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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The Rays' Taylor Walls was ejected for tapping his helmet after blown call
The Rays' Taylor Walls was ejected for tapping his helmet after blown call During spring training, MLB made the decision to test an automated strike zone (ABS) with a ball-strike challenge system for a majority of Grapefruit and Cactus League games. And to signal a challenge, a batter would tap on his helmet after a pitch. Simple enough. It's safe to say that umpire Nic Lentz did *not* appreciate the callback to the ABS testing. With Taylor Walls staying in the game to hit in the ninth on Sunday against the Astros, he watched a first-pitch slider from Josh Hader miss low and away. Yet, Lentz called the pitch a strike, and Walls couldn't believe it. Walls called time to try to collect himself after having his entire approach changed in the at-bat. He also had some words with Lentz about the call. But everything took a turn when Walls tapped his helmet. Lentz took exception to the gesture and casually walked in front of home plate to inform Walls that he was ejected. Like, I don't think I've ever seen an umpire eject someone so nonchalantly. Walls, understandably, was livid. Umpires hate being shown up, and they have a quick trigger for arguing balls and strikes. But tapping on the helmet was an awfully tame way to express, "I disagree." Walls had to be restrained by his coaches before breaking out of those restraints and having more words for Lentz. All that over a helmet tap that Lentz really should have let slide. Walls was right, after all — the call was missed. Christopher Morel would have to hit in Walls' place, and he promptly struck out. The Astros held on to win, 1-0.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reds Cut Ties with All-Star Closer
Reds Cut Ties with All-Star Closer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Alexis Diaz was underwater from the first drill in spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday for Advertisement Diaz strained his left hamstring in pitcher's fielding practice or PFP. He slipped coming off the mound. The Reds held the 2023 All-Star out for a while. He didn't pitch in Cactus League games well enough and caused concern. He was scheduled to pitch in the final game before leaving Goodyear but was scratched. The Reds wanted him to work to correct his mechanics and permanently vanquish the effect of the injury before entrusting Diaz to hold a lead when the season began. 'We scratched him and we visited with him, DJ (pitching coach Derek Johnson, Franky (Mulloy, manager, biomechanics), Simone (Bannaccorso, strength and conditioning Daytona). What happened was he had the hamstring issue earlier. His lead leg is not where it needs to be. He's got some moving parts,' Reds' manager Terry Francona said. 'There's multiple concerns. We're sending him out there. He's either going to get hurt or pitch the way he needs to. It's just not fair. We're going to give him a chance to get right.' Advertisement The Reds placed him on the 15-day disabled list in March retroactive to March 24. He was reinstated on April 15. Diaz pitched in six games, the last being the first game of a double header with the Cardinals on April, 30. He entered the game in the top of the ninth with the Reds trailing, 1-0. He gave up a three-run home run to Victor Scott II. The Cardinals made it three home runs in succession with Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn doing the honors. The Reds optioned Diaz to Louisville after the second game. 'We told him that we're not giving up on him,' Francona said. Luis Mey was promoted and showed promise but the Reds optioned him to Louisville on Thursday. Emilio Pagan took over the closers role and has saved 13 games in 15 tries and is sixth in MLB. Advertisement It was not just this spring challenge for Diaz. His numbers were progressively worse year-by-year. The ERA was 1.85 in his rookie year 2022, 3.07 in 2023, 3.99 last season and 12.00 this season. His WHIP has gone up each year. Walks per nine innings were higher each year and his strikeouts lower. Diaz pitched a scoreless inning for Louisville on Wednesday to drop his ERA to drop his ERA to 4.61. He is 1-2 with two saves. He walked 12, hit two batters and struck out 16 in 13 ⅔ innings. Diaz was a 12th round pick in 2015. The Reds obtained 22-year old RHP, Mike Villani. Villani made his professional debut with the Rookie-ACL Dodgers earlier this week, logging 2 perfect relief appearances. He was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2024 first-year player draft from Long Beach State University (CA), the same school that produced current Reds farmhands Connor Burns and Graham Osman (both at A-Dayton). Advertisement As a senior at Long Beach State University in 2024, Villani tied for the Big West League lead with 10 saves, tied for 12th-most among all NCAA Division I pitchers. He was the first LBSU player selected by the Dodgers since 2016. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'This will be the first time I root against them.' Francona reflects on Cleveland years
Terry Francona isn't the self-indulgent type, and he's not one to insert himself into the center of baseball matters. To that end, the first-year Cincinnati Reds manager had a decision to make on Feb. 18, the opening day of Cactus League play in spring training: Stay back in Goodyear, Arizona, and preside over the split-squad Reds against the Cleveland Guardians, the club he used to manage, or head to Maryvale, a few towns over. The other half of the Reds roster would play the Milwaukee Brewers there. Advertisement Reds homestand Nick Martinez The Reds avoided a series sweep against the Chicago White Sox. Here's how Reds Pete Rose celebration 'We're very proud of who he is': Pete Rose family celebrates reinstatement of Reds legend Francona chose the unglamorous bus trip to Maryvale − a decision that would keep the day's focus on his players, as well as Cleveland's focus on their's. The time for reminiscing about his former employer would come soon enough. This weekend, Francona was finally confronted with games against the Guardians where he couldn't avoid his connection between the two franchises. On Friday, Francona still didn't put himself at the center of the Reds-Guardians series, but he embraced playful conversation regarding his personal history in Cleveland, where he managed for 11 seasons, enjoyed a .549 winning percentage and claimed an American League pennant in 2016. Advertisement "You know, this will be the first time I root against them," Francona said. "For the longest time, man, even last year. I always rooted for 'em. Not this weekend. Lot of guys I love over there but I hope we beat them. "I had 11 of the best years of my life there. Love the people there." "You know, this will be the first time I root against them. For the longest time, man, even last year. I always rooted for 'em," Terry Francona said of facing his former team the Guardians. Francona still has his fingerprints on the current-day Guardians, including staying out of the way of his replacement, 2024 AL Manager of the Year, Stephen Vogt. On paper, Francona was still a special adviser in the Guardians organization. He wanted to make the trip from his home in Tucson, Arizona, to Goodyear and check in on his former players. Francona later decided against doing so, saying on Friday: "I didn't think that was fair to anybody. To anybody. So, I stayed away. I thought it was the right thing to do." Advertisement In a February interview with The Enquirer, Vogt praised Francona for aiding in his transition into Cleveland's managerial role. Francona still knows his former players well. He heaped praise on Friday's starter, Tanner Bibee. Asked how he'd handle pitching to Cleveland slugger Jose Ramirez in a late-game situation, Francona, smiling, said he simply hoped it wouldn't come up. The Vogt-led Guardians offer an interesting benchmark for the Reds and observers to compare themselves against. The annual meetings between the two clubs, branded as the "Ohio Cup," has been won or retained via season-series tie for 10 consecutive seasons by the Guardians. Advertisement It's only May, but the Guardians (25-18) are also positioned well in the AL playoff picture with the hot summer months approaching. Having managed All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez, Terry Francona knows how much damage he can do. When asked how he'd pitch Ramirez in a key spot, Francona said he just hoped the situation wouldn't come up. Other than the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Reds haven't tasted postseason baseball since 2013. Meanwhile, the Guardians are coming off advancing to last season's AL Championship Series. And Cleveland's run in last year's postseason, as well as several of Francona's years with the Guardians, served as proof-positive that Ohio's smaller-market clubs can compete on MLB's biggest stages. Standing at 21-24 entering play Friday, May 16, Cincinnati was just looking to stabilize in the midst of losing nine of 12 games. Advertisement "We're 40-(something games) − we're a lot into the season, and we want to win bad," Francona. "That's kind of what I think... I love seeing them, but we want to win." So, while his fondness for Cleveland prevails, Francona is focused on the task at-hand. And true to form, he brought his comments regarding his Cleveland affections back around to his affection and professional responsibilities for the Reds. "I'm here (in Cincinnati) now and I'm supposed to be as good a manager as I can be," Francona said. "I want our guys to − but that doesn't take away any of my feelings for the guys over there." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds' Terry Francona reflects on his time with Cleveland Guardians
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cincinnati Reds 2025 Top Prospects Week 5 in Review
With one of the better farm systems in all of the majors, the Cincinnati Reds have to be thrilled with the early-season performances of some of their top prospects. In a year that the team hopes to leap into playoff contention, the progression of their farm will be key to establishing a long-term core. Only time will tell when the prospects will get the call to make their major league debut. However, it never hurts to check in and see how they are developing in the minor leagues. With that being said, let's review some of the organization's best performers over the past seven days... RHP Chase Burns (#1 Reds Prospect per Widely considered the team's top prospect and the 24th-ranked prospect in Major League Baseball, righty Chase Burns made his Double-A debut over the weekend. The flamethrower settled in nicely, striking out five over four innings, only surrendering one earned run. He walked away with a no-decision, although he lowered his season earned run average from 3.09 to 2.25. The 22-year-old remains on the fast track to the majors after being selected second overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Cincinnati Reds second baseman Sal Stewart (84) hits a homer in the eighth inning of a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. Reds won 8-1. © Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images INF Sal Stewart (#3 Reds Prospect) The former 32nd overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Reds, Sal Stewart has been off to a red-hot start at the plate this season. Adding another six hits over the past week, Stewart's batting average is now .303. Over the past four games, Stewart has five runs batted in and three stolen bases as well. The 21-year-old is healthy and thriving in Double-A so far in 2024, and continues to display strong plate awareness. Without a doubt, MLB's 80th-ranked prospect is right on track for his estimated 2026 arrival. RHP Chase Petty (#6 Reds Prospect) After surrendering seven runs (two earned) in his previous outing, Chase Petty pitched an absolute gem this past week. Over six innings of work, Petty only allowed one run and walked two batters. His seven strikeouts were one short of tying his season-high, as it was the best he's looked this season. It marks his second shutout in his last three starts, and he's allowed one run or fewer in the three games. Consistency will be key, as he now looks beyond his seventh start in Triple-A. OF Hector Rodriguez (#11 Reds Prospect) Get to know the name Hector Rodriguez, because he is on a tear in Double-A to start 2024. He's riding a 13-game hitting streak, including going 10/16 over his last four games. Over this past week, Rodriguez also added two home runs and four runs batted in to his resume. With a .386 batting average and .992 OPS, there's a legitimate argument that he has been the top bat in the Reds minor league system so far in 2024. At 5'10" and 200lbs, Rodriguez will need to continue to live off of his contact hitting, as he does not have much power. Still just 21 years old, it is hard not to be excited about the versatile outfielder's potential. RHP Ty Floyd (#17 Reds Prospect) After dealing with injuries last season, right-handed pitcher Ty Floyd is coming off his best appearance since being drafted in 2023. In four innings of work as the starter, Floyd did not allow a single hit and only allowed one walk. The 23-year-old struck out seven batters, as the lone run scored was not earned. He matched his second-longest outing of the year, as the Reds monitor his workload to keep him healthy. To date, Floyd has flashed strong command in Single A and has only allowed five hits in 13 innings pitched. Related: Wade Miley's Early Exit from Rehab Start Concerning for Reds
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hyeseong Kim to make MLB debut with Dodgers after signing 3-year, $12.5 million contract
The Los Angeles Dodgers are adding one of their top offseason signings, calling up infielder Hyeseong Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City for Saturday's matchup with the Atlanta Braves. Kim, 26, signed a three-year, $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers after playing the past eight seasons in the KBO with the Kiwoom Heroes. During his KBO career, Kim hit .304/.364/.403 with 39 doubles, 37 home runs, 386 RBI and 211 stolen bases in 953 games. Advertisement In 28 games at Triple-A, the left-handed Kim batted .252 with a .798 OPS, eight doubles, five homers, 19 RBI and 13 steals over 131 plate appearances. He also struck out 32 times, continuing a concern that the Dodgers had when they assigned him to the minors at the end of spring training. During Cactus League play, Kim compiled a .207/.303/.310 slash average with 11 strikeouts in 29 at-bats. Since joining the Dodgers, the team has worked on overhauling Kim's swing to help him adjust to the higher velocities from major league pitching. The big change was reducing his high leg kick and adapting his timing mechanisms accordingly. Advertisement "The foundations, the actual swing mechanics needed to improve," Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes told reporters, via the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers officially announced Kim's call-up on Saturday afternoon. He will take the spot of Tommy Edman, who went on the 10-day IL with right ankle inflammation. Edman, who joined the Dodgers last year at the MLB trade deadline, signed a five-year, $74 million deal during the offseason. He's been having one of his best offensive seasons, posting an .818 OPS with eight homers and 24 RBI. Kim will likely fill in at shortstop and second base for the Dodgers, but he has also played center field in Triple-A. That versatility should provide manager Dave Roberts with multiple opportunities to plug Kim in throughout the lineup, giving him consistent playing time. However, Kim was not in Saturday's starting lineup with Chris Taylor getting the nod at second base.
