This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (65-81, 24 games back)
The Storm Chasers ended their 2026 season by losing 4 of 5 to the Iowa Cubs, with a game being rained out. On the mound, Lucas Braun pitched 5 innings of 2 run ball, allowing 4 hits, walking one and striking out 8. Henry Williams went 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, striking out 6.
Connor Seabold, who is on rehab assignment, threw 2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk, but striking out 4 batters. James McArthur, Easton McGee, Hunter Patteson, Spencer Bivens, Carlos Duran, Mason Black and Scott Alexander all worked scoreless outings throughout the week. Tony Gonsolin in his last rehab start, went 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, striking out 3. John Means, in his last rehab start went 4.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, walking one and striking out 3.
At the plate, Jacob Berry went 4 for 14, with three homers and 6 runs batted in. Carson Roccaforte went 4 for 18, with a double and 2 more stolen bases. Javier Vaz went 4 for 13, with 3 stolen bases. Overall, a tough week at the plate for the Storm Chasers with nobody having good overall numbers.
Quad Cities River Bandits
The River Bandits did it!! They are the 2026 Midwest League Champions! In last week’s, TWITM, I recapped the first three games of their postseason journey, and then they went out and won the next game, going a perfect 4-0 in the playoffs, sweeping their two Best of 3 series.
In the clinching game, the Bandits won 2-1. David Shields went 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, no runs, striking out 7. Dash Albus got the 7th, in a scoreless game, he did surrender the go-ahead run on an RBI double. But in the top of the 8th, with 2-out and the tying run on third, catcher Blake Mitchell crushed a 2-1 pitch for a long, go-ahead 2 run shot, to put the Bandits up 2-1. Yimi Presinal got the 8th, striking out two in the inning. L.P. Langevin came in for the save and struck out all three batters he faced to clinch it.
I can’t keep saying it enough, congrats to the River Bandits!
Yesterday, the Royals announced their 2026 organizational minor league award winners. Max, wrote a great article about it, so I’m going to link it right here, so you can go read it.
As for this week in the minors, starting next week, I’ll be recapping the 4 teams over the next 4 weeks. Each team will get their own article, I’ll talk about the good and bad, who performed well and who didn’t and I’ll predict where some players start next season. Thanks for being along on the journey with me!
