Walter Johnson walks off with its first Maryland baseball championship
The ball hadn't yet landed in right-center field, but Shaun Rudick's hands were already raised. The ping of his bat had echoed through Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, followed by a growing roar from the third base side as Grant Matalia sprinted around third, chugging home for glory.
Matalia slid home headfirst, beat the tag, and the call was safe. Game over. Walter Johnson was the Maryland Class 4A baseball champion, and it was Rudick, a senior, who had provided the most consequential swing in the North Bethesda program's 68-year history: a walk-off single that secured a 7-6 win over Urbana on Friday, earning the Wildcats their first state title.
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New York Times
39 minutes ago
- New York Times
Inside the Mets' new outfield ritual: ‘That's a Juan thing'
NEW YORK — From his position in right field, Juan Soto jogged toward the New York Mets' dugout, stopping short of the steps. The half-inning on defense had ended and he was soon due up. But Soto lingered on the field for a beat, for a reason. Center fielder Tyrone Taylor trotted over and tapped his glove with Soto's. Together, they waited some more. Advertisement Finally, when left fielder Brandon Nimmo completed the trek to the railing of the Mets' dugout at Citi Field, on the first base side, all three outfielders shared a quick embrace. The Mets' outfielders do this after every half-inning on defense during every game. 'That's a Juan thing,' Taylor says. Though Soto, in his eighth year, is off to his worst offensive start through a season's first 56 games (.745 OPS), he has kept up with a team-centric idea he introduced to his new outfield mates during spring training. The steady Soto-led outfielder gatherings near the dugout underscore a desire to connect with teammates. That is no small thing in the context of Soto. Seemingly, his every public move and expression generates a dialogue about his disposition amid his slow start after signing a 15-year contract worth $765 million, the richest deal in sports. Back in spring training, Soto whistled in the direction of Nimmo to get the veteran's attention. Nimmo had made a beeline toward the Mets' dugout after a half-inning on defense. When his eyes met Soto's, Soto told him, per Nimmo's recollection, 'We're staying here. We're going to do something with all the outfielders here.' 'It was something he brought in. I thought it was great,' Nimmo said in a recent interview. 'Every team has their own things that they bring in and try to do, and Juan made it a point right away that, that was something he wanted to do. It just brings that teamwork, that team chemistry of trying to get everyone to pull on the same end of the rope. It's another tool for doing that.' Soto got the idea from Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. The two were teammates with the Washington Nationals in 2021 for just half a season. But Schwarber 'impressed and shocked' — Soto's words — Soto with his leadership skills, namely, the little routine of waiting up for fellow outfielders. Advertisement Schwarber, Soto said, used to tell Soto all the time, 'As outfielders, we all are back there and we should all have each other's backs.' Soto decided to store that message in his mind. 'I know we are a whole team,' he said, 'but as outfielders, we have a lot of responsibilities back there, so if we can stick together more and more, even when guys do make an error or something, just pick them up, have a talk before going in to hit. It's huge for me. After Schwarber taught me that, I started doing it, and I feel like a lot of my teammates appreciate it.' That goes for all of Soto's stops along the way. 'Even last year, with the Yankees, everyone knows Aaron Judge was the leader, the captain, but he loved it every time I waited for him or waited for the guys at the steps,' Soto said. 'It's just a different feeling. That makes me happy. That makes me part of it. It helps the team in moving forward.' With the Mets, the Soto meetup spot is already a hit. 'It's a small thing,' Taylor said, 'but it makes you feel like, hey, we are here for each other.' Communication in the outfield is vital. Players call for balls in the gaps. They back one another up. They share information. (Or at least they are supposed to do all of that.) Sometimes, the quick meetups before the outfield trio heads into the dugout cover a play that just occurred on the field. Other times, they simply share a laugh. Either way, players say they see a benefit. 'Every little thing matters,' Soto said. 'It's a really long season. Sometimes, we focus on the big scenarios and the big things and forget about the little things. And it's the little things that can change everything for a whole team. It helps you to go all the way. Outfielders, this is our thing.' The only time one of the other outfielders skips joining Soto is when they're leading off an inning. Then, Taylor says, 'It's air-fives.' Advertisement Before Soto's arrival, Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor waited to acknowledge all the other fielders near the steps of the dugout before exiting the field. Funny enough, Lindor still does that. Now he just has to wait for the outfielders to first do their own Soto-inspired thing. With a laugh, Lindor said he didn't mind at all waiting the extra handful of seconds. 'It's great,' Lindor said. 'I think it's fantastic. He understands there are two guys alongside him who all work together. He wanted to create that, and he's doing it. He's been doing it since spring training. It's not, 'When I do good, I do it,' and, 'When I do bad, I don't do it' — he's consistent with it.' (Photo of Juan Soto, Tyrone Taylor and Brandon Nimmo: Maria Lysaker / Getty Images)
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Franklin Arias of Red Sox is now a Top 10 MLB prospect
The Red Sox are in a free fall. How does this get fixed? The Red Sox are in a free fall. How does this get fixed? The Red Sox are in a free fall. How does this get fixed? It's no surprise Roman Anthony is the top prospect in all of baseball, though the 21-year-old probably won't be a prospect for the Red Sox much longer. But Boston still has another Top 10 prospect in its system, with infielder Franklin Arias climbing up the latest rankings. The 19-year-old shortstop checked in as the No. 8 prospect in Keith Law's newest Top 50, which he published Thursday on The Athletic. Who is Franklin Arias? The Red Sox signed Arias as an International free agent in 2023, and he's been turning heads the last two years as one of the organization's top defensive prospect in the infield. He checks in at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, and is currently playing at Single-A Salem after starting the season at High-A Greenville. Before the season, Arias was Law's No. 42 prospect. But he's caught everyone's attention with both his bat and his glove in 2025. "Through Sunday, Arias was hitting .360/.406/.517 since his promotion to High A, and he's still just 19 until November," wrote Law. "He's a true shortstop, he doesn't punch out (8.3 percent at the higher level), and he has power." Law called Arias "electric on both sides of the ball." "If there's a flaw in his game, pitchers through the High-A level haven't exposed it yet," added Law. In the Boston organization, Arias is the No. 3 prospect behind Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, with the latter currently up with the Big League club. Kristian Campbell, whom Law had as a Top 10 prospect last year, made Boston's Opening Day roster following an impressive spring. "Leave it to the Red Sox to graduate a top-10 prospect (Kristian Campbell) and immediately have someone else replace him," noted Law. Jhostynxon Garcia also cracks Top 50 Prospect list The Red Sox had a third prospect pop up in Law's Top 50: outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia. The man nicknamed "The Password" checked in at No. 46 after he was unranked last season. Law notes that Garcia had a breakout year in 2024 -- when the 22-year-old slashed .286/.356/.536 with 24 doubles and 23 homers for Greenville, Salem, and Double-A Portland -- but adds the outfielder as taken a significant step forward this season. "He's swinging less often, which has also meant that he's whiffing less and he's chasing less, and he's still hitting the ball hard — although the surface results haven't been there yet. The Red Sox bumped him up to Triple A last week and in his first six games there he homered twice, at 106 and 109 mph. It's plus power, a significantly improved approach, and, well, he should move to right field," wrote Law. Garcia is slashing a robust .406/.424/.719 with the WooSox, and is up to three homers in his eight games at Triple-A.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sky Sports Confirms Steven Gerrard's Plans Amid Liverpool Return Rumours
Steven Gerrard's Managerial Future: A Pause, Not a Full Stop Steven Gerrard's decision to step away from football management for the time being has been confirmed, with Sky Sports reporting he will not return to Rangers despite advanced talks. This update comes after weeks of speculation regarding a potential Ibrox reunion, following Philippe Clement's departure. However, it appears Gerrard is not in the running, with Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin now considered leading candidates for the job. Advertisement 'Steven Gerrard will not become the next Rangers manager,' Sky Sports confirmed, despite the Liverpool icon having 'held talks over a return to the club, three and a half years after leaving Glasgow.' His absence from the managerial scene isn't without precedent. Gerrard left Saudi side Al Ettifaq in January after a mixed spell, with the club languishing in 12th place, just five points above the relegation zone. The departure was, as Sky Sports reports, via mutual agreement. It's clear that Gerrard's focus has shifted. 'I want to be free, I want to play a round of golf, go down the boozer and have a couple of beers, do normal things that you can't do when you're coaching,' he recently told reporters, revealing a refreshingly human side often hidden behind the tactical rigours of modern football management. Rebuilding Reputation After Saudi Arabia Gerrard's experience in the Saudi Pro League was far from the triumphant campaign many expected. After a promising start, his side faltered, and questions around his tactical adaptability began to circulate. His record in Dammam may have cooled interest from higher-tier clubs, at least temporarily. Advertisement Still, his past successes, notably Rangers' historic 55th league title win in 2021, ensure his stock hasn't completely fallen. The conversation around him includes links to Championship clubs like Derby County and lower-league sides such as Carlisle United, with a short-lived rumour of a potential Premier League opportunity at Southampton. That these rumours have emerged at all suggests there's still admiration for Gerrard's potential. Yet it also highlights a key dilemma: where does Gerrard fit in the current managerial landscape? Photo: IMAGO Liverpool Role Speculation Gathers Pace With John Heitinga reportedly heading to Ajax, Liverpool fans have speculated about Gerrard returning in a backroom role under new boss Arne Slot, who has just delivered a stunning Premier League title in his debut season. On paper, it's a reunion filled with romance and narrative weight. Advertisement However, there's no indication Gerrard is interested in such a role. His comments suggest a more extended break is on the cards, prioritising family time and a mental reset from the 24/7 nature of coaching. 'I'm happy with waking up and being free, doing the family stuff, just being free away from stress,' he said, a sentiment that will resonate with anyone who's seen the relentless pressure top-level management entails. What's Next For Gerrard? In truth, the future remains open. Gerrard is still only 45, with decades ahead of him should he wish to return. His reputation in the game, especially in Glasgow and Liverpool, remains largely intact. What matters now is timing and opportunity. Advertisement His recent comments suggest that whenever he does return, it won't be for a short-term fix or a vanity project. Instead, expect a more considered, perhaps humbler path, likely one that allows for development, autonomy, and the space to evolve as a coach. With Sky Sports reporting he's not a front-runner for the Rangers role, and with other clubs exploring options, Gerrard may well bide his time until the right project presents itself. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis From a Liverpool fan's perspective, Gerrard's current detour away from management is bittersweet. On one hand, his legend status at Anfield and his historic achievements at Rangers make him an ideal figure to bring back into the fold. The prospect of Gerrard shadowing Arne Slot, learning from a tactician who just won the Premier League in his first campaign, is intriguing. There's also the emotional allure of seeing him back on the touchline at Anfield, even in a supporting capacity. Advertisement But on the other hand, his honesty about burnout is commendable. Gerrard's admission that he needs time, that he wants to reconnect with everyday life, shows maturity. This isn't someone chasing jobs for the sake of it. It's someone preserving longevity in a profession notorious for its toll. Perhaps this is precisely why he remains such a revered figure. He's not forcing a narrative. He's letting it unfold. If and when Gerrard returns to management, Liverpool supporters will be watching, hopeful. And who knows — maybe someday the romantic script will write itself, and he'll return in a more significant capacity. But for now, the legend rests, and rightly so.
