Recapping Week 23 of the 2025 MiLB Season

With Labor Day in the books, the end of the 2025 Minor League season begins to inch closer and closer. It’s the final regular season week of the High-A and Low-A seasons, before playoffs begin next week. Not to mention, there’s been plenty of roster activity thanks to roster expansions. Here’s a look at what went down in Week 23 of the 2025 Minor League campaign.

Willits is on early tear

Nationals prospect Eli Willits has gotten his career off to a great start.

Willits notched a hit in his first nine pro games with Fredericksburg, hitting .419 in that stretch. That streak ended on August 31 when he went 0-4 with three strikeouts against Lynchburg (A).

DSL League Cup & playoff berths

One of San Diego’s affiliates won a league title this year.

The DSL Padres Gold defeated the DSL Athletics in the first-ever Dominican Summer League Cup, taking the championship.

Padres infield prospect Jhoan De La Cruz, who signed for a $1MM bonus this past January, slashed .304/.484/.478 (.962 OPS) with three extra-base hits in the postseason. He posted a .837 OPS in the DSL this season.

As for other playoff-related happenings, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CHC) clinched a spot in the Carolina League playoffs. The Pelicans went 41-18 thus far in the second half and stand nine and a half games clear of Hickory (TEX).

Inland Empire (LAA), meanwhile, won the California League South second-half title and will face Rancho Cucamonga (LAD) in the first round of the circuit’s playoffs.

Transactions & notable moves

Even though many high-end prospects were called up to the Majors in late August, there were several notable ones promoted on September 1 when the rosters expanded.

And aside from the “big” names, Nick Yorke (Pirates), Kevin Alcantara (Cubs), George Valera (Guardians), and Craig Yoho (Brewers) were among others promoted on the 1st.

Valera’s story might be one of the more impressive ones. A former elite prospect in the Guardians’ system, the 24-year-old was DFA’d and released by Cleveland last November after strikeout and injury-related troubles down in the Minors. He re-signed, then posted a .803 OPS in Columbus across 28 games this season.

The Phillies promoted 2024 first-rounder Dante Nori from Low-A Clearwater to High-A Jersey Shore this past week. Nori got off to a slow start in Low-A this season but turned it on since the summer. During July, Nori posted a .987 OPS with the Threshers.

His first week in the South Atlantic League was strong, as Nori led the circuit in hits (11) and stolen bases (11) over the last week.

Additionally, the Marlins promoted outfield prospect Kemp Alderman to Triple-A on August 31. Alderman, a second-round pick back in 2023, picked up 34 extra-base hits and 20 stolen bases with Pensacola (AA).

Notable performers

Here’s a look at notable performers over the last week:

• OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. (AAA/PHI): nine hits, four home runs over five games
• P JR Ritchie (AAA/ATL): 18 K, three hits allowed, 0.00 ERA over 11 IP
• 1B Bryce Eldridge (AAA/SFG): seven hits, two home runs over five games
• SS Konnor Griffin (AA/PIT): eight hits, three home runs, 12 RBI over five games
• P R.J. Gordon (AA/NYM): 17 K, two walks over 10 IP
• P Mitch Farris (AA/LAA): 13 K, 0.00 ERA over six innings
• OF Gavin Cross (AA/KC): 11 hits, three home runs over six games
• 1B Jared Jones (A+/PIT): three home runs in four games
• P Carlson Reed (A+/PIT): 10 K, no earned runs over six innings
• INF Jesus Made (A+/MIL): 10 hits over six games
• P Adam Serwinowski (A+/LAD): 12 K, one earned run over seven innings
• P Austin Cates (A+/TOR): 17 K, no walks, no earned runs over 12 IP
• OF Nate Furman (A+/SFG): 11 hits, five home runs over six games
• OF Nolan Schubart (A/CLE): five hits, two home runs over five games
• P Joey Oakie (A/CLE): 10 K, no hits over five innings
• OF Andres Valor (A/MIA): 10 hits, two home runs over six games
• OF Raudi Rodriguez (A/LAA): 12 hits, two home runs over six games

Stats as of the last seven days.