Here are the top performers from the fifth week of AFL action:

Defense is increasingly becoming a young man’s game. From 1957, the year they were first handed out, to 2012, only nine rookies won Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. The same amount have captured the game’s top defensive prize since 2013, including six in the past three seasons alone. Red Sox right

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Here’s something you don’t see every day. A trio of Rangers pitching prospects worked with an Astros catcher to carry a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Friday night at the Peoria Sports Complex. Alas, a single by Luis Lara (MIL No. 17) prevented the Surprise Saguaros

Where can you find a collection of talent like Paul Skenes, Myles Garrett and Giannis Antetokounmpo in one place? The Asheville Tourists’ online auction for Hurricane Helene relief. The Astros’ High-A affiliate is bringing the sports world together in an effort to help its local community. Proceeds will go to

Just think of some of the big numbers put up in the Minors this year -- 40 homers, 104 stolen bases, 202 strikeouts -- and they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Terrific performances came in a variety of shapes and sizes during the 2024 Minor League season. To celebrate

LAS VEGAS -- Shay Whitcomb was not the first to celebrate his birthday in Las Vegas. But he was the first to do so while winning Triple-A National Championship MVP honors. “It's the best birthday I've ever had, winning a championship," he said. "I mean, come on." The Astros’ No.

While Storm Chasers vs. Space Cowboys sounds like a summer blockbuster, it's gearing up to be a fall classic. Omaha (Royals) and Sugar Land (Astros) square off in a single-game Triple-A National Championship at 10:07 p.m. ET on Saturday at Las Vegas Ballpark, airing on MLB Network. This will be

The Space Cowboys can now officially claim to be "over the moon." For the first time in its four-year affiliate history, Triple-A Sugar Land are champions after sweeping its way to the Pacific Coast League crown with a 5-2 win over Reno on Wednesday night at Constellation Field. It's the

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The edition, rounding up the month of August, features RBI explosions, epic sweeps, same-named individuals and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in

Welcome to the dog days of summer. The races for postseason spots are coming into focus in the Majors. In the Minors, top prospects are eyeballing September roster expansions. Whether you're holding on tight to the long days and balmy nights or patiently waiting for the leaves to fall and

At the end of the first half, it seemed like two Triple-A clubs might challenge for the ever-elusive 100-win season.

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The June edition features a doubles deluge, oppositional surnames, way too many walks and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch if

For the first time since the franchise relocated to the Gulf Coast of Texas, the Corpus Christi Hooks checked off their first no-hitter in 19 seasons. On the shoulders of Astros prospects Jake Bloss and Cesar Gomez, the Double-A affiliate blanked the San Antonio Missions in a 3-0 win at

Over 20,000 people have suited up in the Majors, but none of them have been verified to have accomplished what Astros prospect John Garcia did for the High-A Asheville Tourists on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old collected five doubles in a single game en route to an 18-8 win over Bowling

After putting his team within a run of tying the game, Juan Santander had much more to offer Single-A Fayetteville on Friday night. The Woodpeckers trailed the Red Sox by five runs entering the top of the fifth inning, but by the bottom half, the Astros’ affiliate found itself down

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- As a young ballplayer, Waner Luciano spent months away from his home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for the chance to play baseball in the United States. And he did that for one main reason -- to make the dream he and his dad shared of signing

HOUSTON -- Astros first baseman José Abreu agreed to be optioned to the Minor Leagues, general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday. The move will be effective on Wednesday, with a corresponding roster move to be announced then. Abreu will report to the Astros' Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach,

Pedro León was already having the best season of his Minor League career for Triple-A Sugar Land, but one swing of the bat has made his hot start much more impressive. The Astros’ No. 27 prospect needed to see just two pitches in his at-bat in the bottom of the

As Single-A Fayetteville assembled for its series opener with Down East on Tuesday, an additional jersey was prepared for the game. This uniform top was never meant to be worn that day, though. It didn't serve a purpose to identify any player on the field; it was an opportunity to

Since 2013, only two batters in Triple-A have started the season loaded with power, launching 12 home runs between March and April, and both hail from the same organization -- Yordan Alvarez and now Joey Loperfido. The Astros’ No. 6 prospect reached the dozen dinger mark after going yard twice

Prior to Friday night, Joey Loperfido sat atop professional baseball’s home run leaderboard alongside three-time American League MVP Mike Trout, among others. Just a few hours and three big swings later, the 24-year-old slugger has sole possession of pole position with nine home runs for Triple-A Sugar Land. In Sugar

When Jackie Robinson made his debut as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in Spring Training of 1946, his jersey number was not the 42 he'd come to be associated with. That spring in Daytona Beach, and throughout the ensuing season with the Triple-A Montreal Royals, he wore number

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE. At Minor League ballparks all over the country, peanuts and Cracker Jack have

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Astros prospect Jacob Melton. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. Although the Astros have been willing to dip into

Pedro León did something must-see with a 69.7 mph curveball Saturday night for Triple-A Sugar Land. The No. 5 Astros prospect connected on the slow offspeed pitch, turning it into a 111.2 mph laser that went clear out of Las Vegas Ballpark. Traveling 477 feet, it not only left the