With a scrappy U.S. team, Mauricio Pochettino saw something he liked: Fight.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino's mix of seasoned players and international novices was, it seemed, a placeholder until the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah returned from summer breaks, injuries and club commitments. Most from the current group would have, for all intents and purposes, little hope of getting called back in September.
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Team USA's Bobby Witt Jr. Ready for Bigger Role in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is going to again play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic next year and will certainly have a bigger role than last time. Witt announced Thursday that he is committed to playing for the United States and manager Mark DeRosa in the 2026 WBC. It will be Witt's second time on the team. When part of Team USA in 2023, Witt was 22, the youngest player on the roster and coming off a standout rookie MLB season. He was a bench player who went 1 for 2 at the plate in the tournament and also was a pinch-runner in the ninth inning of the championship game won by Shohei Ohtani and Japan. New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who will be the U.S. captain, and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes have also committed to play for Team USA next spring. "It's truly an honor," Witt, who turned 25 two weeks ago, told MLB Network. "It's something I've kinda dreamed about my whole entire life. Just being part of that team a couple years ago was amazing, and now we're going to bring home the gold." Witt was the runner-up to Judge in the American League MVP voting last season, when the shortstop led the majors with a .332 batting average. Witt hit .285 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in the Royals' first 80 games this year. DeRosa said on MLB Network that he approached Witt during spring training about playing in the 2026 WBC, to which the player responded, "100%. I'm starting, right?" Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox News
9 minutes ago
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Royals' Bobby Witt Jr talks competing for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
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Yahoo
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New Orleans adds established veteran as Alvin Kamara backup
The post New Orleans adds established veteran as Alvin Kamara backup appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New Orleans Saints made headlines this offseason since they hired a new head coach in Kellen Moore after he won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. Then, they made headlines again after quarterback Derek Carr announced he was retiring from football due to a prolonged and nagging shoulder injury. It has been a rollercoaster offseason. But now, with mandatory minicamp underway, the headlines have shifted to more basic cuts or signings, including the recent signing of running back Cam Akers after a tryout. Advertisement Akers signed with the Saints after spending two practices during mandatory minicamp. He joins Alvin Kamara, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kendre Miller, and rookie sixth-round pick Devin Neal in a crowded backfield. Kamara is easily the best running back on the roster, but the battle will be over who wins the job for the second string. The 2020 second-round pick turns 26 in June and still has plenty left in the tank as a running back in the NFL, but it might not be as a starter. The Los Angeles Rams drafted him, and after the 2023 season, traded him to the Minnesota Vikings. Then, Akers signed with the Houston Texans for the 2024-2025 season, but the Texans traded him to the Vikings in his second stint with the team halfway through the season. He finished the year with 104 carries and 444 rushing yards with two touchdowns. Then, he had 14 receptions for 68 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Discussing the addition of Akers during Tuesday's media session, Moore complemented what he's seen from the veteran back, as he brings plenty of experience to the table. Advertisement 'Cam is an experienced player,' Moore said via CBS Sports. 'He's done a lot throughout this league. You're always trying to evaluate as many players as possible as you go through this. So we felt like it was a great opportunity, and we are fired up that he wanted to come out here.' His NFL career has been more bumpy than expected, especially after being a five-star recruit out of Mississippi and a standout at Florida State. In five NFL seasons, Akers has totaled 502 rushing attempts for 2,025 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he has also caught 52 passes for 388 yards and four touchdowns. The new-look Saints are in line to utilize their ground game even more without Carr. Tyler Shough, their rookie quarterback, is most likely starting under center, and he will need help to get acclimated to the NFL. Akers brings some nice experience to a running back room with multiple weapons. Related: Kellen Moore reveals why he's excited about Saints' QB1 battle Related: 3 New Orleans Saints underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season
