Latest news with #MinorLeagues
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Drive thump Rome
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Red Sox No. 24 Prospect Nazzan Zanetello launched two home runs and Antonio Anderson added a three-run blast of his own as the Greenville Drive powered past the Rome Emperors, 7–3, in the opener of a six-game series Tuesday night at Fluor Field. With the win, Greenville (26–26) pulled even with Rome (26–26) in the South Atlantic League South Division standings. Antonio Anderson and Zanetello went back-to-back homers in the bottom of the first and the Drive never looked back. Zanetello homered each of his first two at-bats — a solo shot to left-center in the first inning and another solo blast to left in the third — giving him four on the season. Anderson's homer, his second of the year, came earlier in the first inning with two men on, capping a four-run opening frame that set the tone for the night. Greenville's starter Adam Smith was sharp, tossing five innings of one-hit ball while allowing two runs in the fifth. The Emperors broke through with sacrifice flies from Ambioris Tavarez and a groundout from Bryson Horne, trimming the lead to 5–2, but they would get no closer. The Drive added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth. Red Sox No. 3 Prospect Franklin Arias singled home Andy Lugo as part of his 2 hit performance to extend the 2nd longest hitting streak in the Minor Leagues – at any level- in the seventh. Arias has recorded a hit in 13 straight contests; only 4 games shy of the active streak leader from the Rockies AAA squad. An inning later, Arias lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Brooks Brannon and make it 7–2. Rome's E.J. Exposito homered with two outs in the ninth off Jonathan Brand to briefly cut the deficit to 7–3, but Brand closed the door with a strikeout of Horne to seal the victory. Arias went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk and also stole two bases. Lugo added a double, walk, and a run scored. Zanetello drove in two and scored twice, while Anderson finished 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a walk. The Drive pitching trio of Smith, Darvin Garcia, and Brand combined to hold Rome to just four hits. Smith (4.73 ERA) earned the win, Garcia allowed one hit over two scoreless innings of relief, and Brand gave up the ninth-inning homer but finished the final two frames. Rome starter Herick Hernandez (6.07 ERA) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits over 4.2 innings, including all three Greenville home runs. The Drive and Emperors resume their series Wednesday night at Fluor Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Royals promoting top prospect Jac Caglianone to MLB: Source
The Kansas City Royals are promoting top prospect Jac Caglianone to the major leagues, a source confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. Caglianone, 22, was the No. 6 pick in last year's draft. One of the game's top offensive talents, Caglianone has torn up the upper levels of the Royals' minor-league system this year. He finished Sunday with a slash line of .322/.389/.593 in 50 games. That includes a 15-for-47 start for Triple-A Omaha, with whom he has played 12 games. He has hit 15 home runs, tied for the third-most amongst all minor leaguers, and has struck out at a 20 percent clip (46 in 229 plate appearances). Should he keep up even an average level of production, Caglianone's arrival could be a boon for the fourth-place Royals, who have scored the third-fewest runs (194) in the majors. Jac Caglianone has his 6th Triple-A homer! This one flew 442 feet ‼️ — Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) May 30, 2025 Caglianone's breakout comes on the heels of a pro debut last summer in which he hit .241 with a .690 OPS in 29 games at High A. He also hit .236 with a .749 OPS in 21 games in the Arizona Fall League. Caglianone was drafted as a first baseman out of the University of Florida, for whom he batted .355 with a 1.207 OPS and 75 homers across 165 games, but he has played in right or left field intermittently this season, with increasing frequency since moving up to Triple A on May 20. For the past two weeks, he has worked one-on-one with longtime Royals instructor Rusty Kuntz ahead of potential playing time in the roomy outfield at Kauffman Stadium. Advertisement In last week's re-ranking of MLB's top prospects, The Athletic's Keith Law slotted Caglianone at No. 13, up from No. 60 on the preseason list, saying he 'has been incredible in his first full pro season, hitting .322/.394/.553 in Double A with a strikeout rate of just 21.1 percent, more than earning a promotion to Triple A. He's made clear adjustments at the plate and he is destroying pitches in the zone, although he will still expand the zone too easily and I think if he came to the majors right now, pitchers would exploit that enough to make him struggle. I'm quite sanguine about his ability to make further adjustments and cut down enough on the chase to get to the big leagues this year. Between Caglianone and left-hander David Shields, who's looked very good in three starts so far in the lowest levels, scouting director Brian Bridges' first draft looks like a great one.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs GM Gives Health Update on Left-Hander Shota Imanaga
The Chicago Cubs took care of business against a brutal Chicago White Sox team over the weekend, sweeping them in their three-game set. The Cubs will take on the Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, and Washington Nationals until June 5. This is the perfect opportunity for the Cubs to create some separation in the National League Central, but is it possible with the injuries the team has dealt with? Advertisement One player in particular that the Cubs need back is Shota Imanaga. Imanaga has thrown the baseball at a very high level throughout his career but has been out since May 4 before going down with a hamstring injury. Some have questioned when he might return for Chicago. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC LeClaire-Imagn Images According to Carter Hawkins, the Cubs have to build him up before he returns to the mound. 'It's a little bit different when you have a pitcher,' Hawkins said, per Marquee Sports. 'He has to deal with getting his lower half ready … But he also has to continue to keep his arm healthy. There's a little bit of deconditioning that happens when you're not able to throw on the mound. We have to build him back up.' Advertisement Hawkins later added that the Cubs plan to be safe with him and that's the best plan to take. The last thing the Cubs want is an injury to Imanaga throughout the postseason, something they can't afford. 'Same thing with Shota … We're gonna be safe with (him) for sure. But I expect that we'll get him back here soon, and I can't wait to get him back in that rotation.' Related: Cubs to Recall Top Prospect Matt Shaw After Torrid Stretch in Minor Leagues
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Recall Top Prospect Matt Shaw After Strong Minor League Stint
To begin the 2025 season, the Chicago Cubs had called up top prospect Matt Shaw to be the team's third baseman. However, after a rough first few games, the Cubs sent their top prospect back down to the Minor Leagues. According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Cubs are bringing Shaw back up to the Major Leagues ahead of the Cubs series against the Miami Marlins. Shaw returns to the Cubs for their road trip to Miami and will replace infielder Nicky Lopez on the major league roster. Lopez was hitting just .042 in 24 at-bats in the major leagues, and Heyman reports the Cubs are looking to trade the defensive specialist. Advertisement The Cubs are bringing Shaw back up after a great stretch down in the Minor Leagues with Triple-A Iowa. In 91 at-bats, Shaw hit .286 with 26 hits, 22 runs, five doubles, one triple, six home runs, 14 RBI, 17 walks, and 11 strikeouts. Shaw also stole five bases and wasn't caught once. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) watches players warm up during spring training Scuteri-Imagn Images Throughout his time in the minor leagues, Shaw has been incredible. He's average a .301 batting average, .388 on base percentage, .527 slugging percentage, and a .915 OPS across 183 games in the Minor Leagues. But he was sent down early in the Major League season due to a poor start. In 58 at-bats, Shaw hit .172 with 10 hits, 11 runs, one double, one home run, 3 RBI, 10 walks, and 18 strikeouts. Advertisement The 23-year-old still has a bright future ahead of him, but he'll need to rebound from a rough first go at thing in the major leagues. With the Cubs sitting atop the National League Central, Shaw will play a factor in Chicago returning to the postseason in 2025. After a torrid stretch in the minor leagues, the Cubs' top-ranked prospect and MLB's 18th-ranked prospect will get his second chance in the major leagues. Shaw will likely get an opportunity to start at third base right away. Related: Cubs' $29 Million Pitcher Sends Message to Chicago Fans Amid Shota Imanaga's Injury Related: Cubs Expected to Pursue All-Star Third Baseman in Trade Talks
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Trade Idea Lands Pirates' Paul Skenes in Blockbuster Deal
Some have started to suggest that the Pittsburgh Pirates should trade Paul Skenes. Trading Skenes now would be a ridiculous sign to the fan base that they have no opportunity to compete anytime in the near future. Skenes hits arbitration in 2027, but isn't a free agent until 2030. Unless he tells the Pirates that he plans to sit out until they move him, there wouldn't be much of a reason for them to consider it. Advertisement However, Jeff Passan of ESPN said that teams will be calling about him at the deadline, and if that's the case, the Chicago Cubs need to pick up the phone. Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the St. Louis CardinalsJeff Curry-Imagn Images "The truth is, there will be teams that ask about Paul Skenes at the deadline this year, and I don't anticipate that he's going to be moved, but there's a real argument to be made that the best thing for the Pittsburgh Pirates would be to move Paul Skenes while he has the most value," Passan added. Considering any trade for Skenes, teams would likely have to gut most of their farm system. The Cubs, perhaps more than anyone, have the players in their farm to get a deal done. Advertisement If it would require them moving on from all 10 of their top 10 Prospects, it might not be the craziest thing to suggest that the Cubs should get in on it. Skenes is only 22 years old and looks to be an ace-caliber arm for the next decade. With a 100-plus miles per hour fastball, he could be exactly what Chicago is missing on the bump. Related: Cubs to Recall Top Prospect Matt Shaw After Torrid Stretch in Minor Leagues
