Latest news with #HomeRunDerby
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Ramirez home run backs up Junk start, keys Marlins' victory over the Braves
The moment Augustín Ramírez swung, it was clear the ball was gone. It landed 436 feet away in the left-field seats — the second-longest home run of the season for the Miami Marlins, exactly one week after Ramírez launched the longest one 447 feet at Washington. Ramírez's three-run blast in the third inning Friday night provided the Marlins more than enough offense in a 6-2 win over the Braves to open their three-game series at loanDepot park. The Braves entered having won seven of their past 10 games. In his first MLB start since 2023, reliever Janson Junk delivered an impressive outing, giving up just one run on five hits over five innings with five strikeouts and no walks. 'We've seen the same today what he had shown in the other roles he had been used in up to this point — quality stuff, the ability to mix pitches, get misses, pound the strike zone,' said Marlins' manager Clayton McCullough. 'We expected Janson, with this being a start compared to coming out of the bullpen, would be equally as prepared and would be able to go out there and throw as he has. And it was another effective outing for him.' Junk threw 61 of 79 pitches for strikes and threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 20 batters he faced. 'The mentality is that every single inning I wanted to step on it a little bit more,' Junk said. 'I've gone through phases where I go through a lull, so I was trying to break that habit of cruise control, and every inning go up a gear and dominate even more than the inning before.' Junk, whose seven previous MLB starts came between 2021 and 2023, said he understands his strengths now as opposed to then when 'there was a lot of searching.' While Junk gave the Marlins the start they were hoping for on the mound, Marlins' hitters did precisely what they needed to do against Braves starter Didier Fuentes, who was making his MLB debut. Fuentes, who turned 20 years old three days earlier, became the youngest Braves' starting pitcher in 55 years and the majors' youngest starter on the mound since the Dodgers' Julio Urías started against the Phillies at 19 years and 362 days old on Aug. 8, 2016. Liam Hicks' RBI single in the second inning opened the scoring. Eric Wagaman's ground-rule double in the sixth off reliever Aaron Bummer gave the Marlins a 5-1 lead. And in the seventh, Ramírez singled off Pierce Johnson for his fourth RBI of the night, matching a career high. Ramirez's 11 home runs lead the Marlins and all MLB rookies while his 22 extra-base hits rank second only to the Athletics' Jacob Wilson (24). McCullough said he would 'love to see' Ramírez participate in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game. 'Augustín could put on an absolute show in an environment like that and certainly has the power to do it,' he said. 'That would be really cool for him and for the nation to continue to get a chance to look at him.' Ramírez said he would welcome the chance to take part in the competition. In addition to his offense, the Marlins got some stellar defensive plays, including two back-to-back in the third inning. Shortstop Otto Lopez dove to stop a sharply hit ground ball at the edge of the outfield grass and from his knees made an accurate three-bounce throw for the out. Left fielder Kyle Stowers then made a sliding catch. In the sixth, center fielder Dane Myers robbed Marcell Ozuna of a home run. Myers scaled the wall, and while he couldn't secure the catch, he brought the ball back onto the field with his glove. Ozuna was forced to settle for a double and was eventually stranded at second base. 'We know we're going to have to play high-quality defense to win games at this level,' McCullough said. THIS AND THAT ▪ Reliever Ronny Henriquez pitched a scoreless seventh inning on his 25th birthday. ▪ Robinson Piña made his major-league debut in the eighth inning. Piña retired three of four batters, the lone blemish a 430-foot homer by Austin Riley. 'He kept attacking and throwing strikes,' McCullough said. ▪ Rookie Heriberto Hernández was the designated hitter Friday — the ninth time in the past 12 games that he's been in the starting lineup. He was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts after entering the game with 13 hits in his past 29 at-bats (.448), including three doubles and a home run. ▪ Right fielder Jesús Sánchez played his 500th career game.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Wrigley Field deserves another All-Star Game, and the Chicago Cubs should get ready to host in 2027
Now that the City Council has done its part to get an All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, approving a measure to provide city and state funding to help subsidize the Chicago Cubs' plan to install security bollards around the ballpark, the ball is in the hands of Major League Baseball. Or perhaps we should say MLB has had the ball in its hands all along and has yet to drop it. But now MLB has no excuse not to award the Cubs the 2027 All-Star Game, since the security measure was the last issue to be resolved. The Cubs finally got help from the politicians, and an official announcement should come soon. Team spokesperson Jennifer Martinez said MLB has not made a decision, but the Cubs remain hopeful the game finally will return to Wrigley after a 37-year absence. So kudos to the Cubs for their long and winding pursuit to secure their first game since 1990 after failing to get something done through the last two mayors, Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot. You have to give the Rickettses credit for persistence. When asked at a news conference if the Cubs would get their big event, Mayor Brandon Johnson replied: 'I certainly hope so. I do. Look, I think at some point Jesus the Christ is going to return and claim my soul for eternity. Just have to wait until that great gettin' up in the morning, won't we?' I'm not sure what Johnson's soul has to do with getting Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge to Wrigley to aim for the rooftops, but whatever. Hopefully he can pick Pete Crow-Armstrong out of a lineup, but who knows? Wrigley is baseball's mecca, and it deserves to get its moment in the spotlight. George Will, in an article for the 1990 All-Star program, once wrote that 'a baseball park, like Wrigley Field, is a place to play… (and has an) intimacy that makes fans participants in, rather than mere spectators at, an event.' That was evident again Thursday in the Cubs' 8-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers when a fan climbed the netting behind the plate to pull down Sal Frelick's bat after Frelick lost control and sent it flying. His adventure resulted in him getting the bat, bringing cheers, being escorted out by security, bringing boos, and then returning to his seat, bringing a loud ovation and high-fiving from fellow fans. It was the sort of Wrigley Field moment that makes it a unicorn among major-league ballparks. Frelick found the fan after the game and gave him a bat, bringing closure on a wild day that included another Crow-Armstrong home run, a Cubs comeback that fell short and an inspiring pregame performance of the Black anthem and the national anthem by the Leo High School choir. The All-Star Game would be a big get for the Cubs, even though it really isn't as popular as the Home Run Derby, the real crown jewel of All-Star weekend. 'I never really watched the game, I watched the Derby,' Crow Armstrong said the other day. 'I feel like I watched one All-Star Game that I can remember, when Mike Trout got the car for winning MVP.' Crow-Armstrong clarified he didn't mean to downplay the marquee game but was simply pointing to his memories growing up in Southern California. 'I was usually playing baseball when the All-Star Game was going on,' he said. Crow-Armstrong, 23, is certain to be playing baseball when this year's All Star Game is going on next month in Atlanta, most likely as the starting center fielder for the National League. He has a huge early lead in voting and figures to be a fixture at the game for years to come if he maintains his current status as the player you can't stop watching. So look for him at Wrigley in '27 — if the Cubs get their game. What else can we expect from a 21st century special event played in an early-20th century ballpark? Expensive tickets, of course, and a scalper's paradise. At the 1990 game, one fan lamented to the Tribune's Bill Jauss that he paid $100 for a bleacher ticket. That's a small fraction of what fans can expect to pay for a bleacher ticket in '27. Photos: Chicago Cubs lose to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-7 at Wrigley FieldThere also will be more media than ever, thanks to the globalization of the game and the influx of Japanese reporters covering stars from their country. Wrigley Field's press box was full Thursday for the Cubs-Brewers game, and it's only June. Planning an All-Star Game will necessitate some outside-the-box thinking from the Cubs and MLB to figure out where everyone will fit. Maybe an auxiliary box on the roof of Murphy's Bleachers? Count me in. The rooftops no doubt will be jammed, and the bars and restaurants in the neighborhood will be packed to the gills. Wrigleyville was still a relatively insular neighborhood in '90, with a few bars and Yum-Yum Donuts within walking distance of the park. It's now closer to River North in its food and dining options, not to mention having a boutique hotel across the street. And just a guess, but Bill Murray likely will be involved in any festivities, as he was in 1990 when he served as emcee of the Home Run Derby, introducing the players. It wouldn't be a real Cubs event without Murray. I'm old enough to have been part of the Tribune's coverage of the 1990 game at Wrigley, which was so long ago that CBS, the network televising it, went with a rerun of the program 'Rescue 911' when it went into a rain delay in the seventh inning. The delay lasted more than an hour, and CBS had more than enough reporters to fill time but apparently thought fans would lose interest. The game itself was a dud — a 2-0 American League win with no fireworks. The National League mustered only two hits — a first-inning single by Will Clark and a ninth-inning single by Lenny Dykstra. There was a lot of dead time and time spent waiting on the rain to fall. Most of the fans at Wrigley had to find methods of entertainment, which included chanting 'Steroids, Steroids' at Oakland A's slugger José Canseco. 'The people were chanting steroids and flexing,' Canseco said afterward. 'I thought it was funny.' It was a different era, one that we can be nostalgic about again after so many years have passed with baseball still intact. An All-Star Game would be a chance to celebrate the ballpark and the city — and the fans who make it a special place.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
First-time Home Run Derby sluggers we want to see: Elly De La Cruz, Cal Raleigh and more
We're less than a month away from the 2025 Home Run Derby, set for July 14 at Atlanta's Truist Park, and that means it's time to daydream about which big bats will be taking their hacks in baseball's power-hitting showcase. Of course, certain names immediately jump to mind, such as Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. But they have all participated in the event before, and while baseball fans everywhere would no doubt be happy to see any of them return, let's turn our attention here to some fresher faces. Advertisement To do that, we asked six writers — three apiece from and Yahoo Sports — to each select one potential first-time Derby contestant they'd like to see at next month's event. Here are the sluggers they picked. Sign up here for MLB's daily Morning Lineup newsletter. Cal Raleigh, Mariners Raleigh is one homer away from tying Johnny Bench's 1970 record of 28 by a catcher before the All-Star break. It's mid-June. He's on pace for the greatest power-hitting season by a catcher. We need to see that in the Derby. No catcher has ever won, and no switch-hitter has won outright. Raleigh could end both of those droughts. Advertisement The Derby is about impressive home runs, but it's also about putting on a show. Raleigh can switch sides of the plate, like Adley Rutschman did in Seattle in 2023. He also has an incredible nickname. Can you imagine how the crowd might react if he has a particularly electric round? A whole stadium chanting 'Big Dumper'? We need that. — Sarah Langs, From Jac Caglianone to Elly De La Cruz, there are plenty of young MLB sluggers to get excited about — and hope to see in the Derby. (David Heringer/Yahoo Sports) (David Heringer/Yahoo Sports) Elly De La Cruz, Reds De La Cruz, still 23 years old, has appeared in only one All-Star Game. And while he got off to a slow start this season, Cincy's superstar shortstop has posted a 1.157 OPS thus far in June and looks like the club's most deserving All-Star. With his outrageous raw juice, De La Cruz would be a sensational watch in the Derby. And considering he's a switch hitter, he (like Raleigh) could pull off a Rutschman switcheroo kind of thing. Advertisement Earlier this year, De La Cruz cranked a homer 451 feet into Kansas City's fountains, his seventh career blast longer than 450 feet. In the Derby, De La Cruz would probably swing from the left side and would surely send a few moon shots flying over Truist Park's Chophouse restaurant in right field. — Jake Mintz, Yahoo Sports Oneil Cruz, Pirates The thought of Cruz hitting 120-plus mph lasers at the Home Run Derby has to become a reality at some point. Since Statcast began tracking in 2015, no hitter has hit the ball harder than Cruz, who crushed a home run with a 122.9 mph exit velocity against the Brewers on May 25, the hardest-hit ball tracked since '15. That broke the previous record, held by … Cruz, who hit a 122.4 mph single off the right-field wall at PNC Park in 2022. Advertisement With 13 home runs in his first 65 games, Cruz is tracking for the first 30-homer season of his career, in part due to his contact quality taking a big leap forward. Cruz leads all qualified hitters with a 96.6 mph exit velocity and ranks second with a 23.6% barrel rate and 59.7% hard-hit rate. That elite contact quality has shown up in a big way on his 13 home runs. Of the 78 players who have hit at least 10 home runs, nobody is hitting them harder than Cruz (110.8 mph), while his 409-foot average home run distance is only bested by nine hitters. At 26 years old, Cruz has really blossomed into a budding star, and his off-the-chart tools have started translating into real production. That makes him the perfect fit for the Derby. — Brent Maguire, Junior Caminero, Rays Caminero perfectly fits the general criteria for a first-time Derby participant. Turning 22 years old just days before the Derby, Caminero is one of the youngest players in the big leagues and has begun to establish himself as an offensive centerpiece for the Rays. The Derby is an ideal event to spotlight an ascendent young talent, and Caminero clearly fits the bill. His game-changing talent at the plate is most evident in his 100th percentile bat speed, which enables tremendous raw power that would be an absolute treat to see in the Derby at Truist Park. Advertisement Perhaps more importantly for this event, Caminero also has a flair for the dramatic: He already boasts a lengthy highlight reel of exhilarating home runs, whether that's in the big leagues or the Dominican Winter League, making it easy to get excited about how he would perform in a competition in which the sole purpose is to launch balls into outer space over and over and over. Oh, and it should be noted that he has 17 home runs this season, most on the Rays and fourth in the AL. Caminero is an easy pick to be invited; I hope it happens. — Jordan Shusterman, Yahoo Sports Jac Caglianone, Royals So Caglianone's been in the big leagues for a little over two weeks and just hit his first two MLB home runs … so what? The kid has monster power. Caglianone earned the highest power grade of any of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects entering 2025, and the Royals rookie has been hitting bombs all along his journey to the majors. Advertisement There's the 459-footer he crushed in Triple-A a few weeks ago. There's the 115.4 mph rocket he hit in spring training. There's the estimated 516-foot monster shot he hit in college. The list goes on. Caglianone was built to hit dingers. The Home Run Derby is the perfect showcase for him. Why not put one of baseball's most exciting power-hitting prospects on the national stage against the biggest sluggers in the sport? — David Adler, James Wood, Nationals Wood is going to be an All-Star this season, and he should also be in this year's Home Run Derby. After hitting nine home runs in 79 games last year, the 6-foot-7 Nationals outfielder has started to tap into his immense potential and his massive power in his second season in the big leagues. Advertisement The 22-year-old already has 20 homers this year — including a walk-off in the 11th on Thursday — which puts him on pace for a possible 40-homer season. Watching his lofty swing launch balls into the Chophouse at Truist Park would be a delight. — Russell Dorsey, Yahoo Sports
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida baseball alumnus Pete Alonso's MLB success surprised this expert
Florida baseball alumnus Pete Alonso's MLB success surprised this expert There is a sizeable handful of former Florida Gators currently playing for Major League Baseball teams, but perhaps the most well-known and best-performing of the bunch is New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Nicknamed the "Polar Bear," the Tampa, Florida, product played for the Orange and Blue from 2014 to 2016, just missing out on the 2017 national championship campaign by a year. Alonso was drafted in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft with the 64th overall pick by the Mets, but was only the fifth-highest selection among UF alumni in the draft. And that is where The Athletic's roundtable discussion regarding players who ended up being a much better pro than they thought, curated by Mitch Light and included four representatives from ESPN and one from D1Baseball. Mike Ferrin of ESPN chose Alonso as his pick. "I thought he was sort of an Ivan Melendez (Texas) type, a big power guy, then he was going to get to pro ball and he was going to really struggle. What I didn't understand was the guy really knew how to hit. I think even now, he still doesn't get appreciated for how good of a hitter he is. He knows how to use the middle of the field. He knows the situations that call for him to drive in a run. That wasn't readily apparent to me when he was at Florida," Ferrin notes. "He also wasn't the biggest star on those teams. He was a little bit further down on the list. And he wasn't the most dynamic presence. I had no idea he was going to be the player he is now. Testament to his work ethic and his intelligence. And he's also got way better as a defender." Pete Alonso's MLB career stats Since breaking into the big leagues with a Rookie of the Year award in 2019, Alonso has played in 920 total regular-season games over seven seasons, slashing .252/.343/.518 in 3,933 plate appearances with 164 doubles, eight triples, 243 home runs and 649 RBI, along with 535 runs scored. Stretching over 16 playoff appearances, the UF alumnus is slashing .278/.429/.574 for an insane 1.003 OPS with four homers, 10 runs scored and 10 runs batted in over 58 plate appearances. Alonso also has two Home Run Derby titles to his name — earned in 2019 and 2021 — in five tries and is the only currently active MLB player to have won multiple derbies. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
How to Buy 2025 MLB AllStar Game Hats: Braves, Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Phil
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The MLB has officially released the latest edition of All-Star hats that the players will wear during the 2025 All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game logo is seen during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 31, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game logo is seen during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 31, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Matthew Grimes Jr./MLB has decided to go back to a traditional look for the 2025 All-Star Game, as the players participating in the event will be wearing their normal team jerseys, as opposed to having National League and American League-specific uniforms. That being said, they will still be spicing up the look with these All-Star-specific hats. While they still feature typical team colors and logos, they come with a slight change, including stars at the top, and the five-panel design, which has recently gained popularity. The headwear that the players will be wearing on game day has arrived, and these New Era All-Star Game hats never fail to disappoint. They are available for all 30 MLB teams in several different styles and colorways, allowing fans to select their favorite hat design. Click on any of the images or links to order yours now. Place your order before it is too late, as these should be in high demand. Fanatics has you covered with officially licensed 2025 MLB All-Star Game hats. MLB Los Angeles Dodgers New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Royal/White Los Angeles Dodgers New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Royal/White Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB New York Yankees New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Navy/Gray New York Yankees New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Navy/Gray Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB Chicago Cubs New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Royal/Red Chicago Cubs New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Royal/Red Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB Atlanta Braves New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Navy/Red Atlanta Braves New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Navy/Red Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB Philadelphia Phillies New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Workout Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Blue/Red Philadelphia Phillies New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Workout Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Blue/Red Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB Pittsburgh Pirates New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black/Gold Pittsburgh Pirates New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black/Gold Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB St. Louis Cardinals New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Red/Navy St. Louis Cardinals New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Red/Navy Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats MLB New York Mets New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Royal/Orange New York Mets New Era 2025 MLB All-Star Game Side Patch 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Royal/Orange Fanatics Buy 2025 MLB All-Star Game Hats If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
