Latest news with #GoldGlove-caliber
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Cubs All-Star Speaks On Team USA Possibility
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. Team USA's team for next year's World Baseball Classic is beginning to come into form. Manager Mark DeRosa has gotten commitments from some of baseball's biggest stars such as Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Bobby Witt Jr. and most recently Cal Raleigh. One name that has been thrown around as a possible starting centerfielder for Team USA is Chicago Cubs superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 14: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs meets with the media at the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 14: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs meets with the media at the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Matt Dirksen/Crow-Armstrong spoke to the media during All-Star Game media availability Monday and expressed his desire to play for DeRosa and team USA in the WBC. "I mean that's some of like the most meaningful baseball I'd ever play," Crow-Armstrong said in a video posted on X by Marquee Sports Network. "I love what USA Baseball does, they run a great program, so I'd take whatever role they asked of me and go do whatever they asked me to do. "I'd follow everyone else's lead; I mean yeah that would be an honor, I'd go run everything down and yeah I'd just love to be a part of it." PCA speaks on wanting to play for Team USA at the WBC 👀 — Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 14, 2025 If he is chosen to join the team, Crow-Armstrong would likely be a starter for Team USA, and it would be for good reason. He is having a breakout season with 25 home runs, 71 RBIs and 27 stolen bases prior to the All-Star break. Crow Armstrong is also playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in centerfield, as he has 13 defensive runs saved and an MLB-best 16 outs above average. He's been one of the main reasons that Chicago is having its best year since 2016 and is headed well toward a playoff spot in the National League. PCA AGAIN! Pete Crow-Armstrong mashes No. 25 on the year 😤 — MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025 If he's not already a fan favorite across the world, his emergence on Team USA could potentially make him one of baseball's most popular young stars for years to come. More MLB: Red Sox Predicted To Cut Ties With $21M Pitcher After $200M Contract Report
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB execs reveal which Seattle Mariners top prospect is likely to be traded
The Seattle Mariners are poised to be buyers at the MLB trade deadline, hoping to land pieces to upgrade the lineup in the middle of a playoff hunt. For that to happen, many MLB executives believe one of Seattle's top prospects will be traded. Jim Bowden of The Athletic polled executives around the league about which top MLB prospects are likeliest to be moved this summer at the MLB trade deadline. Mariners prospect Harry Ford was voted the second likeliest to be dealt. Advertisement Related: Seattle Mariners' switch-pitcher to play in All-Star Futures Game 'Ford was mentioned second-most by a considerable margin. Most of those execs believed that, because of the Cal Raleigh's long-term contract, Ford is the most valuable and expendable prospect in Seattle's strong farm system. The Mariners are looking for a corner infield power bat, and it would make sense to dangle Ford, who was the No. 12 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He is batting .307/.421/.473 with nine homers and 46 RBIs this season in Triple A.' Jim Bowden on the Seattle mariners potentially trading Henry Ford Ford, age 22, was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He's currently rated by as the fifth-best prospect in the Mariners' farm system and the 56th-best prospect in all of baseball. The 5-foot-10 catcher is performing very well at the plate this season with Triple-A Tacoma. Through his first 233 at-bats, Ford boasts an .877 OPS with a .305/.418/.477 triple-slash line, collecting 43 RBIs and 71 hits in 65 games. Related: Mariners insider names 2 positions club targeting at trade deadline However, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is under team control through 2033 and is providing All-Star production at the plate with Gold Glove-caliber defense behind it. There's no viable spot for Ford, making him expendable for Seattle. Advertisement He could certainly be of interest to teams like the Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Oakland Athletics. The Mariners are known to be targeting a power-hitting corner infielder, and Ford's potential availability could net them a middle-of-the-order bat under team control for multiple seasons. Related Headlines
NBC Sports
14-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Aaron Judge is barreling toward the hallowed 500-homer club. He might be joined by several peers
Aaron Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 career homers and it feels inevitable that the Bronx slugger will join the hallowed 500-homer club sometime in the next several years. He could have plenty of company. The 28-player group could swell significantly in the coming decade, with Yankees teammate Giancarlo Stanton (432), Mike Trout (395), Paul Goldschmidt (370), Manny Machado (359), Freddie Freeman (353), Nolan Arenado (351) and Bryce Harper (346) all within striking distance. Lurking a little further down the active leaderboard, Kyle Schwarber (314), Eugenio Suarez (307), Mookie Betts (282), Francisco Lindor (267), Shohei Ohtani (257) and Pete Alonso (247) are piling up big numbers and still in their early 30s. And then there's Juan Soto, who already has 224 homers at the tender age of 26. Some are stronger candidates than others, given their injury history and age. The 35-year-old Stanton has battled various ailments over the past several seasons, but has been productive when he's played. The 33-year-old Trout has been slowed by injuries, too, but hit enough homers in his 20s that it would be surprising if he didn't eventually reach the mark. This generation's group of sluggers is reminiscent of a stretch from 2001 to 2009, when Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Frank Thomas and Gary Sheffield all made it to 500. The biggest difference is several of those players' accomplishments were tainted — at least to some — because it was part of a era that included widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs. The club has been relatively hard to join over the past decade. The last to reach 500 was Detroit's Miguel Cabrera on Aug. 22, 2021. Before that, Red Sox star David Ortiz slugged his 500th homer in 2015. Even among the elite sluggers, Judge stands out for the speed in which he's piling up dingers. Many forget he didn't play his first full big league season until he was 25, but the 33-year-old has needed just 1,088 games to reach 350 homers. Unsung non All-Stars This group of players won't be featured at the All-Star game in Atlanta, but they are having great under-the-radar seasons through the first half. Ceddanne Rafalea, Red Sox: The 24-year-old center fielder has blossomed in his second full MLB season and is hitting .271 with 14 homers, 48 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, all while playing excellent defense. Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch, Cubs: Hoerner continues to be one of the game's best second basemen, batting .283 with 18 doubles, 39 RBIs and 16 stolen bases, all while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. The 27-year-old Busch is batting .290 with 19 homers, providing the NL Central-leading Cubs some thump. Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies: The left-hander has been a big part of a stacked Philadelphia rotation with a 8-2 record, 2.50 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 115 innings. He put an exclamation point on his first half on Sunday, giving up just one run over 7 1/3 innings in a 2-1 win over the Padres. Framber Valdez, Astros: The righty had a terrific first half with a 10-4 record, 2.75 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 121 innings. Trivia Question Soto's 224 career homers lead the pack for MLB players who haven't turned 30 years old. Who are the other players in their 20s that round out the top five? Here come the Red Sox The Boston Red Sox have won 10 straight games heading into the All-Star break — their longest winning streak since 2018 — setting up an intriguing second half for a club that looked very average for most of the season's first three months. Rafaela has been one of the major catalysts for Boston's surge, hitting a walk-off homer and another two-run homer. The AL East race could be a barnburner as summer turns to fall with the Blue Jays (55-41), Yankees (53-43), Red Sox (53-45) and Rays (50-47) all in the mix. Even the last-place Orioles aren't completely out of it yet, sitting at 43-52 which is 11 1/2 games out of first place. Trivia Answer Rafael Devers (217), Ronald Acuna Jr. (177), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (172) are two through four. Yordan Alvarez and Austin Riley are tied for fifth at 167. Cody Bellinger has 212 homers but turned 30.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Langford breaks out, Bader homers again in red-hot week for Florida Gators in MLB
WYATT LANGFORD WAY GONEwe got a bat flip! With the All-Star break on deck, several former Florida baseball stars made strong statements across Major League Baseball this past week. Wyatt Langford posted one of his best weeks since his return from injury, flashing both power and consistency. Harrison Bader remained red-hot with four home runs, and Jonathan India quietly pieced together a sharp stretch at the plate for the Kansas City Royals. While Pete Alonso cooled slightly, his presence remains vital in the New York Mets' offense, and Jac Caglianone continues to gain experience in his first big-league season. On the mound, Brady Singer turned in one of his strongest outings of the season. Here's how each former Gator performed over the past week. Pete Alonso: First Baseman, New York Mets Last 7 Games: .130 AVG | .300 OBP | .304 SLG | 1 HR | 4 RBI | 6 BB 2025 Season: .280 AVG | .376 OBP | .908 OPS | 21 HR | 77 RBI Alonso's bat cooled off this week, managing just three hits in 23 at-bats, but his plate discipline helped him stay productive. He worked six walks and still managed to drive in four runs, including his 21st home run of the season. Despite the recent dip, the Tampa native heads into the break as one of the league's most consistent power hitters and a steady anchor in the heart of the Mets' lineup. Wyatt Langford: Outfielder, Texas Rangers Last 7 Games: .357 AVG | .438 OBP | .607 SLG | 2 HR | 7 RBI | 4 BB 2025 Season: .242 AVG | .322 OBP | .755 OPS | 15 HR | 38 RBI | 15 SB Langford turned in one of his best weeks of the season, torching opposing pitchers with 10 hits–including two home runs–and seven RBI over the past seven games. His OPS surged past .750 as he continues to improve as a Major League Baseball player. Langford's showing flashes of becoming a true five-tool threat for Texas as the Rangers prepare for the second-half playoff push. Jac Caglianone: Outfielder, Kansas City Royals Last 7 Games: .083 AVG | .185 OBP | .333 SLG | 2 HR | 3 RBI | 1 BB 2025 Season: .140 AVG | .196 OBP | .460 OPS | 4 HR | 7 RBI Caglianone's rookie journey remains a work in progress, but he did make noise with two home runs this week–his first multi-homer week since his MLB debut. The raw power that made him a high draft pick is real, though he's still working through a high strikeout rate and inconsistent contact. The Royals are remaining patient, giving the former Florida slugger time to adjust to big-league arms while gaining valuable reps. Harrison Bader: Outfielder, Minnesota Twins Last 7 Games: .333 AVG | .391 OBP | .905 SLG | 4 HR | 7 RBI | 2 BB 2025 Season: .254 AVG | .331 OBP | .767 OPS | 11 HR | 34 RBI | 8 SB Bader was scorching at the plate this week, launching four home runs and collecting seven RBI over a dominant stretch for the Twins. The veteran outfielder continues to provide a spark in Minnesota's lineup, combining his hot bat with Gold Glove-caliber defense. His power stroke is clicking at the right time, making him one of the most impactful former Gators heading into the All-Star break. Harrison Bader launches the third home run of the inning for the @Twins! Jonathan India: Infielder, Kansas City Royals Last 7 Games: .310 AVG | .355 OBP | .414 SLG | 0 HR | 1 RBI | 2 BB 2025 Season: .251 AVG | .332 OBP | .680 OPS | 4 HR | 24 RBI India quietly put together another productive week, batting over .300 and reaching base consistently for Kansas City. Though the home run power hasn't shown up lately, he's been a key table-setter for the Royals and continues to play a flexible defensive role between second base, third and even the outfield. With solid on-base numbers, India remains a steady hand in an evolving Kansas City lineup. Brady Singer: Starting Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds Last Outing (July 12 vs. COL): 6.1 IP | 7 H | 3 ER | 1 BB | 9 SO 2025 Season: 7-7 | 4.32 ERA | 100.0 IP | 92 SO | 1.35 WHIP Singer delivered a strong bounce-back performance against the Colorado Rockies, going 6.1 innings and striking out nine while issuing just one walk. It was one of his most efficient outings in recent weeks and a much-needed boost for the Reds' rotation. Now with 100 innings pitched on the year, the former Florida ace continues to be a reliable starter in Cincinnati's push to stay competitive in the NL Central. Brady Singer's 3Ks in the 4th. 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.
14-07-2025
- Sport
Aaron Judge barreling toward hallowed 500-homer club, could be joined by some peers
Aaron Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 career homers on Saturday and it feels inevitable that the Bronx slugger will join the hallowed 500-homer club sometime in the next several years. He could have plenty of company. The 28-player group could swell significantly in the coming decade, with Yankees teammate Giancarlo Stanton (432), Mike Trout (395), Paul Goldschmidt (370), Manny Machado (359), Freddie Freeman (353), Nolan Arenado (351) and Bryce Harper (346) all within striking distance. Lurking a little further down the active leaderboard, Kyle Schwarber (314), Eugenio Suarez (307), Mookie Betts (282), Francisco Lindor (267), Shohei Ohtani (257) and Pete Alonso (247) are piling up big numbers and still in their early 30s. And then there's Juan Soto, who already has 224 homers at the tender age of 26. Some are stronger candidates than others, given their injury history and age. The 35-year-old Stanton has battled various ailments over the past several seasons, but has been productive when he's played. The 33-year-old Trout has been slowed by injuries, too, but hit enough homers in his 20s that it would be surprising if he didn't eventually reach the mark. This generation's group of sluggers is reminiscent of a stretch from 2001 to 2009, when Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Frank Thomas and Gary Sheffield all made it to 500. The biggest difference is several of those players' accomplishments were tainted — at least to some — because it was part of a era that included widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs. The club has been relatively hard to join over the past decade. The last to reach 500 was Detroit's Miguel Cabrera on Aug. 22, 2021. Before that, Red Sox star David Ortiz slugged his 500th homer in 2015. Even among the elite sluggers, Judge stands out for the speed in which he's piling up dingers. Many forget he didn't play his first full big league season until he was 25, but the 33-year-old has needed just 1,088 games to reach 350 homers. This group of players won't be featured at the All-Star game in Atlanta on Tuesday, but they are having great under-the-radar seasons through the first half. Ceddanne Rafalea, Red Sox: The 24-year-old center fielder has blossomed in his second full MLB season and is hitting .271 with 14 homers, 48 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, all while playing excellent defense. Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch, Cubs: Hoerner continues to be one of the game's best second basemen, batting .283 with 18 doubles, 39 RBIs and 16 stolen bases, all while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. The 27-year-old Busch is batting .290 with 19 homers, providing the NL Central-leading Cubs some thump. Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies: The left-hander has been a big part of a stacked Philadelphia rotation with a 8-2 record, 2.50 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 115 innings. He put an exclamation point on his first half on Sunday, giving up just one run over 7 1/3 innings in a 2-1 win over the Padres. Framber Valdez, Astros: The righty had a terrific first half with a 10-4 record, 2.75 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 121 innings. Soto's 224 career homers lead the pack for MLB players who haven't turned 30 years old. Who are the other players in their 20s that round out the top five? The Boston Red Sox have won 10 straight games heading into the All-Star break — their longest winning streak since 2018 — setting up an intriguing second half for a club that looked very average for most of the season's first three months. Rafaela has been one of the major catalysts for Boston's surge, hitting a walk-off homer on Friday night and another two-run homer in Sunday's win. The AL East race could be a barnburner as summer turns to fall with the Blue Jays (55-41), Yankees (53-43), Red Sox (53-45) and Rays (50-47) all in the mix. Even the last-place Orioles aren't completely out of it yet, sitting at 43-52 which is 11 1/2 games out of first place. Rafael Devers (217), Ronald Acuna Jr. (177), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (172) are two through four. Yordan Alvarez and Austin Riley are tied for fifth at 167. Cody Bellinger has 212 homers but turned 30 on Sunday.
