White Sox BY Braden Montgomery (23) hit a game-winning home run in his major league debut Tuesday, the continuation of a long streak back in spring training. In 56 games split almost evenly between Double-A and Triple-A, Montgomery slashed .314/.422/.548 with ten home runs, five stolen bases and a 24.8 percent slugging average. The top hitter played right field in his first start but could match up in center if Tristan Peters goes cold. If you’ve been saving up for what free agent money to get, this week may be the closest to making the final call to buy a rookie impact.
Rockies SS/OF Cole Carrigg (24) tripled and walked as a center fielder in his league debut on Tuesday. In 57 games for Triple-A, he slashed .338/.414/.529 with six home runs and 33 stolen bases. It can be a difference for those lacking speed considering that it will contribute to a comfortable overall environment.
Luis Lara Producers (21, AAA) signed a seven-year contract extension with three years of team options thereafter. With $31 million guaranteed, Lara becomes the second richest man on his minor league team after SS Cooper Pratt (21) and his $50.75 million. Pratt’s deal includes two options at the end of his eight-year deal. So that makes two 21-year-olds inked for ten years. 22-year-old Jackson Chourio is signed until 2031 with two club options. These gambling games bet on their people, players and coaches, which sets them apart from all other organizations. It’s reminiscent of the mid-90s Cleveland teams that featured Manny Ramirez, Omar Vizquel and company. It’s a scary time to be playing in the National League Central, where the Brewers, Reds, Pirates and Cardinals all look to be much better in the next few years than in 2026.
The important question for us right now is whether Lara can help our dream teams this season. Garrett Mitchell has a wRC+ of 116 despite a 35.9 percent batting average. Sal Frelick has a 71 wRC+ playing below average defense in right field. He looks more like a fourth back or utility player than he does in the first division. On the other hand, he could be tough in the postseason, and Milwaukee has a healthy 4.5 game lead at center, so there’s no rush to bench Frelick. Maybe they can send him to Boston for another ace in waiting. That’s a Caleb Durbin joke. Maybe he has a bad temper. Anyway, when the team needed an outfielder last month, they turned to Blake Perkins. Next time, it will be Lara.
When the Giants traded Patrick Bailey to Cleveland on May 9, that opened up a catcher spot that many thought would be Jesus Rodriguez, the former Yankee Swiss Army man who moved west in the Camilo Doval trade. A month later, Rodriguez returned to the minors, having given the starting job to Daniel Susac and the backup job to Eric Hasse. Even in Sacramento, Giants C Drew Cavanaugh (24, AAA) is getting plenty of reps behind the plate after pitching in Double-A. San Francisco Park will suppress its results as it does for all left-handed hitters, but Cavanaugh is slashing .373/.473/.693 with five home runs in 21 Triple-A games and looks like a big hit for the organization as a 17th-round pick in 2023.
Phillies RHP Ramon Marquez (20, A) has been hitting hard in his second professional season after being traded out of Mexico in 2025 and completing four full seasons of regular season ball to close out his first year with the Phillies. This season, he’s back in Low-A Clearwater and feeling right at home, posting a 1.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 41 strikeouts and just seven walks in 24 innings. Pitchers with great changeup command tend to dominate in the minors, but at 6’2” 182 pounds with good fastball command and a strong slider-cutter combination, Marquez has a legitimate rotation to match his video game numbers.
I realize it’s hard to make room for all the guys who are graduating and playing for royalty, but see if you can’t squeeze in the new ones Marlins SS Luis Arana (18, A) in a list or two. He’s shown good eye and communication skills throughout his baseball career, and now we have a little power play technique. He has three extra-base hits in eight Low-A games, including a towering home run to left that suggests he’s moving the point of contact slightly forward to focus on lifting and pulling pitches into the sweet spot. Exciting things to see from a guy who has 16 steals in 24 games this season. He won’t jump onto the top prospect list immediately after signing for just $30,000 last year and paying some federal tax during the roster periods, but it won’t be long if he continues to produce these types of on-field results. Click here to see a quick clip of Arana’s full season home run.
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