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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Blue Jays top prospect Arjun Nimmala focused on growth, consistency in Vancouver
Vancouver Canadians shortstop Arjun Nimmala fields the ball during the fourth inning of a Northwest Minor League Baseball game against the Eugene Emeralds in Vancouver on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns VANCOUVER — Arjun Nimmala has learned a lot this year. As the No. 1 prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays, he's been figuring out what it takes to be a professional athlete while playing shortstop for the team's High-A affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians. As a 19-year-old living more than 5,000 kilometres away from his parents' home in Valrico, Fla., he's been figuring out how to take care of himself. 'There was a little bit of an adjustment period, learning how to do things on my own,' Nimmala said with a smile. Cooking was one hurdle the teen had to overcome. In recent months, he's learned how to make a few staples, including fried rice. A more intangible hurdle has been learning how to stay locked in on the day-to-day amid a whirlwind of speculation and excitement about his future. Staying focused isn't easy, Nimmala said. 'It's definitely hard. It's definitely something that you have to consistently make an effort for,' he said. 'You could definitely get lost in what people are saying, stats, all that stuff. And for an athlete, for a baseball player, those aren't the best things to be looking at. 'The better I can stay focused on what I can do in the present, the better I'll be on the field as well.' Few Canadians players feel the glare of the spotlight the way Nimmala has this season. At No. 46 on the MLB's list of the 100 top prospects, it's not only the shortstop's performance on the field that has grabbed headlines, but his story. Nimmala's parents immigrated from India to the U.S. before he was born, and when Toronto picked the teen 20th overall at the 2023 draft, it marked the first time an MLB team selected a first-generation Indian player in the first round. 'Going into it, I've always just tried to be the best player I can be and impact the team in the best way,' he said. 'But over time, my family and I, we've learned a lot of what it means to become the first or a trailblazer in some sort of way. For us, it's just making people proud while also getting better on the baseball field.' After spending last season with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League, Nimmala has shown major potential since moving up to Vancouver this year. The six-foot-one, 170-pound athlete boasts a .232 batting average across 84 games, is tied for most runs on the team (55) and slots in at second for most home runs (11). June was a stellar month for the Canadians, who chalked up a franchise-record 11-straight wins, with Nimmala contributing big hits in several games, including Vancouver's 8-4 victory over the Spokane Indians on June 11 when he blasted a three-run homer into the bullpen. Solid showings have been harder to come by in recent weeks, though. And that's part of the learning process, too, Nimmala said. 'I think we all know that recently, I haven't been the same or as good of a player as I was earlier this season. And that's just part of baseball. But it's also that I need to find ways to make adjustments and be better on the field as well,' he said. 'I think that comes with more experience and learning who I am, what guys are going to do against me. It's a lot of the little things that you can overlook that really make players really good.' During both his success and his struggles, Nimmala turns back to his family. They're home in Florida, where his dad, Balu Nimmala, stays up late to keep tabs on his son's play. 'He watches the games, even though it's like one o'clock back there. I'm like 'Bro, you should go to sleep,'' Nimmala said with another broad smile. 'But he's like, 'Just keep doing what you're doing, it's working, whether you're getting the results or not. Just trust who you are, what type of player you are, and just do things right.' So listening to him and knowing what I need to do are things that help me.' With just over a month left in the Northwest League's regular season, the Canadians are still looking to clinch a playoff spot. And Nimmala is still learning how to be a better baseball player, a better professional athlete. Those lessons only come with time, he said. 'I think one of the biggest things in growth, at least in baseball, is just experience. Whether it's taking more reps or more pitches, there's only so much you can learn from hitting (batting practice) and things like that. The real test is what you do out there,' said the highly touted prospect. 'It's in these very high-pressure situations, especially when we're trying to win and clinch and go out there and make playoffs, I think that's where you're going to get better.' For Nimmala, the learning has just begun. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025. Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
MLS 'misrepresenting' Whitecaps' stadium availability: B.C. Place
B.C. Place says they are very flexible in bookings with the Whitecaps, including offering alternate dates for 2024's controversial wildcard playoff hosting. Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox The Whitecaps are scheduled to play 23 games this year at B.C. Place. Photo by Jeff Vinnick Jeff Vinnick/Gett / Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Two days after being publicly criticized about how often B.C. Place is available for the Vancouver Whitecaps, the authority that runs the stadium is pushing back. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber criticized the stadium on Wednesday for offering the Whitecaps a limited selection of playing dates saying they made only 17 dates available for home matches and also for forcing the Whitecaps to play a 'home' playoff game last fall on the road. Not so fast, B.C. Place officials are saying. 'The statement from the Major League Soccer commissioner that the Whitecaps only receive 17 days to play matches at B.C. Place is a misrepresentation of how many days are made available to the organization,' read a statement provided to Postmedia on Friday morning, attributed to B.C. Place as an organization. According to B.C. Place, on average more than 40 days are made available each season to the Whitecaps. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are a valued long-term partner of B.C. Place, and the stadium works closely with the club to ensure their matches and events are a scheduling priority,' the statement continued. 'Every year, B.C. Place and the Whitecaps collaborate to establish a calendar that accommodates regular season matches, playoff matches, CONCACAF tournaments and other qualifying competitions.' The Whitecaps have called the downtown stadium home since late 2011, their first year in MLS. At the moment, the Whitecaps are scheduled to play 23 games this year at B.C. Place, although if they defeat Forge FC in their two-legged Canadian Championship semi-final, they will host the final, giving them 24 game days. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On top of those games, B.C. Place points out, the stadium also hosts practices and other media events at the stadium. Those push the Caps beyond 40 events per year. 'The stadium also supports the club in hosting a variety of other activities, such as watch parties, season ticketholder events, stakeholder meetings, film shoots, and other supporting events,' the statement noted. As for last year's playoff game which saw the Caps have to play in Portland, even though they were the home team, because of a previously booked motocross event at B.C. Place, stadium officials again pushed back. The league had proposed the Whitecaps host the Portland Timbers on Oct. 23, but that was unavailable because of preparations for the World Supercross Championships, set to take place Oct. 26 at the stadium. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That the Whitecaps had to play a game on the road that they had earned the right to host was an example Garber cited on Wednesday of why B.C. Place is an 'unviable' venue going forward. According to B.C. Place, they negotiated with officials for the supercross and would have been able to host the Whitecaps vs. Timbers match on Oct. 22. B.C. Place said the club supported the proposed date. 'Unfortunately, the proposed solution was not approved by MLS, and the Whitecaps were required to play the match on the road,' B.C. Place said. 'B.C. Place is proud to be the home of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and remains committed to supporting the club's growth and success now and into the future.' In a statement on Thursday, the Whitecaps re-iterated that they continue to talk with the City of Vancouver about building a soccer-specific stadium on the grounds of the PNE at Hastings Park. The team hasn't specifically pointed to the current site of Hastings Racecourse, but the lease for the horse-racing operation there expires next May and most expect that the city will look toward a different use for the property which has hosted horse racing since the 1890s. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Vancouver Whitecaps FC can confirm that discussions with the City of Vancouver regarding potential stadium development at the PNE fairgrounds site are progressing,' the team said in its statement. 'While the club is taking all necessary action to keep moving this process forward, it is a complex undertaking that can take considerable time. Our objective is to continue to move the project forward as quickly as possible, working with the city, the province, and MLS. At this time, the club has no further updates to share on these conversations with the city.' If the Whitecaps are able to secure an agreement to build a stadium on the site, they will still need to secure funding for construction — and they still need a new owner. Plus, stadium construction would take several years, so the team will need somewhere to play in the interim, presumably at B.C. Place. The Whitecaps have not commented on the state of negotiations with PavCo. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Meanwhile, it is business as usual for Whitecaps FC. We remain focused on extending the great momentum of the season and continuing to invest in and grow the club and Canadian soccer. Whitecaps FC remains grateful for the passionate support of our fans and the broader Vancouver soccer community,' the Whitecaps statement concluded. The City of Vancouver issued a short statement as well: 'The city recognizes the Vancouver Whitecaps as an important part of our community's cultural and economic vibrancy and is supportive of the Whitecaps staying in Vancouver and exploring feasible options. At this time, the city cannot disclose specific information regarding potential land-use matters or ongoing discussions related to Hastings Park or the Hastings Racecourse property.' pjohnston@ Read More Vancouver Whitecaps Local News Vancouver Canucks Real Estate NHL
The Province
4 hours ago
- The Province
Vancouver Whitecaps juggle lineup ahead of battle with Sporting Kansas City
Back line suffers loss as Vancouver hosts Kansas City in Saturday MLS action Published Jul 25, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 3 minute read Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo, left, battles San Diego FC midfielder Hirving Lozano during MLS match Saturday, July 19, 2025, in San Diego. Photo by Gregory Bull / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Another major injury is forcing the Vancouver Whitecaps to once again rotate their lineup as the club tries to climb back atop the standings. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The 'Caps (12-5-6) announced Tuesday that stalwart centre back Ranko Veselinovic will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. 'It's, of course, horrible for Ranko. I feel, we all feel, with him and for him, because getting an ACL rupture is very bad,' said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. 'Ranko is doing OK. But of course, we have to figure out what to do without him, because he's been also a key part of the season so far.' The injury means Sorensen will field a different defensive corps when Vancouver hosts Sporting Kansas City (6-11-6) on Saturday. The 'Caps head into the game sitting second in Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings, just one point behind San Diego FC — a club they battled to a 1-1 draw last week. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Lineup changes have become routine for Vancouver's first-year bench boss as the Whitecaps weather a string of long-term injuries. Attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld has been sidelined with a knee injury since March 8. Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe saw his season cut short when he tore his Achilles tendon playing for the national team last month, and midfielder Ali Ahmed has been sidelined since spraining his ankle while playing for Canada. Several of Vancouver's players have also missed league games while competing for their national squads. A deep player pool has helped fill the holes, Sorensen said. 'We have players who know what to do when they step on the pitch,' he said. 'And I think that's the most important thing, that we work with them in the daily work, and give them the best options to do well when they play on the pitch by having teammates around them in a good structure who can help out.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Four crucial pieces are expected to return to the 'Caps lineup for Saturday's game after representing the club at MLS all-star festivities in Austin this week. Striker Brian White, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, defender Tristan Blackmon and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka all returned to training with their teammates on Thursday. Getting back into the swing of team play can be a challenge, White said. 'I think it's a bit difficult. Obviously, you go from playing games a lot with guys you're familiar with to really not playing a whole lot, to come back, and then you find that rhythm again,' he said. 'I think it takes a little bit of time, but it's not like learning how to ride a bike again, you know? You try to pick up where you left off.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Whitecaps sent a league-high four players to the all-star game, and the players had an impact, with White scoring to lift the MLS all stars to a win over their Liga MX compatriots. Takaoka also hit the crossbar in a skills competition to secure an MLS win. There's a high standard at an all-star event, Blackmon said, and the players all want to bring that mindset back to Vancouver _ starting with a strong outing against SKC on Saturday. 'Obviously, you're playing with, arguably, the best in the league this year so far. So you try to come back and show that you have that quality,' he said. 'We had four guys there, that was incredible. But how can we all come back here and try to help as much as possible, keep that same level and increase it going into this final stretch?' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. SPORTING KANSAS CITY (6-11-6) VS. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-6) Saturday, July 26 at B.C. Place HISTORY BOOKS: Sporting holds a 12-8-5 edge in all-time matchups between the two clubs, but the 'Caps won both meetings last season by a 2-1 margin. HOME SWEET HOME: The Whitecaps have played their last five league games on the road and will close out the regular-season campaign with seven of their next 11 matchups at B.C. Place. The team is 6-2-2 on home turf this year. FULL SLATE: Saturday will mark Vancouver's 35th game this year across all competitions, including league play, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Canadian Championship. The MLS regular-season campaign consists of 34 matchups. Read More Vancouver Whitecaps Local News Real Estate Hockey Vancouver Canucks
