The Carolina League power rankings will return next week, once we know a little bit more about how the teams stack up in the second half of the season. In the meantime, it’s worth taking a look at the league’s eight teams and how much different they look than they did in the first half.

LYNCHBURG HILLCATS

First-half record 45-24, won Northern title

Who’s gone? 3B Pedro Alvarez (.247 BA, 14 HR, 55 RBIs); OF Miles Durham (.296-7-39); P Michael Dubee (2-1, 1.45 ERA, 6 saves); P Dustin Molleken (3-1, 3.48, 1); OF Maiko Loyola (.198-5-22, released); P Christian Castorri (2-1, 7.20, released).

Who’s new? IF Chase d’Arnaud (Low-A West Virginia); OF Jamie Romak (Double-A Altoona); OF/C Eric Fryer (trade with Yankees); P Ramon Aguero (West Virginia); P Harvey Garcia (GCL Pirates); OF Ciro Rosero (Short-Season State College)

Outlook Essentially, there’s nothing to play for in the second half, as the first-half champion hosts three of five playoff games in the divisional round. So the Pirates moved the team’s top power hitters—Alvarez and Durham—to Altoona. There’s still a logjam of starting pitching, one that will only get more complicated when Ronald Uviedo comes off the disabled list. The Pirates are doing a lot of defensive experimenting in Lynchburg, giving d’Arnaud and Jose De Los Santos time at different positions, and they want to work Fryer at catcher. Probably not enough offense left to compete for the second-half title.

WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS

First-half record 38-31, tied for second in North

Who’s gone? SS Jeff Bianchi (.300-4-28); OF David Lough (.320-5-30); CP Aaron Hartsock (1-0, 0.48, 11 saves); P Ben Swaggerty (3-1, 1.64, 2 saves); P Everett Teaford (7-1, 2.39)

Who’s new? 3B Chase Fontaine (Low-A Burlington); 3B Antonio Jimenez (Burlington); 3B Josh Johnson (Double-A Northwest Arkansas); P Zach Peterson (Burlington).

Outlook 3B Mike Moustaskas, the Royals’ top prospect, will probably remain in Wilmington for the rest of the season, giving the Blue Rocks an anchor in the middle of the lineup. With Danny Duffy still around, the Rocks have a legit top-of-the-rotation starter. Might be the team to beat in the second half.

POTOMAC NATIONALS

First-half record 37-30, tied for second in North

Who’s gone? P Clint Everts (3-0, 0.90, 2 saves); P Andrew Kown (1-1, 4.50, 3).

Who’s new? P Terrence Engles (Low-A Hagerstown); P Jesse Estrada (minor-league FA).

Outlook The first-half lineup returns intact, which is a good thing considering the Nats lead the CL with 67 home runs. Will probably duel with Wilmington for the second-half title.

FREDERICK KEYS

First-half record 31-38, fourth in North

Who’s gone? P Brian Matusz (4-2, 2.16), P Timothy Bascom (4-5, 3.40), P Luis Lebron (2-3, 3.00, 11 saves).

Who’s new? P Pat Egan (Low-A Delmarva); P Joseph Esposito (Delmarva); P Eddie Gamboa (Delmarva); P Ryan Rodriguez (Double-A Bowie); P Richard Zagone (Delmarva)

Outlook Frederick lost its best starting pitchers and its top reliever in Lebron, the only reliable guy in the bullpen. The Keys played horrible defense in the first half, and unless that changes, there won’t be a playoff push.

WINSTON-SALEM DASH

First-half record 38-30, won South title

Who’s gone? OF Christian Marrero (.314-7-34); P Daniel Hudson (4-3, 3.40); P Henry Mabee (4-1, 3.06, 8 saves); P Charles Shirek (8-1, 3.88)

Who’s new? OF Tyler Kuhn (Low-A Kannapolis); SS Luis Sierra (Kannapolis); P Justin Edwards (Kannapolis); P Daniel Hudson (Kannapolis); P Sergio Santos (Kannapolis).

Outlook The White Sox have been pushing people through Winston-Salem, with Jordan Danks, Marrero and Shirek already gone to Birmingham. Catcher Logan Johnson has been smoking hot of late, recording four hits June 28 and five hits last night against the Hillcats.

SALEM RED SOX

First-half record 32-37, second in South

Who’s gone? 3B Jonathan Hee (.233-1-18, reassigned to Low-A Greenville).

Who’s new? C Tim Federowicz (Greenville); OF David Mailman (Greenville); SS Yamaico Navarro (Short-Season Low-A Lowell); 1B Anthony Rizzo (Greenville).

Outlook The Red Sox were awful offensively in the first half, and the addition of Federowicz and Navarro gives Salem some extra pop in the lineup. The pitching steadily got better toward the close of the half. The ingredients are there for a playoff run.

KINSTON INDIANS

First-half record 27-41, third in South

Who’s gone? DH Nate Recknagel (.296-6-28, re-assigned to Low-A Lake County).

Who’s new? C Doug Pickens (Lake County); P Santo Frias (Lake County); IF Ole Sheldon (free-agent, independent league).

Outlook The Indians dealt with a ton of injuries and call-ups in the first half, and they’re not off to a great start in the second half.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS

First-half record 25-42, fourth in South

Who’s gone? SS Robert Marcial (.185-1-8); P Richard Sullivan (2-5, 4.16); C Matt Kennelly (.195, re-assigned to Low-A Rome).

Who’s new? P Jacob Thompson (Rome); C Jesus Sucre (Rome).

Outlook Pitching injuries killed the Pelicans in the first half, but with the addition of Thompson and Cole Rohrbough pitching better, Myrtle should be better in the second half. Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are hitting their stride offensively. Myrtle should battle Salem for the second-half title in the South.