Editor’s Note: All the graphics I use going forward will come directly from Stat Soldier. Go check it out by clicking here!

Now that we are 60+ games into the 2026 Major League season, I wanted to check in on all 30 MLB rotations.

I haven’t blogged in a while and apologize for that, so I figured I’d jump back in with a fun exercise!

Ranking all 30 MLB Rotations.

Definitely more of a “rankings” piece compared to an “article”, but this was an exciting way for me to get back into the blog game.

I’ll be ranking from worst to first and mainly concentrating on three factors.

1. Overall Performance.

2. Depth.

3. Health.

As a bonus, I included a 3-word summary of my thoughts on every rotation.

30) Rockies: 5.93 ERA | 5.21 FIP | 1.3 fWAR | 6.45 K/9

• Kyle Freeland - 48 IP | 8.06 ERA

• Michael Lorenzen - 60.2 IP | 8.01 ERA

• Tomoyuki Sugano - 63.1 IP | 3.98 ERA

• Ryan Feltner - 32 IP | 4.22 ERA

• José Quintana (IL-60)*

• Tanner Gordon (IL-15)*

Summary - Pitiful. Simply Pitiful.

29) Athletics: 4.58 ERA | 5.11 FIP | 1.5 fWAR | 7.84 K/9

• Jeffrey Springs - 70 IP | 4.37 ERA

• Gage Jump - 12 IP | 3.75 ERA

• J.T. Ginn - 65.2 IP | 2.74 ERA

• Jack Perkins - 32 IP | 6.19 ERA

• Kade Morris - 4 IP | 15.75 ERA

• Aaron Civale (IL-15)*

• Luis Severino (IL-15)*

Summary - Needs New Stadium.

28) Nationals: 4.59 ERA | 4.76 FIP | 1.7 fWAR | 8.66 K/9

• Cade Cavalli - 64.2 IP | 3.62 ERA

• Foster Griffin - 72 IP | 3.63 ERA

• Zack Littell - 59.1 IP | 5.01 ERA

• Miles Mikolas - 56.1 IP | 6.39 ERA

• Jake Irvin (IL-15)*

• Josiah Gray (IL-60)*

• DJ Herz (IL-60)*

• Trevor Williams (IL-60)*

Summary - Not Their Year.

27) Astros: 4.83 ERA | 4.90 FIP | 1.7 fWAR | 8.41 K/9

• Mike Burrows - 68.1 IP | 5.66 ERA

• Tatsuya Imai - 29.1 IP | 5.52 ERA

• Peter Lambert - 50.2 IP | 3.55 ERA

• Spencer Arrighetti - 51 IP | 1.94 ERA

• Kai-Wei Teng - 47 IP | 3.06 ERA

• Hunter Brown (IL-60)*

• Cristian Javier (IL-60)*

• Lance McCullers (IL-15)*

• Brandon Walter (IL-60)*

• Ronel Blanco (IL-60)*

• Hayden Wesneski (IL-60)*

Summary - Seller At Deadline.

26) Cubs : 4.89 ERA | 4.73 FIP | 2.1 fWAR | 8.19 K/9

• Shota Imanaga - 76 IP | 4.74 ERA

• Edward Cabrera - 57.2 IP | 4.99 ERA

• Jameson Taillon - 66.2 IP | 5.13 ERA

• Colin Rea - 64.2 IP | 4.59 ERA

• Ben Brown - 57 IP | 1.74 ERA

• Matthew Boyd - (IL-15)*

• Cade Horton - (IL-60)*

• Justin Steele - (IL-60)*

Summary - Not Enough Depth.

25) Reds : 4.60 ERA | 5.08 FIP | 2.2 fWAR | 7.15 K/9

• Andrew Abbott - 68.2 IP | 4.06 ERA

• Brady Singer - 55 IP | 5.89 ERA

• Chase Burns - 70.1 IP | 2.05 ERA

• Chris Paddack - 15 IP | 5.40 ERA

• Rhett Lowder (IL-15)*

• Nick Lodolo - (IL-15)*

• Brandon Williamson (IL-60)*

• Hunter Greene (IL-60)*

Summary - Needs Hunter Greene.

24) Diamondbacks: 4.28 ERA | 4.59 FIP | 2.1 fWAR | 6.77 K/9

• Zac Gallen - 64.1 IP | 5.32 ERA

• Ryne Nelson - 72.1 IP | 4.60 ERA

• Eduardo Rodriguez - 72.1 IP | 2.24 ERA

• Michael Soroka - 67 IP | 3.49 ERA

• Merill Kelly - 58.1 IP | 5.71 ERA

• Corbin Burnes (IL-60)*

Summary - Corbin Burnes Health.

23) Orioles: 4.54 ERA | 4.57 FIP | 2.9 fWAR | 7.51 K/9

• Trevor Rogers - 54.1 IP | 6.29 ERA

• Kyle Bradish - 65.1 IP | 3.44 ERA

• Shane Baz - 71.1 IP | 4.29 ERA

• Chris Bassitt - 56.1 IP | 5.27 ERA

• Brandon Young - 49.1 IP | 3.47 ERA

• Dean Kremer (IL-60)*

• Cade Povich (IL-15)*

• Zach Eflin (IL-60)*

Summary - Not Very Exciting.

22) Padres: 4.58 ERA | 4.48 FIP | 2.9 fWAR | 7.67 K/9

• Michael King - 74 IP | 3.41 ERA

• Randy Vasquez - 65.1 IP | 3.31 ERA

• Walker Buehler - 57.2 IP | 4.53 ERA

• Griffin Canning - 27.2 IP | 7.16 ERA

• Lucas Giolito - 16.2 IP | 4.86 ERA

• Nick Pivetta - (IL-60)*

• German Marquez - (IL-15)*

• Joe Musgrove - (IL-60)*

Summary - Too Many Obstacles.

21) White Sox: 4.31 ERA | 4.28 FIP | 4.2 fWAR | 7.96 K/9

• Sean Burke - 65.1 IP | 3.72 ERA

• Anthony Kay - 61.1 IP | 4.40 ERA

• Davis Martin - 72.1 IP | 2.61 ERA

• Erick Fedde - 58.1 IP | 4.94 ERA

• Noah Schultz - 38.2 IP | 5.82 ERA (IL-15)*

• Drew Thorpe - n/a (IL-60)*

Summary - Needs An Ace.

20) Giants: 4.76 ERA | 4.29 FIP | 2.7 fWAR | 8.26 K/9

• Logan Webb - 59.1 IP | 4.25 ERA

• Robbie Ray - 67.2 IP | 4.12 ERA

• Landon Roupp - 64 IP | 4.22 ERA

• Adrian Houser - 60.2 IP | 5.49 ERA

• Trevor McDonald - 34 IP | 4.50 ERA

• Tyler Mahle - 56.2 IP | 6.04 ERA (IL-15)*

Summary - Not Exceeding Expectations.

19) Cardinals: 4.08 ERA | 4.21 FIP | 3.2 fWAR | 7.35 K/9

• Matthew Liberatore - 62 IP | 4.35 ERA

• Michael McGreevy - 66.1 IP | 2.98 ERA

• Dustin May - 66.2 IP | 4.59 ERA

• Kyle Leahy - 59 IP | 4.42 ERA

• Andre Pallante - 62 IP | 3.96 ERA

Summary - Not Enough Star-Power.

18) Red Sox: 4.49 ERA | 4.24 FIP | 3.8 fWAR | 8.34 K/9

• Ranger Suarez - 58.2 IP | 3.38 ERA

• Sonny Gray - 56.1 IP | 3.20 ERA

• Payton Tolle - 47.1 IP | 2.28 ERA

• Connelly Early - 66.1 IP | 3.26 ERA

• Garrett Crochet - 30 IP | 6.30 ERA (IL-60)*

• Kutter Crawford - n/a (IL-60)*

• Patrick Sandoval - n/a (IL-60)*

Summary - So Much Potential.

17) Marlins: 4.80 ERA | 4.18 FIP | 4.4 fWAR | 8.07 K/9

• Sandy Alcantara - 82.1 IP | 4.59 ERA

• Max Meyer - 73.2 IP | 2.81 ERA

• Tyler Phillips - 43.1 IP | 2.08

• Eury Perez - 62.2 IP | 4.60 ERA (IL-15)*

• Jansen Junk - 60 IP | 4.80 ERA (IL-15)*

Summary - Room For Improvement.

16) Royals: 4.16 ERA | 4.18 FIP | 4.6 fWAR | 8.19 K/9

• Michael Wacha - 81 IP | 3.44 ERA

• Seth Lugo - 76 IP | 3.91 ERA

• Noah Cameron - 59.2 IP | 4.22 ERA

• Stephen Kolek - 38 IP | 3.32 ERA

• Kris Bubic - 50.1 IP | 4.11 ERA (IL-15)*

• Cole Ragans - 35.1 IP | 4.84 ERA (IL-15)*

Summary - Very Average Rotation.

15) Angels: 4.60 ERA | 4.13 FIP | 4.8 fWAR | 8.97 K/9

• Jose Soriano - 76 IP | 2.72 ERA

• Reid Detmers - 74 IP | 4.26 ERA

• Grayson Rodriguez - 18 IP | 10.00 ERA

• Jack Kochanowicz - 63.2 IP | 5.23 ERA

• Walbert Urena - 50.1 IP | 2.68 ERA

• Yusei Kikuchi - 31 IP | 5.81 ERA (IL-60)*

Summary - Not Enough Juice.

14) Twins: 4.47 ERA | 4.07 FIP | 5.2 fWAR | 8.33 K/9

• Joe Ryan - 70.1 IP | 3.20 ERA

• Taj Bradley - 60.2 IP | 3.56 ERA

• Connor Prielipp - 39.1 IP | 5.26 ERA

• Zebby Matthews - 30.1 IP | 4.15 ERA

• Mick Abel - 20.1 IP | 3.98 ERA (IL-15)*

• Bailer Ober - 66.2 IP | 4.59 ERA (IL-15)*

Summary - Trade Joe Ryan.

13) Guardians: 3.75 ERA | 4.09 FIP | 4.7 fWAR | 8.66 K/9

• Tanner Bibee - 69 IP | 4.57 ERA

• Gavin Williams - 81.2 IP | 3.20 ERA

• Joey Cantillo - 62 IP | 3.92 ERA

• Slade Cecconi - 67.2 IP | 3.92 ERA

• Parker Messick - 75 IP | 2.40 ERA

Summary - Reload, Not Rebuild.

12) Mets: 4.30 ERA | 3.88 FIP | 4.5 fWAR | 9.21 K/9

• Freddy Peralta - 72 IP | 3.63 ERA

• Nolan McLean - 66.1 IP | 4.21 ERA

• David Peterson - 57.1 IP | 5.18 ERA

• Sean Manaea - 39 IP | 5.08 ERA

• Christian Scott - 36 IP | 2.50 ERA

• Tobias Myers - 33.1 IP | 4.05 ERA

• Clay Holmes - 52.2 IP | 2.39 ERA (IL-60)*

• Kodai Senga - 20 IP | 9.00 ERA (IL-15)*

Summary - Missing Two Arms.

11) Braves: 3.32 ERA | 4.08 FIP | 4.3 fWAR | 8.83 K/9

• Chris Sale - 72.2 IP | 2.23 ERA

• Spencer Strider - 31 IP | 3.77 ERA

• Bryce Elder - 78.2 IP | 2.63 ERA

• Grant Holmes - 63 IP | 3.86 ERA

• Martin Perez - 56.2 IP | 3.02 ERA

Summary - Spencer Schwellenbach Incoming.

10) Rangers: 3.98 ERA | 4.06 FIP | 4.9 fWAR | 9.31 K/9

• Nathan Eovaldi - 74.2 IP | 4.10 ERA

• Jacob deGrom - 64.2 IP | 3.48 ERA

• MacKenzie Gore - 66 IP | 4.23 ERA

• Jack Leiter - 66.1 IP | 4.34 ERA

• Kumar Rocker - 61.0 IP | 3.54 ERA

• Jordan Montgomery - n/a (IL-60)*

Summary - Trade For Skubal.

9) Tigers: 3.73 ERA | 3.63 FIP | 6.4 fWAR | 8.20 K/9

• Jack Flaherty - 57.2 IP | 5.31 ERA

• Framber Valdez - 72.2 IP | 4.21 ERA

• Drew Anderson - 41 IP | 3.95 ERA

• Keider Montero - 61 IP | 3.69 ERA

• Ty Madden - 14.2 IP | 3.07 ERA

• Tarik Skubal - 43.1 IP | 2.70 ERA (IL-15)*

• Casey Mize - 47.2 IP | 2.27 ERA (IL-15)*

• Justin Verlander - 3.2 IP | 12.27 (IL-60)*

Summary - One Last Ride (Skubal & Verlander for those confused).

8) Blue Jays: 4.07 ERA | 3.82 FIP | 5.5 fWAR | 8.88 K/9

• Kevin Gausman - 75 IP | 3.36 ERA

• Patrick Corbin - 54.1 IP | 3.98 ERA

• Trey Yesavage - 42.2 IP | 3.16 ERA

• Max Scherzer - 18.2 IP | 9.64 ERA (IL-15)*

• Dylan Cease - 62 IP | 3.05 ERA (IL-15)*

• Shane Bieber - N/A (IL-60)*

• Cody Ponce - 2.1 IP | 3.86 (IL-60)*

• Jose Berrios - N/A (IL-60)*

Summary - Get Healthy Fast.

7) Rays: 3.43 ERA | 3.82 FIP | 5.2 fWAR | 7.56 K/9

• Drew Rasmussen - 66 IP | 3.00 ERA

• Steven Matz - 46 IP | 5.48 ERA

• Nick Martinez - 70.2 IP | 2.29 ERA

• Shane McClanahan - 55 IP | 2.45 ERA

• Griffin Jax - 34 IP | 4.76 ERA

Summary - Rays Gonna Ray.

6) Mariners: 3.79 ERA | 3.61 FIP | 6.5 fWAR | 8.69 K/9

• Logan Gilbert - 73.2 IP | 3.79 ERA

• Bryan Woo - 77 IP | 3.74 ERA

• George Kirby - 78 IP | 4.04 ERA

• Emerson Hancock - 70.2 IP | 2.80 ERA

• Bryce Miller - 21 IP | 1.71 ERA

• Luis Castillo - 55.1 IP | 5.53 ERA

Summary - Built For Postseason.

5) Phillies: 4.09 ERA | 3.61 FIP | 6.9 fWAR | 9.19 K/9

• Zack Wheeler - 50.2 IP | 2.31 ERA

• Cristopher Sanchez - 86.1 IP | 1.46 ERA

• Jesus Luzardo - 73 IP | 4.56 ERA

• Aaron Nola - 61.2 IP | 5.55 ERA

• Andrew Painter - 53.1 IP | 5.74 ERA

Summary - Deadline Acquisition Needed.

4) Pirates: 3.89 ERA | 3.48 FIP | 7.2 fWAR | 8.89 K/9

• Paul Skenes - 70 IP | 3.09 ERA

• Mitch Keller - 73.0 IP | 4.81 ERA

• Braxton Ashcraft - 74.2 IP | 2.77 ERA

• Bubba Chandler - 57 IP | 5.05 ERA

• Jared Jones - 9.1 IP | 4.82 ERA

Summary - Get Bubba Right.

3) Dodgers: 2.90 ERA | 3.61 FIP | 7.8 fWAR | 8.87 K/9

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto - 69.1 IP | 2.86 ERA

• Shohei Ohtani - 61 IP | 0.74 ERA

• Emmet Sheehan - 58 IP | 4.50 ERA

• Roki Sasaki - 58 IP | 4.03 ERA

• Justin Wrobleski - 68.2 IP | 2.62 ERA

• Tyler Glasnow - 39.2 IP | 2.72 ERA (IL-15)*

• Blake Snell -3 IP | 12.00 ERA (IL-60)*

• Gavin Stone - N/A (IL-60)*

Summary - Depth Pays Off.

2) Brewers: 3.27 ERA | 3.40 FIP | 6.9 fWAR | 10.29 K/9

• Jacob Misiorowski - 71 IP | 1.65 ERA

• Brandon Sproat - 54 IP | 6.17 ERA

• Kyle Harrison - 57.1 IP | 1.57 ERA

• Coleman Crow - 16.2 IP | 5.94 ERA

• Logan Henderson - 23 IP | 2.74 ERA (IL-15)*

• Brandon Woodruff - 30 IP | 3.60 ERA (IL-15)*

• Quinn Priester - N/A (IL-15)*

Summary - Next Man Up.

1) Yankees: 3.15 ERA | 3.55 FIP | 7.3 fWAR | 8.75 K/9

• Gerrit Cole - 18 IP | 2.00 ERA

• Cam Schlittler - 76.1 IP | 1.89 ERA

• Carlos Rodon - 25 IP | 2.88 ERA

• Will Warren - 64.1 IP | 3.22 ERA

• Ryan Weathers - 70 IP | 3.86 ERA

• Max Fried - 61.2 IP | 3.21 ERA (IL-15)*

Summary - Get Fried Healthy.

As a Red Sox fan, I was feeling some type of way last season when I saw the Red Sox had the top farm system according to Baseball America.

Now it is May, and I want to jump off the Green Monster (figuratively).

So, I went back and looked at all the top systems since 2010, and well, it didn’t make me feel much better.

Now, if this is too long and you don’t feel like reading, I will give you a quick bullet list of teams that ended up winning the World Series within a 5-year window of having the top farm system.

• Kansas City Royals (2011 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2015

• Chicago Cubs (2015 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2016.

• Los Angeles Dodgers (2016 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2020.

• Atlanta Braves (2017 & 2018 #1 System): Won the World Series in 2021.

Of those four teams, only two of them are still reaping the rewards of their great farm system. That would be the Braves and the Dodgers. So, in short, the last 16 teams with the top farm system: four won the World Series, two had prolonged success, and 12 are just eh.

2010

#1 Farm System: Tampa Bay Rays
Top Prospect: Desmond Jennings, OF

What Happened?

The Rays being here should not surprise anyone. Tampa Bay has basically been running a baseball laboratory for two decades while the rest of the league argues about whether their payroll is legal.

The 2010 Rays system was loaded with names like Desmond Jennings, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis, and Matt Moore. That is a very Rays group: one highly ranked outfielder, a bunch of arms, and enough depth to make you feel like they were about to invent another 89-win season out of duct tape and scouting reports.

Jennings had moments, but he never became the franchise-changing star some expected. Hellickson won AL Rookie of the Year in 2011. Wade Davis eventually became an elite reliever, though his best years came in Kansas City.

The Rays stayed competitive. They won the AL East in 2010 and remained annoying in the exact way the Rays always remain annoying. But this group did not deliver a World Series title to Tampa Bay.

It was a good system. It produced real big leaguers. It helped keep the Rays machine moving.

2011

#1 Farm System: Kansas City Royals
Top Prospect: Eric Hosmer, 1B

What Happened?

This is one of the best examples of prospect hype actually turning into something real.

The Royals had Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, and Mike Montgomery.

Hosmer became a key piece. Moustakas became a key piece. Salvy became the face of the franchise. Duffy helped the pitching staff. Wil Myers was eventually traded in the James Shields deal. While Shield was good for the Royals, he would not get a ring with the team.

Kansas City won the AL pennant in 2014, lost a Game 7 heartbreaker to Madison Bumgarner and the Giants, then came back in 2015 and finished the job.

2012

#1 Farm System: San Diego Padres
Top Prospect: Yonder Alonso, 1B

What Happened?

The Padres had the shiny farm system.

Yonder Alonso became a useful major leaguer, but he was never a franchise-changing bat. Yasmani Grandal was part of this group and became a valuable player, though most of his best years came elsewhere. San Diego had talent, but the system never turned into the core of a real contender.

In terms of not production, this is probably the worst system on this list.

2013

#1 Farm System: St. Louis Cardinals
Top Prospect: Oscar Taveras, OF

What Happened?

Oscar Taveras was one of the most exciting young hitters in baseball. He looked like the next great Cardinals bat, the type of player who could extend an already-successful St. Louis era and give them another middle-of-the-order monster.

Then tragedy hit.

Taveras died in a car crash in 2014 at just 22 years old.

So the normal “did the prospect pan out?” conversation does not really apply here. Baseball-wise, the Cardinals still got value from that era of talent. They remained competitive, reached the 2014 NLCS, won 100 games in 2015, and did not have a losing season until 2023.

The prospect who went on to have the best career would be Michael Wacha, who was their #6 prospect that year.

2014

#1 Farm System: Pittsburgh Pirates
Top Prospect: Gregory Polanco, OF

What Happened?

Gregory Polanco was the headliner, Jameson Taillon was #2, Tyler Glasnow was #3, Austin Meadows was #4, and Josh Bell was #6. And down near the bottom was Clay Holmes at #16.

This might come as a surprise to some Gen Z TikTok boys, but the Pirates had a brief window when they were pretty damn good. From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates made the playoffs and won over 88 games each season. Andrew McCutchen was in his prime, and the farm system was deep. Pirates fans saw a dynasty incoming.

Polanco had flashes but never became the star people hoped for. Taillon became a solid starter but had to battle major health issues. Glasnow never put it together with the Pirates and would go on to find his form with the Rays; the same goes for Austin Meadows. That trade for Chris Archer doesn’t get talked about enough.

2015

#1 Farm System: Chicago Cubs
Top Prospect: Kris Bryant, 3B

What Happened?

This is the cleanest “yes, the farm system mattered” example. There are some freaking names on this list.

Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber, Gleyber Torres, Eloy Jimenez, Jeimer Candelario, Daniel Vogelbach, Justin Steele, Dylan Cease, and Paul Blackburn.

Kris Bryant became NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, then NL MVP in 2016. Kyle Schwarber became a postseason folk hero. Addison Russell, despite everything that came later, was part of the on-field core. Torres was flipped for Chapman and we all know what came next.

And then, of course, 2016 happened.

2016

#1 Farm System: Los Angeles Dodgers
Top Prospect: Corey Seager, SS

What Happened?

Corey Seager became the NL Rookie of the Year in 2016, turned into one of the best shortstops in baseball, and eventually won World Series MVP in 2020 when the Dodgers finally captured their first championship since 1988.

There were some other significant names who either helped in the World Series or were traded away for pieces that played a role.

Julio Urias, Grant Holmes, Frankie Montas, Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo, Walker Buehler, Austin Barnes, Ross Stripling, and Kyle Farmer stand out.

2017 and 2018

#1 Farm System: Atlanta Braves
Top Prospect: Dansby Swanson, SS

What Happened?

The Braves are another clear success story and one of four teams on this list to appear twice. Both 2017 and 2018 saw them atop the rankings.

Dansby Swanson was the top name entering 2017, but the real strength of this system was the wave behind him. Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr, Max Fried, Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson, Sean Newcomb, and Austin Riley were coming.

Outside of 2025, the team has not had a losing season since it went 72-90 in 2017. Of course, that includes their World Series in 2021.

2019

#1 Farm System: San Diego Padres
Top Prospect: Fernando Tatis Jr., SS

What Happened?

This system produced a superstar, and well, that is about it. Fernando Tatis Jr. is the only name from that year who would go on to become a star.

MacKenzie Gore, Luis Urías, Francisco Mejía, Chris Paddack, Adrian Morejon, Michel Báez, and Luis Patiño rounded out the top prospects. Gore is the biggest name here, and he had his best years with the Nationals after the Soto trade.

Compared to 2012, this farm system at least led to some success. From 2020 to 2025, the Padres only had one losing season.

2020 and 2021

#1 Farm System: Tampa Bay Rays
Top Prospect: Wander Franco, SS

What Happened?

It should come as no surprise that the 2020 and 2021 top farm systems were the same. There wasn’t much minor league ball in 2020, and the draft was shortened.

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Wander Franco was the top prospect in both of these seasons. Yeah, he was really freaking good, but he is a terrible human being (allegedly).

Outside of that, there were some studs on these lists. Xavier Edwards, Shane Baz, Shane McClanahan, Joe Ryan, Josh Lowe, Randy Arozarena, and Taj Bradley, to name a few.

And in the short term, the Rays had some success. They won 100 games in 2021 and would go on to make the Wild Card in 2022 and 2023. They didn’t win a series and actually only won a single game, but that is more than a lot of teams on this list.

If the Rays go and win a World Series this year (I don’t think they will), it will not be because of this farm system.

2022

#1 Farm System: Seattle Mariners
Top Prospect: Julio Rodríguez, OF

What Happened?

While there is no World Series yet, this farm system has led directly to Seattle breaking their playoff drought.

Julio Rodriguez, George Kirby, Noelvi Marte, Emerson Hancock, Lazaro Montes, Edwin Arroyo, Bryce Miller, and a few other solid names have either directly contributed or been moved for important pieces.

The Mariners have not won the American League. They have not won a World Series. But this system has absolutely mattered.

2023 and 2024

#1 Farm System: Baltimore Orioles
Top Prospect: Gunnar Henderson, 3B/SS (2023), Jackson Holliday, SS (2024)

What Happened?

The Orioles were the rebuilding team everyone had been waiting on.

And are still waiting on. Let’s go over the names here across the two seasons.

Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, DL Hall, Connor Norby, Joey Ortiz, Coby Mayo, Dylan Beavers, Samuel Basallo, Enrique Bradfield Jr, Cade Povich, and many more.

This is the only example on this list where maybe their farm system was TOO good. The Orioles didn’t seem to know what to do with all these guys and initially did not want to move any.

Their big league squad was performing superbly. 101 wins in 2023 and 91 wins in 2024 with all of this youth movement incoming? The sky was the limit.

Then they went 75-87 in 2025, were marred with injuries, and realized they should have moved a few of those names a year or two ago.

If they don’t see a World Series in the next three years, an argument can be made that this is the biggest farm system disaster in recent memory.

2025

#1 Farm System: Boston Red Sox
Top Prospect: Roman Anthony, OF

What Happened?

I almost feel dirty speaking poorly about a farm system this young.

Right now, everything looks like a disaster. Roman Anthony is hurt, Kristian Campbell is lost, Marcelo Mayer is eh.

Now, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle have looked great, so that is a big positive. Franklian Arias has also developed into the #3 prospect in all of MLB.

• Dodger Dominance

• Aaron Judge Injury

• Cristopher Sanchez Scoreless Streak

• Divisional Battles

• MLB News and Notes

Overall Takeaway

Every time you think they are about to do something special, you get your heart ripped out. Tuesday’s game, I hid an AirPods and listened to the game on the radio. Like every good husband in America, I have been locked into the Summer House Reunion for the past two weeks. I am told I need to be on Team Kyle and Ciara, but frankly, they all seem like terrible people.

Kind of like the people around Fenway Park, if you asked Isiah Kiner-Falafel (purposely misspelled his name)

But yeah, according to IKF, one of the reasons the Red Sox are so bad at Fenway (1-20 if they give up more than 3 runs and 10-21 overall) is the distractions around the stadium. Team is totally fine….

Game 1: Orioles 4-2

Game 2: Red Sox 8-1

Game 3: Orioles 8-2

What I Loved

• Payton Tolle

  • Ace? Yes.

    • Everything Tolle has done so far is impressive. The most impressive number for me thus far? The 2.66 FIP. That would be in the Top 10 for qualified pitchers, right, with Skenes.

      

• Caleb Durbin

  • Batting .357 with a .952 over his last seven games. I will talk more about his new hitting coach at the bottom, but it is clear now that some sort of tweak is working for him. Durbin went from about to be defenestrated to "alright, we can deal with that.”

• Ceddanne Rafaela

  • Rafaela is quietly having the best offensive season of his career. Got a hit every game this series, striking out better than his career average, and is walking more than he ever has.

• Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras

  • Homers from both as they continue to be the only two guys on offense who you could vote for the All-Star game and not be completely biased.

What I Was ‘Mid’ About

• Connelly Early

  • Putting Connelly in “mid” again this week. The home run ball has been his kryptonite. Over his last five starts, he has given up two home runs in three of those games. The two he didn’t give up any bombs? Both had 7 shut-out innings.

What I Didn’t Love

• Brayan Bello

  • Chad Tracy gave a press conference where he laid it out on the line and said that Bello is a starter and he needs to start. Fact of the matter is, he is one of the worst, if not the worst, pitchers in baseball when he is starting. Looking at all the pitching talent that has walked out of Boston over the last few years, this is starting to raise some eyebrows. I am not sounding the alarm just yet. Early and Tolle are great. However, you have to imagine that ownership/Theo is starting to question what is going on.

  • I also think the team seriously has to consider sending him to the minors to get right.

Who Got Screwed

• John Soteropulos

  • Watched an interview with John on the pregame today, and he seems like a happy-go-lucky guy. So, I want to emphasize that this is not an attack on him.

  • It is starting to look comical how quickly Caleb Durbin has turned it around since going and seeing the hitting coach out in Waltham. Tons of players do stuff like this, so it isn’t unheard of, but Caleb had the worst wRC+ in all MLB then immediately went on a hot streak.

  • IT IS A BAD LOOK. No one should want their players to drive an hour outside the city before every home game to work on their swing.

Stat Soldier Score Cards

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3:

Mets (27-35) [+550 to make playoffs]

To say the first half of the 2026 regular season has been a disappointment for the New York Mets would be a wild understatement. Despite having the highest payroll in Major League Baseball, the Mets are last in the NL East and are 15 games behind the Braves for the lead in the division. The two new additions to their infield, Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette, have struggled mightily in NY thus far combining for a -1.1 WAR in 62 games played. Furthermore, the pitching has been mediocre overall and has proven to be lacking the necessary depth to compete at a high level. With that being said, the Mets are not totally out of it. If the Mets get hot and work their way back to .500 by the time the All-Star and the Trade Deadline roll around, they can contend for a playoff spot. As of now, the Mets are currently only 6 game out of a wild card spot. If some of their hitters return to their average and they add some pitching at the trade deadline, the Mets could easily make the playoffs. Given the current price of them to make the playoffs (+550), this is a no brainer for me.

Blue Jays (29-33) [+120 to make playoffs]

The price on this bet is admittedly not as attractive as the previous, but getting the defending American League champions at “plus money” is great value regardless. The Jays have dropped their last four games which has led to the odds dropping. Toronto is a talented, well rounded team that, in my opinion, can easily win the AL Pennant again this year. The Jays pitching core of Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and Dylan Cease have been performing well thus far and the hitters have been around average. The Jays could look to add a bat come the trade deadline to boost their offense or potentially a relief pitcher, but even as they are constructed now, I’d be surprised if the Blue Jays did not make the postseason this year

Guardians (36-27) [+800 to be #1 seed]

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I do not believe that the Cleveland Guardians are the best team in the American League. Furthermore, at the beginning of the season I would not have selected them as the team to finish first in the American League. However, given their record and performance as of late, I think their odds to be the #1 seed in the American League is disrespectful. The Guardians have the most wins in the American League as of June 4th and their hitters, especially Jose Ramirez, have been performing below expectations. Gavin Williams and Patrick Messick have been a legit 1-2 punch on the mound for Cleveland posting an impressive 4.9 combined WAR and thus far. In my opinion, like the other teams mentioned in this article, Cleveland’s hitting will return to average making them a serious threat to finish the 2026 regular season with the most wins in the American League.

With the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring on December 1, the players’ association will have to renegotiate with Major League Baseball on new standards to be set for the following years. While CBA negotiations are routine, the gap between the players and the league is unusually large this time around, especially with the prospect of expansion coming into view.

We’ve seen a lockout before, most recently in the winter of 2021-2022, but the issues on the table this time around are much more pressing. If the players are locked out this year, many fear the lockout could impact the 2027 season in some way, potentially taking baseball away from fans. Given the circumstances, many think back to the 1994 strike that caused thousands of fans to step away from the game that they felt had turned its back on them.

Previous negotiations have centered around the luxury tax, minimum salaries, and disagreements about arbitration; however, this time, the proposal of a formal salary cap is at the forefront and is not something the players are fond of. The MLBPA has long been opposed to a salary cap, dating back to labor negotiations in the ’90s, as the salary cap will directly impact players’ salaries. This is why many believe this might be one of the most contentious negotiations in recent memory.

Baseball has gained lots of popularity over the past decade-plus, with attendance and viewership seeing three straight years of growth for the first time since 2007. A lockout would be a massive blow to the game. After making so much progress, MLB could be taking quite a few steps back if baseball is not played in 2027.

The primary disagreement between the MLBPA and MLB is over a potential salary cap/floor. In a recent report, the initial proposal was a cap of $245.3 million and a floor of $171.2 million. The proposal was made by the league in an attempt to make the league more competitive for smaller-market teams, so they are not dominated by teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets, which have significantly more funds to allocate to payroll.

Yet, currently, three of the six division leaders are from small markets (Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Cleveland) that would be required to up their payrolls significantly under the league’s salary floor proposal. Cleveland would actually have to more than double its current spending—they currently have the second-lowest payroll in baseball, at just over $80 million.

However, there is a clear flip side to this: the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA has won back-to-back championships, becoming the first team to do so since the Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. The Dodgers are nothing short of a super team, thanks to their deep pockets. They even managed to ink the most highly touted free agent of this past offseason (Kyle Tucker), as well as one of the game’s top closers in Edwin Diaz. The Dodgers’ success has been the clearest and most current example owners cite for why there needs to be change, as their spending has coincided with the ultimate on-field success.

For the players, the bookended salary restriction for teams would mean reduced individual salaries, which is a clear no-go. MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer estimates that players would be “taking a $500 million pay cut if they accepted MLB’s [current] salary cap proposal.” Bob Nightengale also quoted him as saying that there is zero chance the players will ever accept any form of a salary cap.

The MLBPA countered with a proposed first luxury tax threshold, bumped up from the current $244 million to $300 million, to remove a reason owners might want to limit their spending. They also proposed raising the players’ minimum salary from $780,000 to $1.5 million and agreed that there needs to be punishment for teams that don’t spend enough to compete.

Overall, both sides believe the game is in a great place to expand, but these issues need to be ironed out before that can become a reality. The sides will continue to speak throughout the season in hopes of avoiding a lockout. Missing games is not a guarantee, but the ensuing debate is emotionally and financially charged on both sides. Fans can only hope that both sides make concessions and that the game we love will be played in 2027.

• Juan Soto

• CJ Abrams

• Paul Skenes

• The National League Cy Young Race

• Divisional Round-Up

• Injuries

• CBA Negotiations

• Cristopher Sánchez

• MLBPA Negotiations

• Chicago Cubs

• Ketel Marte

• Gerrit Cole

• Nick Kurtz

• MLB News & Injuries

• Wander Franco

• Cristopher Sanchez

• Juan Soto

• Shohei Ohtani

• Mike Trout Trade Coming?

• Tampa Bay Rays

• NICK KURTZ

• Injuries & much more!

  This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Overall Takeaway

Well, that was as miserable as the weather this weekend. Everytime Boston seemed to get into the games they immediately gave up the lead. Then right when you think they might make a come back, they are swinging on the first pitch, or sending CONNOR WONG TO HOME PLATE WITH ONE OUT.

I think the biggest statistical takeaway from this weekend is the team is 6th in hits, 2nd in doubles, T-1st in triples, and dead last in runs, OPS, HR, and SLG. They just do not know how to hit with runners on base.

Now time to play the best team in baseball. Yay.

Game 1: Twins 8-6

Game 2: Twins 4-2

Game 3: Twins 6-5

What I Loved

• Masataka Yoshida

  • Was sad to see Masataka’s interview Sunday morning where it was clear that he is frustrated with the inconsistent play he has received in his Boston tenure. I mostly chalk that up to Alex Cora being the king of tinerking lineups.

  • Was happy to see him finally hit a home run Sunday. I truly hope they give him consistent playing time, if not let him free.

• Marcelo Mayer At SS

  • Still a lot to be desired offensively. Dave O’Brien pointed it out early in the game that he hopes being at one position will help him get into an offensive flow as well. This is something I was preaching from the roof tops last year with both Mayer and Kristian Campbell. We saw what happened with Kristian Campbell, let’s hope that doesn’t happen with Mayer.

• Wilsson Contreras

  • Eight game hitting streak with seven extra base hits mixed in. He is the heart and soul of the team here in 2026. Which in itself is kind of sad.

• Payton Tolle

  • Another quality start for Tolle. His ERA actually rose to 2.46 on the season.

    

What I Was ‘Mid’ About

• Brayan Bello

  • I suppose Bryan Bello wasn’t terrible on Saturday, ignore the score on the top right we are tweaking that, but I can’t get behind the fact that he needs an opener to be mediocore. The numbers are kind of nuts and aren’t sustainable.

    • As a starter: 9.68 ERA through 30.2 IP
      As reliever: 0.98 ERA through 18.1 IP

      

What I Didn’t Love

• Bullpen and Defense

  • Last series, I pointed out how great the bullpen had been over the last few weeks. Well, this series was a little different. Five runs on Friday, two on Saturday, and three more Sunday. On the defensive side, there were four errors across the series, and frankly could have been more. For as great as Willson Contreras has been that bobble at home plate killed them Friday.

• The Offense

  • They are sixth in the American League in hits and dead last in OPS, HR, Runs, and SLG. Need a generational turn around.

• Home Record

  • The Red Sox have the worst home record of any team in baseball. The Colorado Rockies are better. Have fun going to sleep knowing that.

Who Got Screwed

• Tyler Samaniego

  • I understand he has options, so he gets the short end of the stick. However, 1.04 ERA over 17 innings isn’t easy to replace. Hoping to see him again soon.

Stat Soldier Score Cards

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3:

Overall Takeaway

SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP. TWO GAMES OUT OF WILD CARD. POP THE TOPS.

In all seriousness, it was very refreshing to watch the Red Sox play complete baseball this series. Their offense began to click, their pitching was superb, and their defense was, well, pretty good.

All the success this series has had distracted us from the fact that Roman Anthony is still not feeling right. This team has no chance long-term if he is not right. Cherish the series, take a day off, and go take care of business against the Twins at Fenway.

Game 1: Red Sox 3-1

Game 2: Red Sox 7-1

Game 3: Red Sox 4-3

What I Loved

• Sonny Gray

  • Next to Duran’s Game 3, I would give Gray the MVP of the series. He did a superb job mixing his fastball, cutter, sweeper, and curveball. His nine strikeouts are the most so far in a Red Sox uniform.

    

• Willson Contreras

  • Feels like Contreras is hitting a home run every series. Now has 10 on the season with a .866 OPS.

• Jarren Duran

  • Got on base twice in Game 1, which started off the series on a positive note. Padded the lead in Game 2 with a 3-run home run in the 9th inning, and was the player of the game tonight with another home run, a triple in the 9th, and some great defensive plays.

• BULLPEN

  • Bullpen currently has the 2nd-best ERA of any group in MLB. They also rank Top 5 in BAA, WHIP, K/9, and IP.

• Connely Early

  • The home run ball has been a major problem for Early over the last few weeks. He did not allow a home run in his first eight career starts. Well, over the last seven, he has allowed 8 HR, including two tonight. Lucky for Early, most of these bombs have been solo shots, but how long will that last?

    

What I Was ‘Mid’ About

• Ranger Suarez

  • Unfortunately, Suarez was pulled in the 5th inning after giving up one run, but issuing three walks. Suarez still has an insane 1.12 ERA over his last seven starts. Not enough credit is being given to the Front Office for this move.

• Masataka Yoshida

  • I have been beating the drum for Masa more than anyone. He has not beaten the drum in return. Over the last seven games, he has been batting .176 with only one RBI and no home runs. Got a few hits in this series, but needs to do a lot to get himself in the lineup consistently.

• Caleb Durbin

  • I understand that he is a ++ defender. However, he is a bottom-10 hitter in all of baseball at the moment. Sat a lot over the last couple of days against righties.

What I Didn’t Love

• Nothing

  • I have not gotten the chance to put anything in this section yet in 2026. So, I am taking advantage of a series sweep. ( I secretly don’t love IKF, but I am not saying that right now.)

Stat Soldier Score Cards

Game 1:

Game 2

Game 3:

• Braves Are Rolling!

• Nick Kurtz

• Cal Raleigh

• Byron Buxton

• Paul Skenes

• Shane McClanahan

• Jacob Misiorowski

• Jacob deGrom

• Injuries & More

Overall Takeaway

Let’s focus on the positives for a moment. The Red Sox starting pitching has been some of the best in baseball the last few weeks, and that is without Garrett Crochet. They stole a win from one of the best teams in baseball, and dragged them to extras on Friday. Even with the lost series, the team is still within three games of a Wild Card spot (which is insane).

Alright now the negative. This might be the most frustrating Boston offensive I have ever watched. The only thing giving me life is that they are still in the playoffs race and Roman Anthony has shown zero signs of life. Once he does, the team will roll with him.

Game 1: Braves 3-2

Game 2: Red Sox 3-2

Game 3: Braves 8-1

What I Loved

• Payton Tolle

  • Tolle had the longest outing of his career on Saturday and has now put together four great starts in his first five games of the year.

  

• Connely Early

  • Early’s start on Friday was not as good as his first outing, where he went seven and gave up zero runs, but it was one of the only bright spots this weekend. Home run ball hurt him as he gave up two solo shots.

• Aroldis Chapman

  • I know the video of him hugging teammates made headlines, but I am salivating at the package Boston could get for him at the deadline.

What I Was ‘Mid’ About

• Marcelo Mayer

  • A lot of talk right now about Mayer potentially moving to SS with Story hitting the IL. Personally, I think this is something that should have been done at the beginning of the season. He is very smooth right now on defense, and if he is going to be a cornerstone of the franchise. Offensively, he had a home run this weekend, but didn’t do much else outside that.

What I Didn’t Love

• Brayan Bello

  • Bello started to turn a corner once Tracy started putting an opener ahead of him. Then he started today's game and went back to his old ways.

• The Entire Offense

  • Just defenestrate the entire offense at this point. Maybe not Willson Contreras, but everyone else can go. They rank in the bottom 5 in almost every major offensive category, and worst of all don't have any energy. Need Kristian Campbell to figure it out (he hit a home run last week, yay.)

But don’t worry, you will still get a little taste of Red Sox on this list.

HOT HITTERS

Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

Home Runs (HR): 5

Runs Batted In (RBI): 7

Batting Average (AVG): .258

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.055

Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

Home Runs (HR): 4

Runs Batted In (RBI): 5

Batting Average (AVG): .429

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.568

Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers

Home Runs (HR): 4

Runs Batted In (RBI): 8

Batting Average (AVG): .417

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.357

Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

Home Runs (HR): 3

Runs Batted In (RBI): 4

Batting Average (AVG): .391

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.310

Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 3

Batting Average (AVG): .519

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.126

Josh Naylor, Seattle Mariners

Home Runs (HR): 1

Runs Batted In (RBI): 3

Batting Average (AVG): .458

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.126

Luke Raley, Seattle Mariners

Home Runs (HR): 3

Runs Batted In (RBI): 10

Batting Average (AVG): .300

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.564

COLD HITTERS

Trevor Story, Boston Red Sox

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .160

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .392

Strikeouts (SO): 14

Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 4

Batting Average (AVG): .095

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .262

Strikeouts (SO): 8

Bo Bichette, New York Mets

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 1

Batting Average (AVG): .091

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .291

Strikeouts (SO): 1

Taylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .053

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .472

Strikeouts (SO): 9

Corey Seager, Texas Rangers

Home Runs (HR): 1

Runs Batted In (RBI): 2

Batting Average (AVG): .087

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .439

Strikeouts (SO): 10

Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .125

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .389

Strikeouts (SO): 3

Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 1

Batting Average (AVG): .154

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .377

Strikeouts (SO): 3

• The Cubs Continue To Win

• Giants/Guardians Make a Trade

• Nick Kurtz

• Roman Anthony

• Munetaka Murakami

• Tampa Bay Rays

• Astros Are In Trouble

• Remembering Bobby Cox

• Tarik Skubal Elbow Surgery

• Travis Bazzana Call-Up

• Phillies Part Ways with Rob Thomson

• Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Kurtz, Max Muncy, & Matt Olson Greatness

• Injuries

• Remembering John Sterling

For almost 40 years, John Sterling has been the voice of the Yankees. A voice recognized across the tri-state area, Sterling was more than an announcer: he was a storyteller. His mere presence was comforting to people, both to fans over the radio and to those who knew him personally. John Sterling was truly a bright light amidst the chaos of people’s everyday lives.

Though synonymous with consistency, Sterling’s early career was nomadic. He started off calling games for the then Baltimore Bullets in 1970 before migrating north to cover a cadre of teams, notably the New York Islanders and New Jersey Nets. At the start of the 80s, Sterling traveled south to become the voice of the Atlanta Hawks and Braves.

Finally, Sterling made his way back to New York, where he became the on-air voice of the Yankees in 1989 and the icon so many people remember as the soundtrack to their childhood. Sterling became synonymous with the Yankee organization, hosting 11 years of the show Yankeeography, for which he won two Emmys, and often being the speaker for on-field ceremonies like Old Timers’ Day, number retirements, and more. He went on to call 5,651 Yankee games (including postseason) and had an Iron-Man-esque 5,060 straight games called from 1989-2019.

And yet, despite all of that, Sterling is mostly remembered for his on-air idioms and personalized home run calls for players. The calls showed his true passion for announcing and his love for the game that his life revolved around. Some notable calls include: “It’s an A-bomb for A-Rod!” (Alex Rodriguez), “A Stantonian home run!” (Giancarlo Stanton), and “Like a good Gleyber, Torres is there!” (Gleyber Torres). Sterling brought his youthful joy to the ballpark every day for years, particularly after a win to which he would exclaim, “Yankees win! Theeeeee, Yankees win!” while shaking his arms emphatically.

Perhaps his most memorable saying would come after a back-and-forth with his longtime broadcast partner, Suzyn Waldman. Waldman, the color commentator to Sterling’s play-by-play, would often describe an interesting or downright weird play in more detail, to which Sterling would respond, “That’s baseball, Suzyn.” The phrase became a staple of his career and came to symbolize more than just baseball but life in general. Baseball is a unique game; any day at the ballfield could be met with a new, never-before-seen experience- Sterling encapsulated this in three words. He could tell you a novel’s worth of information in ten seconds- that was who he was.

Sterling will be missed by fans of the game, but his voice will forever remain in our hearts. There is a poignant irony in “That’s baseball, Suzyn.” He describes baseball’s volatility, while he himself was one sure thing the fans could count on. For nearly 4 decades in the Bronx, John Sterling was a constant, a paperweight if you will, in an ever-changing city. His consistency gave people comfort and caused many to think back on his time with great fondness.

That’s baseball, John. And it was better because you were a part of it.

Full disclosure, I have a Tai Peete Bowman 1st True Gold auto in a PSA 10. The PSA 10 of this card hasn't sold in a few months, but it’s probably in the $500 range. Cards like these, if the player is good, are very sought after. Kevin McGonigle’s version of this card just sold for over $12,000.

Tai Peete is not Kevin McGonigle…. Yet.

So, I will be doing weekly updates on Tai Peete’s progression this season, in hopes that he continues to improve, becomes Kevin McGongile, and helps me pay for a house. I will do this in the same format as my other blogs, but this one will be a little more in-depth since it's the first.

What You Need To Know

When the Cardinals traded Brendan Donovan, most of the attention understandably went towards him. Of course, for me, all I could think about was Tai Peete.

Now, a month into his first year with the Cardinals organization, Peete is starting to make his mark.

Peete is hitting .286 with a .919 OPS, and the power has shown up quickly. Four home runs in 98 at-bats may not sound ridiculous on its own, but when you add the extra-base impact, the run production, and the fact that he is walking at a higher clip than last year it seems like things are starting to come together.

What I Like

The first thing that stands out is the damage. Peete’s OPS is sitting at .919, and FanGraphs has him with a strong .272 ISO. He is doing real extra-base damage, and currently leads the Cardinals farm system with 14.

Second, he is currently hitting 70 points higher than he did in 2025. That is all patience and looking for the right pitches, which is evident by his BB/K numbers improving.

The third thing is, he is still 20 years old people. He started playing in the minors at 17 years old.

What I’m Watching

The obvious one: strikeouts.

FanGraphs has Peete at a 30.1% strikeout rate in its current 2026 minor league sample. He had a 30.6 % rate in 2025, and a 30.7 % rate in 2024. His BB% is the best it has ever been, so it does at least seem like he is being a little more patient.

Where He Stands Now

Every week I will show the changes from the previous week. For now, I will just list them.

• Average (AVG): .283

• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .359

• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .554

• OPS: .914

• Home Runs: 4

• RBI: 20

• SB: 4

See you next week.

I stayed away from my fantasy teams this week because I was being called out for bias. The cold hitters are definitely Reds/Giants heavy, but I couldn’t ignore how bad their hitting was this week.

HOT HITTERS

Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins

Home Runs (HR): 5

Runs Batted In (RBI): 7

Batting Average (AVG): .345

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.303

Chase DeLauter, Cleveland Guardians

Home Runs (HR): 1

Runs Batted In (RBI): 5

Batting Average (AVG): .591

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.518

Shea Langeliers, Athletics

Home Runs (HR): 2

Runs Batted In (RBI): 4

Batting Average (AVG): .500

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.497

Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves

Home Runs (HR): 2

Runs Batted In (RBI): 6

Batting Average (AVG): .400

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.244

Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Home Runs (HR): 3

Runs Batted In (RBI): 5

Batting Average (AVG): .429

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.508

Otto Lopez, Miami Marlins

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 3

Batting Average (AVG): .444

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.000

Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals

Home Runs (HR): 2

Runs Batted In (RBI): 11

Batting Average (AVG): .407

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.225

COLD HITTERS

Zach Neto, Los Angeles Angels

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 3

Batting Average (AVG): .083

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .268

Strikeouts (SO): 12

Willy Adames, San Francisco Giants

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .136

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .356

Strikeouts (SO): 7

Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .083

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .310

Strikeouts (SO): 12

Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .083

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .245

Strikeouts (SO): 4

Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .091

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .182

Strikeouts (SO): 8

Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

Home Runs (HR): 1

Runs Batted In (RBI): 1

Batting Average (AVG): .095

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .374

Strikeouts (SO): 8

Daylen Lile, Washington Nationals

Home Runs (HR): 0

Runs Batted In (RBI): 0

Batting Average (AVG): .087

On-base Plus Slugging (OPS): .255

Strikeouts (SO): 9