The Mets are set to recall RHP Brandon Sproat for his big league debut today. He had a rough start to his season in Triple-A but found his rhythm eventually. His season-long line still includes a 4.24 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 25 starts, and he’s turned in a couple stinkers among his last four outings, but he had a dominant stretch from June 26 through August 7th, going 4-and-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 43.1 innings across nine starts. The Mets are a top-five organization when it comes to pitching, so I’d be betting we see more of good Sproat than struggling Sproat in his spot starts from here forward.
Marlins OF Kemp Alderman (23, AAA) has made the most of his first six games in Triple-A, blasting five home runs to bring his season line to 20 homers and 20 steals in 116 games across two levels. He’s also striking out a perfectly manageable 22.3 percent of the time. Intriguing redraft sleeper for deep leagues in 2026.
Tigers C Eduardo Valencia (25, AAA) took the slow road to arrive at Detroit’s doorstep, but he’s looking every bit the part of a major league hitter right now. A 2018 signing out of Venezuela, Valencia’s season high in home runs prior to 2025 was the six he hit in 56 games with the club’s Double-A affiliate in 2022. This season, he has 21 home runs in 90 games across two levels, slashing .311/.384/.554 with a 20.6 percent strikeout rate and 10.2 percent walk rate. He’s had a lot of fits and starts throughout his career and has posted positive outcomes before across small samples, and while he’s never produced quite like this, I don’t think it’s coming out of nowhere. Catchers just take a little longer. This is a talented hitter who would’ve probably popped sooner with more consistent health.
Red Sox SS Franklin Arias (19, AA) didn’t dominate in High-A but still got promoted to Double-A this week after 87 games in which he slashed .265/.329/.380 with six home runs, seven stolen bases, 35 strikeouts and 32 walks. Probably it’s the plate skills that earned him the next step. And it’s so far so good through three games at the new level. He’s hitting .333 with a home run.
Rays RHP Ty Johnson (23, AA) appears to be ready for his next challenge, sporting a 2.66 ERA and 0.97 WHIP through 101.1 innings pitched at the Double-A level. He has refined his off-speed command throughout the year and should be a problem for major league hitters given the high-90’s velocity and ride from a 6’6” 205 lbs right-hander.
I’m not going to surprise anyone by predicting Baltimore will be a better ball club next season, but they’re set up for a pretty huge leap if a domino or two falls in their favor. One such domino could be LHP Luis De Leon (22, AA), who has been dominating the competition since mid July, compiling 57 strikeouts in 40 innings alongside a 1.58 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His last two turns have taken place in Double-A, where he’s allowed one run in 11 innings with 16 strikeouts and four walks. They need to sign some major league arms this off-season, too, but to truly contend at this point teams need to have help available in waves throughout their system.
Phillies OF Felix Reyes (24, AA) is a bit old for the level, and the Double-A Phillies play in a cozy environment for hitting, so by this point you’re waiting for a pretty big but, which arrives in the form of his outcomes. Through 89 games with Reading, he’s slashing .333/.368/.572 with 14 home runs, 12 stolen bases and a 15 percent strikeout rate. Pretty strong stuff despite his free-swinging ways.
Thanks for reading!
Good stuff, Itch, thanks.
Thoughts on Matt Shaw for next year….
I think he’s gonna push 20/20 with a 250 ish batting average