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First-round pick Teel showing traits of Boston great

No. 3 Red Sox prospect learning from catching coach Jason Varitek
@SamDykstraMiLB
March 15, 2024

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It’s impossible to avoid ruminating on the parallels. Two former All-ACC first-team catchers. Two 14th overall picks. Two players who reached Double-A in their first tastes of the Minor Leagues. One is just getting his career started with the Red Sox. The other won two World

Must-see matchups we'll see at Spring Breakout

Ranking the 10 best prospect showdowns expected this weekend
@SamDykstraMiLB
March 14, 2024

Some of the best Spring Training matchups don’t come in the Cactus or Grapefruit League. They’re on the backfields, where prospects square off away from the bright lights and sharpen their tools against each other as they work to be the future stars of the game. This year, Spring Breakout

Everything to know about Spring Breakout

Tickets, special rules and more as Minor Leaguers take big stage
@SamDykstraMiLB
March 6, 2024

One of the great joys of the annual All-Star Futures Game is the chance to put some of the game’s top prospects on one field in the middle of the summer and let them show off the tools that make them the future of baseball. But what if instead of

This season's most improved farm systems

Six organizations that made the biggest leap in 2023
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 27, 2023

We talk about breakout prospects all the time, like Ethan Salas going from being a 16-year-old new signee to a Double-A player in just a few months or Junior Caminero starting the season outside the Top 100 and ending it at No. 6 (and likely higher by the time of

Spring Breakout! Prospect showcase to debut in March

All 30 MLB clubs will assemble rosters filled with best prospects
@SamDykstraMiLB
December 13, 2023

For those looking to check in on prospects each spring, you’re typically best served heading to the backfields of the Spring Training facilities across Arizona and Florida or sticking around for the latter innings of Cactus and Grapefruit League games for a few stray pitches or at-bats. But what if

Penrod's amazing story continues in Fall League

Red Sox prospect dominates two months removed from indy ball
@SamDykstraMiLB
October 10, 2023

MESA, Ariz. -- Zach Penrod's story is one of the best of this year's Arizona Fall League. It added another chapter Monday night. The Red Sox left-hander struck out five and scattered one hit and two walks over four scoreless innings in Glendale's 2-0 win over Mesa at Sloan Park.

That's 20-20 vision! Minors set record in 2023

33 prospects met or exceeded 20-HR, 20-SB plateau this year
@SamDykstraMiLB
September 26, 2023

The decade of the 2020s is turning out to be the decade of the 20/20s. Thirty-three Minor League players met or exceeded the 20-homer, 20-steal plateau during the 2023 season, beating out the previous record (since data first became available in 1958) total of 27 set just last year. Most

Who will be MiLB Hitting Prospect of the Year?

O's Holliday, Dodgers' Busch, Rays' Caminero finalists for award
@SamDykstraMiLB
September 24, 2023

The nominations continue. Last week, we announced the three finalists for the MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year. Now, it’s time to turn our attention to the batters, with three Hitting Prospect of the Year candidates. These finalists were determined by MLB Pipeline staff, which considered many worthy performers from

Auer's 2-run tater sends Biscuits back to playoffs

No. 13 prospect stays hot in Sept. as Rays affiliate punches ticket
@SamDykstraMiLB
September 17, 2023

BILOXI, Miss. -- Mason Auer knows a thing or two about playing for a Minor League championship. He helped lead High-A Bowling Green to a 2022 South Atlantic League title and deserves credit for his contributions to Carolina League champ Single-A Charleston in the first half of the same campaign.

Unhittable Suarez nabs spotlight in Bingo debut

Mets right-hander fans 6 in 6 no-hit frames for Rumble Ponies
@SamDykstraMiLB
September 1, 2023

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Thursday’s Double-A Binghamton-Harrisburg game was meant to be a showcase for bats. Six Top 100 prospects were split evenly between hosts Binghamton (Luisangel Acuña, Drew Gilbert, Kevin Parada) and visitors Harrisburg (Dylan Crews, James Wood, Brady House), and each of the half-dozen plied their trades at the

Future shines bright at Appy League All-Star Game

Youngsters put best foot forward during annual summer showcase
@SamDykstraMiLB
July 26, 2023

KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- The 2021 Appalachian League All-Star Game ended with a home run derby, and the 2022 edition concluded with a walk-off single in the 10th. The latest version of the wood-bat collegiate circuit’s midsummer classic was a less powerful, but equally exciting contest. The West took home a

Clubs search for hidden gems on Day 3

MLB Draft comes to a close with 10 final rounds of selections
@SamDykstraMiLB
July 11, 2023

With the first two days of the 2023 MLB Draft already completed, the most-hyped names were already off the board. But there's always game-changing talent available throughout the Draft, which concluded on Tuesday with Rounds 11-20. Five of this year’s All-Stars were taken and signed in the 10th round or

Legacy picks, late-round steals headline Day 2

Breaking down an array of picks from MLB Draft Rounds 3-10
@SamDykstraMiLB
July 10, 2023

Even after the first 70 picks came off the board in an exciting Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft, there was still tons of talent available for Day 2, which covered Rounds 3-10. Below are some of Monday's most notable picks, including sons of former MLB stars, some serious

WooSox show off their Ruby Legs for a day

Worcester turns back clock to 1880s with identity based on NL club
@SamDykstraMiLB
June 14, 2023

Alternate identities are all the rage in Minor League Baseball. Last Sunday, the Worcester Red Sox raised the concept to a new level with an alternate identity based on a team that played locally in the 1800s. Boston's Triple-A affiliate took the field at Polar Park as the Ruby Legs,

The Show Before The Show: Episode 404

Rangers prospect Carter talks hot start at Double-A Frisco
@SamDykstraMiLB
April 28, 2023

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, Stitcher and other

Apple of Mets' eye: Aikman had pro potential

Hall of Fame quarterback's career might have been much different
@SamDykstraMiLB
April 28, 2023

AMARILLO, Texas – On Thursday, Troy Aikman had a Draft story to tell. No, not that Draft. At Amarillo’s HODGETOWN to throw out a first pitch, help out behind the bar and promote his EIGHT beer line on Thursday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback reminisced about the time

Lawlar of the land: It's never too late to rally

Top D-backs prospect collects walk-off single, homer for Amarillo
@SamDykstraMiLB
April 27, 2023

AMARILLO, Texas – No lead is safe in HODGETOWN, a hitters' haven where ERAs and slugging percentages increase in identical measure. But this is ridiculous. After trailing, 11-1, entering the bottom of the seventh inning, top D-backs prospect Jordan Lawlar hit a three-run homer as part of a seven-run eighth

Gajownik shares road to Hillsboro dugout

New Hops manager talks about making history on MiLB podcast
@SamDykstraMiLB
January 27, 2023

Last Friday, Ronnie Gajownik made baseball history when the D-backs announced her as the new Hillsboro manager for the 2023 season. That made Gajownik the first-ever woman skipper in the history of the High-A level and the second ever at any spot in the Minors after Tampa’s Rachel Balkovec took

Bradley, Manzardo shine brightest for Rays

Tough All-Star calls abound in Minors' winningest system of '22
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 28, 2022

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2022 Organization All-Stars series are the Tampa Bay Rays. 2022 Organization Summary Triple-A Durham: 86-64

Chourio, Frelick bring cheers to Brewers

First-year players, veterans mix among Milwaukee's All-Stars
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 14, 2022

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2022 Organization All-Stars series are the Milwaukee Brewers. 2022 Organization Summary Triple-A Nashville: 91-58 (division

Tigers' Carpenter, Meadows reach new heights

Slugging outfielders help power Detroit's development machine
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 11, 2022

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2022 Organization All-Stars series are the Detroit Tigers. 2022 Organization Summary Triple-A Toledo: 87-63 Double-A

Garcia, Gentry wore crowns for Kansas City

Following graduations, next Royals wave made gains in 2022
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 9, 2022

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2022 Organization All-Stars series are the Kansas City Royals. 2022 Organization Summary

MiLB, Marvel combine forces at Comic Con

Event serves as launching-off point for partnership's next phase
@SamDykstraMiLB
October 11, 2022

NEW YORK -- It’s hard to stand out at a comic convention. Brushing past you on the way into Javits Center -- home of New York Comic Con -- is a She-Hulk, green paint busting through her lawyer’s suit, commanding attention for a brief moment before a Woody and Buzz

Which top prospects are in the playoffs?

Baseball's brightest prospects vying for Double-A championships
@SamDykstraMiLB
September 19, 2022

We’re still talking about playoff races in the Majors. Taking the opposite approach of Jim Mora, we’re talking about the actual playoffs in the Minors. High-A and Single-A regular seasons came to a close Sunday, and their respective postseasons are just around the corner. In fact, the best-of-five Northwest League

No. 1 overall pick Holliday connects on first homer

O's No. 3 prospect goes deep in fifth Florida Complex League game
@SamDykstraMiLB
August 19, 2022

That didn't take long. No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday hit his first professional home run Friday in the Florida Complex League to lead his FCL Orioles to a 7-1 win over the FCL Pirates in the first game of a doubleheader in Bradenton. The homer -- a solo shot