Michigan football score: Justice Haynes had two touchdowns and rushed for 117 yards, his fifth straight 100-yard game as a Wolverine in Saturday's win.
European football: Harry Kane sets latest record in Bayern’s Frankfurt win
Kane scores 11th goal in first six Bundesliga games
Vinícius at the double as Real Madrid defeat Villarreal
Harry Kane set a Bundesliga scoring record and Luis Díaz netted twice as Bayern Munich cruised past Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 to continue a flawless start to the season with their sixth consecutive league win.
Kane, who also hit the woodwork from point-blank range in the second half, rifled in his 11th league goal in the 27th minute and became the first Bundesliga player to reach that mark after six matches. He has 18 goals in 10 matches across all competitions this season.
Continue reading...Canadiens' Hutson And Demidov Could Accomplish Rare Feat
Defenseman Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens is the latest young star to win a Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year. He became the seventh Canadiens player ever to win the award, and the first to win it since goaltender Ken Dryden in 1972.
With that, more history could be coming to Montreal involving the Calder Trophy. According to sportsbook BetMGM, Canadiens right winger Ivan Demidov is the favorite to win the Calder at 2.75 odds (+175). Closest to Demidov is Minnesota Wild D-man Zeev Buium at 14.00 (+1300).
The odds suggest that the Canadiens could see their players win back-to-back Calder Trophies, something that hasn’t been accomplished in quite some time.
The last time a team owned two consecutive Calder Trophy titles was the 1967 and 1968 Boston Bruins. In 1967, legendary defenseman Bobby Orr won the Calder, followed by center Derek Sanderson in 1968.
The Bruins duo went on to win two Stanley Cups together. In fact, Sanderson and Orr combined on the famous 1970 Cup-clinching overtime-winner against the St. Louis Blues, which saw Orr catch air time after scoring past goaltender Glen Hall.
To this day, Orr is one of the best defensemen of all time, with his name gracing the Hockey Hall of Fame since he was inducted in 1979. As for Sanderson, he went on to play almost 600 career regular-season games, mostly for Boston.
It’s way too early, and a long shot, to say that Hutson and Demidov will turn out to be like that old Bruins pair.
However, Hutson has shown signs of brilliance on the blueline as a real offensive threat from the back end, like Orr was. With 66 points in 82 games, he led all rookies in scoring last season and tied Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedam with the sixth-most points among all blueliners.
As for Demidov, he made his NHL debut with the Habs late last season, playing the final two games of the 2024-25 regular season. He recorded a goal and an assist in his first game against the Chicago Blackhawks, while going point-less in the following outing against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Later in the post-season, Montreal took on the Washington Capitals in the first round, and Demidov recorded two assists in five games.
The 19-year-old has shown bright spots in his play that could hint at him being a star in this league. Ultimately, the chances that Montreal will claim back-to-back Calder Trophies are high.
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Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened
Estevao’s injury-time goal gave injury-hit Chelsea a memorable win over the champions, who lost their third game in a row
Arsenal beat West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates to move above Liverpool, at least for a couple of hours. This is how the Premier League table looks right here, right now.
And Enzo Maresca’s
It’s nice [to play Liverpool]. It’s a chance to learn and we’ve prepared as best we can.
[On Chelsea’s injuries] Nine players are unfortunately out, plus we have two or three players [who are carrying injuries*] We will try to find solutions and hopefully we can have a good day – for us and for the fans.
Continue reading...NHL Waivers: Leafs' Kampf Clears As Graves And 16 Others Hit The Wire On Oct. 4
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the six other teams that placed players on the waiver wire can now assign them to their AHL affiliates, as all 12 players have cleared waivers.
The Maple Leafs took the biggest risk, sending veteran center David Kampf and his $2.4 million cap hit to their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. The Boston Bruins accounted for five of the 12 players on waivers, sending Victor Soderstrom, Michael Callahan, Riley Tufte, Geogrii Merkulov and Patrick Brown to the Providence Bruins.
PuckPedia reported the news.
Seven NHL teams also placed a combined 17 players on waivers, according to PuckPedia. Here's that list.
- Dallas: Cameron Hughes, Vladislav Kolyachonok
- Florida: Tobias Bjornfot, Brandon Bussi
- New Jersey: Thomas Bordeleau, Angus Crookshank, Brian Halonen, Zack MacEwen, Colton White
- Philadelphia: Dennis Gilbert
- Pittsburgh: Alexander Alexeyev, Ryan Graves, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Bokondji Imama, Samuel Poulin
- San Jose: Colin White
- Utah: Cameron Hebig
Graves hits the waiver wire on year three of a six-year contract carrying a $4.5 million cap hit. The 30-year-old has struggled in his time with the Peguins, recording just one goal and four points in 61 games last season. Once a prominent figure on the bluelines of the Colorado Avalanche and the New Jersey Devils could be on his way to the AHL.
Bordeleau, 23, was a second-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2020 but has struggled to break through into the NHL. In the off-season, the Sharks sent Bordeleau to the Devils in exchange for Shane Bowers.
MacEwen, another Devils player to hit the waiver wire, was involved in a trade just yesterday, as he was moved from the Ottawa Senators to the Devils in exchange for Curtis MacDermid. The 29-year-old enforcer played 21 games with the Senators last year.
Bjornfot was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2019 but has yet to lock down a role on an NHL club. He's with his third franchise and will likely spend the season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate. The 24-year-old has 134 games in his NHL career.
For each player, the 31 other NHL teams can submit a claim for them by 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. Otherwise, their teams can assign them to the minors. And if any of the squads that did claim a player places them back on waivers, their initial team can still claim them.
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Michigan State football injury report: Spartans’ ailing defense without Nikai Martinez
Michigan State football injury report: The Spartans' struggling defense will have to try and patch things up without safety Nikai Martinez
Flyers Make Final Roster Cut; Top Prospect Poised to Stay in NHL
The Philadelphia Flyers appear to have made their final roster cut before the end of Saturday afternoon's preseason game against the New Jersey Devils, revealing what could be their final NHL group ahead of opening night.
On Saturday, during the second intermission of the Flyers and Devils game, PuckPedia posted the group of NHL players on waivers.
Included amongst the group is Flyers defenseman Dennis Gilbert, meaning the Flyers are likely to start the 2025-26 regular season with seven defensemen.
Former No. 11 overall pick Victor Soderstrom went unclaimed on waivers.
If the Flyers make no further changes to their roster ahead of opening night, they will start the season with Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Nick Seeler, Jamie Drysdale, Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning, and Noah Juulsen as their seven defenders.
As for the forwards, this all but confirms Nikita Grebenkin caps off his impressive training camp and preseason with an NHL roster spot with the Flyers.
Flyers Reportedly 'Open' to Trading Emil AndraeAfter Emil Andrae failed to make the Philadelphia Flyers roster out of training camp, the team is reportedly open to moving on from the undersized defenseman.
Additionally, provided the Flyers indeed opt to keep him around, top center prospect Jett Luchanko will stick around on the NHL roster again, just as he did last year.
Latvian forward Rodrigo Abols, who is playing on a line with Luchanko in Saturday's preseaosn game against the Devils, appears to have made the final cut as well.
Although unlikely, the Flyers can still choose to bring players back from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms and/or send Luchanko to the OHL Guelph Storm, but, as it stands, the Flyers have unofficially confirmed their roster to start the regular season.
North Carolina’s hapless first-half display vs. Clemson sends fans streaming to exits before halftime of 38-10 defeat
The Tar Heels trailed 35-3 at halftime and were down 28-3 at the end of the first quarter.
OG Anunoby goes for 13 points in preseason debut as Knicks beat Sixers
The Knicks continued their preseason schedule at the NBA’s Abu Dhabi Games, beating the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, 112-104.
With Josh Hart sidelined due to back spasms, OG Anunoby reentered the starting lineup and made his 2025 preseason debut.
Here are the takeaways...
-- After missing New York's first preseason game on Thursday, Anunoby got out to a strong start in the first quarter against the Sixers. He missed his first shot of the night, but nailed his next two, including a three-pointer, and then found Mitchell Robinson in transition for an alley-oop jam.
After an early breather, Anunoby came back into the game with about three minutes left in the quarter. He hit his second three of the game to extend New York's lead, finishing the quarter with eight points. The wing stayed hot and made another three-pointer to open the second quarter, going 3-for-5 from deep in the first half with 11 points.
-- Jordan Clarkson, Miles McBride, and Guerschon Yabusele were new head coach Mike Brown's first substitutions of the game, midway through the first quarter. Clarkson took after Anunoby and hit Robinson for another fast break alley-oop to put the Knicks up 27-22 with about two minutes left in the quarter. The pair connected again with the clock winding down, as the guard cut through the defense and found the big man underneath the rim for another easy dunk.
-- The Knicks shot 60 percent as a team (12-for-20) in the first quarter and led the Sixers, 31-23. They held Philly to 36.8 percent shooting (7-for-19), as Tyrese Maxey paced them with eight points.
-- Malcom Brogdon started the second quarter as he and McBride ran the offense for about four minutes before Jalen Brunson subbed back in to the game. Yabusele showed how he can be a big contributor to the team in the second, hitting a three and getting back on defense to block Justin Edwards at the rim.
New York coasted through the rest of the second quarter, outscoring Philadelphia 28-24, and leading 59-47 at halftime. Anunoby led the way with 11 points and Brunson had nine of his own. Maxey had 16 points for the Sixers, playing nearly the entire first half.
-- With the starters ending their days early, Brown opted for a lineup of Brogdon, Clarkson, Yabusele, Pacome Dadiet, and Landry Shamet to open the second half. Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti were the first group of subs, while Kevin McCullar Jr., Mohamed Diawara, and Garrison Matthews entered with about three minutes left in the third quarter.
All fighting for roster spots and potential rotational minutes, the bench unit showed effort defensively toward the end of the third quarter, forcing a shot clock violation that got the starters off their seats. Although the 76ers won the third quarter 28-23 and trailed, 82-75, heading into the fourth quarter.
-- Philadelphia did not give up in the fourth quarter, cutting the Knicks' lead down to five points with under two minutes left. Kolek followed up a miss with a floater to push the lead back to seven with under a minute left. New York held on for the 112-104 win.
Brunson finished with 14 points, Anunoby scored 13, and Mikal Bridges had 10 points. McCullar, Matthews, and Tosan Evbuomwan each scored six points off the bench.
Highlights
the DEMON is BACK 😈 pic.twitter.com/KcjyCdPtDj
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 4, 2025
things we missed… THIS‼️
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 4, 2025
OG TO MITCH SLAM💥 pic.twitter.com/7zqiZLsQKR
Guerschon Yabusele says no 🐻 pic.twitter.com/WvxC7CwDrG
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) October 4, 2025
Kolek ➡️ Hukporti 💪 pic.twitter.com/jQvVVpddq5
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) October 4, 2025
Up next
The Knicks return home to The Garden to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves and old friends Julius Randle and Donte Divincenzo on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
(10-4-25) Blues-Blackhawks Preseason Gameday Lineup
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- It’s one final opportunity for those in the St. Louis Blues lineup on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks to make a lasting impression before opening night lineups need to be submitted.
The Blues (1-3-1) and Blackhawks (2-3-0) will close the preseason at 6 p.m. (stlblues.com, Blues app, ESPN 101.1-FM) from United Center in Chicago before it all gets underway on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.
Guys that will be in the lineup tonight looking to make that impression include Alexandre Texier, Milan Lucic, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, Hunter Skinner and Leo Loof before decisions are made.
“See guys grab a spot,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “For some of the guys, it’s their last impression to make the team.”
One to keep an eye on is Texier, who is on the fringe despite being on an NHL contract, in the final year of a two-year, $4.2 million contract signed before being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to last season.
And the word that keeps coming up when talking about Texier: consistency.
“I thought in camp like Day 1 was really good. Day 2 wasn’t as good as Day 1,” Montgomery said. “I talked to him about consistency. It’s always been something that needs for everybody’s game, but his game since he’s been a Blue, consistency game in game out, what we can expect. And then I thought the first game he played in Columbus, I thought he was good. And then the last game that he played, he played on a line with him and I think (Mathieu) Joseph was at center and Lucic I think was the line. They didn’t have a real center, so tonight he’s playing with (Pius) Suter and (Jordan) Kyrou, so it’s a good opportunity for him tonight.
“You can say part of it is he hasn’t played a stretch of 10 games in a row. That could be it. But it’s up to players to earn the opportunity to play 10 games in a row, and unfortunately last year when he was on a good run, both times, one right before Christmas and one right before we came back from 4 Nations, unfortunately he fell ill and it cost him an opportunity to stay in the lineup.”
Texier knows tonight will be important for him.
“You’ve just got to play the same way every single night, no matter what, and that’s what I’m trying to do, play the same way and be consistent,” Texier said. “… You’ve just go to play the same way and be consistent no matter with you you play. I’m just going to try and play my game. It’s the last game of preseason. I know I’ve got to have a good one.
“In this league, you go up and down. Things can change quick. You just focus on your game and try to bring your best with your line that you’re playing with that night.”
When Texier is at his best, Montgomery said he’s “Dynamic, incredible puck protection, speed in transition offensively and defensively and someone that just wins a lot of puck battles when he’s on top of his game. It’s very noticeable.
“I think he can fit any line role when he’s on top of his game. He’s scored goals on the first line last year, he’s scored goals on the third line and fourth line. He’s just a dynamic, talented player that hopefully he gets that confidence and is able to do some of those things that we’re hoping for.”
Texier had just 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 31 games, his first with the Blues.
“It’s in the past,” Texier said. “It was a tough season. I don’t want to look back. It’s a new season, I’m fresh and I’m ready to go.”
- - -
For a guy like Stenberg, who is likely to play in Springfield of the American Hockey League this season, it’s been a really strong camp, his first in St. Louis.
“Real smart hockey player,” Montgomery said. “I think someone that the more you’re around him as a coach, you become trustworthy with them because he’s very intelligent and picks up how we want to play, picks up nuances of the gray area that always exists in a fluid game of hockey. Just a real good hockey player. Now we need to see the consistency as a pro and can he handle the speed, size and strength of the NHL. That’s something if we don’t find it out this year, we’re going to find it out pretty soon.”
It’s been quite the impression from someone transitioning from Europe to North American
“I think it’s been very impressive,” Montgomery said. “Personally I feel like he’s adapted really well as someone coming over. Now maybe a half a year in Springfield helped him adapt and that’s why it’s always smart to come over when you can when the team wants you to come and have an opportunity to be part of the organization as quick as possible.”
- - -
Defenseman Logan Mailloux, who will be paired with Tyler Tucker tonight, will quarterback PP1 for the Blues, which includes Jimmy Snuggerud, Robert Thomas, Texier and Stenberg.
The Blues will head into the season with Cam Fowler and Justin Faulk as their power play quarterbacks, but the thought of an offensive defenseman like Mailloux is an intriguing option if necessary. But not at this moment.
“We want Mailloux to really just focus on being a really good 5-on-5 defenseman, 200-foot defenseman that he has shown at both ends of the ice already. And a penalty killer,” Montgomery said. “We have two veteran defensemen that know … our power play was third in the NHL post-Christmas. We don’t need a lot of tweaks there right now until we see that there may need to be.”
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggeruid
Alexandre Texier-Pius Suter-Jordan Kyrou
Milan Lucic-Nick Bjugstad-Alexey Toropchenko
Otto Stenberg-Dalibor Dvorsky-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki
Tyler Tucker-Logan Maulloux
Leo Loof-Matthew Kessel
Theo Lindstein-Hunter Skinner
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Colten Ellis will be the backup.
- - -
Blackhawks Roster:
last preseason game before the regular season🤝
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 4, 2025
🗞️ https://t.co/MvjVtexMr6pic.twitter.com/hmatsPRfE5
Braves GM Anthopoulos says he has no list of candidates as he begins search to replace Snitker
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Saturday he hopes to move quickly as he begins his search for a successor to Brian Snitker as manager but that he has not conducted any interviews.
Snitker, 69, announced Wednesday he won’t return after 10 seasons as the Braves’ manager.
Even though Snitker’s decision wasn’t a surprise, Anthopoulos insisted he wasn’t going to begin compiling a list of candidates before giving the manager time to finalize his plans.
When asked what the Braves would have done if Snitker wanted to return for the 2026 season, Anthopoulos said: “He would have been back. That’s why we were going to wait and give him the time he needed.”
Former Braves catcher and Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross told The Associated Press on Thursday he wants to manage again. Ross said an opportunity to manage the Braves “would be amazing.”
Anthopoulos insisted “we do not currently have a list” and said “I wanted to get some things done internally” before beginning his search.
“I will now turn my attention to the manager,” Anthopoulos said. “... We have not spoken with anybody.”
Snitker led the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship as the highlight of almost a half-century with the organization. He will remain in an advisory role and will be inducted into the team’s hall of fame next season.
Anthopoulos said he and Snitker have an agreement on a five-year term as senior adviser but added that could change.
Two coaches on Snitker’s staff have experience as a manager. Bench coach Walt Weiss is Colorado’s former manager. Third base coach Fredi González is a former manager with Atlanta and the Marlins.
There has been speculation that other possible candidates are former Braves infielder Mark DeRosa and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was named the Texas Rangers’ skipper on Friday night.
“Before Skip Schumaker was named, there were eight openings,” Anthopoulos said. “That’s a lot of openings. ... That makes it incredibly challenging.”
Anthopoulos said his timeline to make a hire could be impacted if he focuses on a candidate who is also of interest to another team.
“Of course as soon as possible with so many openings,” Anthopoulos said when asked how soon he hopes to make a hire. “You can’t just rush it or force it. ... You’d love to be able to do it sooner than later.”
Snitker posted a record of 811-688 as manager. He ranks third in franchise history in wins, trailing Bobby Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004). He led the Braves to seven postseasons, including six NL East titles.
Max Scherzer, Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt left off Blue Jays’ ALDS roster against Yankees
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was left off the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster for their AL Division Series against the New York Yankees along with injured shortstop Bo Bichette and right-hander Chris Bassitt.
Scherzer was 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts, including a Sept. 7 loss to the Yankees as New York took advantage of the 41-year-old right-hander tipping pitches with his changeup.
An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer was 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts after agreeing to a one-year, $15.5 million contract. He didn’t pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation.
He has a 221-117 record with a 3.22 ERA, winning World Series titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. Scherzer is 7-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 30 postseason games.
Bichette, second in the major leagues to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge with a .311 batting average, hasn’t played since Sept. 6, when he sprained his left knee in a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells. Bassitt, who was 11-9 and led the Blue Jays in wins, hasn’t pitched since Sept. 18 because of lower back inflammation.
Toronto included 13 pitchers, but only Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage, a 22-year-old right-hander who debuted Sept. 15, finished the season in the rotation. Toronto chose four left-handers against lefty-heavy New York: Justin Bruihl, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer and Brendon Little.
New York added right-hander Luis Gil, who was set to start Saturday’s opener and dropped right-handed relief Mark Leiter Jr., who was active for the Wild Card Series against Boston but didn’t pitch.
The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers added three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and left-hander Anthony Banda to the roster for their NL Division Series against Philadelphia while dropping right-hander Edgardo Henriquez.
Kershaw, a 37-year-old, is slated to pitch in relief. The 11-time All-Star says he will retire after the postseason.
Infielder Otto Kemp and outfielder Weston Wilson were on the Phillies’ roster and right-handers Jordan Romano and Lou Trivino were left off.
Right-hander Ben Brown was added to the Chicago Cubs’ roster against the Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander reliever Taylor Rogers was dropped. Rogers pitched a hitless inning in the Wild Card Series against San Diego.
Milwaukee included hard-throwing rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and left-hander Robert Gasser while leaving off first baseman Rhys Hoskins.
Former Devils Big Defenseman Hits Waivers
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they are placing former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ryan Graves on waivers.
In addition to Graves, the Penguins announced that they are also placing Alexander Alexeyev, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Boko Imama, and Sam Poulin on waivers.
The following players have been assigned to @WBSPenguins (AHL) training camp:
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 4, 2025
- Tristan Broz
- Avery Hayes
- Sergei Murashov
- Owen Pickering
Alexander Alexeyev, Ryan Graves, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Boko Imama and Sam Poulin will be placed on waivers at 2:00 PM and will be assigned…
Graves being placed on waivers comes after he had a tough 2024-25 season with the Penguins. In 61 games with Pittsburgh this past campaign, he had one goal, three assists, and a minus-15 rating. This was after he had three goals and 14 points in 70 games with the Penguins in 2023-24.
Graves spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Devils and was a key part of their blueline. In 153 games with the Devils over that span, the 6-foot-5 blueliner recorded 14 goals, 40 assists, 54 points, 173 hits, 287 blocks, and a plus-25 rating. This included him scoring six goals and recording a career-high 28 points in 75 games with New Jersey in 2021-22.
Graves' time with the Devils ended during the 2023 NHL off-season when he signed a six-year, $27 million contract with the Penguins in free agency. Now, he has been placed on waivers ahead of his third season with Pittsburgh and will be looking to get things back on track in 2025-26.
Sixers' VJ Edgecombe showing off hops against Knicks in Abu Dhabi
We saw it at Baylor. We saw the stats out of the NBA Draft Combine. We saw it at Summer League.
Now, the fans in Abu Dhabi are seeing it as the NBA has taken the preseason to the United Arab Emirates, with the Knicks and 76ers facing off. That means No. 3 overall pick from last June, VJ Edgecombe, is there and putting on a show. Like this dunk.
HLY VJ!!! pic.twitter.com/BYq15L2Z2v
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 4, 2025
Or this block.
VJ Edgecombe got UP for this block
— NBA (@NBA) October 4, 2025
The No. 3 pick is showing out in Abu Dhabi! pic.twitter.com/Zi5scWEhNc
Edgecombe is showing more to his game in the preseason than just pure athleticism, he has knocked down 3s and is showing off some passing skills as well.
VJ ➡️ . pic.twitter.com/5NtgkrLxmH
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 2, 2025
It's going to be an interesting season in Philly and part of that is watching what Edgecombe can do.
Bader brings energy, edge to Phillies' championship push
Bader brings energy, edge to Phillies' championship push originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
From the moment Harrison Bader slipped on a Phillies uniform, it just made sense.
The energy. The defense. The all-out style of play.
Since arriving from the Twins at the Trade Deadline, Bader has injected Philadelphia with exactly the kind of spark that wins in October.
A veteran of nine seasons on his sixth club, Bader joined a crowded outfield mix that already included Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler.
Before the swap, he was putting together a solid season in Minnesota, tallying 25 extra-base hits in 96 games with a .778 OPS. His bat was red hot in July — five homers, a .914 OPS and 11 RBIs in the month.
Three weeks after the trade, Castellanos told reporters that Bader had been frustrated with his playing time, understandable for a guy swinging the bat well before the trade. His first few weeks in Philly were rough, hitting just .171 in his first 41 at-bats.
Then came August 20th against Seattle, when Rob Thomson gave him the nod, and Bader took off. From that point on, he slashed .346/.390/.522 with 15 extra-base hits to close out the regular season.
His impact went far beyond the numbers. Bader, who primarily played left field with Minnesota, immediately stabilized center field for Philadelphia. His 85th-percentile sprint speed was on full display, flagging down balls gap-to-gap from Monty’s Angle to the bullpen — complete with his trademark crab-walk backpedal.
When Trea Turner landed on the injured list in late September, Thomson moved Bader into the leadoff spot, and the results spoke for themselves. Over 13 games atop the order before the final homestand, he hit .339, sparking an offense that notched nine wins, including a sweep of the Mets and a statement series victory in Los Angeles.
“Winning baseball is a universal language,” Bader said. “We all come from different places, but the goal’s the same. The only focus for me was taking advantage of the opportunity to help this team win.”
That mindset made him an easy fit in a clubhouse full of veterans who’ve lived the highs and lows of Red October.
“There are no cliques here,” Bader said. “It’s about doing your job and executing. You gain respect by playing winning baseball.”
It’s the same approach that made him a postseason hero in the Bronx. In 2022, Bader homered five times in nine playoff games for the Yankees — experience that fuels his confidence now in Philadelphia.
“You can’t play hero ball,” he said. “It’s about having a good at-bat, passing the baton, doing the little things that win a series.”
Bader has worked tirelessly to evolve as a hitter. After an injury in 2023, he spent last offseason reworking his mechanics with a biomechanist in Tampa.
“I didn’t want to go back to who I was — I wanted to be someone new,” he said. “The game’s about evolving.”
He certainly evolved. This mechanical change has allowed Bader to exhibit strong offensive production against right-handed pitchers.
Coming into 2025, Bader posted a career .775 OPS versus left-handers and a .670 against righties.
This season, Bader’s splits are reversed, which can be beneficial as you generally face more right-handed pitching. His OPS against righties is .845 (344 AB), while it’s .689 versus southpaws (157 AB).
Off the field, Bader’s personality has become just as impactful as his play. He actually inspired teammates to join his “crop top” pregame routine during the summer heat.
“I’d never tell another grown man to wear a crop top,” Bader laughed. “But it shows how together this group is.”
And then there’s his appreciation for the city itself.
“The fans here make this place special,” he said. “They share the same passion we do. I’m grateful to compete in front of that energy.”
In just two months, Bader has become everything the Phillies could have hoped for, and he’s a reminder of what makes this group so dangerous in October.
He’s been here a short time, but in every sense, Harrison Bader already feels like a perfect fit for Philadelphia.