ATLANTA, GA - MAY 15: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves high fives Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The managers for the 2026 All-Star Game have officially announced their starting pitchers and lineups for tomorrow night’s Midsummer Classic.
Ozzie Albies and Drake Baldwin earned their places as starters during the All-Star fan voting and will bat sixth and ninth, respectively.
The National League starting lineup, managed by LA’s Dave Roberts, is as follows:
Kyle Schwarber, PHI – DH
Juan Soto, NYM – LF
Freddie Freeman, LAD – 1B
CJ Abrams, WSH – SS
Max Muncy, LAD – 3B
Ozzie Albies, ATL – 2B
Brandon Marsh, PHI – RF
Andy Pages, LAD – CF
Drake Baldwin, ATL – C
Baldwin will serve as the battery mate to starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez, who gets the nod in his home ballpark.
The American League, managed by Toronto’s John Schneider, will roll with the following lineup behind first-time All-Star Dylan Cease:
Mike Trout, LAA – CF
Yordan Alvarez, HOU – DH
Shea Langeliers, ATH – C
Junior Caminero, TB – 3B
Bobby Witt Jr., KC – SS
Cody Bellinger, NYY – RF
Ben Rice, NYY – 1B
Riley Greene, DET – LF
Ernie Clement, TOR – 2B
The All-Star Game will start at 8 pm ET on Tuesday night on FOX.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Miami Heat during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A trade first reported on June 28 is now officially complete. The Phoenix Suns have sent Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Miles Bridges, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick.
“Miles has established himself as a highly productive player whose game continues to evolve,” said Suns general manager Brian Gregory. “His elite athleticism, strength and versatility allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He embodies the grit, competitiveness and work ethic that fit our identity, and we’re excited to welcome him to Phoenix.”
“We also want to thank Grayson and Royce for the impact they made in Phoenix,” added Gregory. “Both played important roles in helping us build our foundation, and we appreciate everything they brought to our team. We wish them and their families all the best.”
There was a bit of a holdup because several other transactions had to be completed before the Suns and Hornets deal could become official. The entire sequence ultimately came down to one player, Mouhamadou Gueye. Gueye signed with the Chicago Bulls on April 9, which meant he could not be traded until six months after his acquisition. That date is today, July 9.
Here is how the dominoes fell.
The Timberwolves, Nets, and Bulls agreed to a deal that sent Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (Joshua Jefferson), to Brooklyn. In return, Minnesota acquired the No. 33 pick (Isaiah Evans) from the Nets and Mouhamadou Gueye from the Bulls. Chicago received Nic Claxton.
The Hornets also agreed to send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves in exchange for Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks.
Both transactions were put on hold because of Gueye’s trade restriction. Once eligible to be moved, Minnesota completed its deal, which opened the financial pathway to acquire Ball and Green from Charlotte. That, in turn, cleared the way for the Hornets to acquire Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale from Phoenix.
From the Suns’ perspective, this was about more than simply acquiring Miles Bridges. By sending out Allen and O’Neale, who combined to make $29 million, and bringing back Bridges at $22.8 million, Phoenix reduced its payroll by approximately $6.2 million, $6,173,913 to be exact. Before the trade, the Suns carried a payroll of roughly $215 million, placing them about $6 million above the first apron. They needed to create room if they wanted access to the mid-level exception.
The Bridges trade accomplished exactly that.
Phoenix now sits at approximately $208.1 million in team salary, seeing as Jamaree Bouyea’s contract is not guaranteed until January 10. The first apron is $209 million. What did that create? Hello, Luke Kennard. The Suns will be able to use the taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Kennard to a two-year, $12.4 million contract with a player option in the second season. It’s a pretty impressive bit of cap gymnastics by the front office. And to think, the entire sequence was delayed because the Bulls signed Mouhamadou Gueye last April.
So now it is official. Miles Bridges is with the Phoenix Suns. A player the organization has had its eyes on for the past couple of years. Will it work? We’ll find out next season.
Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson are not the only two veterans Montreal Canadiens playing in their contract year; Alexandre Carrier and Samuel Montembeault will also be playing for new deals when the puck drops on the season.
If Montembeault felt he put too much pressure on himself last year with the possibility of making Team Canada for the Olympics, one can wonder if playing for a new deal, or better yet, competing to play for a new deal, won’t have the same effect. The netminder is coming off a disastrous season, which saw him go down to the AHL on a conditioning stint, come back up to the NHL only to fail to perform again before being sent to the press gallery for the rest of the season and the playoffs in early March.
Montembeault finished the season with a 10-8-4 record, a 3.43 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage. His fall from grace opened the door for Jakub Dobes to grab the starting job and for Jacob Fowler to graduate to the NHL.
At the end of the season media availability, Montembeault said he was ready to turn over a new leaf and get a fresh start, which he feels he can do in Montreal. So far, despite plenty of goaltender moves in the NHL, the Becancour native remains a member of the Canadiens.
With one year left at a very reasonable $3.15 million cap hit, one would have thought a team would be willing to take a chance on Montembeault, but there have been no takers so far. While he feels he can start again with the Habs, there is little doubt that Montembeault would be best served by joining a team that hasn’t got as crowded a crease. When training camp starts, he won’t be battling for the number one job but rather to prove to his teammates that last year’s collapse was a one-off and that he’s worthy of their confidence. That won’t be an easy task, with Dobes having signed a new three-year contract and Fowler seen as the goaltender of the future in Montreal.
Perhaps he’ll be traded by the start of training camp, but wherever he is, he will need to prove that the real Montembeault isn’t the one who crashed out of the NHL last season.
Meanwhile, Alex Carrier will also need to have a big year on the blueline. The soon-to-be 30-year-old rearguard was a blessing for the Habs’ defence corps when he was acquired from the Nashville Predators for Justin Barron in the 2024-25 season. In both of his seasons with the Habs, he posted a 0.30 PPG pace, which would project to 25 points over an 82-game season. The difference this past season was how much higher his shooting percentage was. 12.5% of his shots found the back of the net, up from 3.7% the year before.
In an ideal world, Carrier is a bottom-pairing blueliner, but the lack of right-shot defenseman has meant he played in the wrong chair a lot this past year. The veteran is much more efficient when paired up with Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Lane Hutson than when he’s skating alongside Arber Xhekaj.
When training camp opens, expect David Reinbacher to be given every opportunity to make the Canadiens this season. The fact that Hughes has been unable to find a real top-four right-shot defenseman in the free-agent or trade markets makes it all the more important that the Austrian fifth-overall pick in 2023 live up to his potential.
Chances are the Canadiens would ease him into the third pairing, but he would ideally prove he can handle more and pass Carrier on the depth chart. If that is the case, Carrier could still be given an extension, since other right-shot options in the Habs’ system may need more time to develop in the AHL. Bryce Pickford, fresh off a season for the ages in the WHL, had to undergo shoulder surgery, which should delay the start of his pro career with the Laval Rocket, while Bogdan Konyushkov will be playing in Russia this year and will likely need to adapt to the North American style of play.
Adam Engstrom is also knocking on the Canadiens’ door, and while he’s a left-shot blueliner, he has shown that he can play on his off-side as well. Unless the Canadiens use him to fill another need via trade, he may very well push a defenseman out of Montreal. Who could that be? Well, it depends on how Martin St-Louis chooses to deploy him. One thing is certain, however: Carrier will need to have a big year to earn a new contract with the Canadiens given how many youngsters are chomping at the bit to get their shot in the NHL.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Jack Kayil #77 of the New York Knicks looks to pass the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Shake off those Monday blues, there’s basketball to be played! The Knicks continue their NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas this afternoon as they square off against the Detroit Pistons at the Cox Pavilion. After getting blown out twice, the exhibition continues to shine a spotlight on player development (Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara) and recent draftees (Tyler Nickel, Jack Kayil). The young Knicks squad will have their hands full physically against a tough Detroit frontcourt.
Tip-off is 4 pm EST on Prime Video and MSG. This is your game thread. This is Detroit Bad Boys. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, everybody. And go Knicks!
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 08: Pete Alonso of the New York Mets poses with the trophy after winning the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Progressive Field on July 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Juan Soto toyed with the idea of joining this year’s loaded Home Run Derby field, he ultimately decided against participating in the competition he won in 2022 as a member of the Nationals. That choice ensured that this year’s derby would not feature any current Mets. If that fact keeps your interest in the derby low, you can instead reminisce about the times that Mets players participated in the annual competition.
Darryl Strawberry (1986, 1990)
Before the Mets won the 1986 World Series, their outfielder and homegrown superstar Darryl Strawberry, who would finish the season with a team-leading 27 home runs, took home a share of the Home Run Derby crown, making him the first Met to win the derby in the process. He did so by hitting four home runs, which is a paltry and somewhat laughable amount given the current derby most of us are familiar with. However, in the early days of the derby (1985-1990), the participants were given two “innings” of five outs each to hit as many home runs as they could. In doing so, he matched the number hit by California Angels slugger Wally Joyner, who beat out a field including Jose Canseco and Dave Parker. The most notable home run of the derby came courtesy of Strawberry, who hit a speaker in the ceiling of the Astrodome. A few months later, the Mets would author their own magical moment in the Astrodome as a team, when they took down the Astros in 16 innings to win Game 6 of the NLCS and advance to the Fall Classic.
Strawberry would return to defend his crown a few years later to defend his crown. However, he would go on to put up a goose egg. He shouldn’t feel too bad, however, as the eight participants combined for just five home runs total in what many have since been remembered as the worst Home Run Derby ever due to swirling winds at Wrigley Field that prevented much in the way of actual…you know…home runs. The hometown crowd was certainly happy, as Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg hit three home runs to take home the crown, beating out Mark McGwire (one), Matt Williams (one), and a loaded field of hitters that couldn’t muster to knock one out of the park.
Howard Johnson (1989, 1991)
While a less-than-memorable season for the Mets, who missed the playoffs after their 100-win 1988 campaign, Howard Johnson enjoyed the best season of his major league career. HoJo posted a career-best 6.9 bWAR and posted a 30-40-40 season (36 home runs, 41 stolen bases, 41 doubles). He rode that wave to his first career All-Star game, and participated in the Home Run Derby as well. Unfortunately, he managed just two dingers in the derby, which still featured the old format that Strawberry participated in. Eric Davis and Ruben Sierra each hit three homers to take home a share of the derby title.
Johnson returned two years later in the middle of his second 30-30 season in three years. 1991 would serve as the last All-Star season of his career, and one that saw him post a career-high in home runs (38) and RBI (117). That success did not translate to the derby, as HoJo was held off the board in Toronto’s Skydome. Cal Ripken Jr. knocked 12 balls out of the park to win the crown. This was the first year of a new derby format, which invited 8-10 players to hit as many home runs as they can in a round before reaching 10 outs. The new format also featured three rounds, and this would last until 2005.
Bobby Bonilla (1993)
Long before becoming the butt of “Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!” jokes that have been like if a dead horse were beaten by another dead horse, Bonilla was actually a feared slugger. Bonilla hit 34 home runs for the Mets in 1993, his best with the club, and was named to his first All-Star team as a Met. He slugged five home runs and finished third in the competition, matching the number hit by Barry Bonds. Juan Gonzalez outlasted Ken Griffey Jr. in a derby playoff to win the crown. Of note in this derby, future Met Mike Piazza was held off the board and finished in last place. Piazza also failed to hit a home run in the 1994 derby and would never compete in the competition as a member of the Mets.
David Wright (2006, 2013)
In his book Captain, Wright talks about his reluctance to participate in the 2006 Home Run Derby, but with the encouragement of those around him, he ended up doing it. It’s a good thing he did, because he put on a show, hitting a Derby-best 16 homers in the first round and wowing the Pittsburgh crowd. Wright, who was never really a “home run hitter” in the traditional sense and did not see power as his greatest asset at the plate, ran out of steam towards the end and fell one home run behind division rival Ryan Howard, who bested him 23-22 overall and 5-4 in the finals. Wright would go on to become the youngest Met to homer in the actual Midsummer Classic, doing so the next night at the age of 23 (the Mets dominated the 2006 All-Star game, with Carlos Beltrán and Wright scoring both NL runs and picking up three of the NL’s six hits). The Mets would also get the last laugh on Howard and the Phillies, winning the NL East handily that year.
Wright, who also talked about not having much desire to participate in a Derby again after that experience, would go on to participate one last time in 2013 in front of the Citi Field home crowd. He was named captain of the derby and was able to hand pick his participants, which included close friend Michael Cuddyer. He managed just five home runs, ahead of only American League Derby captain/future Met Robinson Canó and his four homers. It didn’t matter much to the Flushing Faithful, who showered Wright with applause and adulation upon his Derby exit. What the crowd and Wright did not know was that 2013 would also be the last All-Star season of Wright’s career.
Pete Alonso (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
By far, Alonso has seen more action than any other Met in the derby. In fact, Alonso has participated almost as many times (5) as the other four players on this list (7). And nobody seemed to relish the spotlight more than Alonso.
Alonso, who went on to surpass Strawberry as the franchise’s all-time home run leader, participated in his first derby in his rookie campaign en route to breaking both the franchise’s single-season home run record and the all-time MLB rookie home run record. The fresh up-and-comer took down some heavyweights along the way, knocking down Carlos Santana in the first round 14-13, topping division rival Ronald Acuña Jr. 20-19 in the second round, and then taking out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 23-22 in an electric final round.
Alonso returned to defend his crown in 2021, and defend it he did (and then some). Alonso enacted a small measure of revenge for the 2015 World Series when he knocked out Royals’ catcher Salvador Pérez 35-28 in the first round, then he one-upped 2025 Mets’ teammate Juan Soto 16-15 in the second round, and he beat out Trey Mancini 23-22 in the finals to win back-to-back derbies. He became the third player to accomplish this feat, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (1998, 1999) and future Met Yoenis Céspedes (2013, 2014). He is one of four players to win multiple home run derbies, along with Prince Fielder (2009, 2012).
Alonso failed to join Griffey as the only other player to win a third derby crown, and his participation since 2021 provided diminishing returns for Alonso. In 2022, Alonso again knocked Acuña Jr. out of the competition by beating him 20-19 in the first round. However, he ran out of gas in the second round and could not catch Julio Rodriguez’s 31 home runs.
Rodriguez and Alonso faced off in a rematch in the 2023 derby at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, and Rodriguez put on a show for his home fans. He broke a derby record by crushing 41 home runs in the first round, and Alonso could only muster 21 to bow out in his earliest exit at that point. In his final derby performance as a Met, Alonso hit just 12 home runs and failed to advance beyond the first round, finishing ahead of just Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles. Despite those three losses, Alonso put together some of the most memorable derby performances of all time, and by far the most memorable showings from a Met.
You can watch the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park exclusively on Netflix starting at 8:00 PM EDT, with special pre-derby coverage beginning at 7:00 PM.
Tonight’s Home Run Derby in the City of Brotherly Love features a couple of hometown heroes, a few MVP candidates, and a handful of breakout stars among the eight contestants. No question, each of the eight brings a potent bat to the plate with an eye on taking home the 24-inch tall, sterling silver trophy at the end of the night.
Cal Raleigh won the title last July but is not here to defend his crown. Let's lay out the field including their odds, home run totals to date, and who will be pitching to them.
Game details & how to watch the 2026 Home Run Derby
Date: Monday, July 13, 2026
Time: 7PM ET
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: Netflix
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Field for the 2026 Home Run Derby
Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies (+285)
The favorite for a reason, Schwarber leads baseball with 32 home runs. He has hit more home runs at Citizens Bank Park – 19 – than some of his fellow competitors in tonight’s contest have hit in total for the season. The Derby favorite has taken pitches in batting practice from Phillies’ assistant coach Rafael Pena who will toss to him tonight.
Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (+350)
The Rays own the best record in the American League and Caminero is a big reason why. The All-Star third baseman is tied for fourth in baseball with 28 home runs. Tomas Francisco will be on the mound for Caminero tonight. The Rays’ Major League field coordinator threw to Caminero last season (second place) and to Randy Arozarena in 2023 (second place).
Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox (+600)
Its feast or famine it seems with the rookie first baseman. The All-Star has 20 home runs in just 60 games but has also struck out 87 times in those same 60 games. White Sox Major League coach Luis Sierra will throw to the White Sox rookie.
Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals (+700)
Walker was pegged for stardom since he debuted in 2023, but the All-Star had struggled until this season. With 22 home runs, Walker already has six more home runs this season than in any in his career. Cards’ bullpen catcher Kleininger Teran will be on the mound pitching to Walker tonight.
Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals (+800)
Caglianone calls Kauffman Stadium home and yet has hit 15 home runs this season. Surprising his odds are as short as they are considering he has hit just those 15 home runs 90 games. His father, Jeff Caglianone, will be pitching to him.
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (+850)
The winner of this event in our nation’s capital while with the Nationals in 2018, Harper has 20 home runs for the season in 97 games. Harper outmashed Kyle Schwarber, 19-18 in the final round of that 2018 Derby. Harper’s father, Ron, threw to him in 2018 but he is not available tonight. Instead Dodgers’ third base coach Dino Ebel gets the assignment.
Ben Rice, New York Yankees (+900)
Minus Aaron Judge, the pressure on Rice to rescue this Yankees’ offense has been immense. For the most part, the third-year big leaguer has delivered hitting a career-high 29 home runs in 91 games. Ben’s father, Dan Rice, will be pitching to him.
Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox (+1400)
The Red Sox first baseman will play tomorrow in his fourth All-Star game and his first since 2022. The native of Venezuela has cracked 20 home runs on the season in 88 games. Boston interim bench coach Jose David Flores will pitch to Contreras.
"Its not going to be Bryce Harper to get his second title in the Home Run Derby. Its going to be his teammate to get his first, Kyle Schwarber. I think Schwarber will have the consistency and endurance to be able to hit home runs in the first, second, and third rounds."
Eric Samulski (@SamulskiNYC) – Munetaka Murakami (+600)
"Citizens Bank is a really good park for left-handed power. Murakami coming off the IL doesn’t necessarily have the strain on his body of the guys who have been playing all of these games over the last few months. I think Murakami is going to show the power he had in Japan."
James Schiano (@James_Schiano) – Munetaka Murakami (+600)
"He’s not one of the favorites but does not have long shot odds either. Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia plays much, much, much friendlier to left-handed hitters…especially pull happy lefthanded hitters like Murakami."
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 21, 2025: (L to R) Cody Bellinger #35 and Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees talk while leaning against the front fence of the dugout during the third inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park on September 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Yankees beat the Orioles, 7-1. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
MLB announced the starting lineups for tomorrow night’s All-Star Game, and as planned two Yankees will feature. Cody Bellinger starts in right and bats sixth, while Ben Rice starts at first and bats seventh:
The pair of Bombers come after a star-studded top five in the AL lineup, starting with Mike Trout in center, Yordan Alvarez at DH, Shea Langliers at catcher, Junior Caminero at third, and Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop. Riley Greene in left and Ernie Clement at second round out the lineup. Rice is somewhat hard-done-by with his slot in the lineup, his 166 wRC+ second in the AL behind only Alvarez, and Langliers is a curious choice from manager John Schneider (to bat third, the catcher having a great season but lacking the offensive skillset and pedigree of most of the other starters.
Otherwise, the lineup seems fair enough on paper, and it’s very cool to see Trout, the once-and-forever legend who’s been derailed by injuries, slot in at the top, in the midst of a resurgent (and yet still injury-ridden) campaign. He and Alvarez form an awesome one-two, and though I would personally have slotted Rice right in there at the three spot, it’s hard to argue with Caminero and Witt’s positions, the pair each among the game’s brightest young stars.
You can also check out the National League’s lineup here:
Kyle Schwarber, DH Juan Soto, LF Freddie Freeman, 1B CJ Abrams, SS Max Muncy, 3B Ozzie Albies, 2B Brandon Marsh, RF Andy Pages, CF Drake Baldwin, C Cristopher Sánchez, P
Cooper Ingle was 2 for 5 with a double, Juan Brito had a two-run homer, and Milan Tolentinto homered and walked to push his OPS over .800. Daniel Espino threw a scoreless ninth and I hope to see him back in Cleveland for Codi Heuer after the break.
Jaison Chourio had a double and ended pre-break play with an OPS of .820. Not a great start for Braylon Doughty who gave up two earned, five hits and three walks in four and two-thirds, but he did strike out six.
Jace LaViolette did not get the call-up to Akron but he did hit a double and talk a walk. Aaron Walton, Nolan Schubart and Dean Curley all ended over .900 OPS and got the call-up, though. Cam Schuelke struck out two in two and two-thirds and should probably be promoted at some point, also.
Junior Caceres hit his 10th Low-A home run right before getting promoted to Lake County that evening, Miguel Flores had a decent start with six scoreless and then Chase Mobley BLEW IT UP. Mobley had a first half to forget.
Left: Barry Bonds smiles as he begins to round the bases after hitting his 73rd home run of the 2001 season against the Dodgers in San Francisco. Right: Yankees' CC Sabathia pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays during a game in 2018. (AP Photo)
The Major League Baseball draft is filled with unfamiliar names. Even the most knowledgeable fans have difficulty knowing much about the mostly anonymous high school and college players taken by the 30 teams through 20 rounds.
Every year, however, a handful of names ring a bell. The 2026 draft, held the last two days in Philadelphia ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game, was no exception.
Bonds. Thome. Pettitte. Sabathia.
The accomplishments of the fathers or uncles of those draftees loom large. Other high picks hope to eclipse the accomplishments of relatives who had brief MLB or long minor league careers: No. 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky out of UCLA is a prime example.
And draft picks whose relatives have ties to the Dodgers or Angels draw interest: Salmon, Ebel, Gasparino, Willits and Bard qualify.
No player wants to be branded as a “nepo pick” — taken as a favor to a relative. But even those can turn out to be brilliant. The Dodgers took Mike Piazza in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft largely because his father, Vince Piazza, was a childhood friend of manager Tommy Lasorda. Piazza, of course, became a Hall of Fame catcher with the Dodgers and New York Mets.
A brisk walk through this year’s picks with intriguing bloodlines:
— Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA. First overall pick by the White Sox. His father, Dan Cholowsky, was the 39th overall pick in 1991 by the Cardinals and played eight minor league seasons. He’s now a scout for the Reds. To focus on baseball, Roch gave up a scholarship offer to play quarterback at Notre Dame. He is the Bruins’ first No. 1 overall pick since Gerrit Cole in 2011.
— Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep (Fla.). No. 14 overall pick by the Marlins His father, George Lombard, played parts of six seasons with four MLB teams from 1998-2006 and is currently the Tigers’ bench coach. Jacob’s brother, George Lombard Jr., was the 26th overall pick in the 2023 draft. Jacob is one of 11 shortstops taken in the first 40 picks this year.
— Trey Ebel, SS, Corona High. No. 25 overall pick by the Brewers Milwaulkee made his brother, Brady, the No. 32 overall pick a year ago. Their father, Dino Ebel, has been the Dodgers’ third-base coach since 2019 and spent the previous 13 years as a coach for the Angels. Strength and conditioning training with MW Athletix’s Keith Coury helped lift Trey into the first round.
Landon Thome, right, the 34th pick in the 2026 MLB draft, and his father, Hall of Famer Jim Thome, before a game between the Athletics and the White Sox in Chicago on July 12. (Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
— Landon Thome, 2B/3B, Nazareth Academy (IL). No. 34 overall pick by the White Sox. His father, Jim Thome, ranks eighth on the career home run list with 612 and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018. Like his dad, Landon is a left-handed hitter with a sweet swing. He also has something his dad lacked: speed. Landon stole 54 bases this spring.
— Gavin Grahovac, 1B, Texas A&M. No. 81overall pick by the Angels. His cousin Garrett Mitchell was the No. 20 overall pick out of UCLA in 2020 and is in his fifth MLB season with the Brewers. His father, Mike Grahovac, was a fourth-round pick in 1989 but topped out in Class-A. Scouts project Gavin has having the potential to hit 30 homers a year.
— Peyton Bonds, OF, Rutgers. No. 90 overall pick by the Giants. His uncle, Barry Bonds, is a seven-time MVP who holds the MLB record with 762 career home runs. His grandfather Bobby Bonds hit 332 homers during a 14-year career that ended in 1981. And his father, Bobby Bonds Jr., played 11 seasons in the minor leagues. Peyton is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound center fielder with speed and improving power.
— Rylan Lujo, OF, Georgia. No. 109 overall pick by the Angels. His grandfather is Rennie Stennett, a versatile player whose nine seasons with the Pirates were bracketed by World Series titles in his 1971 rookie season and 1979 finale. Lujo converted from the infield to center field at Georgia and has plus speed.
— Jaxon Willits, SS, Oklahoma. No. 141 overall pick by the Angels. His brother Eli was the first overall pick in last year’s draft, going to the Nationals. Their father, Reggie, played parts of six seasons with the Angels and is now a coach at Oklahoma. Jaxon, 21, is older than Eli, who was the youngest player to go No. 1 overall at 17 years, 216 days old. Both are switch-hitters.
— Will Gasparino, OF, UCLA and Harvard-Westlake High. No. 161 overall to the Phillies. His father, Billy Gasparino, has been a Dodgers executive for 11 years. He is the vice president of baseball operations after being promoted in 2024 from vice president of amateur scouting. Will, a 6-6 right-handed power hitter, transferred from Texas to UCLA before the 2026 season.
— Luke Pettitte, RHP/DH, Dallas Baptist. No. 248 overall to the Yankees. His father, Andy Pettitte, won five World Series pitching for the Yankees. While Andy remains on the Hall of Fame ballot the next two years, his son will be working through the minor leagues, perhaps as a two-way player. Luke had Tommy John surgery after two years pitching for Dallas Baptist, then batted .337 with 16 home runs as a designated hitter last spring.
— Jack Salmon, OF, UNLV and Corona del Mar High. No. 559 overall by the Angels. His uncle Tim Salmon is an Angels legend, a key component of their 2002 World Series championship team who played his entire 14-year career in Anaheim. His father, Mike, had a short stint in the NFL with the 49ers and played football at USC.
— Luke Bard, C, Houston Christian. No. 583 overall by the Dodgers. His father, Josh Bard, spent 10 seasons in the major leagues with five teams and is now the Dodgers’ bullpen coach. Luke batted .345 last season at Houston Christian.
— Carsten Sabathia III, 1B, Houston. No. 611 overall by the Brewers. His father, CC Sabathia, was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2025 who finished his 19-year MLB career with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. He spent one memorable half-season with the Brewers, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA to help them to the playoffs in 2008. Carsten played two years at Georgia Tech before transferring to Houston. He was the third-to-last pick in the draft.
After a rough debut in the Clippers’ first Summer League outing, many fans began writing off top-five draft pick Keaton Wagler, prematurely labeling the guard as a bust.
He didn’t write back though.
The nerves caught up to Wagler during his debut in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, where he tallied seven points on 1-for-7 shooting.
But three days later, he shook those nerves off and showcased the poise he played with as an Illini to lead the Clippers to a blowout win over the Utah Jazz. Wagler led the Clips in scoring with 23 points, going head-to-head with the No. 2 pick in the draft, Darryn Peterson, who also racked up 23 points.
“That second game, all the nerves were out the way,” Wagler said postgame. “I was just playing freely and shots were falling.”
Wagler sank 4-of-7 from 3-point range and showcased his signature step-back to nail his final triple of the night. He also dished out four assists.
Late in the fourth quarter, he even did something that Illini fans had never seen him do in orange and blue: dunk the basketball. If anything, that’s a sign that he’s already adapting to the NBA.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 11: Rafe Perich #38 of the Frisco RoughRiders looks on in the seventh inning during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Frisco Roughriders infielder Rafe Perich has been named the Texas League Player of the Week for the week of July 7-12, it was announced today. In addition, Hickory Crawdads pitcher Evan Siary has been named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for July 7-12.
Perich, the team’s 7th round pick in 2024 out of Lehigh, slashed .464/1.000/1.464 for the week. He started the year with Hub City, and was promoted after 38 games, slashing .303/.394/.606 prior to his promotion. Since being promoted, he’s played 36 games for Frisco and has slashed .324/.420/.662 with 37 Ks against 22 walks in 162 plate appearances.
Siary, an 8th round pick out of Mississippi State last year, struck out ten batters and walked none in six shutout innings for Hickory in his start last week. For the year, he has a 3.39 ERA in 71.2 innings over 15 starts, with 61 Ks against 15 walks.
May 6, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) on the ice before the start of the third period against the Montréal Canadiens in game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres announced on Monday they signed forward Peyton Krebs to a four-year, $18 million contract.
Krebs set career highs with 12 goals and 27 assists last season.
For his career, Krebs has 42 goals and 91 assists with Buffalo and Vegas.
Krebs, 25, has represented Canada at international competitions including the 2023 world championships.
Krebs was a first-round pick by Vegas in the 2019 draft and was acquired by Buffalo in the deal that sent Jack Eichel to Vegas.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Damion Baugh #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves plays defense during the game against the Denver Nuggets during a 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers Date: July 13th, 2026 Time: 10:00 PM CDT Location: Thomas & Mack Center Television Coverage: Prime Video
The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their first loss of Summer League on Saturday night, falling by 19 points to the Denver Nuggets in a game that technically offered Denver a chance to avenge its first-round playoff elimination at Minnesota’s hands. Well, provided everyone agreed to ignore the minor detail that Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and almost every other player who made that postseason rivalry compelling was nowhere near Cox Pavilion.
So yes, Denver got its revenge. It was just the least satisfying version imaginable. That does not mean there was nothing worth watching. Summer League has never been about the stakes attached to the final score. It is about searching for evidence, however incomplete, that a young player may eventually become useful when the games matter. It is the NBA’s annual Rorschach test, only with more missed jumpers and significantly worse transition defense.
Minnesota entered the game without the player Wolves fans were most eager to monitor. Joan Beringer, who opened Summer League with an encouraging 18-point, 12-rebound performance against New Orleans, was held out because of back tightness. In a normal July game, losing one prospect should not completely alter the outlook. For this particular Wolves roster, however, Beringer’s absence mattered because he represents one of the few internal options Minnesota has to address its suddenly depleted frontcourt.
Beringer’s development has taken on more urgency than anyone would have expected a few months ago. He is no longer just an intriguing young big who can be allowed to develop quietly at the back of the rotation. The Wolves need evidence that he can eventually contribute, and possibly sooner than anticipated. His debut against New Orleans supplied some early optimism. His absence against Denver left Minnesota short-handed and removed one of the team’s most natural sources of rebounding, interior activity, and defensive size.
The result was not particularly inspiring. Denver controlled the game, Minnesota struggled to mount a meaningful response. The Wolves did not look especially cohesive, and never found the combination of energy and execution required to cut into Denver’s advantage.
Still, the most important development of the evening was not the 19-point margin. It was Isaiah Evans finally making his debut. Minnesota selected Evans with the 33rd pick in the draft, but he was unable to participate in the Summer League opener while the organization completed the transactions connected to the LaMelo Ball trade. Saturday offered Wolves fans their first real look at the team’s top selection from this draft class, and it would be fair to say that the introduction did not unfold the way Evans probably imagined it during the weeks leading up to Las Vegas.
He struggled to find his shot, never appeared fully comfortable, and looked like a young player trying to adjust to the speed and physicality of a higher level of basketball. That is also completely fine. This is precisely what Summer League is supposed to be for. Evans is a second-round rookie playing his first game in a new environment after being forced to wait for the trade machinery to stop moving before he could even step on the floor. The jury on Evans should therefore remain exactly where it belongs: completely undecided.
He will get more opportunities, beginning Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, to settle into the offense, regain his shooting touch, and display the skills that convinced Minnesota to use its first selection of the draft on him. The important thing is not whether he immediately dominates. It is whether he responds, looks more comfortable, and begins stacking together positive possessions that provide some evidence of future value.
The same applies to the Wolves as a whole. The organization is trying to evaluate Beringer’s readiness, determine whether Roko Zikarsky can provide useful frontcourt depth, get its first meaningful look at Evans, and identify any other player capable of forcing his way into a training camp conversation.
Monday’s game against Portland offers the next set of clues. Monday’s game tips at 10 p.m. Central, which is not ideal for anyone with a normal sleep schedule, a morning job, children, or even the mildest interest in functioning like a responsible adult. Summer League has a way of testing a fan base’s devotion, and staying up past midnight to evaluate second-round picks in July may be the purest version of basketball fandom available.
For the Wolves fans willing to make that sacrifice, Canis Hoopus will have the comments section open and ready.
The stakes remain low, the tip time is unnecessarily late, and the conclusions should remain temporary. But Timberwolves basketball is on television again. For the middle of July, that will have to be enough.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Kingston Flemings #4 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (2-0) vs Atlanta Hawks (2-0) Monday, July 13, 2026 6:00 PM ET Summer League Game #3 TV: NBCSB, Prime Video Cox Pavilion
Both of these teams are undefeated so far in 2 games in Summer League. Atlanta beat Brooklyn 83-76 and then beat San Antonio 93-66. They have 10 rookies on their team along with 1 3-year player, 2 2-year players, and 3 1-year players. The Hawks scoring has been spread out across their players with no player dominating. The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games while the Hawks have had off since Saturday.
The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.
The Hawks are coached by Sanjay Lumpkin. Lumpkin was a video coordinator for the Utah Jazz in 2020-22. He then served as the Jazz Player Development coach for the 2022-23 season. He has been an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2023 until present.
The Celtics are averaging 42.5 rebounds per game while the Hawks are averaging 37.5 rebounds per game. The Celtics need to continue to crash the boards and beat the Hawks to rebounds. The Celtics are turning the ball over 15.5 times per game while the Hawks are averaging 17.5 turnovers. It’s not unusual for Summer League teams to turn the ball over a lot but the Celtics should try to take better care of the ball.
Neither team is shooting the ball very well, but both teams have been able to play enough defense to get wins in both games. The Celtics are shooting 42.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Hawks are shooting 37.5% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to continue to play good defense while improving their shooting.
The Hawks also played in the Salt Lake City Summer League. They played 3 games and went 2-1 in that competition. They lost 103-102 in overtime to the Utah Jazz. They then won their last 2 games, winning 82-77 over the Oklahoma City Thumder and 96-82 over the Memphis Grizzlies. They shot 40.7 from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc over those 3 games. They will have the advantage in chemistry after playing the extra 3 games together.
Celtics Summer League Roster Mohammad Amini #54 R Chris Cenac, Jr #12 R Tucker DeVries #41 R Hugo Gonzalez #28 1 Caleb Grill #37 R Curtis Jones #26 R Kyle Mangas #43 R Dillon Mitchell #20 R Hank Morgan #51 R Nick Pringle #40 R Day Day Thomas #38 R John Tonje #8 R Milos Uzan #29 R Chauncey Wiggins #50 R Alondes Williams #46 3 Amari Williams #77 1
Head Coach Amile Jefferson
Starters in 1st 2 games Curtis Jones John Tonje Hugo Gonzalez Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
Celtics Players to Watch
Hugo Gonzalez | NBAE via Getty Images
Hugo Gonzalez – Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft. In last year’s Summer League, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season. His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes. So far in Summer League he is averaging 15.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game while shooting 23.1% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc. He shot better in Game 2 than Game 1 but still needs some improvement in that area.
Dillon Mitchell – Mitchell is a 4 year college player who was drafted with the 40th pick. He is 6’8″ with a 6’10” wingspan. He is a super athlete, good finisher, rebounder and defender. He averaged 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over 37 games with 25 starts last year. He was named to All Big East 3rd team and Big East All Defensive team. He is an excellent defender but weak on offense. He shot just 19.3% on 3’s and 48.8% on free throws in college. He showed some promise on offense against the Hornets, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games, he is averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 2 blocks while shooting 46.2% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
John Tonje – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline. At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract. His option wasn’t picked up this season but the way he has played in Summer League, he is earning at least a 2 way contract again. He is averaging 18.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 61.5% from beyond the arc. Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft. He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season. He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season. He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season. He is averaging 14.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3 blocks while shooting 64.3% from the field with no 3’s.
Atlanta Hawks Roster RayJ Dennis #0 2 years Kingston Flemmings #4 R Kobe Johnson #12 R Henri Veesaar #13 R Asa Newell #14 1 year Jacob Toppin #15 3 years Kobe Knox #19 R Zuby Ejiofor #20R Game Madsen #22 R Devon Higgs #26 R Isaac McKneely #27 R Cameron Horhen #28 R Eli Ndiaye #30 1 year Zeke Mayo #39 R Isaiah Wong #45 2 years Keshon Gilbert #51 1 year Head Coach Sanjay Lumpkin
Hawks Starters for Both Games Kingston Flemings Isaac McKneeley Gabe Madsen Asa Newell Zuby Ejiofor
Hawks Players to Watch
Kobe Johnson | Getty Images
Kobe Johnson – Johnson played 2 years in college at USC and UCLA. He went undrafted in 2025. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract in 2025 with the Hawks but was waived before the season. He played last season with the College Park Skyhawks in the G-League. His older brother, Jalen, plays for the Atlanta Hawks. He is averaging 14 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field and 25.3% from beyond the arc.
Zuby Ejiofor – Ejiofor was the 23rd pick in this year’s draft. He played 1 year at Kansas and 3 years at St Johns in college where he averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2/1 blocks per game in his senior year. He was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Player of the Year. He is averaging 12.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.
Henri Veesaar – Veesaar is an Estonian player who played 3 years at Arizona and 1 year at North Carolina. He was the 52nd pick by the Clippers in this year’s draft and was traded on draft night to Atlanta. His senior year, he averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He has signed a 4 year contract with the Hawks. He is averaging 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 61.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Kingston Flemings – Flemings was the 8th pick in this year’s draft. He played 1 year of college ball at Houston with Chris Cenac, Jr. He was 2nd team All American and 1st team All Big 12. He started 37 games and averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc. In Summer League, he is averaging 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1 block while shooting 33.3% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 12: Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Tim Tawa (13) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 12, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Diamondbacks continue to hang at the .500 mark, give or take. Do you see a path forward to break out of that rut?
James Attwood: Bottom line, the team, top to bottom, needs to get more consistent and find a way to stay healthy. Granted, that’s easier said than done. But if they can stay healthy and simply stop fluctuating so much, they could climb to about 4-5 games over .500, which will keep them in the chase for the final Wild Card, but still on the outside looking in. They will also need a strong trade deadline, but that will largely depend on how the present roster produces.
Justin: No, not really. I have resigned our fate to being about a 79-82 win team.
Spencer: Sure it exists. Not sure how real it is, but the rotation is starting to FINALLY round into good form. We’ll see if that is stopped by the MLB Draft Break.
1AZFan1: Of course! This team is hanging around .500 with prolonged cold streaks from Corbin, Domo and Ketel at different points of the season and mostly getting negative contributions from Kelly, Pfaadt and Gallen. Kelly and Pfaadt have both looked better recently (though I don’t know how much to trust it) and I think we’ve probably seen the worst from all three of our hitters at the top of the lineup. If our 3 at the top of the lineup are just around their averages for the rest year and we don’t have the 3 worst starting pitchers in baseball in the second half, I think we can push toward 85 wins. Having Kepler and whoever plays first base being at least warm bodies compared to Pavin and ADC would just be icing on the cake.
Dano_in_Tucson: Sure. The team needs to finally get its act together and start playing more complete baseball games, in which the offense, the defense, and the pitching are all pulling in the same direction. We show flashes of doing so from time to time, and I think the talent is mostly there to make it possible to do it more consistently. The consistency, though, is key.
DBacksEurope: I do not see a clear path. My pre-season prediction was a bit below .500 so it would go against my own “beliefs” to try and convince myself and others that we could do better than that. However, there are possibilities. Fresh blood getting a chance and tearing things up is one possible reason. Gallen getting “injured” and using new twists after July, just like last year, is another. Kelly not being homerun garbage is another. Finding some easy pickups at 1B and DH, i.e. a team dumping players in Arizona who can benefit from a fresh start with the Snakes is another, Burnes, Puk and Martinez returning from injury could be the final push. Everything that could go well, would have to go well.
What needs to happen in the next three weeks to convince you that the Diamondbacks should be buyers?
James Attwood: Do more than just claw to a few games over .500. This team needs to go on a mini-run where some of the struggling arms start looking better. The team gets healthy and the offense clicks again. If Arizona can do all that and there is any stumble in the standings head of them, then it would make plenty of sense to lean towards buying.
Justin: Looking at the schedule, they have 3 series’ against teams that are right now either around .500 or under. (-Oakland- A’s, Pirates, and Nationals.) They also have a series against St. Louis and a make up game against them as well. Maybe if they go 8-5, splitting the Cardinals and winning the other 3 series? That would give us a 55-52 record, if Ia mnot mistaken.
Just don’t do anything crazy.
Spencer: Simple. Win more games than they lose. Close enough and experienced enough that buying should still be the default. There isn’t much to trade away as is, so may as well try.
1AZFan1: Taking the series at Dodger Stadium was a good first step. Beyond that, it all comes down to where we’re at in the standings. If we’re within 3ish games of the Wild Card, I’d be good to buy. If we’re further than 5 games back, sell. The strange thing about this year’s Wild Card compared to just about every other year that we’ve been chasing it in this 3 W.C. system, is that all 3 slots are still in play. There isn’t 1 team running away with either of the top spots yet. Before games on Sunday, we are 3.5 games out of the 3rd slot and 5 games out of the 1st. Last year, after July 12th, the 1st Wild Card was 3 games clear of the 3rd Wild Card and the 2 years prior to that the 1st Wild Card was 4 games clear of the 3rd slot.
Dano_in_Tucson:See “Consistency,” above. The Doyers series this weekend is a strong start–despite all their terrifying bats and very expensive pitching, we are playing better team baseball than they are, by at least a mile. If we could continue to do that after the All Star Break and through the remainder of July, buying could actually make sense.
DbacksEurope: We shouldn’t be buyers but I can see Hazen filling a position with need with a player that would be in Arizona for more than just the rest of the season. That isn’t a bad strategy.
Pavin Smith has been DFA’d. Who would you like see take control of first base going forward?
James Attwood: Probably LuJames Groover or Jose Fernandez for now. If Tyler Locklear can ever get right again, I wouldn’t mind seeing him get another crack at it. I think the eventual answer to the position is probably not ready for the Majors yet though.
Justin: I dunno. Tawa.
Spencer: Vladdy? But seriously, Locklear. He’s earned it. If he fails, probably Groover then Fernandez? I haven’t been paying attention to who may be available in a trade, but my assumption is that’s the true answer.
1AZFan1: I’d like to see Tyler Locklear do it. I’m not positive why he hasn’t been given an opportunity yet considering the historic woefulness we’ve had at that position this year, but I really want to see him get another shot. Tawa had a great weekend and Vargas has a great glove, but they both have valuable gloves elsewhere (and I don’t trust Tawa to be quite that good rest of season). Locklear is the only major league ready guy in the system whose only viable defensive position is 1B. Plus, right now he’s hot. The last week, his OPS in Reno is 1.996! For the season, his batting average is now above .300 and he’s got his lowest K% over a sustained period of time in his career. I know he left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth from his stint with us last year, but his lack of positional flexibility compared with everyone else makes me want to know for certain if he can stick or if he’s organizational filler.
Dano_in_Tucson: For the love of god, ANYBODY! As of now, as I answer these questions while I wait for first pitch for the Sunday game, it seems like Tim Tawa is making a strong and emphatic case at the moment. If that continues, then great, the job is his. I suppose that, in the longer term, I’d probably want to see Locklear get another shot and do a good job and establish himself as our first baseman of the future, but really I just want someone to step up and demonstrate that they can (a) field the position and (b) contribute on offense in a way that is in line with what major league teams expect from their corner infielders. Doesn’t seem like that should be too much to ask for, but, well, here we are.
DbacksEurope: Paul Goldschmidt.
If you had the ability, what is one change you would make to All Star Week?
James Attwood: I haven’t been a fan of the ASG since 2003, so this is a hard one for me. I guess, as a fan of the sport that wants to grow the game for the fans, regardless of what the bean-counting suits want, I would make the entirety of the festivities free OTA.
Justin: Do away with the 3 on 3, team captains select the teams like a school yard team. Oh, you meant baseball…
Spencer: I would end it. It’s the most boring week of summer for me, especially with the Draft occurring while baseball still happens. I’d be fine with moving it to the end of season too, but it’s so uninteresting that I’d prefer to just remove it altogether. Create a new award for players and stop pretending like it’s something to care about.
1AZFan1: I think MLB’s All-Star Week is easily the best of the major sports leagues. The Home Run Derby is the main attraction and it gets all the big names, unlike the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest. The game itself is usually pretty good, too. Definitely better than the NFL’s flag football abomination. If I were to change anything, it would just be a tweak around the edges because it really is a good product right now. I saw Bryce Harper pitched using metal bats in the bonus round of the HR Derby which might be cool. I’d at least like to see it once to see if it’s value added.
Dano_in_Tucson: II don’t know that it would have even occurred to me to suggest this before 2026 arrived, but I would ensure that there were no All Star Week events (the game, the red carpet, the Home Run Derby, etc) that were gated behind streaming service paywalls. Put it all on broadcast television, ideally, so that anyone and everyone could watch, or at the very least give it to a universally available basic cable channel like ESPN. But giving the Home Run Derby to friggin’ Netflix? Eff you, Major League Baseball. Eff you.
DbacksEurope: With so many stats, add some more contests. Like a run the bases contest, furthest throws, running the outfield, best infield defence…there are many ways to enhance the days before the all star game beside the home run contest.
