June 9, 2025
Texas Rangers right-hander
Josh Sborz (shoulder) is making progress from right-shoulder surgery that he had last November and started throwing breaking pitches during a bullpen session in late May, according to The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. The 31-year-old has been throwing off a mound for almost a month and is getting close to being cleared to face live hitters. After that, Sborz will be cleared for what will likely be a lengthy minor-league rehab start. Because he's on the 60-day injured list, Sborz won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut until at least early July. The best bet is that we don't see him until the second half, at which point he'll be a candidate to join the big-league bullpen down the stretch. In his four years with Texas, Sborz has posted a 4.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, one save and a 28.7% strikeout rate over 150 innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
June 9, 2025
Colorado Rockies third base/outfield prospect
Charlie Condon continues to perform well at High-A Spokane, collecting three hits, including a double, in four at-bats on Sunday, while also walking once and scoring three times. Through 17 games for the Indians, the 22-year-old is hitting .339 (21-for-62) with four doubles, a pair of home runs, 12 RBI, and 18 runs scored. The third overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft is also walking (16) more than he is striking out (14), which has led to a phenomenal .488 OBP. Despite missing so much time to begin the year, the Rockies' top prospect does not appear to be overmatched and should be a candidate for a promotion in the near future. Fantasy managers may have to wait until 2026 to see his 70-grade power on display at Coors Field, but with the state of the Rockies' offense, a 2025 debut is not off the table.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
June 9, 2025
Texas Rangers left-hander
Cody Bradford (elbow) incorporated breaking pitches into his bullpen session back on May 31 and is hoping to face live hitters at some point this week, according to The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland. Bradford has been on the shelf all year to this point due to a sprained left elbow, but once he resumes facing live hitters, he could be several weeks from potentially being activated from the injured list. Most likely, we won't see him back in the big leagues until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Once the 27-year-old southpaw is healthy, he'll be an option for pitching-hungry fantasy managers in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues, although it's unclear if he'll join Texas' starting rotation. In his second year in the big leagues in 2024, Bradford had a 3.54 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 70 K's and 13 walks in 76 1/3 innings over 14 outings (13 starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
June 9, 2025
Washington Nationals right-hander
Josiah Gray (elbow, forearm) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions of 30 pitches at the team's spring training complex after having Tommy John surgery and internal-brace procedure on July 24 of last year. The 27-year-old is making progress from elbow reconstruction, but even if he doesn't have any setbacks as he continues to ramp up his arm, he's not expected to be available for the Nationals until later in the second half of the 2025 season. At that point, he won't have much fantasy appeal and will likely be on a strict workload limit. Once Gray begins facing live hitters, a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment will likely follow. The former second-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 was a first-time All-Star in 2023, when he had a 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 143:80 K:BB in 159 innings over 30 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 9, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Slade Caldwell is headed to High-A Hillsboro. The 2024 first-rounder slashed .294/.460/.454 with 13 doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 13 steals in 48 games for Single-A Visalia. Also, despite a 28.7 percent strikeout rate, the 18-year-old owned just a 6.4 percent swinging-strike rate and displayed a keen eye, recording a 20.4 percent walk rate for the Rawhide. Look for him to improve on the strikeout rate and refine his stolen base skills at the next level, but an MLB debut is still a couple of seasons away. Still young and able to grow into more power, plus tons of speed, give the left-handed hitter plenty of fantasy intrigue, so dynasty managers would be wise to keep an eye on his development.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB Pipeline
June 9, 2025
According to multiple reports, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Wander Franco, who is currently on trial in the Dominican Republic on charges that include sexual abuse of a minor, was charged on Sunday with illegal possession of a gun. Franco was arrested on Nov. 10 after an altercation broke out, and a Glock 19 was found in his vehicle. The 24-year-old was formally charged last July in the Dominican Republic with sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, and the trial is ongoing. MLB's investigation into the allegations against Franco are ongoing, too. Once one of the most promising young shortstop's in the game, Franco most likely won't ever step foot back on a big-league field again despite signing an 11-year, $182 million deal back in November of 2021. He has not played since the allegations initially surfaced in August of 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Sarah Jean Maher
June 9, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) started back-to-back games at designated hitter on his minor-league rehab assignment on May 28 and 29 and then started at second base on June 1. Kim made his first start at shortstop on June 5 and is expected to take most of the allotted 20 days on his rehab assignment to build up to regular work at the 6, according to MLB.com. The 29-year-old has yet to play in 2025 while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder to fix a torn labrum. He's currently on the 60-day injured list but could make his debut with the Rays in mid-to-late June, barring a setback. When Kim is finally ready to return to the big leagues, he's expected to be Tampa's regular shortstop. In his 10 rehab games with Triple-A Durham, he's gone 7-for-34 (.206) with two doubles, four RBI and two steals. Kim can provide modest speed numbers for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 9, 2025
San Francisco Giants right-hander
Justin Verlander (pectoral) is expected to throw another simulated game on Wednesday at Coors Field in Colorado before the team's game against the Rockies, according to MLB.com. Verlander continues to recover from a strained right pectoral muscle that landed him on the 15-day injured list on May 22. Barring a setback, the 42-year-old three-time Cy Young winner is expected to rejoin the team's starting rotation in the middle of June. He tossed 35 to 40 pitches during his first simulated game this past Friday and should be expected to build on that workload this week. If Verlander avoids a setback on Wednesday, he could be cleared to come off the IL without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The nine-time All-Star is no longer the dominant pitcher he once was and was 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and weak 18.2% strikeout rate before his injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 9, 2025
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee (back) sat out the last two games of the series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday and Sunday after experiencing upper-back soreness. However, MLB.com reports that Lee could return for Tuesday's series opener in Colorado against the division-rival Rockies. Lee appeared as a pinch-hitter in Saturday's game, which was a sign that his injury wasn't all that serious. Fantasy managers should expect to have him back in the lineup this week in a great hitting environment at Coors Field.
Daniel Johnson received two straight starts in center field for the Giants with Lee missing the last two games. When Lee does come back, he'll be returning to a .276/.330/.436 slash line with a .766 OPS, six home runs, 32 RBI, 35 runs and six stolen bases in 243 at-bats. The Japanese outfielder has gone 5-for-19 (.263) with three doubles, an RBI and a steal in seven games in June.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 9, 2025
New York Mets right-hander
Frankie Montas (lat) made his fourth minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse and allowed three earned runs on four hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out two in 3 2/3 innings. He threw 43 of his 76 pitches for strikes. The 32-year-old veteran is on the 60-day injured list and hasn't pitched at all during the regular season after injuring his lat in spring training. The Mets are in no rush to bring Montas back, so fantasy managers should expect him to make a few more rehab starts before potentially returning to the starting rotation in late June or early July. In his four rehab starts, Montas has a 9.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP with eight walks and nine K's in 12 innings. The Dominican hurler made just one appearance in 2023 due to injury and was up and down in 30 starts with the Reds and Brewers last year, posting a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 150 2/3 frames.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
June 9, 2025
Minnesota Twins third baseman
Brooks Lee went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in his team's 6-3 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. He also singled, drew a walk, and struck out. The 24-year-old went yard to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and knot the game at 3-3 before teammate
Christian Vazquez took
Bowden Francis deep to go back-to-back and give the Twins their second and final lead of the contest. Lee extended his hit streak to ten games in this one, and has gone a cool .317 (13-for-41) over that stretch. He's notched just two extra-base hits over that time, but has driven in six runs and scored five of his own while chipping in one steal. The Cal Poly product is producing a better sample than he did in 2024, up to a .250/.291/.364 triple slash through 49 games.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
June 9, 2025
Kansas City Royals rookie left-hander
Noah Cameron will remain in the team's starting rotation for at least one more turn and face off against the visiting New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday. The Royals are going with a six-man rotation for the time being after left-hander
Cole Ragans returns from a stint on the injured list recently. Cameron, 25, has been outstanding for KC in his first five MLB starts, allowing only three earned runs on 15 hits (two homers) while walking 10 and striking out 19 in 31 2/3 innings pitched. However, his lack of control and 3.64 FIP how that he's been pretty fortunate to get away with a 0.85 ERA to this point. The young southpaw will look to keep things rolling this week, but fantasy managers should consider better streaming options than Cameron against the first-place Yankees.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
June 9, 2025
Texas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals. The former second-round pick added a single and a double for his first three-hit game of the season. He put the Rangers up 2-0 in the top of the second, blasting a
Trevor Williams fastball -- a 382-foot, two-run bomb -- over the right-field wall. It was the second time he's gone yard, and the first in nearly a month (May 10). Injuries have been an issue for Carter, but he flashed his upside down the stretch in 2023 ahead of the Rangers' World Series win. The 22-year-old hasn't regained that form, though all three of his hits on Sunday registered at greater than 90 MPH off the bat. That could be enough for him to start to heat up.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
June 9, 2025
New York Mets second baseman
Ronny Mauricio went 2-for-3 in his team's 13-5 road win against the Colorado Rockies. The Mets' No. 9 prospect singled twice, walked twice, scored twice, and stole a base. Mauricio picked up a base knock and scored a run in the top of the second, then did so again in the third, adding a steal this time -- the second since his call-up. After two 0-for-4 efforts, he's picked up at least one hit in three straight games and back-to-back two-hit performances. The 24-year-old tore up Triple-A pitching during rehab from an ACL injury and will get a good bit of run with teammate
Mark Vientos (hamstring) on the shelf. He's deserving of a roster spot in most formats.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
June 9, 2025
Boston Red Sox second baseman
Kristian Campbell went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 11-7 win over the New York Yankees. He also singled and drew a walk. The rookie bashed his sixth homer of the season in the top of the fifth inning off Yankees' starter
Carlos Rodon, scoring teammate
Ceddanne Rafaela to tie the game at two runs apiece. Campbell had an abysmal May in which he hit .134 (11-for-82), but he's already up to six hits in June and has tied his long ball and RBI total of last month in only seven games. It's the first time he's picked up multiple hits in back-to-back outings since the end of April. He's up to a .233/.323/.364 triple slash with nine doubles, 20 RBI, and 23 runs scored in his inaugural big-league season (58 games).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
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