Latest news with #AlbertPujols
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Yadier Molina to return to Cardinals, will be in uniform as coach for Cubs series
Former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will be in uniform as a member of the major-league coaching staff for the team's upcoming three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, manager Oli Marmol said Friday. It will be Molina's first public appearance as a member of the organization since he retired in 2022. Albert Pujols on the unspoken connection he had with Yadier Molina when back-picking runners at first base! — MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 19, 2025 Molina's return comes during a trying time for the organization. The Cardinals' transition season resulted in a sell-off at the trade deadline, with the club's future uncertain. Mozeliak will step down at the end of the year and current advisor Chaim Bloom — who will take over as president of baseball operations — has already placed a firm focus on investing in player development and the minor leagues, but it remains to be seen what Bloom's plan for the major-league team will be in 2026. Advertisement Molina has been candid about his desires to manage in MLB — and will manage Team Puerto Rico for the second time in next year's World Baseball Classic. Marmol has one year remaining on his current contract. With a new front office coming in, speculation over their skipper's future is bound to happen — though the Cardinals have given no indication they will make a managerial change. Marmol is aware of the outside noise, but that won't deter him from ensuring Molina can be around the team. 'Anytime you get the chance to have someone like Yadi around your players, you take it,' Marmol said. 'It's a no-brainer. The experience, the leadership, the presence he brings — it impacts everyone. As soon as I heard he was going to be in town, inviting him to sit next to me was the right move. It's good for the players, good for the staff, and honestly, it's great for the fans too.' Molina has limited his public appearances since his retirement. He has returned to Busch Stadium just once, when longtime battery-mate Adam Wainwright retired in 2023. The Cardinals hired Molina as a special advisor to Mozeliak before the 2024 season, but Molina was notably absent from the organization. The 10-time All Star acknowledged his time away from the Cardinals to The Athletic in March, citing a need to be around his family — especially his 16-year-old son Yanuell, who recently committed to playing college baseball at The University of Texas at Arlington. But Molina also recognized how his prolonged absence could raise concern with fans, and expressed hope he'd be able to come back to St. Louis at some point this season. 'I would love to be there,' Molina said during spring training. 'I would love to teach and coach the catchers … But right now my priority is to be with my family. 'I wish life was different for me to be there with the organization and in the city. And I hope that comes soon because I really miss it.' Yadier Molina has been named Team Puerto Rico's manager for the 2026 World Baseball Classic! — MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2025 Molina won't have a set role with the club over the weekend, though he's sure to work with catchers Pedro Pagés and Yohel Pozo. Marmol hopes the entire clubhouse will take advantage of the opportunity, especially given the influx of youth post-trade deadline. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Reuters
5 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Junior Caminero, Rays ready to rake against Mariners
August 8 - On the lengthy list of players from the Dominican Republic who have starred in the major leagues, only three have hit 30 homers in their age 21 or younger season. Albert Pujols hammered 37 long balls in 2001, and Juan Soto socked 34 in 2019. "Two legends," the Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero said Wednesday after hitting two homers in a 5-4 victory against the host Los Angeles Angels to become the third member of that exclusive club. "I'm just trying to play my game, and it brings me a lot of pride to hear that. It makes me really happy." After a day off Thursday, Caminero and the Rays will open a three-game series Friday against the host Seattle Mariners. Caminero, an All-Star third baseman, hit a two-run blast in the first inning on Wednesday and a solo shot in the third. The former was measured at 447 feet, the longest of his career. "I'm impressed with everything Junior does," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "To be at his age, the quality of the at-bat that you get, the power that he shows, the defensive play ... he's doing a lot of things to help us win. "Continue to be impressed with the work that he puts in and the really good results that he gets." Teammate and fellow Dominican Christopher Morel, who hit the decisive home run in the seventh inning, seemed more excited by Caminero's night. "More than just the two home runs, but also for him to get to 30 at that age and that quickly," Morel said. "I wanted to see him accomplish that. I'm very proud of him." Caminero, who set a goal of 30 homers before the season began, has had to adjust his sights. "Finish the season in good health," he said, "and get to the World Series." The latter might be a long shot as, despite back-to-back victories, the Rays enter play Friday 4 1/2 games back in the American League wild-card chase, with three teams between Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees, who currently hold the final playoff berth. The Mariners, who are in the AL's second wild-card spot, are 6-1 on their 10-game homestand. Dominic Canzone's one-out single in the 11th inning on Thursday lifted Seattle to a 4-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox. Former Ray Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer, his 23rd of the season, matching his career high. "We talk about effort and pushing through until the end, and our guys did it again today," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. "Incredible effort." The victory might have come at a cost as first baseman Josh Naylor had to leave after three innings because of shoulder discomfort. Naylor, who had three homers and 10 steals over his first 13 games with the Mariners after being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be re-evaluated on Friday. "Just a little bit of shoulder soreness," Wilson said. "We're going to get some answers here and monitor it and see where he's at. I think it's a day-to-day kind of thing." Rays All-Star Drew Rasmussen (9-5, 2.81 ERA) is set to take the mound in the series opener against a fellow right-hander, the Mariners' Luis Castillo (8-6, 3.22). Rasmussen won his past two starts, against the Yankees and the Dodgers. He allowed four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings with no walks and six strikeouts on Saturday in a 4-0 victory against visiting Los Angeles. Rasmussen, who was born in nearby Puyallup, Wash., is 2-0 with an 0.61 ERA in four career appearances against the Mariners, including three starts. Castillo is 4-1 over his past six starts. His only no-decision in that span came Saturday against the visiting Texas Rangers, when he gave up two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings. Castillo is 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA in five previous starts against Tampa Bay. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Celebrates Aaron Judge's Latest Record in Viral Post
MLB Celebrates Aaron Judge's Latest Record in Viral Post originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Aaron Judge didn't need to pose or flip his bat. For the New York Yankees captain, breaking records is just business as usual. Saturday, in a loss to the Cubs, Judge hammered a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and he trotted the bases like it was business as usual. Advertisement But this one wasn't. That home run, his 35th of the season, was the 350th of his career. And it came in just 1,088 games, making Judge the fastest player in MLB history to reach that milestone. MLB recognized it almost instantly, posting the feat on its social media channels before Judge even got back to the dugout. The crowd at Yankee Stadium gave him a long ovation. His teammates gave him space. Judge, as always, kept it moving. He passed legends on the way to 350—guys like Mark McGwire (1,280 games), Juan Gonzalez (1,298), Alex Rodriguez (1,301), and Albert Pujols (1,320). Judge cleared that bar with room to spare, continuing a streak of milestone moments that seem to arrive quicker every year. Advertisement He was the fastest to 250. Fastest to 300. Now fastest to 350. And he's still going. Judge's numbers at the break are ridiculous: 35 homers, a slugging percentage pushing .700, and an OPS over 1.100. It's another reminder that, when healthy, there may not be another power hitter in the game who dominates quite like this. At 33, Judge is putting up numbers that put him on track to chase down just about every milestone on the board. If he keeps this up, 400 and 500 won't take long. He made it look routine. But the numbers say otherwise. No one's ever done it this fast This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Aaron Judge draws 23rd intentional walk, matches Mickey Mantle's 1957 Yankees record
TORONTO — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge drew his 23rd intentional walk of the season in the eighth inning Thursday night against Toronto, matching Mickey Mantle's 1957 team record. Baseball began tracking intentional walks in 1955. Judge matched Albert Pujols (2010) as the only player to receive 23 free passes before the All-Star break.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge draws 23rd intentional walk, matches Mickey Mantle's 1957 Yankees record
TORONTO (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge drew his 23rd intentional walk of the season in the eighth inning Thursday night against Toronto, matching Mickey Mantle's 1957 team record. Baseball began tracking intentional walks in 1955. Advertisement Judge matched Albert Pujols (2010) as the only player to receive 23 free passes before the All-Star break. Toronto led 6-5 when former Yankee Chad Green intentionally walked Judge with two outs and the bases empty. It was Judge's fifth intentional walk of the series, the most ever by a Yankee in a single series. Judge has 91 career intentional walks. ___ AP MLB: Ian Harrison, The Associated Press
