Misc. Minor League Alumni News & Notes - 2026 Version

[Ro Mueller]

Old friends who’ve recently signed in the independent Frontier League:

- RHP Sam Gardner - Gateway Grizzlies
- RHP Aaron Rund - Washington Wild Things
- RHP Miles Langhorne - Sussex County Miners
- RHP Tanner Shears - Schaumburg Boomers

[Ro Mueller]

Some excitement about Yophery Rodriguez’s 2026 start: Trending Up

[Ro Mueller]

Jacob Barnes (Brewers’ org 2011-2019 and in MLB 2016-2025) heads to Mexico: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

As was originally featured in the "as games happen" thread here on Thursday 5/7:

LHP Nate Peterson, grabbed in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft by Cincinnati, gets the start for Louisville in the Nashville twinbill. It'll be his first AAA appearance of 2026, after five outings (four starts) at AA, stats at the linked name above.

***

As for the others lost in Rule 5 last December -

UT Zavier Warren, Cincinnati - toiling in the AA Southern League for a 5th season

LHP Caden Vire, Boston - 60-day IL, yet to debut

OF Hedbert Perez, Toronto - 7-day IL, yet to debut

OF Garrett Spain, Minnesota - enjoying the high-powered AA Texas League, .955 OPS, 14 of 24 hits for extra bases

RHP Hansel Rincon, New York Yankees - Nine relief appearances at High-A, 7.20 ERA, 2.00 WHIP

[Jim Goulart]

Checking in on the players who became minor league free agents at the end of the 2025 season who found work with a new affiliated organization in 2026 (or in Daz Cameron's case, the KBO in Korea):

Alphabetically listed -

OF Drew Avans - AAA with the Rockies, only a .642 OPS in a high-offense environment

RHP Alexander Cornielle - Yet to debut for the Yankees at AAA (60-day IL)

OF Daz Cameron - 20 of 38 knocks are for XBH's overseas

INF Raynel Delgado - Struggling with a .603 OPS at AAA for the Rays

INF Oliver Dunn - Enjoying his stint in Charlotte's ballpark (White Sox), .882 OPS

RHP Travis MacGregor - Yet to debut at AAA for the Yankees, 60-day IL

1B Ernesto Martinez - Slugging .505 at AAA for the Yankees

RHP Abdiel Mendoza - Five relief appearances at the AA level for the Mariners

OF Jared Oliva - Appeared in just seven big-league games with SF before being sidelined by hamate surgery

RHP Zach Peek - Ten relief appearances at the AA level for the Mets

RHP Austin Roberts - Ten relief appearances at the AA level for the Rangers

INF Luis Urias - Currently rehabbing an injury at the rookie ball level for the Diamondbacks

RHP Justin Yeager - Struggling with a 7.71 ERA and 1.93 WHIP after 11 AAA relief appearances for the Padres

[Ro Mueller]

3 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

OF Garrett Spain, Minnesota - enjoying the high-powered AA Texas League, .955 OPS, 14 of 24 hits for extra bases

 

[Ro Mueller]

I forgot that we traded Mendez and Moore for Dunn. Whoops.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Old friend Keston Hiura is headed to Korea: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

On 4/26/2026 at 6:49 AM, Ro Mueller said:

Old friends who’ve recently signed in the independent Frontier League:

- RHP Sam Gardner - Gateway Grizzlies
- RHP Aaron Rund - Washington Wild Things
- RHP Miles Langhorne - Sussex County Miners
- RHP Tanner Shears - Schaumburg Boomers

Well, I came here to post the Hiura news but Daniel in true fashion (the stalwart Beat man he is!) beat me to it. SO, instead I came to check in our old stalwart from the Shuckers bullpen in RHP Sam Gardner. Those Frontier League stats are challenging to come by BUT it does appear to my eyes that Gardner has hit the ground running and continues to do what he does. I see 3 2/3 IP, 3 SV, 11 K. That's right. Every out a K. Reads like he's back in the Aussie League. Can someone please give this stud another affiliated opportunity? He's way too good to be slinging it in the Frontier League (unless, of course, that's his personal choice). Old friend (I weep!) RHP Tanner Shears has also struck out all six batters he's faced. Man alive, these were two diamonds in the rough beleaguered by truly unfortunate injuries. Really hoping they can find that once shutdown form at higher levels.