Latest news with #MLBProspects
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Nationals top pitching prospect Travis Sykora to have Tommy John surgery
Washington Nationals' right-handed pitching prospect Travis Sykora will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn right UCL, the team announced on Monday. Sykora ranked as the No. 51 prospect in The Athletic's Keith Law's recently released top-60 MLB prospects list and is the team's No. 2 prospect behind 2025 No. 1 pick Eli Willits. Advertisement Sykora, 21, was a third-round pick in 2023 out of Round Rock High School in Texas. The 6-foot-6 right-hander had a 2.33 ERA in 85 innings last season, with 129 strikeouts for Low-A Fredericksburg. He had hip surgery after the season and began this year rehabbing before making his season debut May 3 in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. After two starts there and two starts with Fredericksburg, he jumped up to High A, where he dominated in 29 2/3 innings, posting a 1.21 ERA, with 47 strikeouts and only eight walks. He was promoted to Double A on June 29 but left his second start with Harrisburg after only one inning with what was initially termed right triceps soreness. Sykora missed the Futures Game and an MRI later revealed the torn UCL. Law talked about Sykora's potential and his injury risk in the top-60 write-up: 'Sykora's stuff rivals the top pitchers on this list, as he's 95-98 with a plus splitter and a solid-average slider already. But his delivery is high-effort and his arm is very late, neither of which is great for durability. He came out of his last start on July 5 with lower right triceps soreness, with the hope that he'll be back fairly soon,' he wrote. 'He'd gotten off to a tremendous start, dominating High A after his return from offseason hip labrum surgery with 32 strikeouts and just two walks in 18 innings in four outings, and then walked 12 in 16 1/3 innings in his next four outings, including the one he left after an inning. It's No. 2 starter stuff, and he showed that kind of command and control earlier this season before the latest injury. I do have doubts about him holding up, given the whole operation.' The injury is a big blow for a Nationals' organization that has a strong core of position players at or near the big leagues but is lacking top-shelf pitching behind ace MacKenzie Gore. It's been a disappointing season for a club that was hoping to take a step forward this year but instead is in last place in the National League East with a 43-62 record. The Nationals recently fired long-time president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrew Painter, Eduardo Tait are the Phillies' representatives for the Futures Game
The Futures Game is a chance for MLB to showcase the game's best prospects in a game setting. It's like the All-Star Game for prospects and it's wonderful. Sometimes, the offense can be missing because the pitchers throwing have such high octane, it can overpower hitters. Nevertheless, the Phillies are sending two representatives to the game. Andrew Painter is the big name here. He's the team's top prospect and arguably the best pitching prospect in the game. The anticipation for his arrival is still somewhat tepid thanks to the stretch of domination the rotation is currently on, but when he does arrive, it will be an exciting day. We already know Painter is going to miss the game because the team wants to keep him on schedule. A shame as he likely would have started the game, but the bigger picture is more important to a team that has World Series aspirations. Advertisement Eduardo Tait is the team's #4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and is showing why. Through 65 games, Tait has a .256/.328/.449 line with ten home runs and 42 RBI. He's shown improvement behind the plate with his throwing and receiving and looks like the heir apparent to J.T. Realmuto in the big leagues. That could be a few years off still as he's only 18 (!) years old, but he's performing well in Clearwater and there really isn't much in his path to block him. It'll be exciting to see him pitted against the best prospects in the game in Atlanta. More from
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals' Prospect Joins MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Amid Breakout Season
Cardinals' Prospect Joins MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Amid Breakout Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. St. Louis Cardinals' catching prospect Leonardo Bernal was added to MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list at No. 100 on Tuesday after Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton graduated from it earlier this season. Advertisement The Cardinals are now back to three prospects on the Top 100 list after Tink Hence fell out of the rankings during his extended stay on the injured list. Bernal, 21, is in the midst of a great year for Double-A Springfield. He's slashing .284/.361/.516 with a team-leading 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 51 games this year. His numbers are good enough to rank third in home runs and OPS (.877) and second in RBI and slugging among Texas League hitters. He's already met his previous season-high in home runs and is trending towards the best statistical year of his four-plus year minor league career. Due to signing as an international free agent in 2021 at 17 years old, Bernal will likely be added to the team's 40-man roster before next season, when he will be eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Sunset view of Busch Stadium as St. Louis Cardinals reliever John King pitches against the Kansas City Royals on June 5. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images In addition to being added to the Top 100, Bernal's rank in the team's top 10 also improved, moving from No. 6 to No. 3 in the organization. He took over Hence's spot, who made his return to Double-A last week, pushing the righty down to No. 4 in the Cardinals' pipeline. Advertisement The switch-hitting Panama City, Panama native is one of three catchers in the Cardinals organization's top 10 prospects - joined by No. 5 Jimmy Crooks (Triple-A) and No. 6 Rainiel Rodriguez (Low-A). These three, along with Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo at the big league level, are showing that the team's front office has their work cut out for them in figuring out who should be the Cardinals' starting and back up catchers in the near future. Related: Cardinals Farm Report: Jose Fermin Making Case for Call-up Related: Nolan Arenado Makes Honest Admission Amidst Cardinals-Cubs Series This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
17-Year-Old Detroit Tigers Prodigy Turns Heads With Big Performance Monday
17-Year-Old Detroit Tigers Prodigy Turns Heads With Big Performance Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Tigers' organization has improved not just at the Major League level but also at the farm system level with top prospects like Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle and Bryce Rainer among those impressing at the minor league level. Advertisement A bit further down the Tigers' Top 2025 prospect Rankings from is outfielder Cris Rodriguez, who is just 17 years old and is not expected to arrive in the Majors until 2030. Rodriguez's stellar play is causing fans and scouts alike to stand up and take notice, as the hot prospect is climbing the charts and performing admirably in the Dominican League. AJ Hinch (L) meets with Scott Harris and owner Chris Illitch on Feb. 20 in Florida.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "Detroit Tigers RED HOT prospect, Cris Rodriguez, smacks a ball down the left field line, driving in Heison Sanchez to secure a 5-4 Tigers victory in extra innings," the page Woodward Sports wrote on Monday, sharing video of Rodriguez's clutch hit. Advertisement Rodriguez is currently ranked 8th among Tigers minor league prospects despite his youth and is a 6-foot-3, 203 pound outfielder. "He and Rainer will replace the Big 3 at West Michigan," one fan said of Rodriguez. "Gotta trade some AA guys." Rodriguez is hitting .348 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI this season with the Dominican League Tigers, playing in the San Pedro de Macoris division. The Tigers have the best record in baseball with 46 wins so far this season heading into Tuesday's three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Manager AJ Hinch's team struggled against the Cincinnati Reds and needs strong pitching to avert another series loss to the Pirates after multiple disappointments vs. the Reds. Advertisement Related: Tigers Make Move on Relief Pitcher After Rough Outing vs. Reds This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Once A Strength, Cleveland Guardians Now Lack Middle Infield Depth
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 18: Andrés Giménez #0 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on after the New ... More York Yankees defeated the Guardians in Game 4 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot at Progressive Field on Friday, October 18, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) It wasn't long ago, when the Cleveland Guardians organization had a wealth of well regarded middle infield prospects. The quality depth of highly ranked middle infielders in the Guardians development program has dwindled. The Guardians were always careful to give their prospects enough development time to best prepare for the major leagues. Be that with Cleveland, or with another club. This old scout has always stated that the talent gap between Triple-A and the big leagues is as wide as the grand canyon. That is particularly true for prospect pitchers. And because MLB pitchers are so advanced in their pitching skills, many prospects falter when given a chance with the parent club. Consider the number of Cleveland Indians/Cleveland Guardians prospects that are now playing elsewhere in Major League Baseball, or are out of professional baseball altogether. Each of the middle infielders noted below was part of the Indians/Guardians Top 30 prospects, from 2020 until today. In those a short years, the following young prospects are gone from the Cleveland organization: MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 04: Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with teammates after ... More scoring a run against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning of the game at loanDepot park on June 04, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by) Tyler Freeman-drafted by the Indians, and traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2025 Jose Tena-signed as an international free agent by the Indians in 2017, and traded to the Washington Nationals in 2024. Ernie Clement-drafted by the Indians in 2017, selected off waivers by the Athletics in 2022, and signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023 Carson Tucker-out of baseball (a 2020 Cleveland Indians 1st round draft pick) Owen Miller-drafted by the San Diego Padres, traded to Cleveland, and then traded by Cleveland to the Milwaukee Brewers. Now in the Rockies organization. Richie Palacios-drafted by the Indians in 2018, and traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. The list does not include Amed Rosario, and Andres Gimenez, both traded to Cleveland from the New York Mets in 2021. Both are gone from the organization. Rosario was traded by Cleveland to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. After being granted free agency, Rosario signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, granted free agency, and then signed with the Washington Nationals in 2025. Gimenez was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2024. EASTLAKE, OHIO - JULY 31, 2024: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Lake County Captains celebrates hitting a ... More grand slam home run during the fifth inning against the Beloit Sky Carp at Classic Auto Group Park on July 31, 2024 in Eastlake, Ohio. This is the continuation of the July 30 game which was suspended due to inclement weather. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) The Guardians have young middle infielders in development, but many are still a year, or more away from graduation to the big leagues. Those players include: -Travis Bazzana-2024 1st overall draft pick, now dealing with an oblique injury -Angel Genao-a terrific defensive player, Genao in still at Double-A Akron -Welbyn Francisca-a good hitter, with little power, Francisca is still in Class-A -Juan Brito-a solid hitter with some power, Brito is currently injured at Triple-A Columbus -Gabriel Rodriguez-a young prospect in Rookie Ball. Bryan Rocchio began this season as the Guardians starting shortstop. He didn't hit well, had some defensive hiccups at shortstop, and was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Rocchio likely remains a candidate to return to the parent club at some point this season. GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Juan Brito #74 of the Cleveland Guardians poses for a photo during the ... More Cleveland Guardians Photo Day at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday, February 22, 2024 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) There is little question Cleveland misses the defense of Andres Gimenez, who is now playing solid second base, but not hitting well at Toronto. It seems likely Bazzana is the second baseman of the future. If he hits. If he plays solid defense. A superb defender, Gabriel Arias has claimed the shortstop role, supplanting Rocchio. For now. How much will Arias hit? Can the Guardians continue to handle his inconsistency on offense? Brito may win a role with the Guardians in the future. But with Bazzana likely at second, where does Brito play? Genao might be as good, or better than Arias at shortstop. Will he hit? Lots of Cleveland middle infielders have walked out the door. Now, the team has to determine which players in their organization fit in their immediate, and long-range future. Middle infielders, once a deep strength of the Guardians, have now been reduced in number. Time will tell how the Guardians manage their infield in the coming months and years.
