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MLB mock draft 2026: Updated projection with White Sox choosing between 3 elite players

Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) bunts in a run against the Murray State Racers during the fourth inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Next week, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game gets underway at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

But before this generation’s stars take the field, the next generation will take the stage in the City of Brotherly Love.

The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway on Saturday, and over 600 prospects will hear their names called during the 20 rounds that unfold, beginning with the Chicago White Sox at No. 1 overall. To get you ready, we have a mock draft to help set the stage.

For more on how the first round works, we have you covered here with this piece from Thursday. And a note on methodology: This is a “what I think will happen” mock draft, and not a “what I would do” mock draft. Mostly because I would draft Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson with every pick in that scenario. But there is still some “what I would do” sprinkled in …

Here are the picks, with some thoughts after.

PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool
1Chicago White SoxRoch CholowskySSUCLA
2Tampa Bay RaysGrady EmersonSSFort Worth Christian HS (TX)
3Minnesota TwinsVahn LackeyCGeorgia Tech
4San Francisco GiantsDrew BurressOFGeorgia Tech
5Pittsburgh PiratesEric Booth Jr.OFOak Grove HS (MS)
6Kansas City RoyalsJackson FloraRHPUC Santa Barbara
7Baltimore OriolesJustin LebronSSAlabama
8AthleticsRyder HelfrickCArkansas
9Atlanta BravesJacob LombardSSGulliver Prep HS (FL)
10Colorado RockiesTyler BellSSKentucky
11Washington NationalsAce Reese3BMississippi State
12Los Angeles AngelsChristopher Hacopian2BTexas A&M
13St. Louis CardinalsDerek CurielOFLSU
14Miami MarlinsGio RojasLHPStoneman Douglas HS (FL)
15Arizona DiamondbacksTrevor CondonOFEtowah HS (GA)
16Texas RangersMason EdwardsLHPUSC
17Houston AstrosDaniel JacksonCGeorgia
18Cincinnati RedsAJ GraciaOFVirginia
19Cleveland GuardiansJared GrindlingerOF/LHPHuntington Beach HS (CA)
20Boston Red SoxCameron FlukeyRHPCoastal Carolina
21San Diego PadresZion RoseOFLouisville
22Detroit TigersHunter DietzLHPArkansas
23Chicago CubsLiam PetersonRHPFlorida
24Seattle MarinersTegan KuhnsRHPTennessee
25Milwaukee BrewersSawyer StrosniderOFTCU
26Atlanta BravesCarson BolemonLHPSouthside Christian HS (SC)
27New York MetsCole CarlonLHPArizona State
28Houston AstrosBrody BumilaLHPBishop Feehan HS (MA)
29San Francisco GiantsCameron BorthwickRHPSouth Walton HS (FL)
30Kansas City RoyalsAiden RuizSSThe Stony Brook School (NY)
31Arizona DiamondbacksLogan SchmidtLHPGanesha HS (CA)
32St. Louis CardinalsBo Lowrance3BChrist Church Episcopal HS (SC)
33Tampa Bay RaysAiden RobbinsOFTexas
34Pittsburgh PiratesCade TownsendRHPMississippi
35New York YankeesLogan ReddemannRHPUCLA
36Philadelphia PhilliesTaj MarchandSSJames Island HS (SC)
37Colorado RockiesJack RadelRHPNotre Dame

If you want to get a little deeper into this class, read on.

Thoughts on the top ten

Let’s dive into the top ten selections a bit more.

1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA

It is by no means a done deal, but UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky remains the consensus top player in the class. And with the White Sox trying to sign him out of high school, the pairing between player and team fits. But there is a lot to like about Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson, as well as Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey, who stand out as the top three players in the class. Chicago likely goes with Cholowsky, who might have the highest floor of the three, but Emerson might have the highest ceiling.

2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)

If Cholowsky indeed comes off the board first, Tampa Bay runs to the podium for Emerson. The high school shortstop has a silky smooth swing from the left side of the plate, is coming off another monster season where he slashed .532/.648/1.013, and was just the second high school player in the past 48 years to be named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, joining Bobby Witt Jr. on that short list.

3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

The Minnesota Twins sit in a decent spot, as they would be happy to take Vahn Lackey, who slashed .397/.519/.722 as part of Georgia Tech’s monster offense this season.

4. San Francisco Giants: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

This might be the first departure from consensus, as a bit of “what I would do” works its way into this mock draft. But in addition to Lackey, outfielder Drew Burress was a huge part of the Georgia Tech offense this past season. He slashed .358/.473/.675, while belting 16 home runs to break Jason Varitek’s school record of 57 career home runs, as Burress hit 60 during his time in college. The San Francisco Giants have been linked to several bats in this class, but Burress’ power stands out.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS (MS)

Mississippi outfielder Eric Booth Jr. is something of a consensus pick for the Pirates, and Pittsburgh dipped into the Mississippi prep waters recently with some success with Konnor Griffin. Eric Booth Jr. is considered the top prep outfielder in the 2026 MLB Draft class, hit .467 as a junior in 2025, and followed that with a .481/.699/.922 slash line this past year:

6. Kansas City Royals: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

It’s time for the first pitcher to come off the board, and it is UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora. Flora set a new school record with 133 strikeouts this season, as he finished with a 12-0 record, an ERA of 1.06, and a WHIP of just 0.853. Flora features high-level velocity — his fastball rests in the upper 90s and hits triple digits regularly — but he can mix in two different sliders, as well as two different changeups.

Here’s a look at that fastball:

And now let’s mix in some of that breaking stuff:

If Flora is off the board, high school arm Gio Rojas could be a pick for Kansas City here.

7. Baltimore Orioles: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama

Here is another selection where the college influence creeps into my mind. Consensus is mixed on Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who could come off the board anywhere from No. 8 to the late teens.

So I concede I might be higher on him than consensus, but the tools are there and the shortstop was critical to Alabama’s run to Omaha this season. According to multiple reports the Orioles are looking at college bats with this pick, and Lebron makes a great deal of sense.

8. Athletics: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas

As noted by other outlets, the Athletics are looking at college bats, and Ryder Helfrick sliding to this spot would offer a nice combination of positional value and power at the plate. Helfrick slashed .305/.420/.616 for the Razorbacks in 2025 along with 15 home runs, and followed that with a .283/.417/.562 slash line in 2026 along with 18 big flies.

Plus, there is a track record of success with the wood bat, as he slashed .261/.323/.837 for Brewster on the Cape during the summer of 2024, along with 11 home runs.

9. Atlanta Braves: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)

This might be a bit low for Jacob Lombard, who is coming off boards earlier than this in other industry mock drafts. But with the board falling like this, the Braves would be happy to see Lombard available. The Florida infielder carries some “swing-and-miss” risk, particularly against upper-level velocity, but he offers an intriguing mix of power at the plate and speed on the bases.

10. Colorado Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky

The Colorado Rockies are another team linked to college bats in the 2026 MLB Draft, and Kentucky infielder Tyler Bell certainly fits the bill. Bell slashed an impressive .343/.510/.608 for the Wildcats this past season, with nine home runs.

The switch-hitter also has power from both sides of the plate. Here is a home run against West Virginia in the College World Series Regionals:

And here is a blast from the right side of the plate against Tennessee earlier this season:

That will work at Coors Field someday.

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NBA Power Rankings for all 30 teams after a wild start to 2026 offseason

Los Angeles, CA - March 27: Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77, winks and points to a player after a play in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, March 27, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The NBA offseason still has a long ways to go, but the picture at the top and bottom of the league is already starting to solidify for the 2026-2027 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks feel like they’re in a class of their own as an elite tier of contenders. Who’s the fourth best in the NBA right now? Your guess is as good as mine.

The NBA’s new anti-tanking rules mean there are no more free wins on the schedule this season. Still, some teams are likely to be very bad, starting with the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls. This year’s draft lottery features a “relegation zone” which lowers the odds at a top pick for the league’s three worst teams, though it also comes with the added benefit of falling no further than the No. 12 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. Every other team could slide all the way to No. 16.

A second wave of offseason player movement is likely coming after LeBron James finally makes his free agent decision. There’s still hoops to talk about until then, so here’s our way-too-early look at the league power rankings for 2026-2027 in mid-July.

30. Sacramento Kings

No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff is going to get a long leash to run the show in Sacramento, but he just doesn’t have much help. Will Domantas Sabonis or Zach LaVine still be on this roster come opening night? The Kings have a decent collection of young talent starting to form with Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Alex Karaban, and the goal of this season should be developing them alongside Acuff.

29. Milwaukee Bucks

The Giannis era is over, and the Bucks are left with a funky roster that will probably be pretty bad. Will Tyler Herro actually play for Milwaukee this season, or get flipped closer to training camp? Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. actually looked pretty good last season, and Kel’el Ware is an exciting young big man coming over from Miami in the big trade. Most of the attention will be on how the Bucks’ two lottery picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament develop.

28. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are going to be fun, but still project as an Eastern Conference doormat. Chicago’s two first-round rookies Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain should get plenty of reps, and it will be fascinating to see if last year’s lottery pick Noa Essengue can make an impact after a lost rookie season due to injury. A Matas Buzelis leap in year three would be huge for the Bulls’ long-term outlook.

27. Washington Wizards

A.J. Dybantsa is the star of the show after going No. 1 overall, and he’ll have a weird roster around him. Trae Young is on a new max contract for some reason. Anthony Davis is here for now, but maybe not for long. Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson are two former top-10 picks who need to develop around Dybantsa for Washington’s future to look bright.

26. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers got great value back for Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, but this season could be ugly. Rookie No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler has a lot riding on his shoulders long-term, and it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Darius Garland in the backcourt this year. There are still some solid vets here in Brook Lopez, Brandon Ingram, and Derrick Jones Jr., but I’m interested to see how youngsters Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Isaiah Jackson develop.

25. Brooklyn Nets

I think Brooklyn is going to surprise some people this year, and wouldn’t be surprised if they push for a play-in spot. New addition Julius Randle joins Michael Porter Jr. as the leaders of this team, and it’s possible Egor Demin can take a leap in his second season. Jordi Fernandez is an elite head coach and will get the most of this group.

24. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans haven’t done a single thing this offseason yet. Alright, man. There’s some talent here with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears, but new head coach Jamahl Mosley has his work cut out for him to mold this into a functional team.

23. Golden State Warriors

Steph Curry is still elite, but the team around him is lackluster at this point. It’s too bad Jimmy Butler will miss most of this season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Is this the year we start to hear real Curry trade speculation?

22. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are young, but the talent is real. Cameron Boozer is a future superstar, Zach Edey could be awesome if he can ever stay healthy, and Cedric Coward complements the two frontcourt stars well as a long 3-and-D wing. I actually like the guard collection quite a bit too with Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Cam Spencer all poised to make an impact.

21. Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets punted on LaMelo Ball, and in doing so killed their chances for this season. This team should still be pretty decent with Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White launching threes around one of the league’s best offensive rebounding teams, but it’s hard to imagine they can make real noise without injuries to several other East teams.

20. Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, meet Dusty May. Dallas welcomes back Kyrie Irving from a torn ACL this season, and I like the trade for Santi Aldama. Can Dereck Lively II return from injury? I will be interested to see how Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz continue to put their stamp on this team, because it feels like a lot of these players could be flipped around Flagg.

19. Phoenix Suns

The Suns feel like a classic high floor, low ceiling team. Devin Booker has some good role players around him in Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Mark Williams, and Oso Ighodaro. Miles Bridges is here now too to complete Mat Ishbia’s Michigan State dream. I’m mostly interested in how last year’s No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach develops in the middle.

18. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are ready to make a big leap. Darryn Peterson will be an instant impact rookie, and he joins a talented veteran core led by Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Keyonte George. If Will Hardy is as good as a head coach as everyone believes he is, this team should push for the playoffs.

17. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta gave the Knicks their toughest playoff series in the first-round last season, and they continue to build out their future talent pool. Rookies Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor could be instant contributors, and picking up Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder for nothing was a nice move, too. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum feels like a high floor, low ceiling group for this season, but the Hawks continue to move in the right direction.

16. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are going to be fascinating with the return of Damian Lillard and the trade for Ja Morant. That seems like a poor fit to me, but at least Portland gave up absolutely nothing to get Morant from Memphis. Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson are the two most important players on the roster for the future of the franchise, and both could take a leap this season. The defense should be really good, and Deni Avdija will continue to be a battering ram off the bounce, but I don’t know if this team has enough of a ceiling to build on last year.

15. Orlando Magic

Sean Sweeney is the new head coach tasked with getting the most out of a talent Magic roster. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner just haven’t worked as well as expected together, and this might be their last chance with a massive payroll looming. If Sweeney is good and Jalen Suggs can actually stay healthy, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Orlando ends up much better than this.

14. Miami Heat

Pat Riley finally landed his next superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the supporting cast needs work. The front court should be elite defensively with Giannis joining Bam Adebayo, but the offensive spacing will be a question mark. The backcourt has almost no shot-creation, but Erik Spoelstra is better than anyone at developing diamonds in the rough. He’s going to need to do it again for this team to win a playoff series.

13. Houston Rockets

The Rockets have been strangely quiet this summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a big move coming before the season opens. For now, the main thing to get excited about is the return of Fred VanVleet. Houston’s young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. remains enticing, and it feels like all of them can still go up another level this season.

12. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are loaded with top-end talent after the stunning Jaylen Brown trade, but it’s hard to say how it will all fit together. Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe is a great foundation even before you get to Joel Embiid, whose uncertain health hangs over every Sixers season. I’m concerned about the depth and the defense of this team, especially when Embiid inevitably misses half the season.

11. Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton is back from a torn Achilles, and the entire league will be wondering if he can pick up where he left off from Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The team around him is mostly pretty similar save for swapping out Myles Turner for Ivica Zubac, which should be a big upgrade. Indiana might be the most interesting team entering the season.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

I expect LeBron James to sign here, but we can’t bake that in yet. The Cavs are pretty good without him coming off a conference finals appearance. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen return in the front court. I just can’t count on a James Harden team (he’ll re-sign soon) to break through at this point.

9. Toronto Raptors

I love the Raptors’ playoff ceiling after the Kawhi Leonard trade if he can stay healthy through an entire postseason run. That’s a huge if. Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Leonard should be an elite defensive trio. Getting anything from Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl this year would be a big boost.

8. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons did some tinkering to the rotation, but it still feels like they have a lot of the same problems as last year. Cade Cunningham is awesome, and gives this team a high floor by himself. Jalen Duren should re-sign soon, and he’s better than he showed during the playoffs. Ausar Thompson might be the best wing defender in the league, and Ron Holland could make an impact there too if either of them could improve their outside shooting a little bit. Swapping out Tobias Harris for John Collins is … fine. Detroit could make the NBA Finals, but they have real pressure to at least make the conference finals this year.

7. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets haven’t done anything this summer as they wait out Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency. It definitely feels like they could make cost-cutting moves on the margins before the season starts, but we can’t factor those in yet. Denver looked old and slow last year, but they still have Nikola Jokic, who remains a top-3 player in the world. I can’t see the Nuggets falling too far as long as Jokic is around.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers went for broke to build around Luka Doncic this summer, and it better work. LA paid a ridiculous price for Walker Kessler, but he is exactly the type of defensive-minded center a team led by Doncic and Austin Reaves needs in the middle. My big hangup here is the lack of wing talent. I love Adou Thiero as much as the next draft guy, but it doesn’t feel great that the Lakers are legitimately counting on him to take a leap this year.

5. Boston Celtics

The Celtics are still going to be really good after trading Jaylen Brown. Boston is essentially replacing Brown with a full year of Jayson Tatum while adding Mitchell Robinson and Paul George. I’m buying a Payton Pritchard leap this year. The Celtics are going to launch threes, crash the offensive glass, and try to avoid turnovers, which is usually a great formula for the regular season.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

The LaMelo Ball trade will define this franchise for the next few years at least. I think Ball is a highly impactful star guard, but his constant injury issues have a chance to derail this entire experience. If Ball can stay healthy, his elite handle, pull-up shooting, and passing vision feels like a perfect fit next to Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels. This team really needs Gobert to fight off father time. I’d like this group more if they had a bigger player in Ayo Dosunmu’s spot.

Championship favorites

3. New York Knicks

The Knicks only won 53 games in the regular season before finding magic in the playoffs on their way to one of the most dominant championship runs in recent league history. The bulk of this team is back minus Mitchell Robinson, who was a sneaky important piece off the bench. The key for the Knicks is going to be avoiding any decline by Jalen Brunson, and keeping Karl-Anthony Towns locked in to the best version of himself. If that happens, another trip to the NBA Finals could very well happen.

2. San Antonio Spurs

How will Victor Wembanyama respond to his crushing NBA Finals loss? Wemby would be wise to pace himself during the regular season, but it doesn’t seem like it’s in his nature to do it. The De’Aaron Fox question hangs over this franchise, because there’s no doubt Dylan Harper is ready to take over as their lead guard. Harper and Wembanyama will be showtime, and the supporting cast around them is improved. I like adding Tobias Harris at power forward in free agency, and I think Stephon Castle could benefit from transitioning from guard to wing. San Antonio will be very, very good around Wembanyama for the foreseeable future.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder may have gone back-to-back if not for untimely injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Williams essentially lost the entire season with soft tissue strains, and the Thunder desperately need him back playing at his top level given how big his cap hit is now. Oklahoma City did a nice job keeping their core in place even as they trimmed some salary by trading away Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. Will Lu Dort be on this roster opening night? Can Chet Holmgren shake off his horrific Western Conference Finals and regain his status as one of the league’s best bigs? The Thunder have an oustanding formula with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot creation and an elite defense. They remain the team to beat until further notice.

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6 Arizona Wildcats competing at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

arizona-wildcats-mens-basketball-nba-summer-league-schedule-burries-bryant-peat-awaka-dellorso-bradley-2026
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of the California Classic at Golden 1 Center on July 06, 2026 in Sacramento, 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. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA Summer League is underway in Las Vegas, where six former Arizona men’s basketball players are looking to make positive strides over the next 10 days.

Five members of the 2025-26 Arizona team are competing in Las Vegas, as well as San Antonio Spurs second-year forward Carter Bryant.

Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks, got a head start in summer league action, as he participated with the Bucks at the California Classic Summer League.

Koa Peat, the No. 30 pick to the Phoenix Suns, makes his professional debut on Friday when Phoenix takes on Portland. Burries and Peat have both signed four-year rookie contracts.

Jaden Bradley, who went No. 50 to the Toronto Raptors, also makes his debut on Friday as Toronto faces Boston. Bradley is on a one-year, two-way contract.

Tobe Awaka is on one-year, two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls. Awaka joined the Bulls as an undrafted free agent. Chicago plays Friday against Memphis.

And Anthony Dell’Orso is competing for the Sacramento Kings on a summer league contract. Dell’Orso did not play in the Kings’ first Vegas Summer League game on Thursday night.

Bryant, meanwhile, is getting in some extra reps with the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs. Bryant averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game as a rookie. In Bryant’s first Summer League action Thursday, he struggled from the field, shooting 4 of 13 including 1 of 7 from three-point range.

Here is the schedule of when Arizona players will be taking the court. All times PST. (credit to Arizona Athletics).

Friday, July 10 

1:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Miami

5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Memphis

6:00pm (ESPN) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Boston

8:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Portland

Saturday, July 11 

3:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. New York

6:30pm (PRIME) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Houston

Sunday, July 12 

12:00pm (ESPN2) Phoenix (Peat) vs. New Orleans

5:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Washington

6:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Milwaukee (Burries)

Monday, July 13 

1:30pm (ESPN2) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Indiana

6:00pm (ESPN) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Utah

7:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Phoenix (Peat)

Tuesday, July 14 

3:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Brooklyn

5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Washington

Wednesday, July 15 

3:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Detroit

4:30pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Charlotte

5:00pm (ESPN2) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Boston

6:30pm (PRIME) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Utah

Thursday, July 16 

3:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Los Angeles Lakers

6:00pm (ESPN2) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Miami

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SB Nation Reacts: Wizards fan give good marks on coaching staff changes

MEXICO CITY, MX - NOVEMBER 2: Kyshawn George #18 and Assistant Coach T.J. Sorrentine of the Washington Wizards look on before the game against the Miami Heat as part of 2024 NBA Mexico Games on November 2, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico at Arena Ciudad de Mexico. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Good morning Washington Wizards fans.

In this week’s survey, we asked you to grade the Wizards’ coaching staff changes for the 2026-27 season. They dealt with shuffling of assistant positions, NOT Brian Keefe. Anyway, about half of our respondents gave a B grade, which is solid. The As and Cs were nearly identical.

The promotion of Adam Caporn was not unexpected given that David Vanterpool has moved into the front office. The surprise for the Wizards is the return of Patrick Ewing, who coached for Washington in 2002-03 where he developed a reputation of being one of the top post development coaches in the NBA.

Does coaching news potentially change the perception of a sports team’s future? Not really. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, as of July 10, 2026, the Wizards have +25000 odds of winning the 2026-27 NBA championship. That’s better than eight teams. What does this roughly imply? It’s that Washington is no longer expected to be a doormat in the NBA. But they’re still not expected to make the playoffs either. Even with AJ Dybantsa making a great first impression last night in his Summer League Debut. Even with Ewing possibly developing Alex Sarr into a beast in the post.

Hopefully, the odds will change once Dybantsa is playing actual regular season games. Let us know your rationale for the grades in the comments below.

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SBN Reacts: The Suns are chasing progress, not highlights, in Las Vegas

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Summer League basketball begins tonight for the Phoenix Suns, and with it comes the annual exercise of managing expectations. We want answers, we want progress, and we want to believe that the young players the Phoenix Suns are sending to Las Vegas will return looking a little more comfortable, a little more confident, and a little closer to becoming the players this organization needs them to be.

Personally, I’m most interested in Rasheer Fleming. He will almost certainly see an increase in minutes this upcoming season, which makes his progression important to the overall health of this roster. I want to see him look more comfortable on the floor, be more decisive, and more aware of where he needs to be and what he needs to do when he gets there.

I’m tempering expectations because, ultimately, these games don’t count. That doesn’t mean they don’t matter. Development is a pillar of this organization, and progression is paramount. When you’re trying to build something sustainable, the growth of your young players becomes one of the most important variables in the equation. And the cheapest. You must have quality youth to be competitive in the Apron Era of the NBA.

I’m not surprised that the majority of the community believes Khaman Maluach is the player who needs to showcase the most improvement. 64% of the Bright Side community believes this is true. After all, he’s a lottery pick. Quite possibly the last lottery pick the Suns will make for nearly half a decade. With that comes the weight of expectations, whether people are comfortable admitting it or not.

That became a topic of conversation on the infamous Suns Twitter this week. Dave Burns of Arizona Sports 98.7 said that by this time next year, we need to know that Khaman Maluach can provide quality NBA minutes, or it might be time to panic.

“I need Khaman Maluach to play more than he did,” Burns said of Maluach. “I think it’s imperative that Khaman Maluach, by the end of the season, you can see it. You can start to see it happening with him. And if it hasn’t happened by the end of the season, brother, it is panic time.”

Of course, the comment section is ridiculous. I’ll get to that shortly.

Panic? I’m not sure I’d go that far. Concerned? Absolutely. If we’re sitting here one year from now and Maluach hasn’t progressed, hasn’t demonstrated that he can contribute, and hasn’t begun turning his physical tools into productive NBA basketball, there should be concern. And again, for those who wonder how a path to opportunity exists to provide a platform for development, I’ve covered that.

As I see the responses and reactions to someone simply stating that plateauing in year two is not a good thing, I feel it. I feel a rant coming on. And you know what? I haven’t had a good rant in a while, so why not? Let’s stand on the podium for a few paragraphs and let off some steam that is surely fueled by the festing rage only the Arizona heat can bring out of someone in July.

Apparently, saying out loud that a year in which Khaman Maluach does not show improvement is a cause for concern is controversial. Sections of Suns’ Twitter immediately went on the defensive. The local media was “being negative”. The expectations were “unfair”. “Why are we attacking a young player?”

I find the reaction strange. Maybe it’s a product of a broader cultural shift in which criticism is interpreted as cruelty and expectations are seen as unfair pressure. Everything is expected to be positive, comfortable, and affirming. Disagreement is mistaken for hostility. Accountability is viewed as negativity. Maybe it’s the product of gentle parenting. Everyone gets a sticker, nobody keeps score, and pointing out deficiencies makes you the bad guy.

I’m not interested in gatekeeping how anyone chooses to be a fan. Root however you want. But I reserve the right to find some of these reactions bizarre.

Maluach turns 20 in September. He hasn’t played basketball for very long and his development will require patience. All of that is true. And that is precisely why progression is so important. If he’s plateauing after two years inside an NBA development system, that’s a red flag. It doesn’t mean the Suns should abandon him. It doesn’t mean he’s a bust. It means you should be concerned about the trajectory. Apparently, even acknowledging that possibility is too aggressive for some people.

We’ve lived this before in Phoenix, haven’t we? Marquese Chriss. Dragan Bender. Josh Jackson. After two seasons, the warning signs were there. Development had stalled. Progression wasn’t occurring at the rate the organization needed. Concern crept in because that’s what happens when expectations collide with reality.

Yet somewhere along the way, it became taboo to say these things out loud. To admit that you’re worried about a player. To establish expectations and acknowledge that failing to meet them would be disappointing. Maybe I’m the old guy yelling from the lawn now, wondering how we reached the point where the media is considered harsh for observing that professional athletes have expectations attached to their performance.

Criticism isn’t inherently negative. It’s part of analysis, part of accountability, part of sports. And if you think Phoenix media is brutal, spend a week following a team back east. We’re playing with Nerf guns out here.

Social media has complicated the relationship between fans, media, and players. It provides direct access, or at least the illusion of it. Too many people crave that interaction. They want the follow. The reply. The acknowledgment. They want to be liked. They need to be liked. And criticism threatens that possibility.

If you say something negative about a player’s performance, perhaps he won’t interact with you. Maybe he won’t repost your work or acknowledge your existence. So criticism becomes something to avoid. Every performance needs an excuse and every concern needs a qualifier. Every uncomfortable observation is dismissed as negativity because telling the truth might jeopardize the possibility of that idyllic affection.

I have news for you. Being critical allows you to see the entire picture. It forces you to examine strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, progress and regression. That’s what analysis is supposed to be. Being balanced doesn’t make you a hater. It makes your praise carry more weight because people know you’re willing to acknowledge the flaws as readily as you celebrate the accomplishments. And in the long run, balance is what earns respect.

Thank you for attending my Ted Talk.

Summer League begins tomorrow, and hopefully we begin finding answers to some of these questions. Development isn’t linear and Maluach doesn’t need to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds to prove he’s progressing. He doesn’t need to be the guy who moves the FanDuel win total up three wins next season. Fleming doesn’t need to dominate every possession. Koby Brea doesn’t need to look like a finished NBA product.

What do I define as progression? I want to see confidence, court awareness, basketball IQ, and execution. I want to see young players process the game faster than they did a year ago, making quicker decisions, understanding where to be defensively, and recognizing opportunities offensively. The goal should be to turn mistakes from last season into lessons they no longer need to learn twice.

Whether those improvements translate into counting statistics is secondary. Progress isn’t always found in the box score. Sometimes you have to watch closely enough to see it. And that is what I’ll be watching for when the Phoenix Suns take the floor at NBA Summer League 2026.

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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 7/10/26: Brooklyn and Binghamton win

Jonah Tong of the Syracuse Mets delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on June 26, 2026.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (45-45)

NORFOLK 5, SYRACUSE 4 /10 (BOX)

Jonah Tong had another mediocre outing in Syracuse, as he continued to strike batters out an impressive rate while issuing too many walks and giving up too many runs. That outing turned an early two-run lead into a deficit, and the Syracuse lineup was able to get those runs back and get to extras but failed to score in the top of the tenth before Norfolk got the free runner run in the bottom of that inning.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (31-53)

BINGHAMTON 7, HARTFORD 3 (BOX)

A four-run sixth ining was the biggest one of the night for the Rumble Ponies, but things were looking pretty comfortable all along. R.J. Gordon, who had a solid 2025 season before struggling early this season, made a cromulent start.

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (33-49)

BROOKLYN 11, WILMINGTON 2 (BOX)

Mitch Voit had one of his better nights at the plate since the Mets drafted him, and a four-run first inning by the Cyclones set the tone for the game. Their six-run eighth inning made it crystal clear that they were winning this game.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (37-45)

JUPITER 15, ST. LUCIE 3 (BOX)

Yikes.

Rookie: FCL Mets (20-26)

FCL NATIONALS 8, FCL METS 0 (BOX)

Rookie: DSL Mets Orange (15-14)

DSL ARIZONA RED 14, DSL METS ORANGE 4 (BOX)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Mitch Voit

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Camden Lohman

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Rich Paul shares passionate PSA to rest of NBA if LeBron James joins Warriors

Rich Paul shares passionate PSA to rest of NBA if LeBron James joins Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There are endless hypotheticals surrounding LeBron James and the Warriors.

While the four-time NBA MVP has yet to decide where to end his Hall of Fame career, some people can’t help but play with the “what ifs” of James and Steph Curry joining forces in the NBA.

If that were to happen, what would that team look like?

The answer could go two very different directions, depending if the team can stay healthy or not — perhaps the biggest if of them all.

Sports television host Max Kellerman presented the same question and concern to James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, challenging the idea that age and availability could be an issue.

Paul played it straight.

“I don’t know about the speculation, but if we’re just talking strictly basketball, you don’t want to play them,” Paul said. “You definitely don’t want to play them in a playoff series healthy. You don’t want to get to a trade deadline and have little surface-level, around-the-edges type of moves made. You talk about just basketball brilliance of mind and experience and production — it’s pretty tough, Max.”

Kellerman also used one of Golden State’s most recent transactions this offseason, the two-year contract extension to Kristaps Porziņģis, who played just 32 games last season, including 15 with the Warriors once he was traded to Golden State in February.

Add that with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody‘s respective severe injury recoveries, which both players are not expected to return to at least midway through the 2026-27 season, and the aging core of Butler, 36, Draymond Green, 36, and Curry, 38 — Kellerman has his reservations about adding 41-year-old James to that squad.

Both Kellerman and Paul agreed that the league is a “young man’s game,” but Kellerman isn’t so convinced by the “ifs,” agreeing that yes, if they could somehow all stay healthy, the Warriors would be a competitive team in the Western Conference, but he believes the realistic chances of that happening are low.

“I don’t know the odds and I don’t know the answers,” Paul responded. “All I know is when you look at it from a basketball perspective, if you look at all these scenarios, plugging and playing someone of the talent level that he is, just get through the 82 [games] and start the first round of the playoffs healthy. If there’s a capability of identifying in November or December what’s needed and then having the capacity or the expertise to be able to execute and fill those voids, where to come April and you’re looking at it and you’ve got a strong nine, you’ve got to like your chances against everybody.”

Paul added that James is taking his time with his decision and enjoying his free time with his family and friends.

And as expected, the wait continues.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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This Blackhawks First-Rounder Is A Breakout Candidate For Next Season

The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of promising young players to keep an eye on next season. Oliver Moore is among them, as the 2023 first-round pick has the tools to blossom into a very good NHL player.

Moore showed promise as a rookie this past season for the Blackhawks. In 51 games, the 5-foot-11 forward posted five goals, 14 assists, and 19 points. While he did not necessarily have a big year offensively, he showed that he is already capable of being a solid forward at the NHL level. 

Yet, with Moore now having a year of NHL experience on his resume, it would not be surprising if he takes his game to a new level next season. 

When looking at the Blackhawks' current forward group, Moore should be put into a position to succeed. He will likely have a top-nine role, and this could help him take that next step offensively during the 2026-27 season.

If Moore can continue to play a strong all-around game but increase his offensive totals, he could emerge as a very important part of the Blackhawks' forward group next season. It will be interesting to see how the young forward performs in 2026-27, but it is clear that he has a lot of potential. 

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Tour de France 2026: Tim Merlier powers to stage seven victory after Bordeaux sprint – as it happened

Tim Merlier won the seventh stage of the Tour in a sprint finish while race favourite Tadej Pogacar kept the yellow jersey

There are six stages categorised as “flat” on the official route guide. Stage 21 in Paris may not quite count for the pure sprinters because of the three ascents of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre towards the end … long story short, the sprinters’ teams cannot afford to mess this up today. If a breakaway was allowed to succeed, the atmosphere would be frosty at dinner tonight for those teams.

Here we go then. The riders are out on the road and have another 3.5km or so until the flag drops. We should see a very decent scrap to form the breakaway.

Continue reading...
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Red Sox step right up to greet the Mets ahead of All-Star Break

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 17: Mr. Met and Mrs. Met celebrate after the New York Mets defeated the New York Yankees at Citi Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Red Sox have won five in a row and ten of their last twelve games going back to the start of their series against the New York Yankees. Boston is now 33-31 under interim manager Chad Tracy and 43-48 overall. The Sox are just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and as of Thursday evening have a 30.1% chance to make the playoffs per FanGraphs, above both the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. Willson Contreras is serving his five-game suspension, Ranger Suarez hit the IL, and a Patrick Sandoval emerged from the abyss to provide needed innings against the Chicago White Sox.

Sonny Gray, who may yet be an All Star with the opening created by Ranger, kicks things off against the Mets Friday night on Apple TV. This game will not be on NESN. It is on Apple TV. As a heads up, they will have another Apple TV game on July 24. Gray is coming off 6.0 innings against the Angels and 7.1 against the Yankees. He allowed just 1 run across those two outings. Nolan McLean is a 24-year-old righthander in his sophomore season with the Mets. He’s struck out 28% of batters this season and walked just 8.8%. At over one-strikeout-per-inning he’s going to be a challenge, although he’s had trouble. He’s gone 6.0 innings in three straight outings but gave up 6 runs to the Cubs, 0nto the Blue Jays, and 3 (2 earned) to the Braves.

Saturday the Red Sox starter is still listed as TBD. Ranger Suarez would be in line to make this start but after leaving his last start early and hitting the IL the Sox must head in a different direction. In fact, the Sox are TBD for each of the final two games of the unofficial “first half.” Brayan Bello might be tapped for one of these games, probably Saturday. The Sox likely don’t want to bring Bello up only to option him back down, given the goal of fixing his first inning issues. Since his demotion he’s put up a 4.34 ERA in 18.2 innings across four starts. His last start was July 1 so he’s rested. No one is lined up for Sunday. Payton Tolle, having pitched the opener in Chicago, would be on four days rest. He’s already over half way to his innings high and benefits from extra rest already. Patrick Sandoval was already recalled. Ryan Watson can, potentially, cover some bulk. Though ideally the Sox are either well ahead or behind, not relying on him to hold a close game. At this point, Sonny Gray is untradable simply because teams need to field a full team every game.

Freddy Peralta is having a dreadful season with the Mets. Traded from the Brewers this winter, he’s putting up his highest ERA in a full season. Strikeouts are down, hits allowed are up…he’s not getting Cy Young votes this year. The Mets similarly are at a pitching crunch for Sunday. We might see dueling bullpen games.

Juan Soto is doing everything he can with 21 homers this season.

Bo Bichette started slow and even after a few good weeks is slashing just .258/.302/.380, which is not what the Mets expected after signing him to a rich three-year deal.

Francisco Lindor may not get along with Soto and is hitting .211/.296/.352, an age-32 crash in his numbers.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Friday, July 10: Sonny Gray (2.61 ERA / 3.61 FIP) vs. Nolan McLean (3.73 ERA /2.96 FIP)

Saturday, July 11: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Freddy Peralta (4.68 ERA / 4.30 FIP)

Sunday, July 12: TBD (— ERA / 2.72 FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Friday, July 10: 7:15 PM ET on Apple TV

Saturday, July 11: 4:10 PM ET on NESN

Sunday, July 12: 1:40 PM ET on NESN

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Detroit Tigers open up final series before All-Star break vs Philadelphia Phillies on Friday

The Detroit Tigers appear to be charging headfirst into the All-Star break after securing a 4-1 win over the Athletics on Thursday night to secure the sweep and make it six victories in seven tries so far in July. Jake Rogers hit another homer and Eduardo Valencia cranked one as well in his first MLB plate appearance, while Framber Valdez gave his team seven strong frames of one-run ball to lead the Olde English D in its triumph.

Opening up the final series before the Midsummer Classic against the Philadelphia Phillies is right-hander Jack Flaherty, who has turned a corner since the start of June and has become an asset for the Tigers’ rotation. The 30-year-old has posted a tidy 2.50 ERA and an impressive 1.73 FIP over his last five starts stretching across 18 frames; the only problem is that he still cannot seem to crack that six-inning barrier.

Opposite him will be fellow righty Aaron Nola, who is in the midst of his second-straight season of struggles — though he has seen some modest improvements over his 2025 campaign. The 33-year-old has posted a 6.11 ERA and 5.30 FIP over seven games stretching across 35 1/3 innings since the start of June.

However, Nola tossed a quality start last time out against the Kansas City Royals, surrendering three runs on seven hits on zero walks while striking out seven over seven frames but ultimately was saddled with the loss in a 5-2 final at Kaufman Stadium. It was the first time in five games that he did not give up the long ball, having served up a pair in each of the four games prior.

Here is a look at how Flaherty and Nola match up on paper heading into the weekend series.

Detroit Tigers (43-50) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (52-42)

Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:The Good Phight
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 94: RHP Jack Flaherty (2-8, 4.60 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (3-6, 5.87 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Flaherty1776.126.510.730.83.761.5
Nola1892.023.27.239.74.740.8

FLAHERTY

NOLA

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Why 2026 MLB draft will be special for Dodgers coach Dino Ebel's family

Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel’s philosophy when it came to his baseball-obsessed sons was straightforward: the major-league players they grew up around were their coaches.

One of now 17-year-old Trey’s first baseball memories took place at Tempe Diablo Stadium with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, when Dino was on the Angels’ coaching staff.

Pointing to targets hung up in the batting cages, the pair of future Hall of Famers set up a competition between Trey and his older brother Brady: whoever hit the most bullseyes would get a signed bat.

“Me and Brady were going at it,” Trey said with a smile. “I don’t even know who won.”

The prize wasn’t the most important part. The love for the game, competitive drive, and even bat control stuck with him.

“He kind of took the ‘dad’ out of it and just watched us have fun,” Trey said. “I’m extremely grateful for that because a lot of dads are hard on their kids.

“As we got older, if me and Brady needed some help, or he saw something, he’s obviously going to chime in, given what he does. But for the most part, he’s always let the players coach us, and it’s been great. Paid off for sure.”

Read more:Dodgers scheduled to visit White House in late July to celebrate 2025 World Series win

It paid off so well that Dino and his wife Shannon are hosting their second draft party in as many years Saturday.

They’re expecting about 100 friends and family members to descend on their Rancho Cucamonga home, just as they did last year to watch the Brewers select Brady with the No. 32 overall pick.

Now his younger brother’s up.

“It’s Trey’s day,” Dino said, reminiscing on his youngest son’s Little League days, his home run derby victory in Williamsport, Pa., his growth through travel ball and high school. “It’s not about anybody else.”

Said Trey: “I’m excited, and I’m ready, and I feel prepared.”

Trey, a Texas A&M commit, is expected to be selected in an early round. Some scouts have predicted he could go higher than his brother. But plenty of factors dictate draft order, with the bonus pool system also affecting team strategy.

It’s especially difficult to gauge where draft prospects coming out of high school may be picked. Teams have less information on them, and have to project further into the future on evaluations, compared to their college counterparts.

Dodgers third base coach/outfield coach Dino Ebel losses a ball in the dugout.
Dodgers third base coach/outfield coach Dino Ebel losses a ball in the dugout before a game against the San Diego Padres on July 3. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“I’ve been talking to so many people in baseball leading up to this draft,” said agent Joel Wolfe of THE TEAM, who is representing Trey. “And many front office people have mentioned to me the same phrase, which was, ‘Our guys were light on Brady last year,’ meaning they missed, he should have been drafted higher. And I think that could really help Trey this year.”

Brady’s draft process gave Trey and Dino a preview for this year, setting expectations for meetings, tryouts, and the day itself.

It was a new vantage point for Dino, who’s worn many hats in baseball. He played six seasons in the minors before launching a coaching career that’s taken him through the gamut of pro baseball levels, and even out of the country.

“It was very eye-opening,” Dino said. “I’ve always been in player development, coaching, on the field, and now I got a chance to see how the draft works.”

The family even held an identical gathering for Brady’s draft day. After he got the call saying the Brewers were going to select him, with his brother and father standing by, the trio put on poker faces for Shannon and their guests to preserve the surprise.

“Both of those boys are unique to other players in the draft because they grew up around the game,” Wolfe said, drawing comparisons to the Holliday and Lombard brothers. “Having been in the bubble with the Dodgers during the World Series, and being around all of the players and all of the coaches, and being around that life ... there’s just something about them — their comfort level, and also all of the both tangible and intangible things that they learn, especially defensively.”

Read more:Mookie Betts' eighth-inning single gives Dodgers series win over the Rockies

Many of the lessons Trey gleaned from the stars at dad’s work — first with the Angels and then, the last eight years, the Dodgers — came from observing. And he integrated those details into his infield mechanics, batting cage routine and appreciation for preparation.

When Dino did chime in with advice, it was often about controlling the strike zone, being a complete hitter rather than just a slugger, and valuing fundamentals.

“Their reputation, their character, who they are off the field, who they are on the field, that’s the part I really like the most,” Ebel said of his sons. “How they respect people in the game, on and off the field. They’re always about making somebody feel comfortable, make them feel like somebody important.”

Dino watched his son’s draft stock steadily rise, as Trey got a full season of shortstop under his belt at Corona High School, and added strength, with an emphasis on explosiveness, working out with MW Athletix’s Keith Coury (recommended to Dino by Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, a product of Santiago High School in Corona.)

“He went from a good player seven, eight, nine months ago, a year ago,” Dino said, “to really an exceptional, top prospect for me.”

Now, all the Ebel family can do is wait and answer the phone Saturday.

Read more:Dodgers coach Dino Ebel's eldest son learned lessons from the pros

Graduating seniors are often asked to envision their futures. What’s next? Where do you see yourself in five years?

For Trey, the vision is clear.

“Playing in the big leagues,” Trey said. “No matter what team ... I see myself being a great teammate, being a great person, and the ultimate goal is to win a World Series.”

It would be even sweeter to play alongside his brother. But playing against him would be fun, too. And Trey pictures his dad still in the third base coach’s box for the Dodgers.

Dino chuckled at that.

“I’d like to watch them, but now they’re telling me that they would want me on the field, playing against me,” he said. “And I’m like, you know, anytime you’re with your dad, we’re out to beat you.”

Judging by Brady and Trey’s competitive streak from a young age the feeling would be mutual.

“We’ll see when that time comes where I’m at,” Dino said. “I would love to be at third base and see the Ebel brothers in the big leagues. That would be pretty cool.”

Read more:Shohei Ohtani hits milestone homer, Justin Wrobleski makes All-Star case in Dodgers' loss

So far, his son’s baseball careers have played out as he envisioned nearly a decade ago, when they fell in love with the game.

“It’s really a dream,” he said.

Dino saved all the signed bats and batting gloves that Brady and Trey won off Pujols and Trout, storing them in a room full of baseball memorabilia. He’ll pass them on when his sons start collections in their own homes.

Watching his boys hit targets in the Tempe Diablo batting cages is one of Dino’s favorite baseball memories.

“I just sat back and enjoyed it as a dad,” Dino said.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Bernie’s Dugout Open Thread: 7/10-7/16

Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers have powered their way through the longest stretch of the season, as they’re just three games away from completing 18 games in 17 days. Not only that, but they’ve also played great baseball during the stretch, building their NL Central lead as we near the All-Star break. Speaking of the All-Star break, the Brewers have just one All-Star despite holding the second-best record in baseball — Jacob Misiorowski has been replaced on the roster as he’s slated to start on Sunday, so it’s just catcher William Contreras headed to Philadelphia as of now. The Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday night, with the All-Star Game to follow on Tuesday.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

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Chicago Cubs history unpacked — July 10

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Andre Dawson, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1936 – At Forbes Field, Chuck Klein hits four home runs in one game, including the tie-breaker in the 10th, helping the Phillies defeat the Pirates, 9-6. The Indianapolis, Indiana native barely misses hitting an additional homer in the 2nd when right fielder Paul Waner catches his drive against the wall. At 36, Klein is the oldest player ever to accomplish the feat, and the first National Leaguer in the 20th century to do so, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1913 – Led by Ward Miller‘s two-run triple, the Cubs stop the Giants, 3-2. The victory ends the New Yorkers’ win streak at 14 games and stops Christy Mathewson‘s win streak at nine.
  • 1920 – After banging out 11 straight hits, Tris Speaker is stopped by Tom Zachary of Washington. It’s the American League record until Pinky Higgins of the Red Sox will rack up 12 in a row in 1938. Speaker will hit .388 for the season.
  • 1932 – Indians flychaser Johnny Burnett collects a record nine hits in 11 at-bats in an 18-inning game in which the A’s outscore the Tribe, 18-17. Jimmie Foxx hits three home runs, and has 16 total bases and eight RBI for the A’s.
  • 1948 – After yielding a two-run homer to the A’s Hank Majeski to tie the score, reliever Satchel Paige gets his first major league win as Larry Doby hits a two-run homer and the Indians tack on another run in the 9th to beat Philadelphia, 8-5.
  • 1969 – The Cubs score five runs in the fifth inning to beat the Mets, 6-2, behind Bill Hands. The win halts the Mets’ seven-game win streak and leaves the New Yorkers in second place by four games.

Cubs Birthdays:Sergio Alcántara, John Rudolph, Bobby Lowe, Andre Dawson* HOF.

Today in history:

  • 1919 – US President Woodrow Wilson personally delivers Treaty of Versailles to Senate.
  • 1937 – Belgian-Romani-French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt‘s “Quintette du Hot Club” debuts at La Grosse Pomme nightclub in Montmartre, Paris.
  • 1938 – Howard Hughes flies around the world in 91 hours.
  • 1943 – Singer Judy Garland headlines her first solo concert, with an orchestra led by conductor Andre Kostelanetz at the Robin Hood Dell in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park; sell-out crowd of 15,000 augmented by additional 5,000 outside the open-air venue
  • 1964 – The Beatles release “A Hard Day’s Night,” their third studio album.
  • 1965 – Rolling Stones score their first US number 1 single “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.
  • 1967 – Bobbie Gentry records “Ode to Billie Joe,” which goes on to win four Grammy awards.
  • 1985 – Coca-Cola Co. announces it will resume selling old-formula Coke.
  • 2023 – Fourteenth-century document by a civil servant asking for time off identified as only known handwriting by Geoffrey Chaucer, the “Father of English Literature”.

*pictured.