The Opener: Wooden, Guerrero, Brewers

Because the calendar flips to July, listed below are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day right now:

1. Wooden to debut:

One of many recreation’s best possible prospects will make his large league debut right now. Twenty-one-year-old outfielder James Wood had his contract selected this morning and can be within the lineup at Nationals Park tonight in opposition to the visiting Mets. Acquired from the Padres within the Juan Soto commerce again in 2022 as a part of a bundle that additionally included breakout star CJ Abrams and lefty MacKenzie Gore (the latter of whom will, coincidentally, take the ball for the membership tonight reverse New York’s David Peterson), Wooden is a consensus top-five prospect in all of baseball now.

Wooden has shot via the minor leagues since becoming a member of the Nationals and took Triple-A by storm this 12 months with an eye-popping .353/.463/.595 throughout 52 video games in his first style of motion on the stage. The budding star figures to fit immediately into the common outfield combine in Washington, the place the membership is presently counting on Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas within the corners alongside Jacob Young in middle subject.

2. Guerrero coping with soreness after HBP:

Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. suffered a scary incident yesterday when he was struck within the hand by a pitch from Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole. X-rays after the sport have been adverse, based on Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, who added that the slugger famous two of the fingers on his hand have been nonetheless “fairly sore” following the sport. Guerrero doesn’t intend to let soreness cease him from returning to the lineup for right now’s recreation in opposition to the Astros. He advised Davidi that there’s a “90 p.c” probability that he’ll be again within the lineup right now, though he did acknowledge the chance that in a single day swelling may change these plans.

The Blue Jays are desperately attempting to climb again into playoff competition after falling 7.5 video games out of the ultimate AL Wild Card spot with a 38-45 document. Guerrero figures to be an enormous a part of any successful streak the membership manages to tug off, as his .297/.375/.471 slash line not solely leads the staff however stands out as his finest season since ending second to Shohei Ohtani in AL MVP voting again in 2021. He’s been notably scorching since placing a tepid month of April behind him, and Guerrero has now slashed .341/.407/.539 in his final 240 journeys to the plate.

3. Brewers 40-man transfer incoming:

The Brewers are expected to activate outfielder Garrett Mitchell from the 60-day injured listing right now and have reportedly already cleared an lively roster spot for the 25-year-old by optioning prime prospect Tyler Black to the minor leagues. Earlier than Mitchell can formally be added again to the roster, nonetheless, the membership might want to clear house for him on the 40-man. Milwaukee has no apparent candidates to be transferred to the 60-day IL presently on the shelf, so it appears truthful to anticipate the membership to designate a participant for task this afternoon earlier than tonight’s recreation in Colorado. The membership’s first-round choose from the 2020 draft, Mitchell can be becoming a member of a crowded outfield combine that options Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio within the corners frequently, flanking a middle subject platoon of Sal Frelick and Blake Perkins.