logo
#

Latest news with #2024WorldSeries

'LA Story': A Brilliant Chronicle of Shohei Ohtani and the 2024 Dodgers
'LA Story': A Brilliant Chronicle of Shohei Ohtani and the 2024 Dodgers

Japan Forward

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Japan Forward

'LA Story': A Brilliant Chronicle of Shohei Ohtani and the 2024 Dodgers

With riveting details, longtime reporter Bill Plunkett captured the thrills and challenges faced by Shohei Ohtani and the World Series champion Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani is a focal point of Bill Plunkett's new baseball book. In his new book, LA Story: Shohei Ohtani, The Los Angeles Dodgers, and a Season for the Ages (Triumph Books, April 2025), veteran baseball reporter Bill Plunkett chronicled the team's mesmerizing 2024 MLB season. The author, a sportswriter for The Orange County Register since 1999, summed up his hopes for the book in an email. "Last year was a remarkable season for fans of Ohtani and the Dodgers," Plunkett informed Odds and Evens. "The way I look at it, the book is the ultimate souvenir of the 2024 season. You can pull it off your shelf at any point in the future and relive that season." Indeed, it was a remarkable season for the 2024 World Series champions. And even before the season began, the Dodgers' successful attempts to sign two-way star Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto generated massive publicity on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Plunkett was busy reporting the details every step of the way ― for newspaper and website readers. ( The OC Register is one of 11 daily newspapers in the Southern California News Group.) A few months after the season commenced, he also began working on his 256-page book. It was a rigorous undertaking. "I started working on the book in mid-June ― obviously not knowing how it would turn out," Plunkett wrote in an email. He added, "I'm a very organized writer/person so I had a list of chapter topics/ideas and started organizing my notes and interviews based on those. I did interviews whenever possible, then spent any off days I had either transcribing those interviews or writing the early chapters." The cover of Bill Plunkett's new book on Shohei Ohtani and the 2024 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Based on Triumph Books' plan to get LA Story published expeditiously, Plunkett juggled his primary work and his book project at the same time. "Once the playoffs started, it was impossible to get anything done," Plunkett said of the book. "Hard enough just to keep up with the daily demands of playoff coverage. My deadline was two weeks after the Dodgers' last game ― whenever that would be. As it turned out, I covered the World Series parade two days after getting back from New York ― then the next eight days, I never left the house, spending all my time finishing the book." It was time well spent. In LA Story , Plunkett displayed authoritative knowledge of the subject, weaving together the storylines of the next chapter of Ohtani's one-of-a-kind career with the Dodgers' perennial pursuit of excellence. Light-hearted and fun details are sprinkled throughout the book (including about Ohtani's dog Dekopin), humanizing the subject and reminding readers that even if pro baseball is a big-bucks business, it's also entertainment. Players and coaches and managers are personalities, sometimes larger-than-life figures. What's also unique about Dodgers' history is underscored by the book's foundational structure. "Has any other franchise been ground zero for not one but two 'Manias' ― Fernandomania and Nomomania?" wrote Plunkett, referring to Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 and Hideo Nomo in 1995, in the introduction. Shohei Ohtani addresses the media during his introductory news conference on December 14, 2023, at Dodger Stadium. (KYODO) The reader discovers early on that Plunkett has a good sense of what quotes, notes (including statistics) and anecdotes will make this a quality book. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman added the big-picture perspective in the introduction, reacting to the team signing Ohtani to a 10-year contract in December 2023. "We've got … probably the guy we're going to be talking about to our great-grandchildren," Freeman said. "Just like we talk about Babe Ruth, we're going to talk about Shohei. It's just an exciting time for the Dodgers, for us." There's also a wealth of background about the Dodgers' lofty appraisal of Ohtani and the team's pursuit of him twice ― before he joined the Los Angeles Angels and again in 2023. "Meetings with teams were clandestine affairs, with executives escorted in secrecy to make their presentations to Ohtani," Plunkett wrote of the free agent sweepstakes. The spotlight shined on Ohtani at his introductory news conference with the team at Dodger Stadium, held in the iconic ballpark's Centerfield Plaza in mid-December 2023. An estimated 70 million people watched it on MLB Network. Although the $700 million USD (¥100 billion JPY) contract was certainly one factor in Ohtani's decision to join the Dodgers, his high-profile appearance on that December day telegraphed his top priority. "I can't wait to join the Dodgers," Ohtani said. "They share the same passion as me. They have the vision and history all about winning and I can't wait to join the team and get it going." And, as intelligently discussed on LA Story 's pages, with Otani deferring all but $2 million (roughly ¥300 million) of his annual salary, he helped give the Dodgers more capital to sign players. It also exhibited his total commitment to winning. Before Ohtani played his first spring training game for the Dodgers, there was hypercompetition among Japanese media members on the beat. Nothing was too trivial to report. And this extended to Plunkett as he managed the reportorial demands of the long season and crafted LA Story . Plunkett recounted what he learned during spring training in Arizona in February and March of '24. "Rule One: if Ohtani does something, it's news," he wrote. He added, "Rule Two: if Ohtani doesn't do something, that's news too." Shohei Ohtani signs autographs during spring training in February 2024. (Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY SPORTS) On and off the field, Ohtani generated headlines every day. Case in point: He announced his marriage, without identifying his new bride, on Instagram in late February. And when the Dodgers flew to Seoul for their season-opening series against the San Diego Padres, his new bride accompanied him. The Dodgers capitalized on Ohtani's incredible celebrity to draw countless eyes to their social media accounts. A photo of Ohtani and former pro basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, whom the team identified by name, getting off the plane was posted on the team's official Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. The frenzy surrounding Tanaka being revealed as Ohtani's wife wasn't the big story in Seoul, though. In an impactful, well-reported section of the book (Chapter 3: "Beyond Shocked"), Plunkett outlined Ohtani's long association with Ippei Mizuhara as his interpreter with the Angels and his friend. News and shifting storylines of Mizuhara's gambling problems broke during the MLB Seoul Series (March 20-21). During and after the Seoul trip, the truth emerged that Mizuhara had exploited his friendship with Ohtani. The disgraced interpreter had pilfered millions of dollars from the ballplayer's bank account to engage in illegal gambling and pay off escalating debts. After the two Dodgers-Padres games in Seoul, Ohtani and the team's return to the United States, the Japanese superstar took an important step separating himself from the scandal that would eventually land Mizuhara in prison. Ohtani held a players-only meeting with five teammates and his new interpreter, Will Ireton. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. Ohtani responded to questions from Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Tyler Glasnow and Miguel Rojas about what had happened with Mizuhara. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (©SANKEI) Two days later, Plunkett wrote, Ohtani delivered his public apology at Dodger Stadium. The team's show of solidarity for Ohtani, a victim of fraud (and a breach of trust), was on display in the media room. Dodgers executives and manager Dave Roberts, along with two of Ohtani's teammates, attended the event. After Ohtani issued the apology, Roberts said it was case closed for the team. "I heard everything I needed to hear and I know the players feel the same way," the manager was quoted as saying. Passages like this one help give the reader a behind-the-scenes tour of the 2024 Dodgers season. Chapter after chapter, a baseball insider's understanding of an MLB franchise's front-office machinations provides helpful context to navigate the ups and downs of the season. In doing so, Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo, Roberts, LA president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, team president/CEO Stan Kasten, general manager Brandon Gomes and an assortment of coaches and teammates are quoted extensively. Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits his 50th home run of the 2024 season, a two-run blast, in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins on September 19, 2024, at loanDepot Park in Miami. (KYODO) Above all, the 2024 MLB season was a joyride for Ohtani and the Dodgers. Despite a plethora of injuries, LA had a sensational year, with an MLB-best record of 98-64. LA Story effectively captured the ebb and flow and the highs and lows of the season and Ohtani's long list of thrilling accomplishments. On May 17, the LA City Council announced that day would be Shohei Ohtani Day every year for the entirety of his tenure with the club. Entering that day, he was first in MLB in batting (.360), slugging percentage (.669) and hits (63) and tied for first in home runs (12). Stolen bases, lots of 'em, would accumulate as the season progressed, too. After the All-Star break, Ohtani became the third-fastest player to reach the 30-30 milestone in MLB history (111 games), Plunkett wrote. Only Eric Davis (90 games in 1987) and Alex Rodriguez (107 games in '98) did it quicker. Ohtani had surpassed his career-high total of 26 stolen bases. His offseason conditioning workouts, including running mechanics and acceleration with Dodgers coach Travis Smith, had paid off in a big way. A 40-homer, 40-steal season certainly seemed possible. And Ohtani achieved it with a flair for the dramatic. A walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 23 gave him 40 homers to go along with his 40 steals. Weeks later, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to have a 50-50 season. What a game! A 6-for-6 effort with three homers, 10 RBIs and two stolen bases against the Miami Marlins on September 19. And details of the feat ― and reactions to it ― are memorable highlights of the book. In October, the Dodgers embarked on their 12th consecutive appearance in the playoffs. In Ohtani's first trip to the MLB postseason, Plunkett wrote about LA's triumphs over the Padres and New York Mets in the NL Division Series and the NL Championship Series, respectively. After crushing a game-tying homer in Game 1 of the NLDS, Ohtani exclaimed "Let's go!" in the direction of the team's dugout. He was fired up to play in the pressure-packed environment of the playoffs. Near the end of the book, the author emphasized this point, citing a TV interview Ohtani did during the World Series. What does pressure mean to Ohtani as a professional ballplayer? "I think of it as more of a blessing than pressure," the 2024 NL MVP said on Fox. "Many fans tell me they come all the way from Japan to see me [play]. I take that as a blessing and want to show them my best." The related story of Ohtani's rehab from elbow surgery in 2023 and his road to recovery as a pitcher (he returned to the mound in 2025) add additional depth to this compelling book. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) @ed_odeven .

Grading 10 Biggest MLB Signings At All-Star Break: Juan Soto, Max Fried, More
Grading 10 Biggest MLB Signings At All-Star Break: Juan Soto, Max Fried, More

Fox Sports

time4 days ago

  • Sport
  • Fox Sports

Grading 10 Biggest MLB Signings At All-Star Break: Juan Soto, Max Fried, More

This past MLB offseason produced historic signings, which included the biggest contract in baseball history and teams throwing money at starting pitching left and right. How have these signings fared thus far? With the 2025 MLB All-Star Break upon us, here are early grades for the 10 biggest signings in terms of total money from last offseason. OF Juan Soto – New York Mets Contract: 15-year, $765 million deal 2025 stats: 23 home runs, 56 RBIs, 77 walks, .262/.396/.509 slash line, 3.9 WAR (423 plate appearances) Soto signed the biggest contract in the history of sports. With the outfielder a respectable but not elite fielder and a so-so baserunner, it's virtually impossible for Soto to play up to his $51 million average annual salary. The way he justifies his contract is by helping the Mets win multiple World Series and being the Juan Soto that the baseball world is accustomed to, that being as lethal and consistent as any hitter in the sport in both the regular season and postseason. After a slow start, Soto has rebounded this season, hitting like the elite, balanced and impact hitter that he is. Again, the ultimate end grade for the Soto contract is him being the same player he has been his entire career and the Mets winning multiple championships to justify a historic commitment. Grade: B- LHP Max Fried – New York Yankees Contract: Eight-year, $218 million deal 2025 stats: 11-3, 2.43 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 113 strikeouts, 122.0 innings pitched, 3.3 WAR (20 starts) The first move the Yankees made after losing Soto — who helped them reach the 2024 World Series in his one season with the franchise — was signing Fried, and he has been worth every penny. The left-hander has been spectacular for New York, pitching deep into games, seldom surrendering runners and mixing in six pitches (cutter, curveball, sinker, four-seamer, sweeper and changeup). With Gerrit Cole out this season due to Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil still having not pitched due to a lat strain, Fried has become the Yankees' ace and a godsend for their rotation, which also recently lost Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John surgery. Aaron Judge is the best position player in the game and the face of the Yankees. But where would the Yankees be without Fried? Grade: A RHP Corbin Burnes – Arizona Diamondbacks Contract: Six-year, $210 million deal 2025 stats: 3-2, 2.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 63 strikeouts, 64.1 innings pitched, 2.2 WAR (11 starts) The D-backs threw the bag at Burnes for him to be their ace, and he was precisely that. The veteran right-hander and 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner pitched at a high level, threw deep into games and was effective at primarily throwing his cutter earlier this season. Unfortunately for Burnes, he suffered an elbow injury on June 1 that required Tommy John surgery, ending his 2025 campaign and jeopardizing the bulk, if not the entirety, of his 2026 campaign. Burnes is a proven stud, but the devastating injury makes his contract a potentially burdensome one for Arizona moving forward. Grade: D+ LHP Blake Snell – Los Angeles Dodgers Contract: Five-year, $182 million deal 2025 stats: 1-0, 2.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, four strikeouts, 9.0 innings pitched, -0.2 WAR (two starts) When healthy and at his best, Snell is electric. Unfortunately for Snell, he has been snake-bit by injuries his entire MLB career; Snell has made 30 starts in a single season just once since 2018, doing so in his 2023 NL Cy Young campaign with the San Diego Padres. This season has been one of the worst cases of injuries impacting Snell. After two starts, Snell suffered a shoulder injury, was later placed on the 60-day injured list and hasn't pitched for the Dodgers since. Los Angeles has been ravaged by injuries on the pitching front, including Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Tony Gonsolin, among many others. Snell getting back in the mix and acclimated for the postseason would be a game-changer for the Dodgers. However, the $180 million pact, which was one of the first headline moves of the offseason, is off to a bad start for the Dodgers. Grade: C- SS Willy Adames – San Francisco Giants Contract: Seven-year, $182 million deal 2025 stats: 12 home runs, 48 RBIs, 45 walks, .220/.307/.373 slash line, 0.9 WAR (408 plate appearances) Adames was arguably the Milwaukee Brewers' best player from 2021-24 and had a career year in 2024, totaling 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. This season has not been a continuation of his Milwaukee days, though. Adames is struggling to get on base in his debut sesason for the Giants, and is on pace for a career-low in home runs since 2019. One potentially auspicious sign for Adames is him boasting a .295/.380/.614 slash line in July. Nevertheless, San Francisco's premier offseason move is off to a slow start. Grade: C- 3B Alex Bregman – Boston Red Sox Contract: Three-year, $120 million deal 2025 stats: 11 home runs, 35 RBIs, 22 walks, .298/.380/.546 slash line, 2.9 WAR (234 plate appearances) Boston signed one of the best third basemen of his generation to a short-term deal for a combined salary that would've been impossible to foresee last summer. It has been a mixed bag for Bregman, though, who missed six weeks due to a quad strain and whose arrival triggered an internal nightmare with star third baseman Rafael Devers, who didn't want to move to first base and was later traded to the Giants. When healthy, Bregman has been a steady and reliable force at the hot corner and a reliable hitter from the right side this season. The grade for this signing is relatively positive because Bregman is healthy and the Red Sox have won 10 consecutive games. He can opt out of his contract after this season, though. Grade: B- OF/DH Anthony Santander – Toronto Blue Jays Contract: Five-year, $92.5 million deal 2025 stats: Six home runs, 18 RBIs, 24 walks, .179/.273/.304 slash line, -0.9 WAR (209 plate appearances) At first glance, this contract was a bargain. The switch-hitting Santander was coming off a 44-home run season and had been a consistent source of slugging for the Baltimore Orioles dating back to 2019. But 2025 has not been kind to Santander, as he has struck out at a high rate (55 strikeouts, compared to 33 hits), his traditional power has been inconsistent, and Santander was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list due to a shoulder injury that has kept him off the field since May 29. Still, the Blue Jays are atop the AL East. Maybe Santander can get back before the postseason and do damage for Toronto in the postseason? That said, this deal has been a whiff thus far. Grade: D+ LHP Sean Manaea – New York Mets Contract: Three-year, $75 million deal 2025 stats: 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, seven strikeouts, 3.1 innings, 0.0 WAR, (one appearance) Manaea made his first MLB appearance of the 2025 season on July 13 after a spring training elbow injury. The southpaw's absence is one of a handful of injuries New York's rotation depth has faced, the others including Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning and Frankie Montas. Manaea got his career back on track with the Mets last season, recording a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts and pitching well in the bulk of his postseason outings, including surrendering just one run and five baserunners across seven innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. A healthy Manaea gives the Mets another needed rotation body, and him returning to 2024 form would change the grade, but the left-hander's prolonged absence makes this signing a preliminary "D." Grade: D RHP Nathan Eovaldi – Texas Rangers Contract: Three-year, $75 million deal 2025 stats: 7-3, 1.58 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 94 strikeouts, 91.0 innings pitched, 3.4 WAR (16 starts) The production of a Cy Young candidate at $25 million a year. That's what the Rangers have gotten by re-signing Eovaldi. After helping Texas win the 2023 World Series and posting a combined 3.72 ERA from 2023-24, Eovaldi has been exceptional in 2025. Throwing a consistent, four-pitch arsenal at opposing lineups (split-fingered fastball, four-seamer, curveball and cutter), the right-hander has kept runners off the basepaths at an elite level, induced weak contact and is having the best season of his MLB career. Tarik Skubal is having another magnificent year for the Detroit Tigers, but Eovaldi is having an elite season himself. Maybe the American League Cy Young Award shouldn't be a shoo-in for Skubal? Grade: A+ LHP Tanner Scott – Los Angeles Dodgers Contract: Four-year, $72 million deal 2025 stats: 4.09 ERA, 19 of 26 in save opportunities, 1.14 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, 44.0 innings pitched, 0.0 WAR (45 appearances) After back-to-back stellar seasons in 2023 and 2024, highlighted by recording a combined 1.75 ERA in 2024, Los Angeles made Scott one of the game's richest relievers. It has been a bumpy ride for the two sides since. Scott, who throws two pitches (four-seamer and slider), has been hit in the late innings, leading MLB with seven blown saves. If Scott is stellar in the postseason and returns to the elite force that he was with the Padres and Miami Marlins, then his first half will be an afterthought. But, to date, the left-hander has underwhelmed for the $18 million average annual salary the Dodgers threw his way. Grade: C- 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! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

MLB Commissioner Reportedly Considers MLB Player Olympic Participation 'Possible'
MLB Commissioner Reportedly Considers MLB Player Olympic Participation 'Possible'

Newsweek

time4 days ago

  • Sport
  • 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

From Household Names to Fresh Faces, Get to Know the 2025 MLB All-Stars
From Household Names to Fresh Faces, Get to Know the 2025 MLB All-Stars

Fox Sports

time6 days ago

  • Sport
  • Fox Sports

From Household Names to Fresh Faces, Get to Know the 2025 MLB All-Stars

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know who Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge — the two stars of the 2024 World Series — are, but the list of stars in Major League Baseball goes well beyond those two superstars. While this list doesn't cover every All-Star and all the late additions to the ever-changing roster, the stage is mostly set for Tuesday's Midsummer Classic, and we can place the majority of the players into their own categories. Here are the household names, underrated players, the next wave of stars, the resurgent All-Stars, and, finally, the familiar faces in new places in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game: Household Names Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Los Angeles Dodgers: While becoming a two-way player again, he leads the National League in home runs and is on pace for another 50-homer season. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees: Leads the league in every slash-line category and is on pace to win his first batting title. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers: Leads MLB in K% and K/BB and tied for AL lead in ERA; threw a 13-strikeout, no-walk complete-game shutout on only 94 pitches. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers: Was slashing 374/.440/.638 with nine homers at the end of May; has a .533 OPS with one home run since. Jacob deGrom, RHP, Texas Rangers: In his first full season back from elbow surgery, deGrom has a 2.32 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with a fastball averaging 97.3 mph. Josh Hader, LHP, Houston Astros : Was a perfect 25-for-25 in save opportunities before blowing his first save Saturday; this is his first All-Star appearance as an Astro and sixth overall in his career. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, San Diego Padres: Heating up now in July, Tatis ranks second among all NL outfielders in FWAR. Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers: Added as a legend pick after becoming the 20th member ever to join the prestigious 3,000-strikeout club. Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta Braves: After a slow start to 2025, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner returned to form with a 1.00 ERA over his last eight starts before going on the IL with a fractured rib cage. Zack Wheeler, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies: Before allowing four runs Saturday to the Padres, Wheeler had a 1.38 ERA over his previous 11 starts. He ranks first in strikeouts and third in ERA among NL starters. Edwin Diaz, RHP, New York Mets: In a bounceback year, the Mets closer is 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA and 19-for-20 in save chances. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays: At just 26 years old, Guerrero just recorded his 1,000th career hit. Vladdy, George Springer and company have helped make the first-place Jays a top-10 offense in MLB. Ronald Acuña Jr, OF, Atlanta Braves: Acuña didn't return from his ACL injury until May 23, and yet he's already top 10 in WAR among NL outfielders. He's the only NL player (minimum 150 plate appearances) with an OPS over 1.000. Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres: This is Machado's first All-Star appearance since 2022. He leads all MLB third basemen in hits (107) and ranks first among NL third basemen in fWAR (3.1) and second in wRC+ (137). Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets: In a bounceback year, Alonso is posting career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage. He leads the NL in doubles (25) and ranks second in RBI (77). Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies slugger ranks fourth in the NL in OPS (.923) and leads his team in homers (30), RBI (69), walks (66), on-base percentage (.378) and slugging percentage (.545). Jazz Chisholm Jr, 2B/3B, New York Yankees: Leads all AL second basemen in fWAR (2.6) and has the highest OPS (.861) and slugging percentage (513). Despite only playing in 65 games, he also ranks second among AL second basemen with 17 homers. Underrated Players Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians: Again one of the best players in baseball, Ramírez leads all third basemen in fWAR, leads all AL third basemen in slugging and OPS and ranks second in MLB in stolen bases. Ramírez has opted not to play in the All-Star Game. Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks: Leads all second basemen in average, OPS, and WAR; making his second consecutive All-Star appearance and third in his career. Jeremy Pena, SS, Houston Astros: Enjoying a breakout season, Peña has a 4.0 WAR (second only to Bobby Witt Jr. among all MLB shortstops) and the top OPS+ (141) at his position. Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins: Earned his first career All-Star nod after posting a 2.72 ERA in 19 games (18 starts); his 0.91 WHIP is tied for third-best in the majors. Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros: Boasts the fourth-best ERA (2.43) among all AL starters and is a contender for the AL Cy Young award. Andres Munoz, RHP, Seattle Mariners: His 1.50 ERA and .151 opponent batting average are both the best marks of his career as he makes his second consecutive All-Star appearance. Brendan Donovan, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals: After finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2022, this is Donovan's first time earning All-Star honors; his eight home runs are on pace to challenge last year's career-high of 14. Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: First All-star selection since 2021 after posting a career-best 2.66 ERA and NL-leading 11 wins in 20 starts. Logan Webb, RHP, San Francisco Giants: Owns the ninth-best ERA (2.94) in the NL after finishing sixth in CY Young voting last year; this is his seventh season with the Giants. Will Smith, C, Los Angeles Dodgers: Leads all NL batters in batting average (.323) and on-base percentage (.425) and his .403 batting average with runners in scoring position is the second-best in the majors. Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays backstop has returned to form after a couple of down years; elite in pitch framing and a top-three catcher in the major leagues. Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins: Has the seventh-best wRC+ (152) among all MLB outfielders and is just three stolen bases away from recording his first career 20/20 season. Brent Rooker, DH, Athletics: Over the last three years with the Athletics, ranks third among AL players in home runs. Next Wave (26-and-under stars) Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates: Leads MLB with a 2.01 ERA and is set to start the All-Star Game for the second straight season in his second big-league season. James Wood, OF, Washington Nationals: The 22-year-old is making the leap to superstardom, leading NL outfielders with a .915 OPS. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds: Highest slugging percentage and OPS among qualified NL shortstops; has played in every Reds game and is on pace for a 30-homer, 40-steal season. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals: Is the only qualified MLB shortstop slugging over .500 and ranks first at the position in fWAR; also ranks in the top three among MLB shortstops in batting average and OPS. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Chicago Cubs: Ranks first among NL players in fWAR and is tied for first among MLB center fielders in outs above average; is the only MLB player who already has a 25-25 season. Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Has the highest slugging percentage and fourth-highest OPS among qualified NL outfielders; leads NL with 10 triples and is already just four homers shy of tying his career high. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers: An All-Star in his second big-league season, Yamamoto had a 1.97 ERA through his first 11 starts of the season before seeing that number rise to 2.59. Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics: The rookie ranks second among all qualified MLB hitters with a .332 batting average and has the lowest strikeout rate among qualified AL hitters. Riley Greene, OF, Detroit Tigers: The 24-year-old ranks second in homers and third in OPS, slugging and wRC+ among AL outfielders. He has already tied his career high in home runs. Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays: He just turned 22 on July 5, and he leads all AL third basemen with 23 home runs. He'll be participating in the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game after being named as a replacement for Alex Bregman. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners: Voted in by the players, Rodriguez was named an All-Star for the third time in four big-league seasons but has elected not to play in the game. He again grades out as one of the best defensive outfielders in MLB. Bryan Woo, RHP, Seattle Mariners: A first-time All-Star, Woo has been the best and most consistent member of a talented Seattle rotation with a 2.75 ERA and 0.93 WHIP that ranks fourth among AL starters. Welcome Back (5+ years since last All-Star appearance) Javier Baez, OF/SS, Detroit Tigers: Voted in by the fans as a starter, Báez went from averaging a .610 OPS over his first three years in Detroit to a .752 OPS this season. His .275 batting average is his highest since 2019, which was also his last All-Star appearance. Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets: Lindor's fifth career All-Star nod is remarkably his first as a Met and his first as a starter. Lindor, who leads all NL shortstops in homers and is tied for the lead in fWAR, is an All-Star for the first time since 2019 in Cleveland. Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox: After walking away from the Astros in free agency, Bregman became an instant fan favorite in Boston, posting a .927 OPS in 53 games for his first All-Star nod since 2019 and third overall. Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers: After being named an All-Star in each of his first two seasons with the Yankees at 21 and 22, Torres is back on the All-Star roster as a 28-year-old while posting an .812 OPS in his first season in Detroit. He has the highest wRC+ (hitting 33% above league average) among all qualified second basemen. Robbie Ray, LHP, San Francisco Giants: Surprisingly, he wasn't an All-Star when he was named the AL Cy Young in 2021, so this is Ray's first All-Star nod since 2017. In his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, he ranks in the NL's top six in ERA and strikeouts. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks: Ranks fourth in MLB and first among all third basemen with 31 home runs. He also leads all qualified third basemen in slugging and OPS. The 33-year-old is an All-Star for the first time since 2018. Brandon Lowe, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays: Voted in by the players as a reserve, the 30-year-old was named an All-Star for the first time since 2019 but an oblique injury will prevent him from playing. Lowe, who is tied for the lead among second basemen in homers, was replaced by Maikel Garcia. Season Surprises Cal Raleigh, C, Seattle Mariners: Leads the majors in home runs (38); on pace to record the greatest season from a catcher in MLB history. Kris Bubic, LHP, Kansas City Royals: Is a first-time All-Star after posting a 2.48 ERA in 18 starts for the Royals; his six home runs allowed are tied with Skenes for the second-lowest among all major-league starters. Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays: Leads all major-league first basemen in OPS (.892) as he makes his first-career All-Star appearance. Randy Rodriguez, RHP, San Francisco Giants: The 25-year-old's miniscule 0.86 ERA leads all major-league pitchers (with a minimum of 30 innings pitched); first career All-Star appearance. Matthew Boyd, LHP, Chicago Cubs: Finished his spectacular first half by pitching eight scoreless innings against the Yankees; first All-Star selection after 11 years in the major leagues. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals: Three years after getting traded to the Nationals as part of the Juan Soto deal, the southpaw is enjoying his best career season with a 3.02 ERA in 19 starts and 110 innings pitched. Zach McKinstry, UTIL, Detroit Tigers: The first-time All-Star has played everywhere but catcher in his three seasons as a Detroit Tiger; owns the ninth-best WAR among all AL hitters. Kyle Stowers, OF, Miami Marlins: The 27-year-old is thriving in Miami, slashing .293/.368/.543 with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs on the way to his first All-Star appearance. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles: Serving as the Orioles' best hitter so far this year (137 wRC+), O'Hearn's first All-Star nod arrives in his eighth season in the major leagues. Andrew Abbott, LHP, Cincinnati Reds: The Reds' southpaw pitched a three-hit, five-strikeout complete-game shutout against the Guardians in June; owns a 2.07 ERA in 16 starts as he makes his first career All-Star appearance. Hunter Goodman, C, Colorado Rockies: Taking over full-time catching duties for the first time in his career, Goodman leads the Rockies with a .277 batting average, .842 OPS, 17 home runs, and 52 RBIs. Familiar Faces, New Places Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs: After seven years in Houston, Tucker is flourishing as a Cub; his 3.9 WAR is ninth-best among all major-league hitters as he makes his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Boston Red Sox: No longer in White Sox purgatory, Crochet's 2.23 ERA and 31.2% strikeout rate make him a strong contender for the AL Cy Young award. Max Fried, LHP, New York Yankees: The southpaw left Atlanta and replaced the injured Gerrit Cole as the ace of the Yankees rotation; his 2.43 ERA is the fifth-best among all AL starters. Isaac Paredes, 3B, Houston Astros: Playing for his fourth different MLB team, the third baseman has earned back-to-back All-Star honors, slashing .257/.357/.468 with 19 home runs in 92 games for the Astros. Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Boston Red Sox: This is Chapman's eighth career All-Star selection after taking his talents to Fenway Park; he boasts a 1.18 ERA and 0.76 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 17 saves in 38 innings. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP, Los Angeles Angels: After spending last year between Toronto and Houston, the southpaw has a 3.11 ERA in 20 starts for the Angels, earning his second career All-Star appearance. Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar. Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner . recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Michael Kopech undergoes surgery for torn meniscus in latest Dodgers crusher
Michael Kopech undergoes surgery for torn meniscus in latest Dodgers crusher

New York Post

time10-07-2025

  • Sport
  • New York Post

Michael Kopech undergoes surgery for torn meniscus in latest Dodgers crusher

The Dodgers' brutal week just got worse. In the midst of a six-game losing streak, the team moved reliever Michael Kopech to the 60-day injured list after he underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his right knee, the Orange County Register reported Wednesday. Kopech is still expected to return before the end of the season, according to the outlet. The 29-year-old threw just seven innings in eight appearances before landing on the 15-day IL with right knee inflammation on July 1, retroactive to June 28. Michael Kopech with the Dodgers on June 25. Getty Images The Dodgers moved Kopech to the extended injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for Tyler Glasnow, who made his return from the 60-day IL in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers. To open an active roster spot for Glasnow, the Dodgers also optioned right-handed pitcher Alexis Díaz to the minor leagues. Kopech, a native of Longview, Texas, was terrific for the Dodgers last year after getting traded midseason from the White Sox. He posted a 1.13 ERA in 24 regular-season innings with LA, and also tossed nine postseason frames as the Dodgers rolled to the World Series title. Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech during Game 2 of the 2024 World Series against the Yankees. Jason Szenes / New York Post Kopech, a first-round pick of the Red Sox in 2014, was traded to the White Sox as a prospect in the 2016 Chris Sale trade. He made his MLB debut with Chicago and pitched the first four and a half years of his big league career with the White Sox before getting dealt to Los Angeles. Now, Kopech joins a long list of Dodgers pitchers on the 60-day IL, including starters Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin and River Ryan, and relievers Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips and Kyle Hurt. Nonetheless, the Dodgers (56-38) still own the best record in the National League and the second-best record in baseball. They have a five-game lead on the second-place Giants in the NL West standings heading into a three-game series in San Francisco this weekend.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store