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Draft Day Is Here: What Will the Cardinals Do at Pick 13?

2025 MLB Draft

Draft day 2026 has arrived! And it is a big one for the Cardinals. With six picks in the top 100, they are set to provide a huge shot in the arm to an already excellent farm system. Like many of you, I have been consuming an unhealthy amount of mock drafts, scouting reports, and podcasts to make sure I am fully prepared for the big day. Well, the day is here and no one really knows what the Cardinals will do. That’s OK, all part of the fun! I’m going to spend most of this article making the case for why I expect the Cardinals to shock people with their first pick and highlighting some slightly lesser-known prospects that I think they will target. Before we get to the chaos, let’s set the scene.

Details to Know

Day 1 – Rounds 1-4

Time: Saturday, July 11th at 12:00 p.m. CT

Location: Philadelphia, PA

How to watch: 

  • Picks 1-10: NBC/Peacock
  • Picks 11-40: MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+
  • Picks: 41-135: MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+

Day 2 – Rounds 5-20

Time: Sunday, July 12th at 10:30 a.m. CT

How to watch:

  • MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+

Cardinal Considerations

Bonus Pool: $16,612,300 (6th largest)

Day 1 Picks:

  • Pick 13: $5,661,300
  • Pick 32: $3,044,600
  • Pick 50: $1,982,700
  • Pick 68: $1,285,500
  • Pick 72: $1,174,300
  • Pick 86: $943,600
  • Pick 114: $684,300

That is a lot of talent that will be on the way to joining the organization by days end! The industry consensus is that they will target bats early in the draft. They have also been linked to some of the highest-upside and toolsy players in the class.

Today, I want to quickly walk through the “expected” scenario for how the top of the draft will play out and what the Cardinals are projected to do with the 13th overall pick. The 2026 draft class is seen as extremely deep, particularly with the high school class, but there is less differentiation at the top outside of the top three players. 

What are the Cardinals expected to do at pick 13? 

Alright, twelve teams pick before the Cardinals. The consensus options at the top of the draft can be loosely grouped into four tiers.

Tier 1

At this point, it would be a surprise if Roch Cholowsky (Shortstop, UCLA), Grady Emerson (SS, Fort Worth Christian HS), and Vahn Lackey (C, Georgia Tech) were not picked in some combination at the top three spots; none of them will drop to the Cardinals. I suppose the only intrigue would be one of them falling out of the top three picks and creating a more chaotic domino effect that catches teams off guard.

Tier 2

Eric Booth (OF, Oak Grove HS), Jacob Lombard (Gulliver Prep HS), and Jackson Flora (RHP, UC Santa Barbara) are generally considered to be the next tier of players available. It would be a huge surprise if any of these players fell all the way to pick 13. 

Tier 3

Drew Burress (OF, Georgia Tech), Tyler Bell (SS, Kentucky), Ryder Helfrick (C, Arkansas), and Derek Curiel (OF, LSU) arguably make up the final distinct tier of players that are most often mocked ahead of the Cardinals.

Tier 4

I think it is entirely possible that one of the players in the top three tiers slides to the 13th pick, but if they don’t things are wide open. The top college hitters on the board would be Justin Lebron (SS, Alabama), Chris Hacopian (2B, Texas A&M), Ace Reese (3B, Mississippi St.), and AJ Gracia (OF, Virginia). 

On the college pitching side, Cameron Flukey (RHP, Coastal Carolina), Hunter Dietz (LHP, Arkansas), Liam Peterson (RHP, Florida), Tegan Kuhns (RHP, Tennessee), and Mason Edwards (LHP, USC) are all first-round candidates that the Cardinals could be considering. 

If the Cardinals are set on a high school hitter, Trevor Condon (Etowah HS), and Jared Grindlinger (OF/LHP, Huntington Beach) are the two players most often being mocked to the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are not going to take a high school pitcher with their first pick, but for the sake of completeness, Gio Rojas (LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS), Logan Schmidt (RHP, Ganesha HS), and Coleman Borthwick (RHP, South Walton HS) are all potential first-rounders. 

Why the Cardinals Might go Off Script

OK, so I trust the Cardinals front office. If one of the above players is the pick at 13, I won’t be upset. BUT, I really think they will go a different direction than the consensus with their first pick. If you are picking at the top of the draft, sure, you take the best player available. This is what the Cardinals have done the last two years with Wetherholt and Doyle. When you get toward the middle of the first round, there are essentially no “sure things,” so there is more incentive to take risks. This dynamic is even more true for the Cardinals this season because this is a deep draft and they have a bevy of extra picks to deploy. They can take a risk-maxing approach because they don’t have to hit on every pick. They need to maximize their chances of finding a superstar.

Just to illustrate my point about the 13th pick not being a sure thing, I pulled in all players drafted between picks 11-15 in the history of the draft, as well as their associated bWAR. About 2% of players picked in this range turn in Hall of Fame-caliber careers (Max Scherzer, Manny Ramirez, Chase Utley, Chris Sale). A 90th percentile outcome is a 20 WAR career. Think Matt Morris, who was picked 12th overall in 1995. Obviously, we would all take that, but we are talking about a one-in-ten chance. An 80th percentile outcome takes us down to players like Khalil Greene and Hunter Renfroe. The median, or 50th percentile, outcome? Zero career WAR. Less than half the players picked between 11-15 have had any impact at the major league level. 

All of that is not to diminish the value of the pick, but just to illustrate that even getting a starting-caliber player out of this slot is a huge win.

What would a Risk-On draft look like? 

So, if the Cardinals embrace chaos and swing for the metaphorical fences, what might that look like and which players might they target? 

We have some good reference points to triangulate what Chaim Bloom and Randy Flores will be targeting in the draft. Looking at Randy Flores’ track record running things, the way the Red Sox ran their drafts when Bloom was in charge, and the types of players the Cardinals have targeted since Bloom arrived (both before and after his official POBA elevation), we can use some deductive reasoning to identify players they will and will not target. 

Don’t be surprised if…

The Cardinals do not go after premium high school pitchers

Under Flores, the Cardinals have had 32 picks in the top 100 and have drafted a high school pitcher one time, Tink Hence in 2020. Chaim Bloom drafted zero high school pitchers in the first 100 picks while with the Red Sox and one overall. I know it is supposed to be a banner year for high school pitchers, but I will be shocked if the Cardinals take a high school pitcher within their first six picks. 

The Cardinals go under-slot at pick 13

In three of the four Chaim Bloom-led drafts with the Red Sox, players were signed well below slot. Twice, the Sox came completely out of left field to draft players ranked well out of the first-round range. The only time Bloom played it straight was when the Red Sox had the fourth overall pick and selected Marcelo Mayer. 

The Cardinals go after multiple high school power bats

Again, referring back to Chaim’s Boston days, the Red Sox had 11 top 100 picks and used eight of them on high school position players. That is 72% of total picks used on this specific demographic when the rest of the league selected this demographic 21% of the time. 

The pattern was consistent, the Red Sox used their top selection on a polished high schooler with a relatively high floor (Marcelo Mayer, Nick Yorke, and Mikey Romero), and then turned their attention to high volatility riskier picks further down in the draft. The archetype of the players that were targeted was fairly consistent: Big-time power, strike-zone judgment or the ability to recognize spin, some swing-and-miss concerns, and little attention paid to defensive value. 

I would argue that Ryan Mitchell, the Cardinals’ second-round pick last season, reinforces Bloom’s preference for zone discipline. The Cardinals didn’t have the picks and budget last year to pick multiple high schoolers, so they chose to go with a relatively lower risk prospect in Mitchell. 

The Cardinals continue to focus on college pitchers with big fastballs

This prediction is pretty obvious and won’t be controversial. Last season, the Cardinals took two of the best fastballs in the draft in Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin. Without a chance to go after a pitcher of Doyle’s caliber, I would expect the first ten rounds to be full of big fastball college pitchers. 

In my opinion, the Cardinals’ central focus for the draft will be prep bats. There are a ton of options out there, but to narrow it down, I focused on players that have great power potential, control the strike zone, and have some projectability remaining. I think traits that are relatively de-emphasized in the high school profile Bloom prefers are pure hitting ability, contact, defense, and speed. Obviously, everyone prefers that a player have all of these tools, but if there are some you think are easier to develop or harder to project, you would certainly weight those a bit lower. 

Here is the list of top-100 range prospects that I think most closely fit their target profile. 

High School Bats to Watch

Bo Lowrance, 3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS

MLB Pipeline Rank: 21

Why he might be a fit: Power and projectability 

Lowrance is listed at 6’5” and 205 pounds and still has a ton of room to fill out. He has the power and projectability that the Cardinals crave as one of the highest-upside players in the draft. The thing that sets Lowrance apart from some of the other power-hitting prepsters is his solid hit tool. He has good control of the strike zone and makes enough contact to project as an average hit tool. Due to his size, he is expected to end up at a corner infield or outfield position.

Lowrance was ranked in the 30s and 40s most of the year, but has been climbing as the draft approaches. FanGraphs ranks him as the seventh best player in the class and multiple mocks have him tied to the Padres at 21, so the Cardinals may have to use their first pick on him if he is their top target. 

James Clark, SS, St. John Bosco HS (CA)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 39

Why he might be a fit: Control the zone

Clark is seen as one of the best pure hitters in the high school class.  He has great command of the strike zone and a good feel for barreling up the baseball. He is not a guarantee to stick at short, but is a good athlete and still has projection remaining. His profile overall comes off as a little boring, but he strikes me as someone that could fit as an under-slot option at 13 or even 32.

Connor Comeau, SS, L.C. Anderson HS (TX)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 55

Why he might be a fit: Zone control, projectability 

Comeau is young for his class as he does not turn 18 until August. At 6’4” and 180 pounds, there is some power projection, but he already has one of the best plate approaches in the draft. He has a gorgeous left-handed swing that looks effortless but has still produced an excellent max exit velocity of around 110 MPH. Comeau is not expected to stick at shortstop, but he is considered a good athlete that should be able to stay on the infield. The Cardinals have long had a preference for players that were young for their class. Despite not having the present power of some of his classmates, the combination of offensive polish and projectability could make Comeau a perfect under-slot option at 13. 

Landon Thome, SS, Nazareth Academy HS (IL)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 34

Why he might be a fit: Power 

Yes, Landon is the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome. Landon has an above-average hit tool to go along with above-average raw power. He is not a lock to stick at shortstop, but he has solid tools across the board. Pretty much every scouting report mentions how fast his hands are and how well he gets to his pull-side power. He has had some issues with swing and miss, but if the Cardinals believe in his power, this might not be a deal breaker. The Cardinals could surely go under-slot if they took Thome at 13, or try to float him to one of their later picks with an over-slot bonus. 

Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic HS (CA)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 63

Why he might be a fit: Power and projectability 

Bowen is a former football player with massive raw power as evidenced by his 113.8 MPH max EV at the MLB draft combine. Standing from the right side of the plate, he already has the look of a hulking slugger. Despite a 6’3”, 215 pound frame, Bowen also has above-average speed and a chance to stick in center field. His hit tool, both in terms of swing decisions and contact, is not as advanced, so he is an extremely risky profile. Still, this is the exact type of high-upside hitter I would expect the Cardinals to take a shot or two at. He is ranked in the 60 to 70 range by most outlets, so if the Cardinals do like him, they should have multiple opportunities to pick him. 

Kevin Roberts, OF, Jackson Prep HS (MS)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 136

Why he might be a fit: Power and projectability 

Roberts is ranked a little further down the board, but he has some of the best tools in the class with plus power and speed. He is listed at 6’5” and 220 pounds and looks like he could fill out even more. He has touched 94 off the mound, so he could profile as a right fielder if he does not stick in center. As a final bonus, he is one of the younger players in the draft class as he does not turn 18 until the end of July. 

The knock on Roberts is that he is incredibly raw and may not hit enough to leverage his otherwise brilliant tools. He is from the same high school as Konnor Griffin, so I thought it would be interesting to compare their strikeout rates. Griffin struck out 6% of the time his senior season while popping nine home runs. Roberts struck out in 17% of his plate appearances while hitting ten home runs. 

It might be a stretch to include Roberts in potential Cardinals targets, but his profile is interesting enough that I thought he was worth mentioning. 

Martin Shelar, OF, Marist School (GA)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 175

Why he might be a fit: Power

Martin Shelar, not to be confused with Martin Shkreli, has arguably the best raw power among high schoolers in the draft. The right-handed batter blasted 19 home runs this spring and topped out at 115.5 MPH max exit velocity at the combine. To go with the prodigious power, Shelar has above-average speed and arm strength to project as a good outfield defender. So why does he rank outside the top 100 on most draft boards? Shelar deploys a violent uppercut swing that some scouts worry will not translate to pro ball. Despite the swing, Shelar has not yet struggled to make contact at the high school level. If you believe in the hit tool and contact ability at all, Shelar could land much higher in the draft than currently projected. 

I won’t go as deep on the pitching side, but I do want to highlight a handful of the best fastballs in the draft that are not expected to go in the first round. The Cardinals have not been shy about targeting top-tier fastballs, even if there is a high degree of relief risk or injury history. 

Hunting Fastballs

Cal Randall, RHP, UCLA (CA)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 218

Randall is like an extreme version of Tanner Franklin. He has worked exclusively out of the bullpen in his three years at UCLA and was second in the nation in strikeout percentage at 44.2%. He racked up these strikeouts by throwing one of the best fastballs in the nation 89% of the time. That is just absurd. Getting that much swing and miss when every batter knows what is coming is just hard to believe. Randall works his riding, high spin fastball in the upper 90s while topping out over 100 MPH. The pitch is delivered from a low release point with induced vertical break that has been over 20 inches at times. 

As you probably have guessed, he struggles with control, walking over five per nine each year of his career, and does not have any secondaries that grade out even close to average. At 6’4” and 235 pounds, he has a starter’s build. If the Cardinals, or any team, think they can teach him control and a secondary pitch, he could be a high priority target. 

Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas (AR)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 88

If Randall is too safe and boring for you, Wiggins ups the ante even further. He has thrown a total of 14 college innings at Arkansas before an elbow injury and internal brace surgery wiped out the rest of his 2025 season and all of 2026. Despite the obvious warts, Wiggins has one of the best fastballs in the class. He was up to 99 MPH as a high school senior and hit 102 in his brief cameo at Arkansas. MLB pipeline slapped an 80 grade on the pitch. Wiggins was able to get back and throwing for the combine and topped out at 97. Coming out of high school, Wiggins’ slider graded out as above average, but he dealt with spotty command.

Eric Nachtsheim, RHP, McNeese State (LA)

MLB Pipeline Rank: 213

Nachtsheim’s fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s while topping out at 97 MPH. The fastball velocity is solid, but it is the shape that makes it one of the top pitches in the draft. He cuts and rides the pitch to generate a very unique movement profile that he leaned on to strike out 125 batters in just 85 innings at McNeese State. Nachtsheim started eight games this spring, after pitching in relief for most of the last two years. None of his secondaries are even average, but he does have a slider, curveball, and changeup. Beyond the excellent fastball, another reason to keep an eye on Nachtsheim is that he is one of the top college seniors in the draft. If the Cardinals really like his fastball and/or need to go under-slot on an early pick, he could be an excellent choice.

Prediction Time!

Alright, so if I am going to be wrong in my prediction, I might as well get super specific. 

I think the Cardinals are going to prioritize and target both Blake Bowen and Martin Shelar on the hitter side between picks 50 and 86. This would give the Cardinals two of the highest-ceiling power bats in the draft and give them multiple shots on goal for a middle-of-the-order hitter. 

We are committed now, so we might as well keep shooting for the moon and we need to take a shot at an elite arm. Carson Wiggins is our guy. He gives the Cardinals a Doyle/Franklin tier fastball without having to use a top pick. Sure he has an insanely risky profile, but the Cardinals essentially paid the Red Sox $20M for Brandon Clarke last offseason, so don’t put it past them!

Wiggins is a draft-eligible sophomore and Bowen and Shelar will require big signing bonuses as high schoolers, so this is going to be expensive… The best route is to take an under-slot college player at 13 to save some money, right? WRONG! We still need one more prep bat on Day 1. We can knock out both the savings and the prep bat objective with…

Pick 13: Connor Comeau, SS, L. C. Anderson HS (TX)

The Cardinals will turn to a high floor and under-slot prep bat. Comeau is the best of both worlds with a relatively polished profile, but also a ton of projection left. With more of a second-round projection, I would think he could be signed for close to the maximum 25% discount and give the Cardinals an additional $1.4M to take a real risk later on. 

So, at this point, we are looking at something like:

Pick 13: Connor Comeau, SS, L. C. Anderson HS (TX)

Pick 32: $3,044,600

Pick 50: Blake Bowen, OF, JSerra Catholic HS (CA)

Pick 68: $1,285,500

Pick 72: Martin Shelar, OF, Marist School (GA)

Pick 86: Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas (AR)

Pick 114: $684,300

From here, you still have three top picks to fill in with your favorite college bat or college arm to do a little derisking at picks 32, 68, and 114. 

There you have it! I hope everyone has a solid six hours carved out today to follow the draft and celebrate the next iterations of Cardinals prospects to dream on. Go Cards! 

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2026 MLB Draft Tracker: Which of FSU’s players and recruits were selected, and who signed?

The 2026 MLB Draft is here, and a year after Florida State set a program record with 11 players selected in the 2025 Draft, head coach Link Jarrett and his staff could see similar figures this year.

FSU’s draft class will be headlined by its best players from a season ago, ACC Pitcher of the Year Wes Mendes and 1B Myles Bailey. The Seminoles should also see the rest of their rotation picked, LHP Trey Beard and RHP Bryson Moore, along with RHP John Abraham.

Jarrett will also be monitoring which of his high school prospects are selected in the MLB Draft, headlined by MIF Landon Thome, who MLB.com ranks as the 34th-best prospect in this year’s class.

As always, players do not have to sign when they are drafted and can elect to go/return to school. This year’s signing deadline is Monday, July 27. That will be a critical day with Bailey potentially declaring to go pro or come back to FSU for his third season with the program.

The MLB Draft is a two-day event, with rounds 1-4 beginning on Saturday and rounds 5-20 starting on Sunday. Below, stick with Tomahawk Nation for updates on selections and who has signed.

2026 MLB Draft: Florida State draft-eligible players

Listed in alphabetical order

Out of college eligibility

  • 1B/RHP Ben Barrett
  • C Nathan Cmeyla
  • OF Clancy Marsh
  • INF Carter McCulley
  • RHP Gabe Nard
  • INF Eli Putnam

Currently on team

  • RHP John Abraham
  • 1B Myles Bailey
  • LHP Trey Beard
  • OF Brody DeLamielleure
  • OF Brayden Dowd
  • INF Jace Estes
  • INF Cal Fisher
  • C Kaden Frommelt
  • RHP Chris Knier
  • LHP Payton Manca
  • LHP Jacob Marlowe
  • LHP Kevin Mebil
  • RHP Brodie Purcell
  • RHP Cole Stokes
  • LHP Cooper Whited

Incoming players

  • INF Deacon Avery (HS)
  • INF Gavin Byrd (HS)
  • C Coy Clements (JUCO)
  • RHP Emery Dawkins (JUCO)
  • RHP Brayden Harris (HS)
  • INF/RHP Ben Kuglitsch (HS)
  • LHP Spencer Krasner (HS)
  • 1B/LHP Jackson McKenzie (Portal)
  • RHP Jordan Martinez (JUCO)
  • C Marvin Montenegro (JUCO)
  • LHP OB Osceola (HS)
  • OF Isaac Pamaran (JUCO)
  • RHP Alex Philpott (Portal)
  • CIF Yodelkis Quevedo (HS)
  • RHP Donovan Thiery (HS)
  • INF Landon Thome (HS)
  • OF Genson Veras (HS)

2026 MLB Draft: Florida State players, prospects selected

Bolded players have signed

2026 MLB Draft: Schedule

Day 1: Saturday, July 11 (Rounds 1-4)
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET: Preview show + Picks 1-10 (NBC/Peacock)
• 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET: Picks 11-40 (MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
• 4:30-7:45 p.m. ET: Picks 41-135 (MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)

Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20)
• 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)

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Saturday Rockpile: Victor Vodnik is finding outs without finding the strike zone

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 14, 2026: Victor Vodnik #38 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Victor Vodnik’s season does not make immediate sense.

He still averages 98.5 mph with his four-seam fastball. He produces ground balls at one of the highest rates in baseball. His slider has become a legitimate weapon, and hitters have not spent the year driving everything he throws into the gaps.

Yet through July 9, Vodnik owns a 5.72 ERA in 28.1 innings. He has allowed 31 hits and issued a staggering 19 walks, leaving him with almost as many free passes as strikeouts.

The obvious story is that Vodnik has struggled.

The more useful one is that the shape of those struggles has changed. His recent improvement looks less like a complete fix than a pitcher finding better ways to survive the problems that remain.

Elite velocity, ordinary fastball results

Vodnik’s four-seamer supplies the first contradiction.

Its average velocity ranks in the 96th percentile, but the pitch has generated only a 20.4% whiff rate and a 15.2% strikeout rate. Hitters are batting .333 against it, although a .251 expected average and .386 expected slugging percentage suggest the actual results have been somewhat harsher than the quality of contact.

The movement profile helps explain why velocity alone has not been enough.

Vodnik’s fastball has 12.6 inches of induced vertical break, 3.2 inches below the average of comparable four-seamers. It also has less arm-side movement than similar pitches. This is not a fastball combining elite speed with elite carry.

It has elite speed, but ordinary shape.

That puts more pressure on location and sequencing. When Vodnik commands it, the velocity can still overwhelm hitters. When he does not, they have generally been able to put it in play.

The slider has become the foundation

The best development in Vodnik’s season is the slider.

He has increased its usage from 12.8% in 2025 to 26.9% this year, and hitters have managed a .174 average and .217 slugging percentage against it. The pitch has produced a 36.2% whiff rate, a .179 expected average and a .214 expected slugging percentage.

It is also his only positive pitch by run value.

Vodnik’s slider is not a wide sweeper. At 88.5 mph, it has only 2.3 inches of glove-side movement, less than comparable sliders. Its defining feature is depth: it drops nearly five inches more than similar pitches.

The shape remains compact before falling late beneath the barrel.

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This is not an entirely new pitch. Its spin direction, active-spin rate and overall movement were similar last season. It is about one mph harder, but the larger change is trust.

Vodnik has more than doubled its usage and increasingly allowed the slider to organize the at-bat.

That has been especially visible lately. On July 2 against the Miami Marlins, he threw seven sliders and five fastballs, using the breaking ball to generate three harmless balls in play. On July 5 against the San Francisco Giants, he threw the slider 40% of the time and used it for both strikeouts.

Four days later, the fastball produced all three of his strikeouts.

Those are different routes through an inning, which is encouraging for a pitcher who spent much of the first half without a dependable one.

The pitch Vodnik lost

The slider’s emergence has been necessary because Vodnik’s changeup has moved in the opposite direction.

Even across uneven and sometimes limited big-league samples, the changeup had been his most dependable offering. It produced positive run value in each of his first three seasons: +1 in 2023, +5 in 2024 and +4 last year.

In 2025, hitters batted .109 and slugged .130 against it while missing on 44.2% of their swings.

This season, the changeup has fallen to minus-two runs. Hitters are batting .250 and slugging .550 against it, and its whiff rate has dropped to 25.6%.

Vodnik has allowed only three home runs all year. Two have come against the changeup, despite the pitch representing just 17% of his usage.

The pitch itself has been gradually changing.

In 2023, Vodnik’s changeup averaged 88.9 mph with 34.6 inches of total drop. It now averages 92.5 mph and drops 28.5 inches. The velocity gap from his four-seamer has narrowed from 8.2 mph to six.

For the first time in his career, the changeup produces less drop than comparable pitches while generating more arm-side run. In his first three seasons, that relationship was reversed.

The pitch has not lost movement. It has redirected it.

It is harder, runnier and less depth-oriented. The changeup may still follow the fastball convincingly out of Vodnik’s hand, but it no longer creates the same late downward separation.

The contact supports the concern. Average exit velocity against it has increased from 84.1 mph to 91.3, while average launch angle has jumped from minus-15 degrees to 14.

Hitters are no longer rolling it over. They are lifting it.

Owen Caissie drove a 93.8 mph changeup 394 feet on March 29.

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Then on June 29, Griffin Conine hit a flat, elevated version 433 feet at 110.1 mph.

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The misses were not identical. One was extremely firm and centered. The other stayed high and never got beneath the barrel.

Both remained on hittable planes.

The walks explain the innings

The changeup is part of Vodnik’s regression, but it does not explain every poor outing.

He did not throw a changeup during his five-run appearance against the San Diego Padres on April 23. The Padres still put four balls in play, collected four hits and hit three of them hard.

More broadly, Vodnik has not allowed much extra-base damage. Among his 31 hits are six doubles, no triples and three home runs.

The better explanation is 19 walks.

On May 12 in Pittsburgh against the Pirates, Vodnik allowed three singles and a walk while recording two outs. None of the hits went for extra bases, but the inning became crowded, a run scored and he left with the bases loaded.

Six days later against the Texas Rangers, a leadoff double was followed by consecutive walks. Vodnik departed without recording an out, and all three runners eventually scored.

The expected metrics soften his 5.72 ERA, but they do not erase the underlying problem. Vodnik owns a 4.46 xERA and a solid 36% hard-hit rate, but his 5.03 xFIP remains poor.

Major-league pitchers are striking out roughly 22.0% of hitters and walking about 8.9%, a difference of 13.1 percentage points. Vodnik sits at 16.8% and 14.5%, a gap of only 2.3 percentage points.

Ground balls can clean up some traffic. They cannot be expected to clean up all of it.

Surviving the walks

Vodnik’s recent improvement has come since returning from the 15-day injured list on June 15. He had missed nearly a month with right ulnar nerve inflammation and made two scoreless rehab appearances with Triple-A Albuquerque before rejoining the Rockies.

Over his last seven appearances, Vodnik has allowed one earned run on five hits in 9 2/3 innings, good for a 0.93 ERA and 0.93 WHIP.

The walks have not disappeared. He has issued four during that stretch, but he has also struck out six and avoided the clustered contact that buried several of his earlier outings.

On June 22, he opened consecutive innings with walks. The first was erased by a double play. After the second, Vodnik retired three straight hitters on a groundout, flyout and groundout.

On July 5, a two-out walk was followed by a groundout. On July 9, another two-out walk was followed by a strikeout.

That final appearance was his most encouraging. Vodnik struck out three hitters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, generating four whiffs on 10 fastball swings. For one outing, nearly 99 mph produced the results its velocity promises.

He still needed 34 pitches to record five outs and issued another walk.

That is the difference between stabilization and restoration.

Vodnik is finishing innings better without consistently starting them better. He has limited the multi-run damage, leaned into the slider and occasionally found enough fastball command to create his own exits.

The walk remains waiting for the next single.

A full recovery would require more strikes, fewer free passes and either a restored changeup or a clearer fastball-slider identity that does not depend on it.

For now, Vodnik has found better ways through innings.

He has not yet made them safe.

On the Farm

Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys 10, Albuquerque Isotopes 0

The Isotopes fell to 46-45 after being routed 10-0 by the Space Cowboys, who improved to 43-47.

Sugar Land scored all 10 runs in the first three innings, putting up three in the first, four in the second and three in the third. Mason Green, whose ERA rose to 6.02, allowed seven runs over two innings. Eiberson Castellano gave up three runs over four innings and now carries a 4.15 ERA.

Albuquerque managed only four hits, went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times. Charlie Condon supplied the lone offensive bright spot, going 2-for-4 to raise his average to .289 with a .998 OPS. Victor Juarez finished with two scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 17.05.

Double-A:Hartford Yard Goats 7, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2

Hartford took control early and never gave Binghamton much room to recover, scoring seven runs between the second and fifth innings on the way to a 7-2 win.

Jack O’Dowd reached three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Across his first 10 Double-A games, he is hitting .275 with a .912 OPS. Roc Riggio went 1-for-2 with three walks, three runs, two stolen bases and his 21st double, raising his season line to a .256 average and .867 OPS.

Braylen Wimmer led the offense with three hits and two RBI, while Andy Perez also drove in two runs.

On the mound, Jack Mahoney allowed two runs, only one earned, on four hits over 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine and walking one. He improved to 5-1 with a 1.98 ERA.

Hartford improved to 46-38, while Binghamton fell to 31-54. The Yard Goats finished with nine hits, drew seven walks, stole four bases and went 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

High-A:Eugene Emeralds 9, Spokane Indians 4

Eugene buried Spokane with a six-run first inning and never gave up control, handing the Indians a 9-4 loss.

Ethan Hedges provided the main offensive highlight for Spokane, going 2-for-4 with his ninth home run and two RBI. He is now hitting .272 with a .763 OPS. Kelvin Hidalgo also had two hits, including his 11th double, and drove in a run.

The Indians managed only five hits and went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Lebarron Johnson Jr. allowed seven runs, six earned, on nine hits over three innings and fell to 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA.

Eugene finished with 14 hits and went 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Dakota Jordan led the way with four hits, three home runs and four RBI.

Single-A:Fresno Grizzlies 9, Stockton Ports 2

The Grizzlies improved to 46-39 with a 9-2 win over the Ports, who fell to 37-48.

Fresno jumped ahead with three runs in the first inning and added four more across the final two frames. Wilder Dalis led the offense, going 3-for-4 with his seventh home run, his 14th double, five RBI and two runs scored. He is now hitting .278 with an .862 OPS.

Cameron Nelson also homered, his sixth of the season, while Luis Mendez added his second.

Brady Parker allowed two runs on three hits over six innings, striking out eight and walking four. He improved to 5-3 with a 4.52 ERA.

Fresno finished with seven hits, drew seven walks and struck out nine times. Stockton managed seven hits but went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and struck out 14 times.

Rockies Should Target Tyler Bell as a Long-Term Fit at No. 10 | SI.com

In some draft-day reading, Sports Illustrated’s Wesley Dixon makes the case for Tyler Bell at No. 10, citing his polished approach, switch-hitting bat and defensive flexibility. Dixon views Bell as a natural second-base fit who could grow alongside Hunter Goodman, Ethan Holliday, Charlie Condon and Zac Veen.

MLB Pipeline’s final mock draft predictions! | MLB.com

In MLB Pipeline’s final mock draft, Jonathan Mayo sends Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia to the Rockies at No. 10, while Jim Callis projects Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell. Both expect Roch Cholowsky to go first overall, with the top four likely falling Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, Vahn Lackey and Jackson Flora before the draft becomes far less predictable.

Rockies Reacts Survey: The 2026 MLB Draft is on Saturday! | purplerow.com

Purple Row also asked readers who they thought the Rockies would take with the No. 10 pick. The poll is now closed, but the comments are full of draft-day predictions, preferred targets and plenty of debate over what Colorado’s new front office should prioritize.

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Chicago Cubs news — PCA, Suzuki, Peterson, Rea

Today’s Reflections

Yawn, just another PCA milestone. Seems like they’re coming every week now.

The only “problem” with PCA’s 20/20 accomplishment is that it somewhat overshadowed Seiya Suzuki’s two games. Wednesday, his three-run home run proved to be the deciding runs in the Cubs’ win. Suzuki couldn’t do it all Thursday, but he tried with a solo homer to tie the game and an RBI-double to take a 2-1 lead before the bullpen blew the game.

Pitchers Colin Rea and David Peterson did their job — kept the Cubs in the game by allowing four runs in 10 1/3 innings (3.60 ERA). Meanwhile, the bullpen tried to lose Wednesday’s game, and succeeded on Thursday.

Looking forward to what new mark that PCA will set or match next. (yawn)

*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.

Thursday’s Game Stories:

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Wednesday’s Game Stories:

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PCA-Mania Continues!

Trade, Injury and Draft Talk:

Assorted Stories:

Food For Thought:

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (nee’ Pridgett; April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939) was an American blues singer and influential early-blues recording artist. Dubbed the “Mother of the Blues”, she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers. Rainey was known for her powerful vocal abilities, energetic disposition, majestic phrasing, and a “moaning” style of singing. Her qualities are present and most evident in her early recordings “Bo-Weevil Blues” and “Moonshine Blues”.

Gertrude Pridgett began performing as a teenager and became known as “Ma” Rainey after her marriage to Will “Pa” Rainey in 1904. They toured with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and later formed their own group, Rainey and Rainey, Assassinators of the Blues. Her first recording was made in 1923. In the following five years, she made over 100 recordings. Touring until 1935, she then largely retired from performing and continued as a theater impresario in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia, until her death four years later.“

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.

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Saturday BP: How to watch Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft

The graphic of Gavin Kilen being selected at the 2025 MLB Draft
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Gavin Kilen as the thirteenth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants during the 2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Coca-Cola Roxy on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

If you like any and all things involving San Francisco Giants baseball, then my goodness is today a good day for you. The Giants play at 1:05 p.m. PT this afternoon, and all seven of their Minor League Baseball affiliates are in action throughout the day.

But the big event? The first day of the 2026 MLB Draft. The draft is split into two days now (as opposed to three in recent years), with the first 10 rounds on Saturday and the next 10 rounds on Sunday. For the first time in a long time, the Giants haven’t sacrificed any picks … in fact, they’ve added picks (a very rare thing in MLB, since only a few picks can be traded), as they picked up a Competitive Balance Round A selection in the Patrick Bailey trade.

That means the Giants have 11 picks today: No. 4, No. 29, No. 55, and the 15th pick in Rounds 3-10. It should be an exciting day! So join us here to enjoy all the action … I’ll have newsers for the various draft picks, but we can talk the day’s action here.

How to watch Day 1 of the draft

What: 2026 MLB Draft, Day 1, rounds 1-10

Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When: 10:00 a.m. PT – 4:45 p.m. PT

TV: NBC/Peacock (10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PT, picks 1-10); MLB Network/MLB.TV/MLB.com/MLB+ (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT, picks 11-40); MLB.TV/MLB.com/MLB+ (1:30 – 4:45 p.m. PT, picks 41-135)

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Center position a lingering question for Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 27: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice against the St. Louis Blues at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 27, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The subject was broached here earlier in the week, but let’s take another look at the 32 Thoughts lingering question of the offseason for the Penguins.

Via Sportsnet:

Pittsburgh Penguins: Can they add a centre before next season?

GM Kyle Dubas has had a tricky job to balance between an aging core that wants to compete with a clear need to bring in some youth and prepare for the next era, whenever it arrives. He’s done pretty well in acquiring some early-to-mid-20s players, with Yegor Chinakhov the shining example last season. The front office will continue looking for those types of players, or to make a big play for someone. They certainly were in conversations with Dallas about trading for Jason Robertson.

One area of the roster we could identify as a need to improve on is down the middle. Evgeni Malkin is a winger now, and while Ben Kindel was a great and surprising story in his rookie year, ideally the Penguins would have another productive veteran to take top-six centre minutes. Centres can be hard to come by, but there have been a few available this off-season. In terms of identifying one available centre who isn’t too old, has a depressed value, but still holds upside: what about Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson?

“Look he’s got to play better in that $11.6 million everyone’s been talking about, but again, the ground has shifted here in a huge way,” Friedman said of Pettersson. “I’ve sat there and I’ve said ‘where could he go that could be good for him?’ I wonder if the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin might be good for him.”

It’s always interesting to see a national-level perspective from an informed source, but at surface level there’s some specifics to address.

Would the Penguins be better off by adding a solid center? Sure. Is it a dire need? I’m not as convinced.

Between Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte the top and bottom of the lineup is good. Lizotte is a player who takes a regular shift and plays a lot for a ‘fourth’ liner, Crosby is still leaned on heavily and that alone takes some pressure off the rest of the lineup.

From there, the Pens have numbers to throw at the rest off the issue. Ben Kindel will be in the mix and the other spot can be handled by some combination in rotation of Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell and perhaps occasionally Evgeni Malkin. Hendrix Lapierre is another player with NHL center experience, though he may or may not be an option moving forward in that spot. If placed in a tough spot due to injuries, Connor Dewar has shown to be a capable fourth line center option in the recent past.

Talk of Elias Pettersson is understandable enough, he’s right in the target demo for what Dubas was looking for as a players in his mid-to-late 20s that has control over where he can be traded. However, there’s no indication that Pettersson is interested in uprooting to an Eastern team, let alone a place like Pittsburgh. He’s also underperforming to his large $11.6 million cap hit. The Canucks surely aren’t going to give up one of their best players for nothing. That’s a lot of hurdles for multiple sides to have to overcome to make a match.

It’s a change, and a jarring one at that, to see the Penguins no longer be so stocked down the middle when over the last 20 years they’ve had players like prime Crosby and Malkin paired with a rotation of others like Jordan Staal, Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen to make the center spot the envy of the league over much of the last two decades. Those days may be over but the extreme urge to boost the spot isn’t exactly there either.

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What will Devlin bring to Rangers?

Cammy Devlin
[SNS]

Sections of the Rangers support have long called on the club to recruit the Scottish Premiership's best talent, and the Ibrox hierarchy appear to be acting on that this summer.

Both Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin were among Hearts' standout players as they came within minutes of a historic Scottish top-flight triumph.

The Ibrox club have signed both without needing to pay a transfer fee and have also plucked manager Derek McInnes from Tynecastle.

"Cammy is obviously a player I know, and I am well aware of what he will offer to Rangers," McInnes said.

"His levels of consistency for me were superb, and he is the type of player that every manager wants in his team."

Devlin made the most tackles per 90 minutes in the Premiership last season, and among midfielders he ranked second for interceptions, second for defensive contributions and third for recoveries.

Some Rangers fans have expressed concerns about his work on the ball while playing for a team that will dominate possession in most domestic games.

But there were only four Premiership midfielders who completed more accurate passes per 90 minutes than Devlin last season. One of those was Rangers' Nicolas Raskin.

"He is someone who knows the Scottish league, and nothing will surprise him with what lies ahead," manager McInnes added.

"I am looking forward to welcoming Cammy to Rangers and working with him again after he returns from his holiday."

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Can the Red Sox really field a functioning lineup for a surprise playoff run?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 09: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Romy Gonzalez #23 after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at Rate Field on July 09, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 Boston Red Sox are somehow just 1.5 games out of a playoff spot entering the final two games before the All-Star break. Just three teams sit ahead of them in between the final wild card spot with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Houston Astros and the Minnesota Twins. 

That field has shrunk in recent weeks, making the idea of the Red Sox leapfrogging them a more realistic possibility. As we wrote about a few months ago, the American League is bad. It’s been bad before, but this year is in a realm of its own. 

Boston is not good, but the team still could find a way to October this year. Isn’t that crazy? Because they’re really not a contender and should still sell at the deadline. But the open nature and brutal mediocrity of the AL leaves the door to the playoffs open far longer than this installment of the Red Sox deserves. 

That’s not to say there aren’t bright spots, because that’s the reason we’re having this conversation at all. The rotation is beyond exceptional with a multitude of quality arms, even in a season where multiple went down, headlined by the extended absence of Garrett Crochet. The Red Sox also earned two initial All-Star selections in Aroldis Chapman and Ranger Suarez. Willson Contreras joined the party as a replacement and (for now) snub Sonny Gray should be next in line if another injury need comes up to head to Philadelphia next week. 

The Red Sox have the necessary pitching for October. The problem, as has been the case all season, is the offense, though the group has put together solid outings consistently in a six-game winning streak against questionable competition. If the conversation is to stick around this summer about whether or not Boston should still have playoff aspirations this season, a real conversation needs to be had about what the lineup can truly be down the stretch.

Obviously, they still need to get healthy. With that said, here’s the best possible lineup construction the Red Sox can get to with the players they currently have in the organization. 

  1. Roman Anthony, LF/DH
  2. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
  3. Willson Contreras, 1B
  4. Wilyer Abreu, RF
  5. Romy Gonzalez, 2B
  6. Trevor Story, SS
  7. Jarren Duran, LF/DH
  8. Caleb Durbin, 3B (probably has real argument to be higher)
  9. Carlos Narvaez, C

That gets them close to what the group looked like on Opening Day healthy. If the Red Sox get back to this standard, they’d still probably need another impact guy externally to make a real playoff push.

That’s where the trade deadline gets so complicated as of this time, because Boston should still probably sell given the assets they have. But if they get serious about trying to play for October, another bat is a necessity. 

The fit is interesting because an infielder makes the most sense, particularly up the middle. That rental market isn’t great, unless they deal from pitching depth and swing for Ketel Marte again with young pitching going to Arizona. 

The idea of Boston riding its pitching staff through a remarkable season turnaround to the postseason isn’t too crazy at this point. But if the Red Sox cannot get enough of a consistent lineup together – both in production and health – to support the arms, the pros of buying may not even be worth it by season’s end. 

And the risk of not getting the capable return of their assets as sellers matters too much in the decision.

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Braves News: Hurston Waldrep optioned, bats quiet in loss, and more

Jul 7, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep (64) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves made yet another roster move on Friday, and this time, right-hander Hurston Waldrep was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett while lefty Tyler Kinley was reinstated from the paternity list. 

Waldrep has appeared in three games this season after recovering from elbow surgery. In 10.2 frames, he’s logged an 8.44 ERA and recorded nine strikeouts. 

Kinley returned on Friday night, where he threw a scoreless inning, recording one strikeout and surrendering a walk. 

With Kinley back in the bullpen, Waldrep will return to Gwinnett to continue refining his game and await his next opportunity in Atlanta. 

More Braves News:

After a three-hour rain delay, the Braves fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.

From consensus ratings to another mock draft, here is the Braves fan guide to the MLB Draft.

Tate Southisene tripled on Thursday for the Rome Emperors. More in the minor league recap. Grant McAuley caught up with Southisene to discuss his road to the show. 

MLB News:

The 2026 Home Run Derby participants have been announced. The derby is set for Monday evening. 

Shohei Ohtani is dealing with a left knee issue and will miss the All-Star Game. He will continue to DH this weekend but will not make his scheduled start on the mound.

From the Feed:

After the Shohei Ohtani news, Ivan Herrera has been called to take his spot on the All-Star Game roster.

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MLB All-Star Futures Game: Top prospects, how to watch the 2026 showcase

Imagine having an opportunity to go back in time and watch a baseball game featuring stars such as Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Adley Rutschman, Riley Greene, Michael Harris II, Michael Busch and Cole Ragans ... BEFORE they'd ever played a game in the majors.

That's the allure of Major League Baseball's annual showcase of top prospects – the All-Star Futures Game. Each of those players mentioned were part of the Futures Game just five years ago in Coors Field.

Which players in this year's game will go on to make their mark in the majors? We'll get a look at them when the American League and National League squads take the field for the 2026 Futures Game on Sunday, July 12, as part of MLB's All-Star Week festivities.

How to watch MLB Futures Game

The 27th annual All-Star Futures Game will be played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

  • Date: Sunday, July 12
  • Time: Noon ET
  • TV: NBC
  • Streaming: Peacock
  • Announcers: Melanie Newman (play-by-play), Yonder Alonso (analyst), Sam Dykstra (analyst), Sande Charles (reporter)

Outfielder Josue De Paula, left, celebrates with National League teammates Zyhir Hope, center, and Jesus Made at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. De Paula hit a three-run homer to earn MVP honors in the NL's 4-2 win.

Prospects to watch at 2026 MLB Futures Game

Each of the top six overall minor league prospects in MLB Pipeline's latest rankings will be in attendance at this year's Futures Game. Here's a look at them and what makes them potential major leaguers.

  1. SS Jesus Made, Brewers. Just 19 years old and playing at Class AA Biloxi (Mississippi), Made is hitting .277/.347/.420 with seven homers and 25 stolen bases in 31 attempts. A switch-hitting shortstop with elite bat speed and athleticism in the field, Made has more than held his own against much older competition.
  2. SS Leo De Vries, Athletics. Another 19-year-old Dominican shortstop, De Vries was the centerpiece of the 2025 trade that sent closer Mason Miller to San Diego. In his first full season at Double-A Midland (Texas), he's hitting .276/.369/.420 with 10 homers and 30 steals in 35 attempts.
  3. SS Eli Willits, Nationals. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft out of high school, the son of former major leaguer Reggie Willits has blazing speed and plays excellent defense. His hit tool is developing as an 18-year-old, and he was recently promoted to High-A Wilmington (Delaware). Over two minor league levels, he's slashing .282/.416/.498 with 12 homers while going 38-for-50 in stolen base attempts.
  4. OF Josue De Paula, Dodgers. Compared to the top three, the 21-year-old De Paula has tons of experience. In fact, this will be his second appearance in the Futures Game, after he won MVP honors a year ago in Atlanta for his go-ahead, three-run homer. He's destroyed pitchers at Double-A Tulsa (Oklahoma), hitting .320/.417/.549 with 15 home runs and 25 steals in 30 attempts.
  5. SP Kade Anderson, Mariners. The most exciting pitching prospect in the minors, Anderson has dominated hitters ever since being drafted third overall out of LSU in 2025, two spots behind Willits. In his first pro season, the 22-year-old Anderson has posted a microscopic 1.36 ERA over 72⅔ innings (14 starts) with a 108/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
  6. SP Seth Hernandez, Pirates. Taken three spots after Anderson, Hernandez is a rare high school pitcher to go that early in the first round. The Pirates clearly believe in his powerful right arm, one that can touch triple digits. But his best pitch may be his changeup. Over 16 starts at Class A and High-A, the 20-year-old has a 2.61 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 30 walks in 69 total innings.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB All-Star Futures Game: Top prospects, how to watch the 2026 showcase

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Open Thread: Happy birthday to Jayden Quaintance

San Antonio TX, - June 25, 2026: Jayden Quaintance of the San Antonio Spurs Talks to the media during the San Antonio Spurs Rookie Press Conference on June 25, 2026 at Victory Capital Practice Center, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Spurs fans are excited about the drafting of Jayden Quaintance, but we honestly haven’t gotten to see him in action. The 6’10” power forward was drafted in the midst of recovering from back-to-back injuries. First, a knee surgery in early 2025 followed by a torn meniscus a year later. In his draft conference, he stated he was working with the Spurs medical staff toward another surgery.

In the meantime, Quaintance has been involved with Summer League from the bench, soaking up the knowledge coach Corliss Williamson is instilling in the team.

Here’s some collegiate highlights. Fun fact: at the 1:30ish mark, he blocks his new teammate Carter Bryant.

Quaintance graduated from high school a year early. After a year and twenty-four games at Arizona State, he transferred to Kentucky where he played in four games. And today, he turns 19.

There are high hopes for Quaintance once he is fully healed. An avid chess player, Quaintance hopes to connect with Victor Wembanyama from across the chess board. On the court, he shows hints at the defensive acumen to make the Spurs one of the most feared teams in the league.

For now, the 20th pick of the draft is spending his birthday in Las Vegas getting to know his new teammates and waiting for his chance to return to the game he loves.

Happy birthday, Jayden.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Phillies news: Kyle Schwarber, David Montgomery, JJ Wetherholt

Jul 10, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tim Mayza (37) reacts after being called for a balk which resulted in the Detroit Tigers scoring a run in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

I do at least appreciate that when the Phillies lose a game like that, I can at least focus my attention on something else and not be dialed into every single pitch like normal. It lets me get some things done around the house for the evening.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

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MLB Draft 2026 Milwaukee Brewers Mock Draft Roundup: Where will the Crew go in Round 1?

Milwaukee Brewers
May 20, 2026; Hoover, AL, USA; Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese fields a ball and throws to first for an out in the SEC Tournament game between Georgia and Mississippi State at the Hoover Met. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway today. Over the next two days, the Milwaukee Brewers will select 20 players to add to their organization and be part of that next wave of young talent.

MLB’s Draft is notoriously difficult to predict, especially the later the Draft goes on. Picks aren’t necessarily about who is the best on the board; it’s about who is there for the best price, so the slot money can be spread around to get the maximum amount of talent. The Brewers have been one of the best teams at spreading out their available bonus money over the past several years.

This year, the Crew has one of their lowest bonus pool totals in a long time — they have a lack of compensatory picks (including trading away the No. 67 pick to acquire Kyle Harrison) and had the best record in baseball last year, pushing their picks toward the end of each round.

The Brewers have their first pick at No. 25 overall, which is the last selection in the first round. Where could they go? Let’s take a look at who the experts have Milwaukee taking in their mock drafts.

Baseball America 7.0 – Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

The Brewers took a starting pitcher from Coastal Carolina last year with Jacob Morrison in the third round. Carlos Collazo at Baseball America has the Crew going back to the Chanticleers rotation again this year with Cameron Flukey.

Flukey’s success is no fluke. He sits in the mid-90s on his fastball and can reach 98 mph with movement. His curveball is his best secondary and is a high-spin pitch, which is a quality the Brewers have targeted consistently in their pitching selections. Flukey stands 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, so there’s a starter’s frame with room to add on more weight if needed.

ESPN – Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina

Back-to-back Flukey selections here; he should be going off the board right around this range, so it does make sense. However, the Brewers have selected a pitcher in the first round just once in the past decade. That pick was Ethan Small in 2019, and Small didn’t exactly work out very well for the Brewers. There’s a reason they don’t go there often. But could they buck the trend this year?

The Athletic – Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

The Brewers have drafted corner infielders a lot in recent years, so why not go back to that well again with an SEC third baseman? Ace Reese has big-time power, slugging 24 bombs this year for the Bulldogs while hitting .336. Classic left-handed power bat with a solid feel to hit. The big question will be his defensive home and if he can stick at the hot corner.

CBS Sports – Cole Prosek, SS/C, Magnolia Heights (MS) HS

The nephew of Brewers third base coach Matt Erickson, Prosek has been a heavily connected name to the Brewers through this process. He’s also from the same high school as the Crew’s current shortstop, Cooper Pratt, and plays with Pratt’s younger brother on the team. Prosek is an athletic player who can play both infield and behind the plate. He has a strong feel to hit, with some giving him plus grades, and some pretty good pop as well. He’s committed to Ole Miss, but there’s strong momentum for him in the first round, and the Brewers feel like a great landing spot if he’s there.

MLB Pipeline – Zion Rose, OF, Louisville

MLB Pipeline’s most recent mock draft came back on July 2, and they had the Crew going with a college bat yet again. This is not much of a surprise. Rose is generally above average across the board offensively, and though they may need to work on pitch selection with him, Rose has a pretty good ceiling to work with.

The Sporting Tribune – Cole Prosek, SS/C, Magnolia Heights (MS) HS

Another Prosek pick. The connection is certainly strong. The Brewers do have a history of selecting players who have the potential to stick behind the plate even if they haven’t primarily played there as an amateur. If the Brewers like his catching potential, they could take him and send him out there. Marco Dinges was one such player a few years ago.

Fangraphs – Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State

For many years, the Brewers avoided corner infielders like the plague. They focused on up-the-middle athletes only. Recently, they’ve taken Brock Wilken, Blake Burke, and Andrew Fischer with early selections each of the last three years. They seem to have plenty of future possibilities on the corners, but can you ever really have enough?

Prospects Live – Cole Prosek, SS/C, Magnolia Heights (MS) HS

A very popular pick here. Could it be because of the Matt Erickson connection? Could it be legitimate interest? Could it also be a smokescreen? If too many prognosticators think the Brewers are taking someone, the Brewers generally do something else. They keep things largely tight to the vest.

Baseball Prospect Journal – Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU

Back to the college bats, Sawyer Strosnider is another name that has popped up quite a bit with the Brewers. Strosnider is a left-handed bat with a big-time power-speed combination, earning plus grades on both tools. He does have a little bit of a strikeout problem, which is somewhat concerning with any hitter. But in terms of tools and athleticism, few in this draft have more, which makes him a name to watch.

Other names connected

Throughout all these mock drafts, the writers do include other names they considered or names they have heard connected to the Brewers at No. 25. That group includes:

James Clark, SS, St. John Bosco (CA) HS
Tegan Kuhns, RHP, Tennessee
Taj Marchand, SS, James Island (SC) HS
Trey Ebel, SS, Corona (CA) HS
Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA

The 2026 MLB Draft gets started this afternoon. We shall see which, if any, of these mock drafters were correct in their selections.

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Orioles news: O’s get thrilling win; MLB Draft starts today

Jul 10, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Samuel Basallo (29) celebrates at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Even in a season that isn’t going according to plan, an immutable fact remains: life seems a little bit better after an Orioles win. That’s especially true when the O’s make it a dramatic win, like last night’s 5-3 takedown of the visiting Royals at Camden Yards. After Brandon Young’s bid to pitch into the eighth inning went haywire in heartbreaking fashion, Samuel Basallo stepped up to reinvigorate the team and the sizable crowd of O’s fans with his electric go-ahead homer — and epic bat toss — in the Birds’ last at-bat. Check out Stacey’s recap of a delightful night at Oriole Park.

The game was a fun reminder of what the Orioles can look like when they’re playing well, something that unfortunately has happened far too little this season. A win against a last-place Royals team doesn’t fix the many problems that still plague the Birds. But with two games remaining against lowly Kansas City, the Orioles have a chance to head into the All-Star break feeling better about themselves if they can put together a couple more performances as competent as last night’s.

While the players (hopefully) keep their attention on the field, the O’s front office decision-makers have other things on their mind this weekend. The 2026 MLB Draft begins today at 1 pm, and the Orioles hold the #7 pick. As Mark Brown wrote, there’s no consensus among draft pundits about which player the O’s will take; five different writers have suggested four different possibilities for the Orioles in their mock drafts. And of course the Birds’ actual selection could end up being someone not even mentioned. They do that sometimes.

The Orioles’ #7 pick is their highest since 2022, when they held the #1 overall selection and drafted Jackson Holliday. Since then, their highest first-round picks have been #17 in 2023 (which they used on Enrique Bradfield Jr.), #22 in 2024 (Vance Honeycutt), and #19 in 2025 (Ike Irish).

And I would venture to say that Mike Elias really needs to nail this one. His once-hyped draft prowess has lost quite a bit of luster in recent years. After his lauded first draft with the Orioles in 2019, which netted the O’s both Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the results of his subsequent drafts have been a mixed bag. He reached a bit to make Heston Kjerstad the #2 overall pick in 2020 and that hasn’t panned out, though he also scored Jordan Westburg later in the first round. Elias’s top selection in 2021, Colton Cowser, is still a bit of an enigma offensively. Then there’s Holliday, who hasn’t yet performed like the platonic ideal of a #1 overall pick, though he’s still just 22.

None of the Orioles’ draft picks from 2023 or beyond have arrived in the majors, but Bradfield has struggled to hit consistently in the minors, and the 2024 draft — in which Elias selected Honeycutt and Griff O’Ferrall in the first round — looks like a bust. Early returns from the 2025 first round (Irish and Wehiwa Aloy) look promising so far, as does Caden Bodine, whom the O’s traded to the Rays in the Shane Baz deal.

If the Orioles’ 2026 campaign continues to go sideways and the team decides to make front office changes this offseason, then there’s a real possibility that this is the final draft Elias will oversee. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope it’s a good one.

Links

Basallo’s tie-breaking home run gives Orioles 5-3 win over Royals (updated) – School of Roch

Basallo got some amazing distance on that thing. And I’m just talking about the bat toss.

Is 2026 the year the Orioles draft a 1st-round pitcher? ‘We’ll see.’ – The Baltimore Sun

In my house, “we’ll see” is what I tell my daughter when my actual answer is a hard no. I’m thinking the same is true here.

Will Orioles’ Jackson Holliday fulfill his promise? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

One e-mailer suggests that the O’s should mortgage the farm to trade for Mason Miller. I hate to tell you this, friend, but the Orioles are not a closer away from being a good team.

Will the O’s consider trading any pending free agents? – Steve Melewski

Follow-up question: do the Orioles have any pending free agents that other teams would even want to trade for?

Turnstile will be at the Orioles game tonight. The commemorative jerseys will not. – The Baltimore Banner

Due to supply chain issues, the O’s didn’t have the Turnstile giveaway jerseys ready to hand out to fans last night. It’s been that kind of a year for the 2026 Orioles.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with two guys who were briefly Orioles: outfielder Daniel Johnson (31), who played nine games from 2024-25, and righty Zach Clark (43), who pitched a single MLB game back in 2013.

On this date in 1968, Earl Weaver managed his first major league game after taking over for the fired Hank Bauer. The then-37-year-old Weaver guided the O’s to a 2-0 win over the Senators in Baltimore, thanks to Dave McNally’s two-hit shutout and a Don Buford home run. It was the first of 1,480 regular season wins — plus 26 postseason wins — in Earl’s eventual Hall of Fame career.

And on this day in 1987, Billy Ripken made his MLB debut, joining brother Cal Jr. in the Orioles lineup. Their dad, Cal Sr., became the first skipper in MLB history to manage two of his sons. Cal Jr. and Billy went a combined 0-for-7 in the Orioles’ 2-1 loss to the Twins.

Random Orioles game of the day

On July 11, 2002, the Orioles opened the second half with a 4-1 loss to the Athletics at Camden Yards. Scott Erickson had a strong seven-inning, three-run outing, but was outdueled by A’s lefty Mark Mulder, who stymied the Orioles for seven scoreless. Future Oriole Miguel Tejada went 2-for-5 with an RBI double for Oakland. The loss dropped the Orioles to two games under .500, which doesn’t seem so bad considering they eventually finished the season 28 games under.

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Detroit Tigers can clinch 4th straight series with win over Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday

The Detroit Tigers continued their surge into the All-Star break on Friday night with an authoritative 10-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Comerica Park. Jack Flaherty made it to the six-inning mark for the first time in what seems like forever, giving his team a quality start in the process, while a trio of home runs fueled the offense to a double-digit total.

On Saturday, the Motor City Kitties can clinch their fourth straight series with right-hander Casey Mize taking the mound. The 29-year-old is coming off a pair of quality starts of his own, putting up a 1.32 ERA and 2.46 FIP over the last 13 2/3 innings, allowing just six hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out 14 to earn his third and fourth wins of the season.

It will not be easy for the Tigers with left-hander Cristopher Sánchez climbing the hill for the Phillies. Coming off a season that saw him finish second in the National League Cy Young race, the 29-year-old has picked up where he left off, ranking second in the majors in pitching fWAR behind Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski.

However, Sánchez is coming off his worst outing of the 2026 campaign, surrendering nine runs on 12 hits (three home runs) and a walk while striking out just one Kansas City Royal on the road for his fourth loss in a 15-1 final. Maybe the Tigers can get to him on Saturday evening too.

Here is a look at how the two match up in Game 2 of the three-game series in Detroit.

Detroit Tigers (44-50) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (52-43)

Time (ET): 6:10 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:The Good Phight
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 95: RHP Casey Mize (4-5, 2.64 ERA) vs. LHP Cristopher Sánchez (10-4, 2.62 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Mize1371.225.75.733.72.732.3
Sánchez19120.127.64.857.82.683.8

MIZE

SÁNCHEZ