Recapping Week 12 of the 2026 MiLB Season

The halfway point of the 2026 Minor League season wrapped up this past weekend, meaning playoff berths for September have been officially clinched for some. The Cubs, Giants, and Rays were among the big winners, as all three clubs had at least two affiliates clinch spots.

First-half champions crowned

Leagues across the Minors crowned first-half champions over the past two weeks, solidifying playoff spots for their respective clubs (not necessarily the players themselves, thanks to midseason promotions for many) in September.

Memphis (STL) and Las Vegas (ATH) are playoff-bound in Triple-A. Hartford (COL), Richmond (SFG), Knoxville (CHC), Biloxi (MIL), Tulsa (LAD), and Frisco (TEX) clinched spots amongst the three Double-A leagues. In High-A, Dayton (CIN), South Bend (CHC), Eugene (SFG), Frederick (BAL), and Bowling Green (TB) were crowned champs.

And in Low-A, Lake Elsinore (SD), San Jose (SFG), Fredericksburg (WSH), Charleston (TB), Jupiter (MIA), and Clearwater (PHI) have locked up playoff spots.

For those keeping track, that’s three Giants affiliates, and two Cubs & Rays affiliates among the winners.

Eight stolen bases in one game

Yes, that is what 17-year-old infield prospect Juan Cespedes did for the Angels’ DSL affiliate on June 20.

Cespedes came into that game with 17 stolen bases, until he rattled off seven against the DSL Blue Jays Red team. He stole second four times, third three times, and home once on a day in which he went just 1-3 with a walk.

His 25 stolen bases are nine ahead of Rangers prospect Cesar Mateo for most in the DSL.

Explosions for Baez & Ingle

Joshua Baez‘s torrid 2026 season continued this past week, highlighted by a four-home run performance on June 16 to start the week. Baez wasn’t done with the Nashville Sounds, as he picked up two more home runs, giving him six for the week to lead all of Triple-A.

Now, Baez has 25 home runs on the season for Memphis, a very good full season for most players.

Meanwhile, in Columbus, Guardians C/OF Cooper Ingle tallied three home runs and a double on June 18 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It helped carry his slash line of .357/.412/1.143 on the week.

Statistical standouts

1B Abraham Toro (AAA – KC): nine hits, three home runs over five games
OF Turner Hill (AAA – SFG): 10 hits, three home runs over six games
P Austin Peterson (AAA – CLE): 18 strikeouts, no home runs allowed over 10 IP
OF Conner Capel (AA – COL): 11 hits, six home runs over six games
OF Cam Cannarella (AA – MIA): 11 hits, two home runs over six games
OF Devin Taylor (AA – ATH): nine hits, three home runs over six games
P Andrew Sears (AA – DET): 11 strikeouts, one run allowed over 7.2 IP
P Jace Beck (AA – CHC): 10 strikeouts, no runs allowed over five innings
P Kade Anderson (AA – SEA): eight strikeouts, no runs allowed over six innings
C Caden Bodine (A+ – TB): 14 hits, one home run over six games
OF Theo Gillen (A+ – TB (PROMOTED TO AA)): 10 hits, two home runs over six games
C Eduardo Tait (A+ – MIN): eight hits, three home runs over five games
OF Max Belyeu (A+ – COL): 11 hits, two home runs over six games
P Seth Hernandez (A+ – PIT): eight strikeouts, no runs allowed over six innings
P Wande Torres (A+ – MIL): eight strikeouts, no runs allowed over 5.2 IP
P Jacob Bresnahan (A+ – SFG): seven strikeouts, no earned runs over six innings
INF Matthew Boughton (A – CHW): 14 hits, one home run over six games
1B Beau Ankeney (A – DET): nine hits, three home runs over five games
INF Estevan Moreno (A – SEA): 12 hits, four home runs over six games
P Dylan Jordan (A – LAA): 10 strikeouts, no earned runs over five innings

Stats as of the last seven days.

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