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Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Forward Looks To Capitalize On Second-Chance Opportunity

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Next up? No. 13, where we take a look at an older forward prospect getting his second shot in the organization after an impressive Swedish Hockey League (SHL) season last year: Filip Hallander.

#13: F Filip Hallander

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Since he is already 25 years old, Hallander needs to prove he belongs with the Penguins more urgently than a lot of others on this list. And, arguably, he doesn't qualify as a true "prospect." But, for our intents and purposes, he does, as he only played in three NHL games and - aside from his time in the SHL - has only ever played in the Penguins' organization.

He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, and he had a generally average stint in the organization from 2021-23, registering 25 goals and 61 points in 104 AHL games and no points in three NHL games. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

He departed for the SHL for the next two seasons, and that's really where he broke out. His first season was resemblant of those in WBS, but last season, he put up 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games for Timra IK, earning him SHL Forward of the Year honors. He also broke the Timra IK single-season record for points that was previously held by former Detroit Red Wing Henrik Zetterberg, which he set in 2004-05 with 50 points.

And although Hallander has always been somewhat known for his all-around play, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward really nailed down the details of his two-way game in those two SHL seasons as well. His performance earned him a second chance and a two-year contract with the Penguins' organization this offseason.

Quite honestly? It's difficult to project a floor and a ceiling for Hallander because of his all-around game. His positional and situational versatility make him a valuable asset, as he plays center and the wing and can be deployed in all situations. Realistically, his floor should be a relatively safe one, as he should be an effective bottom-sixer at the NHL level. 

But his ceiling is another story. His two-way game already brings a lot of value, but he has grown into his offensive game as well. He drives the net, is cerebral, forechecks well, passes and shoots with precision, and has higher-end skating ability. He has an offensive toolset that would serve a middle-six role well.

The main thing working against Hallander - again - is his age. But he has a pretty decent chance of making the NHL roster out of training camp, and if he does, fans should expect a reliable two-way contributor who could potentially blossom into a top-six role if his offensive game continues to grow.

Sleep on Hallander at your peril. He is certainly one of the organizational dark horses who could become a solid NHL player.

The list so far:

- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Swedish Forward Has IntrigueTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Swedish Forward Has IntrigueHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Jen Pawol, MLB’s first female umpire, back in big leagues working Pirates-Rockies series

PITTSBURGH — Jen Pawol is back in the big leagues.

Pawol, who made history this month when she became the first female umpire to work a Major League Baseball game, is part of the crew working the three-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies this weekend.

Pawol was at second base for Friday night’s series opener as part of a four-person crew that includes crew chief Ron Kulpa, Alex Tosi and Manny Gonzalez. Pawol is scheduled to work first base on Saturday and then be behind the plate Sunday when Pirates ace and NL Cy Young Award contender Paul Skenes takes the mound.

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Mets' offense explodes, Nolan McLean strong again in 12-7 win over Braves

The Mets' offense exploded for 12 runs as New York ended their two-game losing streak with a 12-7 win over the Braves in Atlanta on Friday night.

On a night where the Braves celebrated the 30th anniversary of their 1995 World Series team, having Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz throw out the first pitch, it was Nolan McLean who was the best pitcher in the building as he pitched seven strong innings to pick up his second career win.

Here are the takeaways...

-McLean's first road start began with a stumble on the mound on his first pitch that resulted in a hit-by-pitch. But the young right-hander bounced back, striking out Matt Olson, getting Ronald Acuña Jr. to ground into a forceout and striking out Michael Harris II on a check swing to end the frame.

McLean continued to stay poised even after allowing a leadoff double in the third inning. Jurickson Profar would drive in that run with a one-out single -- the first run allowed in McLean's big league career -- but a strike 'em-out-throw 'em-out double play ended the inning. 

After a lengthy three-run fourth, Acuña greeted McLean with a leadoff homer. After that, McLean retired nine straight Braves to get through the sixth inning, becoming the first Mets starter to go that far, other than David Peterson, since Clay Holmes on June 7 (62 games). That streak would reach 11 before a two-out single in the seventh. 

McLean tossed 94 pitches (58 strikes) across seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven batters. After he walked four batters in his first start, McLean did not give up a walk in this one. His 15 strikeouts in his first two starts are second in Mets history, behind Matt Harvey's 18 in 2012.

-With Jeff McNeil, Luis Torrens and Brandon Nimmoout of the lineup due to injuries, their replacements got the Mets on the board early. Back-to-back one-out singles from Brett Baty and Tyrone Taylor in the second got the Mets a scoring chance and catcher Hayden Senger came through with a two-out single to score Baty and give the Mets an early 1-0 lead. It's only Senger's second career RBI.

After Francisco Lindor walked to load the bases, Juan Soto worked a six-pitch walk to put the Mets up 2-0. Starling Marte followed by flying out to end the threat. 

The Mets' offense would capitalize on an RBI chance in the third inning, though, as Cedric Mullins lined a two-run triple to put the Mets up 4-0. In the fourth, back-to-back singles to lead off by Lindor and Soto resulted in a sac fly by Marte to put the Mets up 5-1, and knock starter Joey Wentz out of the game after just 3.1 innings. Mark Vientos continued to scorch the ball with a two-out double that drove in Soto from first base. An infield single from Baty and a double by Tyrone increased their lead to 7-1.

-Soto would pour it on in the seventh with a two-run shot that hit off the left field foul pole to give the Mets a 9-2 lead. Soto finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and two walks. He picked up his 100th walk of the season and is now just 25 behind John Olerud (1999) for most in a single season in Mets history.

Senger would hit a two-run single in the eighth to put a bow on his night. The third-string catcher had a career day at the plate, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBI.

-The Mets' offense had 21 hits and although every starter had at least one hit, most of the damage came from the bottom of the order. The 6-9 hitters went a combined 12-for-20 with six RBI. Baty had four hits while Taylor and Mullins had three hits each.

Reed Garrett was tasked with mop-up duty and struggled in his one inning of work. Garrett allowed two runs on three hits and struck out one batter. Ryan Helsley, in a move likely to give the reliever some confidence after some recent struggles, was given the ninth inning. The right-hander walked the leadoff batter and gave up a one-out double. Vidal Brujan, off the bench, hit a two-out single to drive in a run. That was followed by a two-run double from Profar. Helsley would get the final out, eventually, but allowed three runs in the final frame.

Game MVP: Nolan McLean

Yes, the offense went bananas but McLean's outing didn't allow this porous bullpen more innings to allow runs.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Braves play the middle game of their three-game set when the first pitch is thrown at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday night. 

Clay Holmes (10-6, 3.64 ERA) takes the mound against recently-acquired Cal Quantirll (4-10, 5.50 ERA).

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Divisional Focus: Red Wings Must Counter Rising Canadiens

Almost as tough as it was seeing the Ottawa Senators return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for fans of the Detroit Red Wings was simultaneously seeing the Montreal Canadiens do the same. 

Thanks to their own young, emerging players, both Atlantic Division teams reached the postseason before the Red Wings did during their respective rebuilds.

The Canadiens also dealt the Red Wings a considerable in late December, taking four of a possible four points with back-to-back wins by a combined 9-4 score just days before the dismissal of then-head coach Derek Lalonde and assistant Bob Boughner.

Entering the first game on December 20, both teams carried similar records - the Red Wings at 13-14-4 and the Canadiens at 12-16-3.

Montreal managed to edge out Detroit by a 4-3 final score at Little Caesars Arena in a tightly contested affair, but then dominated the rematch just 24 hours later at Bell Centre with a convincing 5-1 victory, as the Red Wings appeared listless and offered little resistance.

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From that point on, Montreal went 26-15-8 (including a record of 15-5-6 in their final 26 games) thanks in large part to the emergence of young core players like Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. 

Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, a Holland, Mich. native, had an incredible rookie campaign and was awarded the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best first-year player for the 2024-25 season, while veteran Patrik Laine brought an immediate boost to Montreal's power-play. 

Fellow defensemen Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle took on larger roles, while Sam Montembeault took firm hold of the starter's reigns in between the pipes.

Montreal also got a pleasant surprise from rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš, who became the first goaltender in team history to surrender a single goal through his first two career NHL starts and is now their full-time backup. 

While the Canadiens had a short stay in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they were defeated in five games by the Washington Capitals, they feel they are now better positioned to not only return to the postseason, but to build on their successful campaign in 2024-25 and advance further this time. 

"We're better across the board by virtue of having such a young group that's gained a year of experience, a year of know-how," Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said. "They've learned a little more, especially with the playoff run. But I would say that from a period of time in the season, we were in playoff mode trying to get back into the race and then kind of finalize it. So I'm hopeful that that experience provides a boost to the roster for next season."

The Red Wings will face the Canadiens in the opening game of the regular season at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 9, followed by matchups on Jan. 10 in Montreal, and March 19 in Detroit.

The opening game will also mark the return of former Red Wings forward Joe Veleno, who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks last season for goaltender Petr Mrazek. This offseason, he signed with his hometown Canadiens after being dealt from Chicago to the Seattle Kraken, who bought out the final year of his contract.

Detroit will look to get their centennial season off on the right foot in front of the home fans of Hockeytown. As the Red Wings found out the hard way at the end of the 2023-24 season, literally every point matters. 

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Max Fried returns to form, lacks support in Yankees' 1-0 loss to Red Sox

Max Fried returned to form, but the Yankees gave him no run support in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Takeaways

  1. Fried (13-5, 3.14 ERA) had his best start in almost a month and his best outing since June 25. After three straight games of eight hits in five innings, Fried fired six scoreless frames while scattering four knocks and striking out seven. He walked three and threw 63 strikes on 99 pitches but dug deep in a rebound no-decision that had the Yankees (69-59) primed for a bounce-back win over the Red Sox (70-59).
  2. Unfortunately for Fried, Brayan Bello was just as good -- if not better. Boston's starter yielded three hits while striking out five and walking one in seven shutout innings before passing the ball to reliever Garrett Whitlock and closer Aroldis Chapman for the perfect final two frames.
  3. With Fried on the verge of 100 pitches,Aaron Boone's Mark Leiter Jr. decision backfired. Promptly, after Ceddanne Rafaela's leadoff flyout, Leiter allowed consecutive doubles to Nathaniel Lowe and Connor Wong. Leiter (5-7, 4.14 ERA) subsequently retired Romy Gonzalez and Alex Bregman, but not before the one-run damage was done.
  4. Ultimately, though, the Yankees did not hit in their third shutout loss of August. Singles by Ben Rice (first inning), Trent Grisham (third inning) and Austin Wells (sixth inning) were all that they got. Wells also ran the Yankees right out of the sixth inning when he jumped too far off the base and got doubled up on Grisham, who lined out to shortstop. This is who the Yankees are, and the Red Sox lapped them for the first wild card as a result.

Who's the MVP?

Bello, who went one inning more than Fried in this pitcher's duel.

What's next

Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game at Yankee Stadium. New York RHP Will Warren (7-5, 4.25 ERA) and Boston LHP Garrett Crochet (13-5, 2.43 ERA) are set to start as the Yankees look to salvage the four-game series with at least a split.

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Alex de Minaur raring to go for US Open tilt despite tricky draw

  • World No 8 will face compatriot Chris O’Connell in first round

  • Australia’s 15-strong contingent prepare at Flushing Meadows

In-form Alex de Minaur has brushed off a minefield draw to declare himself primed to lead Australia’s 15-strong charge at the US Open in New York.

Having secured a precious top-eight seeding courtesy of his 10th career title in Washington and a last-eight run in Cincinnati, De Minaur is guaranteed to avoid a higher-ranked rival until at least the quarter-finals.

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Roster Expectations: What's In Store For Goalie Luukkonen

Uuko-Pekka Luukkonen (Nick Wosika, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is now only a handful of weeks away, so it’s as good a time as any for THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to break down expectations for every Sabres player next year.

This new series kicks off with this file – an examination of every Sabres player, and the expectations for each of them this coming season. Time will tell whether this Buffalo organization finally gets into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and needless to say, that’s the overarching theme for everyone in this series. 

For no particular reason, we’re going to start the series with the Sabres’ goaltending. And in the first article in the series, we’re going to focus on presumptive starting netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Player Name: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Position: Goaltender

Age: 26

2024-25 Key Statistics: 55 appearances, 24-24-5 record, .887 save percentage, 3.20 goals-against average

2025-26 Salary: $4.75 million

2025-26 Expectations: Despite losing his starter’s job to journeyman James Reimer in the last three weeks of the regular-season – he played only five times in Buffalo’s last 14 games – Luukkonen will almost certainly start the season as the Sabres’ starter. Clearly, management feels he can get back to the level he performed at in 2023-24, when he posted a .910 SP and 2.57 G.A.A., playing almost exactly the same number of games both last season and the season prior.

Sabres' Signing Of Veteran Goalie A Solid Gamble That May Wind Up Saving Buffalo's SeasonSabres' Signing Of Veteran Goalie A Solid Gamble That May Wind Up Saving Buffalo's SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres' first day of the NHL's free-agent frenzy saw Sabres GM Kevyn Adams take some low-risk, decent-return gambles in signing mid-tier veterans like winger Justin Danforth and defenseman Zac Jones. But another Sabres signing could prove to be extremely important as the season goes on -- and that's the signing of experienced goalie Alex Lyon.

Also working in Luukkonen’s favor – his considerable salary. The Sabres aren’t paying him to be a backup. He’s going to get the reins out of the gate. But it’s telling that Buffalo signed an insurance policy of sorts in veteran Alex Lyon. It wouldn’t surprise us if youngster Devon Levi also got a run, especially if Luukkonen flames out. 

Indeed, the Sabres simply cannot afford to let Luukkonen have another down year. There is so much at stake, with coaching and management jobs on the line, and players’ long-term future with the team as well. So to say there’s a considerable amount of pressure on Luukkonen is a considerable understatement. 

Here’s the worst-case scenario: Luukkonen struggles again and Lyon or Levi take the starter’s job from him. What do they do with the financial commitment they’ve made to Luukkonen? He’s still got four years left on his contract, and Buffalo is already paying buyout money and cap space for Jeff Skinner’s monstrous contract for the next five years. Ownership won’t be crazy to pay someone else not to play for the Sabres.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Pittsburgh PenguinsSabres Potential Trade Partner: Pittsburgh PenguinsThe NHL's 2025 off-season is here, and teams are going to be jockeying for trades and free agents in the coming days and weeks. And in this ongoing THN.com Buffalo Sabres site series, we've been examining potential trade partners for the Sabres.

But let’s look at a possible positive development for Luukkonen. If his numbers look as good as they did two years ago, he’s going to give Buffalo’s forwards and new-look defense corps a chance to win games more often than not. And if that’s the case, he’s going to look like a smart investment.

There really doesn’t seem to be much middle ground for Luukkonen this coming year. Either he re-takes the No. 1 job, or Sabres GM Kevyn Adams (or his replacement) finds a new home for Luukkonen. It may take Buffalo retaining some of Luukkonen’s salary to find him a new employer. But there’s almost always another opportunity for a cost-controlled young goaltender, and given that Luukkonen is still well shy of 30, some team will take a second chance on him.

No matter the outcome, it’s going to be a momentous season for Luukkonen. If he likes playing in Buffalo, there’s a clear road ahead for him to do that. But it’s on him, and the Sabres team in front of him, to dictate the future for both parties.

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Mets' Tylor Megill pitches five dominant innings for Triple-A Syracuse

Mets starter Tylor Megill made his latest rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night and was dominant.

After walking the first batter he faced, the big right-hander mowed down Indianapolis batters for three no-hit innings. Nick Yorke broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the fourth inning, but that would be the last baserunner against Megill, who kept Indianapolis batters off balance. 

Megill tossed 65 pitches (39 strikes) across five shutout innings, allowing the one hit, one walk and striking out four batters.

Friday was Megill's third rehab start as he tries to make his way back from an elbow sprain. It's also his third shutout appearance after he tossed 1.2 innings in his first start and 3.1 shutout innings in his second start. While Megill didn't have the strikeout stuff like he did in his second start, where he struck out nine batters, he went longer in the game, which is something the Mets are certainly happy to see.

Also of note from Friday's game was first base prospect Ryan Clifford. The young slugger clubbed his first Triple-A homer (373 feet), taking right-hander Wilkin Ramos deep over the left field wall.

Clifford would single in a run in his second at-bat but he wasn't done with the longball. In the eighth, Clifford took RHP Cam Sanders deep for a 397-foot blast. He went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

 

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Duran's first blown save with Phillies leads to series-opening loss to Nationals

Duran's first blown save with Phillies leads to series-opening loss to Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Phillies manager Rob Thomson talked earlier this season about seeing things he’d never seen before in his many years in MLB. He can add a couple more things to the list as the Phillies fell to the Washington Nationals, 5-4, in the series-opener at Citizens Bank Park.

In a game that saw three Taijuan Walker pickoff attempts overturned – two to outs, one to safe – and closer Jhoan Duran blow his first save opportunity for the Phillies in seven tries, the Phillies got excellent pitching.

That is if you take away the first and last innings.

Early on, it didn’t appear to be the Phillies’ night and certainly not Walker’s, as the Nationals tagged him for three runs in a first inning that included two walks, a pickoff at first, a three-run home run and an astounding 38 pitches. In Duran’s ninth inning, he gave up a double to Dylan Crews and a game-tying single to Dayle Lile, who went to second on the throw home by Brandon Marsh, which hit Crews, not enabling catcher J.T. Realmuto to secure the ball. Lile then stole third and scored easily when Realmuto’s throw sailed into left.

The Phillies have been playing so well lately that it seems like it had to take some crazy events for them to lose for the first time in five games.

After a rough first inning, Walker pitched four more and faced the minimum 12 batters. It was an adjustment he made that allowed him to overcome the lengthy first, but the three-run damage had already been done.

“Just the two walks,” Walker said of his first inning troubles. “I feel like when I get in trouble a lot is when I start walking guys. It seemed like they were a little more patient in that first inning. The splitters that they were taking and just out of the zone a little too much. After the first inning I started getting in the zone more and it seemed like they were being more aggressive and putting the ball in play more.”

Walker says his cutter just wasn’t there to begin the night but it came back to him with a little work.

“It was a little off in the bullpen,” he said. “I thought the first inning it would be better but it was just off a little bit, made a little adjustment after the first and it started picking up. Just a wrist adjustment, a stiffer wrist.

“It was really just not commanding the zone in that first inning and just not throwing enough strikes. I really didn’t know how many I threw. I didn’t know that. It didn’t feel like 38. I know it was a longer inning but I didn’t feel like 38. But I felt good, the whole game after that started to get quicker outs and got into a good little groove.”

The whole team did. While Tanner Banks, Jose Alvarado and Matt Strahm contributed to keeping the Nationals off the board after the first, the torrid offense came to life for the Phillies.

Nick Castellanos began the second with a single, hustled to third on a Bryson Stott single and scored on a groundout by Trea Turner to cut the lead 3-1. In the sixth, Castellanos doubled for his third hit of the night and scored two batters later when Stott homered to tie the game 3-3.

In the seventh, after Nationals lefty reliever Shinnosuke Ogasawara struck out Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, Realmuto launched a low, 3-2 changeup, into the left field seats for a 4-3 lead. And when Strahm put down the Nats in the eighth, the general feeling was game over as Duran warmed in the bullpen.

But not on this night as Duran gave up a couple hits and Realmuto aired one into left to help Washington get the winning run.

“That’s the game,” Duran said. “Sometimes that happens. We need to prepare for everything.” Asked if he can easily shake off his first blemish as a Phillie, Duran said, “Right now. I’m good. Sometimes we do good, sometimes we do bad. So, that’s the game. Tomorrow I’ll be ready for tomorrow, so it’s ok.”

Realmuto, after becoming the offensive hero with a late-inning home run, reflected more on the play at the third than his offense after the game.

“I probably shouldn’t have thrown the ball, in hindsight,” he said. “It was a curve ball away and I really didn’t get to set my feet and get around the (batter) so I did have to throw it over his head. In that situation, it’s tough to do, but I probably should have just eaten it, let him have third base and give Duran a chance to strike the next two guys out, which he ended up doing. It’s tough to do in the moment but I probably should have just eaten that one.”

Still, there were positives to the game that manager Rob Thomson was quick to point out afterwards.

“(Casty) swung the bat well, Stott’s hot,” he said. “J.T. with a big home run in the seventh to get us where we wanted to be. We fought back and I’m happy with that. Castellanos also going first to third created a run for us, our first run and Trea busting it down the line to avoid the double play and get us on the board.”

As for his thoughts on his new closer?

“Super confident. Mariano (Rivera) had 80 (blown saves), so it’s going happen every once in a while. He struck out the side. There’s going to be hits in there sometimes.”

As for seeing three overturned pickoffs, add that to the list of an inside-the-park three-run homer that beat the Phillies earlier this year in San Francisco and a walk off win on a catcher’s interference against Boston.

“I don’t think so,” said Thomson of seeing the pickoff situation. “I’m not sure but I don’t think so.”

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Astros sign veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star

BALTIMORE — The Houston Astros have signed Craig Kimbrel to a major league contract, and the veteran reliever reported to the team in Baltimore on Friday.

The 37-year-old Kimbrel posted a 5.33 ERA with the Orioles last year before being released in September. He later returned to the Atlanta Braves - where he began his big league career - but pitched in only one game before being designated for assignment. Texas signed him to a minor league deal in June, and the right-hander was with Triple-A Round Rock before being released Thursday and picked up by the Astros.

In 42 minor league appearances this year at Triple-A and Double-A, Kimbrel is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA. The nine-time All-Star has 440 saves at the big league level.

“Happy to have him,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before Friday night's game at Baltimore. “This guy has been one of the best for a very long time.”

Houston also reinstated right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. from the injured list and put left-hander Bennett Sousa (left elbow inflammation) on the 15-day IL retroactive to Wednesday. The team optioned right-hander Logan VanWey to Triple-A Sugar Land, transferred left-hander Brandon Walter to the 60-day IL and sent right-hander Tayler Scott outright to Sugar Land.

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Orioles reach a $67 million, 8-year deal with 21-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo

BALTIMORE — On a team with plenty of talented young players, Samuel Basallo now has a special distinction - the first to agree to a long-term contract.

The Baltimore Orioles reached a $67 million, eight-year deal with the rookie catcher Friday, less than a week after the 21-year-old made his major league debut. The agreement - a record pre-arbitration deal for a catcher - starts in 2026 and includes a team option for 2034. It has escalators based on awards and playing time at catcher and could be worth $88.5 million.

“We are thrilled to agree with Samuel long term and are delighted about what this means for him and his family,” general manager Mike Elias said in a statement. “His debut and this extension are big achievements for our organization, beginning with the work of our international scouting staff and carried forward successfully by our entire player development operation."

Basallo will make $1 million a year in 2026, 2027 and 2028, $4 million in 2029, $7 million in 2030, $11 million in 2031 and $15 million in 2032 and 2033. The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus, and the 2034 option is $18 million with a $7 million buyout.

It's the first major long-term deal this Baltimore front office has been able to reach with one of the Orioles' standout prospects, and it comes just four games into Basallo's big league career after he made his debut Sunday. He is ranked as baseball's No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

It's a significant move for a Baltimore team that has come out of a rebuild with several impressive young players - Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday among them - but hadn't been able to extend any of them beyond their initial periods of team control.

Elias and Basallo are expected to hold a news conference Saturday. The Orioles didn't announce the deal until after the clubhouse was closed to reporters before Friday night's game against Houston. Basallo wasn't around when it was open, and neither were a number of other key players, but interim manager Tony Mansolino shed some light on the reaction.

“I was sitting in the room, and I won't say who, but I saw several guys right away walk up to Samuel when he walked into the clubhouse and shook his hand, gave him a hug, told him congratulations,” Mansolino said. “And some pretty prominent guys did it. Great joy for Samuel in a lot of ways, and just a lot of leadership right there by some of those guys.”

Rutschman, also a catcher, was terrific for his first couple years in the majors, but he slumped toward the end of 2024 and has hit just .227 during an injury-plagued 2025. Now the Orioles have made a commitment to Basallo, but he can also play first base.

It's been a dismal year in Baltimore, with fan frustration high after the team remained cautious in free agency and quickly fell to last place in the AL East after making the playoffs two straight seasons. Basallo's recent call-up was much anticipated, and now the Orioles have shown a willingness to spend a bit more if that's what's needed to hold onto young talent.

“The agreement with Samuel is just a catalyst for the next exciting period of Orioles baseball,” owner David Rubenstein said. ”I thank Mike Elias, (vice president for international scouting and operations) Koby Perez, and the entire baseball operations group for their effort and diligence in securing Samuel as a key piece of the future of the organization.”

Basallo, a native of the Dominican Republic, originally signed with the Orioles during the 2020-21 international signing period.

“You think back to when Mike came in, there was kind of a lack of a Latin American program,” Mansolino said. “I think there's a lot of significance that the first extension is a guy that came through the brand new Latin American program.”

Also Friday, the Orioles put infielder Jordan Westburg (right ankle sprain) on the 10-day injured list - retroactive to Tuesday - and right-hander Brandon Young (left hamstring) on the 15-day IL. They also transferred right-hander Félix Bautista (right shoulder surgery) and catcher Gary Sanchez (right knee sprain) to the 60-day IL and selected the contracts of right-hander Matt Bowman and infielder Vimael Machín from Triple-A Norfolk.

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Willy Adames' emphatic two-homer homecoming spoiled as Brewers walk off Giants

Willy Adames' emphatic two-homer homecoming spoiled as Brewers walk off Giants originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Before his first at-bat back in Milwaukee since departing last offseason in MLB free agency, Willy Adames received nearly a minute-long standing ovation from the Brewers’ home crowd.

The fan-favorite shortstop clearly still is beloved at American Family Field after spending three and a half seasons with the Brewers, even after signing with the Giants this past December.

Well, perhaps not for long, as Adames crushed the first pitch he saw 419 feet into the second deck in left field and promptly was met with boos. He then went deep a second time in the eighth inning, this one to the opposite field, helping fuel a late Giants resurgence.

“It was very emotional, I would say. They changed their mind really quick, though,” Adames told reporters with a laugh, referring to the crowd’s quick switch from celebration to antagonism. “Obviously, I know that they didn’t mean those boos.

“It felt really good to see that they have that much love for me. They know that I have the same love back. It was really special to see it and feel it, and kind of embrace everything and soak it all in.”

But the Milwaukeeans got the last laugh in the end, as the Giants’ late comeback proved fruitless after William Contreras’ walk-off homer in the ninth inning gave the red-hot Brewers a 5-4 win on Friday night.

So, in the end, it was another thrilling win for MLB’s hottest team since the All-Star break, and another heart-wrenching loss for the league’s coldest team in that same span.

“It’s just another day. It feels the same way that it’s been going on for us,” Adames explained postgame. “It felt like we played better baseball — obviously, we had some difficulties … Contreras had a really good pitch there, and he took advantage of it.

Regardless of the result, the night clearly was all about Adames’ emphatic homecoming.

“It was great … to get the reception he did and then hits first-pitch homer,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I mean, that’s pretty cool stuff. And then he hit another homer to get us a little bit closer, and then we tie the game. Willy came in here, obviously looking to put together a good game, and he did.”

After signing a franchise-record contract worth $182 million over seven years, this hasn’t quite been the season that Adames or the Giants desired. His .224 batting average and .722 OPS both are the second-lowest marks of his eight-year career.

But the 29-year-old shortstop quietly is up to 22 home runs on the season, and his effusive personality shone in the spotlight during Friday’s two-homer game — both primary reasons why the Giants signed him.

“Even my second at-bat, when they started booing me, I was just laughing, because that’s how it is,” Adames admitted. “I enjoyed it like the standing ovation. For me, it was the same. It felt good. I know it was all love.”

So while all hope feels all but lost for the Giants’ playoff hopes in 2025, San Francisco will hope that Friday’s big night could spur on their star shortstop for more production through the rest of this season and beyond

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