Jonathan Aranda should be starting the All Star Game
Case in point: Jonathan Aranda.
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If this were based on merit, he'd be the American League's starting first baseman.
He's had a standout first half across many baseball metrics.
Quality of contact
Aranda's been great, and it's not just luck. All his expected numbers indicate he has earned this success. The Mexican-born player has hit .320/.398/.481; his expected slash line stands at .307 AVG, .537 SLG, and he ranks in the 94th percentile in xOBP. This means you can take out factors such as luck and unforced errors from his success. The difference between his xSLG and SLG is -0.064, which ranks 50th in the majors (minimum 200 PA). On top of that, he is hitting the balls as hard as anybody in the league with an average exit velocity of 93.2 MPH, good for the 94th percentile, ahead of names like Fernando Tatis Jr, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Corbin Carrol, and Cal Raleigh.
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Consistency, consistency, consistency...
One of Aranda's biggest assets is that he's a player you can pencil into the lineup every day because he does a great job against righties and lefties. Against righties, Aranda is hitting .323/.397/.518 with a 159 wRC+. Meanwhile, against left-handed pitching, Aranda is .308/.400/.354 slugging with a 124 wRC+. This consistency helps the team get a certain amount of versatility against righties and lefties. For a long time, the Rays have lacked left-handed batters who can hit left-handed pitchers, and it seems they have finally found one. Also, another measure of consistency is that every single month, he has a wRC+ over 153 (besides July, in which he has less than 20 PA) and an SLG over .480. This consistency has helped Aranda cement himself in the 4th spot in the Rays lineup.
Areas of improvement.
As good as Aranda has been, there is still a tiny hole in his swing that is being exposed by opposing pitchers. Aranda is struggling against pitches in the upper third of the zone. His strikeout rate is over 39% when pitched in the upper third of the zone. On the other hand, 34% of his total WHIFFS comes when he swings the upper third of the zone.
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In the following chart, we can get a deeper look at Aranda's struggles in the upper part of the zone.
The most impressive part is that he is still generating consistent hard contact when he gets pitches at the top of the zone. The xwOBA is not as attractive as in other zones; however, we can see that there is a clear WHIFF and strikeout problem.
When Aranda fixes his problems at the top of the zone, he could turn out to be one of the most complete hitters in the game. Jonathan Aranda's journey is an incredible story. After a couple of seasons of hovering between a role player and Triple-A, he has finally put it all together in 2025. Hopefully, he can replicate his success in the second half of the season because if he continues playing at this level, he has the potential to be a long-term cornerstone for the franchise.
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Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Ichiro Suzuki adds humor to Hall of Fame ceremonies as Dick Allen and other honorees are inducted
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — If you want someone for your next celebrity roast, Ichiro Suzuki could be your guy. Mixing sneaky humor with heartfelt messages, the first Japanese-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame stole the show Sunday in Cooperstown. Morning showers and gloomy skies delayed the ceremonies by an hour, but the moisture gave way to bright skies and warm temperatures. The sun seemed its brightest during Suzuki's acceptance speech. The outfielder was joined by pitcher CC Sabathia, also elected in his first year of eligibility, and closer Billy Wagner, who made it in his final try on the writers' ballot. Suzuki fell one vote shy of being a unanimous selection and he took a jab at the unidentified sports writer who didn't vote for him. 'Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are two achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one,' Suzuki said to roaring laughter. 'By the way, the offer for the writer to have dinner at my home has now expired,' he added, with emphasis on 'expired' for good measure. A pair of Era Committee selections rounded out the Class of 2025: Dave Parker, who earned the nickname Cobra during 20 big league seasons, and slugger Dick Allen. Parker died June 28, just a month before he was to be inducted. An estimated 30,000 fans crowded onto the field adjacent to the Clark Sports Center, sun umbrellas and Japanese flags sprinkled around. Suzuki's No. 51 was seemingly everywhere as fans, thousands of them Seattle Mariners boosters who made the trek from the Pacific Northwest, chanted 'Ichiro' several times throughout the day. A sign that read 'Thank You Ichiro! Forever a Legend' in English and Japanese summed up the admiration for Suzuki on his special day. Column: City Series and Dick Allen's Hall of Fame induction highlight a great Chicago baseball weekendWith 52 returning Hall of Famers on hand, Suzuki paid homage to his new baseball home in Cooperstown and his adoring fans by delivering his 18-minute speech in English. His humor, a surprise to many, delighted the crowd. He threw shade at the Miami Marlins, the last stop of his professional career. 'Honestly, when you guys offered me a contract in 2015, I had never heard of your team,' Suzuki joked. He kidded that he showed up at spring training every year with his arm 'already in shape' just to hear Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs scream, '`Holy smokes! Another laser-beam throw from Ichiro!'' He even took a moment for some tongue-in-cheek modesty. 'People often measure me by my records. Three thousand hits. Ten Gold Gloves. Ten seasons of 200 hits. 'Not bad, huh?' Suzuki said to more laughs. He thanked his late agent Tony Anastasio for 'getting me to America and for teaching me to love wine.' But he also took time to get to the root of what made him extraordinary. 'Baseball is much more than just hitting, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to make valued decisions about what is important. It helped shape my view of life and the world. … The older I got, I realized the only way I could get to play the game I loved to the age of 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely,' he said. 'When fans use their precious time to see you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them whether you are winning by 10 or losing by 10. 'Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. I could not have achieved the numbers without paying attention to the small details every single day consistently for all 19 seasons.' Now he's reached the pinnacle, overcoming doubters, one of whom said to him: '`Don't embarrass the nation.'' He's made his homeland proud. 'Going into America's Baseball Hall of Fame was never my goal. I didn't even know there was one. I visited Cooperstown for the first time in 2001, but being here today sure feels like a fantastic dream.' Ahead of Dick Allen's Baseball Hall of Fame induction, Chicago White Sox teammates reflect on his lasting impactSabathia thanked 'the great players sitting behind me, even Ichiro, who stole my Rookie of the Year award (in 2001).' He paid homage to Parker and spoke about Black culture in today's game. 'It's an extra honor to be a part of Dave's Hall of Fame class. He was a father figure for a generation of Black stars. In the '80s and early '90s when I first started watching baseball and Dave Parker was crushing homers, the number of Black players in the major leagues was at its highest, about 18%. Me and my friends played the game because we saw those guys on TV and there was always somebody who looked like me in a baseball uniform. 'Baseball has always been a great game for Black athletes, but baseball culture has not always been great to Black people. I hope we're starting to turn that around. I don't want to be the final member of the Black aces, a Black pitcher to win 20 games. And I don't want to be the final Black pitcher giving a Hall of Fame speech.' Wagner urged young players to treat obstacles not as 'roadblocks, but stepping stones.' 'I wasn't the biggest player. I wasn't supposed to be here. There were only seven full-time relievers in the Hall of Fame. Now, there are eight because I refused to give up or give in,' he said. Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes (99.7%) from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Sabathia was picked on 342 ballots (86.8%) and Wagner on 325 (82.5%), which was 29 votes more than the 296 needed for the required 75%. After arriving in the majors in 2001, Suzuki joined Fred Lynn (1975) as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Suzuki was a two-time AL batting champion and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, hitting .311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases with Seattle, the New York Yankees and Miami. He is perhaps the best contact hitter ever, with 1,278 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball and 3,089 in MLB, including a season-record 262 in 2004. His combined total of 4,367 exceeds Pete Rose's major league record of 4,256. Sabathia, second to Suzuki in 2001 AL Rookie of the Year voting, was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and a World Series title in 2009. He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the New York Yankees. A seven-time All-Star, Wagner was 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves for Houston, Philadelphia, the New York Mets, Boston and Atlanta. Tom Hamilton and Tom Boswell were also honored during Hall of Fame weekend. Hamilton has been the primary radio broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians franchise for 35 seasons and received the Ford C. Frick Award. Boswell, a retired sports columnist who spent his entire career with The Washington Post, was honored with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ichiro Suzuki adds humorous touches to Hall of Fame induction ceremonies
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — If you want someone for your next celebrity roast, Ichiro Suzuki could be your guy. Mixing sneaky humor with heartfelt messages, the first Japanese-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame stole the show Sunday in Cooperstown. Morning showers and gloomy skies delayed the ceremonies by an hour, but the moisture gave way to bright skies and warm temperatures. The sun seemed its brightest during Suzuki's acceptance speech. The outfielder was joined by pitcher CC Sabathia, also elected in his first year of eligibility, and closer Billy Wagner, who made it in his final try on the writers' ballot. Suzuki fell one vote shy of being a unanimous selection and he took a jab at the unidentified sports writer who didn't vote for him. 'Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are two achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one,' Suzuki said to roaring laughter. 'By the way, the offer for the writer to have dinner at my home has now expired,' he added, with emphasis on 'expired' for good measure. A pair of Era Committee selections rounded out the Class of 2025: Dave Parker, who earned the nickname Cobra during 20 big league seasons, and slugger Dick Allen. Parker died June 28, just a month before he was to be inducted. An estimated 30,000 fans crowded onto the field adjacent to the Clark Sports Center, sun umbrellas and Japanese flags sprinkled around. Suzuki's No. 51 was seemingly everywhere as fans, thousands of them Seattle Mariners boosters who made the trek from the Pacific Northwest, chanted 'Ichiro' several times throughout the day. A sign that read 'Thank You Ichiro! Forever a Legend' in English and Japanese summed up the admiration for Suzuki on his special day. With 52 returning Hall of Famers on hand, Suzuki paid homage to his new baseball home in Cooperstown and his adoring fans by delivering his 18-minute speech in English. His humor, a surprise to many, delighted the crowd. He threw shade at the Miami Marlins, the last stop of his professional career. 'Honestly, when you guys offered me a contract in 2015, I had never heard of your team,' Suzuki joked. He kidded that he showed up at spring training every year with his arm 'already in shape' just to hear Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs scream, '`Holy smokes! Another laser-beam throw from Ichiro!'' He even took a moment for some tongue-in-cheek modesty. 'People often measure me by my records. Three thousand hits. Ten Gold Gloves. Ten seasons of 200 hits. 'Not bad, huh?' Suzuki said to more laughs. He thanked his late agent Tony Anastasio for 'getting me to America and for teaching me to love wine.' But he also took time to get to the root of what made him extraordinary. 'Baseball is much more than just hitting, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to make valued decisions about what is important. It helped shape my view of life and the world. … The older I got, I realized the only way I could get to play the game I loved to the age of 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely,' he said. 'When fans use their precious time to see you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them whether you are winning by 10 or losing by 10. 'Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. I could not have achieved the numbers without paying attention to the small details every single day consistently for all 19 seasons.' Now he's reached the pinnacle, overcoming doubters, one of whom said to him: '`Don't embarrass the nation.'' He's made his homeland proud. 'Going into America's Baseball Hall of Fame was never my goal. I didn't even know there was one. I visited Cooperstown for the first time in 2001, but being here today sure feels like a fantastic dream.' Sabathia thanked 'the great players sitting behind me, even Ichiro, who stole my Rookie of the Year award (in 2001).' He paid homage to Parker and spoke about Black culture in today's game. 'It's an extra honor to be a part of Dave's Hall of Fame class. He was a father figure for a generation of Black stars. In the '80s and early '90s when I first started watching baseball and Dave Parker was crushing homers, the number of Black players in the major leagues was at its highest, about 18%. Me and my friends played the game because we saw those guys on TV and there was always somebody who looked like me in a baseball uniform. 'Baseball has always been a great game for Black athletes, but baseball culture has not always been great to Black people. I hope we're starting to turn that around. I don't want to be the final member of the Black aces, a Black pitcher to win 20 games. And I don't want to be the final Black pitcher giving a Hall of Fame speech.' Wagner urged young players to treat obstacles not as 'roadblocks, but steppingstones.' 'I wasn't the biggest player. I wasn't supposed to be here. There were only seven full-time relievers in the Hall of Fame. Now, there are eight because I refused to give up or give in,' he said. Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes (99.7%) from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Sabathia was picked on 342 ballots (86.8%) and Wagner on 325 (82.5%), which was 29 votes more than the 296 needed for the required 75%. After arriving in the majors in 2001, Suzuki joined Fred Lynn (1975) as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Suzuki was a two-time AL batting champion and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, hitting .311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases with Seattle, the New York Yankees and Miami. He is perhaps the best contact hitter ever, with 1,278 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball and 3,089 in MLB, including a season-record 262 in 2004. His combined total of 4,367 exceeds Pete Rose's major league record of 4,256. Sabathia, second to Suzuki in 2001 AL Rookie of the Year voting, was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and a World Series title in 2009. He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the New York Yankees. A seven-time All-Star, Wagner was 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves for Houston, Philadelphia, the New York Mets, Boston and Atlanta. Tom Hamilton and Tom Boswell were also honored during Hall of Fame weekend. Hamilton has been the primary radio broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians franchise for 35 seasons and received the Ford C. Frick Award. Boswell, a retired sports columnist who spent his entire career with The Washington Post, was honored with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award. ___ AP MLB:
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Baseball Hall of Fame 2025 induction: Best moments from Ichiro, Sabathia, more
The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed five new members on Sunday, July 27, as Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen were inducted in Cooperstown, New York. Suzuki became the Hall of Fame's first Japanese player – assembling a 19-year MLB career after nine decorated professional seasons in Japan – and was just one vote shy of a unanimous election. Sabathia also got in on his first ballot after winning 261 games as one of the best starting pitchers of the new millennium. Wagner ranks eighth on the all-time saves list with 422, while Allen (1972) and Parker (1978) were MVP award winners. An enormous crowd showed for the festivities, with Suzuki a fan favorite on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Sabathia also had a huge number of fans on hand with Cooperstown a four-hour drive from Yankee Stadium, where Sabathia pitched 11 seasons. Here are some of the best moments from Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Ichiro steals the show Ichiro was undoubtedly the biggest name of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, the first Japanese-born player to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Despite his immense fame, success and long, illustrious career though, Ichiro started his speech talking about his familiarity with being a rookie – first in Japan, then Seattle, and now Cooperstown. He asked his fellow Hall of Fame members to take it "easy with the hazing." Ichiro then spoke on his accomplishments, mentioning that he was honored that "all but one" of the BBWAA writers believed he was worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Ichiro had previously offered to have that writer over for dinner at his house, but during his speech, Ichiro rescinded the offer, which drew a large laugh from the crowd. Ichiro also did not shy away from the pressure he faced as a Japanese-born player. He went out of his way to thank Hideo Nomo for carving the path toward Japanese players commonly being found in Major League Baseball. After a day of largely emotional speeches filled with tears and heartfelt poems, Ichiro's was much lighter, speaking largely on the difference between "dreams" and goals", his love for Seattle, and his love for the high-octane calls he heard on the television and radio for some of his most iconic plays. He even talked about his greatest experience in baseball, being able to enjoy a hot dog in the stands with his wife after he'd retired. Ichiro finished his speech to massive applause and "I-CHI-RO" chants from fans in the crowd. CC Sabathia learned lessons from each place he lived Sabathia's speech was a bit of an autobiography, speaking on lessons that he learned and people who inspired him at each step in his life, from his childhood to Cooperstown. He started his speech talking about how his mother inspired his love for baseball, and how he can still remember the starting lineups from certain All-Star games, pointing out fellow 2025 Hall of Fame class member Dave Parker as a player he loved watching growing up. At the same time, he did poke fun at Ichiro Suzuki, who Sabathia claims "stole [his] Rookie of the Year award in 2001." Sabathia's speech was all about family, from the women who raised him in Vallejo to the brothers he found during his Major League career to his own kids. He's had a lot of homes throughout his career, but home isn't where you live, it's wherever you feel most at peace, and that is very clearly the case for CC Sabathia. Dick Allen's widow speaks on his character Phillies' legend Dick Allen was known for his strong build, but his widow Willa, made most of the acceptance speech about his kind heart. Whether it was taking time to speak with children who were fans of his or his simple "Thank you" when the Phillies told him that they were going to retire his number, Allen never took the fact that he got to play baseball for a living for granted. Willa Allen got noticeably emotional when speaking on her husband's death, which came just four months after the Phillies told him they would retire his number. Dave Parker's son shares memories of his father Pirates' legend Dave Parker passed away less than a month away from his induction ceremony, making his son's speech hit that much harder as it happened. Dave Parker II even mentioned that he died while writing his Hall of Fame speech. Parker II finished his speech with a poem written by his father, noting that it was specifically his father's request that it be read during the acceptance speech. The poem was a good conclusion, with Parker posthumously praising himself for his "rocket arm" and willingness to "run any catcher over." The best moment of the poem though was the finale. After mentioning that Cooperstown would be his last stop, Parker wrote, "I didn't lie in my documentary, I told you I wouldn't show [to my acceptance speech]." Considering Parker's recent death, this line hit infinitely harder. Billy Wagner leads off Hall of Fame speeches Renowned for his closing ability, Billy Wagner led off the Hall of Fame acceptance speeches reminiscing about being a kid who never thought he'd end up in Cooperstown. Wagner's speech was preceded by incredible words from fellow Hall of Famer and former teammate, Craig Biggio. Wagner continued on, speaking about his luck to finish his career with his hometown team, the oddity that he never closed a game in the minors and never started a game in the majors, and thanking his family for their support, even getting teary-eyed while mentioning his wife. Arguably the highlight though was when Wagner turned to speak to his Hall of Fame teammates Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Sharing the stage with them, Wagner wasted no time both praising and teasing them, mocking Bagwell's terrifying "glare" and Biggio's whininess, while also praising their consistency and competitiveness. Ken Griffey Jr. receives monumental applause With Ichiro Suzuki entering the Hall today, it was no surprise that numerous Mariners fans had made their way to Cooperstown. Before Suzuki could take the stage though, several other Hall of Famers took the stage to show their support, including Mariners' legend Ken Griffey Jr. The applause was enormous, definitely the largest of the day before Ichiro. Unsurprisingly, the next largest applause came from the announcement of Mariners' designated hitter and third baseman Edgar Martinez. When Suzuki was finally announced, he an Griffey shared a handshake on stage. The two played together for two seasons in Seattle. What time is the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony? The 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. But due to inclement weather expected between noon and 2 p.m., the start of the induction ceremony has been moved to 2:30 p.m. ET. How to watch Baseball Hall of Fame induction Where is the Baseball Hall of Fame located? The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cooperstown, New York, about a four-hour drive north of New York City. (This story has been updated with new information.)
