Latest news with #DansbySwanson
New York Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
2025 MLB bobblehead giveaway superlatives: Scooters, married couples, Star Wars, and more
Last week, the New York Yankees' announced the very best bobblehead giveaway of the 2025 MLB season — one of Seinfeld's George Costanza taking a nap under his desk at Yankee Stadium. But there are other bobblehead giveaways across the league that warrant recognition, too. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain strange. So let's get to The Athletic's 2025 MLB bobblehead giveaway superlatives. Most adorable bobblehead: Michael Harris riding a scooter, Atlanta Braves A post shared by Atlanta Braves (@braves) On Sept. 8 the Braves are giving away a bobblehead of outfielder Michael Harris riding scooter (because he likes to ride his scooter around). Both the bobblehead itself and Harris' reaction to it are adorable. Best married couple bobblehead: Dansby and Mallory Swanson, Chicago Cubs Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson is married to Chicago Stars forward Mal Swanson (who threw a first pitch to her husband at a Cubs game a couple years ago), so it's about time Chicago's top athlete power couple was immortalized with a tandem bobblehead. This one will be available on Aug. 17. Best Star Wars Night bobblehead: X-Wing Pilot Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres Star Wars Night has become a ballpark staple across the country, so there is a lot of competition for this category, but no other offering can match the Padres' Xander Bogaerts X-Wing fighter pilot bobblehead. Look how happy he is to be flying that little X-Wing! Most unfortunately timed bobblehead: Rafael Devers light-up City Connect, Boston Red Sox CARITA 🟢 Get your Raffy Fenway Greens bobblehead at tonight's game! — Red Sox (@RedSox) May 23, 2025 Yeah, this one was given away less than a month before Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants. It's a good thing they didn't plan this one for the second half of the season, at least. (Side note: Light up bobbleheads are a cool concept and we need to see more of them.) Best player who looks like a celebrity crossover bobblehead: Joe Ryan as Billy from Stranger Things, Minnesota Twins A post shared by Minnesota Twins (@twins) At this point it's well established that Twins pitcher Joe Ryan looks incredibly similar to Billy from Stranger Things. He's said people have mistaken him in public for the character. So with the Netflix show's final season set to release later this year, the Twins will be having Joe Ryan Stranger Things bobblehead night on July 9. Best reminder that Ken Griffey Jr. briefly played for the Chicago White Sox 17 years ago bobblehead: Ken Griffey Jr., Chicago White Sox Griffey played 41 games and had 150 plate appearances for the White Sox in 2008, and since the club doesn't have much going for it these days, it decided to produce a bobblehead to commemorate this footnote in his hall-of-fame career. So as of Aug. 24, White Sox fans will be able to say, 'Ken Griffey Jr. really did play for them and I have the bobblehead to prove it!' Most self-aggrandizing bobblehead: David Rubenstein, Baltimore Orioles And if you want a bobblehead of yours truly, see you on April 19th. Go @Orioles! — David M. Rubenstein (@DM_Rubenstein) April 1, 2025 When you have enough money to own an MLB franchise, you've reached a point where you can pretty much do whatever you want, including having said franchise give away bobbleheads of you. It's an unusual move for a team to give away bobbleheads of its current owner for a variety of reasons. And speaking of unusual, why is Bobblehead Rubenstein wearing a hat and holding another hat? It's too many hats. Anyway, next season the Orioles should give away a bobblehead of Rubenstein holding an even smaller bobblehead of Rubenstein. It's the only thing that can redeem this situation. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Top photo of the Dodgers' Ice Cube bobblehead: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Dethrones Athletics Denzel Clarke Per MLB Announcement
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Dethrones Athletics Denzel Clarke Per MLB Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For the first time in five weeks we have a new recipient of MLB's Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet. Advertisement MLB announced on Monday that St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has dethroned Athletics rookie centerfielder Denzel Clarke as this week's winner. Arenado claimed the honor for his bare-handed game-ending play against the Chicago Cubs on June 24. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning of an 8-7 game, and the game-tying run on third base, the Cubs' Danbsy Swanson hit a high chopper to third base. Arenado, a 10-time gold glove winner, charged the ball and made a barehanded play, throwing out Swanson at first base to preserve the crucial victory for the Cardinals. 'I didn't expect us to be winning like this, at this point,' Arenado told after the game. 'I expected us to play hard, I thought we were going to be good defensively and I thought our pitching would be fine. … Just seeing everyone one-through-nine contributing, I mean I like playing baseball like this … against the Cubs … where games matter. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) barehands a ground ball and throws out Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (not pictured)Jeff Curry-Imagn Images 'As you get older, that's what you want. You don't want to play games just to play games. Individually, I've accomplished some things in this game and I want to accomplish something team-oriented and special and win a World Series. Games like this, it's easy to wake up for. This is the most excited [that] I've come to the ballpark for – this series – in about two years.' Advertisement Arenado's Electric Play of the Week win breaks the record streak set by Clarke, who won four weeks in a row. It's also the second win for Arenado in his career, and first by a Cardinals player since Jordan Walker took home the award on July 17, 2023. Alec Burleson's amazing diving catch against the netting in the same game also received votes. Related: Cardinals Look to Remain Unbeaten Against Pirates' Paul Skenes Related: Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Added to NL All-Star Futures Game Roster This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Tucker enjoys huge game against former team as Cubs hammer Astros
HOUSTON — Kyle Tucker launched a three-run homer and matched a season high with four hits against the team that traded him in December, and the Chicago Cubs routed Houston 12-3 on Saturday night to stop the Astros' five-game winning streak. Tucker also scored four times to pace a Cubs lineup that pounded out 15 hits, including three by Dansby Swanson. Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner also went deep.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Manager Craig Counsell to Leave Dansby Swanson in Heart of Lineup
Cubs Manager Craig Counsell to Leave Dansby Swanson in Heart of Lineup originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Chicago Cubs skipper Craig Counsell has made it clear: Dansby Swanson will stay in the No. 5 spot in the lineup. For now. Advertisement According to The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, Counsell values two specific things about having Swanson's bat in the lineup. "The thing he's been really good at over his career is hitting left-handed pitching and then the power,' Counsell said. 'He's got 14 homers." That, in part, explains why he has remained in the heart of the order despite an underwhelming first half. But Swanson has struggled with runners on base, with .175 batting average overall in those situations and a .141 BA with runners in scoring position. 'How we hit with runners in scoring position every night is really important to whether we win or lose," Counsell said. "So I think we focus on that.' Chicago Cubs first base Michael Busch (29) is greeted by shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Wrigley FieldDavid Banks-Imagn Images Counsell's decision to drop him to eighth briefly in April reflected some of Swanson's early-season struggles. Those issues with RISP become particularly problematic in high-leverage moments. Advertisement Counsell holding steady at fifth signals confidence that the shortstop will rebound at some point this season, most likely after the All-Star break. There are some positives to moving Swanson lower in the batting order. It could ease some pressure and improve his hitting with RISP, but might deny the Cubs his middle-order power. According to Bleacher Nation, Swanson hit .400 in 61 plate appearances, seventh in the lineup or below. Still, Counsell appears willing to bet on Swanson's track record, proving he believes consistency in the five spot could help end the slump sooner. After all, the Cubs are still playing phenomenal baseball, and getting Swanson back to form to make a World Series run should be the top priority. Related: Cubs' Kyle Tucker Discusses Looming Free Agency This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Predicted to Replace Dansby Swanson With Young Star
Cubs Predicted to Replace Dansby Swanson With Young Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Cubs are nearing a first-place record in all of baseball, but with the 2025 MLB Draft less than a month away, conversations are being held about which positions the organization wants to upgrade. Advertisement Dansby Swanson is a former Gold Glove winner in 2023 with the Cubs and 2022 with the Atlanta Braves, but he has struggled at the plate for going on three straight seasons. According to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, the 31-year-old could be getting replaced in the near future. That is because McDaniel has predicted the Cubs to take a new shortstop at No. 17 overall in the draft. From the University of Arkansas, Wehiwa Aloy is 22nd-ranked prospect in the draft, and McDaniel's 14th-ranked prospect. He has had just five errors across 205 total chances, making him one of the best college shortstops in the draft. Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) throws his helmet after striking out during the ninth inning of against the San Diego Padres at Petco Poroy-Imagn Images "Aloy could go a half-dozen picks higher or even a bit lower than this, as the college bats in this tier are seemingly in a different order for every team," McDaniel said. Advertisement Aloy turned 21 this winter, which makes him almost exactly 10 years younger than Swanson, who also has a February birthday. He is actually playing in the College World Series and has been one of Arkansas' few offensive bright spots. The young star is hitting .352 at Arkansas this season, with a monster 21 home runs and 68 RBIs across 306 plate appearances. It is hard to predict exactly how well Aloy's game will translate to the MLB level, but Swanson's declining average and career-low on-base percentage could motivate the Cubs to make this selection. However, Swanson has still hit 13 homers in Chicago's 73 games, and is on pace to approach a career high of 27. His job is safe for now, but if Aloy is the pick, things could get interesting in 2026 or 2027. Related: Cubs' Jed Hoyer Named Among MLB Execs Under Most Pressure This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
