Smith-Shawver put on 60-day IL with elbow injury
MLB 2025 SHOCKERS: Cubs to Win 99 Games? Tigers' Secret Weapon Revealed!
Dive into the hottest MLB 2025 season updates with ESPN's David Schoenfield on Sports Night! Discover why the Chicago Cubs could lead with 99 wins, the Detroit Tigers' surprising dominance, and the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching prowess. Is Juan Soto struggling with the Mets? Will the Pirates trade Paul Skenes? Plus, get the scoop on Max Fried and the Yankees' chase for glory! Don't miss this in-depth baseball analysis packed with insights, predictions, and feel-good stories! - Subscribe for more MLB news and hit the bell for updates! - Like and Comment your favorite team below! Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro to MLB 2025 Season 0:58 - Detroit Tigers: Feel-Good Story 2:43 - Phillies' Top Rotation 3:58 - Mets & Juan Soto's Struggles 6:02 - Paul Skenes Trade Rumors 7:58 - Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong MVP Buzz 9:42 - Cubs as Legit Contenders 10:47 - Yankees & Max Fried's Impact
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USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
Seth Hernandez wins Gatorade National Player of the Year, ready for MLB draft day
Seth Hernandez wins Gatorade National Player of the Year, ready for MLB draft day Show Caption Hide Caption Watch baseball player's emotional reaction to surprise MLB promotion During a minor league baseball game in Tacoma, Washington, Cole Young was pulled aside and informed he'd been called up to play in the big leagues. Seth Hernandez has not yet thrown a professional pitch. Yet he's already getting pretty good at slowing the game down. Hernandez will hear that phrase a lot over the next, say, decade or two, as he progresses from prep baseball phenomenon to first-round draft pick and, in just a few weeks, the projected future ace of a major league franchise. But things are already coming quickly. Thursday, Hernandez fulfilled a longtime goal when he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, joining a group that in the four decades of the honor has gone on to combine for four MVPs, 42 All-Star appearances and 27 first-round draft selections. Come July 13, Hernandez will join that group. With a 100-mph fastball and a mature three-pitch mix, Hernandez is by far the best prep pitcher in this draft and remains on the periphery of consideration for the No. 1 overall pick. With significant volatility among the projected top 10 – thanks to prep stars like Hernandez, his Corona High School teammate Billy Carlson and Oklahoma prep shortstops Ethan Holliday and Ei Willits along with a bevy of elite college arms – Hernandez could go anywhere in the first dozen names called. MLB DRAFT PROSPECTS: Players to watch in NCAA super regionals He's already going through the ringer of interviews and visits with clubs, as they probe his hobbies (golfing, though not particularly well) and off-field demeanor (chill, it seems). All while his decorated high school career came to a dramatic end and graduation looms. 'It's a game,' Hernandez told USA TODAY Sports after All-Star and World Series champion Dexter Fowler surprised him with the Gatorade honor, 'and you just got to be able to take in the special moments because not everybody's privileged to do this stuff. 'And really just taking it day by day. The draft is something super special and it's going be a surreal moment, but I know that it's just going to be the starting point and something new and a new chapter in my life. 'So it's going to be exciting.' It's already been an exciting couple years for Hernandez. His Corona Panthers put together an epic two-year run, beginning in 2024 when they won the National High School Invitational in Cary, North Carolina and capped a 30-3 season with a CIF-Southern Section Division I championship. Their 5-0 victory over Harvard-Westlake – the powerhouse that's produced Lucas Giolito, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty and Pete Crow-Armstrong – made them the first team in history to claim bot the NHSI and the crown at the highest level of California baseball. How does one top that? Well, Hernandez could be the first of three Panthers to come off the board in round one. Shortstop Carlson is also pegged to go in the first dozen or so picks, while infielder Brady Ebel should land in the first two rounds. The trio did all right this year, too, going 28-3 before falling in the Division I semifinals to St. John Bosco. And Hernandez certainly did his part. He gave up just one earned run all season before Bosco's 3-0 semifinal victory. Hernadnez finished with a 105-7 strikeout-walk ratio. 'It was awesome. They're going to be my brothers for life,' Hernandez said of his teammates. 'Obviously, we didn't take it home this year, but we did take it home last year. And the group that we had this year was super special. Once in a generation type of team. And it was great just because we gelled so well together and really just brothers – not only on the field, but off the field as well. 'With the team we had this year, it's kind of hard to look back and say it was a failure just because our team was so special. And like I said, it was once in a generation type of thing. No hard feelings.' Oh, and Hernandez slammed seven home runs and drove in 30, leaving a strong impression on Fowler, the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series champ. 'I've watched his videos and he's got a nice swing on him. I didn't know!' says Fowler. 'Is this the next Shohei? What are we doing?' Quipped Hernandez: 'I'm not stealing 50 bags.' Nope, not when he's expected to receive a bonus in the high seven figures. Hernandez, who committed to Vanderbilt, first drew the strong attention of scouts as a high school sophomore, when he hit 96 mph on the radar gun at an Area Code Games event at Dodger Stadium. He has improved his pitchability as his frame filled out, and pushed his fastball to triple digits. Come mid-July, that progress will pay off, and soon after, Hernandez will be a professional. Things will change, as a game becomes a business. With that, Fowler had some words of advice to keep Hernandez grounded. 'My parents always asked me, 'When do you think you'll be done playing?'' says Fowler, who played his last game in 2021 and retired with 1,306 hits and a .358 on-base percentage over 14 seasons. 'I said, 'When I stop having fun.' When it becomes a job, I'm going to be done. 'So keep this same attitude, keep this same energy. It'll take take you where you need to go.'
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith is going to play third base. Here's what it means
CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers continue to search for an answer at third base. For more than a year, the Tigers avoided playing Colt Keith at third base because of a labrum injury in his right shoulder suffered during his time in the minor leagues. The injury didn't require surgery but limited his throwing arm, leading the Tigers to play him at second base in 2024 and first base in 2025. Advertisement Winning changes everything. Celebrate Father's Day with our commemorative Tigers book! The Tigers are now willing to play Keith at third base, as he has received practice reps there recently. The 23-year-old is available to play third base — effective Wednesday, June 4. If all goes well, Keith could settle in as the primary third baseman, which would fill a gaping hole for the Tigers. "We're curious about how we can maximize this roster," manager A.J. Hinch said before Wednesday's game. "I don't know that it will be something that is primary, or I don't know that it's something you're going to see a lot of, but there are a lot of times during games — as we do use our whole roster — where being able to put him over there could be very advantageous." Advertisement ON THE FARM: Tigers prospect Bryce Rainer suffers right shoulder injury in Low-A Lakeland Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) hits a single during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, May 30, 2025. Keith suffered the shoulder injury June 9, 2022, in High-A West Michigan — diving back into first base while on the bases. He missed four months. He also tweaked the same shoulder during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, both while diving for a ball on defense, but he avoided the injured list. He hasn't played third base since Sept. 5, 2023, in Triple-A Toledo. Keith made his MLB debut in 2024. President of baseball operations Scott Harris — who signed Keith to a six-year, $28.6 million contract in January 2024 before Keith had made his MLB debut — moved Keith to second to "save a little bit of the load on his arm," but he also said the Tigers weren't "closing the door on third base at all." Advertisement The door appears wide open in June 2025. "Just giving him different looks on ground balls," Hinch said. "He used to play third base a little bit, so it's not that foreign to him. You may see him there from time to time. We'll see." WEDNESDAY'S NOTEBOOK: Tigers scratch Kerry Carpenter with hamstring tightness: 'Just being cautious' The Tigers have a logjam on the right side of the infield: The success of Spencer Torkelson at first base and Gleyber Torres at second leave the Tigers with no choice but to put Keith at designated hitter. That forces Kerry Carpenter — whom the Tigers would prefer at designated hitter to protect his health — to spend a majority of his time in right field, thus limiting opportunities for Wenceel Pérez and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Advertisement More importantly, the Tigers need improved offensive production at third base. Tigers third basemen rank 29th with a .548 OPS, with Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibáñez, Javier Báez and Jace Jung responsible for those results. (Tigers shortstops also rank 20th in MLB, with a .626 OPS.) Keith could be the solution at third, as he's hitting .244 with four home runs, 22 walks and 42 strikeouts in 55 games, posting a .722 OPS. So far, he has started 18 games at second base, 18 games at designated hitter and 12 games at first base. The bad news: Keith's arm strength ranks in the 15th percentile among MLB players — only slightly better than Torres, whom the Tigers won't even consider at third base. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Advertisement How soon could Keith play third base? "Could see him tonight," Hinch said, just hours before Wednesday's game. Is he ready? "I don't know if he's ready or not," Hinch said, "but if the game leads me that way, I'm going to put him there because of the situations that we're trying to win games. In a perfect world, he gets a few more reps of practice, but I'm willing to do anything to try to put these guys in a good position." The Tigers aren't worried about Keith's shoulder, despite his injury history. His shoulder is expected to hold up at the hot corner. "The injuries have happened on dives," Hinch said. "We can put him anywhere. He's got more than enough arm strength. He's done a ton of work. His maintenance program is incredible. The injuries are unassociated to what position he's playing." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers open door for Colt Keith to play third base in 2025
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Andy Ibáñez struggling vs lefties. That's a big problem for Detroit Tigers
CHICAGO — Andy Ibáñez is here for one reason. The 32-year-old right-handed hitter occupies a spot on the Detroit Tigers' roster to hit left-handed pitchers, a platoon role he's held for three seasons. When a lefty starts, he's near the top of the lineup, and when a lefty reliever enters, he's typically the first pinch-hitter off the bench. Advertisement One problem: Ibáñez isn't hitting lefties anymore. "That's his job," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We need to get him going because it's a big part of how we counter the way that teams attack us." Celebrate Father's Day and the Tigers with our new book! Andy Ibanez of the Detroit Tigers hits an RBI single against the Cleveland Guardians to drive in Gleyber Torres during the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sunday, May 25, 2025. NEW POSITION: Tigers' Colt Keith is going to play third base. Here's what it means Since July 21, 2024, Ibáñez is hitting .200 with a .578 OPS against left-handed pitchers across 136 plate appearances. He has hit just two home runs off lefties — and three total — during the disappointing 319-day stretch. It's a steep drop from his previous production. Advertisement "Recently, it has been a struggle," Ibáñez said in Spanish, interpreted by team employee Carlos Guillén. "I haven't performed as expected. They brought me in and used me in the role that I've been told that they're going to use me, but I have not performed the way they wanted or the way I wanted." Before that slump, Ibáñez had been a reliable weapon against lefties, hitting .310 with 13 homers and an .858 OPS across his first 347 plate appearances against them in his five-year MLB career, which began in May 2021. "We believe in him," Hinch said. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Advertisement Ibáñez showed frustration in the sixth inning Tuesday, June 3, with the Tigers trailing the White Sox by one run. When the White Sox summoned left-handed reliever Cam Booser to face left-handed hitter Kerry Carpenter, Hinch countered by pinch-hitting Ibáñez — the exact matchup he's on the roster to win. Remember, Ibáñez is supposed to be a lefty-killer. He struck out swinging, then shouted in frustration on his way back to the dugout. "Andy takes it personal," said Hinch, who pinch-hit Ibáñez for Carpenter against Booser again Thursday, June 5, resulting in another strikeout, "and he should because he loves to compete. It's not going great for him right now." Advertisement ON THE FARM: Tigers prospect Bryce Rainer suffers right shoulder injury in Low-A Lakeland Ibáñez already diagnosed the reason for the problem. It's the timing of his swing mechanics. "That's why I haven't been getting the contact that I've been looking for," Ibáñez said. "It's when I'm charging forward with my left foot. That switches the balance of my body. If that goes late, everything goes late." The next step is to fix the problem, which Ibáñez is trying to do with hitting coaches Michael Brdar, Keith Beauregard and Lance Zawadzki before games. He has been putting the ball in play and limiting strikeouts, both encouraging signs in pursuit of better results, but his contact quality needs significant improvement. Advertisement Ibáñez has one minor-league option remaining, which gives the Tigers flexibility to send him to Triple-A Toledo if they decide he needs a reset. He could eventually be replaced by Justyn-Henry Malloy, who previously hit .260 with a .773 OPS against lefties at the MLB level this season. For now, though, the Tigers are sticking with Ibáñez as their weapon against left-handed pitchers. He's handling the struggles like a professional. "Keep coming every day with a positive attitude," said Ibáñez, who played the hero in last year's wild-card series sweep of the Houston Astros, delivering a clutch pinch-hit double off left-handed reliever Josh Hader. "My thing is just to come here, work in the cages with the coaches and do my best." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' Andy Ibáñez struggling in role vs lefties. That's a problem
