On the other hand, Rainiers' Diaz gets the out
With a runner barreling towards first base, Jhonathan Diaz made an unorthodox decision. As the Triple-A Tacoma starter followed through in his delivery in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday night, the left-handed pitcher scampered to his right halfway up the third-base line and fielded a ground ball with
Ben's Biz: An evening with the (little) Giants
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. The following ballpark road trip recap is presented by Wyndham, proud sponsor of Minor League
Podcast: Ben returns from California adventure
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Wood Ducks' Figuereo on path to carving legacy
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Gleider Figuereo grew up in Las Matas de Farfán, Dominican Republic, with two former Rangers pitchers as his role models: his dad, Victor, and former Major Leaguer Edinson Volquez. Unlike his dad or Volquez, Figuereo showed potential at the plate and a love for playing the infield,
Isotopes strike a chord with latest Copa victory
The Isotopes understand the role that art plays in connecting with the local Albuquerque community. “If you talk to people in New Mexico, they won't really tell you that they're artists. It's just sort of in the soil here. Everyone is in some way connected to art,” said Ana Romero,
Check the Tale of the Tape: Skenes and Strasburg
Paul Skenes could be Stephen Strasburg. Stephen Strasburg could be Paul Skenes. Send Skenes back in time or bring Strasburg forward, and one easily could stand in for the other. Both overmatched college hitters, leading CAA Division I in strikeouts while posting the highest K rates in D-I history for
Wood excels as Nats' top 3 finds the fences
It's become glaringly clear over the past few years that the future in the nation’s capital is bright. The Nationals took a step forward in 2023 and are improving again this year with a young core led by C.J. Abrams and MacKenzie Gore. Not to mention that Washington has a
Isaac perfect, powerful in Hot Rods double dip
A doubleheader provided Xavier Isaac not one but two opportunities to get his engine revved up. The Hot Rod didn't disappoint. Isaac homered twice, collected five hits and reached safely in all seven plate appearances during High-A Bowling Green's twin bill on Thursday at Bowling Green Ballpark. MLB's No. 51
Comparing Skenes to past top pitching prospects
It remains to be seen what kind of big league career Paul Skenes will have, but now that it’s about to begin, we can try to put the build-up to his Major League debut in some historical context. There is no question that Skenes’ debut is the most highly anticipated
Elias Sports named official statisticians of MiLB
Major League Baseball and the Elias Sports Bureau announced the expansion of their decades-long partnership which will now include becoming the Official Statisticians of Minor League Baseball (MiLB). Elias will assume the role of Official Statisticians of Minor League Baseball’s 11 leagues at the Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Single-A levels,
Holliday back in the swing of things with Tides
The Orioles sent Jackson Holliday back to Triple-A to get everyday at-bats so he could find his swing, the idea being that if all went according to plan, MLB's top prospect would return to Baltimore in short order. More nights like Wednesday, and that day might approach quickly.
Skenes gets the call, heads to The Show
PITTSBURGH – The wait for Paul Skenes is finally over. The Pirates announced on Wednesday that they are promoting their top prospect to the Majors. Skenes, a fireballing right-hander, is scheduled to make his first start on Saturday against the Cubs at PNC Park (4:05 p.m. ET), according to the
Miller putting it all together with Threshers
Already in the midst of a breakout season, Aidan Miller turned in his best game yet as a professional Wednesday night. As Phillies Minor League infield coordinator Adam Everett sees it: "It's all falling into place."
Minor League Player Spotlight: 'Tugboat' Wilkinson
Equipped with one of the Minors' best fastballs and an 80-grade nickname to follow suit, Matt Wilkinson -- known as 'Tugboat' -- has taken the league by storm since his debut with the Hillcats on April 6. Wilkinson was recently named April's Minor League Player of the Month in the
Boosted by family dream, Luciano climbing ranks
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- As a young ballplayer, Waner Luciano spent months away from his home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for the chance to play baseball in the United States. And he did that for one main reason -- to make the dream he and his dad shared of signing
The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from the past month
After a multi-season hiatus, Crooked Numbers returns with a heaping portion of Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. This edition, covering the start of the season through the end of April, has a disproportionate number of items from the Triple-A level. As for why that is, who knows? Maybe
Road to The Show™: Giants’ lefty Crawford
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at Giants prospect Reggie Crawford, who will be spotlighted each month as a Nationwide Road to The Show "featured player" in 2024. For more stories about players on
Watch for these 10 Complex league prospects
The Rookie-level Arizona Complex and Florida Complex leagues began play Saturday, a month earlier than they did a year ago. The changes mean that the circuits will be populated more by players making the jump from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the season before and less by guys coming out
Yanks' Jones lowers hands, raises potential
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Spencer Jones spent a good chunk of his offseason working out with and talking to pitchers, particularly his fellow Vanderbilt alums in Nashville. One night, he chatted with good friend and former Commodores teammate Jack Leiter over dinner, and he got a little jealous. “He said, ‘Man,
Skenes allows first pro HR, still sports 0.99 ERA
With growth comes growing pains, even for the top pitching prospect in baseball. Pitching on four days' rest for the first time as a professional, Paul Skenes allowed his first home run since the Pirates selected him with the No. 1 overall Draft pick last July, but he limited the
Guardians call up Manzardo for MLB debut
CLEVELAND -- The Kyle Manzardo Era is about to begin in Cleveland. The Guardians added Manzardo to the Major League roster on Monday afternoon in place of outfielder Steven Kwan, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Manzardo, 23, will bat seventh and serve
Jupiter's Meyer drops hammer, K's career-high 9
Just 41 days after being drafted, Noble Meyer made his Single-A debut with Jupiter at Clover Park last August. Now, 259 days later, the 19-year-old returned to St. Lucie to record a career-best outing. In Jupiter’s 4-0 victory over the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday, the top Marlins prospect twirled
Tidwell rumbles through bats for Binghamton
Returning to Double-A Binghamton for 2024, Blade Tidwell has opened the year sharp. The Mets’ No. 10 prospect carved through 21 1/3 innings in April, posting a 1.69 ERA with 27 strikeouts, but his first outing of May almost threw him off track in his torrid start.
Spokane's Ward makes history with six swipes
Braiden Ward is not the first player to successfully swipe six bags in a single pro baseball game. That feat was matched just a year ago by Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and has occurred in five separate instances in AL/NL history -- starting with Eddie Collins, who did it