
Oneil Cruz's 513-foot Home Run Derby blast sent Kevin Brown into a delightful frenzy
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz blasted a 513-foot homer out of Atlanta's Truist Park on Monday night during the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby.
It's one of the most impressive homers you're likely to see this season, even if it was technically done in a non-game event specifically engineered to produce homers.
Live HR Derby bracket updates, rules, results: Best moments and dingers
However, Cruz even outdid the expectations for an event such as a home run derby. ESPN2's Statcast Edition broadcaster Kevin Brown absolutely flipped out over how much power Cruz put on his stunning homer.
Brown always has been one of the best in the business for broadcasting baseball, and he brings the heat with this sincerely jubilant call. Sometimes, it's just nice when somebody who genuinely loves something gets excited about it on live television.
There is no snark or cynicism here, just a guy experiencing genuine joy at getting to broadcast such a monster home run.
While the main ESPN broadcast got lots of bad reviews, Brown's great call of Oneil's homer made his feed stand out.
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NBC News
33 minutes ago
- NBC News
As Ichiro Suzuki becomes 1st Asian MLB Hall of Famer, Asian players share how he paved the way for them
For baseball fans across the country, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend is the capstone to a storied career of broken records. But for players of Asian descent, it's also a profound moment of recognition and visibility. Suzuki, who spent the majority of his 19 years in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners, will be the first Asian player to be added to the historic hall in Cooperstown, New York. Asian and Asian Americans across the league spoke to NBC News, reflecting on their favorite Suzuki moments and how his performance on the field helped usher in a generation of players who sought to follow in his footsteps. 'He was a player who looked like me: Left-handed, played the outfield,' said Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, who's of Japanese and Chinese descent. 'It kind of gave me hope at a really young age to see that someone who looks like me, plays like me, is able to succeed at the highest level and, not only that, gain the respect of everybody in the league too.' Suzuki joins starting pitcher CC Sabathia and relief pitcher Billy Wagner as part of the class of 2025 to be inducted on Sunday. Other inductees include the late right fielder Dave Parker and first baseman Dick Allen, who died in 2020. Suzuki, who missed a unanimous selection by a single vote, began his U.S. career in 2001 as the first Japanese position player to join MLB. While he wasn't the first ever player from Japan to join the big leagues — pitcher Masanori Murakami played a short stint with the San Francisco Giants in 1964, and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo had a 13-year career in the States — Suzuki was by far the most successful. In his almost two decades in the league, Suzuki made a name for himself as an elite contact hitter and a defensive genius who was also known to ham it up for those who played with him and serve impeccable style. His career includes 10 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Glove awards and three Silver Slugger awards. His time in MLB contributed to more Japanese players exploring careers in the U.S. Kwan, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner in his own right, said growing up, it was critical for him to see a player who never hid his Japanese heritage, always embraced his background and took the field as simply himself. Suzuki's baseball IQ also made a lasting impression on the Guardians outfielder. When Suzuki was on the Miami Marlins in 2015, he faked out Joaquin Arias of the San Francisco Giants, keeping Arias from scoring on a double to the right-field wall. 'He was near the end of his career. … And even in his older age, he still had the baseball IQ to make it look like he was going to catch the ball, field the ball off the wall cleanly,' Kwan said. 'I just remember that at the end of his career he was still making an impact. That was special to me.' Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll said that as an Asian American who grew up in Seattle and frequently attended Mariners games, he was similarly in awe of Suzuki. Carroll, who's of Taiwanese descent, said he still remembers sitting in the right-field bleachers with his family as his mother snapped a photo of Suzuki striking his signature pose. 'That's one of my earliest memories. The photo I kept in my room as I was growing up and still have to this day,' Carroll said. Carroll, who in 2023 became the first Asian American MLB Rookie of the Year, said that all those years watching the Japanese trailblazer 'made me feel like maybe one day I could do it and play at that level,' he said. 'When kids grow up seeing someone who they can relate to in some way, it can inspire them and give them hope to do something big,' Carroll, a two-time All-Star, said. Suzuki previously told NBC News that he didn't set out to 'perform for Asians' but was more than aware that his performance would impact the group in addition to his home country of Japan. And he had to excel. 'As a player from Japan, as a guy that had led the league in hitting all seven years, and then coming over being a first position player, I knew that I would be judged. And Japan baseball will be judged on how I did,' Suzuki said. 'If I wasn't able to produce, then they would judge Japan baseball as being at a lower level. And so that pressure was there and that's what I had to carry.' Bryan Woo, an All-Star pitcher for the Mariners, admitted that as a player of Chinese descent from Oakland, California, he may not have been the biggest Seattle fan growing up, but he was a fan of Suzuki's. Woo said he was particularly struck by Suzuki's performance in the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco, during which he hit an inside-the-park home run. Suzuki, who was crowned MVP of that game, went 3-for-3 that night. And his dinger remains the only inside-the-park home run ever hit during an All-Star game. Woo said that these days, Suzuki, who still works for the Mariners as a special assistant to the chairman, continues to dispense his wisdom, ensuring that progress doesn't stop with his own playing career. 'Guys that have his career and his caliber don't have to do stuff like that, but people that do that go out of their way. That means a lot.' Woo said. Ultimately, Kwan said, Suzuki's place in the Hall of Fame is symbolic of a new era.


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Red Sox Trade Rumors: Insider Gives Most 'Likely' Jarren Duran Outcome
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 Red Sox have needs they need to address before the MLB trade deadline. They have a surplus at a position with one very valuable trade chip in Jarren Duran. However, it sounds as if it's becoming increasingly unlikely that Boston moves the outfielder before Thursday's deadline. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand did a Reddit AMA on Friday in which he addressed a number of topics. One commenter asked whether the Red Sox will trade Duran before the deadline, and Feinsand admitted it was possible but an offseason blockbuster might be the more likely outcome. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 10: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox runs in after the fifth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 10, 2025 at Fenway Park in... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 10: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox runs in after the fifth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 10, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston) More "Duran seems to be available, but Boston is not in a position where they have to trade him by any means," Feinsand wrote on Reddit. "If the Sox can get a controllable starter to pair with Garrett Crochet atop the rotation, I think they would move Duran. Maybe a Mitch Keller type?" Feinsand noted the Red Sox could "easily" shop Duran in the offseason, but ultimately, "I'd say it's more likely that Duran is a Red Sox come Aug. 1 than wearing another uniform." Any trade talks about Duran might be rendered moot anyway. Boston's apparent depth in the outfield is being tested at the moment. The Red Sox placed infielder Marcelo Mayer on the injured list Friday ahead of their series with the Dodgers. That means Ceddanne Rafaela will move off of outfield for the time being and get the bulk of reps at second base. Presumably, that means Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony will be Boston's primary outfield until Mayer returns from his wrist injury. More MLB: What Star Infield Injury Means For Red Sox Playoff Push
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why is Nick Kurtz called Big Amish? Meet the Athletics rookie who made MLB history
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz made history on Friday night as the first rookie to ever hit four home runs in an MLB game. If you haven't already heard about Kurtz, you're probably going to hear about him sooner rather than later. Kurtz set the baseball world aflame after going 6-for-6 with four home runs against the Astros. No other rookie in MLB history has ever accomplished such a feat. Kurtz finished the game with 6 total hits, 8 runs batted in, and 19 total bases. It was an absolutely unreal performance from the slugger, who is quickly making his mark as one of the biggest rising stars in the sport. When you hear fans talk about Kurtz, who as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, you might hear them refer to him by his nickname. Kurtz is sometimes called Big Amish. But it's not necessarily because of why you think. It's because he is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania which has a large Amish population. So he has a celebration that matches the vibe of his nickname (via Nick Kurtz has jokingly and affectionately been given the nickname of "Big Amish" by his Athletics teammates. As a result, his celebration after a double or home run is unique from every other player on the team, as he 'churns Amish butter' by twirling his hands in a circular motion. Something tells us we're going to see Kurtz churning a lot more butter during his baseball career. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why is Nick Kurtz called Big Amish? Meet the Athletics rookie who made MLB history