2025 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: July in Review
George Wolkow
The Cannon Ballers put together a solid July, finishing the month with an 11–13 record as they continued to find their footing in the South Division. The club has benefited from a rejuvenated roster following the completion of the MLB Draft, with several 2025 draftees and players who had spent most of the season in Arizona making their Kannapolis debuts. The infusion of new talent and energy has set the stage for an exciting final couple of weeks of play.
Cannon Ballers Pitching
Grant Umberger recorded a 3.54 ERA in July, inflated by a rough June 23rd outing in which he allowed 10 hits and four earned runs over 3.1 innings. In his other appearances, the 23-year-old lefty delivered three starts of at least 5.0 innings and two earned runs or fewer. He could get a late-season look in Winston-Salem, though the organization may hold him for next year after a strong 2025 campaign with a 2.67 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 81 innings.
Justin Sinibaldi opened the month, allowing seven earned runs in 5.2 innings over two starts, but rebounded with 17 innings of eight-hit, two-run ball across his final three outings. The 14th-round pick out of Rutgers finished July with a 3.57 ERA and, like Umberger, could earn a late-season promotion.
Mathias LaCombe made his much-anticipated debut in Kannapolis after a very successful stint in the ACL this year, where he posted a 2.52 ERA across 35.1 innings. In his first appearance with the Cannon Ballers, the 12th-round pick threw three hitless innings with four strikeouts. He matched that strikeout total in his next outing, and in early August was lifted with two outs in the third after a single and a walk boosted his pitch count. He managed to generate a strikeout and popout before being pulled, though both inherited runners eventually scored. All in all, it was a very nice debut month for the 23-year-old French right-hander.
Luis Reyes had an uneven July, never allowing more than four earned runs but giving up three or more in three of five starts. Mid-month, his workload was reduced to about three innings per outing as part of an organizational effort to protect young arms. His highlight was three hitless innings with five strikeouts on July 19. Reyes and LaCombe both made our mid-season top 30 prospect list.
Kaleb Sophy and Ricardo Brizuela each kept runs in check but struggled to pitch deep into games. Sophy had three starts of fewer than 4.2 innings, while Brizuela was pulled after recording just two outs in one outing. Both have been steady, but neither has regained early-season form. Brizuela may see reduced innings down the stretch.
Cannon Ballers Relief Pitching
After an uneven June, Pierce George had his best month as a professional in July. The right-hander allowed just one earned run over 10 innings, striking out 11 while walking seven. He closed the month on a high note, finishing with six consecutive scoreless appearances. George was featured prominently in our just missed version of the top 30 list.
Blake Shepardson had another solid month out of the bullpen, striking out 12 in 6.1 innings. Since May 13, he’s posted a 1.40 ERA over 19.1 innings with a 13.03 K/9, making him a strong candidate for a move up to High-A. Shepardson was an 11th round pick in 2024.
Liam Paddack pitched just three times in July, taking the mound on the 1st but not appearing again until the 29th, despite never hitting the IL. In his limited work, the left-hander allowed only one hit and no runs, a sharp turnaround from his difficult June. Carlton Perkins had a mixed July out of the bullpen. He opened the month with four consecutive scoreless one-inning appearances, but closed it with outings in which he allowed four and two earned runs, respectively. In total, he posted a 7.59 ERA for the month.
Gabriel Rodriguez appeared in a couple of extended outings in July, a role he’s likely to maintain through the end of the season as some starters see reduced workloads. The right-hander was solid, allowing two runs or fewer in all four of his outings and posting 13 innings of work in the month. Hale Sims turned in a strong July out of the bullpen, giving up just two earned runs across 13.1 innings in nine appearances. Like Gabriel Rodriguez, he’s likely to see some extended outings as the season winds down.
Jake Curtis, called up from the ACL, logged 12 innings with a 4.97 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Aside from a four-run outing on July 23, he delivered four scoreless appearances and three others allowing just one run. Kevin Davis returned from the ACL with two scoreless outings. Earlier in the year, the 6-foot-9 right-hander had a 7.47 ERA over 15.2 innings in Kannapolis, but showed flashes of potential in May. Jesus Mendez had four scoreless outings but also two rough appearances, allowing four and five runs. In 10 innings, he struck out 11 with just three walks.
Cannon Ballers Catchers
Ronny Hernandez had a .316 OBP in July with 10 walks and 10 strikeouts, five RBI, and steady defense. This year, he’s hitting .254 with a .346 OBP and 101 wRC+.
Grant Magill saw more playing time in July and has now cut down 19 runners in 22 starts behind the plate during his time with Kannapolis. He owns a .324 OBP in 29 total games with the Ballers and has shown the makings of a steady organizational catcher, providing reliable defense and capable depth behind Ronny Hernandez.
Cannon Ballers Infielders
Caleb Bonemer bounced back from his first rough month at the plate in June with a strong July, hitting .270 with three home runs and 12 RBI. The 19-year-old posted a 147 wRC+ for the month and now carries a .400 OBP on the season, along with eight total home runs and 24 stolen bases. Bonemer recently ranked at #88 overall for MLB Pipeline and #74 overall at Baseball America
Arxy Hernandez was sent down from High-A Winston-Salem after the promotion of Ryan Burrowes on July 22. Although the sample size is small, he’s hitting .240 and appears to be progressing back toward his norm. At 22 years old, it could benefit him to get more time in Kannapolis to further develop his hit tool while holding down an infield spot, in hopes of earning his way back to Winston-Salem.
Jordan Sprinkle was sent back to Kannapolis on July 2 to replace the injured Javier Mogollon. He had a standout stint with Kannapolis earlier in the year, hitting .420 with four home runs, 13 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in just 16 games before earning a promotion to High-A in April. His return in July told a different story, as he hit just .141, though he did swipe 10 bases. Like Hernandez, the 24-year-old fourth-round pick will look to use his time in Kannapolis to get back on track and work his way back to Winston-Salem.
Cannon Ballers Outfielders
George Wolkow had a solid July, hitting just .215 but maintaining a .333 OBP thanks to 13 walks. He added two home runs, 11 RBI, and four doubles, though his batting average fell short of what might be expected from his .326 BABIP, a bit of bad luck that has been a theme for him this season. Despite the lower average, the 19-year-old showed continued progress at the plate and will look to carry that momentum into a strong finish to the year.
Nathan Archer built on his improved June by posting a .365 OBP in July, drawing 13 walks and recording a 102 wRC+. While not as explosive as earlier in the year, he continued to provide steady offensive value and showed signs of maintaining his rhythm at the plate. Abraham Nunez bounced back in July after a rough June, hitting .267 with a .371 OBP, seven RBI, and nine walks. He posted a .340 BABIP and turned in a nice month to build on heading into the final couple of weeks of the season.
Additions from AZ and the Draft
Colby Shelton, a 6th-round infielder out of the University of Florida, will see time at both second and third base and could be a quick mover through the system. Anthony Depino, the 7th-round pick from the University of Rhode Island, is a 22-year-old corner infielder who could bring some power to the lineup. Ely Brown, an intriguing 12th-rounder signed for $175K as a draft-eligible sophomore, is a center fielder from Mercer with an athletic profile worth watching. All three were assigned to Kannapolis out of Arizona as their first professional assignment on August 5.
After the releases of Mikey Kane and Grant Smith during the month, Adrian Gil and Bryce Eblin were both called up from Arizona after their season to provide infield depth in Kannapolis. Gil, a 19-year-old Venezuelan, is a name to watch after posting a 107 wRC+ in 55 games. Eblin, 23, hit .529 in nine ACL games and will serve as a depth infielder on the roster. Adrian Gil could also see time behind the plate and at first base.
Promotions
On July 18, TJ McCants (144 wRC+, 15 RBI in 29 games), Jonathan Clark (2.40 ERA), and Lyle Miller-Green (135 wRC+) moved to Winston-Salem. Ryan Burrowes was promoted on July 22 to replace Arxy Hernandez. Miguel Santos also moved up after hitting .243 with a .328 OBP in 57 games.
Jorge Corona was called up to serve as the Double-A backup catcher, part of an organizational trend of backup catchers moving between levels throughout the year. The 24-year-old didn’t record any stats in Birmingham and spent time on and off the injured list during the month.
Seth Keener was promoted back to High-A Winston-Salem on July 18 to make room for Mathias LaCombe in the Kannapolis rotation. Since returning, he has transitioned into a bullpen role, logging six innings across five relief appearances. In June with Kannapolis, Keener threw 10 innings over two starts, allowing three earned runs. Joseph Yabbour was in a similar boat, earning a promotion to the Dash’s bullpen, where he finished his Kannapolis stint with a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings. Jake Peppers was assigned to Kannapolis from Winston-Salem on July 31 and will take a spot in the bullpen after posting a 4.91 ERA in High-A.
Cannon Ballers Injury Updates
Javier Mogollon remains on the IL with a re-aggravated hamstring injury suffered on July 2. Through 51 games this season, he has posted a 116 wRC+, but it’s unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Nick McLain was placed on the 60-day IL on July 8 due to injury, likely ending his season. He hasn’t played in a game since April 20, and it appears both McLain and Saucke are on track to repeat the year in Kannapolis next season. Alexander Albertus was also placed on the 60-day IL on August 4 after being hit in the hand/wrist area during a game. He had been working his way back from surgery in June, but was removed from the game and did not return.
Ethan Hammerberg was called up after the release of Manuel Veloz, who had a stint in Winston-Salem before ultimately departing. Hammerberg appeared in three innings across three appearances before being placed on the injured list on August 2.
Connor Housley moved between IL stints and rehab work in Arizona before ultimately landing on the full-season IL on July 22. In four appearances for Kannapolis, he didn’t allow a run outside of his final outing. Connery Peters, previously part of Winston-Salem’s bullpen, was placed on the 7-day IL after making one appearance for Kannapolis, tossing two scoreless innings. Garrett Wright was transferred from the 7-day to the 60-day IL, effectively ending his season after posting a 4.91 ERA in five ACL games.
Looking Ahead for the Cannon Ballers
With the final weeks of the season ahead, Kannapolis will look to carry its refreshed momentum into a strong finish while continuing to integrate new talent.Additional draftees are expected to join the roster soon, though many arms from this year’s class will be shut down for the year. Potential late additions include catcher Rylan Galvan, a 13th-round pick from the University of Texas, and utility player Kaleb Freeman.
On the pitching side, we could see newcomers such as Oklahoma State’s 5th-rounder Gabe Davis, Ohio State’s 8th-rounder Blaine Wynk, Coastal Carolina’s 9th-rounder Riley Eikoff, and other late-round relievers make their debuts.
As the season enters its final stretch, Kannapolis will aim to finish strong and close out the year on a high note.
