SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Asa Lacy #33 of the Kansas City Royals poses during Photo Day on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Lacy, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, came to the Kansas City organization as a highly touted left-handed pitcher from Texas A&M who, on stuff alone, showed the potential of a frontline starter. The Royals gave him a $6.67 million signing bonus, a franchise record for a drafted pitcher. He was ranked as high as No. 30 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list in 2021, his first full season in professional baseball.
But Lacy never found the command to allow him to take a step forward in his early seasons, and then injuries took over, including a lat/shoulder injury in 2021, a back injury in ‘22 and ‘23 and two Tommy John surgeries — one in the offseason after the ‘23 season and one in ‘25. He’s still rehabbing from the second one.
Jaylon Thompson writes about Jonathan India hitting the Injured List.
The Royals are hopeful India isn’t sidelined long-term. For now, he will meet with team doctors to determine the severity of the injury. “It’s a chronic shoulder issue that he’s had,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, it just wasn’t getting better this year. He aggravated it a few times on dives. And it’s loose. It’s something he’s gonna have to get checked out and see if we can help him get through it.”
The 1914 World Series champion sat 14 games under .500 in early July. The Braves — and this is so long ago that they played their home games in Boston — were baseball’s laughingstock, 11 straight losing seasons and barreling toward another before they suddenly and stunningly won 68 of their final 87 games to earn a spot in the World Series.
Caleb Moody at Kings of Kauffman writes about Nick Loftin’s role as he was called up to take India’s spot.
As someone who can play all around the infield and the corner outfield, there’s no shortage of places Loftin could make his mark in this lineup. In fact, as it stands right now, there’s plenty of places he can occupy that the Royals don’t fair well in in comparison to the rest of the league.
We’ve established that Loftin could make a difference at second base, but he could make his mark in the outfield, with Caglianone, Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte all performing under par.
The Blue Jays had to take a bus from Phoenix to SoCal after mechanical issues with their plane prevented air travel.
MESA, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Josh Adamczewski #14 of the Milwaukee Brewers takes batting practice prior to the 2025 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on November 9, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Logan Henderson (No. 7): 3 IP, 2 H 1 ER, 3 BBs, 4 Ks
Tate Kuehner: 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hs, 1 BB, 5 Ks
Luis Lara has continued to produce for the Sounds, hitting .318 with an .832 OPS over 22 at-bats this week. The Brewers’ top outfield prospect (aside from Jett Williams) is now slashing .352/.446/.507 in his first 71 at-bats with Nashville. Injuries and ineffectiveness have plagued Milwaukee’s outfield early in the season — if Lara keeps this up for even a couple more weeks, he might see himself in a Brewers uniform this summer.
Another player that probably won’t spend the whole season in Triple-A is Williams, who had three extra base hits while walking almost exactly as much as he struck out. Williams is still only hitting .219 (.653 OPS), but this week’s performance served as a reminder why he’s considered one of the best prospects in the organization. Jeferson Quero didn’t hit for a high average this week, but came through in the clutch with more RBIs (6) than hits (4).
Brock Wilken has had a rough start to the season (7-for-60 with 24 K). Wilken hit 18 home runs in 79 games last year, but only has one through 19 games in 2026. Still, four of those seven hits came this week, which — along with his nine walks — is a sign that he’s figuring things out at the plate.
Shane Drohan served as the staff’s workhorse, giving up more than a hit per inning but limiting Worcester to 3 earned runs over 10 1/3 innings. Logan Henderson and Tate Kuehner also put together solid outings this week.
Jesús Made (No. 1): 7-for-24, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBIs, 5 BB, 2 K
Eduardo Garcia: 7-for-25, 2B, HR
Jaron DeBerry: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Tyson Hardin (No. 18): 6 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
One of Biloxi’s standout players early in the season has been shortstop Dylan O’Rae, the Brewers’ 2022 third-round pick. He raked at the lower levels of the minors before being promoted to Double-A midway through the 2024 season, where he struggled. O’Rae ended up missing the entire 2025 season to a wrist injury, but he’s back and has been seeing the ball well — hitting over .300 in back-to-back weeks. He’s worth keeping an eye on as he gets his feet under him.
Jesús Made continues to do Jesús Made things, drawing Jose Ramirez comparisons with a monster week that included five extra base hits. He now has a 1.019 OPS, making him a candidate for a Triple-A call-up — although that probably wouldn’t happen until Jett Williams debuts with the Brewers.
DeBerry and Hardin were the only Biloxi pitchers to go more than three innings and record an ERA of 3 or under. Blake Burke (4-for-24, HR) and Mike Boeve (5-for-20, 10 K) both had down weeks.
Jesús Made went 3-for-5 with a walk. His three hits included the double below. Through 15 games Made has a 1.019 OPS.
His two strike approach has been particularly impressive and he’s struck out just twice in his last 35 plate appearances.#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/Y8X8a56ZQr
Bryce Meccage (No. 21): 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Pretty much every highly-ranked position player prospect on the Timber Rattlers has showed up to start the season. Josh Adamczewski (1.302), Luis Peña (1.059), and Braylon Payne (1.011) all have OPSes over 1.000 through the first thirteen games of the season. Marco Dinges (.955) isn’t far off of Peña and Payne.
Andrew Fischer is slashing .256/.375/.419 with 11 RBI, tied with Adamczewski for the team lead. The 20 strikeouts in 43 at-bats stand out, but there’s little reason for concern at this stage.
For one, Fischer was able to significantly reduce his strikeout rate during his final college season, showing an ability to adjust his approach while maintaining success at the plate. This is also his first full year in pro ball, so some week-to-week volatility is expected as he gets used to higher-level pitching. The strikeouts are worth monitoring, but the overall profile remains encouraging — especially if his K rate begins to stabilize over the next few weeks. Even while striking out so often, he’s still producing an OPS near .800.
Luis Peña needed some time to adjust to High-A last season, but whatever he did this offseason is already paying off. Peña is now slashing .400/.488/.571 with just six strikeouts on the year. He’s totaled three extra-base hits so far, but he’s only 19 — the power should show up in games sooner rather than later. Hard to nitpick a teenager who’s hitting .400 while making this much contact.
It’s been a tougher introduction to High-A for Eric Bitonti (No. 25), who has struck out in 18 of his first 37 at-bats (48.6%). The raw power is still very real — arguably among the best in the system — but it hasn’t translated yet, with just one home run to this point.
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) April 18, 2026
Next week’s opponent: @ Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres)
Single-A Wilson Warbirds (6-9)
Record this week: 3-3
Standout performances:
José Anderson: 5-for-20, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1 BB, 12 K
Luiyin Alastre: 5-for-19, 2 2B, 1 BB, 6 K
Juan Ortuno: 5-for-19, 3 BB, 6 K
Tyler Renz: 2 GS, 9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 7 K
The Warbirds’ offense struggled again this week, as no player with 10 or more at-bats hit above .263. Jose Anderson, who now leads Wilson with three home runs on the season, put together another solid week despite striking out 12 times in 20 at-bats. Brady Ebel went 3-for-19, although he walked more than he struck out. Jadyn Fielder went 1-for-8 with a double, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Tyler Renz started two games for Wilson and pitched well in both, ending the week with a 2.00 ERA. Renz, a 2024 18th round pick, is still just 19 years old and had a 3.19 ERA last year between rookie ball and High-A. His ERA is down to 1.93 through 14 innings this season despite walking twice as many batters per nine innings (6.43) as he did last year (3.04)
Next week’s opponent: @ Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles)
Player of the Week
As always, there were a few strong candidates, but Josh Adamczewski clearly separated himself this week.
Adamczewski slashed .375/.524/1.125 with four home runs over the past seven days alone. He wasn’t ranked among the MLB Pipeline top-30 Brewers prospects entering last season, but with the graduation of Brandon Sproat he’s now inside the top 10. If you throw out the seven at-bats he logged in 2023, he’s posted an OPS of .900 or better in every season since joining the organization.
Adamczewski’s overall line this season borders on absurd: .310/.474/.828 (yes, that’s his slugging percentage, not his OPS) with five home runs in just 29 at-bats.
As of now, he’s still listed as an infielder, but he’s not a standout defender there — especially compared to players like Cooper Pratt, Made, and Peña. The Brewers are clearly prioritizing finding ways to get Adamczewski’s bat in the lineup, so they’ve been giving him most of his reps in the outfield dating back to the Arizona Fall League. That’s carried over into the regular season. Adamczewski has started every game this year in left field, with just one appearance at second base (coming as a late-game defensive substitution).
Apr 8, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer (4) during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
I spent the weekend covering the Colorado Rockies from Coors Field. Generally, I come away from events like these with ideas for stories or player profiles, but I wanted to do something a bit different this time. I found manager Warren Schaeffer’s media availabilities interesting in that I think they might answer some of the questions we’ve seen on the Purple Row board.
So, I thought I would turn today’s Rockpile over to him:
On the value of one-run games:
Winning is a skill, and we’re learning how to win right now. Little things in the game, early-approach tendencies that we have right now, flipping them. I mean, it’s a difference of a couple pitches in terms of wins and losses, and it’s very valuable that we’re playing one-run games. It’s way better than playing blowout games, that’s for sure. So we’re learning from them. We’re going to get better from them. I know the boys are grinding through it. They’re right in the fight every night, taking them one day at a time, which is what we want.
On the Rockies final game against the Houston Astros, which ended a six-game losing streak:
It was a collective team approach. There’s no doubt about it. It was discussed before the game, and I think it was a commitment to each other — at least that’s what it looked like to me. It was a commitment to each other to move the line. That’s what it looks like. It’s taking balls, not trying to be the man that drives everybody in, letting the next guy do it [and] just taking what they’re giving you. I thought we did it exceptionally well last night. It may be the best of the season. It’s something to build on. Now, the challenge is to repeat it today and to repeat it the next day, and that becomes who we are.
On Chase Dollander’s progress:
I’m more than comfortable with where he’s at because he’s having a lot of success doing it. He’s settled into a routine. The routines are very, very different from being in the bullpen and starting. I mean, obviously, we want him to be a starter long term. That’s the goal, and especially with the innings that he’s throwing right now, that’s basically what he’s doing. It’s just bulk out of the pen. But I think at the moment, we don’t want to mess with the routine because it’s going really well.
On Dollander’s timeline to return to the rotation:
[There’s] no timeline because he’s helping us win. He’s pitching big innings. He’s pitching important innings for us.
On the benefits of Dollander following an opener:
Well, the routine is huge, and the third time through the lineup, he’s not facing the top four hitters, which is a big deal. That’s the main reason why you open, in general, with anybody, is that you can potentially extend your starter longer into the game without the downside of facing the top of the order, which is a huge, huge number advantage to the offense always.
On using bulk relievers:
It is by design in terms of in April at Coors Field, specifically with us, you have a tendency — we have in the past — to absolutely overuse and destroy your one-inning relievers and pitch them in tight games, down tight games, and then by August and September, they’re fried. So I think this definitely extends our short-inning relievers for a longer time in the year. It’s helped, so far, tremendously.
On facing the Dodgers:
[We’re] very eager — no more eager than going to face the Blue Jays in their park, facing Houston at their place. I mean, respect every opponent, fear none. You’re going to hear me say that a lot. This is a team that, for a long time, has had our number, and for that reason alone, we look forward to tonight. No matter what happens tonight, we’re going to look forward to tomorrow, too.
On developing problem solvers:
This is a game where you fail more than any other game. We fail all the time in this game. So if you’re not dedicated and completely committed to solving problems that arise every single day over a 162-game season, you’re in the wrong business. There is a tendency — I get it — to have this thing be monotonous and to overlook things, but we’re not looking to do that. We can’t afford to do that. That’s not the direction we want to go in. So we all want to be problem solvers and to empower players to be problem solvers and be collaborative in the process is the way that I think work gets done the best.
On empowering players:
So when you empower players, you don’t just say, “Hey, we’re the coach. You do this because this is right.” They might be feeling something different. Each player is an individual. We want to get to the solution. It’s about being right and not who’s right. . . . But the collaborative process is the way everything always gets done the best. So I guess, the best way to put it is it’s not a one-way street. You’re empowering them to think, and you’re telling them, “We want you to come up with solutions as well, and we’ll work together to get to the best place possible.”
On overthinking:
That’s where we come in. A lot. If players are overthinkers — which there’s a lot of them out there — it’s just keeping them on track, keeping them in the lane of where we need to go, instead of going way over here or way over here if it’s detrimental. Believe it or not, sometimes, when you go over here, it leads to a solution. So it’s just a matter of knowing your person and who you’re dealing with and their tendency to go that direction, and the ability to keep them straight.
On lineup construction:
The reason Eddie [Julien] is in the top spot — and he’s staying there — is because he gets on base, and that’s his skill set. And we need guys on base at the top of the order. Tyler Freeman, when he plays, will be right up there with Eddie. We just have to be careful with Tyler at the moment. But those two guys at the top because they get on base and they take good at bats. Rumfield towards the top because he does the same thing. He takes really good at-bats, solid at-bats. [Goodman] up there because he drives in runs. We want to get to a point where our one through nine is taking quality at bats, and that’s what we’re looking for, getting those guys more at-bats than the other ones.
. . .
A lot of the time with [Tovar], it’s the matter of lineup construction, in terms of strategy, what they have in the bullpen, where we think some matchups are going to take place later in the game. Today’s lineup is based on that. Getting pockets for left-handers, pockets for right-handers in what we’re trying to do, knowing where we’re going to pinch hit in games to get the best matchups. So there’s a lot of in-game thinking to it — match up against the starter who you want. Maybe some days you want to get the most runs off of that starter. So you stack your lefties on the top of the lineup.
Schaeffer’s comments gave me a much better sense of the Rockies thinking on Chase Dollander, and I also appreciated getting to see him explain how their system works. I’ll be eager to hear your takeaways.
This week on the internet
Please enjoy these GIFs of various Rockies players fishing:
The folks over at Awful Announcing did their homework, which revealed — zero surprises here — that the Rockies swing at first pitches a lot, no matter the team they’re facing.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns watches the action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 has come and Game 1 has gone. To no one’s surprise, the defending champion, 64-win Oklahoma City Thunder crushed a Phoenix Suns team that limped to the finish line.
There isn’t much that went right for Phoenix. The game was already firmly in the hands of OKC by the halfway point of the first quarter. Shortly after that, the Thunder finished off a 17-2 run. The Suns would end up losing 119-85 and never really put up much of a fight.
So, what specifically went wrong for Phoenix in Game 1?
We could mention Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, ostensibly the Suns’ second and third best players, combining for 12-38 from the field. We could talk about the Thunder outscoring the Suns 34-2 off turnovers. We could talk about the Suns losing a rebounding battle once again. But John Voita already covered all of those points in Sunday’s game recap.
What went wrong for Phoenix in game 1 of the first round is the same thing that is going to go wrong in game 2. It is the same thing that went wrong against Portland in the Play-In Tournament. And it is the biggest problem the Suns have been trying to overcome all season long.
What went wrong didn’t happen on the court, but in the front office. The Suns’ biggest problem is roster construction and positional balance.
Playing the Thunder is always frustrating. OKC gets whistles that nobody else could dream of. Shai’s foul-baiting antics make prime James Harden look like a rookie. Unfortunately, Shai’s shot-making is the only skill more profound than his foul-baiting.
Whenever Shai is on the court, you feel his presence. All ten guys on the court shift their attention towards him when he has the ball. He has gravity that forces both teams to revolve around him, and no team can make up for it by targeting him on the other end. He is the reigning MVP for a reason. He is a superstar.
Devin Booker is not. He is a star, yes, but not a superstar. Book had a good game on Sunday. He poured in an efficient 23 points and 6 rebounds. But every time he scored, I thought, “Oh, Devin Booker is on the court.” It felt like he was an invisible man, reappearing here and there. He picked his shots well and was definitely a net positive for the team despite having the second-lowest +/- for the Suns.
I didn’t always see Devin Booker as a phantom, catching glimpses of him when he decided to show up. From the bubble season all the way until Chris Paul was traded away, I felt like Booker was an impact player.
Why could that be? At this point, everyone should know that Devin Booker is better when he plays next to a competent, playmaking point guard. With Ricky Rubio or Chris Paul, Devin Booker could compete with any star in the league. For most of his career, however, Booker has not had the luxury of playing next to a solid facilitator.
If Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia are serious about continuing to compete in the Devin Booker era, the reality is that Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen, and Jamaree Bouyea are the wrong kinds of backcourt partners for Book.
All four of those guys bring something different, and three of the four are starting-caliber players in the NBA. But none of them are floor generals. They all fit into the category of secondary playmakers. Unfortunately, I think it’s time for us to admit that Devin Booker does as well. Booker is, in fact, such an elite secondary playmaker that many of us have been convinced for years that he is capable of being a primary playmaker.
What this roster does have going for it are its wings. In fact, this is going too well. Booker, Green, Brooks, Allen, and O’Neale have gotten the lion’s share of the minutes on the wing this year. While that is a respectable quintet, its presence is leaving massive holes at the forward positions. If you have a backcourt of Booker and Green with Brooks at the small forward position, who is playing the power forward? Recently, it’s been all 6 feet and 3 inches of Jordan Goodwin.
This team has the wrong point guards, too many shooting guards and small forwards, and no starting caliber power forward.
Why does all of this matter? Why am I diving into the roster construction in an April article about game 1 of the playoffs?
Because the Phoenix Suns players and Jordan Ott have been set up to fail.
The Suns have had a fun season, and they have exceeded expectations. But regardless of what Mat Ishbia and the rest of the front office want to call it, this was the first season of a rebuild. It might not be a rebuild in the same way the Utah Jazz are rebuilding, but a rebuild it is nonetheless.
That means that the roster is just kind of awkward right now. Jalen Green might be the best young player the Suns could get for Kevin Durant last offseason. Does that mean that Jalen Green is going to be on the Suns for the next decade? No, it does not. Brian Gregory may already have plans to break up Phoenix’s shooting guard logjam.
But by refusing to call it a rebuild, the Suns have placed low-level playoff expectations on a team that was never supposed to be here. Once again, awkward.
That should be remembered when evaluating the talent both on the court and standing on the sideline. Jordan Ott is already a top-two coach in the Devin Booker era, yet the last few weeks of the season and the postseason thus far have left many fans unhappy with Ott’s performance. The context of what he has had to work with this season should be remembered in the upcoming offseason coaching discourse.
But, for now, the Suns and their imbalanced roster are having to face down one of the most harmonious and well-constructed teams in recent NBA history. Game 2 may go down just like Game 1 did. That doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned and experience to be gained to prepare for next year, when the roster will hopefully fit together a lot better than it has this season.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 19: Cleveland Guardians second baseman Juan Brito (34) leaves the field following the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 19, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With eleven games under rookie Juan Brito’s major league belt, he is entering a stretch where it will be important for him to prove he can make some needed adjustments to continue top-side with Cleveland.
For Brito’s first 24 plate appearances, things could not have gone much better for the young hitter. He had a 102 wRC+ with a 20.8/8.3 K/BB%. He saw 21% four-seamers, 16% cutters, 10% sinkers, 24% sliders, 22% changeups, and 6% curveballs. In the following 21 plate appearances, Brito has put up a -20 wRC+ with a 42.9/4.8 K/BB%. From promise to disappointment… such is the life of many a baseball player. But, will Brito return to the promise we saw at first?
Well, have opposing pitchers begun attacking him differently? Nothing stands out when we look at pitch mix… Brito has seen a 10% increase in four-seamers (the decline coming from fewer changeups) in the past 21 plate appearances. Have pitchers begun going to different plans in locating those pitches? Aha… yes. During the first half of his 45 major league plate appearances, Brito saw 23.6% of the pitches thrown his way land outside the strike zone. During the second half, that number has increased to 31%. So far in the bigs, Brito has chased 38% of the time (36% in that first 24 PA’s and 39% in the following 21 PA’s), and only made contact outside of the zone 53% of the time. In looking at his chase rates, this doesn’t seem to be a pitch-specific issue; he’s chasing both fastballs and offspeed and breaking pitches outside the zone.
This is the big issue for Brito at the plate. If he is chasing pitches at anything near the rate he is right now, he will not be able to take his walks (obviously) and he will not consistently get pitches he can pull in the air. Brito does not have elite raw power to compensate for any of those losses in value by doing maximum damage on the few pitches he does see in the zone. He is not fast (34% sprint speed), so he will not be stealing bases when he does take a walk. He has to learn to chase less often, take his walks, and force pitchers to bring the ball into the zone where his 86% zone-contact can allow him to pull the ball in the air and be a dangerous offensive presence.
He can’t do what he did tonight as I was writing this article, for example. This is Brito against a fastball outside, a cutter in the zone, and three changeups to end the at-bat out of the zone from Astros’ pitcher Spencer Arrighetti:
Plaster this all over your locker, Juan. Opposing pitchers are going to do this to you until you force them to bring the ball into the zone.
Most folks reading this article are more concerned with Brito’s defense, I suspect. He has -2 Defensive Runs Saved so far and 0 Outs Above Average. It’s hard to tell much from small sample sizes of fielding stats, of course, but he also has looked in over his head at several points, and cost the Guardians a game in Atlanta by muffing a 91 mph grounder hit right at him. Brito can’t be making a notable error every week and costing the team games. There is no surer way to find himself hopping a bus back to the state’s capital.
It’s a critical time for Brito to begin to adjust back, because the team has two options to play second base who are performing quite well. In the majors, Daniel Schneemann has a 153 wRC+ with a 27.6/8.3 K/BB%. and he’s also been an average-good fielder all over the field, including 3 DRS and 5 OAA at second base for his career. In the minors… you guessed it… in 168 plate appearances at Triple-A, Travis Bazzana has a 134 wRC+ and a 22.6/19.3 K/BB% there. Getting Bazzana up soon and getting his feet wet to let him work through the usual struggles he has experience at each new level he reaches could be extremely helpful for a potential playoff run later in the year. Finally, Gabriel Arias is beginning baseball activities, and, while I suspect Rocchio has Wally Pipped his partner at short, I do think the team would promote Arias and demote Brito, rather than risk losing Arias’s glove in a DFA (I leave no comment on whether this is risk worth respecting).
I have been saying for a while that I think Brito’s best position is in the corner outfield. I still believe that’s the case, but, it will rely on him being able to get to his plate discipline and pull-air power on a somewhat consistent basis. I suspect that is what we will see him get the chance to do over the next 2-4 weeks… at which point, we will probably see either Arias OR Bazzana. Meanwhile, I would continue to give Schneemann 2-3 starts a week vs. RHP, at least until he shows signs of cooling off (as Angel Martinez has done).
I have long been a believer in Brito’s plate discipline and pull-fly ball ability. It certainly won’t be the worst or the last time I am wrong if he can’t quite reach his potential in the major leagues, but it would definitely be a tough pill to swallow for a young guy finally reaching his lifelong dream of being a big leaguer, and on a good team. We will keep rooting for you, Juan, even if the arrival of Bazzana is what’s going to drive media attention when it happens.
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks by a 4-3 final score in Game 1 of the first round on Monday. Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson played a significant role in the Oilers' win, as he had a big game for the Pacific Division club.
Dickinson made a serious impact offensively for the Oilers in this one, as he scored two goals. His first goal was at the 17:21 mark of the first period, which gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead. However, his second goal was the more significant one, as it tied the game up at 3-3 at the 11:30 mark of the third period. From there, Kasperi Kapanen would score the game-winner for the Oilers at the 18:06 mark of the third.
With a multi-goal performance like this, it is clear that Dickinson came up clutch for the Oilers in Game 1. It was a great way for the former Blackhawks forward to kick off his postseason this year, and he will now be looking to stay hot for Edmonton from here.
The Blackhawks traded Dickinson and forward Colton Dach to the Oilers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a 2027 first-round pick. In 266 games over four seasons with the Blackhawks, Dickinson had 44 goals, 50 assists, 94 points, and 408 hits. This included him setting career-highs with 22 goals and 35 points in 82 games during the 2023-24 season with Chicago.
Fort Myers, FL - February 21: Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle warms up before the game. The Red Sox played the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium on February 21, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Sonny Gray exited Monday’s game early with a hamstring injury. While the injury isn’t believed to be serious, Gray is spending at least 15 days on the injured list to recover. The Red Sox play 14 games over the next 15 games, so they’ll need someone to fill in. Gray’s turn in the rotation won’t come back around until Friday, and Tyler Samaniego will replace him for now, but they could turn to a traditional starter when the time comes. So, who should replace him?
Payton Tolle has a 3.00 ERA in three minor league starts. Tyler Uberstine is also on the 40-man roster and can provide bulk innings; he’ll come off the IL in three days. Jake Bennett has been impressive in his short stint in the organization as well. My vote would be for Tolle, but any of the three have a solid case. Lucas Giolito is a free agent as well — that could be fun, but it’s unlikely. Is there someone I’m forgetting? Let me know in the comments.
NEW YORK — So, who’s to blame for the fourth-quarter collapse of New York Knicks?
The Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 12-point deficit to start the period and stunned New York, 107-106, evening the first-round playoff series at one game apiece Monday, April 20. It tied for the worst blown fourth-quarter lead in Knicks playoff history. The other game was the infamous Reggie Miller "choke" game in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Is it OG Anunoby, who, with a chance at the line to take a one-point lead with 1:54 to play, missed both free throws?
Is it Karl-Anthony Towns, who didn’t record a single point, rebound, assist, steal or block in nearly eight fourth-quarter minutes?
Is it Jalen Brunson, who got cooked on defense down the stretch (twice) by CJ McCollum and whose shot selection in the fourth felt forced, if not potentially self-serving?
Or is it coach Mike Brown, who oversaw it all?
The reality, frankly, is that it’s some combination of all of the above. Losses like these are rarely the fault of a single person, but of an overall breakdown that’s gradual, at first, before it becomes sudden.
"In that fourth quarter, too, you could tell that they were playing with a level of desperation," Brown told reporters after the game. "There were four 50-50 balls, and they got three of the four. We always use that stat to gauge the level of aggression. And in the fourth quarter, their aggression stepped up."
But – fairly or unfairly – the blame for losses like this almost always fall on the head coach. In this case, there’s plenty to back it up.
The Knicks were outscored 28-15 in the fourth, at one point allowing an 11-0 run that finally ended with 1:21 left in the game. New York shot just 22.7% in the period and converted just five field goals, compared with Atlanta’s figures in the period: 72.2% and 13, respectively.
The curious thing about the fourth was that Brown seemingly didn’t reward Towns for a big third quarter.
In the third, Towns dropped 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and was active on the offensive glass, getting easier second-chance points. He relied on his range to hit two massive trail 3s. Yet, in the fourth, Towns was not a principal part of New York’s offensive sets or actions, and he recorded just two shot attempts.
The offense, instead, ran through Brunson, which, on one hand, makes sense. Brunson is the team’s best offensive player and elite closer. But the Hawks threw double-teams and traps at Brunson in the quarter, making his touches and shots far more contested.
New York could’ve adjusted to use Brunson almost as a decoy in pick-and-rolls, creating open space and looks for other players, especially Towns.
Granted, Towns also could’ve remained active on the glass to earn some of those offensive touches, but it’s difficult for a player to assert himself when he’s not a key piece in an action.
Another curious thing was that Brown, at one stretch (from 1:50 left in the third, through 7:56 left in the fourth) had both Brunson and Towns getting breathers on the bench. Teams often stagger their rotations so at least one of their primary scorers is on the floor at all times.
In that span, the Knicks lead went from 12 to nine, but it signaled a change in the game for Atlanta, which built momentum from that point.
"I don’t think (the game got away)," Brown said. "We’ve played that lineup quite a bit since the end of the season, and that lineup has been pretty good. We weren’t good tonight, and we turned the ball over a few too many times during that period.
"But we had opportunities where our starters were in and we were up eight to 10, and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t say that specific lineup caused it."
He’s not wrong, but it’s the job of the coach to understand that a team’s drive or focus or determination has been compromised, especially late in games. It’s also the coach’s job to motivate and guide his team to correct that.
The Knicks became far too passive. They didn’t match Atlanta’s pace and intention, and Brown’s tactics seemingly never addressed that.
So, now, the Knicks may have just given a young team a ton of confidence.
"This is a game we should’ve won," forward Josh Hart told reporters after the game, "and in the playoffs you can’t give away games."
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 20: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox leaves the field prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The past two weeks have been adventurous for the Yankees since their 8-2 start to the season. A lengthy losing skid obliterated their fledgling division lead, then a perplexing four-game set with the Angels showed their greatest strengths and greatest flaws in equal measure. Consequently, it was a relief to watch the Bombers dispose of the Royals in convincing fashion over the weekend to complete the homestand. That gives them a good dose of momentum ahead of the first Rivalry Series of 2026.
The Red Sox are, to the pity of nobody on this pages, struggling. They sit tied for last place in the AL East with an 9-13 record, unable to rely on either a slumping lineup or a scuffling pitching staff. They game saw their ace Garrett Crochet get hammered around for the second consecutive outing over the weekend, and hitters they’re relying on to have big seasons have not answered the call. Roman Anthony is off to a slow start. Trevor Story and Caleb Durbin have been frightful. Marcelo Mayer still hasn’t found his footing in the majors.
How-evah, as John Sterling would say, the Red Sox are still a very talented team the Yankees cannot afford to take lightly. The struggling Crochet will not appear in the series, but three strong starters—including one who always seems to elevate his game against New York—will take the home hill at Fenway Park.
Tuesday: Luis Gil vs. Connelly Early (6:45 pm ET)
This is a bit of a rough draw for the opener. Luis Gil has not looked great through his first two starts—he at least made it through five innings last time, but has allowed seven runs across nine frames. Gil has issued five walks and surrendered four homers, including three against the Angels in an eventual come-from-behind win. It remains to be seen if Gil can reattain his Rookie of the Year vintage, but if he can handle a sleepy Red Sox offense, maybe that can spark a turnaround.
Connelly Early opposed Cam Schlittler in his unforgettable Wild Card Game 3 performance, and was matching Schlittler’s dominance until losing his footing in the fourth inning. And hey, it’s still early, but the 24-year old lefty is looking good. Through four starts he has a 2.29 ERA with 20 strikeouts counterbalancing 10 walks. For what it’s worth, the Yankees feasted on Royals southpaws over the weekend, dispatching both Noah Cameron and Cole Ragans with ease. Will Early be another victim of a suddenly hot New York lineup?
Wednesday: Max Fried vs. Ranger Suárez (6:45 pm ET)
Speaking of left-handed pitching, we have a doozy in the middle game (airing on Prime Video) between two very good lefty starters. Max Fried had a substandard performance against the Angels last time, with Oswald Peraza of all people beating him twice. But he still has a 2.97 ERA through his first five starts and has been particularly strong on the road. Fried pitched great against Boston last year, including a strong Wild Card performance and six scoreless innings in a game at the Stadium in which he had an interesting encounter with a squirrel.
Ranger Suárez was the Red Sox’ big signing to make up for Alex Bregman’s departure to the Cubs. His first four turns through the rotation have been the definition of a mixed bag—two clunkers against Houston and San Diego followed by a pair of scoreless outings against the Cardinals and Tigers. That last game was an eight-inning two-hit masterpiece—Boston ultimately won that game 1-0 in 10 innings. Suárez is at his best when he keeps opposing lineups on the ground; he grabbed 10 of them in that start.
Thursday: Cam Schlittler vs. Brayan Bello (6:10 pm ET)
Schlittler is due to receive a positively venomous reception from the Boston crowd thanks to that aforementioned utter domination of the Sox to eliminate them in the Wild Card Series. It’s hard to believe the Walpole native will be pitching at Fenway Park for the first time—Schlittler’s meteoric rise has come that quickly. He and fellow Massachusetts native Ben Rice are quickly turning New England against them, and that suits Schlittler just fine.
Brayan Bello, of course, is a Yankee-killer. He’s never really been an exceptional starting pitcher, but he routinely elevates his game against the Bombers. Given his 6.75 ERA through four starts, he’s certainly hoping that trendline can continue. Bello threw over 30 pitches in a rocky first inning and exited after four innings with four runs allowed—so the key to the Yankees will be to get after him early.
ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (21), St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II (11) and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Nathan Church (27) celebrate their teams victory during a game where the St. Louis Cardinals hosted the Athletics on Wednesday September 03, 2025, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In a season-long search for answers, the Cardinals appear to have some offensive pieces emerging. Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, rookie JJ Wetherholt, and (hopefully) Jordan Walker can continue to do what he’s done through the first 3 weeks of the season. Between Walker, Nolan Gorman, and Victor Scott II, there existed the biggest questions about their offensive futures on this team. Walker, undoubtedly, has earned himself a lot longer leash with his start. Gorman is doing his Gorman thing, showing flashes of offensive upside, and then stretches where he can’t even touch the baseball.
The St. Louis Centerfielder Victor Scott II spent the offseason with a biomechanical specialist at West Virginia (his alma mater), and he worked to make his swing more efficient. The results early on this season have not shown a tangible improvement.
According to Statcast, Scott’s swing path still appears to be mostly unchanged, if only a minor tweak that Scott is trying to take the ball back up the middle more often than pulling it, which could allow him to leg out of a few more infield hits.
Victor Scott has also moved back in the box slightly on his setup and the stance he has closed himself off more, likely in an effort to keep himself more direct and up the middle with his approach.
What about when he’s putting the ball in play? Looking at his batted ball profile, it appears he is still struggling with pulled groundballs. Scott has cut his “AIR%” in half from 56% down to 33.3%, which is an okay trade-off for a player of Scott’s skill set. The problem is that Scott is not able to do any damage; he is not pulling the ball in the air, only at a putrid 2.4% so far in 2026.
When you look at what Scott has done against individual pitches to try to understand what has given him the most trouble, it’s pretty much everything that’s not a Sinker or Cutter.
Oddly enough, when you go over to Fangraphs, Victor Scott has a 123 wRC+ against LHP. Normally, you don’t see a player perform that well against same-handed pitching. The other unfortunate end of that is that his wRC+ against RHP is 10.
The bottom of the zone with those offspeed/breaking balls is the area of greatest need. Ordinarily, players will have a tough time if there is a spot or two that is tough to cover. When it’s the entire bottom 1/3 of the zone and underneath the zone that can be exploited by the opposition, especially the best in the world at that, it can almost be untenable.
Okay, what about his speed and defense?
Scott is a little bit slower in his reads, but he seems to process the flight of the ball really well, and has above-average to plus closing speed, and is great with closing speed and getting to the baseball once he has an idea of where it might land.
Scott’s 29.6 ft/s is in the 98th percentile in all of baseball. These are the two things that Scott does best. Impacting the baseball and providing any kind of offensive value is not. Which is unfortunate, with nearly 700 MLB PA in his career already, it doesn’t seem like, projecting forward at least, that Scott will be anything more than a 4th OF in MLB long term. Which would prove my initial evaluation of him wrong. I thought he could be someone with 10-15 HR power annually and play gold glove defense in CF, and that could be a nice above-average player on a competitive team.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently posted his first 2026 MLB mock draft, and included in that piece was the Cardinals at number 13. For that spot, one name that McDaniel talked about was Trevor Condon, who is a prep outfielder from the state of Georgia. McDaniel mentioned that some evaluators around the game whisper the name “McGonigle” when talking about Condon, and that caught my attention QUICKLY. MLB dot com drew comparisons to Brett Gardner or Sal Frelick, which are definitely different profiles, but that was released back in December, and we now have this spring’s results and performance to include in that evaluation. The overall purpose of this blurb in this article is that this years draft class is particularly loaded with some young exciting outfield prospects and while you dont draft for need, if the evaluations are close, position could be a tie breaker, lest we not forget the lurking emergence of Tai Peete or Ryan Mitchell, both of whom could project to play CF long term if their development continue in a positve way, both with considerable more offensive upside than Scott has displayed in his 2+ seasons at the big league level thus far.
Could Scott change something and unlock more offensive ability down the road? Sure. But, at this point, he hasn’t shown anything to convince us otherwise, and those asking the question about what Scott is long-term. It would be hard to argue anything other than a 4th outfielder at this point.
What are your thoughts on Victor Scott? Let me know, and let’s talk about it!
Apr 20, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cameron Foster (65) celebrates with catcher Samuel Basallo (29) after the win over the Kansas City Royals in the twelfth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
You know, over the course of a six-month season, you’ll see every kind of baseball game. Sometimes you’ll see a heavyweight clash between two tenacious clubs, battling with every fiber of their being as they put on a clinic of intense, well-played baseball.
And then other times you’ll see what can only be described as a frenetic slap fight between two mediocre opponents, each apparently trying to give the game away but neither one willing to take it.
You can probably guess which of these descriptions applies to last night’s ridiculous Orioles vs. Royals contest. Somehow, some way, the O’s ended up with a 7-5, 12-inning win in a game that they trailed 1-0 with two outs in the ninth. For 8.2 innings, it was shaping up to be one of the Birds’ most embarrassing losses, one in which they managed a single hit — from the second batter of the game, no less — before the O’s offense vanished for eight innings. Gunnar Henderson got picked off twice. Kyle Bradish allowed 13 baserunners in 5.1 innings to a terrible Royals offense and somehow only one run, owing to the aforementioned terrible Royals offense.
In the end, Samuel Basallo saved the day with the game-tying, two-out, two-strike hit in the ninth and the go-ahead RBI single in the 12th, and Leody Taveras added the cherry on top with his first career grand slam. And still the Orioles almost blew a five-run lead in the bottom of the 12th. That was the game in a nutshell. An O’s victory both thrilling and maddening, equal parts exciting and exasperating. Against any other team it probably wouldn’t have been a win, but the Orioles took full advantage of the worst team in the AL. Mark Brown recapped all the ridiculous action.
I’m not going to go so far as to say that this is a win that will give the Orioles some momentum, because all of their season-long warts were on full display for most of it. Their problems aren’t exactly fixed. Still, it was nice to see Basallo’s bat start to come around and unexpected 2026 stalwarts like Taveras, Rico Garcia, and Anthony Nunez continue to contribute. The O’s need their star players to return to form, but in the meantime they’ve had lesser-known players keeping them afloat so far.
What the Orioles did last night sure wasn’t the way you’d script it, and it’s not a sustainable way to win. But let’s take the victories now and sort the rest out later.
A bunch of injured Orioles appear close to returning, but we probably won’t see Yaramil Hiraldo again this season. My apologies to all the Yaramil Hiraldo stans out there.
What he said. Jeremiah has been a great story for a 2026 Orioles team sorely lacking in them.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy birthday to an Orioles Hall of Famer and the 1973 AL Rookie of the Year, Al Bumbry. “The Bee” spent 13 of his 14 MLB seasons in Baltimore, racking up 252 stolen bases, third-most in O’s history. Enjoy your day, Al! Other former Orioles born on April 21 include lefty Cionel Pérez (30), infielder Ryan Adams (39), catcher Ronny Paulino (45), and MLB’s all-time leader in games pitched, Jesse Orosco (69), who made 336 of his 1,252 career appearances as an Oriole.
On this day in 1996, Brady Anderson set an MLB record by hitting a leadoff homer for the fourth consecutive game. He accomplished the feat in all three games of a series against the Rangers and a game in Boston before that. The kicker? The Orioles lost all four games.
Random Orioles game of the day
On April 21, 2005, the Orioles suffered a 1-0 shutout loss to the Red Sox at Camden Yards. The game’s only run came in the second inning on a Ramón Vázquez RBI groundout that plated future Oriole Kevin Millar. Birds starter Rodrigo López pitched brilliantly, going eight innings while allowing only that one (unearned) run, but the O’s offense had no answer for Red Sox righty Matt Clement, who worked eight scoreless of his own before Keith Foulke nailed down the save in the ninth. The O’s had eight hits in the game, including three by Melvin Mora, but couldn’t get any when it mattered.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 20: Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers protects the net against Anthony Mantha #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 20, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins are in trouble.
They’re heading to Philadelphia this week down two games in their first-round series and, barring some immediate changes, could be staring down a 3-0 hole by Wednesday night.
Dan Muse and the Penguins have a few changes available to them before Wednesday, including some potential personnel changes. Here’s some possibilities:
1.Shake up the power play units.
The Penguins got five power play opportunities on Monday night. On those five tries they recorded a total of two shots and allowed a shorthanded goal.
“There were just a few adjustments,” coach Rick Tocchet said about his team’s penalty kill after the game (h/t OnPattison.com’s Anthony SanFilippo). “We’re a little more aggressive. A little more pressure.”
That pressure showed. The Penguins couldn’t connect on passes, keep the puck in at the blue line or prevent breakaways. Shuffling personnel, maybe including bumping someone like Anthony Mantha up to the first unit, could help the Pens find a more shot-happy combination.
2. Swap the Chinakhov and Rakelllines.
The Penguins went into both of these first two games of the series with Egor Chinakhov on Sidney Crosby’s line, while Rickard Rakell centered Evgeni Malkin.
They haven’t had a lot of success at even strength with that top six, and Muse ended up swapping Chinakhov and Rakell back to Malkin and Crosby’s lines, respectively, during Monday’s second period.
Muse declined to make any conclusions about that mid-game swap after the loss, saying the Penguins didn’t get enough sustained looks at even strength for him to make an evaluation.
“I’m not in a position right now to really make any decisions in terms of lineup for next game,” Muse said after the loss. “That’s something— we’ll look at film, we’ll speak as a staff. We’ll make those decisions later.”
The Chinakhov-Malkin and Rakell-Crosby combos worked well down the stretch of the regular season. Given how much the Penguins have struggled to put together any offense through two playoff games, those combos could be worth trying again.
3. Dress Justin Brazeau.
Few of the forwards have been standouts through two games. The Penguins could try scratching a bottom-six forward and shuffling Brazeau into the lineup to see if he is able to find any more success.
4. Dress Jack St. Ivany.
The Ryan Shea-Connor Clifton pairing was on the ice for nine Penguins shot attempts and 10 shot attempts against on Monday night, by far the worst ratio among the defense pairings, per MoneyPuck. St. Ivany has experience skating alongside Shea from earlier this season and could be an option if the Penguins decide to swap out Clifton.
5. Figure out zone entries.
The Flyers have the Penguins’ number in terms of how Muse’s team usually likes to bring the puck into the zone. Even on the power play the Penguins regularly relied on wrapping the puck along the boards on Monday night, often at the cost of an immediate Flyers clear.
The Pens will need to figure out how to make their usual controlled breakouts work against Tocchet’s aggressive defensive system in order to get some more offensive momentum in Game 3.
Penguins went HEAVY on dump-and-chase at 5-on-5 in the first period, per my tracking:
The Penguins aren’t practicing tomorrow. Maybe they’ll have the opportunity to watch some tape, and hopefully make some adjustments, before Wednesday’s 7 p.m. ET puck drop.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 19: David Pastrnak #88 talks with Jonathan Aspirot #45 of the Boston Bruins before a faceoff during the second period in Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on April 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tage Thompson: 2G-1A-3PTS; Alex Tuch: 1G-1A-2PTS; Mattias Samuelsson: 1G-0A-1PT
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 1-0-0, 3.01 GAA, .850 save percentage
Game notes
After a calamitous five-minute stretch saw them lose control of Game 1, the Bruins will be looking to bounce back with a more solid all-around effort in Game 2. 60 minutes of good play instead of 52, or something like that.
Marco Sturm has called on his group to regroup and recharge after Game 1, saying that his team is ready for a long series. He also got philosophical, according to NHL.com, saying “yesterday was yesterday, today is today. It’s actually sunny here in Buffalo.” Valid points, Marco.
Performance at the face-off dot was supposed to be a strength for the Bruins in this series: they had the fourth-best team winning percentage in the league during the regular season, while Buffalo was the worst face-off team in the NHL. In Game 1, however, the teams were just about even: the Bruins won 32 face-offs, while the Sabres won 31.
Sturm didn’t mention any lineup changes in his media availability on Monday, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t have any up his sleeve. It seems a little early to be bringing in a new body on defense or up front, but he may have to consider some line-juggling if the second line struggles again tonight.
The Bruins can make things significantly easier on themselves if they take care of the puck better, particularly below their own goal line. While Buffalo certainly deserves credit for seizing their opportunities (and forcing those turnovers), the Bruins’ own carelessness with the puck led directly to Buffalo’s three non-empty-net goals in Game 1.
The B’s will also need to adjust to Buffalo’s tenacious forecheck, which seemed to wear the Bruins defensemen down as the game progressed. After dealing with it for 60 minutes, the Bruins will need to be better equipped to handle the pressure or this will be a short series.
While shots on net aren’t everything, it’s worth pointing out that the Bruins failed to land double-digit shots on net in any period on Sunday: they went 9-4-7 across the three periods, with that second period particularly woeful.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Team World smiles during the NBA All Star Media Day as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday evening, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was announced, the first of many NBA honors beiong revealed this week. Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is the first unanimous recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award. He is also the youngest.
This is his third NBA season and his third season to be the blocks leader.
Wemby was sitting with his mother as well as members of the Spurs coaching staff when Maria Taylor, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Carmelo Anthony of Peacock notifies the Spurs superstar of his first major career award.
Wembanyama continue to show poise and grace as he expressed how the award reaches beyond one man.
At each point in his career, Wemby has been thoughtful in his answers and careful to share credit with those that are involved with his day to day training and health.
His gratitude was so moving that Carmelo commented how his upbringing has taught him well, crediting his parents, and specifically his dad, for how well Victor handles himself with the media.
The Peacock team was in San Antonio for a nationally televised San Antonio game and had an opportunity to meet Wemby’s parents.
The announcement for Clutch Player of the Year is next, followed by Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday. The Sixth Man involves another member of the Spurs, Keldon Johnson.
Thursday reveals the NBA Sportsman Award, for which Harrison Barnes is a finalist.
Closing out the week on Friday is the NBA Most Improved Player.
Three Spurs could soon be hoisting individual honors.
Go Spurs Go!
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