With the final third of 2025 finally here, that can only mean one thing: playoff baseball is rapidly approaching. As MLB begins its final month of regular-season play, some teams and the Pack9 alumni on their rosters have begun to set their sights on The Commissioner’s Trophy, while others have been forced to look even further. Nevertheless, let’s take a look to see how five of MLB’s Pack Pros have performed to this point.
Carlos Rodón, New York Yankees, LHP
With news emerging back in March that New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole would miss the entirety of the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, Rodón was quickly thrust to the top of the Yankees rotation.
Rodón has seemingly fully embraced his new role this season, putting up his best numbers since joining the Yankees. Boasting a 3.18 ERA and 15-7 record across 28 games started, Rodón returned to All-Star form this year, earning the prestigious honor for the third time in his career and the first whilst donning the Pinstripes.
As the Yankees continue to battle for the AL East division title, they currently find themselves sitting atop the AL Wild Card. With aspirations of returning to the World Series undoubtedly filling their clubhouse, it goes without saying that Rodón will have to continue to perform if the Yankees hope to return to the Fall Classic this coming October.
Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies, SS
Trea Turner time and time again shows why he’s worth the $300 million contract the Phillies signed him to back in 2023, and this season has been no different.
A notable snub for the All-Star game in Atlanta back in July, Turner currently finds himself atop the National League leaderboard in hits with 171, second in all of MLB to only Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. Turner’s ability to hit for contact has him posting a batting average of .301, which in the current day and age of baseball that is frequently dominated by elite pitching, is often unheard of.
Most noticeably missing from Turner’s game this season has been his ability to hit for power at home. This season at Citizens Bank Park, Turner only has two home runs, with the first not coming until Aug. 18, nearly a full five months into the season. Nevertheless, this home run proved to be extra special for the Phillies’ shortstop as this long ball signified Turner’s 1500 major league hits.
The Phillies currently sit atop the NL East with a comfortable 6.5-game lead over the New York Mets and are primed to host playoff baseball in Citizens Bank Park next month. If the city of Philadelphia hopes to celebrate a World Series title this season, Turner will surely be a pivotal piece to the Phillies reaching MLB’s mountain top.
Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants, C
The San Francisco Giants have been a catching factory in the 21st century. Developing talent such as Buster Posey, Bailey continues to perform as one of the most promising defensive catchers in all of MLB.
Primed to likely win his second-straight NL Gold Glove award at the catching position, the offensive side of the ball has been a completely different story for Bailey. Posting career-lows in batting average at .206 and home runs at two, Bailey’s offensive struggles have highlighted his defensive strengths more than normal this season.
Regardless of his woes in the batter’s box, Bailey provided Giants’ fans with a moment they surely will never forget. On July 9, down 3-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the ninth inning, Bailey hit a walk-off inside-the-park home run to win the game 4-3, becoming only the third catcher in MLB history to notch such a feat and the first since 1926.
Although the Giants find themselves firmly out of the playoff race, it’s quite obvious that Bailey will be the primary force behind home plate in San Francisco for years to come.
Andrew Knizner, San Francisco Giants, C
After fighting for a backup spot in the Washington Nationals’ catching tandem that he failed to win, Knizner began his season in the minor leagues with the Nationals’ AAA team, the Rochester Red Wings, with hopes of eventually playing in our nation’s capital for the major-league squad.
Knizner spent a few months with the team before being released in the middle of May. He was then promptly picked up by the San Francisco Giants and spent a few weeks with the AAA Sacramento River Cats before ultimately pairing up with fellow Pack Pro Patrick Bailey to complete the Giants’ backstop duo.
Much like many seasons before, Knizner’s offensive struggles plagued his season as, like his fellow catcher on the team, he’s hit for a batting average under .220, his being .212. However, unlike Bailey, Knizner’s defensive skills behind the plate have not been as promising, leaving his roster spot for next season very much up in the air.
Will Wilson, Cleveland Guardians, 3B
As the newest Pack9 alumni to earn the prestigious title of “MLB player,” Will Wilson has certainly had a 2025 season to remember.
Wilson was selected back in 2019 by the Los Angeles Angels with the 15th overall pick in that year’s draft. After a flurry of transactions that saw him sent to the Giants organization, Wilson ultimately made his MLB debut on April 23 with the Cleveland Guardians.
Like many rookies in the major leagues, Wilson has spent a good amount of time this season playing for both the major league team in Cleveland and the AAA team in Columbus. In his time at the major-league level, Wilson has started his career batting .192, showcasing the ever-common need for time to adjust to major league pitching.
With the likely future Hall-of-Famer and Guardians cornerstone player José Ramírez currently manning their hot corner, it may be some time before Wilson sees consistent playing time in Cleveland.
