Today Will Thompson & Smada tag teamed MLB, with Samuel Gomez on Triple-A, Tom Gates at Double-A, Nate Rasmussen on High-A, Rhys White at Single-A, and finally Matt Thompson on Complex ball

Major League Baseball

Covered by Will Thompson & Smada

Ben Brown, RHP CHC (MLB)

5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Brown is the unique profile of basically a two-pitch pitcher that has success as an MLB starter. He’s not very efficient and doesn’t go deep into games, but he’s the perfect pitcher to go two times through a lineup, a role that I bet the Cubs will use him in come playoff time. His ERA currently stands at 4.95 so far this season, but the peripherals look much better (3.31 FIP, 3.53 xFIP). He’s probably closer to those numbers and he’s given up a lot less hard contact than last year with worse results to date. 

Gunnar Hoglund, RHP SAC (MLB)

5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

The wheels fell off a bit in the sixth inning for Hoglund’s second start, but the A’s couldn’t have asked much more from their rookie since being called up. He’s been aggressive living in the strike zone with his new four-seam heavy approach rather than the sinker and he was able to get the whiffs (13) in this outing that he didn’t get in his big league debut. The A’s have really needed a boost in their rotation and Hoglund has provided that. Unfortunately, the A’s bullpen couldn’t hold the lead against the red-hot Mariners. 

Jacob Wilson, SS SAC (MLB)

4-for-5, R, RBI, K

I’m fully bought in on Jacob Wilson and he had another monster day yesterday. The 23-year-old has been one of the best pure hitting prospects we’ve seen in quite a while and is now hitting .357/.383/.476 so far this season. He doesn’t walk or strike out at all and is currently sporting an absurd 94.4% in-zone contact rate. Him and Kristian Campbell is going to be a fun race for AL Rookie of the Year. 

Luisangel Acuna, 2B NYM (MLB)

1-for-4, R, RBI, K, SB

I have to admit, I was not a big believer in Acuna’s bat when the Mets brought him up at the end of last season but early returns are looking like I was wrong. He’s been the perfect contact and speed combo that fits the Mets lineup perfectly with all the power hitters at the top of their order. I don’t think he’s going to stick as a near .300 hitter, but he can still be an impactful player at second base who moves the ball and wreaks havoc on the bases.   

Freddie Freeman, 1B LAD (MLB)

3-for-4, 3B, R, 4 RBI

There has not been nearly enough attention paid nationally to what Freddie Freeman is doing to start this season. The 35-year-old went 7-for-13 in this series against the Marlins with two home runs, a triple, and eight RBI. He’s leading the league in batting average (.363) and slugging percentage (.713) with eight home runs already and has his normal elite strikeout to walk ratio. Freeman had a “down” year by his standards in 2024, but is off to a monster start this season and so far has been the best hitter in a Dodgers lineup that has Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. This guy is just going to hit until the end of time.  

💣💣 Wilyer Abreu, RF BOS (MLB)

3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI

Wilyer Abreu got off to an insane start in April and then went on a 5-for-37 slump over a two-week stretch. Since that slump though, he is fully back and so is his power, hitting six home runs over his last 15 games. Abreu showed flashes last season but a 28% K rate raised a ton of swing and miss concerns. He’s corrected that and then some, cutting it down to 21% this season and upping his walk rate to 15%. Abreu is also being more aggressive and doing way more damage in the strike zone than he did a year ago. This breakout is for real and don’t forget he’s an elite defensive right fielder on top of that. The Red Sox future outfield of Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Roman Anthony is a trio that’s going to be a problem in the AL East for years to come. 

Shane Baz, RHP TB (MLB)

3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

After it looked like Baz was turning into an ace before our eyes, his last two starts have been really rough. In those starts he has struggled to miss bats, striking out just four batters over his last nine innings. In particular, he’s run into trouble the second time through the order lately. The stuff is too good to panic and he’s definitely not a 4.95 ERA pitcher, but the Rays need him to be a top of the rotation level arm to have much of a chance this season. He’s been a big name for a while so it’s easy to forget that Baz has only 158 career big league innings under his belt. Some patience is warranted here.  

Trent Grisham, PH NYY (MLB)

1-for-1, HR, R, 2 RBI

Every year there are some players who come out of nowhere and Grisham is certainly one of them in 2025. The pinch hit bomb tied up the game in the 8th and the Yankees would go on to win it in extras. Grisham’s 10th HR of the season (one of 9 hitters to reach that mark) eclipses last year’s total in a bench OF role. He’ll be a FA in 2026 and has the potential to work into a 2nd division regular role if he’s able to keep some of the elevated contact rates throughout the season.

🚑 Dylan Cease, RHP SD (MLB)

6.2 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Just after giving up a no-hitter, Cease had cramping in his forearm, which sounds bad but he says isn’t serious. The season has been a down one for him thus far. He had the 9 ER blowup a month ago and has had multiple starts where he couldn’t escape the 5th inning. It’s unfortunate to see such a positive start end on a poor note. 

🚑 Hunter Greene, RHP CIN (MLB)

3 IP, 2 H, 6 K

Greene was cruising through this one until a groin injury popped up during warmups prior to the 4th inning. He’s hoping he won’t miss any starts but we’ll have to wait and see.

Drake Baldwin, C ATL (MLB)

2-for-3, HR, R, RBI