Tar Heels in the MLB and MiLB
- Thread starter TommyAshley
- Start date
Per HC Scott Forbes Alex Madera signs a minor league contract with the Cubs
Man I hope it clicks for Vance this year
think it was @GraceNugent who mentioned that she thought Vance's low numbers in high-A were a result of the O's tinkering with his swing until something clicked... here's an interesting Twitter thread going through some of the differences in his swing this Spring Training from 2024 to now.
It was! I have a lot opinions after reading through this thread and doing some of my own research...looking at swings going all the way back to Vance's freshman year.
An aside funny story is that a good friend and I were standing on the upper level of Four Corners acting mimicking his swing while watching a side by side view of his freshman and junior year. I still have the notes we took breaking it down
But, I will compile my thoughts on this at some point, it's so fascinating to me.
It’s interesting how different Kane and Vance are as center field prospects. Kane has elite hit tool + approach and doesn’t have to hit home runs to be viable. Vance is probably going to be a strikeout machine, but it doesn’t matter as long as he hits 20 bombs. Playing elite defense in the middle makes it possible to be viable with huge, and different, weaknesses. Baseball is fun.
Minor League assignments have begun to trickle out, the current players on Spring Breakout Rosters are....
Vance Honeycutt (Orioles)
Kane Kepley (Cubs)
Mac Horvath (Rays)
Luke Stevenson (Mariners)
Dalton Pence (Rangers)
Parks Harber (Giants)
I will start updating when more assignments come out
Vance Honeycutt (Orioles)
Kane Kepley (Cubs)
Mac Horvath (Rays)
Luke Stevenson (Mariners)
Dalton Pence (Rangers)
Parks Harber (Giants)
I will start updating when more assignments come out
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Alex Madera with an RBI in today’s spring training game for the Cubs. With a solo shot from Michael Busch, Tar Heels drove in two of the Cubs’ runs.
For anyone who is interested Dalton Pence started for the Rangers Spring Breakout team. He was the only Texas pitcher to go over 2 innings and allowed no hits.
Final line: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Full box score: https://www.mlb.com/gameday/royals-prospects-vs-rangers-prospects/2026/03/20/831420/final/box
Final line: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Full box score: https://www.mlb.com/gameday/royals-prospects-vs-rangers-prospects/2026/03/20/831420/final/box
Spring Breakout recap:
Honeycutt: 0-for-1, K *pinch hit
Stevenson: 0-for-2 *started
Kepley: 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB *hit leadoff
and the aforementioned Dalton outing
Honeycutt: 0-for-1, K *pinch hit
Stevenson: 0-for-2 *started
Kepley: 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB *hit leadoff
and the aforementioned Dalton outing
Just updated OP as of 4/2...Jake Knapp and Alex Madera up to double A, Kane up to high A
Dalton and Vance faced off tonight and Dalton got the upper hand. Got Honeycutt to go down swinging then pop up. Dalton ran into a bit of trouble with golden spikes winner Wehiwa Aloy but as a Rangers fan excited for his potential…
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.Alex Madera’s expanding his game in the pros 
Vance with 9 Ks in 15 ABs. Had hoped he would carry some momentum from spring training
The leg lift is pronounced. Don’t know if that’s something Tigers got him on or if it’s been added since the Snakes picked him up, but if he can keep his head still and get that front foot down in time, it might unlock something for him. I hope so, he’s about 26 now.
Trent Thornton called up to the Cubs and pitching in relief tonight ...
www.espn.com
Reds vs. Cubs (May 6, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs MLB game from May 6, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all pitching and batting stats.
www.espn.com
He just pitched a scoreless top of the tenth so that Michael Busch could walk in the winning runTrent Thornton called up to the Cubs and pitching in relief tonight ...
Reds vs. Cubs (May 6, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
Box score for the Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs MLB game from May 6, 2026 on ESPN. Includes all pitching and batting stats.