The Pleasant Valley Baseball team battled Bettendorf in their Sub-state final, in the end it was the Spartans that came up with a thrilling 1-0 win in 10 innings.
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Boxer Mike Tyson presented the ESPY award for best single-game performance to Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani on July 15. Just don’t ask him who Shohei Ohtani plays for, what sport he plays, or even apparently what gender Shohei Ohtani is.
After (somewhat) correctly pronouncing Ohtani’s name, Tyson turned to co-presented Logan Paul to make sure he got it right.
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“Shohei could not be here tonight,” Tyson said. “He sends his gratitude and appreciation to ESPN and everyone who voted for him,” Paul said.
“Shohei’s a guy?” Tyson said, turning to Paul.
Tyson, 60, certainly would be forgiven for not following MLB on a regular basis. He sparred with Ted Barrett before Barrett became a major league umpire. Other than that, the Tyson/MLB concentric circles are separate.
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It’s at least somewhat surprising that Ohtani’s name never reached Tyson’s ears. Ohtani is at least the game’s best player today, if not ever. His single-game performance against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series was one for the ages.
Ohtani threw six shutout innings against the Brewers as the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, and went 3 for 3 with three home runs at the plate. Tyson said it himself: it was an award-winning performance.
The game basically clinched the NLCS MVP Award for Ohtani. Now it’s been honored across multiple sports.
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Ohtani was also nominated for the ESPY award for best male athlete, an honor which might convince Tyson of Ohtani’s gender once and for all.
Baseball players rarely attend the ESPYs ceremony to receive their awards in person. The ceremony is traditionally held during MLB’s All-Star break, giving ESPN the night’s major live sports programming all to itself, but making it hard for the top MLB stars to attend.
Ohtani at least had no obvious prior obligations. He did not attend All-Star festivities in Philadelphia because of a irritation in his left knee. Perhaps he and Tyson can schedule a gentleman’s handshake down the road.
Did a baseball team or a boy band just kick off the sports world’s most glamorous gathering?
While the choreography, lip-syncing, backflips and yellow uniforms may have seemed like a baffling combo to the uninitiated, Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards opener looked like business as usual for fans of the Savannah Bananas.
The on-stage spectacle also made it clear why the exhibition baseball team is popular enough to sell out Yankee Stadium and boasts more TikTok followers than any Major League Baseball clubhouse.
The Savannah Bananas launched in 2016 on the idea of “whatever is normal, we will do the opposite,” Joe Martinelli, the president and CEO of Visit Savannah, said that founder Jesse Cole told him. That means you can expect dingers celebrated with dance breaks, outfield acrobatics and a pitcher who stands 10 feet 9 inches tall while slinging his heaters on stilts.
The Bananas aren’t playing by MLB rules when they take the field either.
“Banana Ball,” as it’s called, maintains a strict two-hour time limit, with teams competing for one point per inning, making each leg of the game a battle to score the most runs. All bets are off in the ninth inning, however, when scoring is unlimited.
Waiting out four balls won’t get you a walk. Instead, batters make a full sprint around the diamond while the ball is relayed to every fielder before the defense can make a play.
Providing some true chaos at the plate, the players can even decide that they’re bored with their at-bat and steal first base on any pitch.
Foul balls are fair game no matter where they go because a catch by someone in the stands counts as an out.
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Though the antics might remind some of the Harlem Globetrotters’ basketball theatrics, Banana Ball has one key difference: While wacky, the competition is real.
“We get that [comparison] a lot,” Cole told the New York Post, “but the biggest difference is that we never know the result of the game.”
Many a starting pitcher has been resistant to the idea of moving to the bullpen. Ben Davis is not one of those pitchers.
He was a starter at Booneville High School. At Itawamba Community College, he both started and relieved. Then at Mississippi State, Davis found his niche as a versatile relief pitcher, able to put out fires at any point in a game. He came to love that role.
“It’s always fun to be able to come out of the pen, big game on the line, and really being able to put an end to whatever was happening, like if it was a big inning or something like that,” Davis said. “… I’m kind of an adrenaline junkie. I’m not really big on emotion, but being on the mound kind of brings it out. That was my thing, coming out of the pen and doing my own thing.”
He’ll get to keep doing his thing at the professional level. Davis was taken by the Colorado Rockies with the first pick of the fourth round in last weekend’s Major League Baseball draft. When he got the call – while surrounded by family – Davis experienced a feeling similar to when he takes the mound.
“My agent called me, and I really wasn’t expecting a whole lot on Day 1,” he said. “But when they called me, I had a big adrenaline dump. Pretty cool. Plus everybody’s sitting there; it was really cool with everybody there.”
Davis leaves Friday for the team’s spring training facility in Phoenix. The Rockies will then decide whether to send him off to play somewhere or keep him there for some hands-on work. Either way, it’s a dream fulfilled.
Davis was a standout at Booneville as both a pitcher and a catcher. He led the Blue Devils to a state championship in 2021. In his two years at ICC, Davis won 10 games and struck out 104 batters over 104 1/3 innings.
Then MSU came calling.
“It’s surreal. You grow up, small town, you always dream of getting to play at Mississippi State. Moving on is always the next goal, but just being able to play there and moving on is awesome,” Davis said.
He became a dependable arm at State. Over two seasons, he was 4-4 with a 3.71 ERA, 118 strikeouts and six saves in 104 1/3 innings. Davis made four starts as a junior and then became a full-time reliever this past season, making 26 appearances.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has a fastball that can touch the upper-90s, and he’s also effective with a slider and sweeper.
“He’s a big horse,” Rockies assistant general manager Tommy Tanous told the team’s website. “You watch him and you don’t want to be in the batter’s box against him.”
Davis’ specific role in the professional ranks is yet to be determined, but he’s just fine with continuing his career as a reliever.
“I feel like I’m kind of the guy that can be called on every day if needed,” he said, “and if I’m not needed, that’s whenever I can kind of rest for a couple days and do it again.”
When the brackets for the upcoming Junior American Legion State Tournament were revealed on Wednesday, Greenbrier Post 69 was not there.
That may or may not have been expected, depending on perspective. Most programs find it a challenge to gain tangible success in their first year, particularly with a roster as young as the one Post 69 was putting on the field.
But, as the adage goes, success wasn’t necessarily measured by wins and losses. In regard to the main objective, the sentiment seems to be that the mission has been accomplished.
“We're really excited to have this opportunity, especially in Greenbrier County, to get something started up,” said coach Tanner McCallister. “The importance of it all is being able to transition from (high school) season, keep these guys together, help them grow, help them to develop; we’ve got a lot of young guys on this team. And just being able to work with them throughout the summer and set expectations for the upcoming season.”
Greenbrier East coach Cory Mann got the ball rolling on the team’s creation as a way to establish continuity after the high school season is complete.
“He approached a few of us about it,” McCallister said. “He's really excited about getting it going, just to continue keeping his guys together. He's got a really good attitude towards the community, and it's really bringing our community together. And that was pretty much his main focus on kind of getting things going.”
There is certainly talent all over the field for Post 69, but youth is obvious. Many of the players are coming off success at the Little League and middle school levels but have yet to log a high school inning.
Junior Legion teams are on the young end of the American Legion spectrum, but most players are veterans compared to Post 69.
“At least half of our team is rising freshmen, so they just got done playing their eighth grade season,” McCallister said. “We have a few returners from (Greenbrier East’s) season in the spring, so these guys are just really, really trying to piece it together and understand what high school baseball looks like.”
Just a few of the rising freshmen are Michael Boothe, who has shown big bat potential, Carter Huffman, a talented outfielder and left-handed pitching option, and Colton Dehaven, who led the team in runs scored and was a top base stealer with 13 in 15 attempts.
Post 69’s season finished with a 4-13 record after both scheduled doubleheaders this week were canceled. Not desirable results, but a foundation has been set.
“Of course, we'd like to win more and the boys would like to win more, but with it being the first year, I think we're just kind of rolling with the punches, just trying to keep things together,” McCallister said. “The main focus is just for us as coaches and as a community to develop good young men, get this thing going to where we can keep them together, have them focus on something that's important to them, and develop good, God-fearing, just good men.”
The 2026 MLB season has reached the All-Star Game. This season has shown many players and teams having sensational seasons. Following the All-Star Game, the second half of the season will be in full swing. Here are the top relief pitchers at the midway point of the season.
MORE: MLB Rankings: Top 10 catchers at the All-Star break
The veteran continues to be elite. He’s had hiccups, but he’s still as good as any Major League closer. By the trade deadline, he will find himself closing out games for a contending MLB team.
Megill has been an exception for the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. He is heading for another season with 30+ saves. Megill’s career has aged like fine wine.
Save opportunities don’t come by often playing for a team featuring an elite offense. However, Scott has excelled when given the opportunity to close out ball games. He’s been one of the best closers in MLB.
The veteran has been exceptional in 2026. His numbers have earned him an All-Star selection. He is close to leading the league in saves.
Smith has been fantastic. He currently leads MLB in saves. He is about as electric as it gets from the closer role.
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Philadelphia continues to be one of the best spots for Duran. The team is winning, and he is nearly perfect in save opportunities. By the end of the season, Duran can lead the league in saves.
Latz has run away with the closer role in Texas. He has been sensational. A strong second half can see him finish in the top five in saves.
Varland continues to lock down games for the Blue Jays. He’s having a fantastic season. If the Blue Jays are sellers, Varland will be a hot trade commodity.
Hader has been fantastic since making his long-awaited season debut. He is perfect at saving chances. He will be vital to the team’s success following the All-Star Game.
Mason Miller is the most electric relief pitcher in MLB. He’s been the best reliever since the first week of the season. If San Diego is a seller at the trade deadline, Miller will bring a king’s ransom back to the Padres.
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The 2026 MLB season has reached the All-Star Game. This season has shown many players and teams having sensational seasons. Following the All-Star Game, the second half of the season will be in full swing. Here are the top 10 outfielders at the midway point of the season.
MORE: MLB Rankings: Top 10 catchers at the All-Star break
Still on the injured list, Judge is easily a top 10 outfielder. He was posting big numbers prior to injury. A strong return to the field can have him get back into the AL MVP race.
The Phillies are battling for the division, and Marsh is having a career year. He has been one of the most consistent hitters in Philadelphia’s lineup. He’s earned every accolade he will receive this season.
Harris is having a special season. In recent years, he’s started slowly. However, this season he hit the ground running out of the gate.
Pages continues to stand out in a star-studded lineup. He has driven in many runs for the Dodgers. He can reach 100 RBI by the end of the season.
Reynolds is having one of the best seasons of his career. He’s hit for power and average. He’s always been a special hitter, but he’s staying healthy in 2026.
MORE: MLB Rankings: Top 10 second basemen at the All-Star break
Buxton has previewed his talent ahead of the trade deadline. He is currently second in home runs among MLB outfielders. Following the All-Star Game, his days are numbered before he is traded by the Twins.
Walker is having a tremendous season. He’s hit for power and reached base often. He earned an NL All-Star spot and won the 2026 Home Run Derby.
A slow start is in the rearview mirror. Crow-Armstrong currently ranks tied for fourth in home runs among MLB outfielders. He has become the best hitter in Chicago’s lineup.
Soto continues to prove he’s a generational talent. He currently leads MLB outfielders in OPS. There isn’t anything he cannot do at the plate.
Wood is having a great season. He’s blossomed into one of the best young power-hitting outfielders. His production earned him an NL All-Star spot.
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PHILADELPHIA — Cody Bellinger went seven years between All-Star Game appearances.
It was worth the wait.
The Yankees outfielder was voted MVP of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game after he delivered the decisive hit in the American League’s 4-0 victory at Citizens Bank Park.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the first, Bellinger lined a two-run single against National League starter Cristopher Sanchez to break a scoreless tie.
Yankees teammate Ben Rice followed with an RBI single, putting the AL up, 3-0.
Bellinger finished 1 for 3 with two RBIs and was removed in the sixth inning.
The MVP honor capped a memorable return to the Midsummer Classic for Bellinger, who was making his third All-Star appearance.
His previous two selections came in 2017 and 2019 when he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bellinger, who turned 31 on Monday, endured a winding road back to this point, including a dislocated right shoulder in October 2020 that required surgery.
Following the surgery, Bellinger’s numbers dropped dramatically over the next two seasons, and the Dodgers non-tendered him after the 2022 campaign. Bellinger spent two seasons with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the Yankees, with whom he’s spent the past two years.
Bellinger, who has 11 home runs and a .766 OPS this season, initially made the All-Star roster as a reserve, but he started in right field Tuesday due to injuries to teammate Aaron Judge and Minnesota’s Byron Buxton.
Bellinger is the fourth Yankee to win the All-Star Game MVP, joining Derek Jeter (2000), Mariano Rivera (2013) and Giancarlo Stanton (2022).
NASHUA — Aiden O’Connell has settled into a summer routine.
The Bedford resident and pitcher starts once a week for the defending New England Collegiate Baseball League champion Keene Swamp Bats. On his off days, O’Connell does mobility training, throwing sessions and watches baseball with his teammates.
“That’s really the best part,” said O’Connell, a lefty who pitched the Swamp Bats to a 2-1 exhibition win over the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League on Monday night at Holman Stadium. “It’s been a pleasure being here.”
The seven-inning bout was the first ever between the state’s only summer collegiate baseball teams and the inaugural game of the “Granite State Showdown.” The teams will meet again on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Alumni Field in Keene.
O’Connell, who allowed one run and struck out seven over five innings against Nashua, said the routine has been beneficial.
“After a couple weeks or so, you realize, ‘Oh, this is what I do.’ ...and it relieves a lot of pressure on the mound when you’re out there,” said O’Connell, who grew up in Goffstown before his family moved to Bedford before his senior year of high school. “You know you’ve done all the work to be able to succeed.”
The 2023 Gatorade New Hampshire Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Bedford High, O’Connell played his first season at Duke University this past spring.
The Vanderbilt transfer pitched mostly in relief for the Blue Devils, posting an 0-1 record, seven saves and a 6.67 ERA. O’Connell recorded 34 strikeouts over 27 innings.
With the Swamp Bats, O’Connell has started five games, posting an 0-2 record and 6.14 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings.
O’Connell, who played for the Silver Knights in 2023, is part of a new Granite State contingent at Duke.
O’Connell was roommates last year with Swanzey resident and former Swamp Bat Ben Dean, a fellow pitcher and his former AAU baseball teammate. Blue Devils sophomore infielder Will Shaheen is from Portsmouth.
Last season was the first for Manchester’s Corey Muscara as Duke’s head coach. The former Trinity High School star’s coaching staff includes former Southern New Hampshire University coach Scott Loiseau.
“Having those four guys with me,” O’Connell said, “it just makes it much easier knowing that even if you’re from a part of the (country) no one really knows and you get down to the ACC and the SEC, in the back of my mind I know anyone can do it.”
O’Connell considers himself a versatile pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and a changeup.
Seventh-year Swamp Bats manager Shaun McKenna said O’Connell’s pitching style is like his personality: high energy. McKenna and the coaching staff are working with O’Connell to perfect his changeup.
McKenna is an old-school manager, O’Connell said. When McKenna talks with O’Connell during a mound visit, he’s direct about how he feels O’Connell is pitching.
“That’s the criticism I like,” O’Connell said. “He keeps it very simple — no need to overthink.”
Next season at Duke, O’Connell said he wants to take the mound with confidence and feel like he’s “the guy,” as he has this summer with Keene.
McKenna, an assistant baseball coach at Keene State, said he believes O’Connell, if he makes some strides, can be a starter next spring for Duke.
“If he really works on his command, I think he could be a mid-week or Sunday starter for them. I do,” McKenna said. “He’s definitely a special kid.”
Kingsburg High pitcher Jensen Hirschkorn has reportedly signed a record deal with the Atlanta Braves.
The video above is from an earlier story and will be updated.
According to MLB.com's Jim Callis, the Atlanta Braves have signed Hirschkorn to a $4 million signing bonus, making it the highest signing for a draftee after the second round.
3rd-rder Jensen Hirschkorn signs w/@Braves for $4 million, all-time @MLBDraft record for after 2nd rd (Brock Porter, $3.7 mil). Slot 84 value = $973,700. California HS LHP, 6-foot-7, easy mid-90s fastball, promising low-80s slider, feel for mid-80s changeup. @LSUbaseball recruit. pic.twitter.com/P9TxHgBx5f
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 14, 2026
The previous record was set back in 2022 when the Texas Rangers signed their fourth-round pick, Brock Porter, for $3.7 million. Porter was also a high school pitching prospect.
Hirschkorn was drafted in the 3rd round, 84th overall, on Saturday. The value of Hirschkorn's draft slot was $973,000.
The Kingsburg Viking was signed to play for LSU's baseball program next year but is now reportedly forfeiting his NCAA college eligibility to join the Braves' minor league system.
There was a comeback at MLB’s Home Run Derby on Monday night. And no, we’re not talking about Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker’s rally to overtake Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. We’re talking about Netflix, which bounced back strongly following its critically panned coverage of MLB Opening Night.
The streaming giant’s coverage of Yankees-Giants from Oracle Park in San Francisco in March amounted to one big Netflix ad. There was shirtless comedian Bert Kreischer in a branded Netflix kayak in McCovey Cove, Little Brother star John Cena trying to explain ABS, Stranger Things teasers, etc.
Netflix has a three-year, $150 million deal with MLB to show Opening Night, the Home Run Derby, and a special event like the upcoming “Field of Dreams” game. Well, let’s give the sports team at Netflix credit for learning quickly and not making the same mistakes again.
During its debut coverage of the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Netflix let the event come to them. It focused on the action on the field; not itself.
Led by host Elle Duncan, I thought the streamer’s Home Run Derby coverage was light-years better than Opening Night. The studio team of Duncan, Barry Bonds, Anthony Rizzo, Albert Pujols, plus play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian was looser, funnier, more relaxed. They kept the focus on mechanics and the mindset necessary to pound baseballs into the distant stands. They let the event breathe—which is saying something given this was only its second MLB event ever.
Still, Netflix is going to Netflix. There was one big swing and a miss. Viewers rightly panned funnyman Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, and Jimmy Tatro for their awkward attempt to tout their Netflix show The Hawk. Their jokes weren’t funny and their antics only took away from player introductions.
One viewer wrote on X/Twitter: “Ben Rice was in diapers the last time Will Ferrell was funny please don’t put him on my screen again.” As my Front Office Sports colleague Ryan Glasspiegel tweeted, “The only person who gets booked and ever says anything funny in these scenarios is Shane Gillis.”
Netflix also needs to improve its camera angles, which generated numerous complaints across social media. Again, a less-is-more approach is the way to go. Don’t try to reinvent something sports television has perfected over the decades.
Some other observations:
With more than 325 million subscribers globally, Netflix is here to stay in big-time sports. Given its bounce-back performance last night, I will be curious whether it can keep up the momentum during the “Field of Dreams” game between the Phillies and Twins from the cornfields of Iowa on Aug. 13.
Again, it’s not rocket science. Keep the focus on baseball, not cross-promotion. Netflix mostly did that Monday night. It’s a promising sign for its future sports coverage.
The post Netflix Bounces Back With Home Run Derby Debut appeared first on Front Office Sports.
The 2026 MLB season has reached the All-Star break. This season has shown many players and teams having sensational seasons. Following the All-Star Game, the second half of the season will be in full swing. Here are the top 10 second basemen at the midway point of the season.
MORE: MLB Power Rankings: All 30 teams ranked ahead of the 2026 All-Star Game
Chisholm is hitting for power and stealing bases. His batting average has struggled, but he’s doing damage at the plate. The question remains whether he will be a Yankee in 2027.
The White Sox are competing for the division, and their second baseman is having a strong season. He has shown the ability to reach base at a high clip. He has produced borderline All-Star numbers.
The rookie is having a strong season. He’s put his bat-to-ball skills on display and hit for power. He will be a finalist for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Arraez is arguably the best hitter in MLB. He currently leads MLB second basemen in hits. His name can be among those available at the trade deadline.
The veteran is having the best season of his career. His production led to him being named the starting second baseman for the AL All-Star team. There isn’t anything he can’t do in 2026.
Edwards is having an underrated season. Miami is competing, and its second baseman continues to produce. He is second in hits among MLB second basemen.
Albies has put his power on display this season. He is producing, and the Braves are leading the NL East. He continues to be one of the game’s best second basemen.
Another season, and Marte is among the best players at the position. He is currently second in home runs among MLB second basemen. He can reach 30 home runs by the end of the season.
Lowe has been better than advertised in his first season with Pittsburgh. He currently leads MLB second basemen in home runs. He can reach 40 home runs by the end of the season.
Turang has blossomed into one of the game’s top second basemen. He is among the second base leaders in home runs and stolen bases. His production has Milwaukee leading the NL Central.
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The 2026 MLB season has reached the All-Star break. This season has shown many players and teams having sensational seasons. Following the All-Star Game, the second half of the season will be in full swing. Here are the top 10 catchers at the midway point of the season.
MORE: MLB Power Rankings: All 30 teams ranked ahead of the 2026 All-Star Game
Jeffers missed a few months of the season but is back in action. Before the injury, Jeffers was leading MLB catchers in OPS. A strong second half of the season can see him finish with career highs across the board.
Rutschman is having a turnaround season. He lowered his strikeout rate and hit the ball with authority. This is great news for the Orioles.
The Kansas City rookie is having a strong season. His power gives the team an easy transition from Sal Perez at the catcher position. He has allowed Kansas City to give Perez more at-bats at DH.
The rookie continues to produce for Baltimore. He is currently fourth in home runs among MLB catchers. His name is in the race for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
In two seasons, Baldwin has become one of the game’s best catchers. He is currently fifth in home runs among MLB catchers. He will be a mainstay in Atlanta’s lineup for years to come.
The Brewers lead the NL Central and are receiving great production from their catcher. At the All-Star Break, Contreras leads all MLB catchers in hits. He is having one of the best seasons of his career.
Hicks’ season isn’t receiving enough praise. He’s producing for a Miami team in the hunt for a playoff spot. He is currently tied for sixth in home runs among MLB catchers.
Langeliers has blossomed into one of the best-hitting catchers in MLB. He continues to produce while hitting at the heart of the Athletics’ batting order. In a few more seasons, his power will be on display in Las Vegas.
Enough can’t be said about the Detroit catcher’s season. He’s hit for power throughout the season. He is the leading MLB catcher in RBI.
Goodman is having a sensational season. He is leading MLB catchers in home runs. A strong second half can see him finish the season with the most home runs from the catcher position.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
PHILADELPHIA — Like several of the contestants in Monday night’s MLB Home Run Derby, Netflix’s first broadcast of the competition started slow.
Bouncing between announcers in a booth and on the field limited the show’s momentum for what is arguably sports’ last great exhibition. Close-up camera angles of hitters hid a bit too much from viewers. Commercial breaks right after a contestant’s final swing took air out of the broadcast, as did a last-chance magenta ball (sponsored by T-Mobile) of which none of the boppers seemed capable of taking advantage. During an elaborate player intro sequence, hometown hero Bryce Harper momentarily appeared to nearly destroy the home plate-shaped boxing ring that had been set up where second base would normally be.
But everybody settled in, with time to do so thanks to the league’s return to an untimed format. Playing at home, Kyle Schwarber did just enough to advance to the second round, even if Harper didn’t. Then Phillies fans came alive at the chance to boo everybody in Schwarber’s way as he swung into the finals—only for 24-year-old Jordan Walker to stun the crowd with six straight homers, ending the night $1 million richer. Everyone except for the diehard Phanatics came out a winner.
“What a win this is for our sport,” Netflix analyst Anthony Rizzo said at the end of the night.
An era of on-demand highlight reels has taken much of the allure out of sports’ all-star competitions. The NBA Dunk Contest hasn’t been won by an actual all-star since 2018. The NFL’s Pro Bowl Games are on life support, and the NHL’s skills challenges have ceded the ice to international competitions each of the last two seasons.
MLB’s derby has more successfully maintained its cultural cachet, thanks largely to big-name players participating—including three of the top four HR hitters so far in 2026—a clear night on the sports calendar in the middle of summer, and the almost unspoilable joys of watching men crush baseballs.
passan is a moron https://t.co/xSTkjzLpzT
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 14, 2026
Netflix paid a reported $50 million annually for the Derby, along with an Opening Night game and midseason Field of Dreams contest.
The mash-fest seems to fit the streamer’s sweet spot of entertainment-heavy sporting events, though if anything, its presentation of the derby felt surprisingly subdued in comparison to past spectacles.
Save for a Will Ferrell cameo and a couple appearances from boxing announcer Michael Buffer, there weren’t many crossovers in Citizens Bank Park. What started out as a comedy was allowed to become a drama. The boxing ring metaphor was largely abandoned once the competition began, even though there were more opportunities to mix baseball’s tradition of walkup music with fight sports’ swaggering walkouts. There also weren’t many sabermetrics stuffed into the show. And for all its gimmicks, the derby remains blissfully devoid of challenges, reviews, or automated calls.
Instead, the swingers shined. In the first round, each participant got 20 swings, with the top four advancing to head-to-head semis and finals. If the format has a fault, it’s that it starts slow, and ends too quickly. But a condensed final meant that every pitch came with stakes. And in an exhibition, that’s all you can ask for.
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SIOUX CITY, IA (KCAU) – Here is a look at the best plays of the week from Siouxland sports!
5. Number five, Sioux City North softball’s Aliyah Moon comes swooping in from third base to catch the bunt off the Des Moines Lincoln batter!
4. Number four, we head to Orange City, as Sioux Central visits Unity Christian for a postseason matchup. The hit goes deep, but the Rebels’ fielder Jack Christian comes from out of frame and lays out for the catch. But that wasn’t enough. Like SpongeBob, he says, ” You wanna see me do it again?” Well, the next at-bat almost goes to the same spot, and who else is there but Christian, making another diving snag for the out!
3. That takes us to number three from Sioux City West softball, Kiarah Hummel slaps one out to left. Ball gets booted by the outfielder, that’ll bring in Evangela Heyward, and just a few seconds like a jetliner, Hummel slides in for an inside-the-park homer!
2. Number two, the Explorers hosted the Saltdogs Friday night, and after finding themselves down 6-1 in the bottom of the 7th, they clawed their way back and tied it, taking the visitors to the 11th inning when Braulio Vasquez would hit a 2 RBI single into the outfield and help Sioux City win it 9-8!
1. But our top play of the week comes from Moc-Floyd Valley pitcher Brooks McCarty. After the pitch, he makes an acrobatic move to snag the ball behind his back while doing the splits, then throws out the runner heading home!
Stay tuned for next week’s top moments!
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.The Colorado Rockies over the weekend stocked the cupboard in the MLB Draft. How well they stocked it is a game of wait and see.
Considering they locked up three highly touted college players in the first 40 picks of the first day of the draft, might the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes be seeing some of the new Rockies sooner rather than later?
Maybe. While a bit optimistic, it isn't out of the question for the Rockies' first three draft picks over the weekend to be making Albuquerque debuts as soon as next season.
Tyler Bell
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School: Kentucky
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Position: SS
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Pick: 10th overall (1st round)
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MLBPipeline draft rank: 10
How's this for a connection? Bell went to high school at Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort, Illinois; played travel ball for the Cangelosi Sparks in Illinois; and was drafted out of Kentucky as a star SEC shortstop. Current Isotopes SS Ryan Ritter was a fourth-round draft pick in 2022 who went to the same high school, played for the same travel club and was drafted out of Kentucky.
Slowing Bell's path for now is that he played this past season with a tear in his non-throwing shoulder that will require surgery.
"We're going to let our medical people take a look at it and make a decision on that," Rockies Assistant General Manager Tommy Tanous said of Bell's timeline with the injury. "It's probably too early for us to comment on that."
The Rockies' shortstop position is getting crowded, but Bell could still be a fast riser once healthy and could be in Albuquerque in 2027.
Daniel Jackson
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School: Georgia
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Position: C
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Pick: 37th overall (1st round)
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MLBPipeline draft rank: 28
He's the 2026 Golden Spikes Award winner out of Georgia. Sound familiar? Current Isotopes slugger and the Rockies No. 2 overall prospect Charlie Condon was the 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner out of Georgia and is on a fast track of his own to the Majors.
Jackson just became the first Division I catcher to hit 25 home runs and steal 25 bases in a season.
Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta said of Jackson and third round pick Jack Natili, a catcher out of the University of Cincinnati, that both will have long big-league careers.
Logan Reddemann
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School: UCLA
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Position: RHP
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Pick: 38th overall (2nd round)
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MLBPipeline draft rank: 31
Reddemann might be the one most ready to get to Albuquerque, at least, based on having as wide variety of high-command pitches as you'll see at the college level — not just two good pitches like many players have when they go pro.
"This is one of the bigger arsenals that you'll see. It's almost a professional arsenal," Tanous said.
Trivia time!
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QUESTION: The Golden Spikes Award has been awarded to the top amateur baseball player since 1978 — dubbed by some the "Heisman Trophy" of baseball. This year's winner Daniel Jackson may find his way soon to Albuquerque after being drafted by the club over the weekend. Current Isotopes slugger Charlie Condon is a past winner of the prestigious honor.
Counting Condon, how many Golden Spikes Award winners have played professional baseball for the Albuquerque Isotopes and/or the Albuquerque Dukes?
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ANSWER: See below...
Know the foe
But first, we rest. Yes, the Isotopes return to action this week, just not until Friday at home after the All-Star break for an abbreviated three-game Pacific Coast League series vs. Sacramento at Rio Grande Credit Union Field.
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Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 46-47 overall (5th), 7-11 2nd half (t-6th)
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Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, 49-41 overall (3rd), 7-11 2nd half (t-6th)
Three up, three down
Some things that have been looking good lately for the 'Topes, some not so good.
Looking good:
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IF Adael Amador had 10 total bases in last week's series at Sugar Land, including his first home run (Saturday) since May 29 vs. El Paso — a 69-at-bat stretch.
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IF Nic Kent hit his 11th home run of the season on Saturday, matching a career high for a season (2023 at High-A Spokane).
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The Isotopes still lead the PCL in stolen bases with 139. Second place Round Rock is at 123.
Look away:
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The Isotopes lost Friday at Sugar Land 10-0, the worst shutout loss since a 14-0 loss at Oklahoma City on Aug. 27, 2023.
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With Sunday's loss in Sugar Land, the Isotopes lost the series 1-5 and dropped to 46-47, below .500 for the first time since April 29 (14-15).
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Since IF Chad Stevens had his Isotopes-record 51-game on-base streak (and a streak of 61 straight games on base overall dating back to 10 games with Salt Lake last season) come to an end on July 4, he's hitting .143 (3-for-21).
Fast food
Another two weeks away for the Topes and now some time off for the All Star break means these chile racers have been sitting out for a long time. Will they be fresh come Friday when they return to action, or stale?
2026 Season Standings (41 races):
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14 wins — Salsa Jar
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11 wins — Red Chile
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9 wins — Green Chile
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7 wins — Taco
Homestand highlights
Here's a brief look at what the Isotopes are doing when they do get back into action for their abbreviated three-game home series Friday through Sunday (6:35 p.m. first pitch, unless noted):
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Friday: Color your own hat giveaway to the first 2,000 fans through the gates.
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Saturday: Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico Night! Postgame fireworks, in game dancing and music.
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Sunday (6 p.m. first pitch): Looney tunes jersey giveaway for the first 2,000 fans. (NOTE: first pitch is at 6 p.m., not the usual 6:35 p.m., and gates open 90 minutes early at 4:30 p.m. for this game).
Trivia answer
There have been four past Golden Spikes Award winners who have suited up for an Albuquerque professional baseball team:
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Charlie Condon, 1B, University of Georgia 2024: 1st round draft pick of the Rockies in 2024, has played 79 games this season for the Isotopes.
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Kris Bryant, 3B, University of San Diego 2013: The former Cubs star signed with the Rockies in 2022 and is technically on the team's 40-man roster, but a back injury may prevent him from playing again. Over the past four seasons, he played in 15 games for the Isotopes (six in 2022, one in 2023, eight in 2024).
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Darren Dreifort, RHP, Wichita State 1993: The former L.A. Dodgers pitcher played 21 games for the Dukes in parts of 1995, 96 and 97.
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Tim Wallach, 1B, Cal State Fullerton 1979: Wallach could make this list twice, despite being drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1979. He played one game for the Dukes in 1995 and was the Isotopes manager in 2009 and 2010, winning the PCL Manager of the Year once and tying the franchis record for wins in 2009 with 80.
Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
PHILADELPHIA — The young upstart beat the veteran hometown hero in MLB’s Home Run Derby.
Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker upset Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the league’s home run contest before a raucous crowd at Citizens Bank Park, prevailing by a 12-11 score in the final. Walker completed a closing rally with six straight home runs on his final six swings to overtake Schwarber.
The 24-year-old Walker, a fourth-year player in the midst of a breakout season for the resurgent Cardinals, will gain a $1 million prize for winning the Home Run Derby—the largest part of the league’s $2.5 million prize pool for the event. Those winnings for Walker more than eclipse his entire 2026 salary of $799,400.
He is also the first Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby, despite a storied franchise history that includes former stars such as Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols.
Schwarber will get the $500,000 runner-up prize.
Bryce Harper, the other Home Run Derby competitor from the All-Star Game host club Phillies, did not advance beyond the first round.
Harper and five other Home Run Derby competitors—the Rays’ Junior Caminero, the Red Sox’ Willson Contreras, Royals’ Jac Caglianone, White Sox’ Munetaka Murakami, and Yankees’ Ben Rice—earned $150,000 each. Caminero also had the longest home run of the night, at 491 feet, to garner an additional $100,000.
Despite a move to an untimed competition format for the first time since 2014, this year’s Home Run Derby still moved with crispness and was complete before 10:40 p.m. ET. Instead of going by batter outs, as had been the case before the use of a timer, this year’s structure went by the number of swings.
Cheering on Schwarber’s run to the finals, the Philadelphia fans, meanwhile, are giving an even more definitively local feel to an All-Star Game missing MLB’s two biggest stars and many top pitchers.
The Home Run Derby was shown exclusively on Netflix for the first time, with the streaming giant picking up the rights previously held by ESPN.
Similar to the migration of sports content to streaming that has sparked governmental outcry elsewhere, Netflix carrying the derby prompted a predictable run of complaints from fans.
“I miss when the hardest part of watching sports was finding the remote,” read one typical fan complaint on social media. “Now I need a flowchart, six streaming services, QR codes, two-factor authentication, and blood samples just to watch guys hit the long balls us chicks dig so much.”
MLB’s strategy with placing the Home Run Derby on Netflix, though, was getting in front of a younger group of fans, and a larger collection of people as well. Netflix has a domestic reach of about 90 million homes, and has more than 325 million subscribers globally, and both measures are still growing. ESPN’s linear channel, by comparison, is in roughly 60 million U.S. households—down by 40% from a peak seen 15 years ago.
That strategy largely paid off for Netflix earlier this year for a season-opening MLB broadcast, despite some production issues for that Yankees-Giants contest.
The Home Run Derby production itself alternated between two different crews of talent. That collection of personalities was highlighted in part by MLB legends Barry Bonds and Pujols, MLB’s Nos. 1 and 4 all-time home run hitters.
The post Jordan Walker Edges Out Kyle Schwarber in New-Format Home Run Derby appeared first on Front Office Sports.
OTTUMWA — Jace Mitchell knew he would be inheriting the role as the ace of the pitching staff for the Ottumwa High School baseball team when the season began.
In his final game on the mound for the Bulldogs, Mitchell pitched like an ace allowing two runs on four hits while striking out 10 batters. It was a performance worthy of a postseason win.
Against many other pitchers, it would have been good enough to earn Mitchell a postseason win. Adam Bowman, however, ended up on top in a classic substate duel on Saturday at John Hart Stadium.
Bowman, one of the top 10 pitching prospects in the state, showcased his skills for 6 2/3 innings allowing just two infield singles to the Bulldogs and three total baserunners while striking out 13 batters. The Little Hawk senior came within one pitch of a complete-game effort, ultimately handing the ball over to Kane Willey, who struck out Quinn Larsen swinging with the final pitch clinching Iowa City High's 2-0 win over Ottumwa in the Class 4A, Substate 8 quarterfinals.
"When you play in the playoffs, it's always a grind game, especially in this type of match-up," Ottumwa High School head baseball coach Joey Mitchell said. "They had a pitcher on the mound that's been really good all season. He was really good again.
"When it comes to games like this, it comes down to a couple of timely hits. They got them. We didn't."
Jace Mitchell took over as Ottumwa's top pitcher midway through the season from one of the other state's top pitching prospects. Tucker Long wrapped up his final season of high school baseball pitching 20 innings in four starts, striking out 42 batters reaching 250 career strikeouts before moving on the begin his college baseball career at the University of Mississippi.
Mitchell finished an incredible senior season for the Bulldogs both on the mound and at the plate, recording a 1.47 ERA in 43 innings over eight starts while striking out 59 batters. Mitchell also finished leading Ottumwa at the plate with eight home runs, 39 RBIs and a .758 slugging percentage giving the Bulldog senior plenty of confidence heading to Central College to begin his own collegiate baseball career.
"It definitely gives me a lot of confidence that I can go in there and show everyone what I can do," Jace Mitchell said. "Definitely, when it comes to hitting, I kind of struggled early on and found it midway through the season. I just rode with it. I've pitched against a lot of good teams this year and done pretty well against most of them."
Mitchell met an early challenge on Saturday as Iowa City High (22-18) loaded the bases with one out in the opening inning, striking out the last two hitters to keep the Little Hawks off the board. Bowman responded by striking out the side in the opening inning on the way to retiring seven of Ottumwa's first nine hitters on strikeouts.
"I just had the ball moving really well," Bowman said. "I was able to throw all three of my off-speed pitches for strikes. When I can do that, it makes it pretty easy."
Iowa City High brought in the only two runs of the game thanks in large part the biggest swing of the game. Blaine Heick followed a lead-off single by Caden Pauli by driving a ball to center for an RBI double before stealing third base and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Crosby Newton, giving Bowman all the run-support necessary allowing only one ball to leave the infield in the contest retiring the potential tying run at the plate five times including four strikeouts of the potential tying run during the contest.
"When I take too much time in between pitches, that's usually when I get into trouble," Bowman said. "I try to keep my mojo working by going pitch to pitch. I just try to throw the ball and, hopefully, it goes where you want it."
Larsen reached twice in three trips to the plate against Bowman. Mitchell Jordan collected his team-leading 45th hit, beating out an infield single in the third inning for the Bulldogs.
"We were starting to see some things better once we started down the order for the third time," Joey Mitchell said. "We started putting some more balls in play, but it just started for us a little too late."
Iowa City High faced eighth-ranked Waukee Northwest (24-12) in the substate semifinals with the winner heading to third-ranked Indianola (31-4) on Wednesday for a state baseball tournament berth. Ottumwa ends the season with a record of 20-14 in Joey Mitchell's first year as the helm of the Bulldogs.
"Ottumwa baseball has always been a program that team's around the state recognize. We've always been able to put some really good teams together," Joey Mitchell said. "I just look forward to doing that each and every year."
Two Texas State baseball players were selected Sunday in the 2026 MLB draft. The Milwaukee Brewers picked Chase Mora 281st overall in the ninth round while the Houston Astros took Rashawn Galloway 481st overall in the 16th round.
Mora is the Bobcats' all-time leader in home runs, breaking current New York Yankees infielder Paul Goldschmidt's record this spring. But he's unlikely to do much hitting with the Brewers, who drafted him as a right-handed pitcher despite Mora having pitched only 1⅓ innings in college. His last appearance came in May during a blowout loss to UTSA. He struck out a batter and allowed no runs in one frame.
MORE:Chase Mora gave his all to Texas State baseball. He leaves as a Bobcats legend
Mora, 22, initially came to Texas State in 2022. He told the American-Statesman in May that most schools wanted him as a pitcher - he reportedly was clocked in the low 90s at Tomball High School - and the Bobcats were one of a few programs willing to let him be a two-way player. After recovering from Tommy John surgery in the fall, he had an all-time freshman season at the plate, hitting 17 homers. He never quite recaptured that form throughout the rest of his career, but still had several defining moments, including a go-ahead, two-run blast that sealed Texas State's 5-4 win over USC in the College Station regional.
Galloway played right field for Texas State as a senior, but the Astros drafted him as a catcher. He spent most of his college career dealing with injuries, finally breaking out in 2026 as the Bobcats' best all-around hitter. He recorded a .318 batting average and a .948 on-base plus slugging percentage, striking out 23 times in 264 at-bats.
Galloway hit 11 homers as a senior, but will likely hit more for contact than power in the pros. His defensive utility will be useful as he navigates his way through the minor leagues.
This article originally published at Brewers draft Texas State baseball's all-time home run leader Chase Mora as a pitcher.
PHILADELPHIA — MLB’s All-Star Game activities in the City of Brotherly Love are in full flight, with Monday’s Home Run Derby featuring a new broadcaster and a star-filled lineup, and Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic set to happen despite the mounting player absences.
But could this be the last All-Star Game for the foreseeable future?
The league is approaching its midseason showcase in a particularly delicate position. On one hand, the game has arguably never been stronger, and key business metrics support that notion. Attendance is up again this season, entering the break with a 1.5% increase in the per-game average to 29,169, and is in line to end with a fourth straight annual boost—something that hasn’t happened since 2004–07. National TV audiences also are growing, with a new set of short-term rights deals paying significant dividends.
Most recently, NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Baseball coverage of a Yankees–Red Sox averaged 4 million viewers, the most for MLB in that window on any network in 15 years.
All of those gains, in part, continue to benefit from the impactful introduction of the pitch clock in 2023 and the automated ball-strike (ABS) system this year. A strategy to place more games in national broadcast windows, modeled somewhat on other major sports leagues, is similarly driving wider fan awareness and appeal.
On the other hand, MLB and the MLB Players Association are in the early stages of what has already been a rocky labor negotiation—with an ownership lockout widely expected when the current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Management is proposing a wide range of massive changes to the sport and how it operates, including a hard salary cap and floor, new limitations on how and when amateur players become professionals, and heavy restrictions on free-agent contracts.
“The perception among our fans is really strong that we have a lack of competitiveness,” said league commissioner Rob Manfred.
Not surprisingly, players have staunchly opposed all of that, and instead are attempting to increase their access to free agency and salary arbitration.
So MLB is staging this All-Star Game amid a particularly thorny problem: the game continues to grow in stature and popularity, but team owners are also seeking an overhaul of the economic model in order to promote better competitive balance.
Those labor issues are expected to be front and center when Manfred and MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer meet separately with the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday morning.
The Cubs and Chicago’s Wrigley Field are set to host the 2027 All-Star Game. Ever since that announcement nearly a year ago, though, there have been plenty of questions about whether that event will happen. An extended labor stoppage would eliminate part or all of the 2027 season—possibly wiping out the All-Star Game.
While both sides are well aware of all the gains in fan interest that will be forfeited in such an absence from play, the current ideologies of the team owners and players could hardly be further apart.
“I think, honestly, the league has done us a favor because their proposals are, in fact, so obviously and extremely bad for players at all levels that it’s actually been a benefit for our unity,” said MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer. “Anybody’s who’s banking on Major League Baseball players cracking: it’s never happened. It’s not going to happen.”
MLB has not missed games due to labor issues since the bruising 1994–95 round of bargaining that led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series.
“Of course [I worry about a work stoppage]. We want to make an agreement,” Manfred said last month. ‘We’re open to whatever ideas people have, but we need a realistic framework that addresses the fans’ concerns about competitive balance and you just can’t ignore that financial penalties have not gotten it done for us.”
The post MLB All-Star Break: League Growth Shines, Labor Fight Looms appeared first on Front Office Sports.
Jul. 12— The Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team scored three times in the top of the seventh inning as it walked away with a 6-3 win at Kasson Sunday.
Cooper Jacobsen had a homer and two RBIs for Post 91 (8-3 overall) and John Rollie scored the win in relief.
Austin pitching: John Rollie (W) 1 1/3 IP, 2 BB, 0 R, 4 K; Jonah Klein, 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 K
Austin hitting: Rollie, 1-for-4, R; Keagen Duholm, 1-for-4, RBI, R; Haydn Quitmeyer, 1-for-2, double, R, 2 BBs; Benton Purkapile, 2-for-4, R; Cooper Jacobsen, 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, R; Kam Lundberg, 1-for-3, RBI
PHILADELPHIA — MLB’s Home Run Derby will feature a particularly lucrative opportunity for four of its eight participants, while also offering a big dose of hometown heroes and veteran star power.
The league’s retooled home run contest set for Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, a key part of a new-look run of All-Star Game events, will again feature a $2.5 million prize pool. The payouts, set in the current labor deal between MLB and the MLB Players Association, include:
That $1 million top prize is more than the entire 2026 MLB salary for half of the Home Run Derby field: the Royals’ Jac Caglianone ($784,000), the Rays’ Junior Caminero ($794,800), the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker ($799,400), and the Yankees’ Ben Rice ($845,800). These younger MLB players are not yet eligible for salary arbitration or free agency.
The expanded Home Run Derby prize pool, first introduced in 2019 and a fixture since then, has been an important tool to boost the event’s allure for players, and has certainly aided in bringing in younger talent.
Pete Alonso, now with the Orioles but the 2019 and 2021 winner while still with the Mets, famously said he used Home Run Derby prize money to help pay for his wedding, while also donating 10% to two charitable organizations aiding military veterans.
Caminero won $500,000 last year in this event, placing second behind winner Cal Raleigh of the Mariners.
The financial reward for winning the Home Run Derby is less singularly impactful for the other half of the 2026 field: the White Sox’ Munetaka Murakami ($17 million), the Red Sox’ Willson Contreras ($18 million), and the Phillies’ Bryce Harper ($26.1 million) and Kyle Schwarber ($30 million).
With the MLB All-Star Game events no longer featuring megastars Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, both battling injuries, the presence of Schwarber and Harper is becoming even more important. The duo represents the first pair of teammates to be in a Home Run Derby while their home market is hosting since the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour in Miami in 2017, and just the third overall.
Schwarber and Harper famously battled in the final of the 2018 Home Run Derby in Washington, D.C., when Harper was a member of the Nationals and Schwarber was with the Cubs. Harper won that matchup, 19–18.
“Having a rematch of ‘18 would be pretty cool to see, too,” Schwarber said. “I think it would be fun for everyone, not just Philly, but the game and for the people watching.”
This year’s Home Run Derby, meanwhile, will feature a return to an untimed formatfor the first time since 2014, though it will be based on total swings instead of outs.
The post MLB Home Run Derby Could Net Young Stars Big Payday appeared first on Front Office Sports.
Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.
The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition to your specific roster.
To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.
⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
(POWER SURGE, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)
Perhaps we forgot about Ewing, but the rookie is hitting .298/.368/.512 in his last 35 games with six home runs, 18 RBI, and five steals. He has three home runs in his last five games and has started to lift the ball a touch more, which has led to far more barrels. On the season, he has a 36.4% fly ball rate with the Mets, but in his last 15 games (where he has a 14.7% barrel rate), that fly ball rate has increased to 41.2%. His launch angle hasn't gone out of whack, but he's just finding more pitches that he can elevate and drive out of the park. It's a nice adjustment to see from a rookie.
Sunday update: Ewing has hit lead-off for the Mets in seven straight games, including against the left-handed Payton Tolle on Sunday. Hitting directly in front of Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, and Francisco Lindor will be a huge boost to Ewing's fantasy value. There's a whiff of league-winning potential in the second half here.
(HOT STRETCH, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)
The narrative around Durbin at the beginning of the season was so toxic that we're not sure people realize how good he's been. When he started off the year poorly and Kyle Harrison, the pitcher he was traded for, dominated in Milwaukee, there was this pervasive idea that Durbin was a bust. However, it appears that he just needed to find his footing. In 32 games since June 1st, Durbin is hitting .288/.344/.568 with eight home runs, 21 runs scored, 17 RBI, and six steals. That's a 146 wRC+ and is exactly what people envisioned from the second-year hitter when moving into a park like Fenway. Perhaps it took Durbin a bit longer to adjust his approach. His pull rate is 51% during this stretch, but was just around 43% in Milwaukee last year. The Green Monster has come calling. Nick Gonzalez - 2B/3B/SS, PIT (37% rostered) is another option for batting average. Since June 1st, Nick Gonzales is hitting .320 in 34 games with three home runs, 23 runs scored, and 15 RBI. In that span, he is tied for the 6th-highest groundball rate in baseball at 59% (league average is 41%). On the season, he also has the 3rd-most groundball base hits in baseball with 45 (Otto Lopez has 60), and Gonzales has increased his groundball rate from last year to this year the 6th-most of any hitter in baseball. It's an approach that is clearly working for him and will work for fantasy managers if you need batting average.
Sunday update: Durbin reached base four more times in his last two games and moved up to fourth in the Red Sox's order on Saturday. He has a huge green up arrow.
(STARTING JOB, POWER POTENTIAL)
Last week, we mentioned that we were buying into Crews because we were betting on the quality of contact winning out over the poor June stats. Crews has then continued to hit, and even made Eric’s recent article on hitters who should see a second-half power surge, but his roster rate hasn't moved. In his last 20 games, Crews is hitting .274/.346/.397 with two home runs, 14 runs scored, and three steals. That has come with a 45% hard-hit rate, and a Pull Air% that should lead to more home runs. Yes, he is still chasing more than we'd like to see, and there remain some contact issues in his game, but we saw Jordan Walker take three separate seasons to finally have his approach click, so these are the types of gambles we should be making when the results are at least solid.
(COORS FIELD, POWER UPSIDE)
Despite putting up a nearly .900 OPS over his first month, Carrigg's playing time seemed at jeopardy with Mickey Moniak's recent return to the Rockies' outfield Brenton Doyle due back soon. Yet, Doyle's rehab has stalled a bit which should keep the door open for Carrigg. Just bear in mind that he's struck out in seven of his last 11 at-bats and he doesn't have a hit since Tuesday.
(STARTING JOB, AVERAGE/SPEED UPSIDE)
Rocchio went through a cold stretch in June that saw him get dropped in a lot of places, but he's back to producing again. Over his last 20 games, he's hitting .293/.329/.440 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and three steals. He has seven home runs and a career-high 15 steals on the season and continues to make more contact than he has before. He's just 25 years old, so there is reason to believe he will continue to make strides. In deeper formats, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer- SS, ATH (3% rostered) seems to be playing every day even with Tyler Soderstrom back off the IL and could play more if Zeck Gelof's knee injury causes him to miss time. The 23-year-old is an elite contact hitter with a 96% zone contact in Triple-A and a 98% mark so far in his MLB career. He will chase outside of the zone, but almost always at pitches he can hit. That's been a bit harder for him in the big leagues, but this is not a guy who hits the ball overly hard, so you don't need to worry about his power production. He hit .352 in 42 games at Triple-A and is 15-for-34 to begin his MLB career. He also stole 27 bases last year in the minors and had 15 in 75 minor league games this year, so perhaps he can be a batting average and steals asset.
(STARTING JOB, HOT STREAK)
We covered Karros a couple of weeks ago during "Rockies Week," but he probably deserves more love. Since June 1st, he's hitting .333/.433/.618 with five home runs, 24 runs scored, and 16 RBI. That has come with an 11% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate, so even though some of the power production could be aided by a lot of recent home games, Karros is making tons of hard contact. We also know that is approach at the plate is tremendous, so if there is going to be hard contact on top of that, he could be an interesting fantasy player. We know you've forgotten about Curtis Mead - 1B/2B/3B, WAS (22% rostered), but he remains a solid player. Even in his last 15 games, he's hitting .279/.333/.557 with four home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBI, and two steals. He plays pretty much every day for the Nationals and hits third in the lineup. We're not sure why he was dropped in so many leagues.
(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)
There may not be a better speed pick-up on the wire in many leagues right now. Since June 1st, Nunez is 3rd in baseball with 11 steals. However, instead of that being empty speed, he's also hitting .356/.420/.456 with 15 runs and 12 RBI in 30 games. Yes, this is mainly a speed play, but if he can even keep a .270 average, that's going to be incredibly valuable to your fantasy teams.
(POWER/SPEED UPSIDE, STREAKY PLAYER ON HOT STREAK)
We featured Mitchell a bunch earlier in the season, and he's back to putting up really solid numbers. Over his last 20 games, he has a .328/.397/.574 slash line with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and nine RBI. That's with an 18.6% barrel rate and a 53.5% hard-hit rate. The tools have always been loud, but the plate approach has been the question. Over this stretch, he has a 15.3% swinging strike rate, but his 29.7% chase rate and 82.2% zone contact rate are actually improvements from what we've seen before and are more in line with MLB averages. Perhaps he is improving his approach after all. Another streaky outfielder add could be Josh Lowe - OF, LAA (2% rostered), who has hit .316 with two home runs, 8 runs scored, 6 RBI, and 2 steals in 12 games since being back. That comes with a 48.3% hard-hit rate and 22.5% strikeout rate, but nearly 18% SwStr%, so, much like Mitchell, some contact and approach concerns may come back to bite him. However, as we've seen from Esmerlyn Valdez, who also has massive contact concerns, sometimes that approach can lead to a scorching hot few weeks.
(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE, GREAT LINEUP)
As we mentioned last week, you're probably not getting much speed from Edman anymore due to his myriad lower-body injuries. He had just nine steals in 134 games in 2024 and 2025 combined, and now has two steals in just three attempts in 19 games this season since being activated from the injured list. However, he is also hitting .351/.431/.491 in those games with nine RBI because he hits in the Dodgers' lineup. That's going to be production that helps if you need average and counting stats. Cole Young - 2B, SEA (13% rostered) was a player we highlighted earlier in the season and remain fans of. Over the last 15 games, he's hitting .250/.304/.519 with four home runs, nine runs scored, and seven RBI. The batting average over this stretch is not what we're used to, but he is starting to drive the ball a little more and get to the pull side more often (54% pull rate over this stretch). Like with Ewing, it's nice to see a young player adjusting and finding an approach that works for him, and we like that Young is finding more pitches he can drive out of the yard.
(NEW SPOT IN LINEUP, SPEED UPSIDE)
Over his last 20 games, Mangum is hitting .329/.376/.430 with one home run, 13 runs scored, six RBI, and five steals. Those five steals are tied for 13th in all of baseball over that stretch. When you factor in the runs he's also producing at the top of the lineup with Konnor Griffin hurt, Mangum is becoming a far more interesting fantasy pick-up. A prospect people forgot about because he didn't set the world on fire is JustinCrawford - OF, PHI (6% rostered), who has hit .350/.381/.433 over his last 20 games with eight runs scored, seven RBI, and three steals. It remains more of a profile that will help you in on-base percentage leagues, but he will also put up a solid batting average and should push 23-25 steals on the season. That might be more for five-OF leagues, but he has a skill set that can help.
(HOT STRETCH, DAILY MOVES PICK-UP)
Larnach is a good option if you're in a daily moves league or a mid-week lineup change league since he won't play against lefties. He was also in Eric's most recent article about hitters who should see a power boost in the summer. In that article, Eric mentioned that, since May 20th, Larnach is hitting .310/.378/.481 with four home runs. He does have just a 7.6% barrel rate and a 38% hard-hit rate. While he’s not knocking the cover off of the ball, he has a 26.2% Pull Air rate, so he is getting the ball in the air to the pull side far more often than league average, which means he's likely deserving of better than an 8.5% HR/FB rate. He has seemingly shortened his swing and changed his bat path, which is giving him a little more lift and getting him to be a bit less oppo-focused. He has only played over 112 games once in his career, so we're not banking on this being a rest-of-season add, but it's working right now.
Sunday update: Larnach has hit lead-off for the Twins against 23 straight right-handed pitchers and is 3-for-7 with two doubles and a walk so their in series against the Angels. He is highly productive in a platoon role.
(SOLID BATTING AVERAGE, RUNS UPSIDE)
Nootbaar also appeared in Eric's article on potential power surge, but in a spot of the article Eric reserved for players who need to pull the ball more to get to power. Nootbaar had the second-lowest Pull Air% of anybody on this list at 11.6%, but his blast per contact rate is an elite 19.8%, and he has a 10.1% barrel rate. Blasts are a Statcast metric that measures when a batter squares up a ball and does so at a high bat speed. According to Statcast research, blasts lead to a .563 batting average, 1.182 slugging percentage, and a +34 Run Value. Non-blasted batted balls average out to a .231 batting average, .295 slugging percentage, and -5 Run Value. So, pretty clearly, Blasts are usually balls that result in impactful contact, and it's worth noting that Nootbaar is making a ton of hard contact at high-end bat speeds. That could lead to some power boosts down the stretch. Tristan Peters - OF, CWS (7% rostered) is another low-rostered outfielder who has performed well this season. We admit that we were not (and potentially still are not) the biggest believers, but he is hitting .283/.333/.450 over his last 20 games with 13 runs scored and 10 RBI. He plays against all right-handed pitching and has just been a boring but solid piece for the White Sox.
Sunday update: Peters-mania hit a new high on Friday night when he hit for the cycle. His triple and home run came in the same inning as they poured it on against the Athletics and Peters was named to the All-Star team the following day. As a former Savannah Banana, his rise is one of the best stories in the league this season and should be given a more serious look while he's this red-hot.
(PLAYING TIME? POWER UPSIDE)
This was a turbulent week for Gonzalez. First, he was demoted back to Triple-A as Munetaka Murakami returned from the injured list to reclaim his spot at first base. Then, Gonzalez was traded to the Pirates on Friday night along with reliever Brandon Eisert for the 34th pick in Saturday's draft. Reports indicated that the Pirates went after Gonzalez to replace Konnor Griffin at shortstop in the short term. That was Gonzalez's primary position despite getting time at all four infield positions, but in two games since the trade Gonzalez hasn't started yet. Still, he did well to keep his head above water in his everyday stint with the White Sox and could provide some power in deeper leagues as a multi-eligible player. Keep an eye on how his playing time shakes out immediately after the break.
(STRONG SIDE PLATOON, POWER UPSIDE)
Conforto's playing time is ticking up a little bit since he starts against all righties, but he has just 42 plate appearances since June 19th, compared to 73 for Dansby Swanson, who plays every day and hits at the bottom of the lineup. That makes Conforto a better option for daily moves leagues, but he is hitting .308/.357/.641 in those 42 plate appearances with four home runs and nine RBI. We know that the ball flies out of Wrigley in the summer months, so this could be the time to scoop Confort. Another small sample size add could be Victor Bericoto - OF, SF (2% rostered) who has seen a decent chunk of playing time with Casey Schmitt sliding to third base while Matt Chapman is out. In 43 games at Triple-A this season, Bericoto hit .299/.355/.449 with six home runs, 32 runs scored, and 30 RBI. That came with a 50% hard-hit rate but also a 13% swinging strike rate. In his 59 MLB plate appearances, he has gone 17-for-58 (.293) with four home runs, nine RBI, one steal, and a 47% hard-hit rate. He has shown very little interest in taking a walk, but he has tremendous bat speed and has posted at least average zone contact rates in the minors, so it's a profile that can work.
Lambert has a good matchup this weekend against the Rangers and then won't pitch next week, so it's tough to add him in shallower formats now, but we just wanted to shout out that he's been a very solid starting pitching option for most of the season. To be honest, when we were intrigued by his first two starts in Houston back near the beginning of the season, we thought it would fizzle out pretty quickly. However, he has proven that he can elevate his four-seamer and then attack low with changeups to lefties and sweepers to righties. It works.
Sunday update: Lambert tossed another gem on Saturday, holding the Rangers to on run over six innings with seven strikeouts. He'll head into the All-Star break with a 3.14 ERA across 86 innings and has an arsenal that should keep him effective.
Too much is being made about Cavalli's velocity "drop" in his last start. He was only down about 0.6 mph from his season average. It's just that his start before against the Red Sox had a 1.5 mph velocity spike, so the drop seemed larger. But he made a start on short notice and on short rest in the heat, so he could start before his suspension kicked in. We would ignore that performance. Eric recorded a video on him last week with more details about what we like.
López has back-to-back starts where he's gone five innings, and he even threw over 80 pitches the last time out. No, we don't think he's going to replicate what he did for Atlanta when he was healthy in 2024, but he's a solid starting pitcher on a good team, and that's better than you can say for a lot of potential streamers out there on the waiver wire.
Sunday update: López took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday and allowed four runs in five innings. His stuff looked good though and his fastball-slider combo should keep him effective. He also slightly increased his pitch count again, up from 80 to 85.
We've had Gómez here a few times, and we know he only has five saves since June 12th, which doesn't feel like a lot, but it's actually tied for 12th in baseball with Raisel Iglesias, Riley O'Brien, and Mason Miller. On, and Gómez has a 2.61 ERA over that stretch. Yes, he doesn't strike people out, but he also doesn't walk guys, and so we'd rather a profile like Gómez's than somebody like Alex Lange, who has four saves over the same stretch but far bigger command issues.
Sunday update: make that six saves! Because Gómez notched the save for the Twins' on Saturday against the Angels.
Last week we said we still believe in Jared Jones, and so that feels pretty good after his start on Wednesday. Before that start, we mentioned that his Location+ was actually above-average despite coming off Tommy John surgery, and his 14.5% K-BB% and 16% swinging strike rate showed that he is missing bats. We saw the good version of what that can lead to on Wednesday, andEric recorded a video with some more detailed thoughts on the performance and the fantasy implications of it.
Sproat was featured in Eric’s article last week on starting pitchers to buy or sell as one of the better buy targets. Jake Bennett and Ian Seymour were also some options in that article who are no longer in the streaming category. After five straight games where Sproat hadn’t issued more than two walks, he had a rough command outing over the weekend in Arizona. Still, overall, Sproat is doing a better job of commanding his fastball up in the zone and his secondaries at the bottom for whiffs. His matchup this weekend against Pittsburgh is not ideal (they're a top 3 offense against RHP), but we think Sproat is worth a roster spot for his upside.
Sunday update: Sproat took a step backwards with a poor start on Saturday against the Pirates. It took him 83 pitches to only record nine outs and while he didn't give up much hard contact, his command was a bit of a mess and he struggled to put hitters away. We still like him as a second half breakout.
It seems that Seranthony Dominguez's struggles have finally cost him the closer's role. Lately, the White Sox have been using a two-man committee of Taylor and Sean Newcomb. Newcomb has been used to face mainly left-handers or has been the leftover reliever when Taylor is used in high-leverage spots in the seventh or eighth inning, so Newcomb has more saves than Taylor of late, but Taylor is the arm we want. He has electric stuff and is finally getting the chance to pitch in more traditional save spots, so we'd add him now before a hot stretch comes.
Sunday update: Taylor was used in his fireman role on Saturday, entering the game with a runner on third base and one out in the eighth. He struck out Shea Langeliers, got out of that jam, and then stuck around for the ninth inning to complete the save. That's now three save opportunities in his last four appearances.
Despite being eviscerated for seven runs by the Pirates on Sunday, we like Gasser moving forward. He's been up and down for the Brewers over the last few weeks despite pitching well every time his number is called. On a mostly regular schedule since the beginning of June, Gasser had a 3.60 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate, and 5.6% walk rate before Sunday's blowup. Now, he should maintain a rotation spot for the foreseeable future with elbow soreness landing Kyle Harrison on the injured list. He doesn't have over-powering stuff with a 92 mph fastball, but often locates it well and its shape helps it miss bats at the top of the zone. His sweeper is plus and is his primary pitch while he also leans on a sinker and cutter. It's a very Brewers profile and he should find success in the second half.
Ryan Helsley is out with another elbow injury and is going to get a second opinion, which is never something you want to hear. After that injury, Tyler Wells picked up the first two save chances, and he has pitched well as a reliever this season. He doesn't have a ton of strikeout upside, but as a former starter, he has a deep arsenal of pitches and his velocity has ticked up a bit in the bullpen. Andrew Kittredge also got a save on Thursday, and Felix Bautista should be back in late August, plus the Orioles are in last place in the AL East, so we wouldn't go crazy trying to figure out this bullpen.
Kilian is now the clear closer for the Giants and has the only saves on the team over the last three weeks. Of course, he also has a 9.53 ERA in 5 2/3 innings over that stretch, so that's not ideal. He doesn't miss a ton of bats, but he's probably the best reliever in this bullpen, so if you wanted to gamble, we guess he'd be the guy. . Clayton Beeter - RP, WAS (11% rostered) would be another low-rostered closer option. He has similar walk rate concerns to Kilian and an equally fine but not great 11.7% swinging strike rate. However, he pitches for a better team than Kilian and has allowed fewer hits on average this season. He still makes us nervous, but we can see taking the gamble.
Sunday update: Kilian had an ugly blown save on Friday night allowing three runs and not recording an out. Then, JT Brubaker nabbed the save for the Giants on Saturday. So, these roles may still be a bit turbulent.
If you're looking for a starting pitcher injury stash, it might be time to add Smith-Shawver. He is moving his rehab up to Triple-A this weekend and might be back in Atlanta in two weeks. The 23-year-old is an intriguing young arm, but he had a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 innings for the Braves last year with a 22% strikeout rate, so this isn't a high-end pitching prospect that you need to stash. Could he be a valuable arm for a good team? Yes, he could, but you don't need to drop a pitcher who is helping your team right now just to get Smith-Shawver on your squad.
We didn't love the Boston start because they're a much better offense against left-handed pitching, and some home runs really hurt Schultz in that one. Yes, he has had some issues with command throughout the season that make him hard to trust. But he has three fastball variations and a sweeper that should miss bats. It sometimes takes a while for pitchers to figure out how to get major league hitters out, but we think Schultz should have a better second half.
Cubs' closer Daniel Palencia is out with another arm injury, and the Cubs are trying to piece together something at the back end of their bullpen. While they will probably make a trade, both Webb and Trent Thornton - RP, CHC (1% rostered) have two saves over the last three weeks. Ryan Rolison has the other one, but also a 6.35 ERA in his last eight appearances. We think Webb is the better bet than Thornton, and he has more strikeout upside, but neither is a slam dunk. We'd see adding both of them if you were chasing saves, but don't expect some Bryan Baker type of breakout.
Sunday update: Thornton secured a one-out save for the Cubs on Saturday after Webb pitched a clean eighth inning against the heart of the Reds' order and Rolison ran into trouble in the ninth. Thornton and Webb seem like the players to roster here.
Thornton is back in the Mets' rotation and is through six scoreless innings on Sunday as of publishing this piece. He profiles as a crafty lefty without overpowering stuff, but has a really nice cutter that he leans on. Known as a bit of a command artisan, he can command that pitch beautifully on the edges of the plate and avoid hard contact. Putting hitters away will be another challenge, but he has a modicum of value as a back-end starter with a solid home park.
Sandoval made his first start in two years on Thursday and was far better than we expected. He sat 94.3 mph on his four-seam fastball and had an 88% strike rate on it. He then worked the slider and sinker off of it to lefties and the change and curve off of it to righties. The curve was a bit of a mess, but the changeup had a 22% swinging strike rate, and that has always been his bread and butter. If he can locate 94.5 mph well with a plus changeup, he'll be a solid streamer, but this is just a deep league add right now. He doesn't have any minor league options though, so he's up to stay, whether that's in Boston's rotation, their bullpen, or on another team.
Junk came off the IL on Thursday and allowed one run on three hits in five innings against the Mariners. He somehow had five strikeouts with just five whiffs, but his four-seam fastball was 94 mph with 19.1 inches of iVB. Somehow he got zero whiffs on it because the locations weren't great, but we dug the raw stuff in this one. He's got a true six-pitch mix, and if that fastball is going to keep that kind of vert, he's going to be a solid streaming option going forward.
If you're playing in NFBC or other weekly waiver wire redraft leagues, you know that this upcoming week is only three games due to the All-Star break. That means many of the starting pitchers you might normally stream are not going to pitch at all. You can choose to hold them on your roster, or you can drop them and stream a middle reliever or a multi-inning reliever to get a steal a win or get a few innings of solid production. Some of the ones we'd target, who aren't listed above, are:
Keider Montero - SP/RP, DET (15% rostered)
Ryan Zeferjahn - RP, LAA (2% rostered)
Dylan Dodd - RP, ATL (0% rostered)
Brent Headrick - RP, NYY (3% rostered)
Garrett Whitlock - RP, BOS (20% rostered)
Andrew Morris - SP/RP, MIN (5% rostered)
Steven Okert - RP, HOU (4% rostered)
The Curtis High School baseball program didn’t need to look beyond its dugout to find its next varsity baseball coach.
Nate Angelo, who has been an assistant to Bryan Robinson for 12 years, is taking over the program, the school announced this week. Robinson, who coached the Vikings for 14 years, stepped down after the 2026 season to spend more time with his two daughters, he told The News Tribune.
“It feels the same, I’ve been around (Curtis) for so long,” Angelo told The News Tribune on a phone call on Friday afternoon.
Angelo is a 1998 Curtis High School grad who played baseball for the Vikings before playing two seasons of Division III college baseball, one at the University of Mary Washington (formerly Mary Washington College) in Virginia, before returning home and playing his sophomore year at the University of Puget Sound.
Angelo then followed his high school sweetheart Jenny Swanson — now his wife, Jenny Angelo — to Texas Christian University, where Jenny received a soccer scholarship. Nate walked on to the baseball team there.
Their oldest son, Riley, graduated from Curtis this spring. He was a 4A SPSL all-league and TNT All-Area first-team selection after hitting .435 with six doubles and a home run in the spring, leading Curtis to the state tournament. Their middle son, Levi, plays soccer and football at Curtis, and their youngest, Gannon, played on the varsity baseball team as a freshman last spring.
“We put them in everything,” Angelo said. “Jenny and I wanted them to find their passion, learn to work hard. We think sports have taught us as much as life. It’s just worked out. It’s so fun to watch them come into their own.”
Angelo, who works for a wealth-management firm, also has been coaching a national travel team at New Level (Puyallup) the past few years and has a vision of fast-paced practices at Curtis.
“If we double down on discipline, have intent, fast-paced practice environments, we’re gonna be able to compete at a high level,” he said. “The more small-group attention, fast-paced, lots of reps, multiple balls moving in multiple directions, all of that helps slow the game down when you’re in the game.
“Our goal is to make practice fast, intense, competitive, all with the underlying idea of having a good time and having fun.”
Curtis posted a 17-9 record last spring and advanced to the Class 4A state tournament quarterfinals after knocking off West Valley of Yakima in the opening round.
The Rochester Red Wings defeated the Worcester Red Sox 10-3 Saturday at Polar Park.
Rochester opened the scoring in the first inning when Harry Ford hit a solo home run to left-center field.
Trey Lipscomb extended the lead in the second inning with a two-run homer to left, scoring Andrew Pinckney, who had singled earlier in the inning.
Cayden Wallace hit a grand slam in the fourth inning after Lipscomb singled, Joey Wiemer doubled and Riley Adams was hit by a pitch, giving Rochester a 7-0 lead.
The Red Wings added another run in the sixth inning when Christian Franklin and Wallace reached base before Ford doubled to left, making it 8-0.
Worcester scored its first run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Braiden Ward walked and scored on Nick Sogard's triple to right.
Rochester responded in the eighth inning when Adams doubled and scored on Franklin's groundout, extending the lead to 9-1.
The Red Sox added two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning when Max Ferguson walked and scored on Ward's triple to left, and Ward scored on Vinny Capra's groundout, cutting the deficit to 9-3.
Brady House hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to close out the scoring for Rochester.
Chandler Champlain was dominant, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Sogard's two-out RBI triple. Champlain earned the win for the Red Wings, allowing one run on one hit over six innings with three strikeouts and two walks. Michael Sansone took the loss for Worcester, giving up seven runs including three home runs over five innings.
Information gathered from milb.com.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Wallace grand slam sparks offense as Red Wings roll behind Champlain
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