15 seconds agoThe San Diego Padres have demoted outfield prospect Tirso Ornelas back to Triple-A El Paso. It was as brief as a promotion as one could have for the Padres No. 25 per MLB Pipeline as the outfielder had his contract purchased by the big-league club on Sunday and then was sent back down hours later. Ornelas, 24, has been having a solid season for El Paso with a .316 batting average to go along with 12 homers and 57 RBI. With such a quick promotion, Ornelas was unable to get into a big-league game, but he is officially on the 40-man roster and could be an option down the road for San Diego. Even with a promotion, he can be left alone in all formats.Source: MiLB
8 hours agoTampa Bay Rays third baseman prospect Brayden Taylor had a solid first half for High-A Bowling Green, posting a .279-13-43-62-24 line over 76 games. The 22-year-old impressed so much that he rose 22 spots on MLB.com's latest prospect re-rank, going from 82 to 60. A promotion to Double-A in the second half appears to be in the cards, although his MLB debut isn't expected to be until 2026. It's not unreasonable to think he could see a late-season debut in 2025, however, so dynasty managers should be keeping an eye on the former first-round pick's ascension.Source: MLB.com
8 hours agoDetroit Tigers shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle finished the first half with a 23-game streak of getting on base via hit or walk for Single-A Lakeland and will look to ride that momentum to a promotion to High-A in the second half. The 19-year-old put together a strong .329-3-34-39-19 first half and an impressive BB:K of 34:24, which shot his prospect status way up. On MLB.com's July prospect list re-rank, McGonigle was the biggest riser, going from 96th overall to 65th overall, a jump of 31 spots. His ETA for an MLB debut is 2027, but with his 60-grade hit tool and impressive eye, it very well could be sooner than that.Source: MLB.com
8 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers catching/first base prospect Dalton Rushing hit safely in eight of his last nine games for Double-A Tulsa before the break, going 12-for-35 (.343) over that stretch. For the season he's amassed a .266-10-46-36-0 line. It's unclear, however, if the Dodgers' top prospect is closer to a promotion or a trade, as his name has been tossed around in potential trade scenarios since the Dodgers are in need of pitching. They also have their seventh-ranked prospect Diego Cartaya at Triple-A and Will Smith signed for the long-term if catcher is going to be his position, as well as Freddie Freeman cemented at first base. MLB.com projects Rushing's debut to be 2025 and with his talent, the 23-year-old talent should already be on dynasty managers' radar, if not rostered.Source: MiLB.com
8 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence was having an effective first half for Double-A Springfield before injuries derailed him. The injuries don't sound serious, although the 21-year-old had an MRI done on his arm anyway which came back clean. The righty was supposed to take part in the Futures Game but decided to bypass it so he could focus on getting healthy. The plan was to have him throw live BP this past weekend and have him rejoin the rotation after the break. Hence posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 24.9% K-BB% to this point and is currently ranked as the Cardinals' top overall prospect. The injuries may have delayed his potential major league debut, but he certainly appears primed for a promotion to Triple-A, and with his strikeout upside, redraft managers should be ready to pounce if he were to get the call at some point this season.Source: Chris Neyenhouse
9 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Abner Uribe (knee) announced on his Instagram account that he underwent season-ending knee surgery on Wednesday morning. With regular closer Devin Williams (back) missing the entire first half of the 2024 season, Uribe opened the year with an opportunity to earn saves for the Brew Crew. The 24-year-old Dominican did post a career-high three saves in the early going but was quickly sent to the minors after giving up 11 earned runs on 15 hits (one homer) while walking 12 and striking out 14 in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in just his second season in the major leagues. Uribe has a live arm and posted a 30.7% strikeout rate as a rookie in 2023, but he's going to need to show better control if he wants to be a high-leverage, late-inning option in Milwaukee in 2025 once he's fully healthy.Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
9 hours agoFree-agent veteran left-hander Rich Hill said he is ramping up throwing bullpen sessions in preparation to sign with a team in August as a versatile pitcher. It appears that Hill is healthy, but it remains to be seen how much interest he'll generate on the open market after going a combined 8-14 with a bloated 5.41 ERA (4.87 FIP) and 1.52 WHIP with 129 strikeouts and 58 walks in 146 1/3 innings pitched over 32 appearances (27 starts) with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres last year. He's no spring chicken at 44 years old but does have plenty of MLB experience with 19 seasons under his belt. If Hill is picked up by a club in the second half of the season, he won't be guaranteed to have a big role and will most likely operate as a swingman/long-reliever out of the bullpen, leaving him minimal fantasy appeal.Source: 570 LA Sports - David Vassegh
10 hours agoNew York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) is expected to make another minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse this weekend. Barring a setback, Senga's rehab start this weekend is expected to be his last before he's reinstated from the 60-day injured list to make his 2024 debut in the major leagues. The 31-year-old threw 67 pitches over 4 2/3 frames in his last rehab start for Syracuse on Sunday, which was his third total rehab outing. A strained right shoulder initially kept Senga from starting the season in New York's rotation before he suffered a setback due to a triceps injury. The Japanese hurler was the Mets' ace in 2023 with a 12-7 record, 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and impressive 29.1% strikeout rate and shouldn't be floating around any waiver wires with his 2024 debut right around the corner.Source: Newsday - Tim Healey
11 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Noah Schultz only managed to get one batter out in this year's All-Star Futures Game. He allowed three runs on three hits, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. His lone out came via strikeout. Despite his woes in Arlington, Schultz is one of the most promising pitching prospects in MLB. His slider is considered to be one of the best pitches in minor-league baseball. As of right now, the 20-year-old lefty isn't expected to make it to the big leagues for another few years.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoCincinnati Reds third base prospect Cam Collier was the star of this year's All-Star Futures Game, going 1-for-2 with a solo home run to put the National League on the board. The Reds' No. 3 prospect (per MLB.com) was subsequently named the Futures Game's MVP. Despite his success in Arlington, Collier is having a subpar season with High-A Dayton. Through 78 games, he's slashing .231/.309/.405 with 12 doubles, 13 homers, 48 RBI and a 31:87 BB:K. He's still only 19 and has plenty of time to develop, though. As of right now, he's expected to make his MLB debut in 2026.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoAtlanta Braves catcher prospect Drake Baldwin went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in this year's All-Star Futures Game. Hit around 107 mph, it was one of the hardest-hit balls of the night. Baldwin's performance in Arlington is a solid reflection of how he's been playing since his promotion to Triple-A. In 24 games with the Gwinnett Stripers, he's slashing .309/.444/.532 with three doubles, six homers, and 17 RBI. Atlanta's No. 10 prospect (per MLB.com), Baldwin is expected to make his MLB debut sometime next year.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen is scheduled to toe the slab to begin the second half of the season in Friday's series opener against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. Flexen hasn't been particularly relevant in fantasy in 2024, posting a 4.82 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 71:36 K:BB over 97 innings, but he should draw some interest in deep leagues against a middling Royals lineup on Friday. In four appearances versus Kansas City in his career, the 30-year-old soft-throwing right-hander has a 2.25 ERA and 12:4 K:BB across 20 frames during this stretch. Consider Flexen a low-end streaming option for fantasy purposes in his first start post-All-Star break.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha hopes his recent success carries into the second half when he gets the ball in Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Wacha has been very reliable for the Royals over his last nine starts, generating a 2.61 ERA and 47:17 K:BB over 51 2/3 innings since May 9. The 33-year-old former All-Star has revived his career in recent years, and he'll belong in all fantasy lineups for the start of the second half on Friday. In three appearances versus the White Sox since 2023, Wacha has a microscopic 0.90 ERA alongside a 19:4 K:BB through 20 frames during this period.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoBoston Red Sox catching prospect Kyle Teel shined in this year's All-Star Futures Game. The only player on either team to collect multiple hits, Teel was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. The young catcher's performance was hardly surprising, as he's been fantastic in Double-A this year. Through 65 games, he's slashing .298/.384/.455 with 16 homers, eight doubles, 49 RBI, and six stolen bases. The No. 3 prospect in Boston's stacked farm system, Teel is expected to make his MLB debut next season.Source: MLB.com
11 hours agoCincinnati Reds starting pitching prospect Rhett Lowder pitched in the fifth inning of this year's All-Star Futures Game. On 14 pitches, he allowed a hit and struck out Tampa Bay Rays top prospect Xavier Isaac on a slider. The young righty threw 10 strikes and collected three whiffs. After a rough stretch in Double-A, a solid performance at the Futures Game will hopefully be exactly what Lowder needs to turn things around. Cincinnati's top prospect (per MLB.com) is expected to make his MLB debut sometime this year.Source: MLB