IQ - Baseball Wiretap

With nearly two months of the 2026 season complete, 22 players from the preseason MLB top 100 prospect list have graduated from eligibility, reshuffling the rankings ahead of what figures to be an active trade deadline season.

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jesus Made, 19, moves to the top spot after posting 90th percentile exit velocities that rank among big league averages despite playing in Double-A. His ability to control the strike zone and his defensive profile stand out, though scouts note his swing produces insufficient lift to translate his raw power into home run totals. If that changes in the second half, a significant ranking jump could follow.

Among the most notable movers is Boston Red Sox shortstop Franklin Arias, who climbs from 36th to sixth after posting improved exit velocity and lift rates while maintaining contact. Athletics shortstop Leo De Vries jumps to second after his profile helped pry All-Star closer Mason Miller from Oakland. Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Seth Hernandez rises from 49th to seventh after slider and fastball shape improvements unlocked his ceiling.

Notable graduates from the list include the previous top two prospects, Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle, along with Samuel Basallo, JJ Wetherholt, Bubba Chandler, Carson Benge, Andrew Painter, and Carson Williams, among others.

Seven players currently on active big league rosters remain eligible but could graduate within weeks.

Top-50 MLB Prospects

60FV
1. Jesus Made, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 3)
2. Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics (Previous: 11)
3. Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners (Previous: 6)
4. Max Clark, CF, Detroit Tigers (Previous: 8)
5. Sebastian Walcott, SS, Texas Rangers (Previous: 5)
6. Franklin Arias, SS, Boston Red Sox (Previous: 36)
7. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 49)
8. Eli Willits, SS, Washington Nationals (Previous: 41)
9. Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners (Previous: 16)
10. George Lombard Jr., SS, New York Yankees (Previous: 20)
11. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians (Previous: 23)
12. Walker Jenkins, CF, Minnesota Twins (Previous: 9)
13. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 14)
14. A.J. Ewing, CF, New York Mets (Previous: 28)
15. Rainiel Rodriguez, C, St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 19)
16. Aidan Miller, SS, Philadelphia Phillies (Previous: 10)
17. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Seattle Mariners (Previous: 24)

55 FV
18. Josue De Paula, LF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 21)
19. Josuar Gonzalez, SS, San Francisco Giants (Previous: 30)
20. Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres (Previous: 110)
21. Ryan Waldschmidt, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks (Previous: 63)
22. Thomas White, LHP, Miami Marlins (Previous: 18)
23. Alfredo Duno, C, Cincinnati Reds (Previous: 29)
24. Connor Prielipp, LHP, Minnesota Twins (Previous: 54)
25. Caleb Bonemer, 3B, Chicago White Sox (Previous: 34)
26. Luis Pena, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 26)
27. Ethan Holliday, SS, Colorado Rockies (Previous: 66)
28. Liam Doyle, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Previous: 50)
29. Tyler Bremner, RHP, Los Angeles Angels (Previous: 56)
30. Theo Gillen, CF, Tampa Bay Rays (Previous: 92)
31. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Cleveland Guardians (Previous: 33)
32. Jett Williams, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (Previous: 32)
33. JoJo Parker, SS, Toronto Blue Jays (Previous: 52)
34. Zyhir Hope, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 40)

50 FV
35. Cam Caminiti, LHP, Atlanta Braves (Previous: 53)
36. Jonah Tong, RHP, New York Mets (Previous: 31)
37. Noah Schultz, LHP, Chicago White Sox (Previous: 96)
38. Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Minnesota Twins (Previous: 79)
39. Angel Genao, SS, Cleveland Guardians (Previous: 80)
40. Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics (Previous: 42)
41. Jhonny Level, SS, San Francisco Giants (Previous: 84)
42. Emmanuel Rodriguez, CF, Minnesota Twins (Previous: 97)
43. Josh Hammond, SS, Kansas City Royals (Previous: 132)
44. Edward Florentino, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates (Previous: 78)
45. Eduardo Quintero, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 37)
46. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Boston Red Sox (Previous: NR)
47. Eduardo Tait, C, Minnesota Twins (Previous: 38)
48. Didier Fuentes, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Previous: 88)
49. River Ryan, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Previous: 125)
50. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Athletics (Previous: 60)

The San Francisco Giants promoted top hitting prospect Bryce Eldridge and catching prospect Jesus Rodriguez on Monday, overhauling their roster after a 13-21 start that has produced the least productive offense in Major League Baseball.

San Francisco ranks last in the majors in on-base percentage at .287 and 23rd in walks per nine innings. President of baseball operations Buster Posey made clear the promotions alone will not fix the situation.

"We're going to need our big three guys to lead us out of this funk and produce the way that we know that they can produce," Posey said, referring to Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers.

Eldridge, 21, was batting .333 with a .445 on-base percentage and six home runs at Triple-A Sacramento. Rodriguez was hitting .330 with a .400 on-base percentage and more walks than strikeouts. To clear roster spots, the Giants designated outfielder Jerar Encarnacion, optioned Will Brennan to Sacramento and placed left-hander Erik Miller on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain.

Manager Tony Vitello addressed the team after Sunday's loss and acknowledged his own approach needed adjustment.

"I've been a little too back on the heels and given a little bit too much freedom," Vitello said. "I think it's the opposite at this point."

Rodriguez's versatility at catcher, second base and the outfield strengthens a bench Vitello and Posey both described as underused. Two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey is hitting .152 and could face further roster consequences when rookie Daniel Susac returns from the injured list within the next two weeks.

Shohei Ohtani leads all qualified major league pitchers with a 0.60 ERA through five starts, yet the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani allowed two runs over six innings while throwing a career-high 104 pitches.

The mark is the fifth-lowest ERA by a Dodger through his first five starts of a season since earned runs became an official National League statistic in 1912. Only Fernando Valenzuela, Don Sutton, and Jesse Petty posted lower figures through five outings.

Ohtani struck out nine batters but tied season highs with five hits allowed and three walks. He also sat out of the lineup for the second time this season, as manager Dave Roberts managed his workload given the additional rest between starts.

"I don't think he felt completely in sync. There were a lot of misfires and bad misses," Roberts said. "But for him to still find a way to navigate six innings and give up two runs, we should win the game."

A wild pickoff attempt by Ohtani in the second inning allowed an unearned run to score. Miami added an earned run in the fifth on a two-out single by Kyle Stowers.

Los Angeles went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base against a Miami staff that threw just 112 pitches.

"I feel great physically. I think it's something to do with my mechanics," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.

The Los Angeles Dodgers established a new MLB spending record in 2025, combining $345.3 million in payroll and $169.4 million in luxury tax for a total of $514.7 million, surpassing the previous high of $430.4 million set by the 2024 New York Mets, according to final figures from the commissioner's office.

The record expenditure coincided with the Dodgers' second consecutive World Series championship. Los Angeles is projected to lead MLB again in 2026 with $487.1 million in combined spending.

The Dodgers' 2025 payroll was seven times the $68.7 million spent by the Miami Marlins and exceeded the combined payrolls of the six lowest-spending franchises. The ratio of the five highest spenders to the five lowest reached a record 4.7, up from 3.6 in 2021.

Los Angeles and the second-place Mets, who finished at $433.7 million, combined for $948.3 million in total spending.

Shohei Ohtani's deferred contract structure significantly discounted the Dodgers' figures. His $70 million 2025 salary counted at just $28.2 million because $68 million is deferred until 2035. Without seven such deferred arrangements, the Dodgers' total would have been roughly $71 million higher.

The Mets began 2026 with a record $358.4 million payroll, their fifth consecutive season of massive investment under owner Steve Cohen without a championship. New York spent $1.44 billion across those five seasons, including $320 million in luxury tax payments.

Eight clubs opened 2026 above the $244 million luxury tax threshold, led by the Dodgers at $415.2 million, the Mets at $379.2 million and the Yankees at $339.6 million. The Cleveland Guardians carry the lowest 2026 opening-day payroll at $75.5 million.

Total MLB spending rose 3.1% to $5.32 billion in 2025 and has climbed 31.3% since the current collective bargaining agreement took effect in 2022.

Shohei Ohtani struck out 10 batters across six innings Wednesday, touching 100 mph four consecutive times during a critical fifth-inning stretch as the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the New York Mets with an 8-2 victory.

Sitting out of the lineup for the first time since May 2021 on a pitching day, a precaution following a hit-by-pitch near his right shoulder, Ohtani channeled his full energy into his start and surrendered just one run, lowering his season ERA to 0.50 through three outings.

"I can't go full throttle the whole time," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "But considering where the game was at that point, I felt like I just really had to go full throttle."

The moment arrived in the fifth inning. After two walks set the table, MJ Melendez's ground-rule double snapped Ohtani's 32⅔-inning regular-season scoreless streak. His response was immediate. Tommy Pham saw back-to-back fastballs at 100.2 and 100.3 mph, striking out. Francisco Lindor then lined out on pitches of 100.1 and 100.4 mph to end the threat.

Ohtani generated 22 swings and misses, his most since 2023, with 13 coming off the fastball, a career high according to ESPN Research. He deployed his four-seamer 53.7% of the time, well above his seasonal average through two prior starts.

"It was actually really good to watch him just focus on one thing," manager Dave Roberts said. "Channeling all that energy into pitching was helpful. The last couple outings, I felt he was fighting himself a little bit at times. But tonight, he was really good."

Dalton Rushing, starting at designated hitter in Ohtani's lineup spot, capped the performance with a grand slam in the eighth inning.

"I think he's arguably one of the best now, when you give him that opportunity to solely worry about pitching," Rushing said. "Being able to separate the two sometimes, it's honestly better."

Major League Baseball's average salary climbed 3.4% to a record $5.34 million on Opening Day, according to an Associated Press study, with the New York Mets topping league payrolls for the fourth consecutive year at $352.2 million.

Mets outfielder Juan Soto remains the sport's highest-paid player for the second straight season at $61.9 million annually, placing him among the highest-compensated athletes across all major North American professional sports. New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger ranks second at $42.5 million, followed by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler and Mets third baseman Bo Bichette, who are tied at $42 million. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sits fifth at $40.2 million, just ahead of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge at $40 million.

Across sports, the top of the market is converging. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott carries an average annual value of approximately $60 million in the NFL, while Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry earns $59.6 million in the NBA this season, putting all three leagues within a narrow range at the very top of the pay scale.

The broader salary picture, however, differs considerably by sport. The NBA's average salary for roster players sits just under $14 million during the 2025-26 season, driven by smaller rosters that concentrate league revenue among fewer players. The NFL average was approximately $3.2 million in 2025, reflecting the league's significantly larger rosters. MLB's $5.34 million average falls between the two, though roster sizes in baseball and football are substantially larger than in basketball.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ranked second in MLB payroll at $316.6 million, down slightly from $319.5 million last year. Their figure would rise to $395.2 million without present-value discounting applied to deferred contracts for nine players.

MLB's average salary has grown 28 percent under the current five-year collective bargaining agreement, which expires in December, an average annual increase of 5.6%. Six clubs carried payrolls above $250 million, up from four a year ago, while eight teams fell below $100 million, an increase from five.

The Detroit Tigers posted the largest year-over-year spending increase at $64.2 million, reaching $206.7 million after signing pitcher Framber Valdez and giving a significant raise to ace Tarik Skubal through arbitration. The Minnesota Twins recorded the steepest decline, slashing $46.3 million from its Opening Day payroll to settle at $96.5 million.

The Cleveland Guardians were the MLB's lowest-spending team at $62.3 million, less than one-fifth of the Mets' total outlay.

Shohei Ohtani delivered a workmanlike performance in his second start of the season Wednesday but acknowledged afterward he was not at his best, underscoring the challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers face in managing the two-way star across a full 162-game schedule.

Ohtani went six innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing one unearned run while throwing a season-high 96 pitches. He recorded just two strikeouts, a career low, and struggled with command throughout. His ERA remains 0.00 through 12 innings despite the Dodgers dropping a 4-3 decision when the bullpen surrendered a late lead.

"I didn't feel that great," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, citing possible fatigue from the road trip and potential mechanical issues.

The Dodgers had restructured their rotation to build in seven days of rest between Ohtani's first two outings. Despite the added recovery time, the wear of travel appeared to be a factor. His fastball averaged 98.3 mph and touched 100.1 mph, suggesting no physical compromise, but his command was noticeably inconsistent.

"Pretty impressive, to be honest with you, given how he felt," manager Dave Roberts said.

The performance reinforced how little precedent exists for managing a pitcher-hitter of Ohtani's caliber across a full season. Los Angeles got its first real test run last summer, though Ohtani did not take the mound until June and did not pitch deep into games until late in the regular season.

"There's no exact science," Roberts said. "You're just going to watch."

Ohtani has been equally productive at the plate, slugging three home runs on the six-game road trip after expressing early-season concerns about his swing.

The Dodgers won five of six games on the trip, scoring 52 runs after managing just 23 over their first six games. Bottom-of-the-order hitters went 25-for-69 with nine extra-base hits during the stretch, posting a 1.003 OPS that leads the majors but is unlikely to hold at that level.

Mookie Betts' injury adds short-term uncertainty to the lineup construction, shifting Andy Pages up in the order and creating a shortstop platoon between Miguel Rojas and Hyeseong Kim.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. redefined his standing in baseball during the Toronto Blue Jays' 2025 World Series run, batting .397 with eight home runs across 18 postseason games. The Blue Jays fell in the Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7, but Guerrero's October performance permanently elevated his reputation throughout the sport.

Only Randy Arozarena, in 2020, hit more home runs than Guerrero in a single postseason. Guerrero finished with more home runs than strikeouts, eight to seven, and batted .419 in the playoffs overall.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described Guerrero's at-bats and dugout presence as uniquely compelling.

"I can't remember seeing a player on the other side where their desire to win was so palpable," Friedman said. "Watching his at-bats, watching him in the dugout, with his teammates, it felt so important to him."

Guerrero's transformation began before the playoffs. Battling through a difficult September, going homerless over his final 21 regular-season games and batted just .203 after Sept. 9, he made a deliberate mental adjustment during workouts at Rogers Centre.

"During the playoffs, I don't want to talk about hitting," he told interpreter and hitting mentor Hector Lebron. "Nothing about mechanics, nothing about adjustments. I'm just going to see the ball and hit it hard."

"When you have a lot of things on your mind, you start listening to a lot of people, and you can get in trouble," Guerrero recalled. "I told [Lebron]: 'Don't talk to me about nothing. Just let me play, and I'm going to do my thing.'"

The clarity produced immediate results as Guerrero hit a homer off Luis Gil in the first inning of Game 1 of the ALDS and never slowed. He went 9-for-17 with three home runs and nine RBIs as Toronto swept the New York Yankees in the division series.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who has known Guerrero since managing him in the minor leagues, observed a visible shift in his star's demeanor throughout the postseason.

"You could see a little different Vladimir," Schneyer said. "Just in the way he was moving, walking, talking. At that point, it was just solely focused on winning ... He was so laser focused — his preparation, his attention to detail ... It felt like with each round, he got a little bit more focused, and then a little bit more focused. And he did it on every side of the ball."

Guerrero's defensive contributions drew equal recognition. In Game 4 of the World Series, he tracked a wayward throw from shortstop Andres Gimenez, moved 7-8 feet toward second base, backhanded a short hop and fired an 87.6 mph strike to cut down a Dodgers baserunner at third. Fox analyst John Smoltz could only say, "Can I just say 'wow' about everything that happened right there?"

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts intentionally walked Guerrero in the third inning of Game 7, a decision that backfired when Bo Bichette followed with a three-run homer. Roberts later drew a direct comparison to a Boston legend.

"The emotion you saw from him was all sincere, genuine, and that was galvanizing for that ballclub — he reminds me of David Ortiz," Roberts said. "Obviously, he's a crazy talented player, but one of the things that the postseason brought out in him in the best possible way was him doing everything he could possibly do to win."

The postseason also marked a turning point in Guerrero's clubhouse presence. Before the deciding ALCS game, as Toronto's dugout fell silent, Guerrero spoke loudly enough for the entire team to hear.

"Hey, if anybody is nervous, then look at me," he said and kept saying it through the World Series.

Veteran outfielder George Springer, one of Guerrero's closest teammates, has long encouraged the slugger to use his voice more frequently.

"Probably the best six weeks of concentration, effort, attitude. That's who [Guerrero] is," Springer said. "He can do things that people can't do. I've said to him — I think he's just starting to scratch the surface of how good he's going to be."

Guerrero, son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., signed a $500 million contract last spring, one of the richest in baseball history. He does not consider himself a conventional leader.

"I just go and play and do my job at 100%," he said.

Lebron believes the mental breakthrough of last October will carry lasting consequences.

"He's mentally free now," Lebron said. "He knows what he can do in the World Series, he knows how he can make his teammates better. Nobody has seen the best in Vladdy yet."

Tony Vitello begins his tenure with the San Francisco Giants as the first person in professional baseball history to move directly from college head coach to major league manager. The experiment is one that Buster Posey, the Giants' president of baseball operations, describes as both calculated and deliberately energizing.

Vitello, 47, spent eight seasons at Tennessee, guiding the Volunteers to three College World Series appearances and a national title in 2024. He won more than 72% of his games in Knoxville. 

"If it works, it might cause everyone to revisit some things," Vitello said. "Sometimes you go through the motions and never think to ask why. We're trying to ask why."

Posey, seeking to reset a franchise culture that produced consecutive 81-81 seasons under Bob Melvin, was drawn to Vitello's raw intensity after a casual meeting at a Giants-Rockies game in Colorado last year.

"I just watched him and his teams and the way they played," Posey said. "It wasn't my style as a player. I was more of an internal psychopath than outwardly a psychopath. But I loved the energy."

Vitello arrives as a genuine unknown quantity at the professional level. He never played or coached professionally, never managed a player from a Latin country, and had not attended a spring training game before managing one on February 21. 

"It's like he's everywhere at once," said shortstop Willy Adames. "He's at the cages, and then you look around and he's at the backfield looking at guys taking ground balls. It's not something a lot of managers do."

His approach challenged convention from day one. Drills scheduled for 20 minutes ended in five when executed correctly. Video sessions broke down individual baserunning reads into their smallest components. Veterans took notice.

"I can't think of any other time in my career when we did that," said pitcher Robbie Ray, in his 13th season. "It creates a whole different energy."

Vitello is paid $3.5 million annually, which represents MLB's highest salary for a first-time manager,  after earning $3 million at Tennessee. The Giants also paid the university $3 million to buy out his contract.

His players describe one defining quality above all others.

"He's probably the most competitive person you've ever been around in your life," said outfielder Drew Gilbert, who played for Vitello at Tennessee. "He gets you in the mindset of taking the head off whoever you're playing against. That's his superpower."