IceHogs get swept by Grand Rapids Griffins
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Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Yahoo
Blues Soaring Forward Should Hit New Level
St. Louis Blues forward Jake Neighbours broke out in a big way for the Central Division club during the 2023-24 season. In 77 games with the Blues that season, he scored a career-high 27 goals and recorded 38 points. This was undoubtedly a nice breakout year for the 2020 first-round pick, as he proved that he could make an impact at the NHL level. Neighbours followed up his strong 2023-24 season was another good one in 2024-25. In 82 games last season for the Blues, he scored 22 goals and set new career highs with 24 assists, 46 points, and 173 hits. He also provided solid offense for the Blues during the post-season, recording six points in their seven-game first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets. Overall, Neighbours is continuing to head in the right direction with his development and is starting to emerge as a key part of the Blues' roster in the process. However, when noting that he is still only 23 years old and still in the earlier stages of his career, there is clear reason to believe that he can still hit another new level next season. When looking at what Neighbours has done early on in his career, it is fair to argue that he has the potential to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward at the NHL level. If he gets his offense up a bit more and continues to make an impact with his physicality, he could be a big piece of the Blues' core moving forward. It will be fascinating to see what kind of year the Calgary, Alberta native puts together for the Blues next season from here. NHL News: Former Blues Goalie Officially Retires After not playing for two consecutive seasons, former St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak confirmed to Tomas Prokop of Dennik Sport that he is officially retired. Photo Credit: © James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
New York Times
18-07-2025
- New York Times
AL Central 2025 draft report cards: White Sox's high-upside class shines; Twins net sure shortstop
With the 2025 MLB Draft now in the books, here's my look at each American League Central team's draft class. I focus on the top 10 rounds, since those are the picks that count toward each team's bonus pool. Players taken after the 10th round may be paid up to $150,000 without counting against the bonus pool, so the best prospects taken in Rounds 11 through 20 rarely end up signing. Advertisement The number in parentheses after each player's name indicates the round in which he was taken; a letter (A, B, or C) after a number indicates that it was a supplemental pick between rounds, either for losing a free agent or from the competitive balance lottery. I do assume that all players taken in the top 10 rounds will sign, although each year there are roughly two to five players who don't for various reasons. I also skipped over college seniors who were probably selected as money-saver picks, agreeing to bonuses under their slot figures so their teams can go over slot for other players, or other players who appear to be more about under-slot bonuses than major-league potential. Finally, I don't give letter grades for drafts. I think that whole idea is absurd. The best I can offer is to tell you that I think teams did well or not well based on what I know about the players available at those picks, and in general I prefer to talk about specific picks than try to sum up months of work for each scouting department in a pithy line or two. (Note: Scouting grades are on a 20-80 scale. Click here for my top-100 draft prospect list.) The White Sox had a really strong draft this year, going for higher upside position players in the first four rounds. They landed defensive wizard Billy Carlson (1), the shortstop for powerhouse Corona High School in Southern California. He's a 70 defender with an arm to match, and he has plus raw power with projection remaining on his frame as well. He bars his lead arm, leading to timing issues at the plate and some inconsistency in his contact quality; it's not an easy fix but it is fixable. If the White Sox loosen him up so that he can both get to the power more predictably and is no longer so vulnerable to changing speeds, he could be a superstar who produces on both sides of the ball. Advertisement Local Illinois product Jaden Fauske (2) is a left-handed hitting center fielder who also caught once or twice a week this spring, although the outfield is his clear destination. There's at least 55 raw power here, but in games he changes his approach, shortening up for more contact and going the other way on some pitches he might be able to pull. He's a 55ish runner and should at least start out in center. If he signs under slot, that would be a Fauskeian bargain. Georgia Tech shortstop Kyle Lodise (3) has above-average power and can hit a fastball, with some swing and miss on offspeed stuff, enough to see him as maybe a 20-homer, low-OBP regular. He's going to move to second as he doesn't have the arm for the left side. Southern California prep catcher Landon Hodge (4) is committed to LSU, like Fauske, and he is going to stay behind the plate, with a plus arm and plenty of athleticism to handle the position. He has a handsy approach that doesn't use his legs enough and he shows just average bat speed. He could have average power if the White Sox can get him to use his lower half more and stay back better on the ball. Oklahoma State right-hander Gabe Davis (5) is 6-foot-9 and can pitch at 93-97 as a starter with an average slider, but he's been hurt constantly due to on- and off-field injuries, with a shoulder problem holding him to 24 ineffective innings this spring. He would have easily been a Day 1 pick had he stayed healthy. Florida infielder Colby Shelton (6) is a junior but is already 22-and-a-half. He's coming off a big year for the Gators where he hit .377/.458/.606 before a broken hamate bone ended his season. He has plus power but it's a 45 or 40 hit tool, and he's going to move off shortstop, probably to second base. It's a really good pick in this spot. Ohio State right-hander Blaine Wynk (8) has been up to 98 but was hurt most of the spring and did not perform at all when he could pitch. He threw 8 2/3 innings, walked nine, allowed 15 hits and 16 runs, and struck out 13 (25.5 percent). Cleveland landed Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette (1) with their first pick, the last one of the true first round, which feels like a coup given how many people seemed to think LaViolette was a candidate to go 1-1 coming into the spring. I wasn't among them, because he struck out way too often as a sophomore, but at some point he became undervalued — he does swing and miss too often, but he has big-boy power, with a 90th percentile EV of 107.9 mph that ranked in the top 5 percent of all Division 1 hitters. He's probably not staying in center, although I wouldn't totally rule it out. Advertisement Tennessee infielder Dean Curley (2) has a simple swing and makes mostly hard contact, but his performance tapered in SEC play this year, which is probably why he was still available at this pick. He controls the zone well, can hit good fastballs and tends to hit low line drives, so he should hit for average as long as he improves some of his pitch recognition. He's not a shortstop, most likely going to third. Arizona outfielder Aaron Walton (2B) transferred from Samford to Tucson this year and hit .320/.437/.589 for the Wildcats, topping out at 111.8 mph. He's hunting fastballs, whiffing on offspeed stuff about a third of the time. He has a shot to stick in center, so even a lower-OBP, 20-homer upside would make him a regular. Canadian high school right-hander Will Hynes (2B) is a deep projection arm, sitting 93-95 now, with some room left on his 6-foot-2 frame, and he can spin a tight slider. The arm action isn't bad but it's not very fluid, something I imagine Cleveland believes they can clean up given their track record with pitching. Oklahoma State outfielder Nolan Schubart (3) has plus power, maybe 70, but can't hit breaking stuff right now, with a whiff rate over 40 percent on sliders this year. If he makes that adjustment, it might be 30-homer upside in right field. Mississippi third baseman Luke Hill (4) walked more than he struck out this year, with a .336/.459/.488 line. He can hit for average and might have 12-15 homer power if he gets a little more loft to his generally flat swing. Vanderbilt first baseman Riley Nelson (5) is a hit-over-power guy with a strong approach but just average pop who'll have to hit for high averages to stick as a regular. One big point in his favor is that he hits velocity extremely well, with just a 13 percent whiff rate on 95+ and eight hits in 105 pitches. Oregon State lefty Nelson Keljo (6) has hit 99 with his four-seamer but sits more 92-95, using a two-seamer as well. He has a plus changeup with hard tumble to it so he can get righties out. He made 11 starts this spring for the Beavers but was much more effective after they returned him to a relief role, as his results dropped off the second time he faced hitters in a game. Advertisement UC Irvine first baseman Anthony Martinez (8) hit just five homers this year without great batted-ball data to point to future power, and he doesn't walk much, either, with a low strikeout rate of 9.7 percent his one strong point. Oklahoma State left-hander Harrison Bodendorf (10) comes back across his body from a low three-quarters slot, working 89-91 with an average change and fringy slider, getting righties out better than lefties. He does throw strikes and could be a fifth starter if the breaking ball improves. The Tigers reached for Florida high school infielder Jordan Yost (1) with the No. 24 pick. Yost seems like a draft-model selection based on his extremely low whiff and chase rates. He has almost no power, with a short swing and no stride, while he's a plus runner who could stick at short or possibly move to center. He's not small and could drive the ball more with a reworked swing, and has some room to fill out as well. Strong Island catcher Michael Oliveto (1A) from Hauppauge High School is tall for the position but could stick back there, with the hands and arm for it, just lacking experience working with better pitching. He's shown he can make contact against good stuff at showcases and has at least average power, although he tends to roll his front foot and may end up pulling some pitches he should try to take the other way. He's committed to Yale, so I assume he'll be an easy sign. Right-hander Malachi Witherspoon (2) is the twin brother of Boston's first-rounder, Kyson, with similar arm strength but lacking Kyson's offspeed stuff or command. His arm is quick and his slider can flash plus, with a wildly inconsistent release point that is going to push him to the bullpen unless Detroit can clean it up. Arizona State lefty Ben Jacobs (3) should have had better results this year, but posted a 4.95 ERA thanks to a 12.2 percent walk rate, in part because he can't land his offspeed stuff for strikes often enough. He's 92-93 with an average slider and a changeup that at least missed a lot of bats when he threw it, and the delivery is clean and simple enough for him to repeat. Maybe this is just a great bet on your player development guys because there's no real reason why Jacobs should be walking this many or giving up so many runs. Maine senior left-hander Caleb Leys (4) missed 2024 after Tommy John surgery, returning to become the Black Bears' No. 1 starter this spring. He's 92-94, up to 96, with an average to 55 slider, coming online to the plate, perhaps needing a third pitch. He could be a back-end starter or a pretty good reliever. Advertisement Georgia prep right-hander Ryan Hall (5) is a Georgia Tech commit with a good delivery who's been up to 96 and has feel to spin two breaking balls. He's still raw as he was also his school's starting quarterback through last fall. He's a very intriguing upside play given the athleticism, delivery and the makings of at least two solid-average pitches. Oregon lefty Grayson Grinsell (6) has a plus changeup and plus control, so he managed to post a 3.01 ERA for the Ducks this spring despite topping out at 92 and pitching more at 88-90. The changeup is deceptive and has big downward movement, so it's going to at least miss bats in the low minors. California Baptist outfielder Nick Dumesnil (8) came into the spring as a potential first-rounder but struggled badly even though CBU had a relatively weak schedule. Dumesnil struck out almost 20 percent of the time even though he barely saw anything over 93. He's a solid athlete and a 55 runner who could stick in center and has at least 55 power to all fields. He raked in the Cape Cod League last summer, so there's some reason to hope this was just draftitis or bad luck, not an absence of skill. He's probably an extra outfielder but could be a regular and is a great pick in the eighth round. They also took Oregon prep righty River Hamilton (11), an LSU commit who hasn't pitched since last summer due to an elbow injury, as a flier outside of the bonus-pool rounds. He's been up to 95 with a promising slider and would be a strong addition to the class if they can buy him away from Baton Rouge. IMG Academy center fielder Sean Gamble (1) is a 70 runner with above-average bat speed who looks like he should hit for 20-homer power, although right now his swing is on the flatter side and he'll have to learn to lift and pull the ball more. He's a premium athlete who's played in the infield and would be above-average at second, with more defensive upside in center. He may take some time but there's 20/40 upside here. North Carolina prep shortstop Josh Hammond (1A) has plus raw power and a 70 arm, up to 95 off the mound, with a good approach for his age other than the common issue with breaking stuff down and away. (Who among us, etc.) He's probably going to end up at third base now, with the Royals rather set at shortstop, and could be a plus defender there. There's a lot to like across the board here. Tulane right-hander Michael Lombardi (2) was a two-way player for the Green Wave, working in a swing role when pitching and posting a 2.14 ERA with a 43.5 percent strikeout rate. He's up to 97 with carry up in the zone and his curveball projects to plus. He did walk 12.5 percent of batters he faced this year, but his delivery is good and he's athletic enough that the walk rate really should drop once he's focused solely on pitching. This is a great front three for the Royals, the second year in a row they've nailed their first few picks under director Brian Bridges. Advertisement Texas A&M lefty Justin Lamkin (2B) has a very cross-body delivery with too much effort to it to project him as a starter. He does have superb control, and there's some deception to the delivery that helps his fringy fastball and average slider be more effective. Northern California prep right-hander Cameron Miller (3) has arm strength and saw his command tick up this year, with a solid changeup but a fringy breaking ball. He hit 97 this spring and gets huge induced vertical on the pitch, which is all the rage these days. I don't love the delivery as his arm can be late, which often leads to problems with breaking stuff, but he goes out as a starter. He's committed to Arizona. Arkansas right-hander Aiden Jimenez (5) pitched for Oregon State in 2023, missed last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and returned this spring in the Hogs' bullpen where he was 92-95 on his sinker with an average cutter and slider. Lefties rocked him for a .456 slugging percentage, so while he has a decent delivery and throws strikes, I don't think he's a starter. Right-hander Bryson Dudley (7) walked 14.4 percent of batters he faced this spring for Texas State, as his delivery is totally inconsistent and he doesn't have much rhythm to it at all. He's 93-95 with feel for spin, slider over curveball, from a high three-quarters slot, and lefties destroyed him this year for a .265/.404/.458 line. He's a great candidate for a player development group that believes they can help deliveries. Troy catcher Brooks Bryan (8) has plus-plus power with maybe a 45 hit tool. He had a batting average of exactly .279 in 2024 and 2025, so points for consistency, I suppose. He doesn't hit breaking stuff at all, limiting his ceiling to that of a backup catcher who can hit a handful of homers. UC Irvine closer Max Martin (10) is 94-96 in relief with a plus slider. He throws strikes, all with a fairly short arm action that seems like it should have him behind the ball but somehow works for him. He walked just five percent of batters he faced this spring. Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston (1) is a plus defender at short who has a short swing that helps him make a ton of contact in the zone, with maybe 10-12 homer upside. He did get stronger this year and started lifting the ball a little more, dropping his groundball rate from 50 percent to 44 percent, so while he's a safe pick — I know Twins fans do not like hearing that — there's some reason to hope for an above-average bat as well. Advertisement Alabama right-hander Riley Quick (1A) returned from Tommy John surgery to sit 95-99, working in short outings as the Tide handled him cautiously, with a 55 changeup and a slider that has high spin rates but that hitters can pick up because he changes his arm slot. He needs to get more on-line to the plate, and there's some head-snap at release, which isn't a great sign for command or for someone staying a starter. There's a chance for three above-average pitches, however, and he has the size and at least fringe-average control to start. Their one prep pick from the top five rounds was shortstop Quentin Young (2), an LSU commit who looked overmatched at summer and fall events in 2024, so he went out over the winter and reworked his swing. He also showed better decisions at the plate, while staying balanced through his swing, so he's hitting the ball more often and for plus power. It's probably a 40 hit tool, which is still above where it was last year, with the hope that he has the acumen and athleticism to keep improving. He has a 70 arm and should be solid at third base. It's first-round upside, with high risk. Dallas Baptist right-hander James Ellwanger (3) has been up to 100 with an average slider, walking way too many batters to project as a starter. He has a spike curve and changeup, neither of which is a good enough pitch to factor yet, although the 13.5 percent walk rate is the biggest obstacle to him being more than a reliever. Oregon right-hander Jason Reitz (4) is 6-foot-11, which would tie him for the tallest pitcher in MLB history if he makes it. He's been up to 98, sitting 94-95, with an average changeup, but doesn't make great use of his height for deception, so there may be untapped potential here just with some delivery help. I tried to see him this spring, but I wasn't tall enough. Right-hander Matt Barr (5) goes to SUNY Niagara Community College, and he's earned some comparisons to Jacob Misiorowski, another JUCO draftee with crazy stuff. Barr is 6-foot-6, has been up to 96-97, and gets huge spin rates, just like Misiorowski did as an amateur. Barr walked 21 in 57 innings, with 94 strikeouts. I didn't think he'd get this far down in the draft just given The Miz's meteoric rise. Shortstop Bruin Agbayani (6) is Benny's kid, obviously, coming from the same private high school in Hawaii that produced Aiva Arquette. He's probably not a shortstop but has some feel to hit, and is roughly a foot taller than his dad at 6-3. He's a Michigan commit. UC Irvine outfielder Jacob McCombs (7) is a draft-eligible sophomore who transferred from San Diego State, where he played sparingly in 2024. He hit .352/.446/.635 this year, getting hit by 28 pitches to cover up the part where he walked less than once a week (3.4 percent, excluding IBB). He doesn't whiff but he chases at a 34 percent clip, without enough power for a corner outfielder. Advertisement Elon right-hander Justin Mitrovich (9) shows the ball really early and his fastball is a little light, but he has enough of a slider and changeup to project as a reliever. (Top photos of Billy Carlson: Ric Tapia / Getty Images and Marek Houston: Saul Young / News Sentinel / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
With second half set to begin, Blue Jays are riding high atop AL East standings
TORONTO - With 55 victories and a two-game cushion atop the American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays are on track for a worst-to-first rebound this season. The team has had significant contributions from unexpected sources while some big names have not performed up to expectations. Injuries have also been an issue but backups have often shone with the opportunity. Here's a look at five things to watch ahead of the unofficial start of the second half of the season on Friday night. PLAYOFF PUSH Never mind the wild-card series. The Blue Jays are aiming for a top-two finish in the AL standings and a direct berth in the divisional round. Entering Friday's series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants, Toronto is just one game behind the West Division-leading Houston Astros and 3 1/2 games behind the Central Division-leading Detroit Tigers. If the post-season started today, Toronto would be the top wild-card seed and host the Seattle Mariners in a best-of-three play-in round. The wild-card series has not been kind to Toronto in recent years. The Blue Jays, who missed the playoffs with a 74-88 record last season, were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays (2020), Seattle Mariners (2022) and Minnesota Twins (2023) in their last three post-season appearances. Toronto hasn't won a playoff game since reaching the AL Championship Series in 2016. SPRING SURGE After a mediocre start to the season, the Blue Jays have come on strong over the last two months. Toronto has posted a 39-21 record (.650 winning percentage) since May 8 and has led the major leagues in several offensive categories over that stretch. The Blue Jays have won 13 of their last 17 games and 29 of their last 42. BATTER UP Addison Barger, Eric Lauer, Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement and Brendon Little have emerged as key players for the Blue Jays this season. Barger is second on the team with 13 homers while Lukes is hitting .276 with a .371 OBP. Clement has a .288 average and offers strong defence with positional versatility. Lauer, meanwhile, has become a reliable member of the starting rotation. With a 4-2 record and 2.78 ERA, the journeyman southpaw helped filled the void when Max Scherzer was out with a thumb issue. Little (4-1, 2.03 ERA) leads the squad with 45 appearances and has held opponents to a .184 average. BIG GUNS Bounce-back seasons from George Springer (.270 BA, 16 homers, 53 RBIs) and Bo Bichette (.282 BA, 12 homers, 53 RBIs) have helped restore some pop to Toronto's offence. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who signed a 14-year, US$500-million extension in April, has been steady if unspectacular while Alejandro Kirk has blossomed in a full-time catcher role. Those successes have helped mitigate some of the challenges the team has faced due to injury and underperformance. Slugger Anthony Santander (shoulder) struggled mightily before landing on the injured list. Second baseman Andres Gimenez (ankle), centre-fielder Daulton Varsho (hamstring) and setup man Yimi Garcia (ankle) are some of the other notable names on the IL. The Blue Jays could get a boost as early as next month if right-hander Alek Manoah (elbow surgery) continues his progression after elbow surgery. He finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2022. COMING UP Toronto will close out its six-game homestand next week with a big three-game series against the second-place New York Yankees. That will be followed by a four-game set in Detroit against the Tigers, who lead the major leagues at 59-38. Blue Jays fans will also be keen to see if general manager Ross Atkins can swing some deals ahead of the MLB trade deadline on July 31. Toronto will close out its regular season on Sept. 28 against Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays have an 83.4-per cent chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs projections. The website gives Toronto a 37.1-per cent chance of winning the East and a 4.6-per cent shot at winning its first World Series title since 1993. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025.
