All articles tagged with #minor league baseball
Major League Baseball will regulate in-game data and technology in minor leagues starting next season to ensure all teams have equal access, aiming to promote fairness and curb the current arms race in technological investments, though it raises concerns about innovation and existing investments.
Baseball America announced the 2025 Minor League All-Star teams, highlighting top prospects across various positions, including standout performances by players like Konnor Griffin, Samuel Basallo, and Max Clark, with detailed stats and achievements from the season.
Jen Pawol is set to make history as the first female umpire in a century and a half of major league baseball, after a long journey through the minor leagues, driven by her passion for baseball and overcoming gender barriers. Her debut will take place during a doubleheader in Atlanta, marking a significant milestone for women in sports.
The Erie Moon Mammoths, a minor league baseball team rebranded by John Oliver and his team, played their first game to a record crowd, generating significant merchandise sales and media attention, though they will revert to their original name for most games.
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a successful rehab start for the Double-A Somerset Patriots, pitching 3⅓ scoreless innings, striking out five batters, and allowing just two singles. This was his first game action since being sidelined with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in mid-March. Cole expressed satisfaction with his performance and is expected to make another rehab start before potentially rejoining the Yankees.
Yankees prospects Spencer Jones and Jasson Domínguez both hit home runs in a thrilling 13-5 victory for the Double-A Somerset Patriots over the Bowie Baysox. The game featured a strong offensive performance from Somerset, including a 17-hit attack and notable contributions from Ben Rice and Anthony Seigler.
As the 2024 Minor League Baseball season begins, a prospect watch column highlights one breakout candidate for each MLB team. Some notable prospects include Jansel Luis of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Spencer Schwellenbach of the Atlanta Braves, and Marco Vargas of the New York Mets. These young players are expected to make an impact and potentially enjoy breakout seasons as they progress through the minor leagues.
Three current and former minor league baseball players, including Jordan Qsar, have been indicted for allegedly making $189,000 in illegal profits from insider trading related to Jack in the Box's acquisition of Del Taco in 2021. The Securities and Exchange Commission also filed a civil lawsuit against the trio and a fourth former minor leaguer, alleging they received insider information from a friend working at Jack in the Box and shared it with others, resulting in significant stock gains. The players face charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, and wire fraud, with the SEC seeking injunctions, disgorgement of profits, and civil penalties.
The Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, will be relocating to Columbus, Georgia in 2025, marking the end of their 20-year tenure in the Pearl/Jackson, Mississippi area. This move presents a new opportunity for the team as it moves closer to the big league club, and signifies the end of an era in Mississippi where many of the Atlanta Braves' top players have honed their skills.
The Miami Marlins have reportedly hired Rachel Balkovec as their director of player development, making her the first woman to hold such a position in Major League Baseball. Balkovec, known for her trailblazing roles in baseball, has a background in analytics and a wealth of experience in various capacities across different organizations. Her hiring is part of the Marlins' restructuring under new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, aiming to address the struggles in producing homegrown position players in their farm system.
Major League Baseball has announced the creation of "Spring Breakout," a four-day series of exhibition games where top prospects from different organizations will participate in Spring Training contests against the best minor league talents from other teams. The event aims to showcase the future stars of the game and provide fans with a unique opportunity to see the next generation of Major Leaguers up close. The series will take place between March 14 and 17 next year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Trey Sweeney, a minor league shortstop, from the New York Yankees in a trade. Sweeney, a former first-round pick, has shown versatility by playing multiple positions and has displayed improved batting skills with a high walk rate and low strikeout rate. He will provide the Dodgers with an upper minors shortstop option, although his range is better than his arm. Sweeney is ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the Dodgers system and will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December 2024.
Diamond Baseball Holdings has announced its acquisition of the majority shares of the Worcester Red Sox, with key members of the team's leadership, including chairman Larry Lucchino, president Charles Steinberg, and general manager Dan Rea, set to be retained. The team will continue to be affiliated with the Boston Red Sox and play at Polar Park. Diamond Baseball Holdings, which also owns the Double A Portland Sea Dogs and Single A Salem Red Sox, plans to complete the sale by the end of the year pending approval from Minor League Baseball.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is facing a significant legal challenge to its antitrust exemption, with a lawsuit filed by two minor-league teams that were expelled from MLB's affiliated system. The case, which could potentially reach the Supreme Court, argues that MLB's exemption allows for monopolistic practices that would be illegal in other industries. Settlement talks are currently underway, and if a settlement is reached, the case may not proceed to the Supreme Court. However, if the case does proceed, it could have far-reaching implications for MLB's antitrust exemption.
The Smokies defeat the Blue Wahoos with a final score of 10-3 in a Minor League Baseball game.