Craig Brown at Into the Fountains looks at some flyball issues, but has to make the case for Bobby Witt Jr. to receive your All-Star votes.

Wilson leads all qualified shortstops with a .349 batting average. His .390 OBP is second only to J.P. Crawford (.406 OBP). His .493 slugging percentage is tied with Peña for the top mark in the AL. It’s an impressive offensive resume for the Sacramento rookie. But if you’re looking for the complete package of offense and defense and baserunning, then Witt is your guy. He’s tied with Peña among all major league shortstops with a 3.9 fWAR. FanGraphs also rates Witt as the top defender at his position.

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Reporter looks at a trio of Royals hitters and their June performances, with some bad news for outfielder Drew Waters.

It also doesn’t help that Waters isn’t providing much else in other areas. Waters is a subpar defender and barely above-average baserunner, according to Fangraphs. His baserunning was a source of frustration on Sunday, as he was thrown out by Jackson Merrill at the plate on a Freddy Fermin double. The Royals were justified in giving Waters one more shot in the Majors, especially after his hot start in Omaha this year. That said, he’s proving to be what he was before, which is a mediocre outfielder at the MLB level. His 77 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR in 61 games and 198 plate appearances are more than enough proof of that (in addition to his career 87 wRC+ and 1.2 fWAR).

Just Baseball lists shortstop Daniel Vasquez as one of the past week’s hottest prospects.

Over six games, the 21-year-old had hits in exactly half of his at-bats, while also playing sound baseball at the plate overall. In addition to his impressive performance at the plate, Vasquez also showed his wheels on the basepaths, as he took home a stolen base last week. Vasquez has had a solid season overall, recording a 117 wRC+ so far. If he continues to hit this well, he may make the jump to Double-A shortly.

Jackson Wilks at Farm to Fountains ponders on catcher Carter Jensen’s outlook in 2025 and beyond.

Jensen is making some changes, but I wouldn’t expect to see them become permanent. The AA hitting department has a past of changing approaches to work one specific tool over another. This may be a temporary change in Jensen’s game. If the contact is legit and his new swing sticks around, there is a lot to be excited about. We hope the pop in his bat returns with little adjustment to what is currently working. I’ve seen people mention him, but not in meaningful ways. He hasn’t been the best-performing prospect in the system this season. He has made the most changes, however, and they may make him the most intriguing prospect as of today.

Could the Royals get a new stadium without a public vote? These Kansas City leaders think so.

Councilman and Port KC Vice Chair Kevin O’Neill says architects have done their due diligence, and the footprint of a ballpark can fit at Washington Square Park, east of Union Station. O’Neill believes the city can redirect a lot of taxes like the state can do with the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. O’Neill says Port KC can issue bonds. “We believe that we can do that without any problems, to be honest,” O’Neill said in an interview with FOX4 Monday, next to Bough.

Bleacher Report names Maikel Garcia as Kansas City’s most improved player this season.

Dicky Lovelady “knows what he is doing” with preferred name change.

The STAR Bond legislation has a way forward past the presumptive June 2025 deadline.

The Royals take one small step for man and one giant leap for Kansas City brewing kind.

Jacob Milham at Kings of Kauffman looks at how long of a leash the Royals should give Sam Long.

Preston Farr has a Royals mock draft over at Royals Data Dugout.

Michael Massey had a stellar start to his rehab assignment in Triple-A Omaha.

This weekend’s Speedway Classic brings a ton of work and logistics to a new MLB venue.

Former New York Mets star Noah Syndergaard joins the Chicago White Sox on a minor league deal.

A Chicago Cubs minor league pitcher receives a 60-game suspension for a positive drug test.

Money talks, and NIL funds crank that volume even higher in college basketball.

More money moves: the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx are under new ownership.

Comedian Shane Gillis will host next month’s ESPYS ceremony.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career will likely end after 2025.

Graduation guests are seeing double at this New York high school.

See how folks on the East Coast are trying to get by during this historic heat wave.

Today’s song is Heaven Passing Through by the Turnpike Troubadours.