PCL notes: Fuentes makes his own name
The first question Josh Fuentes gets asked in every interview is not about the young third baseman himself.It's always about another third baseman who happens to be his cousin.
The first question Josh Fuentes gets asked in every interview is not about the young third baseman himself.
It's always about another third baseman who happens to be his cousin.
"Every time I've started an interview since Rookie ball, it's always, 'What's it like being Nolan's cousin?'" said Fuentes, who is related to Colorado Rockies All-Star Nolan Arenado. "It's fine, it's not a big deal. I embrace it. Obviously it's awesome he's my cousin.
"I'm in Triple-A [now]. It might be nice for people to recognize me as Josh Fuentes."
Fuentes, who is now playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, is doing his best to get noticed for his own accomplishments. The 25-year-old hit .307/.352/.517 with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs last season at Double-A Hartford and has gotten off to a strong start this year, batting .364/.408/.477 in his first 11 games.
"He's a young kid that can hit and he can defend," Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill said. "Most younger players have to go through a period of time where they feel like they belong. With Josh, it's just a matter of him going out there and competing. Whether it's here or in the big leagues, they still play the same game and he just needs to focus on doing what he does ... he can hit and he can definitely defend."
Fuentes started the year just 2-for-17 on the road, but since coming to Albuquerque he has four multi-hit games in his first five contests at Isotopes Park. That is a carryover from his second half with Hartford, when he hit a remarkable .438/.471/.753 in 41 games.
"I took some days off at the All-Star break and came back with the mentality of be aggressive, be myself," Fuentes said. "I think that worked, just getting up there and swinging at pitches I knew I could hit. It's really a no-fear concept, just be aggressive, have no fear of striking out."
So far this season, Fuentes said he has been making sure to take in a lot of information from the experienced group of teammates he has with Albuquerque.
"Most everything we do in the clubhouse, I'm just trying to gain information from them," Fuentes said. "I don't want to be the guy who thinks he's got it figured out because he had a good year in Double-A. I'm listening to guys like [Tom] Murphy and [Noel] Cuevas and [Raimel] Tapia. … It's huge for me to listen to what they have to say."
Fuentes said he does keep in touch with his older cousin in the Majors and Nolan's younger brother Jonah, a prospect in the San Francisco Giants' system, throughout the season.
"We have a little group text -- me, Jonah and Nolan," Fuentes said. "If Nolan sees one of us struggling for a long time, he'll text us, see what's going on. If we go on a tear, he'll go, 'Hey, man, keep it up.' The funniest thing is when someone hits a homer, like the other day Jonah hit a grand slam against the Yard Goats, and so he sent us the video. 'Look what I did to the Rockies!'"
For now, Fuentes will focus on himself, just one call from joining Nolan Arenado in Denver.
"I'm just trying to play well and show the Rockies I can play at the big league level," Fuentes said. "I've got a chance and I've got to take advantage of it."
In brief
Tucker trucks on: Fuentes is not the only PCL player with a relative in the big leagues. Fresno outfielder Kyle Tucker, the younger brother of Atlanta's Preston Tucker, is off to a solid start, batting .300/.404/.450 with a home run and eight RBIs through 10 games. The younger Tucker is the 16th-ranked prospect in the Minors.
Big Mac attack: The hottest hitter in the league early on is Sacramento outfielder Mac Williamson. The slugger has hit .500/.611/1.143 with five home runs and 13 RBI through eight games and was named PCL Player of the Week on Monday.
Fountain of youth, Memphis-style: Redbirds right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon, who missed most of last season after being struck in the head by a line drive, is back on the mound and back in form. The Cardinals' farmhand has allowed just one run through 11 innings, striking out 17 batters.
Chris Jackson is a contributor to MiLB.com.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring