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On the brink of the Majors, Misiorowski ending the '24 season in a new role

@benweinrib
September 16, 2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jacob Misiorowski is following a familiar path for top Brewers pitching prospects. Upon reaching Triple-A Nashville, and after being a starting pitcher his entire career, the righty is pitching in relief at the highest level of the Minors. It's not that Milwaukee sees him as a reliever

Chandler uses QB mentality in most dominant Indy start yet

@benweinrib
September 11, 2024

Three years after playing high school football, Bubba Chandler remains a quarterback at heart. When MLB's No. 38 overall prospect watches live gridiron games, he can't help but break down defenses by watching safeties and identifying coverages. The two-sport high school star thinks through progressions while playing EA Sports College

Biscuits' Simpson becomes first player since 2012 to steal 100 bases

@benweinrib
September 8, 2024

Chandler Simpson has run straight into the record books. The Rays' No. 5 prospect became the first Minor or Major League player since 2012 to reach 100 stolen bases in a season on Sunday -- and he didn't need long to do it. In the bottom of the first inning

Sounds' Hicklen using his power to help community

@benweinrib
August 25, 2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville Sounds outfielder Brewer Hicklen has always felt a tie to his hometown of Huntsville, Ala. The 28-year-old has returned home nearly every offseason since the Royals drafted him in 2017 to hold a youth camp that has reached an attendance of 150. Heading into the 2024

Anthony showing leadoff muscle for WooSox

@benweinrib
August 21, 2024

Roman Anthony has made quite the splash seven games into his tenure at Triple-A. Literally. MLB's No. 14 prospect launched his first home run for the Worcester Red Sox and it landed in the Elizabeth River. That highlighted Anthony's first four-hit night at the level in Tuesday's 8-5 win over

DeLauter, Jobe find ways to shine in showdown

Erie slugger homers in third straight; Jobe fans 7 in 5+ innings
@benweinrib
August 18, 2024

It seemed like a preview of future AL Central rivals when two top 50 prospects clashed at Double-A on Sunday afternoon. For the second time this week, the Guardians' Chase DeLauter (MLB No. 42) stepped into the batter's box against the Tigers' Jackson Jobe (MLB No. 8). The former came

Rehabbing Max Muncy, meet Aviators' Max Muncy

Long-awaited meeting for Dodger and A's prospect finally happens
@benweinrib
August 14, 2024

Professional baseball has finally achieved Maximum Muncy. At long last, the sport's two infielders named Max Muncy -- improbably born exactly 12 years apart and completely unrelated -- finally met and played in the same game, an eventual 10-8 victory by rehabbing Muncy's Triple-A Oklahoma City over prospect Muncy's Las

Newest River Bandit Caglianone hits one into river

Royals 2024 first-rounder mashes first pro homer at High-A
@benweinrib
August 10, 2024

After setting the single-season (35) and career (75) home run records at Florida this year, it was a matter of time before Jac Caglianone brought his light-tower power to the Minors. He just didn't draw up his first professional home run looking like this. The sixth overall pick in July's

Walk-off caps Moore's first multihomer game

Angels first-rounder calls game for first time ever for Trash Pandas
@benweinrib
August 8, 2024

Christian Moore has accomplished a lot in his young baseball career. Prior to the Angels drafting him eighth overall in July, the 21-year-old led Tennessee to a national championship and set program records for career (61) and single-season home runs (34). But the one thing he never got to do,

Sproat rumbles his way to career-high 13 K's

Mets' No. 5 prospect uses electric stuff to whiff 11 straight hitters
@benweinrib
August 3, 2024

Brandon Sproat has flashed the potential that made him a Day 1 2023 Draft pick all season long. Friday's start was perhaps his most dominant yet. The Mets' No. 5 prospect struck out a career-high 13 batters -- including 11 in a row, something that's never been done in MLB

High-scoring Tigers roar to FCL title

Rookie-level Florida Complex League champs sweep playoffs
@benweinrib
July 29, 2024

The first championship of the 2024 Minor League season belongs to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Tigers. After making the FCL playoffs as a wild card, the Tigers won all three of their postseason games, including a sweep of the FCL Pirates that they capped off with a 12-1 win

Bazzana collects first RBI in Lake County debut

No. 1 overall Draft pick takes the field for first time as a professional
@thevandalorian and @benweinrib
July 26, 2024

Travis Bazzana made his Minor League debut Friday, 12 days after being selected first overall in the MLB Draft. The Guardians prospect -- who is expected to slot in among the Top 20 prospects in baseball when MLB Pipeline's updated rankings emerge in a few weeks -- began his professional

'Til baseball does them part: Mascots tie knot

High-A Hudson Valley's Rascal and Rosie exchange vows on field
@benweinrib
July 20, 2024

July is a beautiful time of year to get married in the Hudson Valley. Low-80s weather with beautiful scenery -- and what better venue than Heritage Financial Field, with an immaculate lawn and a lush forest as a backdrop beyond the outfield walls?

Holliday break's over: Tides slugger swats a pair

MLB's No. 1 prospect goes deep twice in return to second base
@benweinrib
July 20, 2024

Jackson Holliday's All-Star break was quite a restorative one. MLB's top prospect had just spent three weeks solely as a designated hitter following an injured list stint due to left elbow inflammation and got a chance to return home. After wrapping up Triple-A Norfolk's series in Memphis, he watched his

Jones powers up for 2 HRs, career-high 7 RBIs

Yankees No. 2 prospect's confidence evident in Patriots' rout
@benweinrib
June 30, 2024

Spencer Jones has a lot of reasons to be confident at the plate. The Yankees' No. 2 prospect has some of the best power in the Minor Leagues, and he put that on display in his first Spring Training at-bat when he crushed a home run 470 feet. Come June,

MiLB game at Rickwood Field facts and figures

Here's everything you need to know about Tuesday's contest
@benweinrib
June 18, 2024

One of the biggest events on the Minor League calendar has arrived: MiLB at Rickwood Field. Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball are celebrating the Negro Leagues with a four-day event in Birmingham, Ala., home of the oldest professional ballpark in the sport.

Crawford finding swing with BlueClaws

Phillies No. 4 prospect goes yard on four-hit afternoon
@benweinrib
June 9, 2024

Justin Crawford has long been known for his elite bat-to-ball skills. The Phillies' No. 4 prospect became a 2022 first-round pick largely on the strength of his blazing speed and impressive bat control, although he hadn't been able to fully capitalize on his hard contact as a pro. Crawford had

Ford flourishes in leadoff spot for Travelers

Seattle's No. 2 prospect collects season-high four hits, stolen base
@benweinrib
May 19, 2024

Harry Ford is not your typical catcher. He has rare athleticism behind the plate, with plus speed and an advanced approach that gives him a high offensive ceiling. MLB's No. 28 prospect put that well-rounded profile on display on Sunday with four hits -- the sixth such game of his

All is well with Snell in Sacramento

Giants lefty fans 10 over five hitless innings in latest rehab start
@benweinrib
May 18, 2024

In case there was any doubt, Blake Snell's stuff looks in top form and ready to return to the big leagues. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner tossed his second straight hitless rehab start, this time striking out 10 overmatched hitters across five frames in Triple-A Sacramento's 5-1

Here are the top switch-hitters in the Minors

Check out these 11 handy prospects (with one more to grow on)
@benweinrib
May 14, 2024

In an era that places a premium on platoon advantages, switch-hitters can be the most versatile members of a lineup -- even if they've become increasingly hard to find. Over the past four seasons, the number of switch-hitting batters in the Majors has slowly ticked down from 10.7 percent in

Miller putting it all together with Threshers

Phillies No. 3 prospect has career night with HR, 4 hits, 4 RBIs
@benweinrib
May 9, 2024

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."

Caminero, Bradley make Rays' future bullish

Tampa Bay's current, past top prospects deliver for Durham
@benweinrib
April 28, 2024

If the Rays want to see a glimpse of their future, they only need to look 700 miles north to Durham, N.C. On Sunday afternoon, top prospect Junior Caminero (MLB No. 4) homered twice in a four-hit game as rehabbing Taj Bradley, their top prospect from 2023, tossed five hitless

Tortugas walk it off in Little League fashion

Reds No. 9 prospect Cabrera circles bases in atypical manner
@benweinrib
April 25, 2024

The Daytona Tortugas seem to have a knack for walk-off hits. Two of their three home wins this season have been of that variety. But it's going to be difficult to top the way Cincinnati's Single-A pulled off Wednesday night's 5-4 win at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Tigers' Clark gets real kicks out of his art

MLB's No. 13 prospect's cleats reflect both optimism, doubters
@benweinrib
April 14, 2024

Max Clark considers himself an artistic person. The only problem -- he can't draw. Instead, MLB's No. 13 overall prospect expresses himself in other ways, such as through his shoes and tattoos. Clark is a massive sneakerhead, bringing about three dozen shoes, along with a growing collection of custom cleats,

Caminero's bat looks healthy in return from IL

Top Rays prospect homers, doubles, impresses Bulls manager
@benweinrib
April 14, 2024

Junior Caminero flexed his home run power in the innings before a late March left hamstring strain sidelined the prized Rays phenom for two weeks. Fittingly, in his first game back from the injured list, MLB's No. 4 overall prospect scorched a three-run homer that proved crucial in Triple-A Durham's