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Is the NIKE Stock a Wise Investment Ahead of Its Q4 Earnings?

NIKE Inc. NKE is slated to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on June 26. The leading sports apparel retailer is estimated to have witnessed year-over-year declines in the top and bottom lines in the fiscal fourth quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is pegged at $10.7 billion, suggesting a 15.4% decline from […]

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Is the NIKE Stock a Wise Investment Ahead of Its Q4 Earnings?

NIKE Inc. NKE is slated to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on June 26. The leading sports apparel retailer is estimated to have witnessed year-over-year declines in the top and bottom lines in the fiscal fourth quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is pegged at $10.7 billion, suggesting a 15.4% decline from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at 11 cents per share, indicating a decline of 89.1% from the year-ago reported number. Earnings estimates for the fiscal fourth quarter were unchanged in the last 30 days. (See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.)

In the last reported quarter, the company delivered an earnings surprise of 92.9%. Its bottom line beat the consensus estimate by 42.5%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for NIKE this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

NIKE has an Earnings ESP of +41.47% and a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

What is in Store for NKE in Q4 Earnings?

NIKE’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results are expected to reflect ongoing challenges, including weak lifestyle product sales, sluggish digital revenues, and headwinds in Greater China and certain EMEA markets. These factors are expected to have contributed to slower revenue growth and margin pressure in the to-be-reported quarter.

The lifestyle segment, comprising men’s, women’s and the Jordan lines, has been facing persistent struggles, particularly in digital channels. Macroeconomic factors like inflation and rising interest rates have curbed discretionary spending, posing difficulties for premium brands in North America. Recent trends reveal that the company has been experiencing considerable shifts in consumer traffic in Greater China, with declines in brick-and-mortar traffic and lower sell-through rates. While NIKE has moderated its near-term expectations for the region, management has been optimistic about its long-term market position.

On the last reported quarter’s earnings call, NKE provided a cautious fiscal fourth-quarter outlook, citing the expected impacts of new tariffs on imports from China and Mexico. Management anticipates the fiscal fourth quarter to reflect the peak effects of its ‘Win Now’ strategy, with revenue and margin pressures beginning to ease. The company has been facing ongoing external uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions, tariffs, currency fluctuations and evolving tax regulations. Additionally, macroeconomic volatility and its effect on consumer confidence have been concerning.

For fourth-quarter fiscal 2025, NKE expected a revenue decline in the mid-teens, though at the lower end, due to North American shipment timing and foreign exchange headwinds. The gross margin is projected to drop 400-500 bps, indicating the impacts of prior-year restructuring charges. SG&A expenses are forecast to rise in the low to mid-single digits, including last year’s restructuring charges. The company continues to manage expenses while investing in ‘Win Now’ initiatives, particularly in demand creation.

Our model projects the gross margin to decline 450 bps to 40.2% for fourth-quarter fiscal 2025. We predict SG&A expenses of $4.2 billion for the quarter, suggesting a 2.4% year-over-year decline. As a percentage of sales, SG&A is anticipated to increase 690 basis points to 39.3%.

NIKE, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

NIKE, Inc. price-eps-surprise | NIKE, Inc. Quote

However, NKE’s strategic pricing and supply-chain optimization, including logistics, inventory management and distribution, are expected to have cushioned the bottom line in the to-be-reported quarter. Effective inventory management strategies have been other critical components of NIKE’s success.

The company continues to prioritize sports performance, accelerating product innovation and storytelling to enhance brand appeal. With innovations like the Pegasus Premium, Vomero 18 and Air Max platforms, alongside a more segmented and differentiated wholesale strategy, NIKE is positioning itself for sustainable growth by catering to evolving consumer preferences and expanding its market reach across key global regions. NIKE expects these innovations and its focus on the sports performance product category to have supported its fiscal fourth-quarter performance.

NKE is revitalizing its digital and retail strategy by reducing promotions, improving premium brand positioning and refining its go-to-market processes. By strengthening partnerships with wholesale retailers and optimizing its NIKE Direct ecosystem, the company is creating a more seamless and engaging shopping experience, ultimately driving margins and brand loyalty.

NIKE’s Price Performance & Valuation

NKE shares have exhibited a downward trend, shedding as much as 38.5% in the past year. The stock has lost against the broader Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500’s growth of 13.9% and 9.3%, respectively. The NKE stock has also underperformed the industry’s decline of 35.6% in the same period.

NIKE’s performance is notably weaker than that of its close competitors, including Wolverine World Wide WWW, which has risen 23.7% in the past year. NKE has also underperformed Skechers SKX and Adidas’ ADDYY declines of 15.6% and 4.5%, respectively, in the same period.

NKE’s 1-Year Stock Performance

Zacks Investment Research

At the current price of $59.79, NIKE trades 14.4% above its 52-week low of $52.28. The current price trades 39% below the 52-week high mark of $98.04.

Despite this recent downturn, NKE’s valuation appears quite pricey. The company trades at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 30.81X, exceeding the industry average of 24.3X and the S&P 500’s average of 21.71X.

Given the premium valuation, investors can face significant risks if the company’s future performance does not meet expectations. The Consumer Discretionary market is becoming increasingly competitive and NIKE’s initiatives may not be sufficient to drive significant growth. Macroeconomic challenges and heightened competition can impede the company’s ability to sustain its current growth trajectory.

NKE’s strategic initiatives build a strong foundation for long-term growth by strengthening its competitive position, expanding its product lineup and deepening consumer engagement. With a focus on innovation, improved retail and digital strategies, and premium brand positioning, NIKE is adapting to the market shifts while maintaining leadership in sports and lifestyle apparel.

While these efforts are expected to create long-term value, they are expected to lead to some short-term revenue challenges. The weaker guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 dampens near-term growth prospects. Also, its near-term challenges in lifestyle products and Greater China cannot be ignored.

As NIKE stands on the cusp of its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings, its unrivaled market leadership, athlete-driven storytelling, and broadening product portfolio underscore a compelling long-term growth narrative. The company’s strategic focus on accelerated innovation, diversified offerings and a strengthened retail and digital ecosystem positions NIKE to capture shifting consumer trends and drive sustainable shareholder value across key global markets.

However, near-term headwinds, most notably in the lifestyle segment, ongoing Greater China challenges, and the complex task of realigning inventory, warrant a measured stance on the stock. Investors will do well to gauge how effectively NIKE stabilizes sales, preserves margins, and navigates its digital and international transitions before making fresh commitments. For current NKE shareholders, maintaining one’s position through the upcoming report may offer the clearest line of sight into the company’s operational progress and strategic trajectory.

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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Heritage Christian Academy Names Ashton Craft Head Volleyball Coach (w/VIDEO)

Heritage Christian Academy Names Ashton Craft Head Volleyball Coach (w/VIDEO) | Your Sports Edge 2021 Loading… Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 12; moto g 5G (2022) Build/S2SA32.1-54-13; wv) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Chrome/138.0.7204.179 Mobile Safari/537.36 486fe426bb053981af31d747acdb0291a6a0082c 1 Link 0

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Men’s U21 National Team Wins Gold at 2025 Pan American Cup in Calgary

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U21 National Team ended an undefeated run at the 2025 NORCECA U21 Men’s Pan American Cup by capturing the gold medal with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) victory over host Canada on Sunday night in Calgary. In similar fashion to its preliminary round win […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U21 National Team ended an undefeated run at the 2025 NORCECA U21 Men’s Pan American Cup by capturing the gold medal with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) victory over host Canada on Sunday night in Calgary. In similar fashion to its preliminary round win when the two teams met, the U.S. won the first two sets, dropped the third set and clinched the win in the fourth set.

“I am so proud of this group of guys, the staff and everybody involved with this. Where we were a week ago in Colorado Springs coming together and implementing systems, to see this group play as clean as they did throughout the week, I am really proud of them,” U.S. head coach John Hawks said.

Both teams finished the match with 44 kills with the U.S. holding an 11-7 advantage in blocks. Canada served three of the five aces. The U.S. recorded seven fewer errors (41-34).

Outside hitter and 2025 Pan American Cup Most Valuable Player Sebastiano Sani led all players with 15 kills, 18 points and 10 digs, adding two blocks and an ace. Riggs Guy, who was voted the best spiker totaled 11 points on nine kills and two blocks. Sani was chosen as the tournament’s second-best spiker.

Guy and libero Kellen Larson led the team with six successful receptions with Larson also contributing eight digs. Opposite Kainoa Wade registered 10 kills, six of which came in the fourth set, and added six digs.

Middle blocker Tre Jordan scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks, while fellow middle Micah Goss posted a match-best four blocks with three kills for seven points. Setter Trent Taliaferro delivered 28 assists and added a block and an ace.

With the first set tied at seven, the U.S. went on a 5-1 run to take a 12-8 lead with a Goss kill and Sanoi block starting the run. Canada came back out of its timeout to score four points in a row for another tie. When Canada went up 15-14, its first lead since 2-1, the U.S. called its first timeout.

The score was tied seven times after that before a miscommunication on Canada’s behalf gave the U.S. a 23-22 before the 11th U.S. service error of the set. A Sani kill gave the U.S. set point, but Canada saved it with a quick side out. Canada’s service error brought up set point again and Goss ended the set with a block. Sani led all players with five points on four kills and a block. Four U.S. players contributed two points.

A Jordan kill and two Canada hitting errors gave the U.S. a 12-10 lead, the first two-point lead for either team in the second set. Sani followed with the first ace of the match, prompting a Canada timeout. Back-to-back Jordan kills extended the U.S. advantage to five points and complete a 6-0 run.

Canada used a triple block to score three consecutive points and cut the lead to three, 17-14, before a U.S. timeout. After a service error, Canada took advantage of three hitting errors and a kill off the block to square the set at 18-18. Guy recorded a kill to put the U.S. back out in front and a strong dig from Larson led to a Wade kill for a 20-18 lead.

Canada scored the next point and had a swing for a tie, but a Goss block put the U.S. ahead 21-19. The lead moved to three on Canada’s sixth hitting error of the set. Blocks by Taliaferro and Sani ran the lead back to five, 24-19. Canada saved two set points before a service error moved the U.S. within a set of capturing the gold medal. Sani led the U.S. again in the second set with four points on two kills, a block and an ace.

Sani recorded five early kills to give the U.S. a 9-6 lead in the third set. Canada went on an 11-4 run to take its biggest lead of the match at four points, 17-13. Trailing 19-15, the U.S. scored three consecutive points with back-to-back kills by Guy cutting the deficit to one. A kill and an ace by Canada pushed the lead back to three points and the U.S. was not able to draw closer than two points. Sani finished with six kills with Guy and Goss each scoring four points.

With the fourth set tied at 12, the U.S. started a 4-0 run after two strong digs from Taliaferro and another by Wade helped the U.S. outlast Canada on a long rally that ended with a hitting error. A Sani kill made it 14-12 and a Taliaferro ace completed the run.

A Sani kill and Jordan block ran the U.S. advantage to five points, 18-13. The teams exchanged the next six points before the U.S. scored back-to-back points on a Wade kill and a hitting error for a 23-16 lead. Another Wade kill set up match point. After a Canada sideout, the U.S. clinched the gold medal on Wade’s fifth kill of the set. Jordan added four points on two kills and a pair of blocks.

2025 Men’s U21 National Team

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, School/Club, USAV Region)

1 Kellen Larson (L, 5-9, Irvine, Calif., Long Beach State, Southern California)
5 Marek Turner (OH, 6-6, Long Beach, Calif., Team Rockstar, Southern California)
6 Victor Loiola (OH, 6-4, Manhattan Beach, Calif., N/A, Southern California)
7 Trent Taliaferro (S, 6-5, San Clemente, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)
8 Jacob Little-Phillips (S, 6-2, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park HS, Florida Region)
9 Tre Jordan (MB, 6-10, Mesa, Ariz., Grand Canyon, Arizona)
10 Johnny Dykstra (L, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Southern California, Southern California)
15 Joshua Aruya (MB, 6-9, Mission Viejo, Calif., UC Santa Barbara, Southern California)
17 Riggs Guy (OH, 6-3, Newport Beach, Calif., UC Santa Barbara, Southern California/Southern Nevada)
18 Kainoa Wade (OPP, 6-10, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha Region)
22 Sebastiano Sani (OH, 6-8, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Long Beach State, Chesapeake)
23 Micah Goss (MB, 6-6, Santa Barbara, Calif., UC Irvine, Southern California)

Alternates
2 Roan Alviar (L, 5-11, Hayward, Calif., Princeton, Northern California)
4 Aidan Klein (MB, 6-10, Evanston, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
11 Finn Kearney (OH, 6-5, Phoenix, Ariz., Univ. of Hawaii, Arizona)
14 Justin Todd (MB, 6-7, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Hawaii, Aloha)
19 Grayson Bradford (OPP, 6-11, Redondo Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
24 Kahale Clini (OH, 6-3, Honolulu, Hawaii, UCLA, Aloha)

Coaches
Head Coach: John Hawks (UCLA)
Assistant Coach: Donan Cruz (Ball State)
Assistant Coach: Matthew Pollock (Pepperdine)
Performance Analyst: Thomas Shaffer (Loyola Chicago)
Athletic Trainer: Hazel Peterson (USOPTC)
Team Lead: Brandon Oswald (NTDP)

Schedule/Results

Aug. 5: USA def. Chile, 3-0 (25-15 25-14, 25-15)
Aug. 6: USA def. Barbados, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-14)
Aug. 7: USA def. Canada, 3-1 (25-11, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22)
Aug. 8: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 26-24)
Aug. 9: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18)
Aug. 10: Gold Medal Match: USA def. 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18)



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Lion Athletics celebrates 15 Summer 2025 graduates

Story Links COMMERCE – East Texas A&M University department of athletics celebrates 15 student-athletes that participated in August commencement activities over the weekend.   Eleven student-athletes received their undergraduate degrees, while four received graduate degrees. The graduate commencement ceremony took place on Friday afternoon, while the undergraduates commencement ceremonies were held on Saturday. The following is a list […]

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Lion Athletics celebrates 15 Summer 2025 graduates

COMMERCE – East Texas A&M University department of athletics celebrates 15 student-athletes that participated in August commencement activities over the weekend.  
 
Eleven student-athletes received their undergraduate degrees, while four received graduate degrees.
 
The graduate commencement ceremony took place on Friday afternoon, while the undergraduates commencement ceremonies were held on Saturday.
 
The following is a list of current or former student-athletes that participated in August commencement activities. Those marked with ‘*’ received their graduate degrees.
 

 
-ETAMU-

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Richard F. Nye 1945-2025 – Franklin County Free Press

It is with great love and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Richard F. Nye, affectionately known as Coach Nye, who died peacefully on August 4, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 80. Richard F Nye Born on July 28, 1945, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Richard was the beloved son of Isabelle […]

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It is with great love and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Richard F. Nye, affectionately known as Coach Nye, who died peacefully on August 4, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 80.

Richard F Nye
Richard F Nye

Born on July 28, 1945, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Richard was the beloved son of Isabelle and Richard Nye.

He was a standout athlete at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, where he broke multiple records in football and track, earned All-State honors, and played in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic.

He began his college football career at the University of Maryland, later transferring to West Chester University, where he continued to shine and played in two Tangerine Bowl games.

After earning his degree, Richard began a lifelong career in education and coaching. He taught and coached in Pennsylvania during the 1970s at the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children and Chambersburg High School, while also playing semi-professional football for the Chambersburg Cardinals. He later served as an assistant football coach at Shippensburg University before relocating to Colorado.

In Denver, Coach Nye became a respected educator and coach at George Washington High School, where he taught English and coached football and track and field for more than 20 years. He was part of the most successful football coaching staff in Denver Public Schools history, helping secure seven city championships. He was honored as Coach of the Year by Denver Public Schools—the first assistant coach ever to receive the award—and was selected to coach in the Colorado All-State Football Game. As the head track and field coach, he earned multiple additional coaching honors including Denver Public Schools Coach of the Year.

After retiring from teaching, he continued coaching at Eaglecrest High School, Denver South High School, and Denver Christian Academy. He also served over a decade as a Project Manager for the Jobs by George Foundation, supporting youth employment, and was a founding contributor to the Denver Youth Initiative.

Coach Nye was known not only for his fierce dedication to coaching but for the warmth and wisdom he shared with everyone he met. His signature phrase, “Life is Good,” became his life’s motto—one he shared at the end of every game, in every classroom, and with every friend.

Richard’s personality was as vibrant as his legacy. He loved telling stories (even the ones you heard a dozen times), scratch-off tickets, candy, Arnold Palmers, gambling, pizza, ice cream, and movies. His kindness and humor made him a cherished friend, mentor, and confidant.

He is survived by his loving wife, Leslie Nye, who respectfully requests privacy at this time.

He also leaves behind his beloved children and grandchildren: daughter Danielle Teter, her husband Garry, and their daughters Kylee, Jessica, and Alyssa; daughter Kristin Nye and her husband Shawn Ray; son Aaron Trench, his wife Christine, and their son Austin; brother Dirk Nye, his partner Regine Bendelow; and niece Corry Nye and her husband Lee Lazzara.

Arrangements are entrusted to Kramer Affordable Cremation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Coach Nye’s name to one of the following organizations:

The Alzheimer’s Association

Donations may be made in memory of Coach Nye to support research and care services:

  • Onlinewww.alz.org
  • By mail: Alzheimer’s Association
    P.O. Box 96011
    Washington, DC 20090-6011

The Jobs by George Foundation

Coach Nye devoted many years to this foundation, which provides employment and educational opportunities for Denver-area youth. Donations in his name may support scholarship initiatives for students.

  • By mail:
    Jobs by George Foundation
    c/o Kleinman, Guerra & Co. PC
    6300 S Syracuse Way, Suite 430
    Centennial, CO 80111

Though he is no longer with us in body, his spirit, teachings, and laughter will continue to live on in the countless lives he touched.

“Life is Good.”


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Minnesota Twins infielder Ryan Fitzgerald homers for first MLB hit during first career start

“The window was closing,” Fitzgerald said. “The older you get, the less chance you have of making it. I was headed to Mexico this winter. I played in the Dominican [Winter League], and I had an offer to play in Mexico for the season. Then the Twins offered me [a minor league contract] at the […]

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Minnesota Twins infielder Ryan Fitzgerald homers for first MLB hit during first career start

“The window was closing,” Fitzgerald said. “The older you get, the less chance you have of making it. I was headed to Mexico this winter. I played in the Dominican [Winter League], and I had an offer to play in Mexico for the season. Then the Twins offered me [a minor league contract] at the end of January. It all worked out.”

Fitzgerald, who added a single in the fifth inning and caught a foul ball while falling over the tarp past third base, carried his home run ball to his postgame news conference. He has a lot of memorabilia, particularly bobbleheads, at his home, but he plans to give the ball to his parents.

Fortunately, the ball fell back onto the field, so he didn’t have to work out a trade for the ball.

“I don’t think anyone wants my stuff,” Fitzgerald said. “They’d probably ask me for Keaschall’s stuff.”

For the first time since Oct. 5, 2022 — 440 games ago — the Twins started a game without Ryan Jeffers or Christian Vázquez behind the plate.

Mickey Gasper started at catcher Sunday, ending the nearly three-year streak. Jeffers served as the designated hitter while Vázquez is on the 10-day injured list after he was hospitalized with an infection in his left shoulder.

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Hitter Profiles

The stretch run is the best time in fantasy baseball to find cheap rate-of-return upgrades.  While teams don’t expand rosters like they once did, there is still plenty of opportunity with August 15th being a key date for minor league call-ups. Players called up after this time should retain rookie eligibility going into 2026 and […]

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Hitter Profiles

The stretch run is the best time in fantasy baseball to find cheap rate-of-return upgrades.  While teams don’t expand rosters like they once did, there is still plenty of opportunity with August 15th being a key date for minor league call-ups. Players called up after this time should retain rookie eligibility going into 2026 and provide an opportunity to gain draft picks for their teams with strong finishes in the Rookie of the Year voting.  While teams might be looking to jump-start their hotshot prospects, these same players might just be fantasy gold for the last month-plus. This week, our hitter profiles will dig into a 4-pack of hitters that are likely to get the call in short order. I pulled scouting notes, reviewed draft pedigree, and minor-league production so you can make roster moves with receipts, not guesses.

Dylan Beavers – Baltimore

Player Pedigree: A former Cal star, Beavers was a Competitive Balance Round A pick by the Orioles in 2022.  The high draft slot came with expectations of an all-around contributor with his size and blend of tools (6’5”, long reach, speed + some pop), but he has generally been seen as a mid-tier prospect and does not appear on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospect list.

Minor-league Performance: Beavers has shown a little bit of everything in the minors with his pop, speed, and gap power. This has resulted in a few double-digit home run seasons with plenty of stolen bases in the minors. This season in Triple-A, he has slashed .309/.425/.536 walking almost as often as he strikes out. In 88 games, he has hit 18 homers and stolen 22 bases, good for a 158 wRC+. That production is exactly what fantasy teams covet late in the year with the power/speed combination.   

Fantasy Outlook: Beavers should get a cup of coffee after Aug. 15 and profiles as a late-season option for power and steals. With Dylan Carlson being the key impediment to playing time, there is little concern with getting at bats once the call-up occurs. He should be a high ceiling profile in roto and fantasy points formats thanks to multi-category contributions. This is a prospect with a strong arrow pointing up.

Highlights:

https://twitter.com/NorfolkTides/status/1953243387701744111/video/1

JJ Wetherholt – St. Louis

Player Pedigree: Wetherholt was a college breakout and the Cardinals took him with a top-10 pick in 2024 after a monster run at West Virginia where he won the Division I batting title and carried huge on-base numbers. That pedigree explains why the organization has been aggressive with him. Ultimately, struggles with hamstring injuries dropped him down the draft board last year when he should have been in conversation as the number one overall pick. At mid-season, he sat as the number 15 overall prospect for MLB Pipeline.

Minor-league Performance: Wetherholt has been raking at the upper levels, hitting for average with quality power and on-base skills. Recent Triple-A numbers have been incredibly impressive (.319, six HR, two steals, 19 runs, and 13 RBI in only 19 games) and make him a very plausible late-August call for a club that needs to look toward the future. He has a top 10 percentile plate approach along with top 10 percentile power metrics in his short Triple-A sample and has little left to prove down on the farm.

Fantasy Outlook: Wetherholt is a batting-average and runs machine with sneaky power and speed.  He is an immediate add upon call-up and should be a long-term stalwart with potential to be a top few round draft pick in the fantasy game. A big boost in OBP/points formats and a stable batting-average play for the stretch run if and win he earns a role with the big league club.

Highlights:

Samuel Basallo – Baltimore

Player Pedigree: Basallo is younger and more of an organizational find for Baltimore (signed as an international free agent and developed in their system). He’s not a traditional draft-slot prospect like the college kids above, but the scouting grades show a legitimate hit/power profile and premium raw exit velocity that projects to carry. Basallo checks in as the eighth overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Minor-league Performance: Basallo’s surface numbers have had bumps as he’s adjusted to advanced pitching, and a small Triple-A sample where he struggled a bit in 2023.  However, in 2024 he has shown growth as a 20 year-old at the minors highest level. Across 72 games, he has hit .277 with 23 homers and 62 RBI while maintaining a 23% strikeout rate. The strong strike-zone approach keeps him capable of reaching his long-term power potential. He has struggled to a degree with breaking balls in the minors, but we can write some of that off to growth that he will need to have at his young age.

Fantasy Outlook: Basallo is a high-variance, high-ceiling addition for the rest of this season. If he’s promoted after Aug. 15 and gets regular ABs, prioritize him in AL-only or power-needy redraft leagues; however, he’s more of a risky add unless you know he’ll play daily. Long-term, Basallo has substantial upside.

Highlights:

Jordan Lawlar – Arizona

Player Pedigree: Lawlar was a top-10 pick (6th overall in 2021) and has top-tier athleticism in his scouting reports. Injuries have stalled his path at times, but the tools and draft slot are why we still get excited about his potential. At mid-season, he still checks in on prospect reports despite already having major league experience. He sits at number 10 overall on the prospect rankings from MLB Pipeline.

Minor-league Performance: Lawlar’s professional timeline is a mixed bag with some electric flashes at the Triple-A level. In 2023, at Triple-A he has hit .319 with 10 homers and 18 steals in only 53 games. He does have some big-league exposure alread,y but has generally scuffled while trying to find his footing, resulting in a negative wRC+ across a handful of MLB games. When healthy, he shows above-average bat speed and run tools; when not, he’s struggled with consistency. Still, a late-season look could be the jump-start he needs.   

Fantasy Outlook: Lawlar is a boom-or-bust late-season flyer in redraft leagues as he is balancing health and adjustments. If you have bench space and need steals, then he is worthy of the chance. From a long-term dynasty viewpoint, he is still an absolute building block for fantasy owners who might have a chance to buy a bit lower than others on this list.

Highlights:

How to Prioritize:

  1. Wetherholt — Highest floor for immediate fantasy impact (AVG, runs, on-base); top priority if he’s promoted and slotted into the lineup.
  2. Beavers — Best multi-category upside for power + steals; roster if you need late-season pop or extra SB.
  3. Basallo — Long-term dynasty must-own, but redraft speculative add depending on playing time. His elite exit velocity makes him an intriguing long-term impact bat.   
  4. Lawlar — Swing for the fences on a deeper league perspective due to inability to put it all together at the major league level so far.  His recent injury history makes him riskier in short-term formats.   

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