Ryder Edwards, Aberdeen: In 2024 and 2025, Edwards was an All-Northwest Conference selection for Division III George Fox (Ore.). In 2026, he transferred to Oregon and made two appearances for the Ducks. With the IronBirds however, he’s been deployed three out of the five second half games, leading the league in strikeouts with nine. Possessing a high-80’s, low-90’s fastball, slider, cutter and curveball, the 21-year-old has consistently thrown for strikes 73.5% of the time with plenty of chase (38.8%). At 6-foot-2, the right-hander works down the mound with an over-the-top release, getting around his height in extension. In each game he’s thrown in, Edwards has worked two innings and two of the six total has seen runners advance to more than first, and has only seen one run surrendered.
Clayton Burke, Mahoning Valley: Coming off of an All-MAC Second Team season, Burke was top 10 in the nation with nine wins. Getting the start for the Scrappers on Saturday, July 11, he fired four scoreless innings, striking out five. Only two batters reached via hit as he lived on the corners with his fastball, changeup, slider and curveball. The heater sits 91-92 mph with over 2,400 rpm consistently and has seen batters chasing nearly 50% of the time. The offspeed and breaking offerings weren’t thrown as much but the changeup always resulted in a strike. Rarely did he at bats run deep as two of the 14 batters he faced saw more than six pitches. Burke also limited hard-contact as well with two balls put in play over 95 mph.
Patrick Morris, State College: With the University of Arizona, Morris was one of the primary relievers used in 25 of the Wildcats’ 53 games. In 11 of those games, the southpaw didn’t allow a run and after one appearance in the first half, has returned to that form in two second half outings. To kick off the half, Morris worked 2 1/3 innings where he struck out four and had just one batter reach on a hit that was then removed on a pick-off. Two days later, the 23-year-old tallied a two-out save that featured its finish having runners in scoring position in a two-run game. Morris’ arsenal features plenty of swing-and-miss with a low-90’s fastball that he throws for strikes nearly three-quarters of the time, a slider and changeup. Overall, batters have waved at his offering more than 50% of the time they swing with a 36% in-zone rate.
Cooper Carlgren, Trenton: The Lamar product’s first start with the MLB Draft League had the right-hander work six innings deep that ties the longest across the summer for both halves. Carlgreen’s line consisted of six strikeouts, two hits, a walk and one run. He uses a fastball and curveball that feature complete opposite vertical profiles along with a slider for a horizontal approach. At 91 mph, Carlgreen’s heater carries 20.3 inches of induced vertical break on average, living closer to the right-handed batters box as his 78 mph curve sees -18.4 inches on average, mostly on the lower half towards the left-handed side of the plate. The slider features a late bite but paired with his vertical pitches, generates whiffs half the time.
Tyler Kaltreider, West Virginia: On the first day of the second half, Kaltreider joined the club for a six inning start this season, keeping the Black Bears ahead in the game until after his removal. Armed with a fastball, splitter, and breaking ball, the right-hander commanded the zone well in his first outing since May 22 with a zone rate of 61%. The Old Dominion Conference (DIII) Pitcher of the Year sat around 90 mph but the splitter slowed batters down in the high-70’s with 830 to 990 rpm and earned two of his four strikeouts that night.
David Case, Williamsport: Case’s lone start so far was more than enough to claim the first Pitcher of the Week award of the second half. The third pitcher of the half to reach six innings in one start, the Middle Tennessee product struck out seven batters with two hits and a run surrendered, walking none. Preventing hard contact with an average exit velocity of 85.2 mph, the left-hander kept the ball on the ground with a 53.8% ground ball rate. Helping support that is how batters are chasing 35.1% of the time, even whiffing at a 32.4% clip. Three of the six innings Case worked featured batters retired in order with one where the runner reached was then caught stealing and in the two innings where he did allow a hit, were to lead off the frame followed by getting the final three batters out in order.
For more information about the MLB Draft League, visit mlbdraftleague.com or follow @mlbdraftleague and @draftleaguedata on X, and @mlbdraftleague on Instagram.
