Shortly after being named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year, Travis Sykora went out and proved it, leading a Fredericksburg staff that spun a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Kannapolis to a Carolina League title. Elsewhere, Modesto (California League), Palm Beach (Florida State League), Lake County (Midwest League) and Bowling Green (South Atlantic League) took home championships.

Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals: When Kannapolis forced a deciding Game 3 of the Carolina League Championship Series, the Fredericksburg Nationals had an ace in the hole. Sykora, the best pitcher in the league, held Kannapolis to just one baserunner (a Jeral Perez single that was erased when Perez was thrown out trying to go to second). Sykora struck out five of the first six hitters he faced and fanned nine overall. A Brandon Pimentel two-run homer gave the FredNats all the runs they needed, as Fredericksburg won the Nationals’ first MiLB title since 2014.

Luisangel Acuña, SS, Mets: In 131 Triple-A games this year, Acuña hit seven home runs, and he had just one extra-base hit in his 10 September Triple-A games. But the promotion the big leagues has given the young shortstop a boost. In just five MLB games, Acuña now has two home runs. He’s hitting .467/.467/.933. His 109.5 mph exit velocity on his double on Wednesday is harder hit than any hit he had in Triple-A this year.

Angel Genao, SS, Guardians: Genao finished this year with a .330 batting average that was fifth best in the minors. His 38 doubles also ranked among the top 10 in the minors, and he finished with 10 home runs and 25 steals. It was a breakout season for the Guardians’ young shortstop prospect, and his postseason was a perfect capper to a top-notch season. Genao reached base all five times he came to the plate in the Lake County Captains Midwest League title clincher on Wednesday. Genao went 2-for-2 with three walks and a double. He hit .429/.609/.857 in the postseason, and went 5-for-7 in the final two games of the postseason.

Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Guardians: Velazquez hit a three-run home run in a five-run sixth inning as Lake County defeated Wisconsin 9-4 to clinch the Midwest League championship. Velazquez hadn’t hit a home run since Aug. 25th, but he picked an excellent time to break out of his power slump.

Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Rays: Baumeister struck out seven Hudson Valley hitters while holding the Renegades to one run in five innings as Bowling Green won 4-1 in the deciding Game 3 of the South Atlantic League championship series. Baumeister walked the first two batters he faced, but a caught stealing and back-to-back strikeouts erased that threat. He didn’t get into any more trouble until the sixth inning, when Brendan Jones singled and scored on a George Lombard Jr. double.

Christian Scott, RHP, Mets: Scott’s agency Klutch Sports Group announced that the Mets righthander will have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery with an internal brace. The surgery is scheduled for early next week and will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister. Scott was in the midst of an excellent year when he suffered the elbow injury. He had started the year at Triple-A Syracuse, but was promoted to New York before long, and went 0-3, 4.56 with 45 hits, 12 walks and 39 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. Scott ranks 63rd on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects. Because of the timing of the surgery, Scott will likely miss all of 2025 and return to action in 2026.

Minor League Pitchers With Traits To Target In Fantasy

Dylan White dives into nearly two dozen pitching prospects from the upper and lower levels of the minors who you should target in your fantasy drafts this winter, ranging from some of the top pitching prospects in the sport to under-the-radar gems who have a chance to pop in 2025.

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Jake Miller, LHP, Tigers: For those of you in deeper dynasty leagues, Miller is an extremely interesting name. His three-pitch mix consists of a 93 mph fastball that has a 53% CSW%, an 81 mph slider that also steals strikes at a plus rate, and an 85 mph changeup that gets over 50% whiffs. The lefthander also pounds the strike zone. An athletic 2022 eighth-round pick out of Valparaiso, Miller is an intriguing and underrated pitchability arm.

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