You know the favorites for the college football national championship in 2025, but here are five sleeper teams that could contend for glory.
Hernández: Dodgers finally get to be part of the complete Shohei Ohtani experience
On the field, he’s produced the first 50-50 season in baseball history and won a World Series. Off it, he’s sold everything from unsweetened green tea to skin-care products.
As it was, it felt as if Shohei Ohtani was everywhere. In reality, this was just half of the package.
The Dodgers are finally about to have the complete version of Ohtani, the right-handed pitcher with a 100-mph fastball who also launches 470-foot homers as a left-handed hitter.
Two-Way Shohei is back.
Ohtani will pitch his first game for the Dodgers on Monday, the team naming him as its starter for the opening game of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
What was already a one-of-a-kind show will evolve into something that might never be seen again after Ohtani retires — not at Dodger Stadium, not at any other major league stadium, not anywhere in the world.
Read more:Shohei Ohtani to make his Dodgers pitching debut Monday vs. Padres
The news of Ohtani’s mound return became a source of anticipation in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, with Clayton Kershaw describing himself as “super excited.”
“I think we all are,” Kershaw said. “I think as fans of the game and just seeing him day in and day out get ready to pitch and do both, it’s going to be really fun, whether it’s one inning or whatever it is.”
The Dodgers plan to deploy Ohtani for an inning or two as an opener.
For most of this season, the Dodgers operated under the assumption that Ohtani wouldn’t pitch until after the All-Star break. The change of plans doesn’t represent a speeding up of a timeline as much as it does a modification of the route that will be taken to a final destination.
Ohtani last pitched in 2023 when he was still playing for the Angels, and he didn’t pitch in his first season for the Dodgers last year as he recovered from his second Tommy John surgery.
In recent weeks, he prepared for his mound return by pitching to hitters in live batting practice. He threw 44 pitches in three innings in his third and most recent session.
However, throwing live batting practice and taking four or five at-bats in an actual game as a designated hitter was like “playing a doubleheader for him,” Roberts said.
To eliminate the exhausting cycle of warming up to throw, cooling down after, and warming up again to play a game, the Dodgers figured they could build up Ohtani’s arm in games. Whatever modest Ohtani’s contributions can make from the mound, the Dodgers will take them. With multiple starters on the injured list, the bullpen has shouldered a disproportionate share of the pitching load.
Because Ohtani wouldn’t take up an extra roster spot, Kershaw pointed out, “We don’t have to lose a pitcher or anything, so if he throws an inning a week, it’s great.”
Ohtani will likely pitch about once a week, with every start expected to be about an inning longer than the previous one. Theoretically, he could pitch four times before the All-Star break, which would stretch him out to be ready to pitch five innings when the Dodgers resume play.
While Ohtani remains in a ramp-up phase and his fastball has sat in the 94-95 mph range in his live bullpen sessions, still not at the 98-99 mph he once averaged. However, team officials believe he is ready to compete at the major league level because of the movement of his pitches.
Ohtani evidently thinks so as well.
“I think I’m approaching a level that is sufficient to pitch in games,” Ohtani said in Japanese on Saturday night.
His 25 homers are the most in the National League. He is also batting .297 with 41 runs batted in. The Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, he’s also stolen 11 bases.
Read more:After pregame trade disrupts Giants, Dodgers power their way to series victory
Ohtani said didn’t think his offensive production would be diminished by pitching.
“I played as just a DH last year,” he said, “but to do both at the same time is my usual style.”
Ohtani played six seasons with the Angels, and he was a two-way player in four of them. His last three seasons with them made up what was arguably the greatest three-year stretch in the history of the sport, as he won two MVP awards and would have won a third if not for a 62-home season by Aaron Judge.
He has an opportunity now to match, or even surpass, that. Only this time, he will do so on a team that has a chance to reward him for his unprecedented achievements with the postseason glory he craves.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
What does the Grizzlies-Magic Desmond Bane trade mean for the Celtics?
What does the Grizzlies-Magic Desmond Bane trade mean for the Celtics? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Orlando Magic ignited a potentially wild offseason by acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in exchange for a package highlighted by four unprotected first-round picks and a future first-round pick swap.
What does it mean for the Boston Celtics?
Let’s examine the Bane trade through a Boston lens:
1. The East is wide open
The Magic, bounced in Round 1 of the 2025 playoffs by the Celtics, are splurging big with the belief that Bane is the piece that can rocket them to contention in what feels like an extremely wide-open Eastern Conference.
The Magic were a feisty first-round opponent with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner showing all the signs of blossoming stars. Orlando offloaded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony — two players that failed to have a positive impact on the Boston series — while bringing back a player who can provide the sort of two-way impact the Magic desperately craved, particularly with his shooting talents.
If healthy, the Magic feel like the sort of team that will push hard during the 2025-26 regular season, trying to show they have truly arrived. Orlando should almost certainly push into the top half of the East playoff bracket next season.
Yes, Orlando gave up a haul of picks, but the Magic are banking that they will be one of the eight best teams in basketball over the duration of those picks. They are pushing all in at a time when it feels like they have a real chance to be in the mix and they’ll see where this young trio can take them.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesKentavious Caldwell-Pope was largely ineffective in Round 1 vs. the Celtics.
2. A high price tag on talent
While we all wait to see which pieces the Celtics are forced to ship out in order to get below the second apron, it feels like the price tags just shot skyward if teams were to even inquire about players like Jaylen Brown or Derrick White.
Bane is an amazing young player. He’s technically a former Celtics draft pick selected for Memphis after the Celtics utilized the No. 30 pick in the 2020 draft to offload Enes Kanter to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team swap. But he doesn’t have the resume of a Brown or a White. So, even at slightly older ages, those players would seemingly require an even greater haul to be moved.
Teams would have to overwhelm Boston with some combination of young talent and future draft assets to even consider moving core pieces of the 2024 title team. And, before the offseason really starts, they have a deal that emphasizes how valuable two-way players are to contenders.
3. Teams looking for that one piece
Set against the backdrop of a Thunder-Pacers matchup in the NBA Finals, there are no shortage of teams that should feel like they are maybe one piece away from being a legitimate contender. All of which could help ensure Boston gets maximum return on any piece it has to move out this offseason.
There’s been speculation about whether the Celtics would have to attach draft capital to move off the contract of Jrue Holiday. Given his age, and with over $100 million in money remaining over three seasons, that might be true. But if there are teams out there that view Holiday as the final piece of their own puzzle, then Boston can try to limit what they need to attach in any deal. Similarly, how much would a contending team that needs shooting splurge to add a Sam Hauser to their rotation given his rather thrifty price tag that fits into a team’s non taxpayer midlevel exception?
If the Celtics must make painful choices to move off talent this summer, then they need to maximize the return in a high-demand marketplace.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn ImagesJrue Holiday has three years left on his contract.
4. The East gets younger
For the better part of the past decade, we’ve focused on Boston’s older rivals. The Heat, the Sixers, the Bucks. But the road blocks for where Boston yearns to get back to, once Jayson Tatum is healthy again, are the cluster of young teams thriving behind a new wave of stars.
The Pacers, the Pistons, and the Magic are the teams to worry about now. Indiana has proven itself with consecutive deep playoff runs. The Pistons still have the ability to take a huge swing if they want to add alongside Cade Cunningham. The Magic now have three dynamic scorers aged 26 and younger.
The Cavaliers are young-ish, but have some tough decisions this offseason about what pieces of their core to carry forward. The Knicks have to figure out a coach and whether they’re going to stick with their own core after a run to the East finals. The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee remains uncertain. The Sixers haven’t been healthy for a decade. The Heat are just toiling away in Play-In-Ville.
It all adds another wrinkle as Brad Stevens ponders Boston’s next steps. Do the Celtics try to maintain as much of this core as possible and stiff arm these up-and-coming teams? Or do they try to get younger, knowing that’s where the East is moving?
Chaotic moments that unfolded after Giants' stunning Devers trade
Chaotic moments that unfolded after Giants' stunning Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LOS ANGELES — About 30 minutes before the beginning of the game, Sean Hjelle was told that he would be making his first career start on Sunday Night Baseball at Dodger Stadium. Ten minutes later, he found out why.
Kyle Harrison had been in the bullpen getting ready for one of the biggest starts of his own career when he was called back into the clubhouse. Along with Jordan Hicks, he was traded to Boston for Rafael Devers, and as players prepared for the Dodgers, they also gave out hugs and said their goodbyes to the two pitchers.
The Devers trade is a season-altering moment for the Giants, but as it happened, it also was pure chaos.
Bob Melvin had known for a while that Buster Posey was on the prowl, but he didn’t hear that the deal was officially done until he was walking into the dugout for the start of the game. Willy Adames was so fired up that he forgot to stretch. Hjelle started his own warm-up routine as the national anthem was being performed.
“It was a new experience for me,” Hjelle said. “I’ve never really been in the clubhouse when there’s a trade done, especially a so-called blockbuster trade like what happened today. It’s a little unfortunate that I didn’t get to give Harry and Jordan a fair goodbye and farewell, so I’ll be reaching out to those guys later.”
The news became public exactly 20 minutes before first pitch, and as reporters scrambled to get confirmations, it wasn’t hard to see that something was in the works. Hjelle easily is identifiable as he gets loose, even from 400 feet away, and he then went out and gave the Giants 3 2/3 innings a day after their bullpen had to soak up a heavy workload in a blowout. Hjelle said he told Melvin and pitching coach J.P. Martinez that he would “empty the tank.”
“Just run me,” he told them. “Squeeze me dry.”
Hjelle threw 54 pitches, his most in two years. Then, it got really strange.
As he worked his way through the third inning, an unfamiliar face got up in the bullpen. The scoreboard at Dodger Stadium put up a graphic announcing that Joey Lucchesi — who hadn’t been announced as being on the roster, and wasn’t known to be on the 40-man roster — was warming up. Lucchesi was in big-league camp, but he had spent all season in Triple-A before quietly joining the Giants in Los Angeles as a member of the taxi squad.
The Giants got all the necessary paperwork to MLB in time, but it was close. Lucchesi took Harrison’s roster spot before the deal was announced by both teams.
“It was a lot, and it was late,” Melvin said, smiling. “You know what, to get it done, though, this is something we really needed.”
Melvin met with both departing pitchers, along with team leaders Matt Chapman and Adames. Word spread quickly through the clubhouse and on the field, where some position players were stretching. Adames at some point found a few moments to exchange texts with Devers, who told him he would fly to San Francisco on Monday.
“It just happened so quickly before the game and it just spread out quickly here in the clubhouse,” Adames said. “It was a mix of feelings in the clubhouse because some of the guys were getting ready to start the game and we just found out like that. Obviously it’s a mix of feelings for (Hicks and Harrison) … everybody was here, it was like 20 minutes before the game and everybody was about to go out and it was like, ‘Oh wait, Harrison is not pitching anymore. He got traded. Oh, what’s going on, for who?’ Everybody was all over the place but everybody got excited.”
A couple hours earlier, Melvin had sat in the dugout and given a coy answer when asked for his rotation for the upcoming series against the Cleveland Guardians. He said Robbie Ray would start Tuesday, but it was TBD after that. The Giants expect Justin Verlander back in the coming days, and there’s now no question about how they’ll open a rotation spot.
Harrison had hoped to pitch well enough Sunday that he would stay in the mix, but he’s now a member of a new organization. That spot goes back to Verlander, but for one night at least — and on national TV — it belonged to Hjelle, a last-minute fill-in who was drafted and developed as a starter but made his first 85 big-league appearances out of the bullpen.
“Not what I had envisioned, no,” Hjelle said. “A few more kinks and hoops to jump through on the day as a whole team and organization. That was the first one down, and if it happens again, it happens again — great, my name is called and I’ll grab the ball, but it was cool that I got to have my first one. I got to have a start in the big leagues. That’s pretty awesome. Not everybody that plays this game can say that. I’ll take that, absolutely, and for that little small reason, it’s a special day.”
From ‘so much talent’ to another T20 flop: Growing Fraser-McGurk fears amid USA league woes
A reconfigured baseball stadium in California provided the launch pad for one-time boom batter Jake Fraser McGurk to refind his mojo.
Why it was time for Posey, Giants to strike with Devers trade
Why it was time for Posey, Giants to strike with Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LOS ANGELES — The line was a smart one, and it’s what everyone will always remember about Buster Posey’s introduction as president of baseball operations for the Giants.
“We’re in the memory making business,” Posey said last October, smiling as he looked out at cameras.
What has gotten forgotten is what led to those words. Posey spoke for nearly two minutes about what that actually means, and at the start of that answer, he provided some insight into how he would help Giants fans make memories. He talked about what he had learned during his own playing career, which included three championship runs.
“I gained a pretty good sense of what it means to fans to have great players and have great teams,” he said that day.
One comes with the other, which the Giants had at times forgotten in recent years. They were reminded of it Saturday, when Shohei Ohtani homered twice, Clayton Kershaw pitched a gem and the Giants got blown out. A day later, Posey added a superstar to his own lineup.
The trade for Rafael Devers shook the baseball world, and in the end it came together so quickly that Sean Hjelle got only about 30 minutes’ notice that he would start on Sunday Night Baseball. It took 10 minutes after that for him to realize why it was happening.
Kyle Harrison, the scheduled starter, is headed to Boston, along with Jordan Hicks and two prospects. Devers will be a Giant on Tuesday at Oracle Park, adding a star to a needy lineup after weeks of quiet negotiations.
Posey said on Sunday that he first called Red Sox exec Craig Breslow a few weeks ago to discuss Devers, who had fallen out of favor in Boston and had grown equally frustrated with management. General manager Zack Minasian kept talks going with his counterparts in Boston, and ownership got involved in recent days, a requirement when swallowing nearly $260 million in future salary commitments.
Posey at times felt trepidation. That’s a massive contract for a DH, and he had to part with Harrison, who is about 15 months removed from being the best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball. But this opportunity was too good to pass up.
“The bat is so special,” he said of the 28-year-old Devers. “It’s just really hard to acquire this type of talent at this point of his career. We’re obviously taking on a lot of money. We’re giving up some pitching, we’re giving up our first-round pick last year, so it didn’t come without a cost. It felt like this was a chance to take a shot.”
Posey spent most of his career lining singles softly into the outfield, but his most memorable moment as a hitter was a grand slam in the postseason. This is not an attempt at a single, but rather a swing for a slam. On their last day in Los Angeles, the Giants saw their expectations completely change.
They’ve been a nice story thus far, and a surprise. But now it would be a massive disappointment if they miss the postseason, and you can bet Posey hasn’t given up on a division crown.
The Dodgers countered on Sunday by announcing that Ohtani is ready to return to their rotation. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are on the way back, too, and they did take two of three this weekend, leaving with a two-game lead in the division. They’re still the heavy favorites to win the NL West, but on Friday night, Logan Webb showed how dangerous the Giants can be if they just get into October.
Posey knows pitching wins championships, and he admitted Sunday that it was hard to part with Harrison given how committed the front office is to building around pitching. But the Giants needed someone like Devers to more easily reach October, and he has a history of performing on the biggest stages. In 26 postseason games, Devers — a champion in 2018 — has a .955 OPS.
“It sends a message — we want to win,” said Willy Adames, who had the previous largest contract in franchise history. “(Posey) is going to do whatever it takes to put the best team out there for us to go out there and compete.”
That was the theme in the clubhouse late Sunday. The players have all the trust in the world in Posey, but just as importantly, ownership does, too. Posey is part of that group, of course, and that made it easier to push things along on the heels of committing nine-figure deals to Matt Chapman and Adames. The Giants are on the hook for a massive sum through 2033 with Devers, but it’ll be worth it if he lives up to expectations.
Posey credited Greg Johnson and the rest of the ownership group for approving the deal. What started as a long-shot idea gained momentum in recent weeks, and on Sunday, as he returned to the Bay Area to see his four kids, Posey crossed the finish line with Minasian, who became a father last year.
It was a Father’s Day neither will forget. They’re hopeful their players feel the same way, that this unexpected jolt will lead to plenty of memories in October and for years to come. Ten weeks into the first season of the second Posey Era, everything seems to have changed.
“People that don’t know Buster, you should realize that the only thing he wants to do is win, plain and simple,” team ace Logan Webb said. “I think a guy like (Devers) is a win-now move. You guys saw (Posey’s) comments when we were losing a little bit and he said it’s time to go, it’s go time. He means it. This goes to show that he means it.”
Here are the most shocking trades in MLB history after Red Sox deal Devers
Here are the most shocking trades in MLB history after Red Sox deal Devers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The baseball world has been rocked.
On Sunday evening, the Boston Red Sox made a stunning trade to send Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants with little-to-no warning signs.
The trade came out of nowhere, but it wasn’t the first time that a trade has shocked fans. Just months ago, the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade for Luka Doncic took over the NBA world. It’s not a one for one comparison, but baseball now has it’s own version.
With that in mind, here are 10 of the most surprising trades in MLB history:
Red Sox trade Babe Ruth to Yankees, 1919
Red Sox receive: $100,000
Yankees receive: Babe Ruth
It’s been more than 100 years, but the Babe Ruth trade remains a seminal moment in baseball lore. It sparked the Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry and the Curse of the Bambino, an 86-year World Series drought for Boston.
Red Sox trade Mookie Betts to Dodgers, 2020
Red Sox receive: Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, Connor Wong
Dodgers receive: Mookie Betts, David Price
Nearly 100 years later, the Red Sox once again traded their World Series-winning star — this time to Hollywood. Mookie Betts has already added two more rings to his fingers in Los Angeles, and none of the three returning players made an impact in Boston (only Connor Wong remains as a backup catcher).
Rangers trade Alex Rodriguez to Yankees, 2004
Rangers receive: Alfonso Soriano, Joaquín Arias
Yankees receive: Alex Rodriguez
The Red Sox had a deal for Alex Rodriguez … until they didn’t. The MLB Players Association vetoed the deal, and the Yankees swooped in months later to steal the star away — only after their third baseman (and future manager) Aaron Boone got injured in a pickup basketball game.
Mariners trade Ken Griffey Jr. to Reds, 2000
Mariners receive: Brett Tomko, Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, Jake Meyer
Reds receive: Ken Griffey Jr.
Over 11 seasons in Seattle, Griffey was one of baseball’s brightest stars. But he quietly wanted to return home to Cincinnati, and his wish was granted in a February deal. Griffey never reached the same heights after the trade, though, and the Mariners won an MLB record-tying 116 games in 2001.
Red Sox trade Rafael Devers to Giants, 2025
Red Sox receive: Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III, Jose Bello
Giants receive: Rafael Devers
The wound has just opened, but the return package for Devers appears underwhelming. The Red Sox, hours after sweeping the first-place Yankees, traded away another franchise cornerstone over disagreements between him and management over his position.
Dodgers trade Mike Piazza to Marlins, 1998
Dodgers receive: Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, Manuel Barrios, Jim Eisenreich
Marlins receive: Mike Piazza, Todd Zeile
When the Dodgers refused to give Mike Piazza a new contract, they waited a few months before sending him to the Marlins. Seven days later, the Marlins shipped Piazza to the New York Mets in a truly weird sequence of events — all in the name of cost-cutting, as most MLB trades are.
Marlins trade Miguel Cabrera to Tigers, 2007
Marlins receive: Andrew Miller, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio De La Cruz, Burke Badenhop, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo
Tigers receive: Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis
Speaking of cost-cutting, here’s another Marlins example. Cabrera was in his mid-20s and only scratching the surface of his prime when Florida traded him to Detroit. While they received a number of players in return, the Marlins saw Cabrera become a Tigers icon with two MVPs and nearly 400 home runs over 16 seasons.
Mets trade Tom Seaver to Reds, 1977
Mets receive: Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson, Doug Flynn, Dan Norman
Reds receive: Tom Seaver
Known as the “Midnight Massacre,” Tom Seaver was dealt to the Reds in a shocking move by the Mets. Seaver and the Mets had not been seeing eye to eye, so team chairman Donald Grant shipped their three-time Cy Young winner out of town.
Cleveland trades CC Sabathia to Brewers, 2008
Cleveland receives: Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson, Michael Brantley
Brewers receive: CC Sabathia
With CC Sabathia just months away from free agency, Cleveland sent its homegrown star pitcher to … Milwaukee? It was a rare all-in move for the small market franchise, but he delivered the Brewers a playoff appearance for the first time since 1982 before signing with the Yankees that winter.
Red Sox trade Nomar Garciaparra to Cubs, 2004
Red Sox receive: Orlando Cabrera (from Expos), Doug Mientkiewicz (from Twins)
Cubs receive: Nomar Garciaparra (from Red Sox), Matt Murton (from Red Sox)
Expos receive: Brendan Harris (from Cubs), Alex Gonzalez (from Cubs), Francis Beltran (from Cubs)
Twins receive: Justin Jones (from Cubs)
Another Red Sox trade, why not? This one actually worked out for Boston, as much as it stung to trade away franchise icon Nomar Garciaparra mid-season. Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz were key contributors as the Red Sox finally reversed the curse to win the 2004 World Series, while Garciaparra was past his prime.
‘Gorgeous girl’: Ash Barty announces birth of daughter Jordan
Former world No 1 reveals second child with husband Garry Kissick
Parents welcome arrival with photo of their baby in a white beanie
Retired Australian tennis star Ash Barty has announced the birth of her first daughter, Jordan.
Barty and her husband, golf professional Garry Kissick, already have a son, Hayden, born almost two years ago.
Continue reading...‘Borderline unplayable’: Adam Scott finds silver lining after US Open collapse
Former world No 1 fades after holding share of lead on final day
Australian earns shot at 100th straight major with 12th-place finish
Exemption to a magnificent 100th consecutive major championship is the silver lining to Adam Scott’s latest crushing collapse.
Scott’s late fade in “near unplayable” conditions from a share of the lead on the 12th hole to a tie for 12th behind US Open winner JJ Spaun adds to the list of agonising finishes for Australia’s former world No 1.
Continue reading...Top fantasy baseball prospects: Brady House joining the Nationals, James Tibbs traded to Boston
A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.
That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.
1. Brady House, INF, Washington Nationals2025 stats: 65 G, .304/.353/.519, 13 HR, 0 SB, 20 BB, 75 SO at Triple-A Rochester.
For the third straight week, we get to cheat. House will be called up Monday against the Rockies to make his MLB debut. Yes, the Rockies still count as an MLB team, how dare you insinuate otherwise. House has considerable power in his right-handed bat, and while he does have swing-and-miss issues -- issues might be an understatement as you can tell from those strikeout totals -- he makes enough hard contact to compensate. Don’t be surprised if there are some highs and lows for House in his first taste of MLB action, but he’s worthy of a roster add for those looking for an offensive spark in their fantasy lineup.
2. Jordan Lawlar, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 stats: 49 G, .324/.405/.583, 9 HR, 16 SB, 25 BB, 59 SO at Triple-A Reno; 8 G .000/.175/.000, 0 SB, 3 BB, 9 SO at Arizona.
It’s worth noting that Geraldo Perdomo suffered an injury during Sunday’s game, but as of publication there was no word about a potential replacement or if said replacement is necessary. Lawlar’s average has taken a dip since being demoted back to Reno, but he’s seen his slugging percentage go up and had another homer and stole two more bags since our last update. Even with how disappointing his run with Arizona was, there’s doubt in my mind that he belongs on this list. There’s five tools at his disposal, and he offers as much upside as any prospect in the minors -- at least at the higher levels. When the Diamondbacks give him another chance this summer, I’d still be willing to make the roster move.
3. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles
2025 stats: 43 G, .264/.371/.588, 14 HR, 0 SB, 25 BB, 44 SO at Triple-A Norfolk.
Now, things get tricky. The majority of the top prospects in baseball are either in the majors or in the lower levels, so while this is not just the “best of a bad situation” it’s not all that far off. That being said, Basallo and the next three prospects on this list are far from slouches. The left-handed hitting backstop has considerable power in his left-handed bat, and while he may not be able to hit for a high average, he draws a good amount of walks and will carry catcher-eligibility. He’s getting the majority of his reps at catcher, but the Tides have also had him play first base. There’s no guarantee Basallo gets a promotion soon, but he’ll absolutely be worthy of a fantasy addition if/when it takes place this summer.
4. Harry Ford, C, Seattle Mariners
2025 stats: 52 G, .315/.427/.495, 8 HR, 3 SB, 36 BB, 42 SO at Triple-A Tacoma.
Another catcher? And this time one who is in the same organization as the best catcher in baseball in Cal Raleigh? Have I lost my mind? Probably, but I can explain my rationale. Ford has been one of the best hitters in Triple-A over the last month-plus for an offense that has been inconsistent -- at best -- in that time frame. Ford is also athletic enough to play in the outfield and first base, and Mitch Garver and Donovan Solano are currently languishing on the Seattle roster. Seattle would be able to find a way to get Ford at-bats, and the tools are there for him to be a fantasy-relevant player once that takes place.
5. Chase Burns, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
2025 stats: 12 G, 59 IP, 1.83 ERA, .170 BAA, 13 BB, 82 SO at High-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville.
Burns was the second-overall pick of last year’s draft, and made his first start in Triple-A on Thursday while allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings. He did walk four,, but he also struck out seven in a very solid -- if unspectacular -- first outing at the second-highest level. Burns has as good of stuff as any prospect in the sport, and while it wasn’t necessarily on display Thursday, he’s able to command it at an impressive level. The one concern I have for Burns in 2025 is that the Reds may be looking to monitor his innings, but his ability to miss bats makes him well worth fantasy consideration if Cincinnati lets him make starts for the Reds this summer. All signs point to yes, even if he may be on a more rigid pitch count.
Around the minors:
Let’s talk about James Tibbs, the top prospect acquired by the Red Sox in the blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers. Tibbs was selected with the 13th pick by the Giants out of Florida State -- one pick ahead of his collegiate teammate, Cam Smith -- and he’s currently put together a.246/.379/.478 slash with 12 homers over 207 at-bats with High-A Eugene. The 22-year-old has plus power in his left-handed bat, and has a quality approach at the plate that should lead to a good amount of free passes. He’s also prone to weak contact and will strike out at a pretty solid rate as seen in 45 strikeouts over 57 games, and he’s a well below-average runner; hurting his chances of stolen bases and making his likely landing spot a corner-outfield role. He also may be a platoon player, so while there’s a chance of him making an impact with Boston, his fantasy upside is a little more limited.
Charlie Condon’s season got off to a late start because of a fracture in his left wrist, but he’s made up for lost time pretty quickly. Even after going hitless Sunday, Condon is still hitting an impressive .369 with an even more impressive .509 on-base percentage while slugging .488. The third-overall pick from last year’s draft has enormous raw power in his right-handed bat, but he’s shown that the hit tool isn’t too shabby; albeit at the High-A level as a 22-year-old. Condon has gone a bit under the radar, but his offensive upside is considerable even before you consider the Coors Field factor. He should get a chance to shine at the upper levels before the 2025 season comes to a close, and he should be an everyday player by the end of 2026.
Mariners infield prospect Michael Arroyo was hitting just .195 with a .718 OPS at the end of April at High-A Everett. That’s not very good. He followed that up with an OPS of 1.001 in the month of May, and in June, he’s been borderline unrealistic with a slash of .432/.563/.973. That’ll play. Arroyo has tapped into his power quicker -- and better -- than anyone could have anticipated, and he stings the baseball to all parts of the field to give him a great chance to hit for average on top of it. There are some questions where he lands defensively even before you consider the Seattle infield situation, but whatever position he plays, Arroyo’s offense plays at it and then some. He’s maybe the most underrated fantasy prospect in the sport.
‘When I stopped racing I thought, who am I?’: Pippa York on leaving her old life behind
The Tour de France stage winner talks in detail for the first time about transitioning when her cycling career ended, growing up in the Gorbals and alienation in the peloton
Pippa York used to be Robert Millar, a stage winner and king of the mountains in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. Millar was also a podium finisher, in both the Vuelta a España and the Giro, a British national champion, and Tour of Britain winner. But Millar had also wanted to be a girl since the age of five, a secret that remained buried throughout childhood in Glasgow, the subsequent racing career, and beyond, into mid-life.
In her new book, The Escape, written in collaboration with David Walsh, the 66-year-old unflinchingly documents the long and painful process towards transition and the isolation, fear and loneliness that went with it.
Continue reading...Dodgers say Ohtani will pitch on Monday night against Padres
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is going to be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night against San Diego, 21 months after the two-way star had elbow surgery.
The Dodgers made the announcement after Sunday night’s 5-4 win over San Francisco. Ohtani likely will be used as an opener as the NL West leaders kick off a four-game set against the visiting Padres.
“Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the team announced Ohtani would get the ball on Monday night.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be one or two innings, but my guess is probably an inning to start. But it’s a good thing. The live, simulated, or whatever, sort of ran its course. He’s ready to make his debut on the mound.”
Ohtani has not pitched in a game since Aug. 23, 2023, when he got hurt during a start for the Los Angeles Angels against Cincinnati. He had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.
In the second season of a $700 million, 10-year contract, he paused his pitching work after a mound session on Feb. 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter, then started bullpen sessions on March 29 and batting practice on May 25.
Roberts said he is excited to see Ohtani pitch in a big league game again.
“There’s been a lot of anticipation,” he said. “I think we’ve done it the right way as far as our process, communicating with Shohei and feeling good. ... It’s good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. And obviously, most important, I’m excited for Shohei.”
A three-time MVP, Ohtani is hitting .297 with an NL-leading 1.035 OPS, 25 homers and 41 RBIs. A batter only last year in his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani hit .290 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.
On Sunday, Roberts said rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki appears likely to be sidelined for a lengthy stretch. With Sasaki (right shoulder impingement), Blake Snell (left shoulder inflammation) and Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation) on the injured list, the Dodgers have resorted to bullpen games.
Sasaki has not pitched in a game since May 9 and is not part of the team’s long-term pitching plans this season.
“I think that’s what the mindset should be,” Roberts said before the game. “Being thrust into this environment certainly was a big undertaking for him, and now you layer in the health part and the fact he’s a starting pitcher, knowing what the build-up (required to return) entails … I think that’s the prudent way to go about it.”
Sasaki, 23, went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts after joining the Dodgers from the Pacific League’s Chiba Lotte Marines, averaging less than 4 1/3 innings per start. His walked 22 and struck out 24 in 34 1/3 innings and his fastball averaged 95.7 mph, down 3-4 mph from his average in Japan.
Roberts said Sasaki was pain-free when he resumed throwing in early June, but the pitcher was shut down after feeling discomfort this past week. Sasaki recently received a cortisone injection in the shoulder; Roberts said no further scans are planned.
“I don’t think it’s pain,” Roberts said. “I don’t know if it’s discomfort, if it’s tightness, if he’s just not feeling strong, whatever the adjective you want to use. That’s more of a question for Roki, as far as the sensation he’s feeling.
“He’s just not feeling like he can ramp it up, and we’re not going to push him to do something he doesn’t feel good about right now.”
Charlotte Checkers Win Game 2 In Overtime, Even Up Calder Cup Finals
The Charlotte Checkers have tied the Calder Cup Finals 1-1 after an overtime winner from defenseman Mike Benning in Game 2.
The Abbotsford Canucks took Game 1 in double overtime after a bizarre disallowed own goal that kept them in the game.
John Leonard continued his fantastic play by opening the scoring, his team leading seventh goal and 11th point of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Sammy Blais was everywhere for the Canucks, evening up the score just over a minute later while simultaneously taking a goalie interference penalty.
OT WINNER WINNER BOJANGLES DINNER‼️@CheckersHockey | #CLTvsABB | #CalderCuppic.twitter.com/RqRvbDRRa4
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 15, 2025
Wilmer Skoog notched his fourth of the playoffs midway through the first on the powerplay before Linus Karlsson scored his playoff leading 10th goal with the man advantage to tie the game 2-2 at the end of the first.
Charlotte dominated the second and third period but could not beat Arturs Silovs. Their forecheck proved difficult for Abbotsford and they forced constant turnovers in the Canucks' end.
Benning ultimately ripped a puck by Silovs on a powerplay after Chase Wouters took a tripping penalty four minutes into overtime.
The relentless forecheck producing results and scoring two powerplay goals is a good sign for the Checkers who had trouble converting earlier in the playoffs.
Charlotte outshot Abbotsford 42-13.
Silovs was once again dominant for Abbotsford, making 39 saves.
Blais and Karlsson were among the only Canucks to look dangerous and will need to continue to drive the bus offensively.
There was lots of chippy play throughout the game with 13 different players taking minor penalties, it will be interesting to see how the physicality develops in Game 3.
Game 3 goes Tuesday June 17 at 4pm EST/7pm PT in Abbotsford.
The full Calder Cup Playoffs bracket and schedule can be seen here.
Check out The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers team sites for more updates on the series.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
Photo Credit: © Kris Craig/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Yankees 'disappointed' in season-first sweep, consecutive losing weekends against rival Red Sox
After last weekend's 1-2 series in New York, the Yankees' three-game rematch from Friday through Sunday at the Boston Red Sox was worse.
Sunday's 2-0 loss saw the Red Sox (37-36) return above .500 for the first time since May 24 while the Yankees (42-28) continue to struggle against Boston.
"Coming here, obviously, you want to win," said New York ace Max Fried (9-2, 1.89 ERA), whose seven-inning gem -- two runs allowed on six hits while striking out nine and walking two -- went to waste. "So, obviously, we're disappointed and definitely wish the outcomes were different."
The Yankees remain atop the AL East, leading by 3.5 games after the Tampa Bay Rays improved to 39-32 with a three-game sweep of the Mets, but New York is now 1-5 against Boston and 8-11 in the division this season.
"Concerning? I mean, I wouldn't put it that way," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. "I would just say you always want to -- especially when you're playing the Red Sox, you always want to put your best foot forward. And they took us down this weekend, and back-to-back weekends, so you hate that.
"But we have a really good club, and just didn't play our best here this weekend -- obviously had a hard time putting runs on the board. Overall, I thought we pitched pretty well and did enough run prevention-wise to keep them in check to hopefully win some games. But we just didn't get much going."
The latest Red Sox series included a 1-for-12 showing from captain Aaron Judge, who hit his MLB-lead-tying 26th home run of the season late in this past Friday's 2-1 (10-inning) loss but was bottled up otherwise.
"Move past it, learn from it, get ready for the next series -- and we've got a big one with the Angels coming in for four," said Judge, who is slashing .378.473.756 with 60 RBI through 70 games.
As Judge referenced, a four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels (33-37) -- starting with Monday's 7:05 p.m. series opener -- brings the Yankees back to the Bronx for a seven-game homestand that includes the Baltimore Orioles (30-40) this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"It's 162, man," Boone said. "It sucks, losing to the Red Sox. We never like that, right? But it's why teams don't win 120 games.
"Like, we're really good -- I think that's going to continue to show itself -- but tough weekend and, frankly, had a chance to potentially win all the games, even back home against 'em.
"So, credit to them. They were a little bit better than us this weekend. So, look forward to turning the page and getting after it (Monday)."
‘Vulnerable’ Aussies’ Ashes questions exposed… as Bazball could turn star into ‘passenger’ — UK View
Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan declared Australia “look beatable” after its “batting frailties” were exposed in the five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship final.