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Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Tigers surprised Zach McKinstry with MLB All-Star announcement
Ichiro Suzuki and Barry Bonds. Those are the two names Zach McKinstry said he first thinks of when he recalls MLB All-Star Game memories from his childhood. Well, now he needs to add his own name to that list, after the Detroit Tigers' do-it-all utility man was officially added to the team Wednesday, July 9, shortly after 5 p.m. Advertisement The public announcement came over the public address system at Comerica Park, when a graphic flashed on the scoreboard in left field that the former Central Michigan standout would become the fifth Tigers player to go to the Midsummer Classic in 2025. Detroit Tigers Zach McKinstry smiles as he celebrates after hitting a home run against the Twins at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, June 28, 2025. But the private announcement came the evening before, when manager A.J. Hinch had compiled the others, including Javier Báez, Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres and Tarik Skubal into his office when he called "Z-Mac" too "Super cool," McKinstry said following the Tigers' 7-3 loss on Wednesday. "When I looked around the room, I kind of felt it was coming and it was just a pretty cool moment to have those guys in there with me. A.J. just said 'all the players here are All Stars' so that was pretty cool." Advertisement McKinstry also had to keep his cool for about 18 hours, from when he found out on Tuesday, July 8, until the embargo broke the following afternoon. He joked he intentionally stayed away from media prior to the game, and he and his inner circle did a good job of keeping it on the "down low." DETROIT SPORTS HAVING A MOMENT: Here are 29 reasons why There were, of course, a few people he told: his wife, agent, parents, brother, sister, his wife's family and a handful of friends. Hinch said he was surprised that media gathered outside the clubhouse didn't hear the eruption from outside the locker room. Hinch almost blew it pregame, too, when he was asked about sending five people to Atlanta, including bat boy Frankie Boyd, when he said its six, then quickly talked it back and said, yeah, maybe five. Advertisement "I almost ruined it today, but I can count," Hinch quipped. "We weren't allowed to talk about it (publicly) but I could tell him ... we all just talked about his journey a little bit, (president of baseball operations) Scott (Harris) was in there and he traded for him to bring him into the organization, George (Lombard) was in there who worked so hard with him on baserunning and outfield, Joey Cora was in there, you know, infield coach. "Just everybody was so proud of him ... very rewarding moment for me as a manager, but more importantly for Z-Mac as a player amongst the elite." Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry (39) slides to third base after hitting a triple against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of the game at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The journey certainly has not been the typical one of an All-Star, even one making it for the first time at age 30. Prior to 2025, McKinstry had never hit better than his 2023 season, his first in Detroit, when he batted .231 with a .302 OBP and 1.2 wins above replacement. Advertisement This year, however, he's already on pace to smash those numbers. His average (.286) and OBP (.358) are both more than 50 points higher, while his OPS (.826) is nearly 170 points north of his previous best. When he woke up Thursday, July 10, following his latest two-double performance, his batting WAR (2.7) was tied for No. 31 in baseball, along with teammate Riley Greene, directly ahead of players like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Max Muncy. Detroit Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry (39) hits an RBI double in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. McKinstry's eight triples are second best in the American League (Jarren Duran, 10) and already a career-high, while his seven home runs are two shy (9), his 14 doubles are seven shy (21) and his 13 steals are three back (16) of his career bests, all posted in 148 games played in 2023. Advertisement These 2025 numbers have come in just 85 games. "Just honestly, I couldn't think of a human more deserving," catcher Jake Rogers said. "All of his ups and downs, teams he's been, yeah, he's definitely a grinder. It's pretty cool to see a guy like that do well at all the positions around the field. "Gave him a big hug, everyone was super excited for him and we were all hoping he was going to get in." Detroit Tigers outfielders, from left: Riley Greene, Parker Meadows and Zach McKinstry celebrate their win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, July 7, 2025. With five All-Stars now selected, it's the most since the organization had six in 2013: Miguel Cabrera (3B), Prince Fielder (1B), Torii Hunter (OF), Jhonny Peralta (SS), Justin Verlander (P) and Max Scherzer (P). Advertisement Now, all that's left — other than making sure he packs both his infield and outfield gloves — is getting in touch with his "people" that he still uses for formal events from Los Angeles, whom he connected with during his time in the Dodgers organization. There's going to be a new suit on the way, marking the biggest milestone of his career to wear to the red carpet. No, he won't match with his teammates he joked. "Definitely going to be some Detroit stuff going on on the suit," McKinstry said. "It will be pretty cool." Email Tony Garcia at apgarcia@ and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia. Advertisement This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Tigers surprised Zach McKinstry with MLB All-Star announcement
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Niilopekka Muhonen inks entry-level contract with Dallas Stars following breakout WHL season
Niilopekka Muhone (via Instagram) The Dallas Stars have formally signed Finnish defenseman Niilopekka Muhonen to a three-year entry-level agreement, another strong move for the talented 19-year-old blueliner. The contract will come into effect in the 2025–26 NHL season, giving Niilopekka Muhonen one extra year of improvement before coming into the Stars' system permanently. Niilopekka Muhonen becomes part of Medicine Hat Tigers ' roster Kuopio, Finland native Niilopekka Muhonen signed with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for his first season in North America in 2024–25, where he quickly made a name for himself with his steady play in defense and excellent adjustability. A fifth-round (158th overall) selection by Dallas in the 2024 NHL Draft, Niilopekka Muhonen was one of two imports on the roster of the Medicine Hat Tigers. In 60 regular-season games, Niilopekka Muhonen accumulated 17 points (4g, 13a) and posted a +20 plus/minus rating. He also had 45 penalty minutes, all while playing significant minutes against strong competition. His performance translated into the postseason as well, where he added three points (1g, 2a) in 18 games and was a member of the Medicine Hat team that claimed the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 궁극의 모험이 기다리고 있습니다 – 준비되셨나요? Raid: Shadow Legends 플레이하기 Undo The Tigers advanced to the Memorial Cup final, where they fell short of the London Knights, but Muhonen's play on the blue line late in the season did not go unnoticed by NHL scouts and front offices across the league. At 6-5, 215 pounds, Muhonen is a combination of size, agility, and calm. A pressure-best defense decision-maker with his calmness, he was utilized in all roles by the Tigers' coaching staff, such as penalty situations and end-of-game defenseman situations. His reach and body positioning allow him to play well in front of top-flight forwards, and his passing and stickhandling portend a future offense to be built. Muhonen's signing is a nod to the Stars' dedication to creating a dynamic and agile defensive core of the future. It's anticipated that he will go back to junior hockey or to Europe or the AHL for the 2025–26 season, but Dallas sees him as part of their blue line depth in the long term. Also read: Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings legend and 3-time Stanley Cup champion, dies at 93 With his entry-level contract now signed, Muhonen will proceed with development with professional expectations firmly in view. The Stars will keep an eye on him as he sets out to improve upon a breakthrough season and eventually sees his game come to the NHL level. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dallas Stars hire Glen Gulutzan for second stint as head coach
The Dallas Stars are turning to a name from their past to lead the team into the future. The Stars announced on Tuesday, July 1 that they have hired Glen Gulutzan as their next head coach. He was the Stars' coach during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons and was fired after missing the playoffs in both seasons. But he most recently was an Edmonton Oilers assistant coach since 2018-19, running their highly successful power play that featured Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons, knocking off the Stars in the Western Conference both times. "Since his previous time in Dallas, Glen has worked tirelessly to establish himself as one of the most respected coaches in the NHL," general manager Jim Nill said. "His extensive NHL experience, both as a head coach and assistant coach, speaks to his ability to innovate and adapt to the modern game, as well as build relationships with his players. Glen has worked with some of the best players in the world and continually found ways to maximize their skill sets to contribute to team success. We have full confidence that he is the right person to elevate our team to the next level." Gulutzan, 53, replaces Peter DeBoer, who was fired on June 6 after the Stars' third consecutive ouster in the conference finals. DeBoer had pulled No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger in the elimination game after he gave up two goals and said it was because the "status quo had not been working." General manager Jim Nill said those comments were a component of his decision to fire DeBoer but not the only reason. Between Gulutzan's stints with the Stars and the Oilers, he was an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks and head coach of the Calgary Flames. He has a 146-125-23 record as a head coach, with one playoff appearance in which the Flames were swept.
NZ Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
ANZ Premiership 2025: Magic clock up second win over Stars in Auckland
Magic's Saviour Tui and Stars' Kayla Johnson eye the ball during the Stars v Magic ANZ Premiership match at Pullman Arena in Auckland. Photo / Michael Bradley Magic 71 Stars 54 Avis Magic have clocked up another win over the Go Media Stars. The Waikato Bay of Plenty team won 71-54 in Auckland on Monday, hot on the heels of their 72-51 win last week. Slow to get their season going, the Magic have now jumped up
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Stars coach Pete DeBoer faces locker room backlash after Game 5 meltdown and playoff exit
James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images Let's just say the offseason drama in Dallas has started early and the heat isn't coming from the Texas sun. It's coming from inside the locker room. According to multiple reports, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer is in hot water after several players voiced their frustration with how he handled the Western Conference Final series against the Oilers. And no, this isn't just about Xs and Os. From Game 5 chaos to some eyebrow-raising postgame comments, DeBoer might've lost more than just the series, he may have lost the room. Players weren't thrilled with DeBoer's playoff coaching decisions and they made that very clear Insiders say there was noticeable tension behind closed doors after the Stars were eliminated by the Oilers in Game 6. Several players reportedly used their exit interviews to air grievances about how DeBoer handled key moments in the series. That includes lineup decisions, benchings, and his overall vibe after the loss. Translation? The guys weren't feeling it and they let the front office know. Game 5 was supposed to be the Stars' moment to bounce back. Instead, after giving up two early goals (one on the power play, the other a breakaway), DeBoer benched Oettinger in favor of backup Casey DeSmith, who hadn't played in over a month. The Oilers scored again just a minute later, and the Stars never recovered, eventually losing 6-3 and getting bounced from the playoffs. 'I didn't take that lightly and I didn't blame it all on Jake,' DeBoer said after the game. But the coach pointed to Oettinger's track record against Edmonton, six losses in his last seven tries as justification. Still, pulling your starting goalie that early in an elimination game was a shocker, and the gamble clearly didn't pay off. Let's not forget, this is Pete DeBoer's third straight Western Conference Final appearance with Dallas and his third straight failure to break through. In fact, he's now lost six straight conference final games as a head coach. That's not just bad luck. That's a trend. The Stars have the roster. They've got the goalie. But now, the question is whether DeBoer is the one to finally bring them to a Stanley Cup Final or if this painful exit signals the end of the road for him in Dallas. Also read - Auston Matthews and his fans got emotional as his mother opened up about the financial struggles of getting him into hockey
