On Thursday night, the Indiana Pacers defended their home court one final time to force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pacers, who entered the series as massive underdogs and will be again for Sunday’s winner-take-all matchup, still have a big mountain to climb in order to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
But fear not, Indiana. Draymond Green detailed what he believes the Pacers’ game plan should be if they want to come out on top in Game 7.
“I think the Pacers win this game by Rick Carlisle coming out and out-coaching Mark Daigneault,” Green told co-host Baron Davis. “This is the biggest game in Mark Daigneault’s coaching career. This is his first time playing in a game of this magnitude. Rick Carlisle coached a team to a championship.”
Carlisle won the 2011 NBA Finals as the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, while Daigneault has no previous Finals coaching experience.
“I think that’s their upper hand, is Rick has been there, and I think Rick has something in his back pocket,” Green continued. “If I’m Rick, here’s my game plan.
“OKC, at times, struggles to score. I think we all can agree on that. Every time [Jalen Williams] comes off a pick-and-roll, I’m all-out blitzing him. … He’s also not accustomed to getting blitzed, so you can throw something at him that he hasn’t seen, and he has to try to adjust to that in the biggest game of his life, with all the money on the line.”
Meanwhile, Green advocated for a less aggressive defensive strategy against NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He believes the Pacers should guard the Thunder’s top scorer one-on-one with Andrew Nembhard and not help off their outside shooters, including Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins.
“I’m staying home on all of those guys,” Green explained. “If Shai goes for 50 [points], beat us with your 50. We’re not letting these guys get anything. Because if Caruso gets 16, Lu Dort gets 12 to 14, and Wiggins gets 12 to 14, [the Pacers] stand no chance at winning.”
On the other end, Green’s game plan for the Pacers offense revolves around Tyrese Haliburton quickly pushing the ball up the floor to Pascal Siakam in transition.
“I’m telling Haliburton — which he does, but I’m telling him to make it a point — advance the ball to Pascal out ahead every time. Pascal can then get to the paint,” Green detailed. “He’s the only player on their team that can draw a double team, and he even does it in transition.”
Then, Green says, Siakam can either finish at the rim against a single defender or kick it out to the perimeter against a double team, allowing his Pacers teammates to take advantage of the added space.
Will Carlisle opt to mimic Coach Draymond’s game plan? If so, will the strategy work?
Millions of NBA fans will tune in Sunday evening to find out.
The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.
Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.
“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”
So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.
“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”
The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and No. 31 (Oilers trade).
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Jack Nesbitt
Position: Center Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 186 Shoots: Left Team: Windsor
Scouting report
Nesbitt has excellent length and smarts, which make him super effective on the forecheck and finishing in close.
With more opportunity down the stretch, the 18-year-old pivot stood out on a loaded 2024-25 Spitfires club. From February to the end of the regular season, he put up 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 18 games.
For a team that had 124-point Ilya Protas and 119-point Liam Greentree, Nesbitt recorded 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 65 games. Six of his goals came on the power play, two were at shorthanded and he won 51.4 percent of his faceoffs. He added 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 12 playoff games.
“He’s a player that, like, it’s unanimous with our group,” Dan Marr, the vice president of NHL Central Scouting, said June 11 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Nesbitt is the 15th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. When Marr worked for the Maple Leafs as an amateur scout, Toronto drafted Nesbitt’s head coach Greg Walters in 1990. Thanks to that connection, Marr had no problem letting Walters know about his displeasure with Nesbitt’s minutes earlier in the season.
“I was getting mad at him because I didn’t think he was playing him enough,” Marr, who worked in scouting and player development for over 20 years, said. “But I give the kid credit, the kid earned more and more ice time as the season went along, they had him out in more key situations.”
The knock on Nesbitt right now would be his lack of foot speed. His ability to separate and score will need work. But he brings intriguing size down the middle and a fluid skating stride.
“We think his upside is really, really strong,” Marr said. “I think teams will step up for him. It was consensus with our group and I think it’s consensus with a lot of NHL teams. Windsor was very well-scouted near the end of the year and in the playoffs just because he continued to elevate his game as the season went along. So I think this is a player that teams will step up for. He has got so much room to grow, so much room.”
“This is a guy who can really move well, he has got good hands and he has got a decent touch around the net,” Marr said. “Just his hockey instincts, with and without the puck, they’re very, very impressive.”
(Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)
Fit with Flyers
So much has been made of the Flyers potentially landing a center at No. 6. But if they were to snag Nesbitt with their second or third first-round pick, that would add some solid depth at a position of need.
His strengths are in the details of the game, so his floor at worst might be a third-line center. But his ceiling really seems to be high and he could be in for an offensive breakout as he becomes a go-to guy with the Spitfires.
The Flyers went the OHL route in the first round last summer when they took speedy center Jett Luchanko. Nesbitt would be another OHL center with some all-situation qualities.
SAN FRANCISCO – Red Sox manager Alex Cora was in no mood to discuss the tiny details and nuances behind Boston’s decision to trade Rafael Devers to the Giants earlier this week. In Cora’s view, it was nothing more than a simple baseball move.
For all the talk circulating about Devers being a problem child in the Red Sox clubhouse and having serious communication issues with management after the team wanted him to change positions, Cora instead focused on the good that Devers brought to Boston.
“He produced,” said Cora, who acknowledged it will be ‘awkward’ to see Devers in another uniform. “You look at the list of homers in the franchise, 500 extra-base hits, the World Series ring. There’s a lot of stuff Raffy did for us that we’re going to miss. We’re very proud of him. To face him here, it’s going to be different.
“I appreciate everything he did for us, everything he did for me. This weekend we have to get him out. We’re prepared for that, and obviously he’s prepared to do the opposite.”
The deal happened so abruptly that Devers left the East Coast and flew to San Francisco before many of his Red Sox teammates had learned about the trade.
“He’s been a cornerstone of this franchise for a long time. To see him on TV in a different uniform is weird,” Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story said. “Once we’re out there it’ll be good to see him and talk to him and kind fo say bye. We didn’t really get to talk to him (when the trade happened).”
Story said he felt the Red Sox handled the news of the trade well, noting that they had to move on quickly.
“I wouldn’t say a gut-punch. I would say it’s more of a shock to the system a bit,” Story said. “I think we did a good job of not letting that hang around. There’s ball to be played and we know we still have a good team.”
When a Boston reporter asked Cora if he felt the need to meet with Devers at any point to clear the air, the Red Sox manager basically shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s baseball, it’s a business, that’s how it works,” Cora said. “People have their opinions about the whole thing, communication, first base, the age, third base, the manager, GM, owners, whatever. It’s a baseball trade. From my end I turn the page.
“Nothing in this business is personal. That’s something that throughout the years I always tell then, We agree on a lot of stuff, we disagree in others. Xander Bogaerts is in San Diego, it’s not personal. Mookie Betts is in LA, it’s not personal. Raffy Devers is with the Giants, it’s not personal.”
It’s personal for the Giants, who now boast a bat in their lineup capable of changing the direction of this season by his presence alone.
ST. LOUIS -- Now that the 2024-25 season is behind and the Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions, it's a quick turnaround for everyone looking ahead to 2025-26.
For the St. Louis Blues, the focus turns to the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles on June 27-28, where they'll -- barring trade(s) -- have a first-, a fifth-, and a sixth-round pick and no rest for the weary because free agency then kicks off July 1st.
There's also a development camp, which takes place June 30-July 3 and features some of the top prospects in the organization, but for the immediate needs, what will be the focus of the Blues to improve on their 44-30-8 record and entry into the playoffs for the first time in three years?
Do the Blues look to alter the blue line, where it has already been confirmed that veteran Torey Krug's days in the NHL are likely over barring a miraculous recovery from an arthritic condition in his left ankle? Will veterans Justin Faulk and/or Nick Leddy be in play on the trade market?
The Blues have all sorts of options on the table and just north of $13 million in cap space at their disposal should they get the green light to use it or choose to use it.
The NHL’s free-agency period is fast approaching, so it’s time to break down the key free agents who will soon be on the open market.
We began the process by looking at the top seven looming UFA defensemen. And today, we’re turning our attention to the league’s top-six soon-to-be UFA wingers.
1. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Far and away the most high-profile UFA, Marner is heavily rumoured not to be returning to the Maple Leafs, his hometown team and only employer in his nine-year NHL career. Marner set new personal bests on offense in 2024-25, including 75 assists and 102 points in 81 games. He’s going to get a significant raise on the $10.9 million he made last season, and the only question is which new team he’ll be playing for next year.
At 28 years old, Marner is in his prime, and he’s likely to choose a team close to winning a Stanley Cup. That could be the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights or a different team. But regardless of where he goes, Marner is going to be earning north of $12 million, and there will be plenty of teams willing to pony up that amount for him.
2. Brad Marchand, LW, Florida Panthers
Few NHLers earned themselves more of a raise in the 2025 post-season than Marchand, who posted 10 goals and 20 points in 23 playoff games. Marchand was always likely to get some sort of raise heading into the playoffs, but his dominance when games matter most is what will be driving his asking price well beyond the $6.125 million he earned in 2024-25.
The 37-year-old Marchand may be looking at his final NHL contract, so contract length could be the difference between him choosing one team over another. But there’s no question teams including the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will be highly motivated to add his championship pedigree and dogged-determination-to-win to the table. Marchand did all the right things this year, and his salary is going to get a giant boost because of it.
3. Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks
In eight full NHL seasons, Boeser has posted six seasons in which he’s had at least 23 goals, and while the 2024-25 campaign was a down year for him, in 2023-24, he put up a career-best 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games. Staying healthy has been an issue for the 28-year-old, but that’s not going to stop many teams from offering Boeser much more than the $6.65 million he earned last season.
At the end of last year, Boeser talked like his days as a Canuck are over. And the Minnesota native may well want to play closer to home. But a number of teams will be jostling to employ him, and he ultimately may choose a team he sees as being closest to winning a Cup. Could that be the New York Rangers? Maybe the Bruins or Maple Leafs? Time will tell, but it’s clear Boeser will be one of the first UFAs snapped up once July 1 arrives.
4. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
The 29-year-old Ehlers tied his career-high in assists (39) this season, and with 63 points in 69 games, he came within one point of matching his career best in points. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the lifelong Jet, and now, he’s assured of being the subject of a bidding war for his services.
Ehlers’ 2024-25 salary of $6 million will be dwarfed by his next contract, which is likely to be for seven or eight seasons in length. Winnipeg has done well when it comes to retaining its free agents, so there’s a chance Ehlers remains a Jet. But if his asking price gets too high, Winnipeg may part ways with him. And a team like the Detroit Red Wings or Chicago Blackhawks could turn out to be his new employer.
5. Patrick Kane, RW, Detroit Red Wings
When he left the Blackhawks in 2023, Kane had his longevity as an elite winger questioned by some. But since then, mostly as part of a young Wings team, Kane has shown he has lots left in his competitive tank, posting two years of at least 20 goals and 47 points.
Now, Kane has a different choice before him: sticking with Detroit and trying to get the Red Wings into the post-season for the first time since 2016, or going in another direction, and signing with a team like the Leafs, Rangers, Minnesota Wild or Kings. The 36-year-old is likely looking for a two or three-year contract, but so long as his average annual salary is in the area of $4 million, Kane will have his choice of several potential employers.
6. Claude Giroux, RW, Ottawa Senators
When he went home to play for the Senators in 2022, Giroux was coming off a year in which he put up 21 goals and 65 points in a season split between the Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers. But after his first season in Ottawa, where he posted 35 goals and 79 points, Giroux’s productivity has fallen off in successive seasons, dropping to 15 goals and 50 points last season.
Thus, Giroux’s asking price for his next contract will probably be for a maximum of the $6.5 million he made in 2024-25. Surely, the Sens will be interested in bringing him back, but Giroux could choose to sign with a different team. Ottawa isn’t flush with cap space, so perhaps another team – say, the Montreal Canadiens – could swoop in and scoop him up.
In any case, teams that lose out on one of the aforementioned UFA wingers could make Giroux a priority, and that should keep his salary around the same number as it was last year.
Another potential issue for Benn is that his offensive numbers took a serious hit in 2024-25, as he generated only 16 goals and 49 points in 80 regular-season games. And in 18 playoff games, Benn produced only one goal and three points.
Teams will value Benn’s experience and grit, but the 35-year-old may have a tough choice to make this summer: take the biggest payday he can find, regardless of where it is, or accept a gigantic pay cut to sign with a true Cup contender.
There were several revelations in Lee’s report, including chief baseball officer Craig Breslow firing a longtime scouting supervisor for calling him a “f—ing stiff” during a Zoom meeting. Lee also explained how Devers’ frustration with the club’s poor communication ultimately led to him being sent to the San Francisco Giants.
In May, Devers publicly called out Breslow for asking him to replace the injured Triston Casas as Boston’s primary first baseman. The club eventually turned to rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell to take practice reps at first base, and according to Lee, Devers’ took issue with Campbell “volunteering” to play the position.
“According to multiple sources, Devers was also upset when the rookie Campbell volunteered to play first base this season — interpreting it as a slight to his own stature,” Lee wrote.
“That was false,” Campbell told reporters Friday at Polar Park, via MassLive’s Katie Morrison-Day. “First off, Raffy never came to me, never had a problem with it. We were always cool. He’s an extremely great player, extremely great person. He’s a very kind person and a good teammate.
“Second, I would say I never went to the Red Sox to play first base. They came to me and asked me if I could play first base because we didn’t have one at the time. That’s when Casas went down, and I said I would do it because it would make the team better and I would be willing to learn the position. That was basically how it went down.”
While he often worked out at first base after Casas’ injury, Campbell never ended up playing the position in a game for Boston. The Red Sox instead have primarily gone with the combination of hot-hitting Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez.
Campbell will get some playing time at first base as he aims to get back on track in Worcester. He’ll also play second and center field, but he told reporters that first base will be “the priority.”
As for Devers, the three-time All-Star said he is open to playing anywhere for San Francisco. He has already practiced at first base, though he won’t play the position when the Red Sox visit Oracle Park for a three-game series starting Friday night.
And, now, his supporting cast has been made official.
On Jun. 20, the Penguins announced that they have brought on assistant coaches Todd Nelson, Nick Bonino, and Rich Clunen as well as Troy Paquette, who will be the team's assistant video coach under Madison Nikkel.
Andy Chiodo will remain on the staff as the team's goaltending coach.
Nelson, 56, has been the head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears - affiliate of the Washington Capitals - for the past three seasons and won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024. He has also coached the Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins as part of his AHL resume - earning 450 total AHL wins, which is the fifth-highest mark in AHL history - and his coaching experience at the NHL level includes the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers - which was a brief stint as head coach in 2014-15.
A bonus nuggest? Nelson, a former defenseman, was drafted by the Penguins in 1989, appearing in only one NHL game with the organization.
“With over two decades of coaching experience, Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself,” Muse said. “He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, most recently in Hershey, and his leadership qualities and wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to build a culture of excellence.”
Bonino, 37, said publicly that he would be joining the Penguins' staff on Wednesday. He was selected in the sixth round (173rd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and spent parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
He was part of the famous "HBK Line" - which also included Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin - that helped lead Pittsburgh to its 2016 championship. Bonino did see a short-lived second stint in Pittsburgh during the 2022-23 season post-trade deadline, appearing in only three games due to injury.
In his NHL career - primarily as a responsible, shutdown two-way centerman - Bonino registered 159 goals and 358 points in 868 games, including 27 goals and 66 points across his two full seasons in Pittsburgh.
“Nick's understanding of what it takes to win at the NHL level is unmatched, and his unique experience as a player who filled many different roles over the course of his career will only help him as an assistant coach,” Muse said. “His familiarity with the Penguins organization, as well as my familiarity with him as a player, and person, made him a great fit for this role, and we’re excited to welcome him to our coaching staff as he enters the next phase of his career.”
An assistant for the Anaheim Ducks last season, the 37-year-old Clune was also involved with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization in player development as well as with the AHL's Toronto Marlies as an assistant coach in 2023.
The specific roles on the coaching staff for Nelson, Bonino, and Clune have yet to be announced.
Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday morning that both Matthew Stienburg and Jason Polin have signed one-year deals with the organization through the 2026 season.
Both Stienburg and Polin were RFAs heading into this upcoming offseason.
From Halifax, Nova Scotia, Stienburg spent most of last season nursing an upper-body injury. Prior to sustaining his injury on November 1st, he played in three games with the Eagles, earning three points (1G/2A). He returned during the Eagles' postseason run, playing in three total games before they were eliminated by the Abbotsford Canucks.
Stienburg made his NHL debut on October 16th with the Avalanche, finishing the stint off with eight total games. During his time with the Avalanche, on October 30th, he made a hit against the boards that earned him a two-game suspension for charging. His suspension was served during a call-up to the Avalanche for their playoff run against the Dallas Stars.
The 24-year-old was selected by the Avalanche in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Prior to his professional career, he played with Cornell University, appearing in 73 games and tallying 46 points (20G/26A).
We've signed Jason Polin to a one-year contract through the 2025-26 season ✍️ pic.twitter.com/z1qFI4M4vb
From Holt, Michigan, Jason Polin appeared in 39 regular-season games for the Colorado Eagles last season, totaling 19 points (11G/8A) despite missing a good portion of the season due to injury. He dressed for seven games in their most recent postseason run, during which he scored his first professional postseason goal.
The 26-year-old made his NHL debut in January of 2024 and has appeared in nine games for the Avalanche. He scored his first NHL goal on January 16th, 2024 against the Ottawa Senators.
Polin has skated in 88 AHL games, earning 30 total points (15G/15A) across that run. He signed with the Colorado Eagles as a college free agent in March of 2023.
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Whenever I post stat lines and highlights of some of the Mets' top pitching prospects on X (@PSLToFlushing if you don’t already follow, I think you should!), my mentions get lit up to "call up prospect X."
Whenever pitchers land on the injured list, like Kodai Senga or Tylor Megill, I see similar responses to call up a prospect to take their place.
While that is certainly more exciting for the fanbase, myself included, the organization must have a big picture outlook.
An example: Friday’s series-opener against the Phillies did line up with No. 3 prospect Nolan McLean’s scheduled day to throw, but Friday’s start is being made by his Triple-A teammate, Blade Tidwell.
Adding McLean to the 40-man roster and starting his service time clock when he still has a few things to work on just to make one spot start frankly would not have been a wise organizational decision.
Especially so when you consider the fact that Frankie Montas (next week) and Sean Manaea (in the next couple of weeks) are expected to return to the rotation. Despite their rehab assignments being up-and-down, the Mets are paying them roughly a combined $40 million this year, and they both have very recent big league success. They are going to get spots in this rotation.
While teams are building in perpetuity, the most important thing for the Mets is winning right now. The juxtaposition of that is that a team requires young talent to impact the major league team to be able to pursue sustained success.
This begs the question of, when will these pitching prospects get an extended opportunity at the big league level?
I think the answer is different for each individual, and at its core, the answer really should be… when they are ready to come up without the thought that they will have to go back to the minors. Things don’t always work ideally or according to plan, but that is the objective.
Tidwell made his big league debut earlier this year in what amounted to a spot start against the Cardinals. It wasn’t a debut to remember for Tidwell, as he lasted 3.2 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs and three walks while striking out two.
May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell (40) makes his debut pitching appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. / Tim Vizer-Imagn Images
It’s been an up-and-down year for Tidwell at Triple-A, with a 4.76 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts). He still possesses swing-and-miss stuff, headlined by a fastball that will touch 98 mph.
With him being on the 40-man roster, he could fill in as a spot starter like he is on Friday or potentially fill a longer-term role in the second half -- either in the rotation or the bullpen, where his stuff could tick up in shorter sprints.
Sproat entered the season as the No. 1 prospect in the Mets system after a breakout 2024 season. But it certainly has been an uneven season at the Triple-A level for Sproat, with a 5.31 ERA in 13 starts. However, things have begun to look better over his last 4 starts, where he has a 2.95 ERA in 21.1 innings.
He is a changed pitcher in 2025, as far as his pitch mix goes. Sproat still sports mid-to-upper 90s velocity, but in 2024 in Triple-A, he threw his four-seam fastball 51.7 percent of the time and his sinker just 1.1 percent of the time. In 2025 he is throwing his four-seamer much less, at 28.2 percent of the time, and his sinker much more, at 22.1 percent of the time.
The byproduct of that is he is generating significantly fewer swings and misses, but he has avoided barrels at an elite rate (2.8 percent barrel rate) and become a ground ball merchant with a 54.2 percent ground ball rate.
Sproat also has three pitches graded above average by Stuff+, so while the numbers on the surface aren’t exciting, there are still reasons under the hood to believe in Sproat as a future big league starter. I don’t look at Sproat as a particularly ideal fit in a bullpen role, but if a rotation spot were to open in the second half, Sproat warrants consideration.
McLean, the No. 3 prospect in the system, entered 2025 for the first time in his entire life as exclusively a pitcher. He was a two-way player growing up, in college at Oklahoma State and until midseason last year in professional baseball. In 12 games split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, McLean has a 2.08 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 65 innings.
He still needs to iron out some command issues (he is walking 4.0 batters-per-nine) and a couple of his secondary offerings, but I think McLean is close to big league ready.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park / Jim Rassol - USA TODAY Sports
McLean's sweeper is his highest percentage offering, and it is genuinely one of the best pitches in all of minor league baseball. He has essentially an even split of usage of his sinker and four-seam fastball, which he will throw 94-96 mph. He also throws a cutter, changeup, and will infrequently spin a curve.
McLean is the pitcher of this group I would most expect to make an impact in 2025, whether it's because a long-term rotation spot opens up, or in August or September as a weapon out of the bullpen. It is worth noting that McLean was a reliever in college and he could trim his pitch mix and be a power reliever down the stretch -- a strategy that has been used by many playoff teams in the past.
I will preface this saying I do not believe Tong will make his major league debut in 2025. With that out of the way, Tong has emerged as one of the biggest rising pitchers in all of minor league baseball. He has now reached unanimous top 100 prospect status in baseball.
In 12 starts with Double-A Binghamton, Tong has a 1.97 ERA in 59.1 innings. He is second in all of minor league baseball with 96 strikeouts. Among all minor league pitchers with at least 40 innings, he is second in strikeout percentage (40.7 percent), tied for second in batting average against (.141) and fifth in FIP (2.07).
He comes equipped with a fastball that sits 93-95 and will touch 97 mph with elite carry, and an old-school 12-6 curveball that he loves to throw. A big addition this year has been the Vulcan-grip changeup that has generated swings and misses. Tong also has a cutter and a hard slider that he is tinkering with different shapes on.
Tong admitted himself while recently speaking with SNY that he does need to continue to work on his command, as his 4.4 walks-per-nine can stand to improve. Other than a slightly elevated walk rate, he is dominating the Double-A level. I suspect a promotion to Triple-A is not far away and that it may simply be a bit of a numbers game right now as to why he isn’t already there.
The command will be something to monitor as the Triple-A level changes to the major league ball, and with the presence of both veteran hitters and the ABS challenge system. But I believe Tong is ready for that next challenge. He will be an arm to watch to make a potentially significant impact in 2026.
The Mets have some returning veterans to the rotation, but they also have some young talent getting ready to knock on the door of the big leagues over not just the next couple months, but the next couple years -- with names even beyond the list above.
Stanley Borden, the final basketball player still in college to have played for Mike Krzyzewski, has announced he is transferring to UTSA from Duke. The 7-foot Borden was a walk-on for the Blue Devils, joining the team in 2021 — the last of the Hall of Fame coach's career. “Everything that everyone has heard or said in terms of aura and energy is all there,” Borden said Thursday in a phone interview from Istanbul, where his family lives.
The 38-year-old ran Anaheim's power play last season, which finished at an NHL-worst 11.8 percent. The Ducks also finished 25th in the league with 80 points. Clune had been captain of the Marlies for part of two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) before shifting into a development role with the organization after retirement in August 2022.
Following former Anaheim head coach Greg Cronin's dismissal in April, questions arose about the rest of the team's coaching staff. A month later, the Ducks announced that Clune and assistant coach Brent Thompson would not return next season.
This will be Clune's second season behind an NHL bench as an assistant coach.
"Rich brings a wealth of knowledge across every level of professional hockey, spanning from his 15-year playing career to his time in development and coaching at the AHL and NHL levels over the past three years," Muse said.
"Rich’s experience in coaching, development and as a former player and captain will be extremely valuable in this role, and we’re excited for his addition to our coaching staff."
After four seasons with the Marlies, Paquette joins the Penguins as an assistant video coach. Before joining AHL Toronto in 2021, Paquette spent three seasons with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs (2018 to 2021) and two as a goaltending coach with USports' Queen's University (2019 to 2021).
Ortiz posted a photo of himself with his retired number in the Fenway outfield with a message that read:
“The thing is that to have some like this at Boston you have to just not be a hitter you have to be the full package a all the way around player… go Sox.”
This added to some choice words Ortiz told The Athletic on Monday, just one day after the trade first was reported.
“I know the communication between Devers and the Red Sox wasn’t the best at the very beginning,” Ortiz told The Athletic. “But at some point, you have to realize the organization has the power over everyone. They can play you, trade you, let you go. Sometimes, as a young player, it’s hard to understand that.
“But they have the power to do whatever they want. The only thing you can control is what you do on the field.”
“Big Papi” ’s remarks didn’t go over well with everyone with ties to the Red Sox, however, as his former teammate Pedro Martinez had his own thoughts on the situation and even mentioned Ortiz as a possible influence on the Devers-Red Sox relationship deteriorating.
“Big Papi also made a mistake in spring training by speaking in front of the cameras about some of the things that he needed to tell Devers,” Martinez said. “And just like I said before, that should’ve been handled in-house. Big Papi should’ve gone out with Devers to talk about those things, not really openly speaking in the field, because the cameras are able to pick up everything that we say.”
The 28-year-old Devers repeatedly told reporters before Friday night’s game that he wants to move on as he turns a new page in his career, and it starts with facing his former club just three games into his Giants career.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Mitch Marner's camp had not engaged in contract talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It seemed certain that the 28-year-old winger would move on to another club when free agency begins on July 1.
However, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that Marner had not informed the Leafs that he wouldn't return. He added that they could still be part of the bidding when he goes to market.
Dreger also indicated that Marner and his representatives intend to take their time fielding contract offers and visiting with the interested clubs, planning to reach a decision by mid-July.
The Marner camp may be willing to keep the Maple Leafs in the mix, but they could move on without him by July 1. Whatever they do leading up to that date will be the determining factor.
PuckPedia indicates the Leafs have $25.7 million in cap space with 17 active roster players under contract. Part of it will go toward a new contract for RFA power forward Matthew Knies, and perhaps re-signing UFA forwards John Tavares and Max Pacioretty to affordable short-term deals.
The rest could be used to attempt a major acquisition via trade at the upcoming NHL Draft (June 27-28) or via free agency.
Sam Bennett could become a Leafs target if the Florida Panthers center tests the market on July 1. However, the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner reportedly doesn't have Toronto on his list of preferred destinations.
Speaking of UFA forwards, Brock Boeser will be among the notable names available on July 1. The 28-year-old right winger has scored 20-plus goals six times in his nine seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, including a career-best 40 goals in 2023-24.
Ben Kuzma of The Province wonders if Boeser might head to New York and reunite with former Canucks teammate J.T. Miller, who was traded to the Rangers in January. He pointed out they could use a top-six scoring winger after shipping Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks last week.
Kuzma projected Boeser could seek a long-term deal with an average annual value of $8.5 million on his next contract. If so, that could put him out of the Rangers' price range.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported the Rangers have around $14.5 million in cap space after re-signing center Matt Rempe earlier this week. He anticipates part of that will go toward re-signing RFAs Will Cuylle and K'Andre Miller, or Miller's replacement if he's traded.
It could take up $10 million of their cap space to retain Cuylle and Miller, leaving little to add Boeser without making another cost-cutting trade.
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What are the 2025 NBA Draft dates?
The NBA draft will take place over two days for the second straight year. The first round, which includes the first 30 picks, is on Wednesday, June 25, followed by Round 2 on Thursday, June 26.
What is the 2025 NBA Draft location?
The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets in New York, is hosting the entire draft.
Why are there only 59 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft?
