news

Offbeat

Puppies with 'staches? It must be Pawl Skenes night

12:15 AM EDT

It was Pawl Skenes night at the ballpark in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but it's safe to say these canines care little about his K/9, impressive as it may be. Pirates fans took Pup Night to the next level by giving their pooches the full Skenes treatment, with kerchiefs that had

The time Sabathia was banned from eating cheesesteaks in Philly clubhouse

New 6-1-1 podcast, hosted by Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, takes you behind the scenes with current and former stars
@Theo_DeRosa
July 23, 2024

Looking for the best cheesesteaks in Philadelphia? Try the visitors' clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park. CC Sabathia found that out in 2008 on his first trip to the Phillies’ home park, when the lefty was with the Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia's brilliant second half after a midseason trade helped the Brewers

'Farthest ball ever hit by a human': Behind James Wood's epic travel-ball HR

@MattMonagan
July 23, 2024

"I think I already know what video this is," James Wood said, smiling. "Hey, look, you sent me that text -- I couldn't open the video," Andy Partin, Wood's high school travel baseball coach, said over the phone. "Was it the one where he hit that high fastball?" Before James

How slow can you go? Rays, Yanks trade prolonged HR trots

July 22, 2024

NEW YORK -- Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri prompted a few rounds of Bronx cheers on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, slowly circling the bases after going deep in the Rays’ 6-4 win. But that was merely the opening act for the slow race around the bases that broke out

Piazza dreaming big while reshaping baseball’s foundation in Italy

@CDrottar19
July 22, 2024

“It all starts with a dream.” Ask Mike Piazza about his goals for baseball in Italy and he’ll likely find his way back to this thought. The Hall of Fame catcher has already made multiple noteworthy contributions to help support the country’s baseball ambitions, representing Italy both on the field

Buzzing bug might be all that can stop Soto at the plate

@Spokes_Murphy
July 21, 2024

Juan Soto was swinging away during his second-inning at-bat at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. But not at a baseball. Soto’s second plate appearance against Rays pitcher Shane Baz was interrupted when what appeared to be a bee flew in front of the Yankees All-Star outfielder.

Did a John Denver song get Billy Martin fired?

@NJ_baseball
July 20, 2024

Billy Martin won everywhere he managed. He also got fired everywhere he managed. And yet, the strangest of his firings isn’t one of the five times Yankees owner George Steinbrenner let Martin go or pressured him to resign. Nor is it his first dismissal, after leading the Twins to 18

Coach Prime among Elly's fans: 'I love what he brings to the game'

@ByJasonFoster
July 19, 2024

Game recognizes game, as they say. Deion Sanders last played in the Majors in 2001, but that doesn't mean the two-sport great hasn't paid attention to happenings on the diamond -- especially when they involve Reds superstar Elly De La Cruz. "Prime Time" heaped praise on the Cincinnati shortstop during

Take a closer look at these 7 great MiLB hats you saw at the Futures Game

@JoshJacksonMiLB
July 18, 2024

This year's Futures Game featured more old-fashioned, Minor League-style fun than ever, and the most visible addition was one fans could see at every moment. Each of the 45 players who appeared in the game wore on his head the cap of his Minor League team.

25 years ago, Pedro struck out 5 of 6 in the ASG ... but one guy got on base

'You're up there fighting for your life'
@MattMonagan
July 17, 2024

Twenty-five years ago, Pedro Martinez was transcendent. By the 1999 All-Star break, he led all qualified pitchers in wins (15), strikeouts (184) and ERA (2.10). He'd go on to win his second of three Cy Youngs. And he did it in a season that was mostly about the hitter: The

Pure speed meets pure heat: Check out Elly's insane All-Star cleats

@Theo_DeRosa
July 17, 2024

The “fastest man alive” got to run the bases in style in his very first All-Star Game. Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, known for his rocket arm, power bat and elite sprint speed, flashed some fancy footwear during the 94th MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field

Ohtani's one-of-a-kind suit features adorable images of his dog Decoy

@bmags94
July 16, 2024

There’s an old saying that dogs are a man’s best friend. Shohei Ohtani has certainly embraced that idea -- and then some. At Tuesday’s All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Frutitas, Ohtani took that idea one step further when he rocked a suit with his dog, Decoy, designed on the

Draft night turns into 'Pizza Pizza' party for Tigers

July 16, 2024

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ZOINKS! Gunnar shows off Scooby-Doo bat, impression at Home Run Derby

@JakeDRill
July 15, 2024

ARLINGTON -- Gunnar Henderson walked onto ESPN’s on-field set at the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night at Globe Life Field, grabbed the microphone and delivered exactly what was asked of him. The 23-year-old Orioles shortstop snuck a few peeks directly into the hard camera in the process. “Ruh-roh,

Along with everything else, Skenes making mustaches cool again

July 15, 2024

ARLINGTON -- Paul Skenes has a 6-0 record and 1.90 ERA in his first 11 MLB starts. He has 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He has a fastball few can touch and a “splinker” none had seen. He has a famous girlfriend. He has the distinction of becoming the

Iglesias performs 'OMG' for kids -- next stop, Home Run Derby

@_dadler
July 14, 2024

NEW YORK -- Jose Iglesias' next big "OMG" performance will be at the Home Run Derby. Iglesias is headed to the All-Star Game in Texas to perform "OMG" live on Monday as part of the festivities to kick off the Derby at Globe Life Field. Then, he'll cheer on his

Prospects 'Cowboy up' at the Stockyards ahead of Draft in Texas

July 14, 2024

FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Some of the top Draft prospects in baseball took “Cowboy up” to a new level here ahead of the Draft. The six players in town to attend the MLB Draft came in early to get a tour of the Stockyards, a national historic district in Fort

A 4-9 flyout you'll have to see to believe

@Spokes_Murphy
July 13, 2024

ST PETERSBURG -- Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez and right fielder Will Brennan teamed up Saturday to make a play you don’t see every day. Or hardly ever. With no outs and a runner on first in the third inning of Cleveland’s 4-2 win against the Rays at Tropicana Field,

Ty + Polo + J.P. + Cal = CRAZY way to escape a jam

@adriangarro
July 13, 2024

ANAHEIM -- It wasn’t quite how Bryan Woo drew it up, but he’ll take it. The Mariners right-hander found himself in a jam in the bottom of the first inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium. Having already allowed a two-run homer to Willie Calhoun, the 24-year-old was trying to

New team, same result: Ohtani leads MLB in jersey sales

@MannyOnMLB
July 12, 2024

The sales figures are out and one thing is abundantly clear when it comes to the most popular MLB player jerseys during the first half of the 2024 season: Shohei Ohtani remains king. Ohtani, who finished last season atop the jersey sales list, is atop the rankings again so far

Meet the only player drafted No. 1 overall twice

@ColeJacobson32
July 11, 2024

Baseball is unique among the major sports in terms of how common it is for players to be drafted more than once, often including players who are chosen both out of high school and college. Since the inaugural Draft in 1965, 30 players have been picked in the first round

Rays ballboy's all-out dive earns him trip to All-Star Game

July 11, 2024

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was the third game of the season and Braden Coles’ fourth day of work with the Rays. The 20-year-old member of the clubhouse staff was still trying to learn everyone’s names when he took his spot as a ballboy down the right-field line at Tropicana Field.

Famous family ties of 2024 Draft prospects

July 10, 2024

The MLB Draft typically features some very recognizable last names among its selections, and the 2023 edition was no exception. In fact, within the first 40 overall picks of last summer’s Draft, the Athletics alone selected Jacob Wilson -- son of former Pirates All-Star shortstop Jack -- and Myles Naylor

Reps for Rays, O's win Ball Crew vote for trip to All-Star Game

@Spokes_Murphy
July 10, 2024

We have two new additions to this year’s All-Star Game: Braden Coles of the Rays and Tyler Smith of the Orioles. You won’t find them on either team’s roster, but you will find them at Globe Life Field in Arlington as part of the game’s ball crew. Coles and Smith

Phillies prospect makes unreal play behind the plate

@ssc627
July 10, 2024

Just how did Guillermo Rosario catch that fouled-off pitch? You can watch the video dozens of times and still not be sure. It seems like a glorious combination of luck, skill and reflexes.