Quincy Olivari scores and draws the foul
Aaron Judge speaks about players getting to wear their team jersey during the All-Star Game and it not being "his job" to discuss the AL MVP race between him and Cal Raleigh.
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UPI
10 minutes ago
- UPI
Watch: MLB honors Hank Aaron with high-tech recreation of 715th homer
The Atlanta Braves celebrate Hank Aaron's 715th home run in a seventh-inning tribute during the 2025 MLB All-Star game on Tuesday at Truist Park in Atlanta. Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI | License Photo July 16 (UPI) -- More than 41,000 fans, including the late Hank Aaron's widow, were awed during the sixth inning of the 2025 All-Star Game as MLB honored the baseball icon with a high-tech recreation of his 715th home run in Atlanta. The lights went dark during a break Tuesday at Truist Park. Projections detailing the April 8, 1974, achievement then glowed on the field, as the voice of legendary broadcaster Vin Scully blared through the stadium speakers. "It doesn't take a mind reader to read the collective mind that's here in this ballpark tonight," Scully said in the recording from that night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, when Aaron passed Babe Ruth to become baseball's career home runs leader, at that time. "They came to see him pass the Babe." The field lit up with "now batting, #44," before showing Aaron wiggling his bat on another projection between the base paths. A virtual Aaron, who faced Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Al Downing during the exchange, smacked a projection of a giant baseball to left center field in a reenactment of the famous scene. MLB used a pyrotechnic spark, which blasted toward the outfield fence, at the point of contact as the scoreboard flashed the No. 715. Footage of Aaron rounding the bases showed on the field as the Truist Park crowd cheered on for the baseball legend. "I think that people can look at me and say, 'he's a great baseball player, but he's even a greater human being,'" Aaron said in a video shown on the scoreboard at the end of the sequence. Aaron, who died in 2021 at 86, totaled 755 home runs during his decorated baseball tenure. The 1982 Hall of Fame inductee ranks second all-time in career home runs, trailing only Barry Bonds (762). Aaron remains MLB's record holder for RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. He hit .305 over 23 seasons.
USA Today
10 minutes ago
- USA Today
MLB takes page out of Savannah Bananas playbook with home run swing-off finish
ATLANTA — It was an All-Star Game like we've never seen before, leaving fans cheering, players celebrating and traditionalists screaming. Gone forever are the days of Pete Rose crashing into Ray Fosse at home plate at the All-Star Game. Major League Baseball took a page out of the Savannah Bananas playbook, deciding an All-Star Game with a mini-sized home run derby. When the All Star Game ended Tuesday, there were only six players on the field playing home-run derby, or technically called a swing-off, with the National League prevailing 7-6, based on the NL out-homering the American League, 4-3. The swing-off quietly was put in the last collective bargaining agreement, declaring that any All-Star Game that was tied after nine innings, would be decided by a three-on-three home run derby. The game ended when Tampa Bay Rays infielder Jonathan Aranda's fly ball landed harmlessly in the outfield, with the scattered few players that remained celebrating into the night, immediately embracing the concept, with traditionalists wondering what has happened to this grand ol' game. "Probably," San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb said, when asked whether there would be a public outcry from baseball traditionalists. "But at the end of the day, who cares? We had a blast watching it, all the guys that are still here, and I think the fans enjoyed it. I got a group text here from a bunch of players around the league and they seemed to really like it, too. "I think it was an awesome way to end." Said New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso: "I just thought it was awesome. I mean, everyone was super, super into it. I think people really thoroughly enjoyed the show." Really, it was impossible to find a player who was angry that the outcome was decided on a gimmick. No one wants a repeat of that 15-inning All-Star Game in Anaheim in 1967. And no one wanted to see another tie like the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee. Sure, these are historic All-Star Games, but they're also just exhibitions, too. "Pretty exciting," AL manager Aaron Boone said. "There's probably a world where you could see that in the future, where maybe it's in some regular season mix. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if people start talking about it like that." Really, a swing-off in regular season games that are tied after nine innings? You mean, games that actually count? "Obviously, I don't think that should happen, necessarily, or would at any time in the near future," Boone says. "But I've got to say, you know, it was pretty exciting. Like all of a sudden, here we go. And the camaraderie that you kind of build these last couple days with the team, I think went into overdrive there. Like guys were excited out there. "It's like wiffle ball in the back yard. Here we go. Let's do it." There weren't any players rushing to lobby Commissioner Rob Manfred for a swing-off rule in games that count, but when asked if they could see it arriving one day in the future, well, why not? There weren't pitch clocks, enlarged bases, ghost runners on second base, and shift limits a few years ago, either. "I can totally see that," Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers told USA TODAY Sports. "We talked about pitching injuries, or the length of games, and honestly the runner on second base really helped in extra innings. Can you imagine if it happened in the postseason. I guess that would make it very unique. "But it's like penalty kicks in soccer. Hockey has their form of it, a shootout, or whatever it is. So, I don't think it's ridiculous to say that it couldn't be a part of the game." Well, maybe it will happen one day, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez said, but they may be all retired by the time they see it. But for an All-Star Game, well, bring in the new tradition. "I think it's a good idea," said Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, who won All-Star MVP honors for hitting three home runs in his swing-off, "just for the fact we're not putting more people at any other kind of risk. We're not playing more innings, things like that … "I think it's a unique way for the league to kind of try different things. It makes you feel like it's a penalty kick. That was like the baseball version of a shootout or extra time." The swing-off occurred only because the National League blew a 6-4 lead going into the ninth inning, and with the game tied, the sellout crowd of 41,702 was unaware of the swing-off featuring three hitters from each team. So were the players. "When they told me what was happening," Stowers said, "I thought they were kidding. I never heard of it. I thought it was like one of those hypotheticals you hear about in the minors or something." No, it was real, with each manager designating a list before the game of three hitters and an alternate for the swing-off. Each hitter was allowed only three swings. NL manager Dave Roberts chose Suarez, Schwarber and Alonso, only to switch out Suarez for Stowers after Suarez's hand was throbbing from being hit by a pitch in the eighth inning. Boone chose Brent Rooker of the Athletics, Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners and Aranda. The first round began with Rooker hitting two home runs with Stowers hitting one. Arozarena hit one homer to give the American League a 3-1 lead until Schwarber clobbered three home runs, 428 feet, 461 feet and 382 feet, for a 4-3 lead. That was all that was needed when Aranda went homerless, and just like that, the wildest ending to an All-Star Game was in the books, with Schwarber becoming the first DH to win the MVP award, and the first Phillies player since 1964. When asked how Schwarber will remember the night, and where it ranked among his career achievements, he really couldn't say. Really, no one could. "All I know," Suarez said, "is that it was historic. We were part of history. It was a great experience. But would I want to see it in regular season games, well, I don't know about that. Let's leave it like this. "I still like baseball tradition, you know." Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
Newsweek
10 minutes ago
- Newsweek
MLB Commissioner Reportedly Considers MLB Player Olympic Participation 'Possible'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Baseball is scheduled to return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics in 2028, when the world will have its eyes set on Los Angeles. While MLB players are not yet allowed to participate in the games, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred, said "it's possible" that MLB stars would get to don their country's colors. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Rob Manfred (C), Commissioner of Major League Baseball, is seen before the New York Yankees play the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Two of the 2024 World Series at... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Rob Manfred (C), Commissioner of Major League Baseball, is seen before the New York Yankees play the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Two of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. More Photo byNightengale's report mentions that if MLB players were allowed to participate, there would have to be "major concessions" to preserve a full 162-game schedule in the 2028 season. The most likely result would be an extended All-Star break with either an earlier opening day or extending the regular season deeper into October for the afflicted season to keep a full schedule. MLB players have never been allowed to participate in the Olympics, and while it is not set in stone, the growth in popularity of the World Baseball Classic, which is set to return next year, has sparked a renewal in the conversation of MLB players competing in the Olympics. Manfred seems to be set on not losing games from a full schedule, and if there is no compromise about the start date, or potentially fewer off days, then MLB players may not be allowed to play in the Olympics. A longer All-Star break sounds the most likely compromise for the event, and the Olympics is still a couple of years in the future, leaving MLB and the MLBPA with ample time to reach an agreement. More MLB: World Series At Spring Training Ballpark? MLB Reportedly Finds Solution To Rays Problem
