Dodgers' Mookie Betts misses Yankees opener after he stubs toe, needs X-rays
Toe injuries can be way worse than they sound.
Dodgers star Mookie Betts was reminded of this the hard way.
The eight-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion was a late scratch from the lineup for Friday night's series opener against the Yankees after injuring his left toe.
4 Mookie Betts isn't starting for the Dodgers on Friday due to a toe injury.
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Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Betts stubbed his toe at home on Wednesday night and is currently considered day-to-day.
'It's day-to-day right now,' Roberts told reporters. 'So, that's where we're at.'
It is still unclear exactly how much time Betts, 32, will miss as the Dodgers continue to gather information regarding the injury.
4 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stands in the dugout in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
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'I really don't know,' Roberts said after being asked how the injury happened in the first place. 'I think it was at home. It's probably a dresser, nightstand, something like that. It's just kind of an accident. I think that Mookie will be able to give more context, but that's kind of from the training staff what I heard.
'So hopefully it's benign, it's negative. Not sure, but I feel confident saying it's day-to-day … but putting on a shoe today was difficult for him.'
Despite the injury, Betts is available to pinch-hit if necessary, though Roberts noted that 'putting on a shoe today was difficult for him.'
Miguel Rojas started at shortstop in Betts' absence.
4 Mookie Betts is available to pinch hit, but is listed as 'day-to-day.'
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So far this season, Betts has appeared in 53 games and has posted a .254 batting average with eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 42 runs scored.
His on-base percentage stands at .338 while he holds a slugging percentage of .405.
Although they are currently leading the National League West with a 34-22 record, the Dodgers are navigating a series of injuries to key players aside from Betts.
4 Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy and shortstop Mookie Betts celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
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Despite these challenges, the team maintains a two-game lead in the NL West, thanks in part to contributions from Shohei Ohtani, who leads the team with 20 home runs, and Freddie Freeman, who boasts a .359 batting average.
The series against the Yankees marks the first meeting between the two teams since the Dodgers' victory in the 2024 World Series.
With both teams leading their respective divisions, the World Series rematch is among the more highly anticipated series thus far in the 2025 MLB campaign.
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- USA Today
Exclusive: How ex-MLB player Eric Anthony learned his dad was Dodgers legend Willie Davis
Exclusive: How ex-MLB player Eric Anthony learned his dad was Dodgers legend Willie Davis Show Caption Hide Caption Pete Rose now eligible for Hall of Fame after years of ineligibility USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale discusses Pete Rose now being eligible for the Hall of Fame and what it means for the steroid era players. Sports Pulse LOS ANGELES — Eric Anthony was always curious, but never obsessed, to learn the family secret. He grew up asking his mother about the identity of his biological father, but always received vague answers, saying it was a man who was briefly stationed at a San Diego Naval base. It didn't really matter. Anthony was surrounded by love in the family with three brothers, food on the table, clothes in the closet and a ballfield nearby. He was a star baseball player growing up in San Diego, drafted in 1986 by the Houston Astros, making his major-league debut three years later, and spending nine years in the big leagues. He lead the Astros with 19 homers and finished second with 80 RBIs in 1992 on a star-studded team that featured Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, along with Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley and Luis Gonzalez. It wasn't until eight years ago – Oct. 10, 2017 to be exact – that his oldest daughter, Erica, asked him if he would do a genealogy test. 'She goes, 'Dad, I've been watching some of these ancestor DNA commercials,'" Anthony tells USA TODAY Sports. 'She's always been curious who was on both sides of the family. ... 'I spit in the bottle, sent out the DNA, and when it came back, I started getting all of these Davis' showing up in my profile. I had to investigate." He made a series of calls and wound up contacting a woman that showed up as one of the Davis relatives in Phoenix named Martha Burt Sells. He identified himself, and they figured out together they were cousins. Anthony explained his background and sent pictures of him in his baseball uniform where he played for Astros, Mariners, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers – when Sells stopped him cold. 'Oh, so you're the second-most famous baseball player in our family," said Sells, who discovered two years earlier in a DNA test that her biological father and Davis' mother were brother and sister. 'Who's the first?" Anthony said. 'Well, my first cousin," Sells said. 'Willie Davis." Yes, that Willie Davis. 'My wife Googled him,'' Anthony said, 'and then she started screaming, 'Oh my God, that's your father!'" Yes, the two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He still holds Dodgers franchise records since their move to Los Angeles for hits and triples. His 31-game hitting streak still remains the all-time Dodgers record. 'I grew up loving Wally Moon and Duke Snider, and then Willie Davis came along," said Dodgers All-Star outfielder Rick Monday, who grew up in Santa Monica and became the first player selected in the history of the MLB draft in 1965. 'Being a center fielder, I watched Willie really close because I was in awe of the way he ran after a ball and the way he ran the bases. His strides, he was like an antelope. He just devoured ground with every long stride that he took." Said Dusty Baker, who grew up in Riverside and won a World Series with the 1981 Dodgers: 'We all wanted to be Willie Davis. He ran like a gazelle the way he would fly around the bases. We all tried to imitate him. We thought he was the coolest dude ever." Oh, could Davis run. He twice led the National League in triples. He stole 398 career bases, including 42 in 1964, and stole three bases in one game during the 1965 World Series. He was nicknamed '3-Dog" with his blazing speed. 'He was such an important part of Dodger history," said former Dodgers GM Fred Claire, who spoke at Davis' memorial service in 2010. 'He was so full of life, with such high energy and so extremely talented. Nothing was too big for him. There was no intimidation. Great speed. A very good arm. No one ran from first to third like Willie. Three steps between bags. What an athlete." Learning the truth Anthony, now 57, couldn't believe it. Everyone always wanted to know where he got his athleticism. Why did he gravitate towards baseball and not another sport? Why did everything seem so natural to him as a left-handed hitter? And, of course, why didn't his mother ever tell him the truth? 'She could never give me a detailed answer," Anthony said. 'You don't want to disrespect your parents. Just one of those things I kept inside. I thought maybe one day I'd find out. 'And I did." Anthony confronted his mom, Jo Carole Ighner-Phillips, who died at the age of 82 in February, and she confirmed his dad indeed was Davis. She certainly didn't mean any harm in keeping the secret. She was a proud woman. She wasn't looking for a handout from a baseball star. She was just fine raising four boys by herself. 'I wasn't angry with my mother or was I angry with Willie," said Anthony, who retired from baseball in 2001, after also playing in Japan and Mexico. 'I think my mother was protecting all of us from any scandal and did the best thing for all parties involved. She was protecting me. And she was protecting Willie." Anthony's oldest brother, Michael Phillips, 66, knows that while Eric is now at peace, he can't hide the desire to have known when Davis was still alive. 'My Mom was private as Eric, but she wanted to keep it away from everyone," Phillips said. 'She was devastated that Eric found out the way he did. There was some tension there. It took a few weeks. 'I can't imagine it happening to me. Willie Davis being your actual father, that's a little bit of a shocker." Anthony discovered that few people ever knew the identity of his father. No one knew on the Davis side. So, he started making calls. He introduced himself to family members he didn't know existed. He soon discovered he had two new half-sisters and a half-brother. 'It was really strange, and just never connected the dots," said Thomas Davis, 87, Willie's oldest brother, who still lives in Los Angeles and struggles with his brother's death. 'When we talked, I believed Eric. If someone was that interested in reaching out, and going through all that trouble, why wouldn't I believe him? 'I just had no idea. I really wish we had known him growing up." Anthony, who lives in Houston with his wife, Robin and is now a proud grandparent, met Thomas Davis and three cousins in a Mexican restaurant in Irvine, California. They shared pictures and gasped at the resemblance. He couldn't believe how warmly he was embraced. 'My uncle grabbed me and hugged me," Anthony said, 'and said, 'You're giving me a piece of my little brother back.' 'Of course, it was a shock to that side of the family at first since Willie was married. I was a love child. But now, it's like one big family." The families started reminiscing, and Anthony was reminded by his brother that Davis actually was at their house. In those days, everyone in the neighborhood were San Diego Padres fans, and when Davis was traded before the 1976 season to the Padres, he became a household name. 'I remember there was this beautiful blue Corvette parked outside our apartment one afternoon," Phillips said, 'and a kid runs up to me and says, 'Why is Willie Davis at your house?' I ran upstairs, and there he was sitting on the couch. 'I didn't even put two and two together until later. I started playing everything back in my head. 'Oh my God, that's why he was at the house.' Said Anthony: 'So, it looks like I did meet him twice. That day, and when my Mom took me to watch the Dodgers play the Padres when I was two years old." Turning point Anthony has since tried to learn as much about Davis as possible, collecting old photographs, jerseys, hats, magazine covers, everything relating to his dad. He has a small shrine to Davis at his Houston home. 'When Eric reached and told me about the connection," Claire said, 'I wanted to put Eric in touch with players that knew Willie. I reached out to Tommy Davis, Maury [Wills] and others. I wanted to give him the opportunity to know as much as he could about his dad. I sent him pictures I had of Willie. 'He was quite fascinated by it." Anthony began sharing his discovery with Baker and Bill Russell, his former Dodgers manager who also played with Davis. He remembers the day he telephoned his close friend, actor Kenny Medlock, whom he met in 1992, to share his discovery. Medlock played nine years in the minor leagues before going Hollywood, appearing in 55 movies including 'Moneyball." It was Medlock who telephoned Dodgers hitting coach Reggie Smith one day to recommend Anthony. 'You talk about going full circle," Medlock said. 'I met Willie Davis, got him into a bunch of movies, meet Eric, get Eric a job with the Dodgers, and then find out that Willie is his biological dad. 'When Eric told me that was his father, it was just such a bombshell. I mean, this guy was special. He heard a different drummer drumming. He was not somebody you could control. He would have probably been a hippy if he wasn't a baseball player." Anthony, who started his own technology company, relishes hearing from his father's old friends and acquaintances. He loves hearing the stories, especially from Davis' brother, Thomas. Thomas told him that Willie's first love was basketball, but it was Dodgers scout Kenny Myers who saw his blazing speed as a track-and-field star, and was the one converted him into a left-handed-hitting outfielder, just like Anthony. 'Eric is a very quiet guy, he doesn't say much," Phillips said, 'but I think Eric finding out about his father is a turning moment in his life. It's important just for Eric to understand what happened. He's still in a fog, but in a euphoric way. This will help bring some closure and some openings too." Securing his father's legacy Now that Anthony knows that Davis is his father, his would love to honor his legacy by correcting a wrong. Strangely, Davis has never appeared on a single Hall of Fame ballot. Not on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Not on a veterans committee ballot. Davis, who accumulated 2,561 hits and stole 384 bases to go along with his three Gold Glove awards, has the highest career WAR (60.7) never to appear on a Hall of Fame ballot. The 1985 BBWAA ballot included 41 players – with Lou Brock and Catfish Hunter each elected in their first year of eligibility – but Davis never appeared, despite his 2,561 hits, 398 stolen bases and 182 home runs. He is one of only 10 players in baseball history who has achieved those numbers, and seven are in the Hall of Fame. 'Willie has not been given the respect he deserves in his career," Anthony said. 'Look what he has done. He ranks first in all-time hits in [Los Angeles] Dodgers' history. He helped them win two World Series titles. It's just baffling to me that he never appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot." The biggest hindrance to Davis' candidacy in his first year of eligibility in 1985 that 11 players who had been previously dropped off the ballot, were reinstated by a special committee that year. They added Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, Clay Carroll, Ron Fairly, Curt Flood, Harvey Haddix, Denny McLain, Dave McNally, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo and Wilbur Wood, dramatically reducing the first-year eligible players. 'I mean, at the very least," Anthony said, 'he should have his number retired by the Dodgers. Nobody should be wearing No. 3 again.'' The last Dodger to wear No. 3 is Chris Taylor, who was just released last week. Anthony can't help but wonder, too, if his baseball career might have been different if he had known Davis was his father. What if Davis had reached out and accepted him as his son while he was growing up. They lived only 100 miles away from one another with Davis in Los Angeles and Anthony in San Diego, later playing for the same team 24 years apart. Just how cool would it have been to have father-son pictures at Dodger Stadium? 'I often think about that, having my father in my life," Anthony said. 'This guy was a major-league legend, no way around it. To have a conversation with him, asking him certain questions, to have that knowledge and experience, I'm sure it would have improved my career. 'I wish I would have had my dad around, but you can't be stuck in life with what-ifs. I have a new brother, two sisters, and a host of uncles and aunts. 'My life is complete. It's like being on a deserted island all of these years, and then somebody found you. 'I know who I am now." Around the basepaths – The Pittsburgh Pirates are flatly rebuking all interest from teams wanting to engage in trade talks for ace Paul Skenes, but will listen to offers on every other player but him and outfielder Oneil Cruz. Two intriguing players are third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes and outfielder Bryan Reynolds. They were each expected to become cornerstone pieces of the franchise and both have struggled, with the Pirates expected to put them on the market at the trade deadline. Reynolds is in the third year of an eight-year, $106.75 million deal, the largest in club history. Hayes is in the fourth year of an eight-year, $70 million extension. – The Miami Marlins' plan to enhance ace Sandy Alcantara's trade value by hanging onto him until the deadline has backfired – at least in the early-going. Alcantara, who's returning from Tommy John surgery, is yielding a hideous 8.47 ERA, allowing the most earned runs of any pitcher in baseball. – It looks like the ABS challenge system will be on hold for another year after feedback MLB received from players this spring. It will likely be implemented for 2027. – The Arizona Diamondbacks are resisting any urge to make a rash move and dismiss manager Torey Lovullo, who suddenly is drawing the ire of their fanbase with their recent struggles. They dropped to 27-30 after losing eight of their last nine games entering Saturday. "These are very challenging times, I'm not going to lie," Lovullo said. 'We're in a huge grind, every one of us. We're a really good baseball team, and we should not be three games under .500." The Diamondbacks' pitching and sloppy defense have been the culprits. They scored six or more runs 23 times this season, but have lost a major-league leading 10 of those games, including three games in which they've scored 11 runs. – Phillies All-Star first baseman Bryce Harper echoed the Phillies' front-office sentiments when he told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he can't imagine Kyle Schwarber not coming back to Philadelphia as a free agent this winter. 'I don't see him playing anywhere else,' Harper said. 'Obviously I don't make those decisions. But as a team leader and a captain and everything else, he brings so much value to our team." Schwarber, signed to a four-year, $79 million contract before the 2022 season, has hit 149 home runs, third behind only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani in that time. 'He's just learned such a good way of bringing a team together," Harper said. 'He does such a great job of that.' – The Dodgers are scouring the market these days for a left-handed hitting bat off the bench. – The Cincinnati Reds' patience with former All-Star closer Alexis Diaz evaporated when they sent him to the Dodgers this past week for minor-league pitcher Mike Villani, with the Dodgers picking up the remaining $3 million in Diaz's contract this year. The Reds became exasperated with Diaz, and he was showing no signs of getting back to his All-Star form at Class AAA Louisville. 'I felt it was the best thing for everybody involved just to have a change of scenery," Nick Krall, Reds president of baseball operations, told reporters. The Dodgers, who will work with Diaz at their minor-league camp in Arizona, have suddenly become desperate for bullpen help. Former closer Evan Phillips is undergoing Tommy John surgery this week, and they still are without Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol. The Dodgers shelled out a four-year, $72 million contract for closer Tanner Scott last winter, but he has struggled, blowing five saves with a 4.62 ERA. He had only six blown saves the past two seasons combined with Miami and San Diego. 'I think, performance-wise, he hasn't performed the way any of us expected, him included,' manager Dave Roberts said. – Scouts already are keeping an eye on Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman, who will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline if the Red Sox fall out of the AL East race. – Cool moment at the Yankees-Dodgers epic weekend series when Yankees manager Aaron Boone spotted Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, pulled a cell phone from the back picket of his uniform, and snapped a selfie. 'Hey, he's a legend," Boone said. – Pirates manager Don Kelly is drawing rave reviews from his players, and is showing why the Boston Red Sox nearly hired him after the 2020 season. He was one of three finalists with Alex Cora and Sam Fuld. Kelly has since turned down several job interviews, including the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland and New York Mets, to remain in Pittsburgh with his family before being promoted. – Toronto Blue Jays slugger Anthony Santander has looked nothing like the man they signed to a five-year, $92.5 million contract during the winter. He's now on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation after hitting just .179 with six homers and striking out a career-high 26.3% of the time. He looks like a shadow of himself after hitting 44 homers a year ago for Baltimore. – The Houston Astros and Billy Wagner are taking no shortcuts celebrating his Hall of Fame induction ceremony this summer with friends and family. They have sent out invitations for Wagner's closest friends and family for two seats on the Astros' team charter to Cooperstown, including a hotel room and ground transportation for the weekend to be at Wagner's celebratory party. – Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo openly roots for Paul Skenes in every game he doesn't pitch against him, forming a relationship at last year's All-Star game when he made Skenes the starting pitcher after just 11 starts. 'I spent a little bit of personal time with him, and I don't think a lot of people get to do that that aren't inside of his organization or his circle," Lovullo says. 'I will always treasure those times. Special kid, great for the game. 'When we're not facing him, I am a fan.' – Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who broke his toe walking to the bathroom at his home last Wednesday night, is expected to return to the lineup this week. There has been no temptation to move him back to right field as the Dodgers did a year ago. 'He's a major league shortstop, on a championship club …" Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. 'He looks like a major league shortstop right now, where last year there were many times I didn't feel that way.' – Classic response by Atlanta ace Spencer Strider when Hall of Fame writer Jayson Stark asked him about pitching in Philadelphia's raucous environment. 'I love pitching here,' Strider said. 'I mean, where else do they chant your name and ask you how your family's doing? They seem very interested in my well-being, and I appreciate that." – So much for that feel-good Tim Anderson comeback story. He was released last week by the Angels after an ugly slash line of .205/.258/.241 in 90 plate appearances. This is the second time the former batting champion has been released in the last nine months. – Just in case Mets owner Steve Cohen didn't have a big enough checking account, his hopes for an $8 billion casino next to Citi Field moved ever so close after a bill in the state Senate approved the project, now needing only Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature. – Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners is resurrecting memories of Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza. Raleigh, who already has the most homers by an catcher through the first four seasons of their career, is now having an MVP season in the non-Aaron Judge division. He already has 21 homers, the most by a catcher before June in history. He's on pace for 57 home runs this season, which would shatter Salvador Perez's record of 48 homers in 2021 with the Royals. – Remember when the Boston Red Sox gave second baseman Kristian Campbell an eight-year, $60 million deal and looked like geniuses when he hit .301 with four homers and an .902 OPS through April? Well, he has crashed down to earth in May, hitting .137 with just one extra base hit and a .368 OPS. – The Houston Astros say they are on the lookout for starting pitching after losing Ronel Blanco. He is the third Astros' starter to go down in the season's first two months, joining Hayden Wesneski who underwent Tommy John surgery last week, and Spencer Arrighetti (broken thumb). – Rough week for Marlins second baseman Ronny Simon. He committed three errors in three innings, ran off the field in tears while teammates and coaches tried to console him, and then was designated for assignment two days later. – The Yankees plan for Jazz Chisholm to return to third base when he returns from the IL with DJ LeMahieu playing second. – Phillies ace Zack Wheeler can blame Atlanta if he's not in the Cy Young debate at the end of the season. He as a 9.28 ERA in two starts against Atlanta this year and a 1.93 ERA in his 10 starts against everyone else. – What's it like being Shohei Ohtani's teammate? 'You don't want to miss any of his at-bats,' new Dodgers outfielder Michael Conforto said. 'You want to be in the dugout. You want to see it in person. That's kind of what it is being his teammate. You want to be there.' – Congratulations to Atlanta's Chris Sale who recorded his 2,500th strikeout faster than any pitcher in history, accomplishing the feat in 2,206 innings, eclipsing Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, who achieved the milestone in 2,107 innings. Sale idolized Johnson growing up, and still cherishes the text message he received from Johnson last winter when he won the Cy Young award. – The Colorado Rockies, if you can believe it, are now on pace to go 26-136. Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Going bananas: Why Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than a Dodgers-Yankees rematch
In a region where baseball is king, the long-awaited rematch of last year's World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is unfolding. Ohtani. Judge. Two of the game's best, facing off once more. But just down the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, the home of Disney, the hottest ticket in baseball this weekend belongs to a stilted pitcher, juggling infielders and a yellow-suited, top hat-wearing carnival barker. Advertisement For back-to-back nights, more than 45,000 fans packed the Big A to see the Savannah Bananas — a team born from a small-time collegiate summer team that became a tour de force that has forever changed baseball. It was one stop during the Bananas' most audacious barnstorming effort since their baseball traveling show hit the road just a few years ago. The Savannah Bananas celebrate amid confetti after beating the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) These tickets were only available through a lottery — reserved months in advance. And when they went on sale, all were gone in an instant. The only way in was through the resale market, where just hours before first pitch on Friday, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of tickets on StubHub was $209.52. Meanwhile, two lowest price StuHub tickets for the Dodgers versus Yankees game were available for $171.72. Advertisement All for the sake of 'Banana Ball.' This baseball game is a ballyhoo. One rooted in the thrills, energy and pageantry of early 20th-century carnivals, but with a 21st-century twist — the atmosphere of a TikTok reel brought to life. It's the showmanship of Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the athletic flair of the Harlem Globetrotters. Read more: Meet the Savannah Bananas, who've captivated fans and MLB. 'We exist to make baseball fun' But above all, it's a brand built on Walt Disney's blueprint— not just to entertain, but to make the audience feel. 'When you look at all the touch points — the joy, the fun, the dancing, the celebrating — and think about all the different stages, just like Walt, we think about all the stages: from the parking lot to the plaza, to the upper deck, to the dugouts,' said Bananas owner Jesse Cole, the man in the top hat. 'How do we make someone feel something?' Advertisement Instead of lounging in a cushy, air-conditioned owner's suite, Cole is in the dugout hours before showtime — a Disney-like archetype, his energy as vibrant as his layered, all-yellow suit, braving the afternoon heat. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole leads the crowd in a cheer as his team takes on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) 'Nonstop,' Cole said, describing Banana Ball in a nutshell. Refusing to sit, not wanting to lose an ounce of edge, he added, 'It's all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o'clock until the last fan leaves at 11.' While gates opened at 2 p.m., fans began arriving as early as 11 a.m. — clamoring for a shot at Banana-themed merchandise, many leaving the team tents with bags in both hands. In the parking lot, two young boys passed the time playing catch, gloves in hand. Advertisement As the afternoon wore on and the temperature climbed to 91 degrees, crowds trudged through the heat, some seeking refuge beneath the oversized Angels helmets at the stadium entrance, all for a chance to meet their favorite Banana Ballers. At the pregame plaza party, fans collected autographs, posed for photos and presented handmade gifts to players. Savannah Bananas mascot Split marches through the crowd before the team's game against the Firefighters at Angel Stadium Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) When the gates opened, the LaCaze family pointed out their 9-year-old daughter's favorite player, David 'DR' Meadows. Decked out in her signed Meadows jersey, Carrigan LaCaze ran into his arms, with glove and oversized baseball clutched tightly and began speaking with him as if they were old friends. 'I ran to DR, and we started hugging and just started talking for a while because I missed him,' Carrigan LaCaze said. 'Tomorrow is actually one year on the dot since I met him.' Advertisement A Christmas road trip planned around the holidays, the family of four traveled across three states from their home in Alexandria, La., to Anaheim for two reasons: to visit Disneyland and see the Bananas. It was their second game — the family first saw the Bananas in the club's hometown of Savannah, Ga., when Carrigan, who is battling cystic fibrosis, was granted a Make-A-Wish experience so meaningful it was a no-brainer to relive it. 'It's great,' her father, Pierre LaCaze, said of the player interactions. 'We've gotten to keep track with some of them during the course of the year. We come back, we see them again. You know they're truly about the fans.' Rainer Easton, 11, tries to catch a yellow "Banana Ball" from the stands before the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) The Bananas don't sell tickets. They sell connections, moments and memories. Advertisement For Cole, meetings are a constant brainstorming session on how to keep fans engaged and interacting. That's how he measures success. He says when the focus shifts to transactions, the game begins to lose its meaning. 'Our success is not judged by revenue,' Cole said. 'It's not judged by sales. It's judged by the moments we create.' But the numbers don't lie. The last time the Bananas came to Southern California, they played in front of 5,000 fans at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga in 2023 — a far cry from now selling out 18 major league ballparks and three football stadiums with capacities over 70,000. Fans fill the stands as the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd Friday at Angel Stadium. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Attendance has soared year after year. Last season, the Bananas drew one million fans. This year, that number is expected to double, with more than three million people on the waitlist for their ticket lottery. Every game since February has sold out and every date in June and July is as well. Advertisement Michael and Melinda Schulteis, a husband and wife from Mission Viejo, were there the last time the Bananas came to town. When they heard the team was returning, they knew they couldn't miss it. 'The intimate atmosphere at the last event was great,' Melinda Schulteis said. 'But I'm curious, because they do such a good job putting on events, what touches are they going to add to still keep it close and intimate and give us another great experience?' Read more: What is Banana Ball? Here are the Savannah Banana rules of the game As the Bananas' success and reach have grown, spilling out from cozy minor league parks into stadiums not built for intimacy, the games still feel like family gatherings. Whether serenading players with stadium anthems like Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' or the waving of phone lights to Coldplay's 'Yellow,' the crowd moves in sync, no matter the tune. Advertisement While they're a privately owned team and don't disclose revenue figures, they've confirmed generating millions. Much like their box office appeal, their social media reach extends into the millions as well. The Savannah Bananas perform a kick line before taking on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Their antics — choreographed dances, lip-synced walk-ups, backflip outfield catches — have attracted nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, almost double the combined total of the Dodgers and Angels. That viral mastery, and the parasocial bonds it fosters, is part of what makes every game feel tight-knit. With his glove by his side, hoping to catch a foul ball for an out — one of the many offbeat rules of Banana Ball — Michael Schulties was disappointed he missed his favorite player, RobertAnthony Cruz, whom he first discovered on social media through his baseball coaching channel, better known as 'Coach RAC.' Advertisement Cruz, who drew the longest meet-and-greet line, is a former minor leaguer in the Nationals' farm system and a local — born just an hour away in Fontana. The game was a homecoming for Cruz, who joined the Bananas in 2023. With more than 70 family members and friends in attendance — and even more social media direct messages asking for tickets — playing in big league stadiums has become a dream come true, especially for a former minor leaguer whose baseball ambitions nearly died when he never got the call to the show. Savannah Bananas pitcher Correlle Prime delivers at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Behind all the gimmicks, wackiness and absurdity, the roster is still filled with ballplayers — many of them with unrealized MLB dreams — now finding a second life through Banana Ball. And for Cruz, it's the happiest he's ever been in the sport. Advertisement 'I never would have imagined playing in this capacity,' Cruz said. 'Banana Ball didn't even exist when I was pursuing my dream of professional baseball. To be here, to see a sold-out crowd at a stadium that I went to growing up all the time, it's very special.' As the team travels the nation, sold-out crowds and newfound stardom have become the norm for Cruz. 'I'm not surprised by anything anymore,' Cruz said. 'If you told me that we're playing on the moon next year, I'd be like, 'All right, cool. Let me know when and where, and I'll be there' … I wouldn't be surprised if this thing continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.' Read more: It's time for Banana Ball! The story of the Savannah Bananas Advertisement Despite their growing success, the Bananas' brand of baseball remains polarizing — an easy target for detractors of zaniness, gatekeepers of fun and opponents of pizzazz who either don't understand it or refuse to see its appeal. 'Anybody that criticizes this, we're not for them,' Cole said. 'There's tradition in baseball, perfect. They've got Major League Baseball. … For people that want to come out and have fun, not take themselves too seriously and see something they've never seen before — and hopefully see the greatest show in sports — we built something for you.' The formula works. And again, the numbers don't lie. The Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson celebrates a Troy Glaus base hit while the Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. Comedian Bert Kreischer celebrated behind the Bananas in the dugout. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Yes, the Savannah Bananas' brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals. That's the point. It all feels like something conjured from the wildest dreams of the late Bill Veeck's imagination found a home, in a good way. Advertisement With many of the Banana Ball's 11 rules — like an automatic strike when hitters step out of the box or ejecting bunting hitters because bunting 'sucks' — are grounded in some sports-based logic, the innovations remain sacrilegious to baseball purists. But for a fleeting moment in December, Major League Baseball and Banana Ball were almost linked. In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows teams, once per game, to send their best hitter to the plate regardless of where they fall in the batting order. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred caused a stir when he floated a potential seismic rule by floating, making an offhand comment about the golden batter rule. Manfred later clarified it was merely 'a very preliminary conversation' among members of the league's competition committee and had not been formally discussed by the full ownership group. Advertisement A far-fetched idea, but Manfred has ushered in sweeping changes, from the widely praised pitch clock to the more contentious extra-inning 'ghost runner.' 'Anything that's best for the fans, I'm all in,' Cole said of its potential. 'I know Major League Baseball won't do it because of traditions, but ... we've had a lot of fun doing it.' The Firefighters run on the field before taking on the Savannah Bananas at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) But MLB would be behind the Bananas, who already introduced their version of the rule last season with a typical flair and showmanship. Their spin on it is a batter summoned from the dugout wearing a James Brown-esque cape and a gleaming golden helmet — an honor that went to Joe Lytle, who came to bat in the top of the ninth for the Bananas' Anaheim opponent, the Firefighters. Advertisement Ultimately, in a game where the score isn't the end-all, be-all — but the fun is — the Bananas beat the Firefighters 5–2. Like any other Bananas game, the festivities took center stage. It began with the 'First Peel,' a signature ceremony in which a young fan bites into a banana to declare whether it's good or bad — setting the tone for the night. Read more: How do the Savannah Bananas draw sold-out crowds? Five fun facts about the team Heisman Trophy winner and USC legend Matt Leinart threw out the ceremonial first spiral (because, of course, he did). And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter. Advertisement But what was more important was the trip to Anaheim, a fitting one for Cole and Co. The team that opened its season lip-syncing 'Be Our Guest' from the Disney classic 'Beauty and the Beast' — and its owner, cut from the same theatrical cloth as Disney — were celebrated a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole provides color commentary during the baby race between innings at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Greeted by fans in yellow gear, Cole's creation — the Bananas — marched in step down Main Street U.S.A., alongside Walt's own — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck. 'When I walked underneath the castle and over the bridge and in front of thousands of people, they were all there for us,' Cole said. 'Then I look and see Walt's statue, holding the hand of Mickey, and I see that and I'm like, 'This is special.'' Advertisement It was a full-circle moment for Cole, who became 'immersed in the magic' after his first trip to Disney World as a kid — and who now says, 'In a perfect world, I'd play catch with Walt on Main Street.' Serendipity. 'For me, that was an emotional moment — to know that we have worked so hard to create something that means something to people, that they come from all over the country just for a chance to see us,' Cole added. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Hernández: How Japan media track down Ohtani's home-run balls
Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani, left, watches the flight of his a solo home run in the first inning as Yankees pitcher Max Fried, center, reacts. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) Shohei Ohtani was about halfway through his home-run trot when Taro Abe stood up from his second-row seat in the Vin Scully Press Box and tucked his green scorebook under his right arm. 'Let's go,' Abe said in Japanese. Advertisement Abe, a writer for Japan's Chunichi Sports newspaper, was followed into the concourse of Dodger Stadium's suite level by four other reporters from his country. They were on a mission: Find the person who caught Ohtani's home-run ball. There was nothing special about this blast, which was Ohtani's second on Friday in an eventual 8-5 victory over the New York Yankees. The homer was Ohtani's 22nd of the season and reduced the Dodgers' deficit at the time from three to two. 'We have to do this every time,' Abe said. This practice started a couple of years ago, when Ohtani was still playing for the Angels. The appetite for Ohtani content was insatiable in Japan, but the two-way player started speaking to reporters only after games in which he pitched. Naoyuki Yanagihara of Sports Nippon and Masaya Kotani of Full Count figured out a solution for their problem: They started interviewing the fans who caught his home-run balls. Advertisement Read more: Hernández: 'I have no words for it.' Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani inspires awe and confidence The feature was received well by their readers and gradually spread to other publications. Now, besides the homers that land in bullpens or any other place inaccessible to fans, a group of Japanese reporters will be there to interview the person who snagged the prized souvenir. Neither Yanagihara nor Kotani was on this particular journey into the right-field pavilion, as Yanagihara was temporarily back in Japan and Kotani remained in the press box. Both of their publications were represented by other reporters. I was there too. One of the reporters, Michi Murayama of Sports Hochi, looked at me curiously. Advertisement 'You're coming?' she asked. Abe joked: 'He's coming to write how ridiculous the Japanese media is.' As we walked down a carpeted hallway by the suites down the first-base line, Abe turned around and asked if anyone had seen who caught the ball. No one had. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hit a pair of home runs off Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press) Before departing from the press box, reporters usually study replays of the homer to find identifying features of the ballhawk. But in this case, the scramble for the ball was obscured by a short barrier that divided a television cameraman from the crowd. Abe led the pack out of an exit near the Stadium Club. When we re-entered the ballpark at the loge level, we heard a familiar chant: 'Fre-ddie! Fre-ddie!' Advertisement The reporters stopped to watch the game from behind the last row of seats. Freeman doubled in a run to reduce the Dodgers' deficit to one, and pandemonium ensued. A young woman clutching a beer danced. Strangers exchanged high-fives. Others performed the Freddie Dance. Yankees manager Aaron Boone removed Max Fried from the game, and called Jonathan Loáisiga from the bullpen. It was time for us to move on. Seniority heavily influences professional and personal interactions in Japanese culture, which was why when we reached the top of the right-field pavilion, the two-most-junior reporters were told to find the ball-catching fan and return with him. Iori Kobayashi of Sports Nippon, 25, and Akihiro Ueno of Full Count, 27, accepted their fates without question. However, the veteran Murayama noticed they weren't making any progress, and soon she was in the middle of the pavilion with them. She came back soon after to tell us we were in the wrong place. Advertisement 'We have to go down to the Home Run Seats,' she said, referring to seats directly behind the right-field wall that are in a separate section as the rest of the pavilion. The ushers there were helpful, describing how the ball struck the portable plastic wall behind the cameraman, rolled under the barrier, and was taken by a boy in a gray jersey. Murayama found the boy and said he would speak to the group when the inning was over. 'They usually come after the inning because they want to watch the game too,' Abe said. Read more: Shohei Ohtani homers twice and Dodgers pull off another comeback against Yankees Advertisement While we waited, Eriko Takehama of Sankei Sports approached Abe and showed him a picture of a fan holding up a piece of the plastic wall that was struck by Ohtani's homer. The piece had broken off, and the fan told Takehama that he was taking it home. 'Do you want to talk to him?' Takehama asked Abe. 'He said he caught a ball three years ago.' Abe declined. While watching Max Muncy taking first base on an intentional walk, Abe said, 'Everyone has a story. You ask them where they live, where they work and there's usually something interesting. We're writing human-interest stories with Ohtani as a cover.' Advertisement This story would be about a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Monrovia named Fisher Luginvuhl. With his mother standing nearby, the Little League catcher gushed, 'It's like the best thing that's ever happened to me.' The reporters circled the boy and photographed him holding up the ball. They exchanged numbers with Luginvuhl's father so they could send him links to the stories they produced. While the reporters worked together to locate Luginvuhl, they were also in competition with each other to post the story first. Murayama wrote hers on her phone as she walked. Ueno sent audio of the six-minute interview to the Full Count offices in Japan, where the recording was transcribed by an English-speaking reporter, who then used the quotes to write a story. Walking to the right-field pavilion and back was exhausting. I mentioned this to Abe, and he reminded me, 'This was my second time doing this today.' Advertisement Abe wrote 13 stories on Friday night, 10 of them about Ohtani, including two on fans who caught his homers. Just as we returned to the press box, the next hitter was announced over the public-address system: 'Shohei Ohtani!' Abe laughed and braced for another long walk. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
