Latest news with #springtraining
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
MLB plans to use robot umpire challenge system in All-Star Game next week
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball plans to use its robot umpire technology for ball-strike challenges in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Atlanta, another step toward possible regular-season use next season. MLB said Wednesday it intends to make the All-Star announcement Thursday. Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges during the spring training test, with 617 of 1,182 challenges successful in the 288 exhibition games using the Automated Ball-Strike System . ABS was installed at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams , and an animation of the pitch was shown on video boards displaying the challenge result for spectators to see.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How rookie Cam Smith made the Astros believe he's ‘got something special'
On Feb. 22, shortly after the start of spring training in West Palm Beach, Fla., Astros manager Joe Espada asked Cam Smith to address his new teammates. Astros bench coach Omar López recalls the talk vividly. It gave him goosebumps. And it brought back memories of a previous Astros rookie who stunned the team with his poise and eloquence, Carlos Correa. Advertisement The occasion was Smith's 22nd birthday. A little more than two months after the Chicago Cubs sent him to the Astros as the centerpiece of the Kyle Tucker trade. A little more than seven months after the Cubs drafted him No. 14 overall out of Florida State. Espada surprised Smith by inviting Scott Benedict, an assistant baseball coach at Smith's high school, nearby Palm Beach Central, to talk about the player's path. Smith, in a room full of major-league veterans, did not act nervous. In the words of Astros first baseman Christian Walker, 'he wasn't trying to be a tough guy, or put up a front.' When Smith spoke, he was sincere. 'I just talked about how I had the best time playing in Low-A ball because it was all Latin players,' Smith said, recalling his 15 games last season with the Cubs' Myrtle Beach affiliate. 'And (how) I was excited to play with a bunch of Latin guys here.' Smith's stepfather, Robert Alvarez, is of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. He does not speak Spanish, but said he is working to learn the language. Astros utility man Mauricio Dubón, a native of Honduras, smiled as he recalled his reaction to hearing Smith's eagerness to mix with Latin teammates. 'We have a lot of those,' Dubón thought. 'He's going to fit right in.' Smith has done just that, in ways that are virtually unprecedented, almost unimaginable. Jacob Wilson, the Athletics' All-Star shortstop, is the early front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year. Smith, however, is excelling while facing a greater degree of difficulty. He played only 32 games in the minor leagues. He learned right field in the final two weeks of spring training. After some initial struggles offensively, he has moved from the bottom of the order to the top while the Astros await the return of Yordan Alvarez. Smith has even batted cleanup for the first time professionally in nine games, and thrived in that spot. Advertisement Before the season began, Fangraphs projected the Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners all to win 84-85 games, making the AL West practically a dead heat. With the season more than half-complete, the Astros are on a 97-win pace, and lead the division by 6 1/2 games. That's despite trading Tucker and reliever Ryan Pressly and losing third baseman Alex Bregman to free agency. Despite placing six starting pitchers on the injured list. Despite playing without Alvarez, their leading slugger, since May 2. Smith, batting .287 with seven homers and a .786 OPS, is a big reason the Astros' offense remains above-average. So is another player general manager Dana Brown acquired for Tucker, third baseman Isaac Paredes. (The third player in the deal, right-hander Hayden Wesneski, is one of the Astros' injured starting pitchers, and, in late May, underwent Tommy John surgery.) To Espada, Smith's emergence began the day he spoke to the club. 'It's a clubhouse full of veteran guys, winners, MVPs, batting champions, Silver Sluggers,' Espada said. 'It can be a very intimidating room for anyone. 'It was not exactly what he said, but the way that he said it. You could see how genuine he was. His humility. His confidence. His presence. You could just tell this kid was going to be a star, based on watching the eyes of the crowd that he was talking to. 'I'm like, 'OK, we've got something special.'' In the spring of 2022, longtime Astros star Jose Altuve offered a surprising assessment of Jeremy Peña, the rookie shortstop who was replacing Correa. 'He's going to be a superstar,' Altuve said. 'I can tell by his attitude. He cares. He wants to be the best.' Altuve's scouting report proved largely accurate. Peña became the 2022 ALCS and World Series MVP, a Gold Glove winner and, for the first time this season, an All-Star. Advertisement Smith, in Altuve's view, possesses similar qualities. 'This is my (15th) season in the big leagues. You start learning about players who come and go,' Altuve said. 'The two of them had something in common when I first saw them. They looked like they would do everything to get better. Work hard. Listen. Show up every day with the same intensity.' Smith, like Peña, is unrelenting in the way he attacks each day. During spring training, López would get on a treadmill at 5:30 a.m., before his work as a coach began. Smith would enter the gym at 5:45 or so to start his routine, leaving López to wonder, 'Where did this kid come from?' Recently, a barber was scheduled to visit the Astros' clubhouse at noon CT, more than six hours before a game starting at 6:10. The barber did not show until 12:30. Smith wanted a haircut, but by then was already into his preparation. He skipped the haircut, refusing to deviate from his process. For a 6:10 game, he will arrive between 11:30 and noon. 'As soon as I come here, I eat,' Smith said. 'They usually have good food here. I'll eat, drink a little water and then go in the weight room right away and warm up. 'I try to get in the cage before anybody else does. As a rookie, you kind of have to get your stuff in before the veteran guys. That's kind of what I prioritize: Get here early, and make sure I'm in the cage before the veteran guys start to step in.' Like many young hitters, Smith initially struggled to find his offensive footing. Through May 13, he was batting .214 with a .659 OPS. During that period, Espada sat him four times in a span of eight games. Since then, Smith is batting .326 with an .852 OPS. Working with Alex Cintron, one of the Astros' hitting coaches, he opened his stance so he could better see the pitcher, but still made sure to land with his front foot closed. He also became less upright and raised his back elbow to hold the bat at more of an angle. By minimizing his load, he could let his hands work. Advertisement The willingness and ability to make such adjustments is why Altuve believes Smith will be the team's next superstar. 'It's not the talent he has. It's that he wants to learn,' Altuve said. 'He's a quick learner. Every little thing the coaches and players tell him to get better, he applies it right away.' Last Saturday, before a 4:05 p.m. start at Dodger Stadium, Smith peppered one of the Astros' outfield instructors, Jason Bell, with a series of questions. How differently does the ball fly during the daytime than the night? What would the sun be like in the late afternoon? How should he respond if the ball gets caught underneath the fence? Cintron takes pride in Smith's offensive progression, but readily acknowledges that Smith's most impressive accomplishment is the way he has taken to the outfield. Until spring training, Smith had never played right field. He was a shortstop in high school, a third baseman at Florida State. His only experience in the outfield was three summer league starts in left as a college sophomore. The Astros' initial plan was to play Smith at third base in spring training, then transition him to both corner outfield spots once he settled at a minor-league affiliate. The team's coaches were so encouraged by Smith's play at third, they envisioned him possibly becoming another Manny Machado. Smith, at 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds, is built similar to Machado, and possesses the same type of powerful arm. The idea of Smith moving to right stemmed from his offensive eruption in the Grapefruit League. Paredes was set to play third, and the Astros knew they might lack in offense in their first year without Tucker and Bregman. Smith, less than a year removed from Florida State, playing an entirely new position, would be part of their solution. To some, it seemed like a reckless gamble. But it worked. Another of the Astros' outfield instructors, Dave Clark, said the coaches initially told Smith to just be an athlete and catch the ball, that over time they would teach him the nuances of the position. Smith adjusted so quickly, Clark now says he has a chance to win a Gold Glove. The defensive metrics support Clark's claim. Among AL right fielders, Smith entered Tuesday tied with Aaron Judge for third in Outs Above Average, within striking distance of the co-leaders, the Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu and Athletics' Lawrence Butler. He also ranked third in Defensive Runs Saved, behind the Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia and Abreu. His sprint speed among right fielders was second only to Arizona's Corbin Carroll. Advertisement 'He has the athleticism to be great,' Bell said. 'Now it's just getting his mind to understand the little things.' And making sure his body handles the rigors of a 162-game season. Smith played in 95 games in 2023 between Florida State and the Cape Cod League. He appeared in 98 last season – 66 at FSU before departing as a draft-eligible sophomore, then 32 at three minor-league levels with the Cubs. On Tuesday night, Smith played in his 78th major-league game. Espada said he and his staff will monitor Smith for signs of wearing down. Smith, knowing he is only 22, does not seem especially concerned. 'It's just managing your body,' he said. 'Obviously, I'm new to this many games. But we've got the best staff and all the stuff we need in the training room and weight room to keep me on the field. I've got to stay on top of that. If I don't, I won't be playing.' Smith said he also will lean on veteran teammates for advice. Some rookies are uneasy trying to find their place in a major-league clubhouse. Smith became part of the Astros' fabric right away. 'He gets along with everyone,' Altuve said. Smith's high school coach, Tony Gullo, said, 'I don't know anyone that dislikes him, honestly.' He made his first impression on his new teammates in late February, talking to them as if he had known them forever. At times, he looks like he also has been playing forever. But in reality, he's just getting started. 'He hasn't figured it out yet. It's just raw talent taking over,' Dubón said. 'When he figures it out, he's probably going to be one of the best players in the game.' (Top photo of Cam Smith:)
New York Times
17-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Yankees' Aaron Boone wanted Joe Torre coaching alongside him again
NEW YORK — Two spring trainings ago, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone needed to convince legendary manager Joe Torre to wear the pinstripes once more. It had been 17 years since he wore the Yankees' No. 6 jersey. But a few hours after Torre arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field as a guest instructor, Boone succeeded in getting Torre back in uniform. A few days later, Torre made a pitching change. Yankees fans were treated to that slow, lumbering walk out to the mound. Torre was showered with a standing ovation. Advertisement 'I think he loved it,' Boone said Tuesday, reminiscing about Torre's presence at camp. 'I know our guys love being around him. I think this year he was really looking forward to coming back to spring training. He was in uniform. He's just awesome to be around. What gets me excited is I know he's enjoying it.' Boone had an idea at the end of spring training this year. With winning the American League pennant, Boone gets to manage the league's All-Star team in Atlanta this year. He invited Cleveland Guardians manager Steven Vogt to coach alongside him, but he also wanted to check to see if Torre would have interest, and if MLB would approve it. Torre has been a special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred since 2020. 'I actually went to the league and asked, 'Hey, what do you think about Joe coming to the All-Star Game, being in uniform?'' Boone said. 'They of course loved the idea. Then I went to Joe, I went to him and said, 'You don't have to answer this right now. Just hear me out.' I asked him would he consider coming. Right away, he was like, 'Yes.' And he seemed really excited about it. He seemed moved by it, which could not have gone better in my eyes. I'm excited to have the skipper with us.' Aaron Boone will manage the American League All-Star team and be joined by Joe Torre as an honorary coach — Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 17, 2025 Boone and Torre, who managed the Yankees to four World Series titles (1996, 1998-2000), have developed a close relationship since the former took the managerial job in 2018. Boone said Torre has given him lots of advice over the past eight years, and pops into his office at Yankee Stadium occasionally. Yankees players have also appreciated having Torre around at spring training. Anthony Volpe, who grew up a fan of the team, could not stop smiling when Torre made the pitching change in 2024. At the time, he called it one of the highlights of his baseball career. Rodón, who was taken out of the game by Torre, said he initially was mad that he was getting pulled from his spring training start. Advertisement 'I wanted to be like, 'Get out of here,'' Rodon said in 2024, 'but it's Joe Torre.' Torre will be in uniform next month at the All-Star Game being held in Atlanta, which is also where the Hall of Famer managed from 1982-1984. He also played with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves from 1960-1968. Not only does Boone get to take Torre to Atlanta, but his entire Yankees coaching staff will have the opportunity to be in the dugout, too. 'A lot of those guys, in a lot of ways, it will be the experience of a lifetime to get to be in an All-Star Game around the greatest in the world to do it,' Boone said of his assistants. 'You're always in that competition mode against other clubs, teams, players, staffs. To get to share the same uniform with guys you compete against all the time is a little pause in things and something that I know I'm going to cherish and I'm sure most of our staff will.' (Photo of Torre and Boone in 2024: New York Yankees / Getty Images)
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Two Cleveland Guardians' Prospects Knocking On The Big League Door
TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 29, 2024: A closeup view of the jersey worn by Chase DeLauter #6 of the ... More Cleveland Guardians during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 29, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) With the Cleveland Guardians offense continuing to sputter, there are some potential reinforcements waiting in the wings. To this old scout, two credible Guardians prospects could see playing time in the second half of the season. Chase DeLauter-OF C.J. Kayfus-1B/OF Each of them could bring good contact hitting, and much needed power. AKRON, OHIO - JULY 28, 2024: Chase DeLauter #22 of the Akron RubberDucks signs autographs prior to a ... More game against the Bowie Baysox at Canal Park on July 28, 2024 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Chase DeLauter was the Guardians No. 1 draft pick in 2022. Selected out of James Madison University, DeLauter was the No. 16 player chosen in the draft. The Guardians gave DeLauter a $3.75 million signing bonus. DeLauter can hit, but so far, he has been plagued by injuries in his pro career. DeLauter broke his foot running the bases in 2022, and then after having surgery, he re-injured the foot after he was drafted. Sadly, he broke it again last April. Now recovered, DeLauter is playing at Triple-A Columbus, where he is getting playing time in right field, and at designated hitter. DeLauter has played all three outfield position in the past, so he may be on the Guardians radar to play center or right at the big league level. The Guardians are careful with DeLauter, as they want to take things easy as he returns from so much time away. As of June 10, DeLauter is hitting .250/.362/.400/.762, with three doubles, one home run, and five RBIs in 47 plate appearances, covering 11 games at Triple-A Columbus. For this old scout, DeLauter is a Grade 55 player, which means he is better than average in more than one tool. For DeLauter, his best tools are hitting for average, hitting for power, and his strong arm. AKRON, OHIO - JUNE 18, 2024: C.J. Kayfus #12 of the Akron RubberDucks celebrates with teammates ... More after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Canal Park on June 18, 2024 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) An intriguing prospect with yet to be determined power potential, Kayfus is zooming up the prospect rankings. It seems Kayfus is on the fast-track to Cleveland. Kayfus was a 3rd round draft pick in 2023, out of University of Miami. The Guardians signed him for $700,000, and he will likely eclipse that figure with his production. Kayfus slipped in the draft, because teams looked for more power from first base candidates at draft time. Last year, however, Kayfus opened eyes at both Class-A Advanced Lake County, and Double-A Akron. Combined, he hit .291/.393/.511/.904, with 17 homers, and 92 RBIs in 481 plate appearances. Kayfus has shown a good eye at the plate, and a willingness to accept a walk. There is some strikeout in his game, but that is to be expected as he climbs his way to Cleveland. The Guardians have him taking reps at first base, left field, and right field at Columbus. So far this year, Kayfus is hitting .302/.373/.524/.897, with seven doubles, three triples, five homers, and 16 RBIs in 33 games, and 47 plate appearances at Triple-A Columbus. This old scout grades him as a 55, an above average hitter with good pop, a good batting average, and good defensive projections. CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 22: Johnathan Rodriguez #30 of the Cleveland Guardians runs out an RBI single ... More during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Progressive Field on May 22, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by) Outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez was promoted back to the Cleveland Guardians June 8. Rodriguez was a 3rd 2017 draft pick of the Guardians out of Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, in both Florida and Puerto Rico. The Guardians signed Rodriguez for $450,000. Rodriguez never got the opportunity to play with Cleveland on a regular basis, so evaluating him against big league pitching is difficult. This may be his chance. Rodriguez does have power. Last year, in 118 games at Triple-A Columbus, Rodriguez hit .301, with 29 homers, and 94 RBIs. Rodriguez will likely assume the right-handed platoon role in right field. But, to this old scout, he has the ability to play everyday. Due to his power and hitting potential, this scout grades Rodriguez as a Grade 55, better than average player. Travis Bazzana-2B-currently dealing with an oblique strain at Double-A Akron. The injury occurred May 14, and he is expected to be out another eight weeks. Juan Brito-INF-He has had surgery to repair a high-grade ligament sprain of his right thumb. He sprained the thumb April 17, at Triple-A Columbus. Cooper Ingle-C-A name to remember, Ingle is a very good hitting catcher, with little to no power. But he makes contact, and he could be knocking on the Guardians door by next year.
New York Times
28-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
After long wait, Wenceel Pérez provides Tigers another sublime moment
DETROIT — It was the last day of spring training. The Tigers were in Clearwater. The final game was over. That is when Wenceel Pérez walked through a set of double doors and entered the clubhouse. Most of his teammates were already dressed. Their bags were packed, their spirits were high. Another long spring was over. The Tigers were headed to San Francisco for a pair of exhibition games, and Opening Day was within reach. Advertisement Pérez, though, was still in uniform. He wore a sullen look on his face. He made no eye contact and hurried toward the showers. We soon learned an explanation for the strange scene. Pérez reported pain in his lower back. He had missed time earlier in camp with back tightness. He has battled back injuries dating to his time in the minor leagues. He tried to keep going, wanted to play through the pain. It finally became too much. 'I think I was swinging hard and too much,' Pérez said Tuesday. 'I was feeling out of my rhythm and out of my timing. I was taking so many swings, and then that's when I started feeling it again.' Pérez had little choice but to tell the staff. He finished spring training with only three hits. So his teammates packed up and boarded the plane. Pérez stayed at the Tigers' spring training facility and reckoned with the road ahead. 'Yeah, it was tough,' Pérez said. 'I was trying to get through it, but it was just getting worse and worse and worse and worse.' The rehab was not exactly easy, either. He went on the 60-day injured list with lumbar spine inflammation. Two months of his season were promised to be lost. He rehabbed with teammates like Matt Vierling and Alex Cobb, gathered and cooked out while the Tigers played on Opening Day. By May 16, he finally started a rehab assignment, one that caused him to bounce around. He started in High A, playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps in Fort Wayne. He was bumped to Triple-A Toledo, then moved to Class-A Lakeland because of weather concerns in the Midwest. 'Oh my gosh,' Pérez said. 'That was not a vacation.' By Monday, Pérez was in Detroit awaiting activation. The Tigers had just gotten Vierling back from a shoulder injury and were finally nearing full strength. What ended up happening Tuesday tells the story of the 2025 Tigers in ways good and bad. Vierling, it turns out, went back on the IL with shoulder inflammation. He's going to get more tests. Right now, the vibes seem worrisome. Advertisement 'We put him on the injured list, which should tell you we don't think he can play,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'We'll have more information as we get more tests, and more doctors need to weigh in.' But Pérez was indeed activated and started in center field. This was some emotional yin and yang. 'We should not steal any joy away from getting Wenceel back,' Hinch said. 'This guy is so fun to be around. He's energetic, big smile, bounces around the clubhouse.' By the bottom of the second inning on Tuesday, Pérez was up facing Giants right-hander Logan Webb. Pérez had gone just 4-for-18 during his rehab assignment. He found himself perturbed with the tedium of the minor leagues. 'At the beginning, it's just tough, getting the same stuff probably three or four times a game, in the spot, same team again,' Pérez said. 'I was a little bit frustrated with it, but it's a game, and I have to control what I can control and come back as strong as I can.' Here in his first big-league at-bat since October, he took two balls, then got a 2-0 sinker over the heart of the plate. Pérez let loose the short stroke that came through for the Tigers in so many big moments last season. The ball crashed into his bat, then went screaming out over the right field wall at 100.5 mph. Home run. WELCOME BACK WENCEEL 💣 — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 27, 2025 'So proud for that kid,' Hinch said. 'He's worked hard. Obviously, injuries are hard on everybody. Think about the last game of spring training, and we're getting on the plane to go to the exhibition game. He's got to report that he's not feeling great. That's a crushing blow at any point in the spring, but that's like getaway day for the most exciting day of the year at that point.' Pérez struck out in his two subsequent at-bats, but the Tigers won 3-1, bumping their record to 36-20. Aside from tough luck with injuries, that's what it's been like so far this season. Cards that keep turning up in the Tigers' favor. Advertisement Now back with the team, Pérez should see time at all three outfield spots. He is 25 years old, only one year removed from converting from infielder to outfielder last spring. In 2024, he was a pesky and dependable presence that often felt more important than his 1.1 fWAR would indicate. He's joining a first-place team that has endured without its injured players for the first two months of the season. Tuesday, he provided another memorable moment in what could become a summer full of them.
