Week Standings

(Team, W/L, PCT, STRK, SD)

Trenton, 5-0, 1.000, W5, 0-0

Mahoning Valley, 4-2, .667, L1, 0-0

West Virginia, 3-3, .500, W4, 1-0

Aberdeen, 2-4, .333, W1, 0-0

State College, 2-4, .333, W3, 0-1

Williamsport, 1-4, .200, L2, 0-0

Tuesday

West Virginia (5) @ Williamsport (2): BOX SCORE - The first game of the 2026 MLB Draft League season began the same way 2025 ended - with a West Virginia Black Bears win. Both the Black Bears and Crosscutters were held scoreless through the first three innings behind starts from John A. Logan product and Louisville commit Gabe Smith (WV, 4 IP, 2 K, 2 H, ER, 3 BB), and the University of Michigan’s single-season senior strikeout leader (105) Kurt Barr (WIL, 3 IP, 4 K, H, 0 R, 2 BB). Tied 2-2 in the eighth, West Virginia would plate the go-ahead runs with Santos Wade leading the offense with the league’s only three-hit game of the night.

Trenton (6) vs Aberdeen (1): BOX SCORE - The Trenton Thunder spoiled the Aberdeen IronBirds’ first MLB Draft League game with a five-run sixth inning. Despite the loss, the IronBirds featured the league’s first home run of the year from Texas Tech’s Hollis Porter on a 368-foot blast (101.6-mph EV) to right field. On the mound, it was the American debut for Taiwan’s Jui-Chieh Lin who struck out six batters and generated 14 whiffs, highlighted by a sinker that spun up to 2847 rpm. Returning MLB Draft Leaguer Carsten Sabathia III led the Thunder with two hits and Grant Gray led the team with two RBI that came off a two-run single in the sixth.

Mahoning Valley (6) vs State College (3): BOX SCORE - Strong pitching performances from Mahoning Valley’s Chris Domke (4 IP, 5 K, H, 0 R, BB), Tommy Szczepanski (3 IP, 7 K, H, ER, 0 BB) and Max Debiec (2 IP, 5 K, H, 2 ER, BB) allowed helped set up the Scrappers to start the year 1-0. Within the 17 combined strikeouts by Mahoning Valley, three instances during the game saw the side being retired in order on three strikes. Twice by Szczepanski and once by Debiec to close out the game. Offensively, the Scrappers’ ran away with the game after Josiah Seguin from James Madison University delivered a bases-clearing three-run double 102.6 mph off the bat in the sixth.

Wednesday

West Virginia (3) @ Williamsport (2): BOX SCORE - Starting pitching led the way again in Williamsport with the Black Bears putting themselves in position to start 2026 with a sweep. RHP Gabriel Barrett set the tone early in the first with a 1-0 lead as the University of San Francisco graduate struck out the side. The 22-year-old would finish the night with the win after a total of six shutout innings with a current league single-game best eight strikeouts, only allowing two hits. For the Crosscutters, David Horn Jr. went four innings with seven strikeouts after allowing the first run of the game. He would then be followed by Chris Guillory who struck out the side in his first inning, finishing with three scoreless innings. In the later stages of the game, West Virginia would extend their lead to three with a Luke Matthews’ single being their last run to hold their lead while fending off two late runs in the ninth by the Crosscutters.

Trenton (4) vs Aberdeen (3): BOX SCORE - Despite the clutch hitting by Aberdeen’s Collin Priest, the Thunder were able to secure their second straight victory. Priest, returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the 2026 NCAA season, was able to deliver two-out runs twice that each gave the IronBirds the lead in the ballgame with hard-hit exit velocities of 99 and over 101 mph. The Thunder would score their runs on a Carsten Sabathia III single in the fourth, a two-run single by Chase Swain in the fifth and a sacrifice fly by Joek Rivera in the sixth. The lead would give way to Nate Bennett who secured his first save of the summer.

Mahoning Valley (12) vs State College (7): BOX SCORE - The bats were alive in Niles, Ohio with seven extra-base hits, including four home runs. The night started with State College’s Justin Journette connecting in the first for the first home run of the night. A two-run shot that snuck over the short left field wall, it came as the hardest hit of the night league-wide at 108.8 mph. Two innings later, Tyree Reed would go the other way for his first of two home runs in the ballgame. The Scrappers would then rally in the sixth inning to take the lead with the go-ahead score coming off a grand slam from Jack Cannon (352 ft, 96.9 mph EV). With the sixth ending as a nine-run frame, the Spikes looked to rally behind Reed’s second home run of the game but Jay Newman limited the damage in the final two innings of the game.

Thursday

Williamsport (12) vs West Virginia (5): BOX SCORE - Utilizing their bats and speed, the Crosscutters offensive attack included 12 runs on 11 hits, six walks and 13 stolen bases to secure their first win of 2026. A leadoff triple from Ben Tryon in the fourth inning started a seven-run, six-hit inning that propelled the Cutters to 12 runs. Addison Smith led the way for Williamsport with three hits, including a double, three RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases. The Black Bears jumped out to an early 4-1 lead thanks to a strong three inning start from Collin McKinney. The right-hander struck out seven and surrendered just one run on one hit and two walks. McKinney set the tone for West Virginia’s pitching staff who struck out 15 batters over eight innings. Offensively, Beau Sylvester accounted for three of the Black Bears seven hits, two of which were hard-hit, and also came around to score. Jackson Nash held off West Virginia in the back half over four innings of one run ball (unearned) before Myles Meyer closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Trenton (5) vs Aberdeen (3): BOX SCORE - The pitching staff helped Trenton secure the three-game sweep, allowing just three runs and one unearned run in the 5-3 win. New Jersey native Christian Coppola got the start and dazzled over three scoreless and hitless innings. Leading 1-0 in the third, Carsten Sabathia III extended it to 3-0 with a two-run double, his second in the early season. Jack Picozzi took the mound in the fourth for the Thunder, earning the win with 3.2 innings on two runs (both unearned) while striking out four. Aberdeen cut the deficit to one with a two-run seventh inning before Trenton stormed back with two of their own in the bottom half. Bishop Quarles, Owen Clyne and Brian Heckelman were all on base twice for the IronBirds with a hit and walk apiece. Patrick Spencer Jr. and Ethan Gardner held the Thunder hitless over three middle innings, two from Spencer Jr. and one from Gardner. Aberdeen wasn’t easy to put away, making it 5-3 in the ninth and leaving the tying runs on base after Andrew Berg struck out three straight to earn the save for Trenton.

Mahoning Valley (8) vs State College (5): BOX SCORE - How do you follow up an eight extra-base hit game with four home runs? By slugging a combined 14 extra-base hits with four home runs. A back-and-forth contest in Ohio closed out an exciting series with the Scrappers sweeping the Spikes behind a three-run action-packed eighth inning that witnessed Jack Cannon circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run for the go-ahead run. The 21-year-old grinded out a seven pitch at bat to lead off the eighth inning for his second trip around in as many games. Following four plate appearances later, Jarren Purify connected for the league’s second 400+ foot home run of the summer at 406 feet. PEarlier, Mahoning Valley’s Carlos Sanchez went deep in the fourth inning (384 ft, 99.5 mph EV) and State College’s Evan York delivered a two-run shot (371 ft, 94.1 mph EV) in the sixth. For York, it was his first home run of 2026 but second within an MLB Draft League ballpark after he homered during the 2025 International Series with Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team.

Friday

State College (11) vs West Virginia (6): BOX SCORE - In a 2025 MLB Draft League Championship rematch, the State College Spikes got their revenge behind putting up an early six runs. The Draft League returning Camden Ross led off the scoring in the first inning with a double 101.3 mph off the bat to cap off a nine-pitch at bat. His first double of the year, the Western Kentucky product capitalized off of a changeup - a pitch he made contact 100% of the time during the 2025 first half. State College would then plate five in the second inning, highlighted by Tyree Reed clearing the bases for a three-run triple. West Virginia would look to compile a rally with the team’s first two home runs of 2026 by SWAC Player of the Year Jose Fernandez (345 ft, 92.6-mph EV, 38° LA) and returning Black Bear Beau Sylvester (410 ft, 104-mph EV, 31° LA).

Aberdeen (6) vs Mahoning Valley (5): BOX SCORE - The first game at IBEW 24 Union Field at Ripken Stadium under the MLB Draft League saw the new addition IronBirds come with the home victory in literal, walk-off fashion. Right-hander Michael Orbegozo of Central Arizona Junior College had the start for Aberdeen where he worked 3.2 innings and kept the Scrappers off the bases through the first three. En route to the win, the IronBirds came one stolen base away from tying the all-time single-game MLB Draft League record of 13 team stolen bases with steals from Nelson Zapata, Bishop Quarles (3), Kan Taguchi, Anthony Quigley (3), Owen Clyne (2), Ryan Kroepel and JT Taylor. Entering the ninth, Mahoning Valley carried a 5-4 led over Aberdeen. However, two walks, stolen bases and a wild pitch tied the game. Then, a hit by pitch to Taylor, him stealing a base and an intentional walk to Taguchi loaded the bases for Quarles to draw the walk in a 3-2 count with two outs for the walk-off walk.

Trenton (2) vs Williamsport (1): BOX SCORE - The Thunder pitching staff outlasted the Cutters arms to help preserve a 4-0 start to the season, the only remaining undefeated club. Both starters exchanged a single run with Alex Kranzler going four innings for Trenton and Enger Paulino for Williamsport. Trailing 1-0 in the third, Maddix Dalena blasted a home run 418 feet to center field, tying things for Williamsport. In a game that included just eight total hits, Trenton’s final one was the deciding one as Joek Rivera’s seventh inning double drove in the go-ahead and deciding run. Rivera’s two hits led the Thunder while Dalena’s three led the Cutters. Ty Van Valkenburg, a high school right-hander out of New York, was the winning pitcher with three innings, scattering two hits while striking out four. In his second appearance of the summer, Kyle Calzadiaz a scoreless final two frames en route to the save.

Saturday

State College (5) vs West Virginia (4): BOX SCORE - A back and forth affair between the Spikes and Black Bears came down to the final pitch of the game but State College prevailed at home and will now look for the sweep Sunday. Chase Meyer made his highly anticipated debut for the Spikes and surrendered just one run over three innings of work. The two teams traded a run in the first four innings until Beau Sylvester broke the deadlock with a solo home run for the Black Bears. Sylvester accounted for all four Black Bears runs with three RBI knocks; a home run, triple and single. The Spikes immediately answered in the top half with an RBI single from Tyree Reed and RBI double from CJ Richmond to regain a 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, Jacob Croxford dealt what would be the final blow with a two-run double to go ahead 5-2. Cale Willson ultimately earned the save, but it wasn’t easy after a ninth inning triple from Sylvester put the tying run on third base. Garrett Shearer was the winning pitcher for State College after allowing one run over three innings with five strikeouts. Luke Lyman and Jake Kramer each pitched a clean inning out of the Black Bears bullpen.

Mahoning Valley (13) @ Aberdeen (3): BOX SCORE - After waiting in a one-hour rain delay, the Scrappers bat were eager to get in the box as they plated runs in the first three innings and multiple runs in five innings. Carlos Sanchez got the scoring started in the first with an RBI single, his first of three hits and four RBI. The Scrappers would never relinquish the lead from there, adding on three more in the second highlighted by a Tristan Strickland RBI double. Strickland was another offensive standout with a triple, double, three RBI, three runs scored and two walks. In his MLB Draft League debut, Ethan Stade got the start and navigated three scoreless innings on one hit, two walks and five strikeouts. For Aberdeen, Brian Heckelman and JT Taylor had a double apiece while it was Austin Puett making noise on the mound. The IronBirds right-hander hit 98.8 mph on the radar gun, the fastest pitch thrown in the 2026 season. Mason Ruh pitched a scoreless final two frames for the Scrappers and allowed just one hit while striking out two. Other offensive standouts for Mahoning Valley included Bryce Hubbard who was on base four times with two hits and two walks, as well as Josue Malave who had two hits and a walk.

Sunday

Trenton (8) vs Williamsport (6): BOX SCORE - After the rainout on Saturday, clear skies in New Jersey was the backdrop to the Thunder winning their fifth straight game to open the season. Through the first four innings, it seemed as if the Crosscutters would spoil what was a good week for Trenton, carrying a 6-2 lead. However, the Williamsport offense would be silenced upon the mid-fourth inning arrival of Elijah Foster and the following work of Andrew Berg and Nathan Bennett who did not allow a hit through the rest of the game. The Thunder would tie the game in the fifth inning on an Austin Lemon single and Jake Koonin would drive in the go-ahead run the next inning on a single of his own.

Aberdeen (15) vs Mahoning Valley (7): BOX SCORE - The IronBirds broke out for 15 runs in Sunday’s deciding game, helping Aberdeen take the series in front of their home fans for the first time in the MLB Draft League. Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the IronBirds took the lead back with RBI’s from a JT Taylor double and Leamsi Montanez single. The offense in Aberdeen continued churning from there, putting up another three spot in the seventh and blowing it open in the eighth with eight runs in the inning. Taylor was the star of the show on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double, four RBI, three runs scored and two walks. Collin Priest also had a pair of RBI doubles while Owen Clyne racked up three hits on the day. Tommy Szczepanski gave the Scrappers a chance to come back in the middle innings with 3.1 strong innings out of the bullpen, surrendering just one run. Offensively for Mahoning Valley, James Whitman and Tristan Strickland each drove in a pair with two hits for Whitman and a double for Strickland. Kade Newman received the win for the Scrappers, allowing one run over three innings.

West Virginia (3) @ State College (3): Sudden Death Extra Inning, BOX SCORE - The first sudden death extra inning game of the MLB Draft League season closed Opening Week thanks to a late Black Bears’ rally. The defending Draft League champions started the night in grand fashion after putting the first three batters on base for Isaac Wachsmann from Creighton University to unload on an inside curveball for a grand slam (400 ft, 101.3-mph EV, 31° LA). State College would hold West Virginia scoreless through the seventh inning while the Spikes took the lead after a two-run single in the seventh by Camden Ross. After the Spikes’ sixth run came across to score, the Black Bears would start their rally in the eighth with Anthony Karis singling in a run and Beau Sylvester tying the game in the ninth on a sacrifice fly. In the sudden death extra inning, Wachsmann would be the placed runner on first base and would come around to score on a hit by pitch after the bases were loaded.

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Roster Additions

Since June 2:

Aberdeen: June 2 - LHP Brendan Yagesh (Virginia Tech).

Mahoning Valley: June 2 - RHP Jacob Faulkner (Vanderbilt). June 3 - RHP Mason Ruh (UNC Wilmington)

State College: June 5 - RHP Logan Rumberg (George Mason).

Trenton: --

West Virginia: June 5 - RHP Zane Coppersmith (Stetson).

Williamsport: June 3 - INF Maddix Dalena (Connecticut), RJP Enger Paulino (St. Bonaventure). June 4 - RHP Luke Meyers (Washington State). June 5 - RHP Jacob Limas (Grand Canyon), RHP Logan Rumberg (Rutgers)

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