Good morning and happy Sunday!
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RIP Willie Mays
The baseball world lost one of its most beloved, legendary figures on Tuesday. Willie Mays, the “Say Hey Kid,” passed away at the age of 93.
Mays played one year for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues before spending all 22 of his MLB seasons with the New York/San Francisco Giants. Widely considered the greatest all-around player of all time, he hit .301 with 660 home runs, 3,293 hits, and 2,068 runs scored while earning 12 Gold Gloves. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1951 and a two-time MVP in 1954 and 1965.
Any time Mays’ name is brought up, it’s impossible not to think about “The Catch”. His over-the-shoulder grab in the 1954 World Series holds up as arguably the greatest defensive play of all time to this day.
Mays tops the list of players I wish I had the privilege of watching. A real argument can be made that he is the best player ever to step on the diamond.
Rest in peace to an icon.
Dominant on the Bump
Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners
8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 0 BB vs. Texas Rangers
8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 1 BB vs. Miami Marlins
Ronel Blanco, Houston Astros
7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 3 BB vs. Detroit Tigers
Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers
7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB vs. Kansas City Royals
7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 10 K, 1 BB vs. Los Angeles Angels
James Paxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB vs. Colorado Rockies
Reese Olson, Detroit Tigers
6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 0 BB vs. Atlanta Braves
Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds
6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 0 BB vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB vs. Cincinnati Reds
Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians
6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 12 K, 1 BB vs. Seattle Mariners
Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins
9.0 IP (CG), 4 H, 2 ER, 10 K, 0 BB vs. Oakland A’s
Big Bombs
Shohei Ohtani crushed the longest homer of the year — a 476-foot blast vs. the Rockies.
The Padres made it THREE straight games with a walk-off home run on Thursday night.
Shohei Ohtani hit a 455-foot bomb in his first game against his former team.
Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford hit his first career grand slam vs. the
Web Gem of the Week
Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick robbed the Angels of what would have been a three-run home run to tie the game.
Welcome to the Show
Braves right-hander Grant Holmes allowed two hits in three scoreless innings while striking out two in his MLB debut Sunday vs. the Rays. Holmes, 28, finally made it to the big leagues after 10 minor league seasons.
Giants righty Spencer Bivens made his MLB debut on Sunday, just two weeks ahead of his 30th birthday. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out four Angels hitters through three innings.
Blue Jays pitching prospect Brandon Eisert allowed one hit and walked three in two scoreless innings in his debut vs. the Red Sox on Monday.
Yankees first base prospect Ben Rice recorded his first hit in his big-league debut Tuesday vs. the Orioles.
Dodgers righty Michael Petersen allowed one run on one hit and one walk in his debut vs. the Rockies on Tuesday. The 30-year-old became the first British-born Dodgers player ever and the first British-born player in MLB since PJ Conlon.
Cardinals pitching prospect Adam Kloffenstein did not allow a hit or walk anyone in a scoreless inning of work against the Giants in his MLB debut on Thursday.
Brewers pitching prospect Bradley Blalock tossed a scoreless inning in his big-league debut Thursday vs. the Padres.
Blue Jays top shortstop prospect Orelvis Martinez collected his first big-league hit on Friday vs. the Guardians.
Astros pitching prospect Jake Bloss allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two in 3.2 innings during his MLB debut vs. the Orioles on Friday. His debut was cut short due to a shoulder injury.
Notable Injuries
The Giants placed left-hander Kyle Harrison on the 15-day injured list due to a right ankle sprain.
The Dodgers placed right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the 15-day IL with triceps tightness and right-hander Michael Grove on the 15-day IL due to lat tightness.
The Braves placed rookie right-hander Hurston Waldrep on the 15-day IL due to elbow inflammation.
The Blue Jays placed right-hander Yimi García on the 15-day IL with right elbow ulnar neuritis.
The Dodgers placed Mookie Betts on the 10-day IL with a fractured left hand. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
The Blue Jays placed shortstop Bo Bichette on the 10-day IL with a right calf strain.
The Astros placed right-hander Justin Verlander on the 15-day IL due to neck discomfort.
The Twins placed first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff on the 10-day IL with a back issue.
The Yankees placed first baseman Anthony Rizzo on the 60-day IL with a fractured radial neck in his right arm.
The Dodgers placed righty Walker Buehler on the 15-day IL with inflammation in his right hip.
Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery.
The Marlins have placed left-hander Jesus Luzardo on the 15-day IL due to a back injury.
The Diamondbacks placed catcher Gabriel Moreno on the 10-day IL due to a sprained left thumb.
The Giants placed right-hander Keaton Winn and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski on the 15-day IL and 10-day IL with elbow inflammation and a left oblique strain, respectively.
Rapid Fire
The A’s designated corner infielder J.D. Davis for assignment.
The Cubs signed catcher Tomas Nido and DFA’d catcher Yan Gomes.
The Marlins DFA’d catcher Christian Bethancourt.
The Phillies agreed to a four-year contract extension with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. The deal includes club options for 2029 and '30.