Latest news with #JRealmuto
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryce Harper after slump-busting game vs. Giants: 'I'm really good. I mean, I really am'
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper gestures after hitting a double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, is congratulated by Bryce Harper after hitting a three-run home run that also scored J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, is congratulated by Bryce Harper after hitting a three-run home run that also scored J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper gestures after hitting a double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, right, is congratulated by Bryce Harper after hitting a three-run home run that also scored J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryce Harper broke out of a slump with a career-best four extra-base hits — and then issued a reminder about his place in the game. 'I'm really good. I mean, I really am,' Harper said after leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 13-0 rout of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. 'I don't want to put that out there and everybody go, 'What's he talking about?' But I know when I'm going well, I'm one of the best in baseball. I'm healthy. I'm strong. I feel great.' Advertisement Harper hasn't been himself much of the season. The two-time NL MVP and eight-time All-Star missed most of June with inflammation in his right wrist. He had gone 1 for 14 in four games before Wednesday, when he hit a homer and three doubles, all to the opposite field. He sent a 3-1 fastball from Justin Verlander over the left-field wall for his first longball since returning from the injured list. After the game, he stressed the importance of getting ahead in the count. 'I hate talking about individual (achievements) and all that kind of stuff,' Harper said. 'But if I get into good counts and don't swing at crap away or in or anything else, then I'll be right where I need to be.' Advertisement Harper has 346 homers in 14 seasons and connected against Verlander — who's in his 20th season — for the first time. 'That's an all-timer, man,' Harper said of Verlander. 'He's going to be a Hall of Famer and he's had an unbelievable career. ... All the respect to him, but I was happy I was able to get that out of the way.' Even with his breakout performance on Wednesday, the 32-year-old Harper is batting .259 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs in 65 games this season. His on-base-plus-slugging percentage is .819, well below his career mark of .906. He led the league in that category during his MVP seasons for Washington in 2015 and Philadelphia in 2021. The Phillies (54-39) moved one-half game ahead of the New York Mets, who were rained out at Baltimore, in the NL East. Manager Rob Thomson is excited about what his team could achieve with Harper producing at his usual level. 'If Harp gets hot,' Thomson said, 'it might be fun to watch.' ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrew Painter, Eduardo Tait are the Phillies' representatives for the Futures Game
The Futures Game is a chance for MLB to showcase the game's best prospects in a game setting. It's like the All-Star Game for prospects and it's wonderful. Sometimes, the offense can be missing because the pitchers throwing have such high octane, it can overpower hitters. Nevertheless, the Phillies are sending two representatives to the game. Andrew Painter is the big name here. He's the team's top prospect and arguably the best pitching prospect in the game. The anticipation for his arrival is still somewhat tepid thanks to the stretch of domination the rotation is currently on, but when he does arrive, it will be an exciting day. We already know Painter is going to miss the game because the team wants to keep him on schedule. A shame as he likely would have started the game, but the bigger picture is more important to a team that has World Series aspirations. Advertisement Eduardo Tait is the team's #4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and is showing why. Through 65 games, Tait has a .256/.328/.449 line with ten home runs and 42 RBI. He's shown improvement behind the plate with his throwing and receiving and looks like the heir apparent to J.T. Realmuto in the big leagues. That could be a few years off still as he's only 18 (!) years old, but he's performing well in Clearwater and there really isn't much in his path to block him. It'll be exciting to see him pitted against the best prospects in the game in Atlanta. More from
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
MLB to use Automated Ball-Strike system during All-Star game: Sources
The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system that MLB rolled out during spring training and has been used in the minor leagues will be getting primetime treatment, as the ABS system will be used at the MLB All-Star Game for the first time, league sources told The Athletic. The All-Star Game is next Tuesday in Atlanta. Advertisement As was the case in spring training, teams will be given two challenges, with retention if their challenge is upheld. Pitchers, catchers and hitters can challenge ball-strike calls. Challenges must be made immediately after a ball or strike call is made. MLB hasn't announced a timeframe for when the ABS system might be used in regular-season games, but this could be another step towards making that a reality. The system has been used at the Triple-A level since midway through the 2024 season, and major leaguers got the opportunity to test it out this spring, where walks were up slightly and strikeouts were down slightly. Not surprisingly, run scoring was up slightly, as well. The Athletic's Jayson Stark spoke with players about their experience with the ABS system this spring and got a variety of responses. Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto told Stark he had mixed feelings about the system. 'I like it as a hitter,' Realmuto said. 'I don't really like it as a catcher as much, just because I think it takes part of the game away, part of the catcher position. Framing is still going to matter, but it's not going to be as big of a deal. So that part I don't like. But as a hitter, I do like having the consistent strike zone.' Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers told Stark he felt the strike zone was smaller. So, what is the ABS strike zone exactly? As it turns out, it plays a little differently than the traditional human strike zone. The All-Star Game hasn't traditionally been filled with much controversy, especially when it comes to balls and strikes, so it remains to be seen how much players will call on the ABS system to challenge calls during the game itself. But it could give fans a preview of what everyday MLB games will be like in the near future.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies' Zack Wheeler throws 1-hitter for his first complete game since 2021
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler threw a one-hitter for his first complete game since 2021 in the Philadelphia Phillies' 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Wheeler (9-2) — the National League's pitcher of the month in June — allowed only a leadoff homer to Austin Hays in the fifth inning. Advertisement 'I left it thigh high and I left it middle when I should have went away there,' Wheeler said. 'It wasn't the smartest pitch to throw there.' The right-hander struck out 12 and didn't walk a batter, throwing 108 pitches. 'I was able to get in and out of innings quick,' Wheeler said. 'The defense made some great plays behind me and J.T. (Realmuto) carried me like he has since I got here.' After a brief meeting in the dugout with Phillies manager Rob Thomson after the eighth inning, Wheeler went back out for the ninth and finished his first complete game since Aug. 8, 2021, by retiring Will Benson, Christian Encarnacio-Strand and TJ Friedl on eight pitches. Advertisement 'He still had his stuff in the eighth and he was dominant in the inning,' Thomson said. 'I would have taken him to 115 pitches. I wanted to make sure he was OK (in that meeting) and he said he was good. He said, 'I would lie to you, but I'm good.'" Since Wheeler returned from paternity leave June 9, he has allowed only three earned runs in 40 innings. ___ AP MLB: Kevin Cooney, The Associated Press
Associated Press
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Phillies' Zack Wheeler throws 1-hitter for his first complete game since 2021
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler threw a one-hitter for his first complete game since 2021 in the Philadelphia Phillies' 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Wheeler (9-2) — the National League's pitcher of the month in June — allowed only a leadoff homer to Austin Hays in the fifth inning. 'I left it thigh high and I left it middle when I should have went away there,' Wheeler said. 'It wasn't the smartest pitch to throw there.' The right-hander struck out 12 and didn't walk a batter, throwing 108 pitches. 'I was able to get in and out of innings quick,' Wheeler said. 'The defense made some great plays behind me and J.T. (Realmuto) carried me like he has since I got here.' After a brief meeting in the dugout with Phillies manager Rob Thomson after the eighth inning, Wheeler went back out for the ninth and finished his first complete game since Aug. 8, 2021, by retiring Will Benson, Christian Encarnacio-Strand and TJ Friedl on eight pitches. 'He still had his stuff in the eighth and he was dominant in the inning,' Thomson said. 'I would have taken him to 115 pitches. I wanted to make sure he was OK (in that meeting) and he said he was good. He said, 'I would lie to you, but I'm good.'' Since Wheeler returned from paternity leave June 9, he has allowed only three earned runs in 40 innings. ___ AP MLB:
