly the same can’t be said for RHP Johan Rodriguez, who made his Low-A debut on Sunday and faced 5 batters … and walked 4 of them (though he struck out the 5th).
Arizona Complex League (29-21)
Friday: ACL Giants lost to the ACL Angels 4-2 [box score] Saturday: ACL Giants beat the ACL Rockies 13-9 [box score]
The big news in the ACL was that Low-A RHP Argenis Cayama (No. 13 CPL) made a rehab appearance. Cayama, who suffered a non-arm injury in late May, kicked off his rehab assignment on Friday with 1 inning of work, giving up 2 hits, a hit bitter, and a run, while striking out 2. Hopefully he’s back in San Jose’s rotation shortly after the All-Star break.
A pair of pitchers continued their rehab on Saturday, with High-A LHP Hayden Wynja allowing 2 hits and a walk in 1.2 scoreless innings, with 2 strikeouts, while AA RHP Logan Martin pitched 1.1 innings and allowed 2 hits and 1 run, with 3 strikeouts.
The best pitching performance belonged to RHP Melvin Pineda, who struck out all 3 batters he faced, while throwing 10 of 14 pitches for strikes. Pineda has some of the most extreme strikeout numbers (complimentary) and walk numbers (derogatory) that you’ll ever see. Across the ACL and Low-A, he’s faced 156 batters and only 59 of them have put the ball in play, as he’s issued a terrifying 28 walks and hit 7 batters, but struck out a staggering 62 … exactly 2 per inning. That number is even higher in the ACL, where the 22-year old has 18.9 strikeouts per 9 innings, albeit with 7.3 walks. If he can just stay in the strike zone…
RHP Kendry Castro, a 19-year old from the DR, made his stateside debut following the very rare international in-season promotion. It was a mixed-bag game, as he struck out 3 batters in 2 scoreless innings, with just 1 hit allowed, but he did walk 3 batters. Welcome to the states, Kendry!
Happy to report a nice weekend for designated hitter Rayner Arias (No. 38 CPL), who hit 2-7 with a 3-run home run, 2 hit by pitches, and 2 strikeouts. It’s been another very brutal season for the former top-10 prospect, who has just a .611 OPS and a 59 wRC+, with a lowly .176 batting average and a 31.7% strikeout rate. He still has so much talent, though, so hopefully he can put it all together.
First baseman Carlos Concepcion and catcher Santiago Camacho had fantastic Saturdays. Concepcion, a 20-year old from the DR, hit 3-4 with a home run and a walk, though he went 0-4 with a strikeout and an error on Friday. Camacho, a 19-year old from Venezuela, only played Saturday, and went 3-5 with a 2-run homer. Both players are hitting well below league average (.652 OPS, 57 wRC+ for Concepcion; .771 OPS, 86 wRC+ for Camacho), though the latter is showing some interesting flashes.
Dominican Summer League Black (15-14)
Friday: DSL Giants Black lost to the DSL Blue Jays Red 6-5 [box score] Saturday: DSL Giants Black lost to the DSL Mets Orange 10-6 [box score]
A pair of hitters and a pair of pitchers to highlight. In the batter’s box, it was shortstop Keiberg Camacaro who had the best weekend, hitting 2-6 with a double, a walk, 2 hit by pitches, 2 stolen bases, and 2 strikeouts. The 19-year old right-handed hitter, who has had an inconsistent career, is having far and away his best season in his 4th pass through the DSL, posting a .990 OPS and a 144 wRC+, while lowering his strikeout rate to 14.4% (that’s more than 10 percentage points better than last year, and less than half of what it was his debut season). After stealing 22 bases in 112 games in his 1st 3 years, Camacaro already has swiped 15 bags this year, in just 17 attempts. The other nice day belonged to first baseman/catcher Alessandro Duran, who hit 2-3 with a double and a walk on Friday, though he didn’t play Saturday. It’s been a tough 4th season for the 21-year old, so nice to see him play well.
The pitching stars were RHPs Rainiel Duran and Brayan Cabello, a pair of 22-year olds. Duran struck out 3 batters in 2 shutout innings with a hit allowed, lowering his ERA to 6.08 and his FIP to 6.32 in his 2nd season. Cabello allowed a hit in 1.2 scoreless frames, with 3 strikeouts, dipping his ERA to 1.64 and his FIP to 4.25 in his 5th DSL campaign.
Dominican Summer League Orange (19-11)
Friday: DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Red Sox Red 6-5 (7 innings) [box score] Saturday: DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Pirates Black 7-1 (7 innings) [box score]
The star in the batter’s box was first baseman Albert Jimenez, who hit 2-5 with a 3-run home run, 3 walks, and a strikeout. A right-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic, Jimenez has made huge strides this year, jumping to a 1.091 OPS and a 151 wRC+ in his 3rd DSL season, while striking out just 13.6% of the time. His 8 home runs this year are 1 off the lead in the DSL, a league that has seen nearly 900 players take at-bats. That’s impressive!
RHP Jhon Leon, a 22-year old, gave up a hit, a walk, and an unearned run in 1.2 innings, while recording all 5 outs by way of strikes. He has 21 strikeouts in 14.2 innings in his 3rd DSL season, but a lot of hits and walks have given him a 6.75 ERA and a 4.11 FIP. RHP Alexis Gallego, arguably the team’s top signing this year after Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) made his professional debut on Saturday, and the 17-year old from Mexico struck out 4 batters in 2 innings, while allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 1 unearned run. Welcome to the pros, Alexis!
Home run tracker
19 — Bo Davidson — [AA] 18 — Dakota Jordan x3 — [High-A] 17 — Lisbel Diaz x2 — [14 in High-A; 3 in Low-A] 13 — Jean Carlos Sio — [8 in AA; 4 in High-A; 1 in ACL] 13 — Jeremiah Jenkins — [Low-A] 11 — Walker Martin — [High-A] 9 — Lorenzo Meola — [Low-A] 8 — Jakob Christian x2 — [High-A] 8 — Albert Jimenez — [DSL] 7 — Zander Darby — [High-A] 6 — Jake Holton — [AAA] 4 — Daniel Rogers — [Low-A] 4 — Carlos Concepcion — [ACL] 3 — Daniel Susac — [AAA] 3 — Oliver Tejada — [2 in Low-A; 1 in ACL] 2 — Rayner Arias — [ACL] 2 — Santiago Camacho — [ACL]
Nate Isler was born in Charlottesville, Virginia but the family settled down in Milton, Georgia and the right-hander grew up there. He attended Cambridge High School and playing against fellow 2026 Mets draftee and fellow right-handed pitcher Luke McNeillie during Milton High School versus Cambridge High School rivalry games. A three-year letterwinner, he one-upped McNeillie, winning Region Pitcher of the Year in their shared senior year. There was very little buzz about his draft status over the course of his high school career, as his stuff generally was mediocre, but even if there had been, Isler may not have gone pro out of high school. The son of a Dartmouth alumnus, and an alumnus who played for the school’s baseball team, Isler was given a scholarship to play ball at the elite New Hampshire institution, where he would be coached by Bob Whalen, the long-time team head coach who coached his father back in the mid-90s.
Isler’s freshman year was nothing to write home about. Appearing in 12 games, making 5 starts, he posted a 13.50 ERA in 20.2 innings, allowing 51 hits, walking 8, and striking out 24. Following the conclusion of the season, he supplemented his pitching load by playing with the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, posting similar results in roughly the same amount of innings. His sophomore year was more of the same, though coach Whalen inserted Isler into the pitching rotation as the team’s Sunday starter. Starting 10 games, the right-hander posted a 6.67 ERA in 55.1 innings, allowing 70 hits, walking 20, and striking out 36. Once again, following the end of the Dartmouth baseball season, Isler supplemented his innings by playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, this time with the Upper Valley Nighthawks.
In 2026, interim head coach Blake McFadden continued using Isler as a starting pitcher, shifting him to Saturdays. The “ace” of the staff, the right-hander posted a 4.98 ERA in 65.0 innings over 11 starts, allowing 68 hits, walking 25, and striking out 80. After the season ended, Isler participated in the precious Cape Cod Baseball League, playing for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.
Isler came to the Dartmouth campus a tall, lanky 6’5”, 215-pound teenager with broad shoulders and long limbs and he filled in, growing into a 6’6”, 235-pound hurler. His fastball improved from a high-80s offering that topped out at 91 MPH to a low-90s offering that reportedly topped out at 96 MPH. More than velocity, Isler had success with the pitch thanks to a high spin rate that gives the ball some run and above-average induced vertical break. His above-average extension helps the ball bore in on hitters virtually even more, and his high release point makes the ball more difficult for batters to pick up on.
He complements his fastball with a low-to-mid-80s slider and a changeup. The slider is the better of the two, his changeup still a lot of work to go; the slider has tight, two-plane gyroscopic break with minimal horizontal break and a great deal of vertical break, magnified by his high release point. His changeup, on the other hand, has more horizontal fade than it does drop, and giving the pitch more vertical tumble will be key to its progression as a pitch, and perhaps Isler’s progression as a pitcher.
The right-hander pounds the zone and lives in the strike zone, for good or for bad. He keeps walks to a minimum, but batters in the Ivy League had no waiting on fat pitches to hit, batting .321/.384/.482 against him over the course of his three-year career there and .265/.340/.358 in 2026. The downward trajectory that all of his pitches possess has helped him run a 40.5% groundball rate for his career and a 45% rate in 2026 and limit home runs, but Isler will need to refine and improve his pitches and potentially add to his pitch mix to have success against professionals.
