Worldwide Sports News
The MLS executive has no timetable for a return
Atlanta United president and chief executive officer Garth Lagerwey is undergoing cancer treatment and taking an indefinite leave of absence.
United officials announced the news Thursday and noted that “the prognosis of a complete recovery is encouraging.” There is no timetable for Lagerwey’s return.
Continue reading...BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to AL East rival Tampa Bay on Thursday in exchange for the 37th overall pick in the 2025 MLB amateur draft, a sign that one of baseball’s most disappointing clubs could be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.
Orioles GM Mike Elias wouldn’t completely commit to that idea. Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the New York Mets, he cited the 2024 Detroit Tigers, who traded players off their major league roster but held on to ace Tarik Skubal and then surged into a playoff spot.
Elias did, however, acknowledge the possibility of selling on a day that began with last-place Baltimore (40-50) sitting 12 1/2 games behind division-leading Toronto and seven out of the final AL wild card spot.
“I think it’s a step in that direction,” said Elias three weeks before the July 31 deadline. “There’s no way around that. The timing of the draft, and when you have draft picks involved in the trades, kind of frontloads these decisions, and it’s earlier than my comfort level. But we thought it was a really good return and a good trade for everyone. So we did it.”
The draft begins Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles selected the contract of catcher David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk.
After a dreadful start that brought the May dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde, the Orioles have steadied under interim skipper Tony Mansolino, playing to a 21-14 record since a loss to St. Louis on May 28.
Baker was a solid part of that, posting a 3.52 ERA, striking out 49 batters and posting a 1.096 WHIP in 38 1/3 innings as the setup man for closer Felix Bautista.
“This is a team that is moving in the right direction, and we still have a lot of time left before the deadline, but this was a trade with the draft coming up in a couple days that we had to make a decision on,” Elias said. “We didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity. Hopefully, we can use the pick wisely, bring a lot of value back, and Bryan’s going to a good place.”
Mansolino is also hoping his team will get replenishments in the form of players eventually returning from the injured list. That sizable group includes several possible starting pitchers: Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder), Albert Suarez (shoulder), Tyler Wells (elbow) and Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery).
Meanwhile, Baltimore will now have four of the first 37 and seven of the first 93 draft picks.
“All the drafts are important, but when you have this amount of picks, it becomes more important, there’s no question about it,” Elias said. “There’s just a much bigger opportunity ahead of us, and the draft is a lifeblood for our franchise.”
After getting through the seventh inning without allowing a run and the Mets leading the Orioles, 1-0, cameras showed David Peterson and manager Carlos Mendoza briefly talking in the dugout. The manager didn't shake his lefty's hand to signal his outing was done and sure enough Peterson took the field for the bottom of the eighth inning.
However, after Peterson allowed a leadoff hit to Colton Cowser, Mendoza went out to the mound and took the ball from the left-hander after just 90 pitches, opting to go with Ryne Stanek to try and finish out the inning.
"You’re already in the eighth inning -- 90 pitches. He did his part," Mendoza said in his explanation of taking out Peterson.
With the right-hander Stanek in the game, the Orioles countered with the lefty-swinging Gunnar Henderson as a pinch-hitter. And he unloaded on a 2-1 slider down and in for a two-run shot that flipped the game on its head.
Stanek was unable to get out of the inning and ended up walking four batters -- he threw 31 pitches and only 11 of them were for strikes. It was the second straight outing the right-hander threw more than 30 pitches, and his ERA now sits at 4.55.
"I just wasn’t able to find my rhythm and get in sync with my body today," Stanek said.
The decision to pull Peterson was an interesting choice. He had he been cruising for the entire game and was efficient with his pitches, and removing him enabled the Orioles to deploy some of their better left-handed hitters who were not in the starting lineup against a tough lefty -- as opposed to letting Peterson go after perhaps less-threatening righties.
"Once he got through the seventh with a lefty leading off, I knew it was gonna be batter to batter," Mendoza said. "Cowser got him there going the other way and once you get to the eighth inning I had Stanek ready. It just didn’t happen today."
Mendoza also told reporters that Peterson was actually going batter to batter from the start of the seventh inning, "especially with all the righties that were there."
With the All-Star break coming up, Peterson pitching great and showing no signs of slowing down and it being the first game of a doubleheader where the second game will be a bullpen game, it made sense for Mendoza to try and get outs from Peterson for as long as he could.
"It was just one of those where we felt like against the righties there, you know – especially once he gets through the seventh and then goes back out for the eighth. We turned it over to our guys and we didn’t get the job done today," the skipper said.
Of course, had Mendoza left Peterson in the game longer than he did, who knows what would have happened instead.
"We can sit here and talk about it all we want. At the end of the day, we didn’t execute offensively," Mendoza said.
The video of ex-NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky getting into a fight at a golf course in Alberta has taken over the hockey community by storm.
Former NHL player Drew Shore, alongside Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos, discussed the viral clip in the July 9 episode of The Big Show.
“I don’t think (Tarnasky) is the guy you want to get drunk and start lipping off to on the golf course,” Shore said.
Video footage captured Tarnasky, 40, and an unidentified golfer at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort near Red Deer, Alta., having an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. There was reportedly some frustration coming from Tarnasky’s group with how long the group in front of him was taking to tee their shot.
A golfer from the other group eventually confronted the former enforcer. Tarnasky threw him into the pond and punched him five times, yelling “bang” with every punch.
“Imagine that guy walking into the clubhouse at the end of his round,” Shore said. “You’re just playing golf, people are coming in, and the guy comes in, clothes are soaking wet, black eye, bruised cheek. That’s a very tough one to explain to someone.”
Tarnasky played 245 NHL games and accumulated 297 penalty minutes in his career. He played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers between 2005 and 2010. He played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 pre-season and New York Rangers in the 2014 pre-season.
In addition, he recorded over 800 more penalty minutes across nine seasons in the AHL and one in the KHL.
"If anyone has an old Nick Tarnasky jersey lying around, this would be a great week to dust it off and wear it again," EA Sports NHL 25 play-by-play voice James Cybulski posted on X.
Painter Travis Chapman painted the altercation and shared it to social media on Wednesday, getting nearly 1-million views and and 12,000 likes on X.
Added former NHL defenseman Marc Methot: "People don’t realize how dangerous some of these guys are. They can throw, but more importantly, they can eat punches when they have to. Tarnasky wasn’t even trying."
Before the video went viral on social media, another former NHL D-man, Mike Commodore, mentioned Tarnasky on X.
"Alberta Springs, I heard you guys have the greatest Member/Marshall In Western Canada…Nick Tarnasky…runs a tight ship. Very hands on," he wrote.
The Red Deer Minor Hockey Association said it’s conducting an internal investigation, despite the RCMP having concluded its investigation into the altercation.
Tarnasky is a coach for the Red Deer Minor Hockey U-17 AAA team. On May 7, the organization announced he’d be returning behind the bench for the 2025-26 season.
"We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey," RDMHA said in a statement.
"At this time, given that we understand the matter is being reviewed by local policing authorities and we are conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident, we will have no further comments."
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The Mets finish a three-game series against the Orioles in Baltimore when they play Game 2 of a doubleheader on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. on SNY.
Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
METS | ORIOLES |
|---|---|
| Brandon Nimmo, LF | Jackson Holliday, DH |
| Francisco Lindor, SS | Jordan Westburg, 2B |
| Juan Soto, RF | Gunnar Henderson, SS |
| Pete Alonso, 1B | Ryan O'Hearn, 1B |
| Jeff McNeil, CF | Ramón Laureano, RF |
| Mark Vientos, DH | Colton Cowser, LF |
| Brett Baty, 3B | Ramón Urías, 3B |
| Luisangel Acuña, 2B | Cedric Mullins, CF |
| Hayden Senger, C | Alex Jackson, C |
Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.
The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.
In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone.
To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps:
MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.
For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.
Alex Bregman, Red Sox have not discussed contract extension: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Alex Bregman has fit in well with the Boston Red Sox since signing in free agency, but will he even finish the 2025 campaign with the club?
Bregman’s three-year, $120 million contract includes opt-outs after the 2025 and 2026 seasons. With the MLB trade deadline looming, it’s fair to wonder whether Boston could trade the All-Star third baseman if the two sides can’t agree on an extension before July 31, rather than watch him leave for nothing in the offseason.
According to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, Bregman and the Red Sox have yet to discuss a potential contract extension:
During his Thursday appearance on WEEI’s Greg Hill Show, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was asked to describe his extension talks with Bregman in one word.
“I think ‘ongoing’ is always a fair summary, given this is something on our mind and it’s something on Alex’s mind,” Breslow answered.
“I’ve been pretty outspoken about what he’s provided on the field and in the clubhouse. He’s a guy we would like to have here in a Red Sox uniform for a long time.”
Bregman was an early American League MVP candidate before suffering his quad injury in May. He slashed .299/.385/.553 with 11 homers and 35 RBI to earn his third career All-Star nod despite not playing since May 23. Since being placed on the injured list, Bregman’s veteran presence has been felt in the Red Sox dugout and clubhouse.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Bregman will likely return to the lineup before the All-Star break. The two-time World Series champion is expected to play in two of Boston’s three games against the Tampa Bay Rays from Friday to Sunday.
Bregman’s contract situation will be worth monitoring over the next three weeks. ESPN recently listed Bregman as one of MLB’s top trade candidates if he doesn’t sign an extension with Boston before the July 31 trade deadline.
Fresh off of their first NBA title, the Oklahoma City Thunder have wasted no time this offseason solidifying the future of many of their key players.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday afternoon that the team has agreed to a rookie max extension with forward Jalen Williams. The deal, which goes into effect starting with the 2026-27 season, could be worth up to $287 million over five years.
The 2024-25 season was the most productive of J-Dub's NBA career, as he earned his first All-Star Game appearance, third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive team honors. Used at every position other than point guard at various stages, Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game in 69 regular-season appearances.
Williams would record similar averages during Oklahoma City's march to the NBA title, and his 40-point effort in a Game 5 victory over the Indiana Pacers during the NBA Finals won't be forgotten anytime soon. It's worth noting that Williams did his damage during the latter stages of the season while playing through a right wrist injury that required surgery shortly after the NBA Finals.
With Thursday's news, the Thunder have secured the futures of Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren this offseason with extensions that could ultimately total $822 million.
* 3 players 26 or younger now under contract through the 2030-31 season pic.twitter.com/qOEU06scM0
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 10, 2025
Add in the new deals that Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell agreed to, and lead executive Sam Presti and the franchise have not wasted any time securing the team's core for the foreseeable future.
In a statement, the club said that Lagerwey's prognosis was 'encouraging,' but that there was no timetable for his return.
Sharks trade defenseman Henry Thrun to Maple Leafs for forward Ryan Reaves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With a slew of NHL-caliber defensemen on the Sharks’ roster, Henry Thrun was the odd man out on Thursday.
San Jose traded Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves, the team announced, acquiring a postseason-experienced player who is very familiar with the Sharks.
“We’re excited to welcome Ryan to the organization,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “He will bring energy, personality, physical play and toughness to our group. He has been a part of many winning teams, and I witnessed firsthand the positive impact he can bring to a group when I was with the Rangers.”
Reaves was involved in one of the most personal feuds in NHL history with former Sharks wing Evander Kane during the former’s time with the Vegas Golden Knights — a rivalry that reached a boiling point with an epic on-ice fight during the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.
But those days are in the past as Reaves joins San Jose in Thursday’s trade. Reaves, 38, has appeared in 912 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Toronto. Reaves has posted 137 points (63 goals, 74 assists) and 1100 penalty minutes across that span, and also has made the playoffs in 14 of his last 15 seasons.
Last season with Toronto, Reaves appeared in 35 games, recording two assists and 28 penalty minutes. He also played in three AHL games with the Toronto Marlies and scored one goal.
Last week, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported, citing sources, that it was expected at least one Sharks defenseman would be traded after San Jose signed Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberg in NHL free agency and claimed Nick Leddy off waivers. Pagnotta reported both Thrun and Timothy Liljegren would be available.
The Sharks acquired Thrun in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 28, 2023, and he appeared in 119 games with San Jose over three seasons (2023-2025), posting 25 points (five goals, 20 assists). He also appeared in 18 career games with the San Jose Barracuda, totaling six points (one goal, five assists).
This is finally the vintage Jacob deGrom pitching for the Texas Rangers, and not because the lanky right-hander recently turned 37 years old.
After several injury-filled seasons in a row, both before and since going to Texas in free agency, deGrom is again an All-Star ace.
“It’s a little bit of validation,” deGrom said. “Coming back from a major surgery, your second (Tommy John), there is some unknown. To be fortunate enough to be able to throw the ball pretty well, I’m just thankful to be able to be back out there on a major league mound.”
DeGrom (9-2, 2.29 ERA) this year has made 18 starts, twice as many as he had combined the past two seasons after joining the Rangers. It is already his most since 2019, when he won his second National League Cy Young Award in a row while pitching for the New York Mets.
His fifth All-Star nod is his first in the American League after being the only Texas player selected for the game next Tuesday night in Atlanta.
“I don’t want to take for granted how hard this game is because he’s making it look really easy,” said Chris Young, the Rangers’ president of baseball operations and a former big league pitcher. “It’s precious when you get to see greatness like that.”
A no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night ended deGrom’s franchise record of 14 consecutive starts going at least five innings without giving up more than two runs. That same span was the longest streak by any traditional starter (not including openers) in the modern era since 1900 of not allowing more than six hits and two runs in a game, according to STATS.
DeGrom came the closest he has to a no-hitter in his 236 career games on June 26 at Baltimore. He was perfect through six innings and the only hit was a leadoff single in the eighth.
“He’s an alien or something, I don’t know how he does what he does,” said Jack Leiter, the son of a big league pitcher and the 2021 No. 2 overall pick still a Rangers rookie this season.
“It doesn’t look like anything’s bothering him,” catcher Jonah Heim said. “It looks like he’s going out there free and easy and and trusting his stuff, and it’s pretty fun to watch.”
The Rangers won the first six games deGrom started in his debut for them by the end of April 2023 before he had Tommy John surgery for the second time — the first was in 2010 as a minor leaguer for the Mets. He wasn’t pitching when Texas won its only World Series title, then rehabbed most of last year before three short starts at the end of the season.
His 106 1/3 innings this year are one more than he pitched combined the past three seasons, his first two in Texas and his final one in New York.
“I think as much as anything with Jacob, he’s just so happy that he feels good,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “The talent obviously is there. It’s a tough road. ... Now he’s back having fun playing the game.”
Bochy said the Rangers will continue to monitor deGrom’s workload. He had at least five days of rest between six of his seven starts while going 5-0 since the beginning of June. He is averaging 86 pitches a game, and his 103 on May 21 was the only time over 100.
“The thing about Jacob is it’s so effortless,” Bochy said. “Not a lot of stressful innings.”
The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year made his first All-Star Game in 2015, when Bochy was the NL manager and DeGrom needed only 10 pitches to strike out Stephen Vogt, Jason Kipnis and Jose Iglesias.
DeGrom also made three consecutive All-Star teams in 2018, 2019 and 2021 — there wasn’t one during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He allowed a solo homer to Mike Trout in the 2018 game, and pitched a perfect inning in 2019.
After his back-to-back Cy Young seasons, deGrom started 12 of the Mets’ 60 games in 2020. He had a 1.08 ERA over 92 innings through 15 starts in 2021, but didn’t pitch in the All-Star Game and missed the rest of the season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow. He was shut down during spring training in 2022 after a stress reaction in his right scapula, then was 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts the last two months of that season before becoming a free agent.
The $185 million, five-year contract deGrom signed with Texas included a conditional sixth-year club option for 2028 that has already been trigged because of the time he missed after Tommy John surgery.
That option is worth at least $20 million, but would be $30 million if he finishes among the top five in Cy Young voting or pitches at least 625 innings during the contract. It increases to $37 million if he finishes among the top five at least three times or pitches 725 innings.
Saku Koivu was never one to relish the spotlight; he wasn’t as a player, and even less now as the father of a hockey player. He came back to Montreal for the first time since 2019 thanks to his son Aatos’ presence at the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp, but he didn’t want to steal his thunder, so he didn’t even speak to the media.
Now that he’s back home in Turku, Finland, he gave an interview to the Journal de Montreal, and here’s what he had to say in a nutshell. He was discreet in Montreal, giving autographs and posing for selfies to those who asked as he walked by the Centre Bell, and it was emotional for the former Hab.
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His stay in Montreal the first time around, first as a player and then as a captain, saw him go through a lot, the early years of his career, his battle with cancer, and the birth of his kids, who were only four and three years old when he left for Anaheim. A victim of Bob Gainey’s cleanse in the run-up to the centennial, the longest-tenured Canadiens captain (tied with Jean Beliveau) was allowed to walk as a free agent in the Summer before the 2009-10 season.
Struck by a thunderous cancer in the prime of his career, Koivu won his battle against it in brilliant fashion, and his return to play was the occasion for the most heartfelt ovation given to an active player in modern times. Today, as he approaches 51 years old, his health is good, and cancer is a distant memory.
During his visit to Montreal for the development camp, he was allowed to go and see the family’s former house, and it’s easy to guess that nostalgia hit hard when he tells the interviewer that time goes by so fast.
His life is quite different nowadays; he sits on the Turku hockey team’s board, but that's not a full-time commitment. Instead, he has been involved in construction for the past 10 years, and he says he has learned a great deal in that field since then.
With Koivu’s son’s performance during the development camp, it is likely that the former Canadiens’ captain won’t wait another six years before visiting again. Aatos’ contract with TPS Turku will come to an end this upcoming season, and he will also be getting his diploma. There’s no set course of action beyond that, though. He could sign another contract with Turku or pursue a career in the AHL or American college system; time will tell. For now, he doesn’t have a contract with the Canadiens, but it will be interesting to see what the Canadiens decide to do as the end of his contract nears.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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Mavericks star Cooper Flagg shows flashes in NBA Summer League debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his rhythm, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block near the end of the game.
Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.
Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, wearing Dallas Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes, and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.
Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.
His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy, electrifying the jam-packed arena that cheered loudest when he was announced as a starter in his first Summer League game.
Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, picked up his first foul just 46 seconds into the game, and gave the crowd what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favorite James.
James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.
Flagg excited the crowd at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter, jamming home his first points.
COOPER FLAGG'S FIRST BUCKET IN A MAVS UNIFORM IS A BIG-TIME SLAM ‼️#NBA2KSummerLeague on ESPN pic.twitter.com/h7Ta564bS8
— NBA (@NBA) July 11, 2025
Early in the second quarter, Flagg nearly sent every fan in the building into a frenzy when he made a spin move into the paint and attempted a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the back of the rim and still drew plenty of oohs and ahhs.
Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college player of the year.
Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad in the third row from the court, donning Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks jersey.
Epple said he’s been following Flagg since before his Duke days, beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.
The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU tournament said he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.
“Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg,” Epple said. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be pretty cool to see. I don’t want him to be like a bust or anything.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game he’s looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team’s opening game, as he wants them all playing hard.
“This summer league is a little different when you have this type of turnout,” Kidd said. “But the guys have had a couple practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one’s gonna play a perfect game and be unselfish.”
As for his prize draft pick: “We’re all excited,” Kidd said of Flagg. “Seen enough of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on the floor.”
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long.
Manager Rocco Baldelli said before the game against the Chicago Cubs that Buxton could be available as a substitute — possibly as a pinch-hitter — depending on how the hand was feeling.
Buxton was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Wednesday and stayed in the game to run the bases but was removed before his next at-bat. The pitch hit at least part of the protective pad Buxton wears on his hand. X-rays showed no breaks.
“Nothing’s really gotten worse from yesterday, but he’s definitely sore and for the same reasons he came out of the game yesterday, he’s not going to be starting the game today,” Baldelli said. “I think he’s going to be fine and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back out there soon.”
Buxton was selected for his second All-Star Game and also chosen as a first-time entrant in the Home Run Derby, but his participation in those events next week in his home state of Georgia did not appear to be in jeopardy.
“We’re just going to be seeing how he is today and tomorrow and see what he’s capable of,” Baldelli said. “The next couple of days will basically give us that answer.”
The 31-year-old Buxton has 20 home runs through 75 games this year, tied for sixth in the American League. He’s also third in the AL in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in OPS and seventh in stolen bases.
BALTIMORE — The New York Mets recalled 23-year-old utility man Luisangel Acuña from Triple-A Syracuse before Thursday’s split doubleheader against Baltimore.
The brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., Luisangel Acuña went 13-for-45 (.286) for Syracuse after the Mets optioned him in late June.
Capable of playing second base, shortstop or the outfield, Acuña had batted .241 in 65 games before going to the minors.
“He was a big part of this team the first couple of months,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters of Acuña. “We got to a point where we felt like, ’Hey, let’s get him some everyday playing time. ‘And now it’s time for him to be back up here, continuing to help us win baseball games.”
In a corresponding move, the Mets designated outfielder Travis Jankowski for assignment.
Acuña was on the bench for New York’s first game of the doubleheader.
All things considered, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a pretty deep prospect pool on the blue line.
And one defensive prospect - to many, relatively unknown - wants to continue building on the breakout season he had in 2024-25.
Defenseman Finn Harding climbed up Pittsburgh's prospect rankings in 2024-25 with an impressive campaign. Known for his shutdown ability at the time when he was selected in the seventh round (223rd overall) by the Penguins in 2024, Harding burst onto the map offensively in his third season with the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL, putting up seven goals and 57 points in 67 games and finishing eighth in OHL scoring among defensemen.
In addition, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound blueliner broke the Steelheads' single-season assists record for a defenseman with 50, and he finished seventh in the OHL among all skaters at a plus-46 - which was also the fourth-highest mark among defensemen. He was awarded for his stellar play with a three-year entry-level contract in March.
Harding knows he was branded as a defensive defenseman at the time of his draft selection, but he put a lot of work into his all-around game last summer, which clearly paid off.
"Definitely, my game is more defensive and transitional, and I like to be hard to play against," Harding said. "But, last summer, I really tried to work on my craft and add some tools to the box and tried to expand my game and become more two-way, and I was able to produce more and earn some good opportunities, which helped.
"I had great teammates as well to play with, which made it a little bit easier. But, I worked on that last summer, and I'm happy to see some results."
Penguins Sign Defensive Prospect To Entry-Level ContractIt appears the Pittsburgh Penguins are rewarding one of their blossoming defensive prospects.
Of course, Harding had some exceptional teammates to share the ice with - most notably, sixth overall pick Porter Martone, who registered 37 goals and 98 points in 57 games. But a lot of the credit for his uptick in production and the betterment of his two-way game goes to Harding himself, as he played in pretty much every situation for Brampton last season and logged heavy minutes.
And those things certainly didn't go unnoticed by the Penguins as an organization.
"He's an exceptional kid. Absorbs everything we've thrown at him," Penguins' director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "I think, throughout his season in Brampton, he was thrown into every different role. He was killing penalties, he was on the power play... there were times througout the Christmas stretch where - while the guys were at World Juniors - he was playing 30 minutes a night and just eating it up. So, a lot of growth in his gamH
He added: "He's a willing learner. He's learning how to defend really hard consistently, move pucks, some offensive side to him this year in Brampton. So, exciting times for him."
Kostopoulos mentioned that an area of growth for Harding - as is the case with many young, developing players - is his footspeed and skating as a whole. Harding self-diagnosed that as well, acknowledging that being more mobile is something he's actively working on.
"The game is so fast now, and everyone can skate," Harding said. "The best defensemen in the league are the ones who can skate the best and be able to keep up with these forwards, stop them in their tracks, and then turn it the other way."
With Breadth Of Positional Depth In The System, Penguins' Defensive Prospects Eager To Take Next StepsWhen Pittsburgh Penguins’ Prospect Development Camp began on Thursday, 48 players took the to the ice - some for the first time in black and gold, others returned to a familiar place.
Harding - who is eligible for the AHL this season at age 20 - gives a lot of credence to the Penguins' developmental staff, as well as the organization as a whole, in terms of the environment and its ability to get the most out of players. It is a transitional time for the Penguins as an organization, as they are actively shifting to the next generation of youth while still trying to maintain the winning culture that they've become so renowned for.
For Harding, he knows that he and everyone else - despite being in competition with one another, especially on the blue line, for precious few organizational roster spots - can learn a lot from those in the organization as well as each other as they navigate the process of development.
At the end of the day, they all have the same end goal of helping the NHL club win hockey games.
“It’s a great group here, and great staff, and they help us each and every day to be better and help develop as fast as we can,” Harding said. “But, obviously, it’s up to us to push the pace and come into the rink with a purpose and a plan every day and grow together, grow as fast as we can, and help this team out.”
Dubas May Have Sought Quantity In This Year's Draft. But That Doesn't Mean He Missed On Quality.In the aftermath of every NHL Draft, the analysis always comes due.
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