Welcome to the wind-down time in the minors. Tuesday night’s action likely ended with players from both Worcester and Portland watching the late-night debut of their teammate from earlier in the year. Yes, Connelly Early is now one of the several prospects who has knocked on the door down to the Major Leagues within 12 months of playing in Portland. In fact, his first start in Triple-A Worcester came just 37 days ago, and he lasted just 3 2/3 innings. But, in the very next start, the same confidence
Early showed in Portland throughout 2025 shone through in a seven-inning performance. And, at 10:05 PM on a Tuesday night in Sacramento, Early struck out 11 guys in five innings. What comes of this is up to chance, at least to us viewers, and the same can be said for today’s Payton Tolle afternoon matchup. But, it doesn’t negate the good feeling of watching prospects deal, get called up promptly, and look good. Which, reminds me, there were two minor league games played Tuesday night, so let’s get into it.
Worcester: L, 2-3 (BOX SCORE)
With so many recent promotions, MLB veteran Jose De Leon still holds a rotation spot in Worcester, but he has yet to enjoy a decision win on the season. Although he gave up just five hits and struck seven out in his five innings of work, two of those five hits were home runs, and the last of the scoring in this contest came with the second home run, making this a 3-2 game. The WooSox’s best chance to put some damage on the board came from two consecutive hits to open the inning up in the top of the third, when Seby Zavala’s triple drove in Corey Rosier, but they wouldn’t get much more. The Mets would tiptoe to a victory despite from very solid bullpen work the rest of the way.
Portland: L, 0-1 (BOX SCORE)
With most of the exciting bats in the system having been promoted, dealt, or just recently drafted into the organization, Portland’s lineup looks barren save for Franklin Arias and Miguel Bleis. The former, who now has a six-game hit streak since his promotion (and eight games total), notched one of the Sea Dogs’ two hits, a double to lead off the game. It was not taken advantage of, nor was Marvin Alcantara’s ground ball single to start the fourth. The Sea Dogs, who had held their own behind Eduardo Rivera’s best start of the year, allowing just two base runners and striking out seven in his six innings, could not keep a run off the plate for the ninth and the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) walked it off into the night.
You may not see the offense get inspired too much more on this last week of the season, either: a bunch of minor league players moved squads to finish 2025 off, but most were pitchers. Noah Dean, Michael Sansone, Danny Kirwin, and infielder Justin Reimer were given the bump, and in off-setting moves, Adam Smith (a promotion himself) and Ronaldo Hernandez were shut down. Noah Song replaces Early on Worcester’s roster; joining him is Jack Anderson, who got shelled in his only earlier appearance in Triple-A. Song’s promotion is a feel good story across the board, though, so it’s that type of thing that the last few weeks are about, aside from gving guys eligible for the Rule 5 in the winter getting one last shot to raise their value.
Have a great Wednesday!
