2025 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: June in Review
The Cannon Ballers endured a tough June, finishing the month with an 8–17 record and falling out of first place in the South Division after a strong start to the season. An 11-game losing streak—which included a sweep at the hands of the Charleston RiverDogs, the Low-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays—highlighted a challenging stretch. Despite much of the team battling an illness that swept through the clubhouse during the month, Kannapolis ended June leading the Carolina League in hits with 599, maintaining a 30-hit edge over the next closest team.
With the MLB Draft set for this month, the Ballers are bound to receive a wave of reinforcements from both Arizona and the new draft class. This incoming wave of talent is expected to shake up the roster and inject some much-needed energy, offering Kannapolis a chance to reset and regain momentum as the season enters its second half. The Ballers May Review is available as well.
Cannon Ballers Pitching
Luis Reyes was the story of the rotation this month, delivering a breakout stretch with a 0.36 ERA across 25.0 innings. Named Minor League Pitcher of June for the Chicago White Sox, the 19-year-old right-hander allowed just one earned run over four June starts. He completed at least five innings in every outing and pitched into the seventh twice. Reyes limited walks to no more than two per start and has rebounded impressively after a rocky start to the season.
Grant Umberger delivered another strong month in June, logging 22.2 innings with a 2.38 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and just four walks. The 23-year-old lefty set the tone early with back-to-back scoreless outings of 5.0 and 7.0 innings before a brief setback, allowing five earned runs in 4.2 innings during his third start of June. He quickly rebounded with a final 6.0-inning performance, yielding just one earned run on five hits while issuing only two walks. Even in his toughest start, Umberger’s command remained steady, issuing no more than two free passes in any outing. The 23-year-old has put himself in line for a possible promotion to High-A Winston-Salem, especially with a fresh wave of arms expected to arrive soon.
Justin Sinibaldi followed up a solid May with another strong month in June, posting a 3.48 ERA across four appearances. The 23-year-old lefty, a 14th-round pick out of Rutgers, bounced back from a shortened 2.2-inning outing due to illness to finish the month with a dominant 8.0-inning, one-run performance. He’s quietly become one of the most reliable arms in the Kannapolis rotation. Like Umberger, Sinibaldi’s age and steady production could make him a candidate for promotion to Winston-Salem as the organization begins to reshuffle the roster with incoming talent.
Ricardo Brizuela struggled to find consistency in June, pitching just 11.2 innings over four starts while surrendering 12 earned runs on 18 hits. He often hit his pitch count early, limiting his ability to work deep into games.
Kaleb Sophy took a step back in June after an impressive debut month with the Ballers. The 24-year-old southpaw made five starts, totaling 19.0 innings while giving up 13 earned runs. He struggled to pitch deep into games and was often lifted due to pitch counts. Sophy was also hit in the head by a throw to second base during his June 22 outing, which cut his start short after 2.1 innings. Fortunately, the injury appeared precautionary. As hitters began to adjust to his repertoire, maintaining command and limiting hard contact will be key for Sophy moving forward.
Seth Keener showed flashes of potential in June, highlighted by his best start of the year: a 7.0-inning outing in which he allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk. However, he struggled to carry that momentum through the rest of the month, failing to get past the fifth inning in any of his next three starts. Across 19.2 total innings, Keener struck out 23 batters and walked eight, but inconsistency and pitch count troubles continued to limit his effectiveness. The former High-A arm will need to find more consistency to find his way back to Winston-Salem.
Cannon Ballers Relief Pitching
Jonathan Clark anchored the bullpen in June, leading the team with 12.1 innings pitched. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed just one earned run on six hits, striking out 14 while maintaining a 0.97 WHIP. Gabriel Rodriguez contributed 11.1 innings out of the bullpen in June, allowing six earned runs.
Hale Sims turned in another steady month out of the bullpen, matching his May ERA with a 3.38 mark across 10.2 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out 14 and continued to avoid big innings. Joseph Yabbour remained active out of the bullpen in June, striking out 15 over 10 innings while issuing just five walks. He allowed five earned runs but limited base runners overall, finishing the month with a strong 0.90 WHIP.
Blake Shepardson followed up a strong May with another impressive showing in June, tossing 8.0 innings with 10 strikeouts while allowing just one earned run. The right-hander hasn’t surrendered a run in over a month, and his slider continues to emerge as a legitimate out pitch. With Jack Young now in Winston-Salem, Shepardson could be next in line for a promotion if his dominance continues.
Pierce George had another uneven month in relief. While opposing hitters batted just .185 against him, the right-hander surrendered six earned runs across 8.1 innings. Command remained an issue, as he walked eight and struck out eight. After a strong May, lefty Liam Paddack endured a difficult June, struggling with command and posting a 9.45 ERA across 6.2 innings. He walked 10 batters during the month while only striking out four batters.
Carlton Perkins saw limited action in June, tossing just 2.2 innings while giving up two earned runs. It was a quieter follow-up to his standout May performance, where he had emerged as one of the most reliable bullpen arms. Connery Peters, a 25-year-old 6-foot-6 right-hander, was sent down from High-A Winston-Salem and made one scoreless two-inning appearance in June. Jesus Mendez was activated from the injured list on June 23 and allowed one earned run in each of his two relief outings to close out the month.
Cannon Ballers Catchers
Ronny Hernandez had a strong June, hitting .288 with a .400 on-base percentage. The 20-year-old catcher added four doubles and continued to build on his increased playing time.
Grant Magill appeared in 11 games in June and has shown himself to be a reliable backup to Hernandez. Since being called up from the Arizona Complex League, the 23-year-old backstop hit .341 with two doubles and nine RBI.
Cannon Ballers Infielders
Lyle Miller-Green found a rhythm at the plate in June, turning in his strongest month as a professional. He hit .301 with a .420 on-base percentage, adding two home runs and seven RBI. After a May where he hit just .171 but showed plate discipline, Miller-Green’s improved contact and run production are encouraging signs of continued development.
Javier Mogollon cooled off after a red-hot, injury-shortened May. Despite staying on the field throughout June, he struggled at the plate, posting just a .223 OBP and striking out 24 times in 85 at-bats. Unfortunately, his hamstring issues resurfaced, landing him back on the 7-day IL on July 2.
Caleb Bonemer experienced his first true setback of the season in June, batting just .192 with 24 strikeouts and three RBI over 78 at-bats. Still, Bonemer showed maturity at the plate, drawing 15 walks and maintaining a .326 on-base percentage—often matching his strikeouts with walks in a given week. After hitting .308 with three home runs and 14 RBI in May, his June output appears to be more of a speed bump than a cause for concern. With one of the more refined approaches in the system and an ability to adjust, Bonemer remains a key piece to watch as Kannapolis looks to reset in July.
Miguel Santos built on his strong May showing with another solid month in June. Over 76 at-bats, the 24-year-old posted a .326 on-base percentage and collected four doubles. While he didn’t match the offensive surge he showed before his mid-May injury, Santos continued to provide professional at-bats and remains a candidate for promotion to High-A, given his age and ability to consistently produce contact-heavy, competitive at-bats.
Ryan Burrowes will look to carry the momentum from a strong June, where he hit .315 with 23 hits, three doubles, and nine stolen bases over 73 at-bats. With Mogollon sidelined, Burrowes is expected to take on an expanded role in July after excelling in a versatile utility capacity.
Mikey Kane continued to thrive in his reserve infield role, tallying 15 hits with a .377 on-base percentage in June. He drew seven walks and struck out just seven times across 53 at-bats while driving in five runs. Kane has also amassed five relief appearances on the mound as a position player this year, surrendering only one run.
Cannon Ballers Outfielders
George Wolkow followed up his strong May with his most productive month yet, slugging four home runs, driving in 11 runs, and drawing nine walks over 70 at-bats. He posted a .383 OBP, continuing to show improved discipline and power. Wolkow’s progress at the plate is becoming increasingly evident.
Abraham Nunez endured a difficult June at the plate, collecting just 9 hits and six RBI while striking out 20 times over 74 at-bats. Despite the struggles offensively, the 19-year-old continued to play steady defense and will look to bounce back in July.
TJ McCants returned to Kannapolis after starting the year in Arizona and has quickly made an impact. Over 65 plate appearances in June, the 24-year-old 16th-rounder collected 18 hits and stole six bases, bringing speed and energy to the lineup while solidifying the outfield group.
Nathan Archer rebounded from a rough May with a more productive June, collecting 17 hits, drawing 10 walks, and driving in 14 runs over 73 at-bats. He added two home runs, three doubles, and a triple, showing signs of regaining his rhythm at the plate. Archer will look to carry this momentum into July and prove that his May slump was just a hiccup.
Cannon Ballers Promotions, Injuries, and Transactions
Jack Young wrapped up his time in Kannapolis with three scoreless innings to close out June after returning from the injured list. The 9th-round pick, who dominated across the first couple of months with a 0.35 ERA, was promoted to High-A Winston-Salem on June 24.
Connor Housley was activated from the ACL on June 10 and made a two-week stint with Kannapolis before landing on the 7-day IL. He began his run with five scoreless innings but allowed three earned runs in his June 21 outing before being placed on the IL again.
Jorge Corona spent much of June moving between the active roster and the development list, making just four appearances. The 24-year-old catcher reached base twice in 11 at-bats and saw limited action as the team’s third backstop option.
Connery Peters made one appearance for Kannapolis in June after being optioned from High-A Winston-Salem. The 25-year-old right-hander tossed two scoreless innings in his lone outing with the Ballers. Before the move, Peters posted a 5.75 ERA over 20.1 innings with the Dash.
Kevin Davis, a 6-foot-9 right-hander, was transferred to the ACL White Sox after compiling a 7.47 ERA across 15.2 innings with Kannapolis. While the overall numbers were rough, Davis flashed intriguing potential in May, striking out 11 over 7.2 innings and picking up a pair of wins in five appearances. Wardquelin Vazquez followed a similar path, also reassigned to the ACL after recording a 4.50 ERA through 16 innings this season.
Looking Ahead for the Cannon Ballers
With the MLB Draft set for July 13 in Atlanta, Kannapolis is set for a wave of roster activity. While not every draftee will immediately join the system, last year’s draft class saw multiple players make quick transitions to affiliated ball.
Alongside the draft, reinforcements from the Arizona Complex League are expected to arrive soon. Infielder Alexander Albertus and right-hander Mathais LaCombe are among the names to watch as July unfolds. As the Cannon Ballers look to bounce back in the second half, July presents a pivotal opportunity for internal reinforcements and fresh additions to reshape the season’s momentum.
