Triple-A Baseball

Covered by Mitch Stachnik

🍔🍟 Spencer Jones, CF NYY (Triple-A) 

2-for-4, HR, 3 R, 1 RBI, K, SB 

Jones launched a 418-foot home run that left the bat at 110 mph. He also stole a base to complete the combo meal. Since his call-up to Triple-A, Jones has been very successful, batting .385 with five home runs in 10 games.

‼️Nolan McLean, SP NYM (Triple-A) 

6.0 IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 10K

McLean is quite the athlete. He originally planned to play both football and baseball at Oklahoma State but ultimately settled on being a pitcher and third baseman for the Cowboys. He has dominated so far this season, and last night he tied his career high with 10 strikeouts. In my opinion, he's the best pitching prospect in the Mets system and could provide value to the big league club down the stretch.

🆕 JJ Wetherholt, SS STL (Triple-A) 

2-for-4, HR, 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Wetherholt made the jump to Triple-A look easy in his first game at the level. He completed the hard parts of the cycle, hitting a triple and crushing a 424-foot home run. Like many of his fellow 2024 draftees, Wetherholt is looking to join the big league club. I wonder if the Cardinals will give him a look in center field, where there’s more of an opening than at shortstop or second base.

‼️🔜 Tanner Houck, SP BOS (Triple-A) 

4.1 IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 6K

Houck reportedly touched 100.9 mph in the bottom of the second inning. If true, that would be 3 mph faster than his highest-recorded pitch at the MLB level. Regardless of the radar gun’s accuracy, Houck looks ready to help the Red Sox in the second half of the season.

Chase DeLauter, RF CLE (Triple-A) 

1-for-4, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, K

DeLauter launched a 412-foot home run that left the bat at 108.9 mph. Coming into his draft year, he was considered a candidate for the top overall selection, and he’s now starting to show that kind of potential for the Guardians. With limited offensive production outside of José Ramírez, Steven Kwan, and Angel Martínez, the lineup could use a boost. 

Carter Jensen, C KC (Triple-A) 

3-for-5, 2B, 1 R, 5 RBI

A five RBI night earns Jensen a shoutout on today’s daily sheet. The catching prospect has been showing off his hitting ability, raising his OPS to 1.103 for the Omaha Storm Chasers. His 12 home runs this season (six in Triple A and six in Double A) highlight the kind of power potential Royals fans should be excited about.

Korey Lee, DH CWS (Triple-A) 

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

With Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero taking the catching duties at the major league level, there isn't room for Lee. However, he has quietly put together a solid 2025 season in the minors, making a strong case to be next in line if an opportunity arises.

🍔🍟 Ryan Vilade, LF CIN (Triple-A) 

2-for-5, HR, 1 R, 3 RBI, K, SB

Vilade spent time on the Tigers’ major league roster last year and with the Cardinals earlier this season. Now in the Reds minor league system, he launched a 418-foot home run that left his bat at 109.3 mph. He completed the combo meal with a stolen base, earning a spot on today’s daily sheet.

🍔🍟 👟 Dustin Harris, CF TEX (Triple-A) 

2-for-2, HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB 

Harris showed off his speed with two stolen bases and completed the combo meal with a home run. He made his MLB debut last season with the Rangers and has appeared in 16 games this year. With the team 10 games back in the division, Harris may get another opportunity to spark the lineup with his bat and speed on the basepaths.

Osleivis Basabe, SS SFG (Triple-A) 

3-for-5, HR, 2 2B, 3 R, 1 RBI

Three extra-base hits earned Basabe a spot on today’s daily sheet. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut in 2023 but is still working to put his tools together and earn another opportunity. Performances like this will at least put him back into the conversation.

Double-A Baseball

Covered by Tom Gates

Wilfred Veras, DH CHW (Double-A)

1-for-4, HR, R, RBI

I probably should have seen this struggle coming. Veras has always been someone with swing and miss concerns but he’s made up for it by crushing the ball and being aggressive on the bases. With Veras not usually walking a lot, he has to capitalize when he makes contact, which he has. His batting averages have ranged from .260 to .309 between Single-A and Double-A. Veras has always had a very high ground ball rate, which again, shows the damage he can do when he elevates the ball. There is so much potential here. The biggest difference, and probably what is causing the struggles this year, is that Veras is being more patient. His swing rate is over 10% lower from previous years. This approach isn’t working. 

👟 William Bergolla, 2B CHW (Double-A)

1-for-5, 2 R, 2 SB

Bergolla is the opposite of Veras in a sense that the contact is off the charts. The 20-year-old has a contact rate over 91%!. But, you’ll get no power here. For Bergolla to become fantasy relevant with zero power, he’s going to have to hit for a high average and steal 30+ bases. It’s possible but the floor is low.

Luis Lara, DH MLW (Double-A)

4-for-5, 2B, R

Here’s another 20-year-old at Double-A with limited power. I like Lara more for fantasy. He’s a non-zero there and he should steal more. Both these guys are risky because they won’t contribute in the slugging categories. They’ll need to be over the top in at least one category.