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Pedro Neto’s hat-trick and Liam Delap’s hat-trick of assists made for Liam Rosenior’s happy Hull return
Hull have been a considerable talent school in recent years: Harry Maguire, Jarrod Bowen, Andy Robertson and lately Keane Lewis-Potter have all carved decent careers in the Premier League. Tom Cairney, too.
Liam Rosenior has FA Cup heritage, and played in this Wembley final classic in 2014. City were unlucky in this game, very unlucky.
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“Bear with me, please…”
He pitched in one of the most thrilling games of the postseason, throwing one perfect inning in the victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that sent the Dodgers to the World Series.
Nine days later, his newborn daughter died.
Four months later, in a halting six-minute address punctuated by deep breaths and stifled sobs, Alex Vesia publicly bared his battered soul.
Read more:Plaschke: Start talking three-peat! Dave Roberts believes these Dodgers can be better than ever
“ I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day…”
Meeting with the media at Camelback Ranch on the first day of spring training Friday, Vesia took no questions, instead reading from a statement off his phone while battling the effects of the tragedy that was his daughter Sterling’s death two days after the start of the World Series.
“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant. Ten minutes is all it took….”
Vesia had allowed two runs in seven postseason appearances, including five scoreless appearances in the heart of the playoffs. He was going to be a big factor against the Toronto Blue Jays, until the unthinkable happened, and he immediately disappeared into his nightmare.
“I can’t think of anything worse,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
While the Dodgers were competing for an unthinkable second consecutive championship, Vesia was mourning an unimaginable loss. While the Dodgers were ultimately bathed in cheers, he and wife Kayla were awash in agony.
“Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world…we got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her, and love her… Our time together was far too short.”
For all the emotion that enveloped the Dodgers postseason, it turns out none of it could compare to the private hell endured by one of their own. As he spoke Friday, it became clear why Vesia is such a valued member of this group. He could barely get through his statement, yet he took deep breaths and didn’t stop talking. He couldn’t pitch in the most important games of the year, yet he put his pain aside and wouldn’t stop cheering.
“Stepping away from the team, and the brothers I go to war with every day, was difficult. But it was also an easy decision, because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.”
While the public was unaware of the scope of his pain — one day before the World Series began, the Dodgers announced that he had left the team for a “deeply personal family matter” — every player knew the details, and reacted with a giant embrace.
The Dodgers wore Vesia’s number 51 on their caps. Soon, so did the Blue Jays relievers in an inspiring show of solidarity.
“When Kay and I were watching the World Series, we noticed that there was (No.) 51 on Louie Varland's hat. I immediately texted Gus Varland, his brother, and I asked him if I was seeing that correctly. He texted me back right away and he said, 'The Varlands love you dude. The whole Toronto bullpen has it too. It's bigger than baseball. We love you all.' Kay and I… we were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed with emotion.”
That emotion was evident in a different way on Friday, with a newly muscle-bound Vesia throwing darts in a breathtaking bullpen session. His vacancy was nicely filled in the World Series by Will Klein and Justin Wrobleski, who combined to throw 10 scoreless innings. But this team will need Vesia this season as an important set-up man for Edwin Díaz, and are counting on him to remain his strong self.
“ I do think getting back to what he loves to do and play baseball, that's something therapeutic for him,” said Roberts.
Vesia agreed. The road back from grief is often a long and rocky one, but as he hugged teammates and the relaxed spring moment Friday, he had hope.
“Having something to look forward to has helped me. The gym has been my mental clarity. Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it’s been really nice. Gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, and being able to laugh and joke around, that’s been really nice for me.”
While Vesia’s statement was wracked with sorrow, it was also filled with gratitude. He found time to thank the Dodgers, the Blue Jays and most notably, the fans.
Yes, all of you who reached out to him, he heard you, and he is thankful for you. This includes the Rams, who even sent him an autographed jersey as a sign of their support.
“"The outpouring of love and support Kay and I have had over the past few months has been unmatched. We're both grateful to not only Dodger nation, but the fans worldwide. My DMs, messages, my DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we've had. I've tried to read all the comments and everything just because it's meant the world, really.”
Read more:Kiké Hernández is back with the Dodgers, agreeing to terms on eve of spring training
At the end of his statement, Vesia put his fist over his heart, wobbled for a second, and it looked like he was going to faint before he staggered away.
Remember this on opening day. Remember the courage required of Alex Vesia to make this kind of public showing. Remember how he handled his greatest trauma with the sort of strength and conviction that has made these Dodgers one of the greatest teams in baseball history.
Do they give standing ovations to middle relievers?
They do now.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hello baseball fans, the hours are ticking down to the start of the 2026 baseball season. I haven’t covered baseball in several years, but it feels less gross than other college sports at the moment. While basketball and football are imploding, baseball keeps chugging along (don’t tell me if I’m wrong about this, I need to believe).
Let’s get after it.
Bats/Throws: R/R
2024 – 25 Stats
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 51 | .271 | .745 | 26 | 51 | 5 | 39 |
Info
The former Big 10 Freshman of the Year from Purdue struggled to find his groove at Clemson last season. There’s been buzz around Tiger Town this winter that Gafney looks like he’s back to his Boilermaker ways. He hit .359 with 13 home runs as a freshman. If he’s back in form, look for Gaffney somewhere in the middle of the Clemson lineup. In theory, he’s one of the scariest bats on the roster. Hopefully, that theory becomes a reality for the Tigers this season.
Gaffney is a solid athlete and can play right field or behind the plate if needed, but first base will be his initial station. Clemson’s infield is going to be extremely athletic.
Bats/Throws: R/R
2024 – 25 Stats
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 57 | .298 | .879 | 54 | 62 | 6 | 35 |
Info
As a returning team captain from the 2025 squad, much is expected of Purify this season. His game is built around speed and athleticism, and he’s got both in spades. He’s a line-drive hitter who knows what to do once he gets on the basepaths and should be a top-of-the-order hitter.
While Purify is an excellent hitter, he’s an even better fielder. He has great range for a second baseman and is slick in the double play.
Bats/Throws: L/R
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 27 | .287 | .903 | 23 | 27 | 5 | 19 |
Info
McCladdie is the Swiss Army Knife in the Clemson lineup. He’ll start at third, but he can play anywhere other than pitcher and catcher, and he’ll be deployed accordingly. He had the fewest starts of any infielder in Clemson’s 2026 projected starting lineup, but he did lead the Tigers in games off the bench last season due to his versatility.
Regardless of where he’s playing on the field, he’s a tough left-handed outfielder with decent power for his rather diminutive size. Like Lichtenberger, he could feature at either the top or bottom of the lineup because of his ability to get on base.
Bats/Throws: L/R
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| App St. | 53 | .341 | .879 | 40 | 70 | 3 | 37 |
Info
Tyler is the new addition to the infield after a stellar freshman season at Appalachian State, where he earned Sun Belt Conference Freshman-of-the-Year award and first team all-conference honors. He’s a solid contact hitter from the left side of the plate and could slot in at the top or bottom of the lineup, depending on what Coach Backich is looking for on any given day. He failed to reach base in only 6 games last season and has solid speed once he gets on.
He’s a plus defender and should give the Tigers solid defense up the middle of the field with Jarren Purify. Clemson could have one of the better double-play combinations in the ACC if everything works out according to plan, and Lichtenberger moves seamlessly into the lineup.
Make sure to check out our partners over at Section 103 if you’re still looking for a gift for that special someone this weekend. Use our promo code STS10 for 10% off your next order. You can never have too many orange polos!
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 57 | .240 | .887 | 36 | 41 | 12 | 52 |
Info
Priest is built like a tight end. When he hits the ball, the ball stays hit. Unfortunately, Priest didn’t make as much contact with the ball as he would have liked last season after transferring from Michigan. He hit .279 with a .578 slugging percentage as a freshman with the Wolverines. Hopefully, the ball finds his bat a few more times this season.
Considered the 37th-best overall freshman in the 2026 class by Perfect Game and the 86th-best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball. He’s considered one of the best professional prospects on the team and has the type of power that could make a difference in the Clemson lineup if it’s calibrated to college pitching.
Fultz is the talent, and the one thing I know about coaching is you get your talent on the field. Look for him to displace the versatile McCladdie at third sooner, rather than later.
Harrison joins Fultz as one of the highest-rated prospects in the 2026 freshman class. Perfect Game Baseball considers him the 21st-best prospect in the 2028 draft. He’s considered more of a pro prospect in the field than on the mound, but Clemson will give him an opportunity to do both. Like Fultz, he’s got dynamite in his bat when he makes contact.
Heading into his third season in the program, Dillard is ready to make his mark in the 2026 season after playing in 18 games and starting 5 last season. I’m not sure about the rest of his game, but he’s patient at the plate, drawing 6 walks in 16 plate appearances. He’s a plus fielder who should provide solid depth up the middle for the Tigers.
I’m far from an expert on this roster (yet), but based on my research, I’m excited to see what the Tigers can do with these pieces. Can the veterans hold off the young bucks for their spot in the starting lineup? Harrison and Fultz are the future of the program, and the future could be now if any of the projected starters falter.
The defense should be elite; if they can get the power guys to produce, things could get exciting on the basepaths in Tiger Town.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bad Bunny really wanted to see Carlos Correa play for Puerto Rico at home in the World Baseball Classic.
Correa, the infielder for the Houston Astros left off the WBC roster over insurance coverage, said Friday that the music superstar and fellow native of Puerto Rico had offered to pay for a policy.
“It means a lot that he’s that involved,” Correa told reporters at the Astros’ spring training complex. “He tried to do everything possible. I wanted to play and make sure that I was going to go out there and play for Team Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico. The fact that he did that means a lot in how much he cares for the country, how much he cares for the fans back home. I’m deeply grateful that he tried that hard.”
Correa, who has a $200 million contract through 2028, had surgery in 2014 to repair a broken right tibia and both San Francisco and the Mets failed to approve his physicals for a contract during the 2022-23 offseason.
While not providing the name of the provider Bad Bunny proposed, Correa said it was one that Major League Baseball, the Astros and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, did not approve. The infielder said they all told him that it was a bad idea.
“I could not sign my life away with something that three people that I trust are telling me not to do,” Correa said.
Puerto Rico is hosting pool play games in the WBC next month.
Bad Bunny, who was born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most-streamed artists on the planet. He was the featured halftime performer at the Super Bowl last Sunday, a week after winning album of the year at the 2026 Grammys for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”, which is the first time an all Spanish-language album took the top prize.
Bad Bunny’s sports representation firm, Rimas Sports, and the MLB Players Association settled a lawsuit last year after the union disciplined the agency over violations of its agent regulations. It revoked the agent certification of Rimas’ William Arroyo and denied certifications of executives Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, citing citing a $200,000 interest-free loan and a $19,500 gift. The union issued a $400,000 fine for misconduct. Arbitrator Ruth M. Moscovitch upheld the union’s five-year suspensions of Assad and Miranda and cut Arroyo’s suspension to three years.
As you know, the Cubs have added quite a bit of advertising to Wrigley Field since the recently-completed renovation.
This includes ads on the pads on the left- and right-field lines, on the doors on the outfield walls and behind the plate.
There are also two advertising signs on buildings on Waveland and Sheffield, as seen in this photo from last year:
As you can see, a Coca-Cola sign is on a building on Waveland, just past the left-field foul pole, and a Benjamin Moore sign is in essentially the same place on Sheffield, just past the right-field foul pole.
Now, per Ald. Bennett Lawson’s office in the 44th Ward, where Wrigley Field is located, the Cubs have proposed adding two more signs, one on Waveland, one on Sheffield, with locations as shown here (and at the top of this post):
As noted in that link, the addresses of the buildings where these new signs would be located are 3639 N. Sheffield and 1030 W. Waveland.
You can see more details of these proposed signs and how they would look here.
For those of you mourning some sort of “pristine” Wrigley Field without advertising, that ship sailed a long time ago. Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts once told me, “Wrigley Field is not a museum,” and that’s absolutely true. Now, it would be good if all the extra money brought in by these ads would be put toward player payroll, but deciding that is above my pay grade.
In any case, Wrigley Field still looks much as it did decades ago. The renovations were done in a way that is supposed to evoke the ballpark’s “Golden Age,” which was said to be the 1930s. I’d agree with that, as the team won four NL pennants between 1929 and 1938, and 1938 is also the first full year of the current bleacher configuration and ivy that give the ballpark its iconic “park-like” look.
While there’s some advertising in and around Wrigley Field, at least it doesn’t look like this, with ads plastered all over the place:
Or this, with even MORE ads:
I’m assuming these new advertising signs for Wrigley Field will be approved and likely installed on or around Opening Day. And they are easy enough to ignore if you’re paying attention to the action on the field.
Just as we all thought that the San Francisco Giants were done signing Major League contracts, they went and signed another. Except there’s a catch: it’s not for a player who will contribute this year.
In a crafty move that will no doubt upset the vast swath of fans who are still upset about the last regime’s churning ways, the Giants agreed to a Major League contract with right-handed reliever Rowan Wick, the team announced on Friday. The deal is all about securing Wick’s rights for the 2027 season: the 33-year old underwent Tommy John surgery a few months ago and will miss all of the upcoming season, but the contract includes a team option for next year, which the Giants will certainly pick up barring an injury setback.
It’s not hard to see why the Giants wanted to get ahead of the competition and grab Wick for next year, as he’s the latest former Major Leaguer to head overseas to rebuild his pitching career.
Wick was a ninth-round pick back in 2012 by the St. Louis Cardinals, and has five years of MLB experience: he debuted in 2018 with the San Diego Padres, and played for the Chicago Cubs from 2019-2022, before spending 2023 in the Minor Leagues. Across 146 appearances (and, funnily enough, exactly 146 innings), Wick has solid MLB numbers: a 3.82 ERA and a 3.49 FIP.
He headed to Japan in 2024 to rebuild his value in Nippon Professional Baseball, and the results were splendid. In his first year playing overseas, he posted a 2.60 ERA and a 2.74 FIP. But it was his work in 2025 that really shined: across 40 appearances and 42.2 innings, Wick posted a microscopic 0.84 ERA and 1.39 FIP (though that wasn’t the best mark in the league, as righty Daichi Ishii allowed an unthinkable one run in 53 innings, for a 0.17 ERA).
Wick was strong across the board in his standout season. While an ERA that begins with a “0” is always the result of some luck, he did a magnificent job staying out of trouble, allowing just 5.3 hits and 2.3 walks per nine innings for a 0.844 WHIP. He didn’t allow a single home run all year.
The Giants will be hoping that he can repeat that performance when he returns stateside. It’s just going to be a while before they find out the answer.
San Francisco will now have an open spot on the 40-man roster. In order to clear a spot to facilitate the signing, fellow injured reliever/offseason acquisition Jason Foley was transferred to the 60-Day Injured List. Wick will certainly follow Foley there, which will put the team’s roster at 39.
Trevor Harrison, RHP
20 | 6’4” | 225
A | 2.61 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 82.2 IP (17 GS), 22.4% K, 10.7% BB
A+ | 3.33 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 24.1 IP (5 GS), 23.8% K, 12.4% BB
Harrison entered the season as Baseball America’s top pitcher in the system thanks to a cleaned up delivery and high heat. He ran into some bumps in the road by running up his pitch count against batters, but he still made it over 100 innings in 22 starts. A power pitcher through and through, his hard slider flirts with cutter classification and could evolve into two distinct pitches down the road. It will be interesting to see how his change up plays as he’s challenged at higher levels, but for now he has premium stuff and the upside of a rotation anchor. (video)
| Rank | Player | Position | Votes | Total | Percentage | Last Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson Williams | SS | 14 | 25 | 56% | 1 |
| 2 | Brody Hopkins | RHP | 19 | 25 | 76% | 8 |
| 3 | Jacob Melton | OF | 14 | 28 | 50% | NA |
| 4 | Theo Gillen | OF | 14 | 26 | 54% | 13 |
| 5 | Ty Johnson | RHP | 12 | 25 | 48% | 15 |
| 6 | Daniel Pierce | SS | 13 | 23 | 57% | NA |
| 7 | Jadher Areinamo | INF | 15 | 28 | 54% | NA |
| 8 | TJ Nichols | RHP | 13 | 28 | 46% | NR |
| 9 | Michael Forret | RHP | 8 | 33 | 24% | NA |
| 10 | Santiago Suarez | RHP | 11 | 30 | 37% | 16 |
| 11 | Anderson Brito | RHP | 7 | 28 | 25% | NA |
| 12 | Xavier Isaac | 1B | 9 | 28 | 32% | 3 |
| 13 | Caden Bodine | C | 10 | 25 | 40% | NA |
| 14 | Brendan Summerhill | OF | 11 | 27 | 41% | NA |
| 15 | Slater de Brun | OF | 10 | 25 | 40% | NA |
| 16 | Nathan Flewelling | C | 8 | 26 | 31% | NR |
| 17 | Trevor Harrison | RHP | 9 | 26 | 35% | 10 |
It’s possible we are all sleeping on Harrison by ranking him outside the top-10. If you had to take bets on the next Rays ace coming out of the system, I’d be more inclined to vote Harrison before Johnson, Nichols, or Suarez and yet there is a gulf between him and the other pitchers in the rankings. It’s an oversight, and one I contributed for by spending my votes stumping for Summerhill. Ah well. Adding Overn for the next candidate.
Jackson Baumeister, RHP
23 | 6’4” | 224
AA | 4.62 ERA, 4.15 FIP (15 GS) 62.1 IP, 19.5% K, 9.6% BB
AFL | 6 ER (1 HR), 9.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS), 10 K, 9 BB
A shoulder injury derailed what should have been Baumeister’s coming out party, as his previously plus breaking ball was expected to carve up Double-A. After a tough start to the year and two months on the sidelines, Baumeister returned in August and salvaged the season with a brilliant finish. The tough luck continued, however, in the Arizona Fall League, where a line drive struck him in the head, but he escaped without significant injury. Currently, Baumeister has taken on a fastball/slutter profile, with a slow curve in his back pocket, and has shown teachability and pitchability over the years. The former Seminole currently thrives on his frequently used major league fastball that may be better challenged by a promotion to Triple-A.
Homer Bush Jr.
24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215
AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Cooper Flemming, SS
19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Brailer Guerrero, OF
20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215
A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K
AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
OF Victor Mesa Jr.
24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195
AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K
MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Tre’ Morgan, 1B/LF
23 | L/L | 6’0” | 215
AAA | .274/.398/.412 (119 wRC+) 402 PA, 8 HR, 8 SB, 15.9% BB, 19.2% K
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Austin Overn, OF
23 | L/R | 6’0” | 175
A+ (BAL) | .242/.367/.386 (127 wRC+) 341 PA, 8 HR, 43 SB, 15.5% BB, 28.2% K
AA (BAL) | .266/.326/.427 (112 wRC+) 136 PA, 5 HR, 21 SB, 6.6% BB, 25.0% K
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
Aidan Smith, OF
21 | R/R | 6’2” | 190
A+ | .237/.331/.388 (114 wRC+) 459 PA, 14 HR, 41 SB, 11.5% BB, 31.2% K
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B
24 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
AA | .173/.289/.286 (77 wRC+) 437 PA, 8 HR, 17 SB, 14% BB, 27.7% K
AFL | .264/.400/.472 (.384 wOBA) 65 PA, 1 HR, 5 SB, 12 BB, 19 K
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Jose Urbina, RHP
20 | 6’3” | 180
A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB
A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
RENNES, France (AP) — Coachless Rennes stunned Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 at home and snapped a five-game winless run on Friday.
The home side fired coach Habib Beye on Monday after its early season gains looked to be slipping away, and it was a firm underdog against PSG, which came to Brittany after winning all seven of its last league fixtures.
But Rennes hit the post early on and it got a reward for its confident start after 33 minutes. Jordanian midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari charged forward on the counterattack and found enough space between two defenders on the edge of the penalty area to curl in a superb opener.
PSG came into the game but was hesitant in front of goal and Esteban Lepaul doubled Rennes' lead midway through the second half. The prolific center forward rose highest to bullet a header past Matvey Safonov for his 11th goal of the season.
Former Rennes player Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back for PSG two minutes later but Breel Embolo restored Rennes' two-goal cushion in the 81st when he finished off another counterattack.
PSG remained atop the table but second-placed Lens can take over if it beats Paris FC on Saturday.
Rennes moved above Lille into fifth place.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
The last meaningful baseball game Roman Anthony played was back on September 2nd against Cleveland where he suffered a strained oblique that ended his season. The following week, ever untrusting of this ownership, we here at Over The Monster asked if Alex Bregman and Roman Anthony had already played their last game together. Well, today we got our answer to that question, and it’s a resounding no!
Earlier this afternoon, Tim Healey of the Boston Globe was the first to break the news that Roman Anthony will be joining Teams USA in the World Baseball Classic next month alongside former Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, and current Red Sox teammate Garrett Whitlock. He’ll be replacing Corbin Carroll of the D-Backs, who broke his hamate bone earlier this month. Here’s a link to the entire Team USA roster, which is absolutely stacked.
This is great news for Red Sox fans! Not just because it’s a chance to watch one of the team’s blossoming stars take the field on a national global stage, but also because it gives Anthony experience in this type of game. One of the sneaky worst things about the oblique injury ending his 2025 season early is that it didn’t just take him out of their postseason run run last fall – It also robbed him of some valuable postseason experience, which he could have used to take into future Octobers.
He even may have indirectly touched on this point when asked about potentially joining Team USA earlier this week:
“It would be a great opportunity and a great learning lesson for me, to go be around a bunch of the best players in the game.”
He’s probably talking more about just getting to see how the best in the game go about their business everyday, which is another valuable piece to all of this, but I’m also excited for him to get real at bats in a high leverage, urgent, and chaotic baseball environment. You simply can’t replicate that until you’ve stood in the box and experienced the mayhem.
Back in 2024 when Anthony was in Worcester, I asked him about postseason baseball and how much he pays attention to it. His answer was interesting:
“I always watch postseason baseball. Just watching the games, the atmosphere, the electricity of it. There’s nothing like it.
You can also learn a lot. Just turning on a game and watching a complete baseball game, there’s so many lessons. You can pick up a lot more than just going and watching highlights. Not enough people do it, and I try to do it as much as I can.”
Well, the WBC is not quite postseason baseball, but with the way it’s growing and the way the last one ended, I’d argue it’s the closest thing to it. Now, Roman Anthony is going to get firsthand experience in it, and with the way he operates like a sponge, that’s probably going to be a good thing for the Red Sox come October (if he can help carry them there).
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After 21 seasons — which included 11 All-NBA nods, nine All-Defensive Teams and being a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team — Chris Paul announced he is retiring from the NBA.
Paul started the season with the Clippers, but things did not go according to plan. He was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and with the Raptors releasing him on Friday, Paul confirmed he was retiring in an Instagram post.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball...
"While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life. I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that! Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility. I embraced it all. The good and the bad."
Paul will go down as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game and his next stop will be the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
"Chris is a legend, man," said his former teammate and current NBC broadcaster Austin Rivers. "I think people get so caught up in the little things with Chris – and I call them little because they are, they're not in any way even of value compared to what he's done in basketball...
"Chris has cemented his legacy so long ago, he's one of the greatest point guards to ever play. Some of the most meaningful years of my career were playing with Chris. I got to back up Chris. Chris taught me how to be a pro, taught me how to approach the game with such a seriousness. He's one of the most competitive people I've ever seen in my life.
"I'm really happy for him that he's able to be at peace with basketball. He should. He's a top-five point guard to ever touch the ball, and only four other guys can say that."
Paul was a legend for his ability to squeeze out every little advantage he could find. He was the master of two-for-ones at the end of quarters, or calling out opponents whose jerseys were not tucked in, or any other little edge he thought he could gain. While Paul's intensity wore on some teammates, it also made the teams he was on winners. CP3 talked about this in his retirement announcement.
"As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!). It feels really good knowing that I played and treated this game with the utmost respect since the day my dad introduced me to it."
Paul retires averaging 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 37% from 3-point range. He was a 12-time All-Star, a six-time league leader in steals, a five-time leader in assists, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year.
Paul is an unquestioned first-ballot Hall of Famer. That is the only thing left in his NBA career.
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Japanese snowboarder Yuto Totsuka wins the Olympic gold medal in men’s halfpipe.
NBA legend Chris Paul has announced his retirement after being released by the Toronto Raptors.
The 40-year-old, widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest point guards, was a 12-time NBA All-Star and 2006 Rookie of the Year.
One of only seven players to enjoy an NBA career spanning 21 seasons, Paul also helped the United States claim Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and then four years later in London.
"This is it! After 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," he posted on Instagram.
"Mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life.
"I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that."
Paul, who was nicknamed the 'Point of God', averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and two steals a game during a 1,370-game career that started at the New Orleans Hornets in 2005 and effectively ended after a second spell at the Los Angeles Clippers.
He also featured for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, but never played on an NBA championship-winning team.
He came closest to a gold ring in 2021, when Phoenix reached the NBA finals, only to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Paul, who retires second in NBA history for both assists (12,552) and steals (2,728),
had not played since 1 December, with the Clippers trading him to Toronto earlier this month.
Chris Paul is stepping away from the NBA for good after more than two decades in the league.
The 12-time All Star who played a key role in the Clippers' "Lob City" era made the announcement Friday soon after being waived by the Toronto Raptors.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball," Paul wrote in a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram account.
"As I write this, it's hard to really know what to feel, but for once — most people would be surprised — I don't have the answer lol! But, mostly I'm filled with so much joy and gratitude! While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be engrained in the DNA of my life."
Read more:Chris Paul is 'at peace' after Clippers exit; Tyronn Lue says report they were feuding 'ain't true'
Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 draft and was named the NBA's rookie of the year the following season. Playing for the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, Paul and Blake Griffin led the team to six winning seasons, its first two Pacific Division titles and three playoff series victories.
He went on to play for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs before signing a $3.6-million deal to return to the Clippers last summer for what was largely expected to be his final season.
The reunion did not work out so well. Paul was abruptly dismissed by the Clippers in early December, traded to the Raptors on Feb. 4 and then not required to report to his new team.
Paul ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals. He was the first player to notch at least 20,000 points and more than 10,000 assists.
Read more:Clippers’ sudden rebuild brings back familiar team chaos
While he didn't fully reveal what his "next chapter" will be, Paul indicated that it will involve spending more time with wife Jada, son Chris and daughter Camryn.
"Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility," Paul wrote. "I embraced it all. The good and the bad. As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!!)"
He added as part of the lengthy note: "The game always gave me a reason to SHOW up!!! And the true leaders and fighters know that that right there — showing up — is half of the battle. So now with all the gratitude that I could possibly have... it's time for me to show up for others and in other ways. ... And I now know wholeheartedly the best teammate I can be is to Jada, Chris II and Cam!!"
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PHOENIX — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia slowly walked over, took a deep breath Friday, wiped his eyes, and stared at his cell phone.
For the first time since he and his wife Kayla lost their newborn daughter, Sterling Sol, on Oct. 26, days after being born, he stood in front of a crowd of reporters and spoke for six minutes. He stopped and caught his breath several times, frequently touching his heart He didn’t take any questions, and instead asked for privacy as he and his wife continue to heal.
“The lessons we've learned from this is that life can change in an instant," Vesia said. “For us, 10 minutes is all it took. Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short … I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we're carrying her with us every day.
“Kayla and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves. I hope that anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal and as we navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season."
“We are beyond grateful to be a part of this organization and this family," Vesia said. “So many of you have stepped up and have been there for us in a big way over the past few months, and has meant the world to both Kayla and I."
He spoke about the healing process including the grief counseling he and his wife have begun six weeks ago, the strength and support the Dodgers organization has given them, the Toronto Blue Jays’ heartfelt gesture during the World Series, and the outpouring of love from all over the the world, including the Los Angeles Rams sending an autographed jersey to them that he plans to frame.
Vesia, who stayed with Kayla and left the team during the World Series, still watched every pitch of all seven games, and was overwhelmed with emotion by seeing that every pitcher in the Blue Jays’ bullpen was wearing his No. 57, his jersey number, on their caps in support.
“They are a first-class organization," Vesia said. “Kayla and I just want to say thank you to them. When Kayla and I were watching the World Series, we noticed that there was 51 on Louis Varland's hat. I immediately texted Gus Varland, his brother, and I asked him if I was seeing that correctly. He texted me back right away, and he said, 'the Varlands love you, dude, the whole Toronto bullpen has it too. It's bigger than baseball. We love y'all.'
“Kayla and I, we were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed ... the baseball community, the relationships that you make along the way, it showed that was much bigger than baseball. The outpouring of love and support Kayla I've had over the past few months, few months, has been unmatched.
“We're both grateful to not only Dodger nation, but the fans worldwide. My DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we've had, I've tried to read all the comments and everything because it's meant the world really."
While it was difficult for Vesia to leave the team, he knew that his wife and family needed him much more, and watching the World Series together began the healing process.
“For us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness,’’ said Vesia, who returned to his Arizona home after the World Series. “I immediately got back into the gym. I started my throwing program. Having something to look forward to has helped me. The gym has been my mental clarity.
“Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it's been really nice. I've gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, being able to laugh and joke around. It's been really nice for me."
When Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saw Vesia on Thursday for the first time since the tragedy, he hugged him, and they talked for 30 minutes.
“There’s not a whole lot [to say],’’ Roberts said. “You’re just sort of there to help support. That’s something they’ve got to process themselves. … It’s one of those things you can’t even imagine. I can’t think of anything worse.
"But I do think that getting back to what he loves to do and play baseball, that’s something that’s therapeutic for him."
Therapy has also been a huge benefit, Vesia says, for him and his wife, strongly recommending counseling to anyone enduring tragedy.
“It hasn't been easy, but talking to someone, it has made a difference," Vesia said. “For those out there who've lost a child or are fighting through any struggle, if you can take anything from this, please seek help. Talk to somebody. It's definitely helped.
“Don't be afraid to speak up. Your mental health matters. I've learned that what happened, what has happened to us, has also happened to so many families. Realizing that has deepened our empathy and our gratitude for this community, the baseball community, is extremely strong. …
“It's been hard, but we're doing okay."
Vesia nodded, looked ahead and then slowly walked back to the Dodgers clubhouse, knowing that his baby girl will never be forgotten, praying and Kayla will one day find comfort and peace.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alex Vesia back with Dodgers after newborn baby death
It’s almost hard to believe, but we have a top 40 in the 2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List. We only need four more ballots sent out and counted, and then we will have succeeded in once again ranking the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.
The last chapter of the CPL has brought us someone with a delightful display of power: it’s outfielder Jakob Christian, who has been voted as the No. 40 prospect in the system, falling 10 spots from his debut ranking at No. 30 last year.
Christian, who was the team’s fifth-round pick in 2024 out of the University of San Diego, was essentially in his debut season last year, after only getting into nine games after being drafted. The right-handed hitter, who turned 23 right as the season was ending, flashed some dynamism in his first full year, but countered it with some red flags as well.
Let’s start with the good stuff, though, because that’s what earned him a spot on our list. Christian spent the bulk of the year with Low-A San Jose, where his line was quite solid: he hit .272/.355/.460 with 10 home runs in 70 games, finishing with an .815 OPS and a 119 wRC+. That earned him a late-season promotion to High-A Eugene, which is where he really caught fire and put his skills on display. During his month in the Northwest League, the San Diego native slashed a blistering .304/.380/.570 with four home runs in 23 games, for a .950 OPS and a 155 wRC+.
Those are some green flags! A good average (.279 across the levels), a good walk rate (9.8%), good power (.205 ISO), while getting better late in the year is something to be excited about, and he also added 15 stolen bases while getting caught stealing just twice.
But there were some concerns under the hood. Namely, there were issues with his contact rates. In Low-A, Christian posted a 28.3% strikeout rate and a 17.7% swinging strike rate, very high rates for a large-school college bat who was nearly a year older than league average. While his overall stats improved greatly in High-A, it was despite the contact rates also moving in the wrong direction: he had a 34.8% strikeout rate and a 19.8% swinging strike rate. Across the two levels, Christian ranked 51st out of 58 Giants Minor Leaguers (minimum: 200 plate appearances) in strikeout rate, and dead last in swinging strike rate. That’s a notable hole that needs significant patching if he’s to have success at higher levels.
There’s also the matter of defense. It’s fairly telling that Christian, an outfielder, spent nearly as many games in 2025 at first base (40) as he did in the grass (51). Some of that was to make space in the outfield for San Jose’s higher-touted prospects, but some of it is also a reflection of his defensive value.
I’d assume, given the swing-and-miss issues, that Christian will return to Eugene to start the upcoming season. If he can maintain his offensive performance while patching some of the holes in his swing, he could quickly become a very good prospect.
Now let’s add to the list! As a reminder, voting takes place in the comment section, using the “rec” feature.
Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.
Sabin Ceballos — 23.5-year old 3B — .670 OPS/102 wRC+ in AA (420 PA)
Reggie Crawford — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 1.04 ERA/4.07 FIP in AAA in 2024 (8.2 IP); 4.66 ERA/4.93 FIP in AA in 2024 (9.2 IP)
Juan Sánchez — 25.2-year old LHP — did not pitch in 2025; 3.93 ERA/5.17 FIP in AAA in 2024 (34.1 IP)
Charlie Szykowny — 25.7-year old 3B/1B — .816 OPS/122 wRC+ in High-A (549 PA)
Jancel Villarroel — 21.0-year old C — .699 OPS/91 wRC+ in High-A (61 PA); .746 OPS/123 wRC+ in Low-A (372 PA)
Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page. All stats are from the 2025 season.
