July 15, 2025
Journeyman outfielder
Travis Jankowski rejected an outright assignment to the minor leagues from the New York Mets on Sunday after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Jankowski only appeared in four games for the Mets before being cut, and now he'll be looking to join his fourth different MLB squad in 2025. The 34-year-old speedster has appeared in 25 games this year with the Mets, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, going 11-for-45 (.244) with two doubles, two RBI, eight runs scored and two stolen bases in 50 plate appearances. The former first-rounder by the San Diego Padres in 2012 will likely have to settle for a minor-league deal with another club, but don't be surprised if he resurfaces in the majors in the second half. If he does, he'll only be worth a flier as outfield depth with speed in single-league fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July 15, 2025
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds placed St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitching prospect
Tekoah Roby (undisclosed) on the seven-day injured list on Monday. While Roby has dealt with shoulder injuries in the past, it's unclear if this is related. The team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has gone a combined 7-4 this year with a 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 87:19 K:BB in 78 1/3 innings over 16 starts with Double-A Springfield and Memphis. The 23-year-old had been peaking recently with Memphis, striking out 21 and walking only five while giving up two earned runs in his last four starts. Hopefully, the former third-rounder in 2020 will be able to return sooner than later. Roby relies on a mid- to upper-90s fastball with a nasty curveball that generates a lot of swings and misses. Health has been his biggest issue, and it could deny him a chance to debut in the big leagues in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July 15, 2025
The Minnesota Twins selected third base/outfield prospect Quentin Young out of Oaks Christian High School in California in the second round (pick No. 54) of the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday. The nephew of former major leaguers Dmitri and Delmon Young, he has baseball in his blood and big-time power that goes with his 6-foot-6 frame. With the power comes some concerns about the ability to make contact, but at 18 years old, there's time to see how that pans out. The youngster is athletic and has some speed, so it will be interesting to see how he develops as the right-handed slugger makes his way through the minor league ranks.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
July 15, 2025
Chicago Cubs left-hander
Matthew Boyd, who has already thrown 111 2/3 innings this season, will not pitch in the All-Star game for the National League on Tuesday. Boyd's 111 2/3 frames have already surpassed his total in each of the previous five years, and given his medical history, it makes sense for the Cubs to err on the side of caution heading into the second half. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw has gone 10-3 with a 2.34 ERA and closed out his excellent first half by throwing eight shutout innings against the New York Yankees in the Bronx on Saturday. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Boyd to be better in the second half, and the Cubs could look for spots to get him extra rest if they can. With a 3.30 xERA and whiff rate in just the 29th percentile, he's outperforming his underlying stats a bit. Still, he's limiting hard contact and continues to keep hitters off balance.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zack Meisel and Patrick Mooney
July 15, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect
Braylon Payne was named Carolina League Player of the Week for his performance from July 7-13. The Brewers' ninth-ranked prospect went 6-for-14 (.429) with a double, two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base in four games for Single-A Carolina. The 2024 first-rounder is riding a 10-game hit streak that includes six multi-hit efforts, during which time he's slashing .432/.553/.784. For the season, the 18-year-old is hitting .261 with a .373 OBP thanks to a strong 15.4 percent walk rate, along with seven home runs and 22 steals through 54 games for the Mudcats. He's got plenty of time to bring his current strikeout rate of 27.8 percent down, and the 70-grade speed could make him a valuable fantasy asset down the road.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Alek Manoah (elbow) battled poor command in his first minor-league rehab start on Monday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. Manoah only went one-third of an inning and allowed four runs (three earned) on one hit while walking two and striking out one. He threw only 10 of his 22 pitches for strikes, and his four-seam fastball sat around 93-94 mph. The 27-year-old was limited to only five games for the Blue Jays last year before undergoing UCL reconstruction. In his 24 1/3 innings, he had a respectable 3.70 ERA. Manoah is likely to spend the full 30 days on his rehab assignment, but he could return to the big leagues in mid-to-late August. He was the runner-up in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022 before struggling mightily in 2023 while being sent to the minors. It's anyone's guess as to how he'll fare with Toronto late this season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca
July 15, 2025
Texas Rangers right-hander
Jon Gray (forearm) allowed an earned run on six hits while walking none and striking out two in three innings on Monday in a minor-league rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. A rainout over the weekend forced the 33-year-old to skip making his second rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock. He should head to Round Rock after this outing, and he's expected to make at least a couple more rehab starts before the Rangers consider activating him from the 60-day injured list. Gray has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2025 due to a fractured forearm that he suffered in spring training on March 14. He also missed some time in 2024 with groin and foot injuries and finished with a disappointing 4.47 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while striking out 86 and walking 28 in 23 outings (19 starts). After his strikeout rate dipped below 20% last year, fantasy managers will want to see more.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July 15, 2025
The Cleveland Guardians placed right-handed reliever
Paul Sewald (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 12) on Tuesday with a right-shoulder strain, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. A corresponding move is to be determined. Sewald went on the IL for the first time this season back in late April with a right posterior deltoid strain, and the 35-year-old veteran had just returned on July 5. He made four appearances out of the Guards bullpen before getting hurt again, allowing an unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings. Sewald will be eligible to return on July 27, but it's a good bet we won't see him until August. It's been an injury-plagued year for Sewald. He currently has a 4.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, two saves and 18 K's in just 15 1/3 innings of work. Whenever he returns, he'll be a late-inning setup option in front of closer
Emmanuel Clase.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
July 15, 2025
Kansas City Royals outfield prospect
Carson Roccaforte was named Midwest League Player of the Week for the week of July 7-13. The Royals' 21st-ranked prospect went 11-for-23 (.478) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in six games for High-A Quad Cities. The left-handed slugger has been swinging a hot bat for longer than a week, though, hitting safely in 11 of his last 12, batting .426 (20-for-47) with five home runs and an unbelievable 1.364 OPS during that time. After this recent hot stretch, the 23-year-old's slash line stands at .241/.365/.478 with 13 home runs and 33 stolen bases. If he can improve on the 30.0 percent strikeout rate while maintaining the 15.9 percent walk rate, a trip to Double-A could happen before the season is out, although he is off of the fantasy radar for now.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
San Francisco Giants first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge (hamstring) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored on Monday in his first rehab game with the ACL Giants. The Giants' top prospect is working his way back from a hamstring strain that has kept him out since June 21. It's not clear how long the rehab assignment will last, but once complete, he'll return to Triple-A, where he was slashing .230/.284/.426 with three home runs in 16 games after earning a promotion from Double-A. The 6-foot-7 slugger is the Giants' first baseman of the future, and although he strikes out quite a bit, dynasty managers should be stashing him away based on his future power potential.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
San Francisco Giants infield prospect Jhonny Level homered in a 3-for-5 day at the plate on Monday, driving in two runs and scoring twice for the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants. He was also caught stealing one time. The Giants' fourth-ranked prospect is faring well in his first stateside professional baseball action, hitting .298 with nine doubles, four triples, and eight home runs (.513 SLG) in 51 Complex League games. He's also posted a better-than-average 12.7 percent walk rate, helping him to a strong .386 OBP, and he's also stolen 14 bases. The switch-hitter can hit for both contact and power, although his speed might be his best tool. But at 18 years old, the young Venezuelan is still several years away from the majors.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on July 22, according to MLB.com. Mountcastle was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right-hamstring strain and was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 23. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could be activated on July 30 or shortly thereafter. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter has been out since the end of May but should return to regular duties at first base in Baltimore when he's ready. In the meantime, expect
Ryan O'Hearn and
Coby Mayo to continue splitting time at the cold corner for the O's coming out of this week's All-Star break. Mountcastle had been a disappointment for fantasy managers before his hamstring injury, slashing .246/.280/.348 with a weak .628 OPS, only two homers, 15 RBI and 19 runs in 187 at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July
15,
2025
Los
Angeles
Angels
outfielder
Mike
Trout
is
eyeing
a
return
to
the
outfield
after
the
All-Star
break
and
is
planning
on
resuming
drills
in
the
outfield,
according
to
The
Sporting
Tribune's
Thomas
Murray.
However,
there's
no
read more...
July 15, 2025
Veteran right-handed reliever
David Robertson is throwing for interested clubs this week, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon. Robertson has been a free agent since the end of last season, but he could land with a team looking for help in the bullpen soon. Several teams, including the New York Mets and New York Yankees, have looked into Robertson, according to league sources. Robertson turned 40 in April, but he had a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 27 walks with the Texas Rangers in 2024. From 2022-24, he averaged 63 appearances per year with a 2.82 ERA. The former 17th-round pick by the Yankees in 2006 out of Alabama has 177 career saves in 16 MLB seasons and has also pitched for the Marlins, Phillies, Cubs, White Sox, Rays and Rangers. Because of his wealth of experience in high-leverage roles, it's not out of the question for Robertson to become fantasy relevant in the second half.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
July
15,
2025
Left-handed
relief
pitcher
Joe
Mantiply
and
the
Toronto
Blue
Jays
have
agreed
to
terms
on
a
minor-league
deal.
The
34-year-old
veteran
was
knocked
around
this
year,
giving
up
17
runs
on
26
hits
in
just
9
read more...
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