Posts

Posted on

MLB All-Star Game: Rotoworld staff picks for the 2025 Midsummer Classic

We are just a week away from the Midsummer Classic airing at 8 pm ET next Tuesday, July 15th. The MLB announced the starters for the 2025 All-Star Game last week, but we had a few thoughts of our own.

Below you'll find the Rotoworld Baseball Staff's picks to start the MLB All-Star game, plus some of our favorite reserves. Everybody was asked to choose their starting position players, one starting pitcher, one reserve hitter, and one reserve starting pitcher from both the American League and National League. We tallied the votes and awarded starting spots to those who came out ahead in our mini competition, but then we also took the other hitters and starting pitchers to received votes and put them in our reserves list. Since each writer did not create a full bench, you're primarily seeing players who got starting votes, which means not every player we think deserves to be in the All-Star game will be represented below.

Also, it should go without saying, but this is just an exercise for fun. We wanted to shine some light on players who we felt had a great first half that weren't awarded the starting spot that we felt they deserved, and also salute some who were.

American League Starters

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (unanimous)
1B: Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays
2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
3B: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians (unanimous)
SS: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

"Not only has Jonathan Aranda outperformed nearly every first baseman in the American League this season, but he deserves to be introduced to a wider baseball audience where he isn't a household name. I'm a firm believer that the All-Star Game needs an injection of fresh faces every summer to avoid becoming stale, and giving someone like Aranda an opportunity seems like a way to do it on the American League side, where there are plenty of established stars in the mix at each position group." - George Bissell

"Bobby Witt Jr. had some inspired competition this year in the form of Jeremy Peña and Jacob Wilson, but I believe in voting for the best player, not just the one that had the best first three months, and the 2024 AL MVP runnerup hasn’t exactly been dethroned in hitting .296/.346/.503 with 24 steals and stellar defense at short. Fortunately, all three wound up making the team anyway." - Matthew Pouliot

OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (unanimous)
OF: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
OF: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers (unanimous)
DH: Brent Rooker, Athletics

"It's surprising to us that Byron Buxton wasn't named a starter since he was selected on all but one of our ballots. The 31-year-old has remained healthy in the first half and hit .270 with 20 home runs, 16 steals, and an .879 OPS while posting an Outs Above Average score of 5 in his outfield innings. He's 5th in the entire American League in WAR and trails only Aaron Judge when it comes to outfielders. He deserved to start." - Eric Samulski

"Brent Rooker isn’t as worthy of an All-Star nod this year as last, but among the players actually listed as DHs on the AL ballot -- and with Rafael Devers obviously no longer eligible -- I’d say he deserves the nod over Ryan O’Hearn and Ben Rice, in part because of his 39 homers and 165 OPS+ last season. He’s been no slouch in coming in at .271/.348/.486 this season, and while O’Hearn has been a little better, his line benefits from him sitting against tough lefties." - Matthew Pouliot

SP: Tarik Skubal (unanimous)

Reserves (others receiving starter votes, plus honorary mention starting pitchers and bench bats:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B - Toronto Blue Jays
Brandon Lowe, 2B - Tampa Bay Rays
Jeremy Peña, SS - Houston Astros
Javier Baez, 3B/SS/OF - Detroit Tigers
George Springer, OF- Toronto Blue Jays
Yandy Diaz, 1B/DH - Tampa Bay Rays
Jacob Wilson, SS - Athletics
Hunter Brown, SP - Houston Astros
Garrett Crochet, SP - Boston Red Sox
Jacob deGrom, SP - Texas Rangers

"I voted for Jeremy Peña as my starter at shortstop, and he got three votes from our group. In truth, it's a legitimate toss-up between him and Witt. Pena has the better batting average and on-base percentage, and similar slugging. His wRC+ of 145 is better than Witt's 128 mark, but Witt is the better defender. I just wanted to award a player for making a huge jump and having a career season, so I'm just happy to see that Pena makes it on our team somewhere." - Eric Samulski

National League Starters

C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers (unanimous)
1B: Pete Alonso, New York Mets (unanimous)
2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks (unanimous)
3B: Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks
SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

"Pete Alonso has been the most impactful first baseman in all of baseball this season. He leads the position with 20 home runs, 73 RBI, and a .422 xwOBA while starting all 91 games his Mets have played. There's an argument that Michael Busch could have been the pick over him with a slightly better slash line across the board, but that would be splitting hairs. Especially after Alonso was so vital to the Mets' early-season surge while Juan Soto was still scuffling. He is the obvious pick here." - James Schiano

"The voting for third base in the NL was the most spread out for us with five votes for Eugenio Suárez, three votes for Manny Machado, and one vote for Matt Chapman. Suárez has helped to keep the Diamondbacks afloat during the first half of the season with his monster offensive performance. His home run (28) and RBI (74) totals dwarf every other third baseman in both leagues, with Junior Caminero (21 HR, 57 RBI) the next closest. His .881 OPS paces the position league-wide as well. It’s a travesty that Alec Bohm will be the National League’s starting third baseman instead of Suárez, but fortunately, the 33-year-old slugger was named to the squad as a reserve, making it the first time that he has appeared in the Mid-Summer Classic since the 2018 season." - Dave Shovein

OF: Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs (unanimous)
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (unanimous)
OF: James Wood, Washington Nationals
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (unanimous)

"Choosing players for the All-Star is about two things: who has played the best in the first half and who Major League Baseball wants to represent them on one of their biggest nights of the year. James Wood easily checks both boxes. His .940 OPS leads all National League outfielders by a decent margin while his 23 home runs and 67 RBI are both inside the top-three. No matter how you slice it, he's one of the premier players in this league. Add in the fact that he's doing this at 22 years old, and we could be looking at a future face of the sport. That's someone the entire country should have a chance to watch against the league's best." - James Schiano

SP: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

"Zack Wheeler has never started in the All-Star Game before, despite being one of the best pitchers in baseball for the better part of the past several years. And while he doesn't match the ERA of Paul Skenes, he has the edge in terms of strikeout percentage and walk percentage. Another narrative angle to keep in mind is that Wheeler is from the Atlanta metro area, so the timing is right to give him the starting nod." - D.J. Short

Reserves (others receiving starter votes, plus honorary mention starting pitchers and bench bats:

Michael Busch, 1B - Chicago Cubs
Freddie Freeman, 1B - Los Angeles Dodgers
Elly De La Cruz, SS - Cincinnati Reds
Trea Turner, SS - Philadelphia Phillies
Manny Machado, 3B - San Diego Padres
Matt Chapman, 3B - San Francisco Giants
Ronald Acuña Jr., OF - Atlanta Braves
Andy Pages, OF - Los Angeles Dodgers
Paul Skenes, SP - Pittsburgh Pirates
Cristopher Sanchez, SP - Philadelphia Phillies
MacKenzie Gore, SP - Washington Nationals

"The cosmic ideal for constructing these Midsummer Classic rosters manages to blend franchise icons with emerging superstars in a way that melds the past and present for casual fans. Voting for Manny Machado to make his seventh All-Star Game appearance just a few days after notching his 2,000th career hit seems like a no-brainer. The added dramatic tension of seeing San Diego's franchise cornerstone interact with Los Angeles’ superstars throughout the event doesn't hurt either." - George Bissell

"Andy Pages has made tremendous strides as an all-around player in his second season in the majors. The 24-year-old outfielder has been one of the leaders in the National League both in the field and at the plate, with a 128 WRC+ that ranks eighth among NL outfielders behind a .823 OPS, 17 homers, and seven steals while also ranking among the 95th percentile in Baseball Savant's Fielding Value. His overall contributions make Pages deserving of All-Star honors." - Jorge Montanez 

Posted on

The NHL's Atlantic Division Remains Ultra-Competitive After Start To Free Agency

As the NHL’s 2025 free-agent frenzy slows down, some teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division haven’t made moves as big as expected. 

In Toronto, the biggest move the Maple Leafs made was trading for mid-tier left winger Matias Maccelli. In Buffalo, the Sabres’ biggest additions have been defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The Ottawa Senators’ biggest acquisitions have been journeyman center Lars Eller and defenseman Jordan Spence, while the Detroit Red Wings brought in John Gibson.

Not exactly a cast of all-stars, to be sure.

You can point to the Montreal Canadiens trading for top-level blueliner Noah Dobson and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers surprisingly retaining all of stars Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad as examples of marquee talents arriving in or staying in the Atlantic. Those teams’ splashes certainly stand out among the rest of the Atlantic.

The retooling Boston Bruins were also busy, as they acquired Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Michael Eyssimont and Jordan Harris, among others. But they were more depth moves than big moves.

But while some might’ve expected even more from the Atlantic’s playoff teams this summer, the truth is that it simply speaks to how good many of those teams are that they didn’t need to bring in new big names – at least, not right away.

Indeed, compare the splashes Atlantic teams made with teams in other NHL divisions, and you’ll see what we’re getting at. 

In the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks traded goalie John Gibson, traded for former New York Rangers star winger Chris Kreider and signed veteran center Mikael Granlund. In Los Angeles, the Kings signed a slew of veterans, including defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, wingers Corey Perry and Joel Armia and goalie Anton Forsberg. The Seattle Kraken traded for forwards Mason Marchment and Frederick Gaudreau and signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren. And the Vegas Golden Knights made a huge splash by acquiring superstar Mitch Marner and re-signing left winger Brandon Saad.

Similarly, in the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers signed first-pair D-man Vladislav Gavrikov, and the New York Islanders signed winger Jonathan Drouin. The Carolina Hurricanes added defenseman K’Andre Miller and right winger Nikolaj Ehlers, while the New Jersey Devils added forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. The Philadelphia Flyers added goalie Dan Vladar and centers Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, while the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for D-man Connor Clifton and signed wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau.

Again, not many of those acquisitions can be labeled Grade-A acquisitions, but the number of moves made tells you how many holes needed plugging, in contrast to the holes in most Atlantic teams.

Sam Montembeault and Sam Bennett (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

All things considered, the Atlantic Division’s teams didn’t make massive additions because they came into the off-season stocked to the gills in most key areas. The Panthers, Maple Leafs and Lightning made their trades of consequence at the trade deadline, so there’s no impetus for them to swing deals after deals this summer. 

While there’s still plenty of time for teams to make additional moves, if the season started today, the Atlantic would still be the league’s most competitive division. That’s why there weren’t as many teams in the Division making big splashes, and that’s why the Atlantic will once again be the NHL’s most competitive division for the foreseeable future.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Is Carter Yakemchuk In The Ottawa Senators' NHL Plans For This Fall?

When training camp kicks off in September for the Ottawa Senators, one of the most compelling storylines will center around what the team decides to do this year with their 2024 first-round draft pick, Carter Yakemchuk.

You’ll remember that last season, Yakemchuk was the Senators’ final cut, despite leading the team in preseason scoring. Actually, Yakemchuk didn’t just lead the team; he finished tied for sixth among all NHL scorers with seven points in four games.

Dissecting The Senators' Intriguing New Right-Shot Defensive Depth Chart
Five Former Sens First-Rounders All Found New NHL Homes This Week
Claude Giroux Reveals Why He Signed Back In Ottawa

If that weren’t enough to win over Senators fans, his coast-to-coast overtime goal to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in an exhibition game certainly sealed the deal.

Though disappointed by not cracking the roster, Yakemchuk returned to the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen to focus more on his defensive game and improve his skating. That shift in focus appeared to come at the cost of some offensive production, and his numbers took a noticeable dip.

Some have speculated that, like many junior-aged players, Yakemchuk may have let that initial disappointment get into his head. But Senators amateur scout Don Boyd didn’t see it that way.

"He didn't seem to get too ruffled about it at all," Boyd said shortly before this summer’s draft. "I'm sure he used it as a motivational tool. I was with him shortly after those decisions were made.

"I didn't spend two days with him, but I was with him right after the game and he was fine. He was his usual composed self. Inside, he might be burning, but he's not showing you that."

In his draft year, Yakemchuk turned heads with 30 goals, 71 points, and 120 penalty minutes. This past season, he played 10 fewer games and managed 17 goals, 49 points, and 82 penalty minutes.

But the Senators aren’t concerned.

"I think Carter did some things that we asked him to do," Boyd said. "I know that his numbers weren't as good last year, but he paid a lot more attention to detail in his game. You know, contrary to some people's beliefs, he played a better defensive game. I don't have a problem with Carter's game."

By all accounts, Yakemchuk was a standout at development camp last week. So now the question every Sens fan is asking is this: how close is he to cracking the NHL roster?

"Well, I don't know," Boyd said. "You saw him in exhibition games last year. He was pretty good. You know, once again, it's, you know, do we need him now? That's a question. Or is he better served playing some time in the American League? Or is he ready to go now? There's so many questions that Steve (Staios) and the management have to answer, the coaches, that I can't answer.

"We like him. We like where he is. We like his development."

Yakemchuk’s challenges over the past year didn’t end with being sent back to junior. It was widely assumed he’d be a key player for Team Canada at the World Juniors in Ottawa, but Hockey Canada didn’t even invite him to the pre-tournament camp.

More recently, his imminent path to the NHL just got a lot more crowded. The Senators re-signed 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson after a year in Sweden. They also added Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings at the draft. Then there's the rise of Nik Matinpalo, now on a one-way, two-year contract. And looming close behind is this year’s first-rounder, Logan Hensler.

But Yakemchuk, who'll turn 20 in September, is taking it all in stride and using it as fuel.

"I thought I had a really good camp here and obviously was really disappointed to not get named to that roster," Yakemchuk said at development camp last week. "But I use it as motivation to try and make the Senators this year."

Realistically, giving Yakemchuk time to ease into the pro game with a stint in Belleville wouldn’t be the worst idea, more of that Best in Class theme. But if that happens, just like last year, Carter Yakemchuk is bound to make that decision a tough one for Senators management.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

More Sens Headlines
Senators Bid Farewell To Six UFAs: Where Did They End Up?
Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season
Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles

Posted on

Mets' Kodai Senga to start Friday vs. Royals; Sean Manaea likely to pitch Sunday

The Mets are very close to getting their top two pitchers back this weekend.

Speaking ahead of the team's series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore, manager Carlos Mendoza gave an update on Kodai Senga and when he's set to pitch.

"As of right now, the goal is for him to pitch Game 1 in Kansas City," Mendoza said. "We’ll see how the next few days goes, but that’s the plan as of right now."

Senga (hamstring) had not pitched since mid-June, and after having one rehab start -- where he allowed four runs (three earned) across 3.2 innings with Double-A Binghamton -- the right-hander is ready to return to a big league mound. Mendoza said that Senga is set to pitch a bullpen session either Tuesday or Wednesday, and if all goes well, he'll be the team's starter on Friday.

Prior to his injury, Senga dominated his 13 starts. He pitched to a 7-3 record and a 1.47 ERA.

Mendoza said Senga won't have any "real" restrictions, but the team will be monitoring their ace's progress on Friday.

"We have a number of pitches that we are comfortable with him, but Innings, not necessarily<" Mendoza said. "We’ll let the game dictate but we have a number in mind that we want to keep it at."

Sean Manaea to pitch before All-Star break

Manaea is also set to return to the Mets rotation very soon, and if all goes well in his rehab start on Tuesday, the southpaw will be set to join his team in Kansas City this weekend.

When asked if Manaea will pitch before the All-Star break, Mendoza said that was the plan but said it all comes down to how his left-hander comes away from his final rehab start.

The plan for Manaea on Tuesday is to throw 70-75 pitches with Syracuse and will be ready to take the mound for the big league club on Sunday.

Clay Holmes is also set to pitch on Sunday and Mendoza confirmed that if Manaea is good to go, both pitchers will appear in the series finale on Sunday. The Mets skipper said the decision on who will start and which pitcher will come out of the bullpen has not been decided but acknowledged both pitchers' ability to pitch out of the pen.

Holmes has more experience in the bullpen, being the Yankees' closer the last few seasons. Holmes has appeared in 307 games as a reliever in his career as opposed to his 21 as a starter.

Manaea has started 198 games in his career, but does have 30 games as a reliever under his belt.

Posted on

3 observations after Mintz shines in Sixers' 1st win of 2025 summer

3 observations after Mintz shines in Sixers' 1st win of 2025 summer  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers notched their first summer win of 2025 on Tuesday night thanks largely to Judah Mintz.

They earned a 91-90 victory over the Grizzlies to wrap up their Salt Lake City summer league at 1-2.

Mintz starred, tallying 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting, three assists and three steals. Tyler Burton’s 23 points led Memphis.

The Sixers were without VJ Edgecombe (left thumb contusion), Adem Bona (rest) and Alex Reese (Achilles soreness).

The team’s first game in the Las Vegas summer league is scheduled for Thursday night vs. the Spurs. Here are observations on the Sixers’ win Tuesday:

Big-time Sallis slam 

Jalen Slawson provided an early highlight with a pump fake, drive and slam.

Hunter Sallis hammered in a huge dunk late in the first quarter, too. He sliced through the lane and jammed in a one-handed flush over 6-foot-10 Ante Brzovic. 

Sallis maintained his momentum with a nice stretch in the second quarter that included a wing three-pointer. As his college credentials indicate — 18.3 points per game last year at Wake Forest — Sallis is a multi-dimensional scorer. He recorded 11 points vs. the Grizzlies on 4-for-9 shooting, two assists and two rebounds. 

Outside shooting will be an obvious area to monitor after Sallis shot just 27.7 percent from three-point range as a senior. He said at the Sixers’ summer league minicamp last week that he’s “really confident in how I’m shooting the ball right now” and doesn’t “think there’s too much to worry about.” 

Mintz shines 

The Sixers kept the same starting backcourt of Mintz and Jalen Hood-Schifino (seven points, seven assists).

Mintz’s shiftiness popped again. He had a tricky and-one leaner during an extended Sixers run in the second period. The 6-foot-3 guard’s fakes, footwork and body control enable him to do damage in and around the paint.

Mintz is truly excellent at drawing free throws, which helped him post 21.2 points per game last G League regular season for the Delaware Blue Coats. The Syracuse product was among the top players at getting to the foul line in Salt Lake City, going 21 for 23 over the Sixers’ three games. 

Sixers sweat out a win

Justin Edwards sunk a three on his first shot. The second-year wing had his most efficient game in Utah, scoring 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting. 

However, Edwards was scoreless in the fourth quarter and Memphis made a comeback surge.

Johni Broome (eight points, 12 rebounds) fell to 0 for 5 from three-point range with a late miss that thudded off the backboard. Burton hit a three with a little over a minute remaining to give the Grizzlies an 87-86 lead.

Mintz then delivered down the stretch, banking in a tough runner and scoring a clutch and-one layup with 8.2 seconds left. He was easily the best player on the court Tuesday night.

Posted on

Phillies notes: RISP problems, Aaron Nola updates and Bryson Stott's struggles

Phillies notes: RISP problems, Aaron Nola updates and Bryson Stott's struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

SAN FRANCISCO – As observers as to the drought the Phillies are going through with runners in scoring position, you can somewhat feel the angst that the players must be feeling as they are now 0-for-24, turning RISP into a legitimate four-letter word, you know, like the swearing kind.

Phillies reserve Otto Kemp has both been in the lineup when it hasn’t delivered and watched from the bench during the struggles. While the situation is known, the approach to fixing it isn’t the rock-solid answer that many would want.

“It’s just a case where you can’t be over aggressive or looking for too much,” said Kemp, who is in the lineup Tuesday in left field and batting sixth against Giants All-Star lefty Robbie Ray.

“If you get something in the zone you have to hit the ball hard. It’s not just all about getting base hits. It’s about having good at-bats, and that could mean moving the runner over when needed. Hitting the ball hard somewhere which may force an error or something like that. It may not be a hit, but it’s getting the job done and that’s what we’re here to do. It’s not something that’s gone on for weeks and that is getting, like, religious to us, so we just go about our at-bats. You can’t think too much about it, but we know it. Good at bats will come. I’m confident in that. We have too many good hitters for it not to.”

When asked his approach to managing this kind of team slump, manager Rob Thomson kept it pretty simple. “I think Kevin (Long, hitting coach) talks as a team and I approach individually at times, sure, depending on who the player is and what they’re going through. It’s just a matter of relaxing them and as we always say – get a good pitch to hit, work counts, use the field.”

Sounds simple enough. We will see what happens.

What’s the update on Aaron Nola?

Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola flew down to Clearwater this past weekend to rehab himself from a rib cage fracture. A sprained ankle and now the newer injury have had Nola sidelined since May 15. Thomson said last week that his rehab time would be equivalent to going through spring training before he’d be ready to come back. As for the most recent update, Thomson said on Tuesday, “He’s going to throw a bullpen again tomorrow and then on Saturday and then we’ll go from there.”

With Nola out and Mick Abel being sent to the minors, Taijuan Walker took the mound for the start on Tuesday. His has been a roller coaster ride from bullpen to starter, and the manager knows that might be something that has to continue for a little bit.

There has been no commitment by anyone that prized prospect Andrew Painter will be coming up after the All-Star break, which begins after Sunday’s game in San Diego. And Abel is going to need to find his command again before he may get the nod. So, for the foreseeable future, it could be Walker?

“Very professional,” Thomson said of Walker. “It is difficult to go back and forth but he’s really handled it well. He’s all about the team and does whatever is needed to help the team. I know he’s going to go out there and compete. You can check that box before he even goes out because he’s going to compete.”

Monday night’s mishaps

Thomson wasn’t about to pin any blame on Monday’s home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi, who missed many calls, some coming when Bryce Harper was hitting and a couple others when Orion Kerkering was pitching. Each of them had a major effect on what turned into a 3-1 win by the Giants when they scored two runs in the eighth inning after Kerkering wasn’t given a strikeout, not once, but twice, against Matt Chapman.

“Hey look, I don’t blame losses on umpires,” Thomson said. “I don’t. We had plenty of chances to win that game. Everybody has bad nights. I have bad nights, players have bad nights. Phil’s been around a long time. He’s been a really good umpire for a long time. Just one of those nights. Can’t get it back. We had plenty of chances.”

Bryson Stott’s struggles

As the Phillies were going to face a left handed pitcher on Tuesday, that meant Edmundo Sosa at second base and Bryson Stott to the bench. Asked last week about Sosa in the lineup, Thomson definitively said that he will play against lefties, as Stott has struggled at the plate this season hitting .233 against left handers and just .241 against right handers. 

“Kind of hot and cold,” is how Thomson described his second baseman’s hitting. “I think he’s gotten into a little bit of a habit where right now he’s gotten a little bit long (with his swing). He hit the home run the other day (Sunday, game-winning, two-run shot) which was great. It looked real short. He’s had some good swings but then again he gets a little bit long sometimes. He’s still seeing a lot of pitches, which is good. But, yeah, have the balance between seeing pitches and having the right mild aggressiveness go get some and do some damage. I still have confidence that by the time we’re done here this year he’s gonna find it.”

Posted on

Speed of NBA game tests Warriors draft pick Alex Toohey in summer league debut

Speed of NBA game tests Warriors draft pick Alex Toohey in summer league debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – After days of waiting to make his NBA summer league debut at the California Classic, Alex Toohey certainly didn’t envision wearing a Warriors jersey for the first time to be in a nearly empty Chase Center. 

“First of all, it was obviously nice to be out there and not watch for once,” Toohey said Tuesday night. “It was definitely weird with no fans, but I mean, just got to play no matter what. I’ve probably played in more games with empty gyms than full gyms. 

“Kind of used to it, but definitely hard.” 

Fans were not allowed in the arena Tuesday. The final day of the California Classic always is reserved for the media, team personnel and family. 

Warriors fans didn’t miss much. The Warriors lost 93-79 against the Miami Heat to conclude their three games on their home court, going 1-2 overall. Their first Las Vegas Summer League game is Friday at 8 p.m. PT against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Toohey, the No. 52 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, played 24 minutes against the Heat and finished the loss with six points, six rebounds, four turnovers and three fouls. He went 1 of 5 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts but was a perfect 4 of 4 at the free throw line. 

His one made shot was a layup at the rim after being rewarded for constant movement without the ball. 

“He played pretty hard and he’s just taking time to adapt to the game and whatnot,” coach Lainn Wilson said. “For his first showing, from an effort standpoint is everything we asked for. Then we just got to take a look and see for him adapting to the game and such. 

“It’s normal for a guy in his position.” 

Watching from the bench is far different than playing the game. Toohey, in the Warriors’ first two games, had a front-row view of the speed and physicality of summer league after spending the last two years playing professionally in Australia. He admitted the size and length of his competition will take some time getting used to.

There were times that he had a step on his man, only to see a hand in the lane obstruct his play. 

“I think it’s definitely a jump,” Toohey said. “The athletes here are the best of the best. It’ll definitely take some adjusting to, but I think overall, as long as you get better each day you’re trending in the right direction.” 

Summer league can be extremely physical, often resulting in sloppy showings without much flow to the game. Players have 10 fouls to work with instead of fouling out at six. The extra fouls usually lead to a whole lot of hacking, making it unfair to judge players off one game or multiple exhibitions that won’t count in the long run. 

Warriors scouts and front office executives traveled twice to Australia during the NBL’s season to watch Toohey and other prospects. The reasons they were intrigued by him then are the same reasons they believe in him going forward. 

The size, versatility and intelligence of the 21-year-old were seen Tuesday, despite an unkind box score. Toohey, who plays both forward positions, began the game guarding point guard Kasparas Jakucionis, the player the Heat took in the first round with the pick they received from the Warriors in February’s Jimmy Butler trade at No. 20 overall. He also spent time on forward Keshad Johnson, as well as guards Pelle Larsson and Kira Lewis Jr. 

Toohey forced a backcourt violation on Larsson near the end of the first half, and he also was beat off the dribble a couple of times by the 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 14.2 minutes per game as a rookie last season. Both instances are experiences he can grow from. 

While Toohey only made one shot, the ball never stuck to his hands. And his feet constantly were moving. Team basketball, offensively and defensively, appears to come naturally to him. 

There’s a lot Toohey can take from his summer league debut, and he’ll look to build off the positives and negatives in Las Vegas starting Friday night.

“I thought I struggled,” Toohey admitted. “I was good in patches, but overall probably wasn’t as consistent as I’d like to see. Kind of adjusting to that next level of play, and I think it’s just going to get better each time.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Will The Sabres Check In With Selling Penguins?

​​The Buffalo Sabres pulled off a trade on NHL Draft weekend, sending Connor Clifton to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Issac Belliveau. The deal was a salary dump of the veteran blueliner in the final year of his three-year, $10 million contract, for which the rebuilding Penguins received a 2025 second-round pick.

The Penguins appear to be one of the few teams this summer who are open for business and in full sell mode, likely to improve their chances at getting the best odds of winning the draft lottery to select presumptive top pick Gavin McKenna at the 2026 NHL Draft, and according to Josh Yohe of the Athletic, Pens GM Kyle Dubas is shopping veteran forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.  

Other Sabres Stories

Byram Situation Leaves Sabres In Limbo

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Both forwards had career-best seasons and have three years remaining on their contracts.. The 32-year-old Rakell had 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists) in 81 games, while the two-time Cup winning Rust, 33, had 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games. Yohe indicates that both players do not want to leave Pittsburgh, but Rust does not have any no-trade protections, while Rakell has an eight-team no-trade list.

The Sabres appeared to be depending on the return of a swap involving defenseman Bowen Byram to bring back a top-six forward to replace winger JJ Peterka, but with the blueliner headed for team-elected salary arbitration later this month, the possibility of the 24-year-old staying in Buffalo has to be considered. GM Kevyn Adams has the right assets available in the form of drt picks and prospects to make a trade for either veteran and the cap space to fit either Rust or Rakell in, it is just the question of whether the Sabres are willing to make that type of move to improve their playoff chances.   

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Posted on

Calgary Hitmen Forward Ben Kindel Signs Entry-Level Contract With The Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed Ben Kindel to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Calgary Hitmen forward was drafted by Pittsburgh 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Kindel is the second WHLer from this year's draft to sign his ELC, joining Lydon Lakovic, who the Washington Capitals signed on July 5. 

Kindle had a career year in 2024-25, recording 99 points in 65 games. He also won a Gold Medal with Canada at the 2025 U18s, producing seven points in five games. Kindle was the third WHLer selected in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and was one of three players from the WHL who the Penguins drafted. 

At this point, Kindel is projected to return to the WHL for the 2025-26 season. If he does, the 18-year-old has a good chance of once again being one of the league leaders in points. Kindel will also be a name to watch for Canada's 2026 World Juniors team. 

Ben Kindel of the Calgary Hitmen (Photo Credit: Jenn Pierce/Calgary Hitmen/WHL)

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

2025 WHL Prospect Pools: Buffalo Sabres

Moose Jaw Warriors' Matthew Hutchison Using Canucks Development Camp To Grow His Game

Moose Jaw Warriors Lakovic Signs Entry Level Deal With Capitals

An Early Look At WHLers To Watch For The 2026 NHL Entry Draft

Players Who Were Selected By WHL Teams During The 2025 CHL Import Draft

The Hockey News
Posted on

Golden Knights Development Camp Spotlight: Kai Uchacz

Among the returning recruits to the 2025 Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp is forward Kai Uchacz. Earlier in March, Uchacz was signed by the Knights to a two-year, entry-level contract. 

Uchacz, 22, is a 6-foot-2 right-winger from Calgary, Alberta, who just came off his first professional season with the Henderson Silver Knights on a one-year AHL contract. In his rookie season, he put up a total of 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists). At his last development camp in 2024 with the organization, he was invited to compete for the Golden Knights at the Rookie Faceoff in Los Angeles, where he posted an assist.

“Just excited to finish the summer here, keep working, developing, just getting bigger, faster, stronger,” Uchacz said. “Confidence is a big thing. I feel like coming into the year last year, it was my first year pro, and I was just kind of getting my feet under me. Guys are a little bit bigger, guys are faster, so I’m just adjusting to that.”

Prior to going pro, Uchacz spent three seasons in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels. During his third and final season with them in the 2023–24 campaign, he served as captain, putting up a grand total of 81 points (42 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games. Uchacz was named to the WHL First All-Star Team twice, posting consecutive 80-point seasons (2022–23, 2023–24).

“It was a great first year, and I’m really excited to go back,” Uchacz said. “Big second year, I’m going to really push to have a really good start to my season and hopefully continue it through.”

Posted on

NHL Rumors: Blackhawks Should Target Top Free Agent Left

The Chicago Blackhawks currently have over $22 million of cap space to work with. Because of this, they are in a prime position to add to their roster, and one area that they could look to improve before the season is here is their forward group. 

While many of this year's top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have signed new contracts, there are still some interesting players still available for the taking. Jack Roslovic is arguably the most notable, and he is a player the Blackhawks should seriously consider targeting.

When looking at Chicago's middle six, it is fair to argue that it could use a boost. Bringing in a player like Roslovic would provide them with just that, as he provides solid secondary offensive production when playing at his best. He demonstrated that this past season, as he posted 22 goals and 39 points in 81 games with the Carolina Hurricanes. He has also hit the 20-goal and 40-point marks twice during his career.

If the Blackhawks signed Roslovic, he could be a perfect fit for their third-line center spot. However, he is also capable of playing the wing, so he would give the Blackhawks multiple options to work with. In addition, due to his offensive skill, he would also work on their power play. 

Overall, with the Blackhawks having plenty of cap space and needing help on offense, they should seriously consider taking a flier on Roslovic. At 28 years old, he is also right in his prime, which is certainly not a bad thing. 

NHL Free Agency: 4 Ex-Blackhawks Still Looking For New HomesNHL Free Agency: 4 Ex-Blackhawks Still Looking For New HomesOne week has now passed since the start of NHL free agency. Because of this, the majority of this year's notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who hit the market have signed their new contracts. 

Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images

Posted on

Yankees place Mark Leiter Jr. on IL due to fibular head stress fracture

The Yankees have placed right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. on the IL due to a left fibular head stress fracture.

The fibular head is where the upper end of your fibula meets the tibia and moves with it when you move your knee joint.

Leiter told reporters that he suffered the injury while covering first base against the Reds on June 24.

There is no timetable for Leiter's return.

With Leiter out, right-hander Clayton Beeter has been called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Leiter had been struggling lately, allowing runs in three of his last five appearances -- though he tossed a scoreless frame against the Blue Jays on July 3 and 0.2 innings of scoreless ball against the Mets on Sunday.

Beeter has pitched in one big league game this season, when he allowed three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out none in 1.2 innings.

Posted on

Penguins' 2025 First Round Pick Signs Entry-Level Contract

Ben Kindel at Penguins' Prospect Development Camp. (Credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News)

With three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins were aiming to maximize the addition of talent in their system. 

And they got the first of those three picks locked up.

On Tuesday, the Penguins signed 11th overall pick Ben Kindel to a three-year, entry-level contract, making him NHL-eligible for the 2025-26 season. Kindel was the the first of three first-round selections for the Penguins, with the others being Bill Zonnon (22nd overall) and Will Horcoff (24th overall). 

Kindel, 18, registered 35 goals and 99 points last season for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, where he is a teammate of Penguins' forward prospect Tanner Howe. The 5-foot-10, 176-pound center has accrued 50 goals and 159 points in 134 career WHL games.

He just wrapped up his first Prospect Development Camp with the Penguins from Jul. 3-7.

Penguins Prospect Development Camp: Standouts From Day 2Penguins Prospect Development Camp: Standouts From Day 2With two full days of Prospect Development Camp in the books for the Pittsburgh Penguins, there has been a lot to digest.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! 

Feature image credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News