Sam Dykstra

@samdykstramilb.bsky.social

Reporter, MLB Pipeline. MLB Network contributor. Sam.Dykstra@MLB.com. No, I'm not related. He/him.

Guardians prospect Ralphy Velazquez's ninth Triple-A homer of the season got out in a hurry. 102.1 mph, 354 feet; came off Mets prospect Jonah Tong who allowed five homers in five innings this afternoon

At 21 years and 63 days, George Lombard Jr. is the third-youngest player in Yankees history to homer in his MLB debut, older than only: 9/1/23 Jasson Dominguez 20y 206d 5/17/69 John Ellis 20y 269d

As trade activity picks up across baseball, I'm hearing that every notable prospect above the Dominican Summer League is being held out of the lineup today. Because it's a Monday, and Monday is a scheduled day off across the full-season Minor Leagues.

Going into Trade Deadline day, these are the clubs that currently sit in a playoff spot or are within 3 games of one: Rays White Sox Astros Yankees Red Sox Guardians Twins Rangers Mariners Orioles Tigers Brewers Dodgers Braves Cubs D-backs Phillies Padres Marlins 19 of 30

Blue Jays-Cubs trade: Toronto willing to overlook 20/30 power grades on Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman. Southisene making modest improvements in GB rate this year, but only 6 of his 56 High-A hits have gone for extra bases. Helps that he’s moved over to SS this summer and can swipe bags too.

Nationals-Yankees trade: Pretty clear the Nationals are big in on their hitting development core and know they need a ton of pitching help. Four arms in one deal. Cebert is a fun popup name who’s taken to starting in pro ball. Three fastballs, good whiffs on a seeping slider, works in a CB.

Thoughts on Freddy Peralta return: Gap between Aidan Smith’s floor and ceiling is large. Rays loved his defensive improvements in CF, and the raw power is there. But at 21yo, he’s looking at second straight year with a >30 K% at High-A. A project for the Mets.

Now that I've done rankings and blurb updates and slept on it: I thought there was a chance the Tarik Skubal return would blow me away. Instead, I'm generally nodding at it. That doesn't mean Detroit got less than it should have. Two T70 prospects and a up-arrow arm for a two-month rental, fine.