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Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians: A little more than a year after Cleveland made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Bazzana is headed to the highest level of the minor leagues. The team announced after Sunday's action that he was among a glut of moves up and down the system. Since returning from the injured list on July 18, the former Oregon State star has hit .265/.367/.412 with a home run and six RBIs.

Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets: Tong's 166 strikeouts are far and away the most in the minor leagues. The Mets righthander's nearest challenger, Orioles righty Trey Gibson, is 27 behind. All of Tong's punch outs this season have come at Double-A Binghamton. That's about to change. Reports surfaced late Sunday that Tong—along with fellow prospects Jett Williams, Carson Benge and Ryan Clifford—are moving to Triple-A. All of this is another way of saying that Syracuse is now must-watch MiLB TV every night.

Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, RHP, Yankees: Jonah Tong and Rodriguez-Cruz locked horns twice this past week. Both times, the Yankees prospect came out on top. On Sunday, the righthander spun six shutout innings, giving up only three hits against a Binghamton lineup featuring outstanding offensive prospects like Carson Benge, Jett Williams and Ryan Clifford. Against Rodriguez-Cruz—the Yankees' return in the Carlos Narvaez trade with rival Boston—all three came up empty over and over again. The righthander's 129 strikeouts are second in the Yankees system and sixth overall in the minor leagues.

Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners: After nearly a full season in Low-A, Sloan is headed north. Seattle announced late Sunday that the righthander is headed to High-A Everett. Sloan, whom the Mariners chose with their second-round pick in 2024, earned the move thanks to a stellar second half. He allowed just nine hits in 16 innings in July and struck out 20 hitters in the process.

Esteban Mejia, RHP, Orioles: After struggling to throw strikes in his first turn at Low-A, Mejia got back on track on Sunday against Fayetteville. Taking the hill at home, Mejia, just 18 years old, struck out seven Shorebirds over 4.1 innings. He allowed one and walked a batter before yielding to the bullpen. Unfortunately for him and his team, the one run was all Fayetteville needed to eke out a win. Mejia—the No. 1 prospect in the Florida Complex League—now has 62 strikeouts over 48.2 innings.

Editor’s Picks

RoboScout Rankings: With fantasy football draft season in high gear, a good deal of managers in your dynasty league may be losing interest in the fantasy baseball season. RoboScout says to stay vigilant and active during this period to reap serious rewards. Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Each day, we’ll pick a prospect that has our attention.

Shane Murphy, LHP, White Sox: Murphy doesn't get the same hype as other minor league pitchers, but all he's done this season is mow down hitters every time he takes the hill. Sunday was no exception. Facing Chattanooga, Murphy—a 24-year-old lefty whom Chicago selected in the 14th round of the 2022 draft—spun five innings of three-hit, one-run ball with four strikeouts. Because the run he let up was unearned, Murphy dropped his ERA to 1.53, the best mark in the minor leagues. His ERA in the Double-A Southern League is just 1.32.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Top 10 Guardians prospect Ralphy Velazquez bopped a pair of homers in a 3-hit performance Sunday.

• Another powerful corner infielder, Jonathon Long of the Cubs, smacked three hits with a homer and triple.

• Top Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter got roughed up on Sunday, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings and surrendering a long ball to Spencer Jones.

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