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Global News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Blue Jays top prospect Arjun Nimmala making waves and history in Vancouver
Under the lights at Vancouver, B.C.'s Nat Bailey Stadium, 19‑year‑old Arjun Nimmala is standing out, not only for his on-field performance, but for the cultural resonance he brings to the game. Nimmala was born in Florida to Indian immigrant parents and is already regarded as one of the top prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. A sit-down interview with Global News delved into the depth behind his rapid ascent. Straight out of high school, Nimmala signed with the Blue Jays for $3 million after being selected 20th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. View image in full screen Baseball insiders believe Arjun Nimmala has a strong swing and a promising future as a hitter. Neetu Garcha / Global News He now plays for the Vancouver Canadians, the club's High-A affiliate, and has been named the Northwest League's Player of the Week. The publication Baseball America also called him a 'future star.' Story continues below advertisement And while another name, Texas Rangers prospect Kumar Rocker, officially claimed the milestone of being MLB's first player of Indian descent, Nimmala's journey is just beginning. In May, Nimmala played during South Asian Heritage Night at Nat Bailey Stadium, a night which he said took on a deeply personal meaning. 'It felt amazing, you know,' he told Global News. 'I didn't know what to expect going into the night, but just seeing all the people here, especially Asians, Indians, it was insane because usually you don't see a lot of that, and just having them here meant a lot for me.' Born in the U.S. but proud of his roots, Nimmala even celebrates them on the field, in his own signature way. 1:54 Shohei Ohtani hits record-breaking 50 home runs, steal 50 bases in 1 season 'My name is Arjun, named after Arjuna, he's an archer in Hindu mythology,' he explained. Story continues below advertisement 'So if you ever watch the games, I do a, like, when I get on second base or something, I do a bow and arrow celebration to like kind of show meaning to that.' Before he played baseball, he played cricket, his father's sport. The early experience with hand-eye coordination and bat control helped shape the foundation for what would become a pro career. 'For me personally, I thought it was a pretty smooth transition. You know, a lot of the bat-to-ball skills you see in cricket is very similar in baseball. So I thought the transition for me was pretty smooth,' Nimmala said. View image in full screen Arjun Nimmala played cricket as a child, something he credits with his 'smooth transition' to baseball. Neetu Garcha / Global News A rough start, a major turnaround Nimmala's pro career didn't start as smoothly as he would have hoped. Story continues below advertisement After struggling in his first several games, he credits mechanical adjustments and mental focus for the dramatic improvement. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I was definitely not very good to start the season last year for sure, but I mean, you know, it was just a little bit of a learning stage, got a little bit of time to reset and go back to the complex and made some mental tweaks, hitting adjustments, and since then, you now, just forgot about that start and you know been good ever since,' he said. David Singh, a senior writer at Sportsnet, has followed Nimmala since the draft. 'I spent some time with Arjun right after he was drafted and he was a fresh-faced kid just signed … to see the development he's gone through since then it's been a marked change,' Singh said. 18:30 Joey Votto discusses his storied career with Cincinnati Reds, love for hometown Jays 'He's really mature; the level of maturity is something that people here in the organization speak about. It's something that wows them.' Story continues below advertisement According to Singh, that maturity sets him apart. 'For somebody to go through struggles, come out on the other side okay, but then recognize how that has been for their development is pretty rare for a 19-year-old,' Singh said. Doug Fox, a Blue Jays prospect analyst and writer, says Nimmala's rise in High-A is especially impressive given his age and the pitching-friendly environment of the Northwest League. 'He's very young. Despite being one of the youngest players in all of the High-A level, he's among the offensive leaders in many categories. Everything about him suggests he will be an impact bat at the big league level,' Fox said. 'I certainly would expect by 2027 or '28 he will be a full-time big leaguer.' Singh also sees a major upside as Nimmala grows into his frame. 'As his frame develops, I think we'll see more power come out. He's a very strong hitter, he's got a good hit tool is what we call it in baseball,' Singh said. View image in full screen Arjun Nimmala told Global News having the chance to play during Nat Bailey Stadium's South Asian Heritage Night 'felt amazing.' Neetu Garcha Representation and responsibility Nimmala knows he carries more than just expectations on his back; some say he also carries a community. Story continues below advertisement 'Last year, he was vying to become the first player of Indian descent in major league baseball; that's since been passed by Kumar Rocker of the Texas Rangers. It's significant for kids everywhere to know they can have a seat at the table too,' Singh said. Singh said Nimmala's role as a cultural trailblazer began well before his debut. 2:09 Canadian baseball giant Joey Votto retires 'Arjun has entered professional baseball already lugging a whole culture on his back in a sense,' he said. 'He was fielding questions about his ethnicity and standing in the game because of his race when he was 18 years old, before he was even drafted. To hear him speak now about that is quite impressive.' Despite the spotlight, Nimmala told Global News he doesn't feel the heat of the spotlight. Story continues below advertisement 'None of it's been pressure. It's always been motivation to keep getting better,' Nimmala said. Eyes on Toronto, legacy in mind Though Nimmala says he's not putting a timeline on when he'll make it to the majors, he hopes to make his debut in Toronto. 'What would be cool is if a debut came in Toronto, that would be the coolest,' Nimmala said.' And when that day comes, he wants to be remembered for more than his stats. 'After I'm done playing baseball, I hope people remember me as not only a great player but also a great leader and a person who really did what they could for anyone,' Nimmala said. In a game driven by numbers, perhaps it's Nimmala's perspective that continues to set him apart. And he's already inspiring a generation that looks up and sees someone who looks like them. Story continues below advertisement 'People definitely know who he is. They've seen him on MLB Network. He's done an excellent job of handling that pressure,' Singh said. Nimmala's journey to the major leagues is in its early stages but for many, the significance of his presence today is already a home run.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Longhorns selected to Walter Camp Preseason All-America Teams
Colin Simmons sacks from his freshman year. No telling how high of a sack total he will put up in 2024 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year. @ontexasfootball Although the college football season hasn't started, a trio of Longhorns are already making headlines. On Tuesday, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., EDGE Colin Simmons, and defensive back Michael Taaffe were named to Walter Camp's Preseason All-America Teams. Hill and Simmons each landed on the First Team, while Taaffe was on the Second Team. For the Longhorns stars, their latest honor comes as no surprise. All three served as vital pieces to the Longhorns' success last year. With another year of experience under their belts, they will once again be relied on to help Texas ends it's title drought. This is the second straight year Hill has received Walter Camp's Preseason All-American honors. During the 2024 campaign, he led the team in tackles with 104. He also forced four fumbles and finished third on the team in sacks with eight. As the Texas native frustrated offensive coordinators, he added multiple Player of the Week honors to his trophy case. While Hill was a reliable veteran presence, he got help from Simmons, who was a human highlight reel. The talented EDGE led the team in sacks with nine and ranked second in quarterback hurries with 14. He also led all freshmen in total sacks. Due to his play, Simmons won the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award. It's just down right fun watching Michael Taaffe communicate and move people into the right you weren't told, you probably would assume he was recruited on a scholarship. Rounding out the list is a player Texas fans have become familiar with in Taaffe. The former walk-on started every game last season and recorded 78 tackles. He also added two interceptions and ten pass break-ups to his resume. During his Longhorns career, Taaffe has appeared in 43 games and made 26 starts. The Walter Camp teams are revealed in December and chosen by FBS head coaches and sports information directors.
NBC Sports
17-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Atlanta Dream off to hot start under new coach Karl Smesko and play of Allisha Gray
NEW YORK — The Atlanta Dream made a lot of moves in the offseason, hiring Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast and bringing in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to complement Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. So far the moves have paid off as the Dream have the third best record in the league behind Minnesota and New York. Atlanta (8-3) is off to one of the franchise's best marks through 11 games since coming into the league as an expansion team in 2008. The 2016 team also won eight of its first 11 games but then went on to drop its next six games. Gray has flourished in Smesko's system, shooting a career-high 51% from the field including 42% from behind the 3-point line. She earned the league's Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May. 'I think it's the offense and just finding my shots,' Gray said. 'I feel like Karl puts in an offense and the way he pays attention to the details and really helps me. Tells me if I'm open shoot the ball. Instills that confidence in me, that's been a big part of my success.' Griner came to the team as a free agent after spending the first 11 seasons with Phoenix after the Mercury drafted her No. 1 in 2013. With so much talent around her she doesn't feel like she has to shoulder the load every night for the Dream to win. In a 33-point victory over Washington, she took just four shots. The game before, a rout of Chicago, the 6-foot-8 star took only three shot attempts. 'Before you know if I only took three shots in the game it's a loss. Here you look up and we're beating a team by 25,' she said at practice. 'It just takes so much pressure off of me.' Power poll rankings New York and Minnesota both suffered their first losses of the season and the Lynx passed the Liberty for the top spot in the poll. Atlanta moved up to third with Phoenix and Seattle the next two. Indiana was sixth with Golden State behind them. Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington were next. Chicago, Connecticut and Dallas rounded out the poll. Paint the line orange The WNBA launched a new initiative aiming to bring the women's professional game closer to communities by painting the official WNBA 3-point line on park basketball courts across the country. It was debuted in New York at a park in Brooklyn. 'I'm excited about what this initiative means in terms of access and representation,' said WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin, who grew up in New York. 'I think it's just further evidence of the way that we want to be able to connect with young girls who are inspired by the WNBA.' Player of the week Gray earned Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The Dream wing averaged 23.3 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists to help the team go 3-0 on the week. Other players receiving consideration were Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Sabrina Ionescu of New York, Caitlin Clark of Indiana and Satou Sabally of Phoenix. Game of the week Indiana at Las Vegas. With Clark back in the lineup, the Fever continue a western trip in Las Vegas. It's unclear if A'ja Wilson will be back for the game as the Aces' star is in concussion protocol.
Hamilton Spectator
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Atlanta Dream off to hot start under new coach Karl Smesko and play of Allisha Gray
NEW YORK (AP) — The Atlanta Dream made a lot of moves in the offseason, hiring Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast and bringing in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to complement Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. So far the moves have paid off as the Dream have the third best record in the league behind Minnesota and New York. Atlanta (8-3) is off to one of the franchise's best marks through 11 games since coming into the league as an expansion team in 2008. The 2016 team also won eight of its first 11 games but then went on to drop its next six games. Gray has flourished in Smesko's system, shooting a career-high 51% from the field including 42% from behind the 3-point line. She earned the league's Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May. 'I think it's the offense and just finding my shots,' Gray said. 'I feel like Karl puts in an offense and the way he pays attention to the details and really helps me. Tells me if I'm open shoot the ball. Instills that confidence in me, that's been a big part of my success.' Griner came to the team as a free agent after spending the first 11 seasons with Phoenix after the Mercury drafted her No. 1 in 2013. With so much talent around her she doesn't feel like she has to shoulder the load every night for the Dream to win. In a 33-point victory over Washington on Sunday, she took just four shots. The game before, a rout of Chicago, the 6-foot-8 star took only three shot attempts. 'Before you know if I only took three shots in the game it's a loss. Here you look up and we're beating a team by 25,' she said at practice Monday. 'It just takes so much pressure off of me.' Power poll rankings New York and Minnesota both suffered their first losses of the season last week and the Lynx passed the Liberty for the top spot in the poll. Atlanta moved up to third with Phoenix and Seattle the next two. Indiana was sixth with Golden State behind them. Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington were next. Chicago, Connecticut and Dallas rounded out the poll. Paint the line orange The WNBA launched a new initiative last week aiming to bring the women's professional game closer to communities by painting the official WNBA 3-point line on park basketball courts across the country. It was debuted in New York on Thursday at a park in Brooklyn. 'I'm excited about what this initiative means in terms of access and representation,' said WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin, who grew up in New York. 'I think it's just further evidence of the way that we want to be able to connect with young girls who are inspired by the WNBA.' Player of the week Gray earned Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The Dream wing averaged 23.3 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists to help the team go 3-0 on the week. Other players receiving consideration were Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Sabrina Ionescu of New York, Caitlin Clark of Indiana and Satou Sabally of Phoenix. Game of the week Indiana at Las Vegas, Sunday. With Clark back in the lineup, the Fever continue a western trip in Las Vegas. It's unclear if A'ja Wilson will be back for the game as the Aces' star is in concussion protocol. ___ AP WNBA:
Fox Sports
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Atlanta Dream off to hot start under new coach Karl Smesko and play of Allisha Gray
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The Atlanta Dream made a lot of moves in the offseason, hiring Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast and bringing in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to complement Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. So far the moves have paid off as the Dream have the third best record in the league behind Minnesota and New York. Atlanta (8-3) is off to one of the franchise's best marks through 11 games since coming into the league as an expansion team in 2008. The 2016 team also won eight of its first 11 games but then went on to drop its next six games. Gray has flourished in Smesko's system, shooting a career-high 51% from the field including 42% from behind the 3-point line. She earned the league's Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May. 'I think it's the offense and just finding my shots,' Gray said. 'I feel like Karl puts in an offense and the way he pays attention to the details and really helps me. Tells me if I'm open shoot the ball. Instills that confidence in me, that's been a big part of my success.' Griner came to the team as a free agent after spending the first 11 seasons with Phoenix after the Mercury drafted her No. 1 in 2013. With so much talent around her she doesn't feel like she has to shoulder the load every night for the Dream to win. In a 33-point victory over Washington on Sunday, she took just four shots. The game before, a rout of Chicago, the 6-foot-8 star took only three shot attempts. 'Before you know if I only took three shots in the game it's a loss. Here you look up and we're beating a team by 25,' she said at practice Monday. 'It just takes so much pressure off of me.' Power poll rankings New York and Minnesota both suffered their first losses of the season last week and the Lynx passed the Liberty for the top spot in the poll. Atlanta moved up to third with Phoenix and Seattle the next two. Indiana was sixth with Golden State behind them. Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington were next. Chicago, Connecticut and Dallas rounded out the poll. Paint the line orange The WNBA launched a new initiative last week aiming to bring the women's professional game closer to communities by painting the official WNBA 3-point line on park basketball courts across the country. It was debuted in New York on Thursday at a park in Brooklyn. 'I'm excited about what this initiative means in terms of access and representation,' said WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin, who grew up in New York. 'I think it's just further evidence of the way that we want to be able to connect with young girls who are inspired by the WNBA.' Player of the week Gray earned Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The Dream wing averaged 23.3 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists to help the team go 3-0 on the week. Other players receiving consideration were Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Sabrina Ionescu of New York, Caitlin Clark of Indiana and Satou Sabally of Phoenix. Game of the week Indiana at Las Vegas, Sunday. With Clark back in the lineup, the Fever continue a western trip in Las Vegas. It's unclear if A'ja Wilson will be back for the game as the Aces' star is in concussion protocol. ___ AP WNBA: recommended
