MiLB announces Players of the Month for July
Minor League Baseball has announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for July in each of the 14 leagues in Major League Baseball’s player development system. Triple-A East Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) first baseman Aderlin Rogriguez batted .360 in July and led the league in slugging percentage
Minor League Baseball has announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for July in each of the 14 leagues in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Triple-A East
Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) first baseman Aderlin Rogriguez batted .360 in July and led the league in slugging percentage (.697) and OPS (1.138) and was second in total bases (62). He finished third in RBI (22), fifth in average (.360), sixth in on-base percentage (.441) and hits (32) and seventh in home runs (seven). Rodriguez, 29, was originally signed by New York (NL) as an International Free Agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on July 2, 2008.
Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. went 4-0 with a 0.72 ERA in five starts. He scattered 13 hits over 25 innings and struck out 32 while walking seven. He held opponents to a .151 batting average. Leiter, Jr., 30, was originally selected by Philadelphia in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Triple-A West
Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies) shortstop Taylor Motter led the league in home runs (15), RBI (35), total bases (79), runs (29), on-base percentage (.511), slugging percentage (1.068) and OPS (1.578). He finished third in average (.392). He homered three times July 24 at El Paso and recorded five hits July 4 against El Paso. Motter, 31, was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 17th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Coastal Carolina University.
Sugar Land Skeeters (Astros) right-hander J.P. France went 3-0 with a 2.39 ERA in five appearances (three starts). He allowed 17 hits and struck out 29 over 26.1 innings and held opponents to a .175 batting average. France, 26, was selected by Houston in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State University.
Double-A Central
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) catcher MJ Melendez led the league in runs (28), home runs (12), RBI (29), total bases (80), slugging percentage (.741) and OPS (1.152). He was second in hits (36) and fifth in average (.333). He recorded 11 multi-hit games and did not go more than three games without a homer in July. Melendez, 22, was selected by Kansas City in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Westminster Christian Academy in Miami, Florida.
San Antonio Missions (Padres) right-hander Adrian Martinez went 4-0 with a 0.32 ERA in five starts. He allowed 16 hits and one earned run while striking out 25 over 28.1 innings. Opponents batted just .168 against him and on July 2, he held Corpus Christi hitless for six innings with a career-high nine strikeouts. Martinez, 24, was signed by San Diego as an International Free Agent out of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, on February 16, 2015.
Double-A Northeast
Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) third baseman Elehuris Montero led the league in batting average (.416), hits (37), home runs (12), RBI (27), total bases (74), on-base percentage (.467), slugging percentage (.831) and OPS (1.298). He recorded 12 multi-hit games, hit a pair of homers in a game twice, and homered in consecutive games three times. Montero, 22, was originally signed by St. Louis as an International Free Agent out of Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic, on August 29, 2014.
Bowie Baysox (Orioles) right-hander Mike Baumann was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts. He held opponents to a .169 batting average, allowing 13 hits over 22 innings. He struck out 26 batters while walking four. Baumann, 25, was selected by Baltimore in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Jacksonville University.
Double-A South
Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) outfielder Ruben Cardenas led the league in hits (35), runs (20), and total bases (69), and was second in home runs (eight), RBI (22) and slugging percentage (.670). He finished third in average (.340) and fourth in OPS (1.037). He recorded 11 multi-hit games and hit safely in 13 straight games July 3-18 and had six multi-hit games in a seven-game span from July 3-10. Cardenas, 23, was originally selected by Cleveland in the 16th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Cal State University-Fullerton.
Mississippi Braves right-hander Bryce Elder went 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts. His 33 innings and 30 strikeouts were both second in the league. He threw a seven-inning complete game July 28 at Pensacola and held opponents to a .140 batting average. Elder, 22, was selected by Atlanta in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Texas.
High-A Central
Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals) second baseman Michael Massey led the league in runs (25) and total bases (67) and was second in RBI (28), doubles (nine), slugging percentage (.691), OPS (1.070). He finished third in home runs (eight), hits (32) and average (.330). He homered three times July 14 at Beloit and recorded nine multi-hit games, including three three-hit games and a four-hit game. Massey, 23, was selected by Kansas City in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Illinois.
Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) right-hander Landon Knack went 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in five appearances (four starts). He allowed 14 hits and one walk while striking out 37 in 23.1 innings and was promoted to Double-A Tulsa on July 31. Knack, 24, was selected by Los Angeles (NL) in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of East Tennessee State University.
High-A East
Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) first baseman Blaine Crim led the league in average (.393), RBI (28), on-base percentage (.481), slugging percentage (.843) and OPS (1.323). He finished second in runs (25), home runs (12) and total bases (75) and fourth in hits (35) and recorded 13 multi-hit games. Crim, 24, was selected by Texas in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Mississippi College.
Greenville Drive (Red Sox) right-hander Brian Van Belle went 3-0 without allowing a run in 22 innings over four starts. He held opponents to a .188 batting average, allowing 15 hits and four walks while striking out 24. Van Belle, 24, was signed by Boston on June 16, 2020, as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Miami.
High-A West
Everett AquaSox (Mariners) outfielder Cade Marlowe led the league in total bases (57) and was second in RBI (25), doubles (11) and slugging percentage (.582). He finished third in runs (21) and triples (two), fourth in home runs (six) and fifth in OPS (.930). He posted nine multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI games. Marlowe, 24, was selected by Seattle in the 20th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.
Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) right-hander Drey Jameson went 2-0 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts before a July 31 promotion to Double-A Amarillo. He allowed six earned runs over 28.1 innings and struck out 35 batters. Jameson, 23, was selected by Arizona in the Compensation Round after the first round (34th overall selection) of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Ball State University.
Low-A East
Charleston RiverDogs (Rays) second baseman Brett Wisely finished second in the league in average (.376), runs (26) and stolen bases (14) and was third in hits (35), on-base percentage (.449) and OPS (1.040). He was sixth in total bases (55) and had 12 multi-hit games. Wisely, 22, was selected by Tampa Bay in the 15th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida.
Charleston RiverDogs (Rays) right-hander Taj Bradley went 4-0 with a 0.72 ERA in five starts, allowing two earned runs on eight hits in 25.0 innings. He struck out 25 and walked seven as opponents batted .101 against him. He also won the award in June and was promoted to High-A Bowling Green on August 3. Bradley, 20, was selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Low-A Southeast
Dunedin Blue Jays shortstop Orelvis Martinez batted .313 and led the league in hits (31), home runs (13), RBI (31), total bases (79), slugging percentage (.798) and OPS (1.218) and was second in doubles (nine) and runs (22). He recorded three four-hit games in a span of four games July 14-17 and in a five-game stretch against Clearwater July 13-17, he went 13-for-24 with seven homers, 16 RBI and scored nine runs. Martinez, 19, was signed by Toronto as an International Free Agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on July 4, 2018.
Daytona Tortugas (Reds) right-hander Bryce Bonnin went 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in four starts as he allowed two earned runs over 19 innings. He held opponents to a .111 average and struck out 30 while walking three batters. Bonnin, 22, was selected by Cincinnati in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech University.
Low-A West
San Jose Giants outfielder Jairo Pomares led the league in average (.369), total bases (73) and OPS (1.125) and was second hits (38), doubles (11), slugging percentage (.709). He finished third in home runs (eight) and sixth in runs scored (24) and RBI (24). He posted 12 multi-hit games and had two three-hit games and two four-hit games. Pomares, 21, was signed by San Francisco as an International Free Agent out of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, on July 2, 2018.
San Jose Giants right-hander Ryan Murphy went 3-1 with a 1.74 ERA in five starts and led the league with 56 strikeouts. He held opponents to a league-best .160 average, allowing 17 hits while walking six over 31.0 innings. Murphy, 21, was selected by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York.
Arizona Complex League
Rockies shortstop Warming Bernabel led the league in hits (28), RBI (28), slugging percentage (.721) and OPS (1.151) and was second in average (.412), total bases (49) and home runs (six). He was third in runs (18) and recorded 10 multi-hit games prior to his August 2 promotion to Low-A Fresno. Bernabel, 19, was signed by Colorado as an International Free Agent out of Bani, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2018.
Royals Gold (Royals) right-hander Heribert Garcia went 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in five appearances (three starts). He struck out 25 and walked five while holding opponents to a .213 average. Garcia, 21, was signed by Kansas City as an International Free Agent out of Bolivar, Venezuela, on March 31, 2018.
Dominican Republic Complex League
Rockies outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez batted .380 and led the league in hits (19), doubles (seven), total bases (32) and RBI (16). He was third in slugging percentage (.640) and sixth in OPS (1.069). Fernandez, 18, was signed by Colorado as an International Free Agent out of Havana, Cuba, on July 12, 2019.
Nationals right-hander Randy Lara went 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in three starts. Lara scattered seven hits over 14 innings, holding opponents to a .146 average and struck out 15 while walking one batter. Lara, 19, was signed by Washington as an International Free Agent out of Bani, Dominican Republic, on January 20, 2021.
Florida Complex League
Marlins shortstop Osiris Johnson batted .329 led the league home runs (seven), RBI (24), total bases (54) and slugging percentage (.771) and was second in runs (17), doubles (eight) and OPS (1.161). He was third in hits (23) and on July 19, Johnson homered three times and drove in seven runs against the Nationals. Johnson, 20, was selected by Miami in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Encinal High School in Alameda, California.
Red Sox right-hander Juan Daniel Encarnacion went 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA in five appearances (four starts) and led the league with 23 innings pitched. He struck out 22 and walked three while allowing just 12 hits. Garcia, 21, was signed by Boston as an International Free Agent out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on September 3, 2018.
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
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on 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
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
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.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.