Morning Rundown Weekly MiLB Preview: Last Full Week in July, with Looming Roster Shakeups from Draft and Trades

Always a chance of Promotions, but largest influx of roster movement upcoming

Photo Credit: WTM

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Indianapolis Indians: 56-39

Last Week: 1-2

Opponent: Toledo (Tigers)

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Quick Overview:

It’s not an exciting week for an opposing lineup with prospects. Still, the Indianapolis Indians have found themselves in a second-half title hunt, with their opponent, the Toledo Mud Hens, two games behind them. The caveat is that the 20-team International League only has one overall league champion each half. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp won the first half, and currently, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton team is on an eleven-game winning streak, 3.5 games ahead of Indianapolis.

Sixth-ranked Detroit Tigers’ prospect Hao-Yu Lee leads the charge in terms of ranking, but has slashed .220/.304/.366 in his last 10 games. He was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 for Michael Lorenzen. Tenth-ranked Troy Melton was mentioned here, but he’s being promoted to make his big league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

A few “Where Are They Now?” names include recently released Tanner Rainey, former MLB reliever Geoff Hartlieb, former prospect traded to the Tampa Bay Rays Matt Seelinger, and Bligh Madris, who was recently sent to Low-A for a rehab assignment.

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Opposing Prospects

• Hao-Yu Lee | 2B/3B | 6

• Dylan Smith (7-Day IL) | RHP | 18

• Tyler Owens | RHP | 27

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Altoona Curve: 43-46

Last Week: 2-1

Opponent: Chesapeake (Orioles)

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Quick Overview:

In Double-A, the Altoona Curve continues to hang on to a share of the Eastern League’s Southwest division lead. They’ll face the bottom of their division and are tied for the second-worst record in the EL, the Chesapeake Baysox, this week.

While the Baysox’s roster boasts nine of the Baltimore Orioles’ top 30 prospects, five of them have found themselves on the injured list. Two of those are Full Season, with one being former Pirates farmhand Patrick Reilly, who had Tommy John Surgery. Second overall prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. took part in the MLB Futures Game, but aggravated his hamstring in the game and landed on the IL.

The highest-ranked healthy prospect is University of Seattle product Nestor German. He was taken by the Orioles in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, and has made 11 appearances — 10 starts — for the Baysox this year after beginning with Aberdeen in High-A. He has a 4.50 ERA in 52.0 IP with 50 strikeouts to 19 walks. One of the better performing prospects is 2021 eighth-round selection Creed Willems, who has a 187 wRC+ in his last 10 games.

On the outskirts is unranked starter Blake Money. The giant — 6’7” and 240 lbs — former LSU starter was taken in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. So far, he has a 6.23 ERA in 21.2 Double-A IP after being promoted in the middle of June. His best start was the first time he faced Altoona on June 28th, striking out eight batters and allowing one earned run in five innings while walking no one.

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• Enrique Bradfield Jr. (7-Day IL) | OF | 2

• Patrick Reilly (Full Season IL) | RHP | 9

• Nestor German | RHP | 10

• Creed Willems | C/1B | 11

• Trey Gibson | RHP | 14

• Braxton Bragg (7-Day IL) | RHP | 15

• Juan Nunez (Full Season IL) | RHP | 20

• Trace Bright | RHP | 25

• Alex Pham (7-Day IL) | RHP | 29

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 62-27

Last Week: 2-1

Opponent: Brooklyn (Mets)

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Quick Overview:

Greensboro Grasshoppers are in uncharted waters this week, as they will actually face a divisional foe, the Brooklyn Cyclones. The Cyclones won the South Atlantic League’s North title by half a game over the Grasshoppers. Currently, Greensboro is still sitting on top of the North, with a 2.5-game lead over Hudson Valley. It would’ve been a little more exciting if these two affiliates faced off in the first half, as the New York Mets promoted a handful after they clinched the first half title (and subsequently beat down the Altoona Curve).

Even with all the promotions, the Cyclones bring an enticing prospect-laden roster. Jesus Baez started making a name for himself in 2024, with a .782 OPS in the Florida State League as a 19-year old, before moving up to High-A for an eight game stint. He began back in High-A for 2025, and has a .762 OPS through 65 games. He was hitting only .156 in his last 10 games, and hasn’t played since July 9th, so they may have been giving him a rest.

2024 third-round (82nd overall) selection Nate Dohm is an interesting name to keep an eye on. A forearm strain split his junior year at Texas A&M, but he showed enough promise in the SEC tournament and MLB Combine, after a 1.53 ERA in only 29.1 IP. With the Cyclones this year, he has a 2.87 ERA through 31.1 IP, striking out 41 and walking 13 hitters.

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• Jesus Baez | SS/3B | 7

• Boston Baro | INF | 12

• Marco Vargas | INF | 13

• Nate Dohm | RHP | 18

• Eli Serrano III | OF | 21

• Ronald Hernandez | C | 25

• A.J. Ewing | OF/2B | 26

• Will Watson | RHP | 29

• Colin Houck | SS/3B | 30

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Bradenton Marauders: 42-47

Last Week: 2-1

Opponent: Clearwater (Phillies)

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Quick Overview:

The Bradenton Marauders face off against Philadelphia Phillies affiliate Clearwater Threshers, who currently have the worst Florida State League record, by percentage. They have one more win than Dunedin, but also two more losses due to three more games played (it rains a lot in Florida).

2024 first-round selection (27th overall) Dante Nori has been heating up over his last 10 games. The 20-year-old prep outfielder is slashing .308/.386/.564 with a 159 wRC+ while hitting two homers and collecting four RBI. On the year, he has a .720 OPS in 82 games. For reference, the league-wide average OPS is .687 in the FSL.

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• Dante Nori | OF | 8

• John Spikerman | OF | 16

• TJayy Walton | OF | 21

• Alirio Ferrebus | C | 26

• Carter Mathison | OF | 27

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