Category: Sports News

Oral Hildebrand’s baseball story feels almost too perfect for its era. Disney could easily turn it into a coming-of-age summer classic.

Born in Indianapolis in 1907, his journey to the Yankees did not begin under bright lights. It started in the kind of Midwestern setting that shaped so many ballplayers of his generation, where imagination and a patch of open, mostly flat land could become a ballpark by afternoon. By the time Hildebrand hung up his cleats, that grounded beginning had turned into a 10-year major league career, capped by joining the Yankees for the final two seasons of his professional life and winning a World Series.

Oral Clyde Hildebrand
Born: April 7, 1907 (Indianapolis, IN)
Died: September 8, 1977 (Southport, IN)
Yankees Tenure: 1939-40

The roots of that journey began on the family farm outside Indianapolis.

Long before Butler, before Cleveland, and before the Bronx, Hildebrand’s early mornings were spent milking cows, hauling water, and tossing hay bales, the kind of repetitive, strength-building work that quietly shaped both his body and his discipline. Somewhere between the barn chores and the open fields, he began to realize his future was not meant to stay rooted in the barnyard.

The same strong arm that could sling feed and stack hay kept finding a more natural purpose on the diamond. That arm turned him into a star pitcher at Southport High School, but the road forward was hardly smooth. After graduating, Hildebrand remained on the farm for two years because he simply did not have the money to attend college.

Then came the break that changed everything.

A summer job in a machine shop, paired with extra money earned pitching weekend games for the Indianapolis Power and Light Company team, finally gave him the chance to move forward. That team happened to be owned by Norman Perry, who also owned the Indianapolis Indians, a connection that would quietly shape the next chapter of Hildebrand’s life.

With money finally in hand, the Indiana kid stayed close to home and enrolled at Butler University. Hildebrand was far more than just a pitcher there. He was also the center on Butler’s 1928-29 national championship basketball team, a reminder of how naturally athletic he was. But his Butler story took a turn when it was discovered that, under the alias “Roy Hilden,” he had been pitching for a semipro team in Brazil, Indiana, earning $40 a game.

That side hustle cost him his eligibility. Ruled ineligible by Butler’s Faculty Committee on Athletics, Hildebrand took the most logical next step and signed with Perry’s Indianapolis professional team. It proved to be the turning point that officially pushed him toward the majors.

In 1931, the Cleveland Indians acquired Hildebrand, and he soon made his major league debut. His Cleveland years formed the backbone of his career. In 1933, he put together one of the finest seasons by an American League starter that year. Hildebrand won 16 games, led the league with six shutouts, earned a selection to the first-ever All-Star Game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, and even tossed a one-hitter in a game that lasted only 82 minutes.

From 1933 through 1936, he became exactly what every good pitching staff needs: durable, dependable, and capable of eating up innings.

That reliability made him a valuable trade piece.

On January 17, 1937, Cleveland sent Hildebrand, Bill Knickerbocker, and Joe Vosmik to the St. Louis Browns. His stop in St. Louis never quite matched the peak of his Cleveland years, but he remained a veteran arm who continued to log meaningful innings, even as both the team and his numbers trended in the wrong direction.

Then came the move that changed how his career would be remembered. On October 26, 1938, the Browns traded Hildebrand and Buster Mills to the Yankees. What could have easily been just another late-career transaction instead became the defining turn of his journey. The veteran pitcher who had once dreamed of wearing pinstripes finally got his chance.

By the time Hildebrand arrived in the Bronx in 1939, the Yankees were already baseball’s standard. For a veteran entering the final chapters of his career, it represented the perfect chance to put the cherry on top. And he absolutely made the most of it. Hildebrand went 10-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 1939, giving the Yankees meaningful innings on a 106-win championship team. Perhaps the most historic game he started came on April 30, 1939, a cloudy afternoon that unknowingly would become the final game of Lou Gehrig’s legendary streak.

Then came October.

In the 1939 World Series against Cincinnati, Hildebrand took the ball in Game 4 and delivered four shutout innings, helping close out the sweep and secure the championship. For a player who had openly said he wanted to join the Yankees because of their winning tradition, there could not have been a better first season in the Bronx.

His own words say it best:

“I always wanted to be with the Yankees. When I was with the Indians, and later with the Browns, Joe McCarthy was just another manager of a rival team, in my estimation. Still, I always admired the way he ran his team, and I hoped someday I would be playing for him.”

A few days later, Hildebrand was involved in a car accident that left him with injuries to his hands and arms. He recovered enough to return in 1940, pitching in 13 relief appearances and going 1-1 in what became the final season of his major league career.

That 1939 championship became the perfect cherry on top of a decade-long journey that stretched from Indianapolis farm life to Cleveland success, through St. Louis, and finally to baseball immortality’s most famous stage. His career totals, 83 wins across 10 seasons, reflect a pitcher who kept finding ways to contribute at every stop.

But like so many of your favorite birthday pieces, it is the path that makes Oral Hildebrand memorable.

From the barnyard to the ballpark in the Bronx, his story remains one of the cleaner, more satisfying journeys in Yankees history.

Happy birthday, Oral Hildebrand.
Or maybe, just for legends’ sake, Roy Hilden.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series he

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The New York Mets open a homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon, and both teams are looking to stay hot in chilly NYC.

My Diamondbacks vs. Mets predictions and MLB picks for April 7 are calling for the Mets to keep it going with a home cover in a low-scoring affair.

Who will win Diamondbacks vs Mets today: Mets -1.5 (+145)

The New York Mets will once again not have Juan Soto, who strained his calf on Friday and is on the injured list. However, the Mets scored at least five runs in each of the three games they took at San Francisco over the weekend without Soto. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks also enter on a streak, going 5-2 straight-up in the last seven and covering the run line in seven of the last nine. 

I believe pitching will make the difference today.

New York has allowed the fourth-fewest runs in MLB and start Freddy Peralta against Arizona, which is averaging just 3.5 runs a game. 

Zac Gallen has been up-and-down in two starts this year, and the D-backs bullpen is 28th in ERA (6.50).

COVERS INTEL: After striking out 9.4 batters per nine innings over his career, Gallen struck out just 5.1 per nine in spring training, and is at 3.6 per nine in two regular season starts in 2026.

Diamondbacks vs Mets Over/Under pick: Under 7 (-105)

Eventually, replacing a six-time Silver Slugger like Soto with Jared Young, Carson Benge, or Brett Baty will catch up with the Mets. This offense may come back to earth, especially with Francisco Lindor (two extra base hits in 48 AB) slumping. 

Arizona has seen everyone except Corbin Carroll mired in early-season slumps.

The Mets start last season's NL wins leader in Peralta, while the D-Backs start former All-Star Zac Gallen. Even with the earlier start, the air will be crisp and cold, so it's not the ideal hitting environment. 

Diamondbacks vs Mets odds

• Moneyline: Arizona +130 | New York -155
• Run line: Arizona +1.5 | New York -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7

Diamondbacks vs Mets trend

The Mets have covered the F5 run line in 44 of their last 78 games at home (+7.00 Units / 7% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Mets.

How to watch Diamondbacks vs Mets and game info

Diamondbacks vs Mets latest injuries

Diamondbacks vs Mets weather

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As the Pittsburgh Pirates get into the swing of the MLB season, fans can catch all of Paul Skenes' strikeouts, Ryan O'Hearn's home runs and the double plays without ever leaving the couch.

With two games already out of the way this week and four ahead, there are several ways to tune in to Pittsburgh's Major League Baseball games from afar. Whether you're a diehard fan or a casual viewer, here are all your options for catching a Pirates game this week.

Where can I watch Pittsburgh Pirates games?

There are several ways to catch the upcoming Pittsburgh Pirates games this week.

• TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
• Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
• Radio: 93.7 The Fan

It was an inning Joe Espada, Ryan Weiss, and (most surprisingly) Jeremy Pena would like to forget.

All things considered, things were going about as well as could possibly be hoped for the Houston Astros through the first four innings of Monday’s game.

They built a 3-0 lead through the first four innings thanks to back to back doubles by Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, and then an RBI single by Christian Walker to account for a pair of first inning runs.

Cam Smith hit an absolute moonshot for a solo HR in the fourth, measuring a whopping 462 feet. It was the 9th longest home run in Astros history.

Spot starter Cody Bolton had put up four straight zeros in an emergency fill-in role, taking the place of the injured Hunter Brown.

Unfortunately, there was a fifth inning. It was one that the Astros would like to forget, especially the manager, the shortstop, and the pitcher who came on in relief who wants to start.

Bolton, who had allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk through 4 innings while striking out 5, had given the Astros more than they could have expected. Joe Espada chose to roll the dice and send him back out for the 5th instead of going to Ryan Weiss for a clean start of an inning. It would be a mistake.

A tiring Bolton surrendered a leadoff single, and then a questionable walk (the first pitch was a strike but called a ball by home plate umpire Nestor Ceja. The Astros did not challenge.) After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to 2nd and 3rd, Espada then summoned Weiss to come into a situation he isn’t used to – men on base mid-inning.

Weiss has primarily worked a s a starter, and as a reliever come in to clean innings. This was Espada’s second miscalculation of the inning. It would only get worse from here.

Weiss would walk Kyle Karros to load the bases. A 2-run single by Edouard Julien would draw the Rockies with a run at 3-2.

Weiss would then seem to settle in, getting Mickey Moniak to pop up with Correa making a terrific catch against the netting for out number two. He would then get Hunter Goodman to ground to short for what should have been the third out.

Should have been.

Unfortunately for Weiss and the Astros, Pena seemed to misread the ball off the bat. His initial step was the wrong direction. What should have been a routine ground out became an RBI single and now the game was tied. The Rockies still has runners on the corners with 2 out.

The next batter was Troy Johnston. Weiss induced a soft grounder up the middle that Pena waited for behind the bag instead of charging. The ball hit the second base bag and caromed over Pena’s head. It would wind up scored a double and an RBI, and the Rockies would take a 4-3 lead.

T.J Rumfield would clear the bases with a 2-run triple to left center field that Jake Meyers (who was shaded to right center) couldn’t run down, and then over ran the ball. Joey Loperfido, backing up the play from left, had to field the ball and throw it in. It was now 6-3 Rockies.

Willi Castro would follow with an RBI single and the nightmare inning continued, it was now 7-3 Colorado.

Brenton Doyle would then ground to short to seemingly end the inning, but Pena dropped the ball for an error, and everyone was safe.

It was the third time Weiss should have been out of the inning.

Jake McCarthy would walk to load the bases before a single by Karros would drive in the Rockies 8th run of the inning. Julien would fly to left to finally end the nightmare, but not before the Rockies turned a 3-0 deficit into an 8-3 lead.

Here’s all the ugliness in one video.

The Astros would try to claw their way back into the game. In the top of the 6th, they had bases loaded and only one out. A sacrifice fly by Loperfido would make it an 8-4 game, but that’s all the Astros would get.

In the bottom of the inning, Johnston would take an inside sweeper off the plate from Weiss 407 feet to right for a solo homer, and a 9-4 Colorado lead.

In the top of the 7th, a one-out double by Pena and a two-out single by Altuve would generate a run, making it a 9-5 game.

In the 8th, Walker would lead off with a base hit, and Smith would follow with a double, giving the Astros two runners in scoring position with no out. An RBI groundout by Loperfido would make the score 9-6 and push Smith to 3rd. Yainer Diaz would follow with a single to drive in Cam to make it 9-7.

A Meyers double would give the Astros 2 runners in scoring position again, this time with one out, but they would fail to cash in. Pena would fly out to right. Yordan Alvarez was intentionally walked, and then Altuve would ground out to end the inning.

Juan Mejia would get the Astros 1-2-3 in the 9th to earn his first Save of the season and second save of his career.

Houston fell to 6-5 with the loss.

The Astros look to get back in the win column Tuesday with Mike Burrows on the mound, opposed by the Rockies’ Kyle Freeland.

You know the story of the 2025 Cincinnati Reds. They found a way to keep their record just above the .500 mark, slipped into the playoffs as the final Wild Card in the National League, and were promptly bounced in two games by the future World Series champs.

They got their on the backs of their pitching – namely, their starting rotation, which was stellar all year long. Their offense, though, was simply lackluster at best. A guy who played on a bum thigh and slugged .373 with 4 homers over his final 83 games (360 PA) still managed to lead the team in homers.

Looking back at the statcast data for that club, you’ll find that the numbers backed up what we all watched. It never looked like the Reds hit the ball hard, and they certainly didn’t hit the ball over the fence much. Per statcast, only two teams hit the ball softer in terms of average exit velocity, the Reds mark of 88.6 mph worsted only by Cleveland and Houston. Their 99.2 EV50 was also second to last, their number of balls hit over 95 mph third worst.

We all hoped 2026 would be different. Cincinnati, too, certainly hoped so, and went out and added Eugenio Suarez to help bring some much needed thump. They also knew Elly De La Cruz would have a more healthy thigh to begin this year, while the likes of Tyler Stephenson and Matt McLain would be further removed from debilitating oblique problems. Plus, there’d be Sal Stewart in the lineup from the get-go, and we all know Sal smokes the ball as often as anyone.

So far, the evolution of Cincinnati’s offense into a more powerful one looks to be working.

In the extremely small sample size that is the season’s first 10 games, the Reds rank 4th in average exit velocity so far at 90.7 mph. That’s a jump of over 2 mph off last year’s dismal mark, and their 100.2 mph EV50 ranks 5th in the game. Individually, each of Stephenson (95.2 mph avg, 10th overall), De La Cruz (95.0 mph, 12th), and Stewart (93.8 mph, 28th) rank in the Top 30 in the game, and only the Kansas City Royals can make a claim of having three of their hitters all ranked that high.

The runs have yet to come, but the process seems to be impactful already.

The Cincinnati Reds are once again hitting the crud out of the ball.

This will be your weekly look at the hottest prospects in the system, highlighting the top performers at the plate and on the mound. Here’s the first hotlist.

Who’s Hot At The Plate?

Kevin Alvarez – While it’s only been two games for one of the Astros top prospects, Alvarez has looked the part. He went 4-for-9 with a double, 2 runs batted in and 2 stolen bases. Great start for him.

Alejandro Nunez – Nunez is starting off the year back in Asheville after a solid 2025, and he’s off to a nice start this year. In two games, he is 3-for-8 with a double, home runs and 5 runs batted in.

Max Holy – Holy doesn’t provide a ton of power, but he gets on bases and steals bases, and he’s done that so far this year. In just two games, the 23-year-old has five walks and three stolen bases.

Shay Whitcomb – All Whitcomb does is hit in the minors, and this year is no different. He’s played in six Triple-A games and is hitting .308 with a doubles, 2 home runs, 7 runs batted in and 3 stolen bases.

Who’s Hot On The Mound?

Spencer Arrighetti – Arrighetti has made two starts for Sugar Land and to this point he hasn’t gone deep, but he’s been dominant. He’s tossed 8.1 scoreless innings allowing 1 hit while striking out 13.

Miguel Ullola – Ullola has also made two starts and been dominant so far. He’s totaled 9.2 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 15 batters. A good start for him.

Cole Hertzler – Hertzler has battled injuries in his pro career but now he’s healthy and performing well. In his one start this week, Hertzler struck out 5 over 4.2 scoreless innings for Asheville.

Gabel Pentecost – Pentecost, a 6th round pick from last year, made his pro debut this week. The right-hander struck out 7 batters over 4 scoreless innings while allowing just 2 hits.

Javier Perez – Perez was a choice of mine to breakout and he performed well in week one. In his first outing, the right-hander went 4 scoreless innings allowing just 1 hit while striking out 8.

Brett Gillis – Gillis has also battled some injuries but appears to be healthy now and had a nice Double-A debut. The right-hander struck out 5 over 4 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits in his outing for the Hooks.

Jesus Carrera – Carrera has one thing the rest don’t have to this point, a no-hit streak. In his one outing this week, the 21-year-old tossed 4 no-hit innings while racking up 4 strikeouts.

Hayden Senger

Week: 5 G, 17 AB, .412/.474/1.000, 7 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 6 K, 0/0 SB, .500 BABIP (Triple-A)

Season: 5 G, 17 AB, .412/.474/1.000, 7 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 6 K, 0/0 SB, .500 BABIP (Triple-A)

If these trends continue, Hayden Senger is on his way to being the greatest hitting catcher of all time. Odds are, these trends are not going to continue, but that sure would be fun, wouldn’t it? Hayden Senger isn’t exactly a guy who is known for his bat; in 46 games in Syracuse last season, he hit .218/.268/.339 with 5 home runs and in 2024, he hit .252/.323/.401 in 46 games with 3 home runs. At this rate, if Senger plays 46 games this year, he is on pace for roughly 27 long balls, and if he plays an entire season, he is on pace for roughly 84.

The 29-year-old was drafted back in 2018 out of Miami University of Ohio and in the first few years of his professional tenure with the Mets, was getting roughly a full-time catcher’s load, averaging 85 games in 2019, 2022, and 2023 and playing 61 in the COVID-delayed 2021 season. When he made it to the upper levels of the minor league ladder, it became apparent that his bat was a bit too anemic for the levels and he lost out on a lot of playing time, primarily relegated to back-up catching duties. Last season, he got a quick cup-of-coffee when Francisco Alvarez began the season hurt, but Luis Torrens eventually emerged as the better of the pair due to his better bat.

Barring the unlikely chance that Senger is a .412/.474/1.000 hitter from now until September, it is likely that the backstop will remain in the role that he’s settled into over the last few years. Better performance in Syracuse may buy him some more playing time, and depending on how well he does, could even theoretically get him some Major League playing time if certain factors line up, but we know who the “minor league veteran” is at this point, and his strength lies in his defense, ability to handle a pitching staff, and his baseball intangibles, not his bat. A random outlier season is obviously possible, but odds are, Senger will regress to the type of organizational guy you want in your system for everything else he brings to the table except his bat.

Cam Tilly

Week: 1 G (1 GS), 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (Single-A)

2025 Season: 1 G (1 GS), 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER (0.00 ERA), 1 BB, 6 K, .000 BABIP (Double-A)

Not bad for your first professional game. Toeing the rubber for the St. Lucie Mets against the Palm Beach Cardinals in his first ever start as a member of the New York Mets organization, the 22-year-old right-hander threw five no-hit innings, walking one and striking out six. Tilly was drafted last season out of Auburn, where he threw two uninspiring seasons primarily in relief. The Mets selected him in the seventh round and he signed for $397,500, roughly $150,000 over the MLB-assigned slot value of $254,000 for the 223rd overall pick.

Based on reports and evaluations at the time, the 6’2”, 205-pound right-hander possessed a four-pitch repertoire featuring a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter. His fastball sat in the mid-90s fastball, topping out at 97 MPH, and featured high spin rates and above-average vertical induced break. His slider sat in the low-80s and featured spin rates in excess of 3,000 RPM, giving it late gyroscopic slice. His curveball sat in the upper-70s and also featured high spin rates, but lacked the bite that his slider possesses. His splitter sat in the low-to-mid-80s and featured late tumble. In a vacuum, all of his pitches looked good, but the right-hander had trouble commanding them, partially due to the break on them and partially because of the crossfire in his three-quarter delivery.

Looking at statcast data from his start for better clarity about Tilly as a pitcher, he utilized a four-seam fastball (19 pitches, 39%), changeup (10 pitches, 20%), cutter (8 pitches, 16%), slider (7 pitches, 14%), and curveball (5 pitches, 10%). His fastball was thrown for a 78% Strike Rate, his changeup was thrown for a 70% Strike Rate, his cutter was thrown for a 63% Strike Rate, his slider was thrown for a 57% Strike Rate and his curveball was thrown for a 20% Strike Rate. His fastball drew the most swings and misses, with a 60% Whiff Rate, while his curveball did not cause any swings and misses.

His fastball averaged 92.2 MPH, sitting between 89.9 MPH and 93.7 MPH. It averaged 2,420 RPM, ranging between 2,300 RPM and 2,540 RPM, giving the pitch an elite 19 inches of induced vertical break and 10 inches of horizontal movement. His cutter averaged 85.6 MPH, sitting between 84.5 MPH and 86.3 MPH. It averaged 2,520 RPM, ranging between 2,450 RPM and 2,600 RPM, giving the pitch 4 inches of horizontal jerk.

His changeup averaged 84.8 MPH, sitting between 83.3 MPH and 86.1 MPH. It averaged 910 RPM, ranging between 750 RPM and 1,090 RPM, giving the pitch 34 inches of vertical drop and 12 inches of horizontal hop.

His slider averaged 82.7 MPH, sitting between 80.8 MPH and 85 MPH. It averaged 2,710 RPM, ranging between 2,540 RPM and 2,880 RPM, giving the pitch 36 inches of vertical drop and 10 inches of horizontal slice. His curveball averaged 80.4 MPH, sitting between 79.8 MPH and 80.9 MPH. It averaged 2,810 RPM, ranging between 2,740 RPM and 2,895 RPM, giving the pitch 43 inches of vertical drop and 14 inches of horizontal break.

As is the case with any pitcher, these numbers and trends may change throughout the year, as Tilly is still not only a developing player, but it is literally the beginning of his baseball journey.

Players of the Week 2025

Week One/Two (March 27-April 5): Hayden Senger/Cam Tilly

Here’s the latest on Cade Horton, and it isn’t good (Bluesky link):

Now, here’s the rest of the news about Horton from earlier today.

This, clearly, is not good news about Cubs right-hander Cade Horton:

While we don’t hav any definitive information yet, a “not clean and not good” MRI is certainly not positive news. We’ll just have to wait until we get more news after Horton visits Dr. Meister.

Horton has already had one Tommy John surgery. Having a second one isn’t great, but pitchers can and do recover from those and are still productive. If it happens, it would mean Horton would miss the rest of 2026.

Justin Steele went down the same road. He’d had a previous TJS, had another one last year and will be returning soon. The Cubs were able to win 92 games without Steele. Losing Horton would be a big blow, but the Cubs do have some starting pitcher depth. That depth is about to be tested.

Let’s hope for good news instead of bad. As always, we await developments.