On July 2,2019,Báez signed with the San Diego Padres as an international free agent.[4] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Báez made his professional debut in 2021 with the Dominican Summer League Padres,posting a 4.25 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 12 games (10 starts).[6]
Báez spent the 2022 season with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Padres,making 9 appearances (7 starts) and logging a 1–4 record and 3.82 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 30+2⁄3 innings of work.[7] He split 2023 between the Single–A Lake Elsinore Storm and High–A Fort Wayne TinCaps. In 21 games (18 starts) for the two affiliates, Báez registered a combined 7–3 record and 3.84 ERA with 99 strikeouts across 98+1⁄3 innings pitched.[8]
Báez split the 2024 campaign between High–A Fort Wayne and the Double–A San Antonio Missions, compiling a 7–4 record and 2.99 ERA with 109 strikeouts across 129+1⁄3 innings pitched over 26 starts. He was subsequently named San Diego's minor league pitcher of the year.[9] Following the season, the Padres added Báez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10]
Baum signed with Oakland for $900,000 and made his professional debut with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the Class A Short SeasonNew York–Penn League.[26][27] Over 11 starts,he went 0–3 with a 4.70 ERA,striking out 34 batters over 30+2⁄3 innings.[28] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,but was added to Oakland's 60-man player pool and spent the summer training at their alternate site.[29] Baum missed the beginning of the 2021 season and did not make his season debut until mid-August with the Rookie-levelArizona Complex League Athletics with whom he gave up 17 earned runs and twenty walks over 12+2⁄3 innings.[30] He was assigned to the Stockton Ports of the Single-ACalifornia League to open the 2022 season,but was reassigned to the Arizona Complex League.[31] He continued to struggle with control,going 1–1 with a 17.00 ERA,47 walks,and 32 strikeouts over 27 innings between both teams.[32] Baum split the 2023 season between the Lansing Lugnuts of the High-AMidwest League and the Midland RockHounds of the Double-ATexas League,appearing in 39 games and going 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA,62 strikeouts,and 25 walks over 48+1⁄3 innings.[33]
Cushing signed with Oakland and split his first professional season between the Arizona League Athletics and Vermont Lake Monsters,going 3–6 with a 6.00 ERA over 42 innings. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season.[36] He opened the 2021 season with the Stockton Ports and was promoted to the Lansing Lugnuts and Midland RockHounds during the season.[37] Over 21 games (19 starts) between the three teams,Cushing went 7–7 with a 3.22 ERA and 111 strikeouts over 111+2⁄3 innings.[31] He began the 2022 season with Midland and was promoted to the Las Vegas Aviators in mid-June.[38] After struggling to a 14.14 ERA over 21 innings with the Aviators,he was demoted back to Midland in mid-July.[39] Over 19 starts with Midland,he went 11–3 with a 3.67 ERA and 95 strikeouts over 110+1⁄3 innings.[40] Cushing spent the majority of the 2023 season with Midland,but also appeared in three games for Las Vegas. Over 31 games (21 starts) between both teams,he went 8-6 with a 5.36 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 124+1⁄3 innings.[41]
Jump made seven appearances as a freshman for UCLA in 2022,going 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA.[44] Jump underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2023 season.[45] After the season,he entered the transfer portal and transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU).[46] Jump pitched in 17 games (making 15 starts) for LSU in 2024,going 6-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 83 innings.[47] He was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the 73rd overall pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.[48] He signed with the team for $2 million.[49]
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