Eli Serrano, OF, New York Mets (High-A Brooklyn)
Despite being a draft-eligible sophomore taken nearly 100 picks after Benge, you can argue Serrano is the more polished hitter so far. He’s more consistent at the plate, looking more comfortable in his cleats. He starts far less open than Benge, utilizing a small stride and longer load, then swings with a clear intent to clear his hips quickly and pull the ball. Like Benge, too much of his hardest contact comes on the ground, but he hits the ball even harder than the first rounder. It’s not a classically pretty left-handed swing, and everything looks awkward, perhaps because Serrano has a spindly frame that is mostly trunk. Serrano shows good swing decisions and really grinds the edges of the zone. The one place you can exploit him some is down and in, as he likes to zone that area to try and pull and lift, but you better get it down enough and in enough, because he can turn velocity on the inner half if you get too much plate.
His awkward-looking game shows up in the outfield too, and Serrano doesn’t really have the routes or foot speed for center or the arm for right, although he won’t kill you at either. He’s the more advanced hitter at present (and doesn’t have Benge’s small sample size platoon issues), but I do think there’s less upside in the profile. Despite the more limited college experience (and production) Serrano already has filled in much of the outline of what he’s going to be, which is something in the range of an average-to-solid-average corner outfielder. —Jeffrey Paternostro
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... -ten-pack/
2025 Padres prospects news and notes
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
The characterizations attached to the White Sox these days are usually ones a team would prefer to go unnoticed.
Last year, they had the worst record in team history (41-121) and one of the worst in MLB history. This year, they remain on pace to have the second-worst record in team history.
But here’s a White Sox description that’s actually a positive: This year’s White Sox Rule 5 class could end up as one of the best in recent history.
Righthander Shane Smith, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Rule 5 draft out of the Brewers’ system, has been exceptional. At 1-2, 2.08 in eight starts, he’s the ace of the pitching staff, the White Sox’s best player and one of the best Rule 5 picks of the 21st century.
Smith currently has 1.6 bWAR, which leads all White Sox’s players. In the 21st century, only nine players have topped 1.5 bWAR in their Rule 5 season. The only starting pitchers to do so are Royals righthander Brad Keller (4.2 bWAR) and Athletics righthander Mitch Spence (1.6 bWAR).
Smith has had three scoreless outings of 5+ innings. Spence and Keller each did that only once in their Rule 5 seasons.
In Smith’s case, it does not seem to be a fluke. He’s added another tick to his fastball and now sits 94-96 mph as a starter. But more importantly, since joining the White Sox, he’s developed a new low-90s changeup that has quickly become his best pitch.
Smith didn’t even throw a changeup in 2024. Now, he throws it more than 20% of the time, and it’s been a bottom-of-the-zone weapon that he can throw to righties and lefties. Opponents are hitting .143/.227/.200 against it with a 34.7% whiff percentage. It rates as one of the better changeups in the big leagues.
With an average-or-better fastball, a plus changeup and a promising slider, Smith has the stuff to be a long-term rotation piece.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... 363a3cd2bc
Last year, they had the worst record in team history (41-121) and one of the worst in MLB history. This year, they remain on pace to have the second-worst record in team history.
But here’s a White Sox description that’s actually a positive: This year’s White Sox Rule 5 class could end up as one of the best in recent history.
Righthander Shane Smith, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Rule 5 draft out of the Brewers’ system, has been exceptional. At 1-2, 2.08 in eight starts, he’s the ace of the pitching staff, the White Sox’s best player and one of the best Rule 5 picks of the 21st century.
Smith currently has 1.6 bWAR, which leads all White Sox’s players. In the 21st century, only nine players have topped 1.5 bWAR in their Rule 5 season. The only starting pitchers to do so are Royals righthander Brad Keller (4.2 bWAR) and Athletics righthander Mitch Spence (1.6 bWAR).
Smith has had three scoreless outings of 5+ innings. Spence and Keller each did that only once in their Rule 5 seasons.
In Smith’s case, it does not seem to be a fluke. He’s added another tick to his fastball and now sits 94-96 mph as a starter. But more importantly, since joining the White Sox, he’s developed a new low-90s changeup that has quickly become his best pitch.
Smith didn’t even throw a changeup in 2024. Now, he throws it more than 20% of the time, and it’s been a bottom-of-the-zone weapon that he can throw to righties and lefties. Opponents are hitting .143/.227/.200 against it with a 34.7% whiff percentage. It rates as one of the better changeups in the big leagues.
With an average-or-better fastball, a plus changeup and a promising slider, Smith has the stuff to be a long-term rotation piece.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... 363a3cd2bc
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Marco Dinges, C, Milwaukee Brewers, 21, A
Dinges is the Mudcats player that people are not talking enough about. A 2024 fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Dinges was young for the draft and will spend the entire 2025 season at 21 years old. Whether it was behind the plate and throwing out base runners, or hitting home runs, Dinges has impressed me.
Blasting two home runs and adding a double yesterday, Dinges now has 12 extra-base hits in 21 games this year. The slash line is up to .356/.478/.616, and Dinges is walking at a 15 percent clip while striking out in just ten percent of plate appearances.
Dinges is solid behind the plate, showing solid pop times in the mid-1.9-second range in my looks. He has thrown out 27 percent of attempted base stealers, which is really good considering most Single-A pitchers cannot hold runners on base.
Dinges checks all the boxes I want to see from a scouting and data standpoint. The contact rates are plus, the exit velocities are plus, Dinges uses the whole field well, and is good behind the plate. I just want to see him perform at higher levels.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/pros ... dugout.com
Dinges is the Mudcats player that people are not talking enough about. A 2024 fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Dinges was young for the draft and will spend the entire 2025 season at 21 years old. Whether it was behind the plate and throwing out base runners, or hitting home runs, Dinges has impressed me.
Blasting two home runs and adding a double yesterday, Dinges now has 12 extra-base hits in 21 games this year. The slash line is up to .356/.478/.616, and Dinges is walking at a 15 percent clip while striking out in just ten percent of plate appearances.
Dinges is solid behind the plate, showing solid pop times in the mid-1.9-second range in my looks. He has thrown out 27 percent of attempted base stealers, which is really good considering most Single-A pitchers cannot hold runners on base.
Dinges checks all the boxes I want to see from a scouting and data standpoint. The contact rates are plus, the exit velocities are plus, Dinges uses the whole field well, and is good behind the plate. I just want to see him perform at higher levels.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/pros ... dugout.com
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
As the Mets' now-vaunted pitching development program continues to turn less-heralded free agent signings into impact arms while helping their recent draftees and international signings make the most of their talent, there is another young pitcher starting to open eyes.
Will Watson.
Watson, a hard-throwing 22-year-old right hander, is pitching for A-ball St. Lucie in what is his first full professional season. And he's excelling.
Through seven appearances (five starts, two relief outings) over 28.2 innings, Watson has posted a 2.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 32 batters and giving up just one home run.
In his most recent start, on May 14, Watson -- who is still getting fully stretched out as a starter -- spun 4.2 innings of shutout ball.
Watson was selected by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft after stints with California Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College, but didn't sign. Instead, he attended USC the next season before entering the 2024 MLB Draft.
It was there that the Mets pounced in the seventh round, adding Watson to a stable of high-upside minor league arms.
And Watson is getting comfortable in the organization, describing 2025 as "just another year of baseball," adding: "It’s just being around the guys. It’s a lot of fun. There’s nothing better than playing ball every day."
Watson is also taking advantage of the Mets' aforementioned pitching development.
"I’ve found it very encouraging for sure," he told SNY. "I think myself and my fellow teammates – I don’t think there’s a spot they’d rather be. It’s been very promising. I’ve learned so much so far – so much. It’s been amazing. I’ve figured out so much about myself – internal and external – about pitching. It’s been great so far."
In the midst of being converted to a full-time starting role after spending the earlier part of his career bouncing back and forth between the rotation and bullpen (Watson was a reliever only for California Lutheran in 2022 and had a hybrid role for USC in 2024), the right-hander is undaunted by the new challenge the Mets are giving him.
"It’s been pretty easy, honestly, just because I’ve done it my entire life," Watson explained. "I’ve kind of done both my entire life, just from playing the field and relieving in games. Or starting in high school. I relieved my freshman year of college and then when I was at my junior college I would relieve and start there. So I’ve kind of done it all throughout the whole process. Wherever they need me, I’ll jump in."
As Watson has gotten acclimated to professional ball, his arsenal has seen an uptick in velocity -- from his fastball to his secondary offerings.
The fastball now sits in the mid-90s with regularity and will touch 97 mph. Meanwhile, Watson's secondary offerings -- including a changeup, slider, and cutter -- have also ticked up.
Watson attributes the increased velocity to work in the weight room, as well as adjusting his pitch shapes and making some grip changes.
As far as a pitcher whose style Watson is trying to emulate, he cited Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, who has been a dominant force the last two seasons for Seattle.
"He’s been dealing, it’s been pretty cool to watch," Watson said. "He looks super calm up on the mound. Just knows exactly what he’s doing and exactly what he’s trying to do."
When it comes to Watson's pitch mix and how he likes to attack hitters, let's have him take us through it...
“I love using my fastball, just because it's something I’ve always been very comfortable with," he noted. "My changeup has always been super comfortable for me as well. Started to really develop it last year. I just throw it like my fastball – I think that’s why it’s so deceivable to hitters. And it spins a lot, so you can’t really see the spin.
"And then my slider lately has been working really well off that new cutter that I’ve been throwing. Still trying to find the right group for that and when to throw that, because it is still really new. But I do like to mix that in kind of in between the fastball and slider. Slider for sure to really both sides -- steal strikes to lefties, put-away for righties.
"Changeup – I like to throw that to righties, just to keep them off balance instead of looking out over the plate. Try to bring it in to them. Keep them off balance there. Fastball – just try to get ahead of counts. Weak contact is what I’m really looking for."
Asked whether there was any specific facet of his game he was intent on improving this season, Watson said his focus was more wide-ranging.
"A lot. That’s my goal every day," Watson explained. "I like to improve, I like to get better. Even if I have a good outing, I’m like 'what can I do to get better? What can I do to get better?' I think after every outing I go back and look at film with my coach to say 'what can we change here. What can we change here?'
"I think the biggest one that’s a continuous build is always the mental game. I don’t think there’s any time that you’re ever gonna be 100 percent on that. I think the mental game of just being true to yourself, and being who you are on a continuous basis. It’s hard to do in this game, because it really eats you up. So that’s something I’m always trying to build on."
When Watson isn't on the mound or working to get better, he relaxes by playing video games, reading, and drawing. In the offseason, he spends lots of time hunting and fishing.
And as he starts to inch closer to making his ultimate goal come true, Watson is keeping his eye on the prize.
It's possible he'll make it to High-A Brooklyn and even Double-A Binghamton by the time the 2025 season ends, but Watson hasn't yet thought about what it might be like to pitch for the Mets at Citi Field.
"I kind of thought about visiting the field and seeing what life would be like there. But I kind of want to hold off on that until that day comes" Watson said. "The first day that I’m called up, that’s the first day I’m at Citi Field. I just want that to be the reality.
"I haven’t really allowed myself to be like 'oh, I want to be at Citi Field' yet. Because I know inside I have so much work to do. But every day it’s the goal to get there. That’s my goal every day. I want to help this team win in any way that I can."
https://sny.tv/articles/mets-prospect-w ... on-profile
Will Watson.
Watson, a hard-throwing 22-year-old right hander, is pitching for A-ball St. Lucie in what is his first full professional season. And he's excelling.
Through seven appearances (five starts, two relief outings) over 28.2 innings, Watson has posted a 2.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 32 batters and giving up just one home run.
In his most recent start, on May 14, Watson -- who is still getting fully stretched out as a starter -- spun 4.2 innings of shutout ball.
Watson was selected by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft after stints with California Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College, but didn't sign. Instead, he attended USC the next season before entering the 2024 MLB Draft.
It was there that the Mets pounced in the seventh round, adding Watson to a stable of high-upside minor league arms.
And Watson is getting comfortable in the organization, describing 2025 as "just another year of baseball," adding: "It’s just being around the guys. It’s a lot of fun. There’s nothing better than playing ball every day."
Watson is also taking advantage of the Mets' aforementioned pitching development.
"I’ve found it very encouraging for sure," he told SNY. "I think myself and my fellow teammates – I don’t think there’s a spot they’d rather be. It’s been very promising. I’ve learned so much so far – so much. It’s been amazing. I’ve figured out so much about myself – internal and external – about pitching. It’s been great so far."
In the midst of being converted to a full-time starting role after spending the earlier part of his career bouncing back and forth between the rotation and bullpen (Watson was a reliever only for California Lutheran in 2022 and had a hybrid role for USC in 2024), the right-hander is undaunted by the new challenge the Mets are giving him.
"It’s been pretty easy, honestly, just because I’ve done it my entire life," Watson explained. "I’ve kind of done both my entire life, just from playing the field and relieving in games. Or starting in high school. I relieved my freshman year of college and then when I was at my junior college I would relieve and start there. So I’ve kind of done it all throughout the whole process. Wherever they need me, I’ll jump in."
As Watson has gotten acclimated to professional ball, his arsenal has seen an uptick in velocity -- from his fastball to his secondary offerings.
The fastball now sits in the mid-90s with regularity and will touch 97 mph. Meanwhile, Watson's secondary offerings -- including a changeup, slider, and cutter -- have also ticked up.
Watson attributes the increased velocity to work in the weight room, as well as adjusting his pitch shapes and making some grip changes.
As far as a pitcher whose style Watson is trying to emulate, he cited Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, who has been a dominant force the last two seasons for Seattle.
"He’s been dealing, it’s been pretty cool to watch," Watson said. "He looks super calm up on the mound. Just knows exactly what he’s doing and exactly what he’s trying to do."
When it comes to Watson's pitch mix and how he likes to attack hitters, let's have him take us through it...
“I love using my fastball, just because it's something I’ve always been very comfortable with," he noted. "My changeup has always been super comfortable for me as well. Started to really develop it last year. I just throw it like my fastball – I think that’s why it’s so deceivable to hitters. And it spins a lot, so you can’t really see the spin.
"And then my slider lately has been working really well off that new cutter that I’ve been throwing. Still trying to find the right group for that and when to throw that, because it is still really new. But I do like to mix that in kind of in between the fastball and slider. Slider for sure to really both sides -- steal strikes to lefties, put-away for righties.
"Changeup – I like to throw that to righties, just to keep them off balance instead of looking out over the plate. Try to bring it in to them. Keep them off balance there. Fastball – just try to get ahead of counts. Weak contact is what I’m really looking for."
Asked whether there was any specific facet of his game he was intent on improving this season, Watson said his focus was more wide-ranging.
"A lot. That’s my goal every day," Watson explained. "I like to improve, I like to get better. Even if I have a good outing, I’m like 'what can I do to get better? What can I do to get better?' I think after every outing I go back and look at film with my coach to say 'what can we change here. What can we change here?'
"I think the biggest one that’s a continuous build is always the mental game. I don’t think there’s any time that you’re ever gonna be 100 percent on that. I think the mental game of just being true to yourself, and being who you are on a continuous basis. It’s hard to do in this game, because it really eats you up. So that’s something I’m always trying to build on."
When Watson isn't on the mound or working to get better, he relaxes by playing video games, reading, and drawing. In the offseason, he spends lots of time hunting and fishing.
And as he starts to inch closer to making his ultimate goal come true, Watson is keeping his eye on the prize.
It's possible he'll make it to High-A Brooklyn and even Double-A Binghamton by the time the 2025 season ends, but Watson hasn't yet thought about what it might be like to pitch for the Mets at Citi Field.
"I kind of thought about visiting the field and seeing what life would be like there. But I kind of want to hold off on that until that day comes" Watson said. "The first day that I’m called up, that’s the first day I’m at Citi Field. I just want that to be the reality.
"I haven’t really allowed myself to be like 'oh, I want to be at Citi Field' yet. Because I know inside I have so much work to do. But every day it’s the goal to get there. That’s my goal every day. I want to help this team win in any way that I can."
https://sny.tv/articles/mets-prospect-w ... on-profile
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Marco Dinges, C, Milwaukee Brewers, 21, A+
Dinges is finally getting some well-deserved buzz. He got a well-deserved promotion to High-A as well and continues hitting. Now rocking a five-game hitting streak, Dinges blasted his first home run as a member of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and it was a shot. The blast left the bat with an impressive 111 mph exit velocity.
A 2024 fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Dinges was young for the draft and will spend the entire 2025 season at 21 years old. Whether it has been behind the plate, throwing out base runners or hitting home runs, Dinges has impressed me.
In 28 games this year, Dinges has walked 21 times to just 14 strikeouts, rocking an impressive 11.8 percent strikeout rate. The contact rate is north of 80 percent with a very solid approach as well. The exit velocities are plus, which might be no surprise given that 111 mph blast I mentioned earlier.
Dinges is solid behind the plate, showing solid pop times in the mid-1.9-second range in my looks. He has thrown out 26 percent of attempted base stealers, which is really good considering most Single-A pitchers cannot hold runners on base.
Dinges checks all the boxes I want to see from a scouting and data standpoint. Dinges looks like a legit MLB catcher if he continues to develop.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/mino ... dugout.com
Dinges is finally getting some well-deserved buzz. He got a well-deserved promotion to High-A as well and continues hitting. Now rocking a five-game hitting streak, Dinges blasted his first home run as a member of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and it was a shot. The blast left the bat with an impressive 111 mph exit velocity.
A 2024 fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Dinges was young for the draft and will spend the entire 2025 season at 21 years old. Whether it has been behind the plate, throwing out base runners or hitting home runs, Dinges has impressed me.
In 28 games this year, Dinges has walked 21 times to just 14 strikeouts, rocking an impressive 11.8 percent strikeout rate. The contact rate is north of 80 percent with a very solid approach as well. The exit velocities are plus, which might be no surprise given that 111 mph blast I mentioned earlier.
Dinges is solid behind the plate, showing solid pop times in the mid-1.9-second range in my looks. He has thrown out 26 percent of attempted base stealers, which is really good considering most Single-A pitchers cannot hold runners on base.
Dinges checks all the boxes I want to see from a scouting and data standpoint. Dinges looks like a legit MLB catcher if he continues to develop.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/mino ... dugout.com
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
(13) Cristian Mena, SP, Diamondbacks
Mena came back after missing a couple of weeks and was lights out, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out seven while scattering just three base runners. The only thing that could stop him was a power outage in the stadium. The curveball has been an excellent whiff pitch. He’s building an excellent case to be a depth arm should Arizona need one.
(15) Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics
Clarke’s batted ball profile this year is wild. It’s as if someone said “just hit it on the ground and run the hell out of everything.” He’s hit 70% grounders in his first 30 games this year, with a grounder-to-fly-ball ratio at 9.8. It’s working, or at least eating up Triple-A defenders, but shouldn’t be considered a long-term approach. His power is still down and he doesn’t make enough contact to pull it off. But his defense could earn him a spot and time to figure it out in the big leagues.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... bad2377d0f
Mena came back after missing a couple of weeks and was lights out, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out seven while scattering just three base runners. The only thing that could stop him was a power outage in the stadium. The curveball has been an excellent whiff pitch. He’s building an excellent case to be a depth arm should Arizona need one.
(15) Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics
Clarke’s batted ball profile this year is wild. It’s as if someone said “just hit it on the ground and run the hell out of everything.” He’s hit 70% grounders in his first 30 games this year, with a grounder-to-fly-ball ratio at 9.8. It’s working, or at least eating up Triple-A defenders, but shouldn’t be considered a long-term approach. His power is still down and he doesn’t make enough contact to pull it off. But his defense could earn him a spot and time to figure it out in the big leagues.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... bad2377d0f
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Athletics plan to promote top outfield prospect Denzel Clarke from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
The Athletics are mired in a nine-game losing streak and looking to boost their offensive production, so they’ll give Clarke a shot to see what he can do. The 25-year-old was hitting .286/.436/.419 with zero homers, 21 RBI, seven stolen bases and a 29/23 K/BB ratio over 133 plate appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas. Clarke has played center field exclusively in 2025 which could wind up costing JJ Bleday some playing time. Expect this to be the corresponding move for Gio Urshela landing on the injured list on Friday.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/denzel-clarke/50025
Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics:
The A's are calling up outfielder Denzel Clarke, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported late Thursday night. Clarke arrives as the A’s are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. Their No. 8 prospect brings both upside and energy as they look to turn things around. Clarke was hitting .286/.436/.419 at Triple-A, bouncing back from an April stint on the injured list. He also offers a significant defensive upgrade in center field. The 25-year-old was drafted in the fourth round in 2021, signing for $400,000 out of Cal State Northridge. A's third baseman Gio Urshela was placed on the injured list with a strained hamstring.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/players ... 6531292ff7
Denzel Clarke is one of the more physical athletes in the Athletics’ system. The 25-year-old has hit his way to Triple-A Las Vegas, but what he truly takes pride in is his defense in center field.
“It’s just something I’ve always worked on,” Clarke said. “I started baseball a little later, so I was like, ‘OK, I need to work on something that’s going to keep me on the field.’
“And my defense is what I’ve worked on ever since I was a kid.”
Clarke grew up in the Toronto area. His mother is Donna Clarke, an Olympian heptathlete for Canada in 1984. He was 14 years old when he saw his cousins playing baseball. Those cousins happen to be all-star first baseman Josh Naylor and up-and-coming catcher Bo Naylor.
A third brother is an A’s prospect: 2023 supplemental first-round third baseman Myles Naylor.
“Denzel is athletic and good in center field as anybody we have in the organization.” Athletics GM David Forst said. “His reads are good, his instincts are good, he goes to get the ball and he can make up ground. So center field, he’s ready to be in a big league outfield pretty soon.”
When it comes to action at the plate, there’s a game plan in place.
“He just needs reps at Triple-A,” Forst said. “There’s some swing-and-miss to Denzel’s game. He’s got to work on his approach. The power is there, and when he makes contact, he can run. We’re working on putting the ball in play and cutting down on strikeouts.”
Drafted in the fourth round in 2021 out of Cal State Northridge, Clarke spent last season at Double-A Midland. He slashed .269/.339/.446 with 13 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 116 games.
”There are definitely times in the season where you have to prioritize certain things, and right now, obviously, I’m going to prioritize my hitting,” Clarke said, “but I’m definitely not taking any time off the defense. I always want to make sure I keep it sharp, and the same with baserunning.”
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -triple-a/ (5/3)
The Athletics are mired in a nine-game losing streak and looking to boost their offensive production, so they’ll give Clarke a shot to see what he can do. The 25-year-old was hitting .286/.436/.419 with zero homers, 21 RBI, seven stolen bases and a 29/23 K/BB ratio over 133 plate appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas. Clarke has played center field exclusively in 2025 which could wind up costing JJ Bleday some playing time. Expect this to be the corresponding move for Gio Urshela landing on the injured list on Friday.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/denzel-clarke/50025
Denzel Clarke, OF, Athletics:
The A's are calling up outfielder Denzel Clarke, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported late Thursday night. Clarke arrives as the A’s are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. Their No. 8 prospect brings both upside and energy as they look to turn things around. Clarke was hitting .286/.436/.419 at Triple-A, bouncing back from an April stint on the injured list. He also offers a significant defensive upgrade in center field. The 25-year-old was drafted in the fourth round in 2021, signing for $400,000 out of Cal State Northridge. A's third baseman Gio Urshela was placed on the injured list with a strained hamstring.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/players ... 6531292ff7
Denzel Clarke is one of the more physical athletes in the Athletics’ system. The 25-year-old has hit his way to Triple-A Las Vegas, but what he truly takes pride in is his defense in center field.
“It’s just something I’ve always worked on,” Clarke said. “I started baseball a little later, so I was like, ‘OK, I need to work on something that’s going to keep me on the field.’
“And my defense is what I’ve worked on ever since I was a kid.”
Clarke grew up in the Toronto area. His mother is Donna Clarke, an Olympian heptathlete for Canada in 1984. He was 14 years old when he saw his cousins playing baseball. Those cousins happen to be all-star first baseman Josh Naylor and up-and-coming catcher Bo Naylor.
A third brother is an A’s prospect: 2023 supplemental first-round third baseman Myles Naylor.
“Denzel is athletic and good in center field as anybody we have in the organization.” Athletics GM David Forst said. “His reads are good, his instincts are good, he goes to get the ball and he can make up ground. So center field, he’s ready to be in a big league outfield pretty soon.”
When it comes to action at the plate, there’s a game plan in place.
“He just needs reps at Triple-A,” Forst said. “There’s some swing-and-miss to Denzel’s game. He’s got to work on his approach. The power is there, and when he makes contact, he can run. We’re working on putting the ball in play and cutting down on strikeouts.”
Drafted in the fourth round in 2021 out of Cal State Northridge, Clarke spent last season at Double-A Midland. He slashed .269/.339/.446 with 13 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 116 games.
”There are definitely times in the season where you have to prioritize certain things, and right now, obviously, I’m going to prioritize my hitting,” Clarke said, “but I’m definitely not taking any time off the defense. I always want to make sure I keep it sharp, and the same with baserunning.”
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -triple-a/ (5/3)
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Devin Fitz-Gerald, INF, Texas Rangers, 19, CPX
Fitz-Gerald was the Rangers’ fifth-round pick in 2024 out of the acclaimed Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. The switch-hitter was one of the top prep bats in Florida, and the Rangers gave him a $900k bonus to keep him away from his commitment at NC State.
Having strong bat speed, Fitz-Gerald has a good feel to hit from both sides of the plate. The approach is quite advanced for his age, and Fitz-Gerald shows strong contact skills. Currently, he has walked twice as often as he has struck out and is slashing .340/.468/.617 in 62 complex-level plate appearances.
The hit tool is not just about his contact skills as Fitz-Gerald shows strong angles as well. He puts the ball in the air often and to the pull-side regularly. This has led to three home runs and four doubles.
The speed is presently above-average, as Fitz-Gerald has shown good clock speed. The glove is solid, and he has shown good versatility around the infield. He is a prospect who could really rise in the rankings.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/comp ... dugout.com
34 Devin Fitz-Gerald, SS.
Fitz-Gerald has the kind of polish one would expect from a player who is the son of one of the country’s most respected high school coaches. He’s a baseball rat who makes a ton of contact and the potential for average raw power if he can pack some more strength onto his frame. Nothing in Fitz-Gerald’s skill set is plus, but nothing should be below-average, either.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... 0-in-2025/
Devin Fitz-Gerald, SS, ACL Rangers, ROK, Texas Rangers
AGE: 19 DOB: 08/17/2005
BATS: S THROWS: R
HT: 5' 10" WT: 185
DRAFTED: 2024, 5th (165) - TEX
ETA: 2028
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40
Fitz-Gerald won four consecutive Florida 7-A state championships at Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland), where his father, Todd, is the head coach and has mentored players such as Roman Anthony, Jesús Luzardo and Coby Mayo. The Rangers drafted him in the fifth round last July and lured him away from a North Carolina State commitment with a well-over-slot $900,000 bonus. Early-season hamstring issues delayed his pro debut in 2025.
A switch-hitter, Fitz-Gerald is a natural right-hander, but scouts prefer his swing and power potential from the left side. He has good feel for the barrel and doesn't try to do too much at the plate, focusing on driving the ball from gap to gap. He's not especially physical and won't be a slugger, but his feel for the barrel could translate into solid hitting ability with 12-15 homers per season.
As with many coach's sons, Fitz-Gerald has a high baseball IQ that helps him get the most out of his tools. He has fringy speed but is a savvy baserunner who gets to grounders in the middle infield. A shortstop in high school, he's better suited for second base in pro ball with his range and average arm, and he has the quick hands to be effective on the double-play pivot.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/rang ... ald-803849
Fitz-Gerald was the Rangers’ fifth-round pick in 2024 out of the acclaimed Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. The switch-hitter was one of the top prep bats in Florida, and the Rangers gave him a $900k bonus to keep him away from his commitment at NC State.
Having strong bat speed, Fitz-Gerald has a good feel to hit from both sides of the plate. The approach is quite advanced for his age, and Fitz-Gerald shows strong contact skills. Currently, he has walked twice as often as he has struck out and is slashing .340/.468/.617 in 62 complex-level plate appearances.
The hit tool is not just about his contact skills as Fitz-Gerald shows strong angles as well. He puts the ball in the air often and to the pull-side regularly. This has led to three home runs and four doubles.
The speed is presently above-average, as Fitz-Gerald has shown good clock speed. The glove is solid, and he has shown good versatility around the infield. He is a prospect who could really rise in the rankings.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/comp ... dugout.com
34 Devin Fitz-Gerald, SS.
Fitz-Gerald has the kind of polish one would expect from a player who is the son of one of the country’s most respected high school coaches. He’s a baseball rat who makes a ton of contact and the potential for average raw power if he can pack some more strength onto his frame. Nothing in Fitz-Gerald’s skill set is plus, but nothing should be below-average, either.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... 0-in-2025/
Devin Fitz-Gerald, SS, ACL Rangers, ROK, Texas Rangers
AGE: 19 DOB: 08/17/2005
BATS: S THROWS: R
HT: 5' 10" WT: 185
DRAFTED: 2024, 5th (165) - TEX
ETA: 2028
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40
Fitz-Gerald won four consecutive Florida 7-A state championships at Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland), where his father, Todd, is the head coach and has mentored players such as Roman Anthony, Jesús Luzardo and Coby Mayo. The Rangers drafted him in the fifth round last July and lured him away from a North Carolina State commitment with a well-over-slot $900,000 bonus. Early-season hamstring issues delayed his pro debut in 2025.
A switch-hitter, Fitz-Gerald is a natural right-hander, but scouts prefer his swing and power potential from the left side. He has good feel for the barrel and doesn't try to do too much at the plate, focusing on driving the ball from gap to gap. He's not especially physical and won't be a slugger, but his feel for the barrel could translate into solid hitting ability with 12-15 homers per season.
As with many coach's sons, Fitz-Gerald has a high baseball IQ that helps him get the most out of his tools. He has fringy speed but is a savvy baserunner who gets to grounders in the middle infield. A shortstop in high school, he's better suited for second base in pro ball with his range and average arm, and he has the quick hands to be effective on the double-play pivot.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/rang ... ald-803849
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Denzel Clarke, Sacramento Athletics (35% rostered)
As we do often in this space, recommending Clarke is a bet on things that haven’t happened yet.
He did, finally, get his first career hit out of the way in Tuesday’s game, but that’s about all the 25-year-old has done through his first handful of games in the majors. Through 13 at-bats, Clarke has the lone hit with nine strikeouts and no walks, a whopping 69.2% K%. Not nice. Not even a little bit.
The good news is, his performance thus far is pretty contrary to what he was as a prospect. Clarke was never a top-end prospect—although he did break into our Top 101 ahead of the 2024 season, at No. 99—but in the writeup ahead of his promotion last week, our Grant Schiller said Clarke was a “plus-power, plus-speed prospect who takes walks.” That gives hope that while those attributes haven’t yet shown up at the highest level, they should sooner than later.
It’s also promising that the Athletics have committed to giving him a long leash in center field. Despite his early struggles, the team continues to run him out there, seemingly intent on letting him figure it out or die trying. The strikeouts don’t appear to be a fluke, though, and even if he does provide category juice it will almost certainly come at the expense of batting average.
Can your team handle that kind of volatility? That’s a question I can’t answer. Clarke has a toolbox and a runway, though, so if you’re looking for a spark, he’s around.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... week-nine/
As we do often in this space, recommending Clarke is a bet on things that haven’t happened yet.
He did, finally, get his first career hit out of the way in Tuesday’s game, but that’s about all the 25-year-old has done through his first handful of games in the majors. Through 13 at-bats, Clarke has the lone hit with nine strikeouts and no walks, a whopping 69.2% K%. Not nice. Not even a little bit.
The good news is, his performance thus far is pretty contrary to what he was as a prospect. Clarke was never a top-end prospect—although he did break into our Top 101 ahead of the 2024 season, at No. 99—but in the writeup ahead of his promotion last week, our Grant Schiller said Clarke was a “plus-power, plus-speed prospect who takes walks.” That gives hope that while those attributes haven’t yet shown up at the highest level, they should sooner than later.
It’s also promising that the Athletics have committed to giving him a long leash in center field. Despite his early struggles, the team continues to run him out there, seemingly intent on letting him figure it out or die trying. The strikeouts don’t appear to be a fluke, though, and even if he does provide category juice it will almost certainly come at the expense of batting average.
Can your team handle that kind of volatility? That’s a question I can’t answer. Clarke has a toolbox and a runway, though, so if you’re looking for a spark, he’s around.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... week-nine/
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Angels recalled LHP Sam Aldegheri from Double-A Rocket City.
Aldegheri made three starts with a 4.85 ERA for the Angels down the stretch last year and had a 4.34 ERA in nine starts for Rocket City this year. He’s one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects, but he’s probably just up to help in middle relief for now.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/sam-aldegheri/254851
3. Samuel Aldegheri, LHP
Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-L
Age: 23
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium.
Track Record: Aldegheri signed with the Phillies out of Italy in 2019 for $210,000. He spent the pandemic getting a handful of innings in the Italian Baseball League before making his pro debut. Back and shoulder injuries limited him to just 33.1 innings in 2021 and 2022, before he had a decent year at the Phillies’ Class A affiliates in 2023. Aldegheri experienced a full breakout in 2024 in which he posted a 3.23 ERA at High-A and Double-A before he was traded to the Angels along with George Klassen for Carlos Estevez. The Angels gave him four starts at Double-A before calling him up for three starts. He is the first Italian born-and-raised pitcher in MLB history.
Scouting Report: Aldegheri is a crafty southpaw with an average four-pitch arsenal and rotation future. His low-90s fastball has touched 95 and gets on hitters quicker than its velocity would indicate due to its carry up in the zone. He can get chases with it or locate at the knees with more two-seam action. Each of Aldegheri’s three offspeed pitches flashes average, with his low-80s slider being his primary swing-and-miss breaker. He steals strikes and changes pace with a mid-70s curveball. His low-80s changeup has made strides and has been effective against righthanded hitters. Aldegheri mixes and locates his arsenal well from a deceptive high three-quarters slot. His durable frame and ability to locate will allow him to handle a rotation workload. He is praised for his maturity and poise.
The Future: Aldegheri will have the opportunity to crack the Angels’ rotation out of spring training. Improvements to his changeup have altered his projection from a back-end starter to high-floor No. 4.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... eason=2025
Aldegheri made three starts with a 4.85 ERA for the Angels down the stretch last year and had a 4.34 ERA in nine starts for Rocket City this year. He’s one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects, but he’s probably just up to help in middle relief for now.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/sam-aldegheri/254851
3. Samuel Aldegheri, LHP
Ht: 6'1" | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-L
Age: 23
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium.
Track Record: Aldegheri signed with the Phillies out of Italy in 2019 for $210,000. He spent the pandemic getting a handful of innings in the Italian Baseball League before making his pro debut. Back and shoulder injuries limited him to just 33.1 innings in 2021 and 2022, before he had a decent year at the Phillies’ Class A affiliates in 2023. Aldegheri experienced a full breakout in 2024 in which he posted a 3.23 ERA at High-A and Double-A before he was traded to the Angels along with George Klassen for Carlos Estevez. The Angels gave him four starts at Double-A before calling him up for three starts. He is the first Italian born-and-raised pitcher in MLB history.
Scouting Report: Aldegheri is a crafty southpaw with an average four-pitch arsenal and rotation future. His low-90s fastball has touched 95 and gets on hitters quicker than its velocity would indicate due to its carry up in the zone. He can get chases with it or locate at the knees with more two-seam action. Each of Aldegheri’s three offspeed pitches flashes average, with his low-80s slider being his primary swing-and-miss breaker. He steals strikes and changes pace with a mid-70s curveball. His low-80s changeup has made strides and has been effective against righthanded hitters. Aldegheri mixes and locates his arsenal well from a deceptive high three-quarters slot. His durable frame and ability to locate will allow him to handle a rotation workload. He is praised for his maturity and poise.
The Future: Aldegheri will have the opportunity to crack the Angels’ rotation out of spring training. Improvements to his changeup have altered his projection from a back-end starter to high-floor No. 4.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2 ... eason=2025
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Rangers: Devin Fitz-Gerald, INF (No. 30)
Fitz-Gerald won four straight Florida 7-A state titles at Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland), where his father Todd is the head coach and has guided players such as Roman Anthony, Jesús Luzardo and Coby Mayo. Signed for an over-slot $900,000 in the fifth round, he's a switch-hitter with a high baseball IQ who likely fits best at second base. He's slashing .333/.435/.609 in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, where he's tied for the home run lead with five in 21 games and sitting second in slugging (.609) and third in OPS (1.044).
Phillies: Carson DeMartini, 3B (No. 15)
DeMartini put up some big numbers at Virginia Tech, though his 21 homers in 2024 came with a regression in approach and a lot more swing-and-miss. After the Phillies took him in Round 4, he had a solid pro debut last summer (.863 OPS) and has been performing well overall with High-A Jersey Shore. He’s in the top 10 in the South Atlantic League with his .393 OBP and has a solid .821 OPS and his 146 wRC+ places him fourth in the organization among full-season Minor Leaguers.
Brewers: Marco Dinges, C (unranked on Brewers Top 30)
Dinges used a breakout season at Florida State to propel him into the fourth round last July, and he hit .353/.500/.576 line with 12 extra-base hits, 21 walks and 14 strikeouts in 26 games with Single-A Carolina to begin this season. He’s cooled off since his promotion to High-A Wisconsin on May 20, but he’s certainly on the radar as a Top 30 replacement. After DHing a ton with the Seminoles, he’s moved back behind the plate at both Minor League stops this year.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2024-mlb- ... e-coverage
Marco Dinges, C, Milwaukee Brewers, 21, A+
While Dinges has slowed his pace a bit after being promoted from Single-A Carolina to High-A Wisconsin, he still continues to swing it well. A 105 mph, 399-foot homer on Wednesday capped off a three-hit day to push his season-long slash line to .331/.440/.543. Despite walking less in High-A, for the season, Dinges has still walked more often than he has struck out.
A 2024 fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Dinges was young for the draft and will spend the entire 2025 season at 21 years old. In my live looks this year, Dinges has been extremely impressive.
The contact rates are highly impressive for Dinges, running a rate north of 79 percent for the season, and he pairs it with strong exit velocities. The 90th percentile exit velocity near 106 mph shows potential plus power.
Dinges is solid behind the plate, showing solid pop times in the mid-1.9-second range in my looks. He has thrown out 24 percent of attempted base stealers, which is really good considering how bad some lower-level pitchers are at holding runners on base.
Dinges checks all the boxes I want to see from a scouting and data standpoint. He looks like a legit MLB catcher if he continues to develop.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/pros ... 2309483bb9
Fitz-Gerald won four straight Florida 7-A state titles at Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland), where his father Todd is the head coach and has guided players such as Roman Anthony, Jesús Luzardo and Coby Mayo. Signed for an over-slot $900,000 in the fifth round, he's a switch-hitter with a high baseball IQ who likely fits best at second base. He's slashing .333/.435/.609 in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, where he's tied for the home run lead with five in 21 games and sitting second in slugging (.609) and third in OPS (1.044).
Phillies: Carson DeMartini, 3B (No. 15)
DeMartini put up some big numbers at Virginia Tech, though his 21 homers in 2024 came with a regression in approach and a lot more swing-and-miss. After the Phillies took him in Round 4, he had a solid pro debut last summer (.863 OPS) and has been performing well overall with High-A Jersey Shore. He’s in the top 10 in the South Atlantic League with his .393 OBP and has a solid .821 OPS and his 146 wRC+ places him fourth in the organization among full-season Minor Leaguers.
Brewers: Marco Dinges, C (unranked on Brewers Top 30)
Dinges used a breakout season at Florida State to propel him into the fourth round last July, and he hit .353/.500/.576 line with 12 extra-base hits, 21 walks and 14 strikeouts in 26 games with Single-A Carolina to begin this season. He’s cooled off since his promotion to High-A Wisconsin on May 20, but he’s certainly on the radar as a Top 30 replacement. After DHing a ton with the Seminoles, he’s moved back behind the plate at both Minor League stops this year.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2024-mlb- ... e-coverage
Marco Dinges, C, Milwaukee Brewers, 21, A+
While Dinges has slowed his pace a bit after being promoted from Single-A Carolina to High-A Wisconsin, he still continues to swing it well. A 105 mph, 399-foot homer on Wednesday capped off a three-hit day to push his season-long slash line to .331/.440/.543. Despite walking less in High-A, for the season, Dinges has still walked more often than he has struck out.
A 2024 fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Dinges was young for the draft and will spend the entire 2025 season at 21 years old. In my live looks this year, Dinges has been extremely impressive.
The contact rates are highly impressive for Dinges, running a rate north of 79 percent for the season, and he pairs it with strong exit velocities. The 90th percentile exit velocity near 106 mph shows potential plus power.
Dinges is solid behind the plate, showing solid pop times in the mid-1.9-second range in my looks. He has thrown out 24 percent of attempted base stealers, which is really good considering how bad some lower-level pitchers are at holding runners on base.
Dinges checks all the boxes I want to see from a scouting and data standpoint. He looks like a legit MLB catcher if he continues to develop.
https://www.thedynastydugout.com/p/pros ... 2309483bb9
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Graduates
Chase Meidroth, SS/2B: Acquired from Boston in the offseason as one of four players coming over in the Garrett Crochet trade, Meidroth has been a fixture at the top of the White Sox lineup, playing both middle infield positions. While he doesn’t provide much power, his .361 OBP reflects his value to the team.
Shane Smith, RHP: Selected as the first pick in the Rule 5 draft and projected to be a bullpen arm, especially in his first major league go-round, Smith has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season. He earned a spot in the rotation out of spring training and has been Chicago’s most effective starter.
Brooks Baldwin, SS: The ultimate utility reserve got his first call to Chicago in 2024 and has spent most of the 2025 season as the team’s 26th man. He has yet to provide much value with the bat, but his gamer mentality and ability to play six positions will keep him in the big leagues.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... 8c4f60a5a1
Chase Meidroth, SS/2B: Acquired from Boston in the offseason as one of four players coming over in the Garrett Crochet trade, Meidroth has been a fixture at the top of the White Sox lineup, playing both middle infield positions. While he doesn’t provide much power, his .361 OBP reflects his value to the team.
Shane Smith, RHP: Selected as the first pick in the Rule 5 draft and projected to be a bullpen arm, especially in his first major league go-round, Smith has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season. He earned a spot in the rotation out of spring training and has been Chicago’s most effective starter.
Brooks Baldwin, SS: The ultimate utility reserve got his first call to Chicago in 2024 and has spent most of the 2025 season as the team’s 26th man. He has yet to provide much value with the bat, but his gamer mentality and ability to play six positions will keep him in the big leagues.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... 8c4f60a5a1
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Watching Grant Taylor demoralize Southern League hitters out of the Birmingham bullpen over the past month, there was a growing sense that he wasn't going to be doing that particular task for much longer.
He'd pitched nine scoreless outings in as many chances out of the pen, allowing just three singles and a walk while striking out 18. Over the last week, he pitched his first multi-inning relief appearance, his first mid-inning relief appearance, and his first relief appearance on back-to-back days, all without incident. That seemed to follow the checklist that Chris Getz outlined when talking to reporters last Friday:
The rhythm of being in the bullpen is obviously different than being a starter with how often you're being used. You've got one up and you've got two ups, getting multiple outs, so we want to check those boxes, make sure that he's in a good position and we'll move forward with it.
That left only two avenues for further growth: returning to the Barons rotation or joining the major league bullpen, and the White Sox have chosen the latter. As initially reported by James Fox, the White Sox will be adding Taylor to the 40-man and 26-man rosters for the start of the series in Houston. A corresponding move will be required for both.
When asked on today's Sox Machine Podcast who would be the next White Sox prospect called up, Taylor came to mind ...
... because when I talked to Taylor and his coaches in Birmingham last week, everybody said that he'd be pitching in relief until informed otherwise, and everybody sounded enamored with Taylor's version of relief.
"It's the same arsenal, you just see the stuff tick up a little bit out of the pen," said Birmingham pitching coach John Kovalik. "He was never really trying to save bullets for later in the outing when we had him in the rotation, but I think now that he knows he's only going to be throwing an inning at a time, he can truly actually air it out."
In relief, Taylor was reliably touching 100 with his fastball, but he also demonstrated the capacity for using his other pitches in fastball counts. He ranked his 94-mph cutter as his most consistent secondary pitch, followed by an 84-mph curveball and a slider that comes in around 87. In what could be his final appearance for Birmingham, he struck out both batters he faced, finishing Sam Brown on a hammer curve, and then Denzer Guzman on three straight 100-mph fastballs:
Taylor probably won't be thrown into high-leverage situations right away, but Jordan Leasure has the worst performance in the AL in terms of Win Probability Added, as well as the most meltdowns in the White Sox bullpen according to FanGraphs. If Taylor's initial outings look anywhere as easy as the ones in Double-A, there's a late-inning vacancy for a hard-throwing, bat-missing righty with his name all over it.
From there, Getz hasn't closed the door on Taylor returning to the rotation, using Garrett Crochet as an example of somebody the White Sox were able to stretch into a starter in fairly short order. But should Taylor's high-octane stuff translate to the toughest situations, it could be difficult for Will Venable to let him go.
https://soxmachine.com/2025/06/white-so ... to-bullpen
He'd pitched nine scoreless outings in as many chances out of the pen, allowing just three singles and a walk while striking out 18. Over the last week, he pitched his first multi-inning relief appearance, his first mid-inning relief appearance, and his first relief appearance on back-to-back days, all without incident. That seemed to follow the checklist that Chris Getz outlined when talking to reporters last Friday:
The rhythm of being in the bullpen is obviously different than being a starter with how often you're being used. You've got one up and you've got two ups, getting multiple outs, so we want to check those boxes, make sure that he's in a good position and we'll move forward with it.
That left only two avenues for further growth: returning to the Barons rotation or joining the major league bullpen, and the White Sox have chosen the latter. As initially reported by James Fox, the White Sox will be adding Taylor to the 40-man and 26-man rosters for the start of the series in Houston. A corresponding move will be required for both.
When asked on today's Sox Machine Podcast who would be the next White Sox prospect called up, Taylor came to mind ...
... because when I talked to Taylor and his coaches in Birmingham last week, everybody said that he'd be pitching in relief until informed otherwise, and everybody sounded enamored with Taylor's version of relief.
"It's the same arsenal, you just see the stuff tick up a little bit out of the pen," said Birmingham pitching coach John Kovalik. "He was never really trying to save bullets for later in the outing when we had him in the rotation, but I think now that he knows he's only going to be throwing an inning at a time, he can truly actually air it out."
In relief, Taylor was reliably touching 100 with his fastball, but he also demonstrated the capacity for using his other pitches in fastball counts. He ranked his 94-mph cutter as his most consistent secondary pitch, followed by an 84-mph curveball and a slider that comes in around 87. In what could be his final appearance for Birmingham, he struck out both batters he faced, finishing Sam Brown on a hammer curve, and then Denzer Guzman on three straight 100-mph fastballs:
Taylor probably won't be thrown into high-leverage situations right away, but Jordan Leasure has the worst performance in the AL in terms of Win Probability Added, as well as the most meltdowns in the White Sox bullpen according to FanGraphs. If Taylor's initial outings look anywhere as easy as the ones in Double-A, there's a late-inning vacancy for a hard-throwing, bat-missing righty with his name all over it.
From there, Getz hasn't closed the door on Taylor returning to the rotation, using Garrett Crochet as an example of somebody the White Sox were able to stretch into a starter in fairly short order. But should Taylor's high-octane stuff translate to the toughest situations, it could be difficult for Will Venable to let him go.
https://soxmachine.com/2025/06/white-so ... to-bullpen
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Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Arizona Diamondbacks - Cristofer Torin, SS/2B, A+, Org ranking: #14
Torin is a 20-year-old infielder that joined Arizona'a system as a part of the 2022 international signing class out of Venezuela. He has emerged as one of the better on-base threats for the young Snakes, with plus contact skills and the athletic upside to swipe 20 bases a season. His defense up the middle has improved a lot with experience, and he's looking like he can stick as an above-average shortstop. There's certainly a path to the big leagues for him if he can grow into some more power at the plate.
Chicago White Sox - Jeral Perez, 2B/SS, A+, Org rank: #18
Perez was originally a part of the Dodgers' farm system, signing with them in 2022 out of the Dominican Republic before joining the White Sox as part of the trade that sent Michael Kopech to the Dodgers last year. He has been very consistent at each of his stops in the minors thus far, posting some of the best power numbers at each level. His power profile is advanced for a minor league middle infielder, which is in large part due to his ability to get the ball in the air to the pull-side at a high rate. He currently leads all White Sox minor league hitters with eleven home runs.
Milwaukee Brewers - Marco Dinges, C, A+, Org rank: N/A
Despite joining the pro ranks just last year as a fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Marco Dinges is already looking like a legitimate catching prospect. His bat is taking off even while he's learning the demands of catching at the professional level. He got on base at a 50% clip at Low-A Carolina before earning a promotion to High-A Wisconsin. Minimum 100 plate appearances, his 167 wRC+ across both levels this year ranks fifth among minor league catchers, while he's still walking at the same rate he's striking out at. With the type of success he's having at the plate, anything he does behind the plate is a nice addition - a rare thing to say about a catcher when it's usually vice versa.
https://calltothepen.com/the-best-hidde ... arm-system
Torin is a 20-year-old infielder that joined Arizona'a system as a part of the 2022 international signing class out of Venezuela. He has emerged as one of the better on-base threats for the young Snakes, with plus contact skills and the athletic upside to swipe 20 bases a season. His defense up the middle has improved a lot with experience, and he's looking like he can stick as an above-average shortstop. There's certainly a path to the big leagues for him if he can grow into some more power at the plate.
Chicago White Sox - Jeral Perez, 2B/SS, A+, Org rank: #18
Perez was originally a part of the Dodgers' farm system, signing with them in 2022 out of the Dominican Republic before joining the White Sox as part of the trade that sent Michael Kopech to the Dodgers last year. He has been very consistent at each of his stops in the minors thus far, posting some of the best power numbers at each level. His power profile is advanced for a minor league middle infielder, which is in large part due to his ability to get the ball in the air to the pull-side at a high rate. He currently leads all White Sox minor league hitters with eleven home runs.
Milwaukee Brewers - Marco Dinges, C, A+, Org rank: N/A
Despite joining the pro ranks just last year as a fourth-round pick out of Florida State, Marco Dinges is already looking like a legitimate catching prospect. His bat is taking off even while he's learning the demands of catching at the professional level. He got on base at a 50% clip at Low-A Carolina before earning a promotion to High-A Wisconsin. Minimum 100 plate appearances, his 167 wRC+ across both levels this year ranks fifth among minor league catchers, while he's still walking at the same rate he's striking out at. With the type of success he's having at the plate, anything he does behind the plate is a nice addition - a rare thing to say about a catcher when it's usually vice versa.
https://calltothepen.com/the-best-hidde ... arm-system
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Padres
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- Location: Wells, Maine
- Name: Jim Berger
Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
White Sox Grant Taylor with an electric debut from a pitch shape standpoint (1 IP, 12 pitches, 10 strikes).
His four-seamer averaged 100.5 mph with 16” vertical break and 2” arm-side movement from a 5.9’ release with 7.4’ extension—plus velocity and extension, with average shape and less arm-side. His release point is further toward the plate than 98% of pitchers (mechanics below). Just 1.7% of all pitches in 2024 thrown from pitchers 6’3” or shorter are from extensions at 7.3’ or greater. Aka, he’s odd. The cut-ride fastball shape at that velocity will work.
Taylor also has three breaking balls, all of which have more drop than average for their velocity. My favorite is his slider, which averaged -3” vertical break with 5.5” glove-side break at 87 mph. Brad Keller and George Kirby are the only other pitchers in baseball this year with sliders that have that much depth, averaging 87 mph or greater to still maintain >5” glove-side. He’s presumably the White Sox’s future closer.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-165680584
Grant Taylor fired a perfect seventh inning on Tuesday against the Astros in his major-league debut.
Taylor kicked off his big-league debut with a 101.5 mph heater and threw six additional triple-digit fastballs during a scoreless frame. The hard-throwing 23-year-old top pitching prospect possesses some of the most electric raw stuff in the game. His future is likely in Chicago’s rotation, but he’ll get acclimated to the majors in a relief role for now. There isn’t a ton of fantasy ceiling at the moment, but he’s one of the more intriguing long-term gambles when it comes to high-variance pitching prospects.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/grant-taylor/271790
Shane Smith allowed one run with four strikeouts over six innings in a win over the Astros on Tuesday.
Smith had an excellent day on the mound, holding the Astros to one run over six frames. A single, double, and sacrifice fly brought one run in to score for Houston in the third inning. He scattered seven hits while walking two with four strikeouts. The 25-year-old right-hander will take a 2.37 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 64/27K/BB ratio across 68 1/3 innings into a start against the Rangers in Texas on Sunday.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/shane-smith/242681
His four-seamer averaged 100.5 mph with 16” vertical break and 2” arm-side movement from a 5.9’ release with 7.4’ extension—plus velocity and extension, with average shape and less arm-side. His release point is further toward the plate than 98% of pitchers (mechanics below). Just 1.7% of all pitches in 2024 thrown from pitchers 6’3” or shorter are from extensions at 7.3’ or greater. Aka, he’s odd. The cut-ride fastball shape at that velocity will work.
Taylor also has three breaking balls, all of which have more drop than average for their velocity. My favorite is his slider, which averaged -3” vertical break with 5.5” glove-side break at 87 mph. Brad Keller and George Kirby are the only other pitchers in baseball this year with sliders that have that much depth, averaging 87 mph or greater to still maintain >5” glove-side. He’s presumably the White Sox’s future closer.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-165680584
Grant Taylor fired a perfect seventh inning on Tuesday against the Astros in his major-league debut.
Taylor kicked off his big-league debut with a 101.5 mph heater and threw six additional triple-digit fastballs during a scoreless frame. The hard-throwing 23-year-old top pitching prospect possesses some of the most electric raw stuff in the game. His future is likely in Chicago’s rotation, but he’ll get acclimated to the majors in a relief role for now. There isn’t a ton of fantasy ceiling at the moment, but he’s one of the more intriguing long-term gambles when it comes to high-variance pitching prospects.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/grant-taylor/271790
Shane Smith allowed one run with four strikeouts over six innings in a win over the Astros on Tuesday.
Smith had an excellent day on the mound, holding the Astros to one run over six frames. A single, double, and sacrifice fly brought one run in to score for Houston in the third inning. He scattered seven hits while walking two with four strikeouts. The 25-year-old right-hander will take a 2.37 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 64/27K/BB ratio across 68 1/3 innings into a start against the Rangers in Texas on Sunday.
https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/shane-smith/242681
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Padres
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
- Location: Wells, Maine
- Name: Jim Berger
Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Marco Dinges, C, Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 21
Level(s): A, A+
Height: 5’11
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Year-to-Date Stats
PA AVG OBP SLG K% BB% HR SB BABIP
177 .340 .441 .528 13.6% 13.6% 5 5 .370
This week: 10-20, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, SB
The Brewers had a special group of talent in Carolina for the first few months of the
season; Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Braylon Payne, and Eric Bitonti all shared the field at one
point. Marco Dinges, an undersized fourth-rounder out of Florida State, outshined them
all.
By the time he left the Mudcats, Dinges had accrued a team-leading 1.076 OPS in 112 plate
appearances. He walked 21 times to just 14 strikeouts, racked up 12 extra-base hits in 26
games, and was a clean four for four on stolen base attempts while working as the team’s
primary catcher. He slowed a little upon promotion to High-A, partially due to some poor
BABIP luck, but broke out of his 10-game miniature slump with a trio of three-hit
performances this week.
Dinges’ data is very encouraging. His discipline and bat-to-ball acumen as an ACC bat in
Single-A shouldn’t be all too surprising, but he’s proven capable of putting more charge
into the ball than expected given his size. He’s carrying a 90th percentile exit velocity near
106 mph, underlying power undoubtedly driven by outlier batspeed. Brenton Del Chiaro,
Brewers Assistant Director of Player Development, revealed on the Call Up podcast that
Dinges’ “cruising” bat speed was around 77 mph. That’s an elite mark.
https://beehiiv-publication-files.s3.am ... 4a6c55f729
Age: 21
Level(s): A, A+
Height: 5’11
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Year-to-Date Stats
PA AVG OBP SLG K% BB% HR SB BABIP
177 .340 .441 .528 13.6% 13.6% 5 5 .370
This week: 10-20, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI, SB
The Brewers had a special group of talent in Carolina for the first few months of the
season; Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Braylon Payne, and Eric Bitonti all shared the field at one
point. Marco Dinges, an undersized fourth-rounder out of Florida State, outshined them
all.
By the time he left the Mudcats, Dinges had accrued a team-leading 1.076 OPS in 112 plate
appearances. He walked 21 times to just 14 strikeouts, racked up 12 extra-base hits in 26
games, and was a clean four for four on stolen base attempts while working as the team’s
primary catcher. He slowed a little upon promotion to High-A, partially due to some poor
BABIP luck, but broke out of his 10-game miniature slump with a trio of three-hit
performances this week.
Dinges’ data is very encouraging. His discipline and bat-to-ball acumen as an ACC bat in
Single-A shouldn’t be all too surprising, but he’s proven capable of putting more charge
into the ball than expected given his size. He’s carrying a 90th percentile exit velocity near
106 mph, underlying power undoubtedly driven by outlier batspeed. Brenton Del Chiaro,
Brewers Assistant Director of Player Development, revealed on the Call Up podcast that
Dinges’ “cruising” bat speed was around 77 mph. That’s an elite mark.
https://beehiiv-publication-files.s3.am ... 4a6c55f729
-
Padres
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4885
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
- Location: Wells, Maine
- Name: Jim Berger
Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
Shane Smith, RHP, White Sox
Smith has been a Rule 5 success for the White Sox. His ERA outpaces his estimators, but he’s once again suppressing home runs at an extreme rate, something he consistently did in the minors. His changeup is the standout, generating a 35% whiff rate and ranking in the top five in slugging percentage allowed. The pitch has helped him survive while relying on the command of an otherwise below-average fastball. He packages it together with a wide enough arsenal to keep hitters off balance.
Chase Meidroth, SS, White Sox
Meidroth has quietly impressed since joining the White Sox. Acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade, he’s showing elite plate skills with low chase and whiff rates, plus solid range at shortstop. Like Jacob Wilson, the bat speed is lacking, but he’s consistently squaring up the baseball. Power will likely remain limited, but there’s sneaky value in fantasy baseball OBP formats, with speed and a potential runs-scored boost if the lineup ever improves.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... r-in-2025/
Smith has been a Rule 5 success for the White Sox. His ERA outpaces his estimators, but he’s once again suppressing home runs at an extreme rate, something he consistently did in the minors. His changeup is the standout, generating a 35% whiff rate and ranking in the top five in slugging percentage allowed. The pitch has helped him survive while relying on the command of an otherwise below-average fastball. He packages it together with a wide enough arsenal to keep hitters off balance.
Chase Meidroth, SS, White Sox
Meidroth has quietly impressed since joining the White Sox. Acquired from the Red Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade, he’s showing elite plate skills with low chase and whiff rates, plus solid range at shortstop. Like Jacob Wilson, the bat speed is lacking, but he’s consistently squaring up the baseball. Power will likely remain limited, but there’s sneaky value in fantasy baseball OBP formats, with speed and a potential runs-scored boost if the lineup ever improves.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... r-in-2025/
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Padres
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4885
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
- Location: Wells, Maine
- Name: Jim Berger
Re: 2025 Padres prospects news and notes
11. Nestor German, RHP, Orioles
Team: Double-A Chesapeake (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-1, 0.00, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The Orioles’ 2023 11th-round pick out of Seattle University enjoyed a breakout in 2024, and so far he’s followed it up nicely in 2025, reaching Double-A early this season. Last week, German dominated in his single start against Harrisburg, as he tossed six scoreless innings and allowed three baserunners to reach while striking out six on 14 swinging strikes. German mixes a kitchen sink of secondaries with a high-ride four-seam fastball that plays above its low-to-mid-90s velocity. (GP)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... df2f694cca
Nestor German, RHP, Orioles (Double-A Chesapeake): 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 6 K, 1 BB.
Not merely a sentence uttered skeptically by Captain Haddock, German has swiftly leapt to Double-A and placed himself in the fringe of the rotation conversation despite his-11th round selection in 2023.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... yo-affair/
Team: Double-A Chesapeake (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-1, 0.00, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The Orioles’ 2023 11th-round pick out of Seattle University enjoyed a breakout in 2024, and so far he’s followed it up nicely in 2025, reaching Double-A early this season. Last week, German dominated in his single start against Harrisburg, as he tossed six scoreless innings and allowed three baserunners to reach while striking out six on 14 swinging strikes. German mixes a kitchen sink of secondaries with a high-ride four-seam fastball that plays above its low-to-mid-90s velocity. (GP)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... df2f694cca
Nestor German, RHP, Orioles (Double-A Chesapeake): 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 6 K, 1 BB.
Not merely a sentence uttered skeptically by Captain Haddock, German has swiftly leapt to Double-A and placed himself in the fringe of the rotation conversation despite his-11th round selection in 2023.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... yo-affair/
