Anteater Pro Baseball Report
July 17, 2026 | Baseball
IRVINE, Calif. --- Midway through the 2026 season and the professional Anteater count is up to 26 including five touching the Major Leagues, 14 others within an MLB organization, six other in independent ball, and the first Anteater to step to the plate in South Korea.
Andre Pallante - St. Louis Cardinals | Pallante has settled in to his third year in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and year eight of professional baseball. He eclipsed 10 wins before the All-Star break which is a career high, and 72 strikeouts and a 3.96 ERA over 18 starts and 100 innings. He's thrown a few gems with six quality starts including seven innings and six strikeouts vs. the Padres
Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins | Faucher is answering the call in his 10th year of pro ball, fifth on the MLB level, and third year entrenched in their bullpen. After leading the club with 15 saves in 2025, he's taken on more of a setup role with just one save and 11 holds in 40 appearances while posting a 4-4 record, 4.31 ERA, and 40 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. He's approaching his 200th career game while just hitting 200 innings and 200 strikeouts to go with a career 13-15 record and 23 saves.
Christian Koss - San Francisco Giants / Sacramento River Cats | Christian's 2026 season has been quiet but only because he's made it into 12 big-league games and earning 19 at-bats. He's made two more pitching appearances going all the way until his sixth big-league outing before finally giving up a run. Koss was briefly sent down to Triple-A Sacramento where he homered and had four hits in three games before returning to the Majors continuing to wait for his next opportunity
Nathan Church - St. Louis Cardinals | Church is thriving in his first full Major League season and an everyday player in left and center field. He missed a little time in the middle of the first half with injury, but has been up to the task outside of that with 18 extra-base hits, eight home runs, 28 RBIs, and 30 runs scored for the Cardinals
Taylor Rashi - St. Paul Saints / Arizona Diamondbacks / Reno Aces | Rashi had a cup of coffee with the big-league Diamondbacks this year pitching in three games and earning his first win in one. He quickly returned to Triple-A Reno where he was 1-0 with a 1.03 ERA in 17 games along with a save before the Twins scooped him up off waivers and he's added two more saves, a win, and 17 strikeouts in 11 innings for Triple-A St. Paul
Troy Taylor - Tacoma Rainiers | Taylor has been chugging along in Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle Mariners system entering 34 games in relief picking up three saves and 42 strikeouts in 32.2 innings with a 4.96 ERA
Keston Hiura - Kiwoom Heroes | The former top-10 pick in the draft has seen his pro career take a left turn. Entering 2026, he went into spring training with his hometown Dodgers, but that was short-lived and he was back on the free agent market. In May, he heard his name called overseas by the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization. He's played 34 games there for the Heroes who are in last place of the 10-team league with Hiura hitting .250 with six home runs, 20 RBIs, and playing strictly as a left fielder.
Trenton Denholm - Columbus Clippers | Denholm made the most of his Arizona Fall League appearances last October with a 2.13 ERA over five outings that lasted 12.2 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Back with the Guardians organization in 2026, he's gone all the way with Triple-A Columbus making 18 appearances, nine as a starter, for an 8-3 record and one save. His 78 strikeouts over 77 innings have included three quality starts and potentially his best outing of the year in relief when he allowed two hits and no runs over four innings with nine strikeouts
Caden Kendle - Wichita Wind Surge / Cedar Rapids Kernels | In his third year in the Minnesota Twins organization, Kendle just recently rose to Double-A Wichita where he's hitting at a .526 clip six games in with a home run. Prior to the call-up, he played 32 games at High-A Cedar Rapids and dealt with a wrist fracture that cost him some time, but managed a .288 average with five home runs and 24 RBIs
Andrew Thurman - San Antonio Missions / El Paso Chihuahuas | Taking the long and winding road back is the 2013 draft pick Andrew Thurman. After seven years away from professional baseball, Thurman caught on with Southern Maryland of the Atlantic League in 2025 and went 7-2 with a 4.94 ERA striking out 128 over 125.2 innings and 25 starts. That was enough to catch the attention of an MLB organization and he signed with the Padres in the offseason who zipped him right to Double-A San Antonio. He's appeared in 22 games with three starts going 1-4 so far striking out 39 in 44 innings with an ERA of five-and-a-half. He got a one-game promotion to Triple-A El Paso throwing 1.1 innings and is currently back in San Antonio keeping the dream alive at age 34.
Woody Hadeen - West Michigan Whitecaps | Woody had to work through some injuries early in the season, but is hitting his stride in High-A West Michigan as part of the Tigers organization. He's hitting .291 over 40 games that's including 21 RBIs and 8 for 9 in steals as a middle infielder
Dub Gleed - New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dub's career shifted in the offseason when he was traded to the Blue Jays organization. He began 2026 with High-A Vancouver hitting .269 with eight home runs over 46 games before elevating to Double-A New Hampshire where he's added two more home runs as a corner infielder in 23 games
Nick Pinto - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | Pintos has been out since needing Tommy John surgery early last season, but just last week he returned to the mound in rookie ball throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts on the comeback trail
Chase Call - Corpus Christi Hooks / Asheville Tourists | Chase just recently got the bump up to Double-A Corpus Christi as he's pounded 15 home runs with 51 RBIs over 67 games at High-A Asheville for the Houston Astros organization to go with 18 steals and playing primarily as a corner outfielder
Colin Yeaman - Frederick Keys | Yeaman stepped up to High-A Frederick for 2026 as an Orioles farmhand. He clubbed his first pro home run this year and added 22 RBIs in 69 games
Jacob McCombs - Cedar Rapids Kernels | McCombs has gone all of 2026 in High-A Cedar Rapids as a teammate of Caden Kendle's for a while. He's seen time at all three outfield spots collecting eight outfield assists in 43 games, and with the bat is hitting .275 with four triples, four home runs, and 28 RBIs.
Anthony Martinez - Lake County Captains / Hill City Howlers | Martinez just got the call to High-A Lake County last week and his first home run with them shortly after joining now with nine games under his belt. That's to go with eight home runs in 44 games at Single-A Hill City in the Guardians organization with the average hovering around .285 at both stops
Max Martin - Columbia Fireflies / Quad Cities River Bandits | The hard-throwing reliever started the season in Single-A Columbia going 2-1 with a save and 2.57 ERA over 14 games before returning to High-A Quad Cities and tossing a sporty 1.40 ERA with a save and four wins. Overall, he's made 26 appearances for 40.1 innings with 36 strikeouts as a member of the Royals organization this year
Jo Oyama - Everett Aquasox / Inland Empire 66ers / ACL Mariners | Oyama's odyssey continues on back with the Seattle Mariners organization for a second year. He's played in 28 games across three affiliates hitting a combined .224. He just had a monster game in High-A Everett with two triples and two RBIs in just his second game with the club. His season started with a dreadful 1-for-22 clip at Single-A Inland Empire before hitting his stride in rookie ball batting .300 with six extra-base hits in 15 games.
Riley Kelly - Fresno Grizzlies | Kelly got his first taste of competitive action a little into 2026 having played only rookie ball for the Colorado Rockies system. He's made 12 starts at Single-A Fresno going 1-3 with 69 strikeouts in 56 innings, but is coming off his best pro outing with eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings where he allowed one unearned run.
Brandon Lewis - Jersey Shore Blue Claws | Lewis has hung with it now in year eight of pro ball and grinding out 18 months on the independent circuit where he was leading the Atlantic League with 19 home runs before getting the call from the Philadelphia Phillies. He quickly hit four home runs as a member of their High-A Jersey Shore affiliate as the corner infielder looks to climb back up the ranks with his second pro organization
Myles Smith - Ottawa Titans | Smith is back in the game playing independent ball for the Ottawa Titans of the Fronter League. He recently had a stellar week to lift to a .276 average in 43 games with four home runs and 30 RBIs with some home run robberies to add to it
Dillon Tatum - Sioux City Explorers | Tatum is into year six of pro ball and year two in independent leagues now part of Sioux City of the American Association. He's hit three home runs with 18 RBIs for the squad through 41 games played
Thomas McCaffrey - Long Beach Coast | The platoon catcher is back for year three of independent ball and first with the newly-formed Long Beach Coast. In 15 games, he's hitting .393 with seven home runs for the club at the top of the Pioneer League in 2026
Ricky Tibbett - Long Beach Coast | Tibbett is alongside McCaffrey with the coast and sporting a 3-0 record in 11 relief appearances striking out 13 in 13.1 innings
Will Bermudez - Missoula Paddleheads | Bermudez bounced around in the offseason before landing in independent ball with the Missoula Paddleheads of the Pioneer League. The sparkplug has played in 45 games in his normal spots up the middle along with time in the outfield and first base. He hasn't lost a step hitting .328 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs
Blake Penso - Complex League Rockies
Andre Pallante - St. Louis Cardinals | Pallante has settled in to his third year in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and year eight of professional baseball. He eclipsed 10 wins before the All-Star break which is a career high, and 72 strikeouts and a 3.96 ERA over 18 starts and 100 innings. He's thrown a few gems with six quality starts including seven innings and six strikeouts vs. the Padres
Andre Pallante, Dirty 87mph Slider...and Sword. ?? pic.twitter.com/hjRAhHU2Xc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 4, 2026
Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins | Faucher is answering the call in his 10th year of pro ball, fifth on the MLB level, and third year entrenched in their bullpen. After leading the club with 15 saves in 2025, he's taken on more of a setup role with just one save and 11 holds in 40 appearances while posting a 4-4 record, 4.31 ERA, and 40 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. He's approaching his 200th career game while just hitting 200 innings and 200 strikeouts to go with a career 13-15 record and 23 saves.
Christian Koss - San Francisco Giants / Sacramento River Cats | Christian's 2026 season has been quiet but only because he's made it into 12 big-league games and earning 19 at-bats. He's made two more pitching appearances going all the way until his sixth big-league outing before finally giving up a run. Koss was briefly sent down to Triple-A Sacramento where he homered and had four hits in three games before returning to the Majors continuing to wait for his next opportunity
KOSS CANNONBALL ??
— Sacramento River Cats (@RiverCats) May 22, 2026
Christian Koss knocks one out during just his second at bat as a River Cat this season pic.twitter.com/5NCGtTW0as
Nathan Church - St. Louis Cardinals | Church is thriving in his first full Major League season and an everyday player in left and center field. He missed a little time in the middle of the first half with injury, but has been up to the task outside of that with 18 extra-base hits, eight home runs, 28 RBIs, and 30 runs scored for the Cardinals
TAKE ME TO CHURCH ?? pic.twitter.com/sllEi6lwmd
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 3, 2026
Taylor Rashi - St. Paul Saints / Arizona Diamondbacks / Reno Aces | Rashi had a cup of coffee with the big-league Diamondbacks this year pitching in three games and earning his first win in one. He quickly returned to Triple-A Reno where he was 1-0 with a 1.03 ERA in 17 games along with a save before the Twins scooped him up off waivers and he's added two more saves, a win, and 17 strikeouts in 11 innings for Triple-A St. Paul
Bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 8th and Taylor Rashi blows one by Ben Cowles to preserve the five run lead. pic.twitter.com/XfjmIWE8mt
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) July 8, 2026
Troy Taylor - Tacoma Rainiers | Taylor has been chugging along in Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle Mariners system entering 34 games in relief picking up three saves and 42 strikeouts in 32.2 innings with a 4.96 ERA
Troy Taylor strikes out 2 in a scoreless top of the 9th. pic.twitter.com/R1YKbZRlSN
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 5, 2026
Keston Hiura - Kiwoom Heroes | The former top-10 pick in the draft has seen his pro career take a left turn. Entering 2026, he went into spring training with his hometown Dodgers, but that was short-lived and he was back on the free agent market. In May, he heard his name called overseas by the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization. He's played 34 games there for the Heroes who are in last place of the 10-team league with Hiura hitting .250 with six home runs, 20 RBIs, and playing strictly as a left fielder.
??? ?? ? ??? ?? ?????????????????? pic.twitter.com/fZouYm8fdP
— ?? (@stove_tteugeowo) June 2, 2026
Trenton Denholm - Columbus Clippers | Denholm made the most of his Arizona Fall League appearances last October with a 2.13 ERA over five outings that lasted 12.2 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Back with the Guardians organization in 2026, he's gone all the way with Triple-A Columbus making 18 appearances, nine as a starter, for an 8-3 record and one save. His 78 strikeouts over 77 innings have included three quality starts and potentially his best outing of the year in relief when he allowed two hits and no runs over four innings with nine strikeouts
Cleveland #Guardians 26yr old RHP prospect Trenton Denholm struckout eight Louisville batters Wednesday night allowing three runs over six innings of work for Columbus.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 2, 2026
Line - 6.0(IP) 6H 3R 3ER 0BB 8SO
(80 Pitches 57 Strikes)
Last 10 outings:
- 38.1(IP) 36H 10ER 5BB 43SO… pic.twitter.com/2rMnrsCQ5k
Caden Kendle - Wichita Wind Surge / Cedar Rapids Kernels | In his third year in the Minnesota Twins organization, Kendle just recently rose to Double-A Wichita where he's hitting at a .526 clip six games in with a home run. Prior to the call-up, he played 32 games at High-A Cedar Rapids and dealt with a wrist fracture that cost him some time, but managed a .288 average with five home runs and 24 RBIs
Caden Kendle puts the Kernels on top early with a solo shot in the top of the 2nd! ????#crkernels #gokerns pic.twitter.com/V2wZTeFte2
— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) June 27, 2026
Andrew Thurman - San Antonio Missions / El Paso Chihuahuas | Taking the long and winding road back is the 2013 draft pick Andrew Thurman. After seven years away from professional baseball, Thurman caught on with Southern Maryland of the Atlantic League in 2025 and went 7-2 with a 4.94 ERA striking out 128 over 125.2 innings and 25 starts. That was enough to catch the attention of an MLB organization and he signed with the Padres in the offseason who zipped him right to Double-A San Antonio. He's appeared in 22 games with three starts going 1-4 so far striking out 39 in 44 innings with an ERA of five-and-a-half. He got a one-game promotion to Triple-A El Paso throwing 1.1 innings and is currently back in San Antonio keeping the dream alive at age 34.
Tonight's @FrostBank Player of the Game is RHP Andrew Thurman! ?? pic.twitter.com/nJuQjObBwi
— San Antonio Missions Baseball (@missionsmilb) July 4, 2026
Woody Hadeen - West Michigan Whitecaps | Woody had to work through some injuries early in the season, but is hitting his stride in High-A West Michigan as part of the Tigers organization. He's hitting .291 over 40 games that's including 21 RBIs and 8 for 9 in steals as a middle infielder
Woody Hadeen with a sharp line single to right. Left his bat at 102. pic.twitter.com/EINVzdRYbx
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 30, 2026
Dub Gleed - New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dub's career shifted in the offseason when he was traded to the Blue Jays organization. He began 2026 with High-A Vancouver hitting .269 with eight home runs over 46 games before elevating to Double-A New Hampshire where he's added two more home runs as a corner infielder in 23 games
Dub Gleed 3-run home run.
— Blue Jays Player Development (@JaysPlayerDev) May 23, 2026
His 4th of the year makes it 9-0 C's.#BlueJays #BlueJays50 @vancanadians pic.twitter.com/ZioBO8xs3K
Nick Pinto - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | Pintos has been out since needing Tommy John surgery early last season, but just last week he returned to the mound in rookie ball throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts on the comeback trail
Chase Call - Corpus Christi Hooks / Asheville Tourists | Chase just recently got the bump up to Double-A Corpus Christi as he's pounded 15 home runs with 51 RBIs over 67 games at High-A Asheville for the Houston Astros organization to go with 18 steals and playing primarily as a corner outfielder
Back to back for the boys!
— Asheville Tourists (@GoTourists) July 11, 2026
A home run for the Tourists… and a home run for home safety, powered by Enbridge Gas! pic.twitter.com/QxMltsP7Rh
Colin Yeaman - Frederick Keys | Yeaman stepped up to High-A Frederick for 2026 as an Orioles farmhand. He clubbed his first pro home run this year and added 22 RBIs in 69 games
M8/ Colin Yeaman delivers in the eighth!
— Frederick Keys (@FrederickKeys) May 31, 2026
His bases-clearing three-RBI double makes it 3-0 Keys!
??: 3
??: 0#Birdland pic.twitter.com/qAtMtbB6BJ
Jacob McCombs - Cedar Rapids Kernels | McCombs has gone all of 2026 in High-A Cedar Rapids as a teammate of Caden Kendle's for a while. He's seen time at all three outfield spots collecting eight outfield assists in 43 games, and with the bat is hitting .275 with four triples, four home runs, and 28 RBIs.
Jacob McCombs ties the game with a 3 run bomb! ???? #crkernels #gokerns #onlyincr pic.twitter.com/QkNRCjO5xg
— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) June 19, 2026
Anthony Martinez - Lake County Captains / Hill City Howlers | Martinez just got the call to High-A Lake County last week and his first home run with them shortly after joining now with nine games under his belt. That's to go with eight home runs in 44 games at Single-A Hill City in the Guardians organization with the average hovering around .285 at both stops
THE FIRST CAPTAINS TONY TANK! ??
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) July 4, 2026
Anthony Martinez ties the game with his first career High-A home run! ?? pic.twitter.com/yHGA3jmJ4K
Max Martin - Columbia Fireflies / Quad Cities River Bandits | The hard-throwing reliever started the season in Single-A Columbia going 2-1 with a save and 2.57 ERA over 14 games before returning to High-A Quad Cities and tossing a sporty 1.40 ERA with a save and four wins. Overall, he's made 26 appearances for 40.1 innings with 36 strikeouts as a member of the Royals organization this year
Some big arms on the move!
— Raising Royals (@KCRoyalsPD) May 25, 2026
Congrats on the promotions, Luis, Max and Jordan! #RaisingRoyals?? pic.twitter.com/CH6IpK38Lf
Jo Oyama - Everett Aquasox / Inland Empire 66ers / ACL Mariners | Oyama's odyssey continues on back with the Seattle Mariners organization for a second year. He's played in 28 games across three affiliates hitting a combined .224. He just had a monster game in High-A Everett with two triples and two RBIs in just his second game with the club. His season started with a dreadful 1-for-22 clip at Single-A Inland Empire before hitting his stride in rookie ball batting .300 with six extra-base hits in 15 games.
Wow! 2 at-bats & 2 triples for Jo Oyama! pic.twitter.com/njB3MDQjPg
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 12, 2026
Riley Kelly - Fresno Grizzlies | Kelly got his first taste of competitive action a little into 2026 having played only rookie ball for the Colorado Rockies system. He's made 12 starts at Single-A Fresno going 1-3 with 69 strikeouts in 56 innings, but is coming off his best pro outing with eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings where he allowed one unearned run.
Riley Kelly ends his longest professional outing by matching his career high with 8 K's.
— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) July 12, 2026
Game tied at 1 heading into the 8th, tune in on @790ESPN pic.twitter.com/LErqJH14oa
Brandon Lewis - Jersey Shore Blue Claws | Lewis has hung with it now in year eight of pro ball and grinding out 18 months on the independent circuit where he was leading the Atlantic League with 19 home runs before getting the call from the Philadelphia Phillies. He quickly hit four home runs as a member of their High-A Jersey Shore affiliate as the corner infielder looks to climb back up the ranks with his second pro organization
And Brandon Lewis, his 3rd with the Claws, all this week! https://t.co/lFXRYZyVPp pic.twitter.com/KL5iKkWPay
— Jersey Shore BlueClaws (@BlueClaws) July 12, 2026
Myles Smith - Ottawa Titans | Smith is back in the game playing independent ball for the Ottawa Titans of the Fronter League. He recently had a stellar week to lift to a .276 average in 43 games with four home runs and 30 RBIs with some home run robberies to add to it
Dillon Tatum - Sioux City Explorers | Tatum is into year six of pro ball and year two in independent leagues now part of Sioux City of the American Association. He's hit three home runs with 18 RBIs for the squad through 41 games played
Thomas McCaffrey - Long Beach Coast | The platoon catcher is back for year three of independent ball and first with the newly-formed Long Beach Coast. In 15 games, he's hitting .393 with seven home runs for the club at the top of the Pioneer League in 2026
We're tied at 1-1. Thomas McCaffrey with a big hit to center for the first Coast homer at Blair! pic.twitter.com/7jHVgfUxUx
— Cristian Vasquez (@cristianjv_) June 3, 2026
Ricky Tibbett - Long Beach Coast | Tibbett is alongside McCaffrey with the coast and sporting a 3-0 record in 11 relief appearances striking out 13 in 13.1 innings
Will Bermudez - Missoula Paddleheads | Bermudez bounced around in the offseason before landing in independent ball with the Missoula Paddleheads of the Pioneer League. The sparkplug has played in 45 games in his normal spots up the middle along with time in the outfield and first base. He hasn't lost a step hitting .328 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs
Bermudez puts this ball on the tracks!
— Missoula PaddleHeads (@GoPaddleHeads) July 4, 2026
Heads take a one nothing lead pic.twitter.com/tdAHgqwr5P
Blake Penso - Complex League Rockies
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