Latest news with #BryceMartin-Grudzielanek
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Two Yankees draft picks following MLB fathers' footsteps: ‘That's an advantage'
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free Drafting prospects with big league pedigrees has fostered numerous success stories over the years. The Yankees added a couple of players whose fathers enjoyed accomplished careers in MLB during this year's draft. Infielder Kaeden Kent, the son of former NL MVP Jeff Kent, was taken in the third round (103rd overall) out of Texas A&M. The Yanks later tabbed infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, whose father, Mark, spent 15 seasons in the majors, in the 20th round out of USC. 'Being raised in a major league house, we do know that's an advantage and they have some knowledge of what they need to do,' Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees' vice president of domestic amateur scouting, said Tuesday on a conference call. 'It does help a lot.' George Lombard Jr., the Yankees' first-rounder in 2023 and now their top-ranked prospect by also is the son of a former major leaguer. Oppenheimer said he only spoke with Jeff Kent once before the draft, and it was a chance encounter while scouting Kaeden at a Cape Cod League game. But former Giants GM Brian Sabean, who serves as an executive advisor to GM Brian Cashman, certainly is familiar with the elder Kent's legendary competitiveness. The Yankees tabbed infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, whose father, Mark, spent 15 seasons in the majors, in the 20th round out of USC. Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images 'Jeff wasn't one who made it like it was about him, or the guy who needed to be talked to or seen. I think he let his kid do the talking on the field,' Oppenheimer said. 'Obviously, with Brian Sabean working for us, we had a lot of knowledge of the intensity of Jeff Kent. 'Once we met with the kid more than once, we kind of realized that this kid is his own kid. … But you learn from being around a competitor like his dad was.' The Yankees' top selection also profiles as a middle infielder; high school shortstop Dax Kilby was chosen with the No. 38 pick out of Newnan High School in Georgia. Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images 'We were really excited about that,' Oppenheimer said. 'We had one team call after we took him that night that was picking in the 20s that said he was gonna be their guy, but was one short. … So we were holding our breath that it was gonna be Dax on our board.' All but Kilby among their 19 selections were college players, and 10 of those were pitchers. Locally, the Yanks also drafted Bronx product Richie Bonomolo Jr., an outfielder from Alabama (and Cardinal Hayes HS) in the seventh round.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
USC blown out by Oregon State, setting up regional final rematch between the teams
USC's Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek walks back to the dugout after taking a called third strike during a 14-1 loss to Oregon State in the NCAA Corvallis Regional on Sunday night. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) USC wanted to be aggressive knowing it was entering a hostile environment, playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,347 at Goss Stadium. The Trojans tried to set the tone early. Instead, it backfired, costing them early opportunities, early momentum and ultimately Sunday night's matchup in a 14-1 loss to Oregon State in the Corvallis Regional final. Advertisement USC opened with two hard hits. Brayden Dowd singled and Ethan Hedges followed with a rocket to right-center field that came off the bat at 104 mph. It one-hopped the wall for an easy double that could have set the Trojans up with two runners in scoring position and no outs. But USC third base coach Travis Jewett was spinning his arm almost immediately, sending Dowd home. Oregon State pitcher Kellan Oakes celebrates after striking out a batter to leave the bases loaded Sunday. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) Shortstop Aiva Arquette, an expected top 10 pick in next month's MLB draft, fired a throw home that brought catcher Wilson Weber into the baseline where he applied the tag to Dowd while his knee collided with the head of the Trojans' outfielder. The play invigorated the home crowd and set the tone for the beatdown to follow that saw the No. 8 national seed Beavers thoroughly outplay the Trojans despite playing its second game of the day facing elimination. Oregon State pummeled Saint Mary's, 20-3, Sunday afternoon to reach the final. Advertisement The next half inning, Oregon State attacked USC with four bunts that helped generate four runs. The Trojans' aggressiveness again bit them. Oregon State's Wilson Weber, left, scores a run as USC third baseman Ethan Hedges misplays a bunt Sunday. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) After they took the out at first on an initial sacrifice attempt, the Trojans twice tried to cut down runners at home with ill-fated results. Third baseman Hedges muffed a barehand attempt when the ball bounced with funky spin on a hard bunt that one-hopped. The Beavers bunted again on the next pitch. First baseman Adrian Lopez tried to come home and was too late. A base hit through the middle scored the next run before Oregon State went back to the bunt to score the fourth run, prompting the crowd to start chanting 'Small Ball! Small Ball! Small Ball!' Advertisement Oregon State added two runs in the third inning to take a 6-1 lead. USC had a huge opportunity to get back in the game in the fifth inning, loading the bases with no outs and the heart of the lineup due up. But the Beavers' pitching staff had USC's 3-4-5 hitters in a blender all night. Starter Wyatt Queen struck out Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek for the third time before turning the ball over to reliever Kellan Oakes, who struck out Lopez and Abbrie Covarrubias to escape the jam unscathed. USC coach Andy Stankiewicz walks back to the dugout during a 14-1 loss to Oregon State on Sunday. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) Oregon State then piled on runs against the lesser-used arms in USC's bullpen, scoring three runs in the sixth on Trent Caraway's fourth home run in as many games. Advertisement USC has a chance for redemption Monday as Oregon State's win forces a winner-take-all regional final at 3 p.m. PDT (ESPNU). Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
