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Steelers selected Oregon DT Derrick Harmon with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Long connected to the Steelers, Harmon (6’5/310) spent his first three seasons at Michigan State as a run stopping three tech before transferring west to Oregon. He found another gear with the Ducks earning Second Team AP All-American accolades to go with 55 pressures which led all interior defensive linemen in FBS. Harmon’s 17.6% pass rush win rate ranked third nationally while his 9.1 PRP charted second overall. He’s also a credible run defender having recorded 25 stops and an 80th percentile run defense grade, though his 26.7% missed tackle rate needs drastic improvement. He ran a blazing 4.95s 40-yard dash (88th%) and is blessed with 34 3/8th” arms, but opted to not perform any other Combine tests. Harmon has a hair trigger get off that he blends with NFL-friendly traits to keep blockers off balance and penetrate into the backfield. A one-man pressure machine, he uses an arm-over technique to devastating effect which makes him difficult to square up for opposing linemen. Harmon is a first rate disruptor who can have a long career if he can refine his tackling success rate.
Andrés Chaparro (oblique) will begin his rehab assignment this week.
The 26-year-old was put on the IL with an oblique strain back on March 26th, so it’s been almost two months since he’s played in a game. He will take some time to work his way back into game shape, but he also hit .215/.280/.413 over 33 games with the Nationals last year, so there is no guarantee he gets another chance right away.
Guardians hired Corey Kluber as a special assistant with a focus on pitching development.
The former Guardians ace will be primarily responsible for helping the pitching staff; although, there is little information on what capacity. The Guardians already have one of the most experienced and respected pitching coaches in baseball in Carl Willis, but perhaps Kluber can help with gameplans and the mental side of the game. “I probably experienced pretty close to a full spectrum of things in a career. I wasn’t a very good minor-leaguer, figured out some stuff, and still had to develop at this stage. … It’s having a lot of different types of experiences to build on. Hopefully, it presents opportunities to help guys with a lot of different things.”
Andruw Monasterio is playing shortstop and batting eighth for the Brewers on Wednesday.
The Brewers are facing right-hander Gavin Williams, and Monasterio is still getting the start over Joey Ortiz. Monasterio has started the last three games, two at shortstop and one at third base, while both Ortiz and Caleb Durbin continue to struggle. Monasterio hit .250 with four home runs and eight steals in 30 games at Triple-A this season.
Colby Thomas went 4-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored for Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Thomas and his fellow Triple-A outfielder Denzel Clarke continue to put on a show in Triple-A, with Clarke also driving in three runs in this game. Clarke is on the 40-man roster while Thomas is not, but Thomas is slashing .314/.372/.551 in 37 games this season with eight home runs and two steals. The Athletics may need to find at-bats for both of these guys at some point over the summer.
Mariners C prospect Harry Ford went 4-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored for Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.
Ford is now hitting .292 with an .851 OPS, two home runs, and 12 RBI on the season. There is no spot for the 22-year-old in Seattle, but it’s nice to see him begin to find his power stroke a bit.
Dalton Rushing went 2-for-5 with a walk, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old is now hitting .308 with a .938 OPS, five home runs, and 17 RBI on the season. Rushing is primarily a catcher but has also played nine games at first base and two games in left field this season as the Dodgers look to create any path for him to get at-bats with the big league club.