Mets' top draft pick once mimicked snorting cocaine on field. ‘This isn't an issue,' team says
Chances are, that celebration did not resemble the now-infamous one the former Michigan infielder performed during a game against USC on March 16 in Ann Arbor.
With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Voit ripped a hit into center field for a three-run triple that gave the Wolverines a 5-0 lead. While still on the ground after diving into third base, Voit decided to celebrate the feat in a rather curious manner.
He lowered his nose to the baseline chalk and appeared to mimic snorting cocaine.
Video of the bizarre celebration went viral, and Voit issued an apology in a statement posted on social media the next day.
'I would like to apologize for my actions on third base yesterday,' Voit wrote. 'I made an immature decision in the heat of the moment. The gesture I made does not reflect my character, the household I was raised in, or the block M that I represent in any kind of way. I take full responsibility for what I did, and I am truly sorry to all those who I have negatively impacted by doing this.'
Voit was not punished by the Wolverines.
'Mitch is a great young man and immediately apologized for his actions in the heat of the moment,' Michigan Athletics spokesperson David Ablauf told The Athletic in a March 18 email. 'As an athletic department, we did not feel that it was necessary to issue any discipline.'
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mets vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross said the organization did their due diligence on the matter leading up to the draft.
'We spoke to him earlier in the spring and at the combine about it,' Gross said. 'And basically, you know, he's a young guy, it's a heat of passion, it's a big game. He made a big play for his team and made a mistake. And he's made an apology for it and owned up to it, handled it with class.
'We did a ton of research after the fact with multiple sources about his makeup. We know this isn't an issue and we feel comfortable with Mitch moving forward.'
Voit was a two-way player during his first two seasons at Michigan, before undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow in spring 2024. As the Wolverines' starting second baseman in all 56 games this season, Voit hit .346 with 14 home runs and 60 RBI, with more walks (40) than strikeouts (34).
'He made a lot of strides, this being his first year to focus on hitting,' Gross told reporters Sunday.
'When you're scouting him, you sit there and you start to check all the boxes. He checked them all.'
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New York Times
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- New York Times
Flyers support top prospect Porter Martone's decision to attend Michigan State
Riley Armstrong already has the dates lodged in his brain. On Oct. 17 and 18, the Michigan State Spartans will face off against the Boston University Terriers at Agganis Arena in Boston, in a pair of games that will feature a whole bunch a Philadelphia Flyers prospects. That includes their top prospect Porter Martone, selected sixth overall by the Flyers in last month's draft, and who declared on Monday that he'll be attending Michigan State in the fall. He'll join fellow 2025 Flyers draft pick Shane Vansaghi on the Spartans, who that weekend will visit 2025 second-round picks Carter Amico and Jack Murtagh and 2021 seventh-round pick Owen McLaughlin on the Terriers. 'That's like half of our pool right there,' Armstrong, the Flyers' director of player development, joked on Tuesday. A post shared by PM94 (@portermartone94) Martone joining Michigan State made headlines earlier this week not only because of his pedigree, but he could just as easily have returned to his junior club, OHL Brampton, where he posted 37 goals and 98 points in 57 games last season. Going the college route will also prevent him from taking part in Flyers training camp in September, where he might have had an outside shot at making the team. That's now off the table. Advertisement But the Flyers are seemingly on board with Martone's decision. They were kept in the loop throughout the decision-making process, although general manager Daniel Briere indicated that they were also careful not to interfere too much, either. 'It was Porter and his family and his agent making the decision,' Briere told The Athletic on Tuesday. 'The cool part is we were involved in the process. They included us. We had long discussions. It's not like we told him one way or the other. We shared kind of the positives and the negatives of each side. They made the decision. So we told him we'd be very supportive of whatever the decision would be. It's not like there's a wrong or right answer here.' Said Armstrong: 'It was up to him and his family and his agent on the decision that he made, and we supported whatever he wanted to do.' Armstrong also pointed out what is thought by many to be the biggest benefit of playing in college: going against players who are older and more physically developed than those still in the Canadian junior ranks, while allowing plenty of time for off-ice work in the middle of the week as games are almost exclusively on weekends. 'I think from a strength standpoint, you get more time in the gym,' Armstrong said. 'You don't play as many games, and when you do play those games, he's not playing against 16 and 17-year-olds; he's going to play against 20-, 21-, 22-(year-olds) that are more mature. 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New York Times
32 minutes ago
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Alex Anzalone ‘disappointed' over contract, Lions get physical: Training camp news and notes
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Tuesday's practice was an eventful one for the Detroit Lions. Things got physical, requiring Dan Campbell to intervene. There was a surprise appearance from a player who's been absent. All this, and we're still days away from pads going on. Here are the latest observations from Lions training camp. Advertisement For the first time since the end of last season, Anzalone spoke to local media, voicing his frustrations over his contract situation. 'I'm disappointed. I'll just say that,' Anzalone said. 'I'm disappointed.' Anzalone told reporters he wants to retire a Lion, and expressed to the front office long ago. While Anzalone deferred specific questions about the details of their discussions to Campbell and Brad Holmes, he made it clear he wants a new contract. Anzalone is entering the final year of a three-year, $18.75 million dollar contract. He's currently the 35th-highest paid linebacker in the NFL. He believes he's underpaid, relative to what others make. 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While Anzalone didn't go out of his way to categorize this as a hold-in, citing a hamstring injury suffered during his conditioning test, it feels as close to one as you can get without saying it. Anzalone thought about it and said not reporting to camp wouldn't be the best scenario for him or the team. At the same time, he made it clear what he wants. If you know Anzalone, he's always been pro-player, understanding the business angle of the league that employs him. He wants to finish his career here and be treated like a core player, but retaining him might come at the expense of a younger player needing an extension soon. Advertisement This is the first time the Lions have had to deal with a situation like this under Campbell and Holmes, but Anzalone said he hopes to return to practice before the season begins. Until then, we're in a bit of a holding pattern. 'I feel like I've done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here,' Anzalone said, 'And I'm just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard.' Lions LB and team captain Alex Anzalone says he believes he's underpaid relative to other LBs in the league. Wants the opportunity to retire a Lion. Shared this with the front office long ago and is disappointed with how things have unfolded, entering the final year of his deal. — Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) July 22, 2025 I don't think I've ever seen Campbell kick a player out for being too physical in a practice. It's odd even typing that sentence. But that's what happened Tuesday. There were several physical hits delivered by the defense in team periods. Brian Branch had a pair vs. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tim Patrick. Ahmed Hassanein and Mason Miller got into it. Netane Muti and Keith Cooper did, too. At one point, after second-year DB Morice Norris laid out rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa, Campbell stopped practice to tell his team they weren't allowed to tackle until Friday when the pads go on. It was emphasized for all to hear. Roughly 20 minutes later, Norris did it again — delivering a hit to Dominic Lovett. After the play, Campbell pointed at Norris, then to the sideline. His day was done right then and there. Campbell had some words for his team shortly after practice concluded, and while we were too far to hear any details, you have to think he wasn't pleased with how physical they were. It was Day 3 and the team was still in shorts. It's a bit of a balancing act for a coach like Campbell who preaches physicality, but there's a time and a place for everything. This wasn't the time to be lowering shoulders and laying out receivers. Given the injuries to the team last season, it's easy to see why Campbell wasn't having it today. He was visibly frustrated. Advertisement As for Norris, it's a learning moment. When the head coach tells you to lay off, you have to do it. Kerby Joseph immediately ran to catch up to Norris as he exited stage left, offering some words of encouragement. Good leadership from Joseph. I caught a portion of the WR-DB one-on-ones in the middle of practice. It featured Goff as the all-time QB, throwing to the starting receivers vs. the top group of DBs. Here's how it unfolded: Considering how hard this drill is for defensive backs, I was really impressed with the Lions' secondary. They have the potential to be the best in football if health permits. Right up there with the Ravens. • DT Brodric Martin left practice early with a foot injury and did not return. The Lions have an off day on Wednesday and Campbell doesn't speak again until Friday. We'll learn more about the severity then. Any missed time would be yet another setback for a player who needs to impress this training camp. • RB Sione Vaki is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss a few days, per Campbell. The second-year back left practice early on Monday and did not return. • Lions DT Roy Lopez sat out practice and is expected to miss a few days. He took a cleat to the foot during Monday's practice. • Reed returned to practice after missing Monday. Unclear why he was absent. • Campbell offered some timelines for players recovering from lengthy injuries. CB/gunner Khalil Dorsey (broken leg) could be back by the end of training camp. DT Mekhi Wingo (meniscus) could return in September. Miles Frazier (knee) will be out until September or October. LB Malcolm Rodriguez (torn ACL) will be out until October. • The Lions spent a good portion of practice working on their third-down/short-yardage packages. That situational focus during camp has been invaluable during the season. I'd say the offense did well to convert, but the defense held its own. Advertisement • In past years, I can't remember the Lions working starting skill players in with the reserves. It's been the norm this year, though. You'll look up and see LaPorta with TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy. Or Williams. Or Gibbs in the backfield. I wonder if they're doing it to get a better look at their backup QBs. Last year, the reserve receivers were, uh, not great. It was hard to fully evaluate Hooker as a result, even though he had his own struggles. Hooker, in particular, has a strong early rapport with TeSlaa and Lovett, but working in some starters could help the staff get a better look. • Another day, another play that featured Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on the field together. Last year, those two appeared on the same play just 10 times, per TruMedia — three run plays (totaling 11 yards — all by Montgomery) and seven pass plays (5-of-7 for 68 yards). You always have to wonder how much teams will preach what they're practicing, but one thing that's clear is that Gibbs is lining up in the slot quite a bit. Seems like an effort to get their best playmakers on the field together. • It feels like the DBs are blitzing more than they have in the past, from all angles. One of Kelvin Sheppard's mentors, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, is known for dialing up the perfect blitz at the perfect time. Not that Aaron Glenn didn't blitz — the Lions had one of the NFL's highest-blitz rates under his watch — but that often felt out of necessity. With more talent at his disposal than Glenn had when he started, Sheppard could take advantage, dive into his past inspirations and make this defense his own. Curious to see how it shakes out. • Arnold has been great the first three days of practice. His WR-DB interception was one of the best plays I've seen out of that drill since I've been on the beat, and it came vs. St. Brown. My colleague Nolan Bianchi asked if I could recall Arnold allowing a completion during an 11-on-11 period so far. I couldn't think of one. The only one that comes to mind is a 7-on-7 completion to Brock Wright during Monday's practice, with Arnold trailing close behind coverage. He punched the ball out for a forced fumble right after it was caught. That's what you want. I said it earlier, but if Arnold takes the leap, this could be the best secondary in football. I don't think that's a stretch or hyperbole. • Second-year offensive lineman Giovanni Manu said he's dropped about 20-25 pounds this offseason. He looks like he could play tight end in a pinch. The coaching staff has him focusing at left tackle after cross-training him at guard a bit last year. He spent the offseason working with Taylor Decker in Arizona and praised the veteran for taking him under his wing. Not many veterans would do that for a player who could replace them down the road. Says a lot about Decker. • I spotted rookies Ahmed Hassanein and Isaac TeSlaa getting coached up by their position coaches, Kacy Rodgers and Scottie Montgomery, at various points in practice after mistakes. Rodgers offered tips. Montgomery drilled a point of emphasis home. Those moments will only help them in the long run. Each player was receptive and went right back to work without issue or attitude. • UDFA DL Keith Cooper earned some love from Campbell, as the Lions look for interior pressure without Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo for the time being. A player to keep an eye on. (Top photo of Alex Anzalone: Junfu Han / USA Today)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Michigan football gains ground on 4-star DT Deuce Geralds, who sets Aug. 2 commitment date
Michigan football recruiting was on an absolute tear in the month of June and the start of July, but now, many of the remaining top targets are slowing things down as they decide if they want to play in Ann Arbor or elsewhere. One of the prospects that the Wolverines hosted for an official visit was 2026 Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill four-star defensive tackle Deuce Geralds, who took a midweek visit just before Victors Weekend. It had appeared as if the maize and blue weren't in the best position for Geralds, but after his trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan appears to have surged. But will it be enough? Geralds teased a big announcement on Wednesday and it turned out it was his commitment date (and not a commitment). With five schools in contention, Geralds will announce his school of choice on August 2. While Ohio State, LSU, and Ole Miss all made the cut, this appears to be a Michigan vs. Oregon battle. Given that he's not deciding today, that's perhaps good news for Lou Esposito and the Wolverines, as the Ducks probably have a slight lead at the moment. Michigan does have something of a logjam along the defensive line at the moment, with two defensive tackles (four-stars Alister Vallejo and Titan Davis) and four edge rushers (five-star Carter Meadows, four-stars McHale Blade and Julian Walker, and three-star Tariq Boney) all pledged. Geralds is rated the No. 73 player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan target Deuce Geralds sets commitment date
