Latest news with #DrewSmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Phillies Urged to Make Bold Move for Three-Time MVP Mike Trout
Phillies Urged to Make Bold Move for Three-Time MVP Mike Trout originally appeared on Athlon Sports. An ongoing story in Major League Baseball over the last few years has been the Los Angeles Angels' plan for star outfielder Mike Trout. Advertisement When Trout, a three-time American League MVP, signed his 12-year, $426.5 million contract, many figured that meant he would be with the recently underwhelming Angels for the remainder of his career. That still seems to be the case, and Trout has said repeatedly that he prefers to remain in Anaheim with the club that drafted him in 2009. The 387 home run slugger and 11-time All-Star will return from the injured list Friday after missing a month with a left knee injury. Injuries have played a massive part in Trout's career over the last few seasons, and it's one of the reasons the Philadelphia Phillies ought to avoid a trade idea from Drew Smith of Liberty Bell. "I get it. Injuries are the giant red flag," wrote Smith, vouching for the Phillies to pull the trigger on a trade for the outfielder. "Trout has been banged up the past few years and carries a massive contract (12 years, $426.5 million signed in 2019). But he's still an elite talent when healthy. His career numbers speak for themselves. And he's a Philly guy. The fit is obvious." Los Angeles Angels right fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a triple during the fourth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Angel Mio-Imagn Images Smith identified players like Alec Bohm, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez, and Nick Castellanos as those with contracts that expire within the next one to two seasons, which would create financial flexibility for the Phillies to pursue a deal for Trout. Advertisement "That's a monster," Smith wrote about the Phillies' potential lineup with Trout. "Yes, there's risk — but that kind of upside is worth pursuing if the price is right. And don't hit me with the 'but his contract' argument. The Phillies have proven they'll spend to win, and if they can structure this right, Trout could absolutely be the missing piece." The Phillies could come out on top in a trade with the Angels for Trout if he can stay on the field and produce like he usually does when healthy. Otherwise, it may be a risk that Philadelphia's president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, is not willing to take. Related: Phillies Announce Trade for Left-Handed Pitcher in Deal With Blue Jays This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
2 days ago
- Sport
Cal Poly scores four in seventh inning, eliminates regional host Oregon with 10-8 win
EUGENE, Ore. -- Casey Murray Jr. had four hits and drove in three runs, Cal Poly took the lead with a four-run seventh inning and the Mustangs defeated top regional seed Oregon 10-8 on Saturday to stay alive at the Eugene Regional. Solo home runs by Drew Smith and Jeffery Heard gave Oregon an 8-5 lead in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom half, Alejandro Garza drew a bases-loaded walk, Murray tied it with a two-run single and a single by Cam Hoiland made it 9-8 in favor of the Mustangs. Zach Daudet's eighth-inning home run capped the scoring. On Sunday, No. 3 regional seed Cal Poly (42-18) will play the loser of Saturday's semifinal between No. 2 Arizona and No. 4 Utah Valley. Oregon (42-16) was eliminated after losing two games as the regional host. Oregon had the potential tying run thrown out at third by right fielder Dylan Kordic to end the top of the eighth. The Ducks went down 1-2-3 in the ninth. All three batters were struck out by Jaccob Torres (5-4), who pitched 2 1/3 innings for the win. For Oregon, Dominic Hellman had three hits and three RBIs and Heard added three hits with two RBIs. Smith hit three home runs in the regional. Ian Umlandt (6-2) gave up three runs in Cal Poly's seventh inning and took the loss.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
NCAA Baseball Tournament: Utah Valley upsets Oregon after controversial 'malicious contact' call
Utah Valley upset Oregon in the opening round of the NCAA men's baseball Eugene Regional on Friday, but the 6-5 win occurred under major controversy. The Wolverines took a 4-0 lead in the third inning with the first four batters reaching base against Ducks pitcher Jason Reitz. Reitz struck out the next two batters, but gave up a 2-run single to Mason Strong. Oregon closed the margin to 4-2 in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back home runs from Drew Smith and Anson Aroz. Advertisement Utah Valley added to its lead on a 2-run single by Jimmy De Anda in the seventh. But Ducks closed the gap to 6-4 in the eighth on Smith's second homer of the game. However, the game became hectic from there. Aroz drew a walk following Smith's home run and advanced to third on a Maddox Molony single. Chase Meggers then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Aroz in to score — or so it appeared. De Anda's throw bounced in front of Strong at the plate and the catcher couldn't snare the carom. Aroz ran hard into Strong to get to home plate, which Utah Valley coach Nate Rasmussen disputed. Rasmussen asked umpires to review the call, contending that Aroz committed "malicious contact" in running over Strong to score. After reviewing the play with the NCAA's replay command center in Pittsburgh, the umpiring crew agreed with Rasmussen. Aroz was ruled out and ejected from the game. Advertisement Not only did the call cost Oregon a run and get Aroz ejected from the game, but the outfielder is also suspended for Saturday's game against Cal Poly because of it. In the ninth, the Ducks added a run with Carter Garate drawing a walk and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Walsh. But they couldn't get the tying run across against Utah Valley's Carston Herman, who struck out Smith to end the game. Following the game, Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski was understandably upset over the call against Aroz. Umpires told him that the ruling "came from Pittsburgh" and was out of their hands. He then defended Aroz for going hard into the catcher the way he did. 'I was taught to play hard. I was taught to get after it by my dad and my coaches growing up," Wasikowski said, via The Oregonian. "And, unfortunately, playing hard was not rewarded tonight by whatever rule was supposedly violated by a player that was playing hard.' Rasmussen said he asked for the review because Aroz didn't attempt to slide. "That was the big thing. It just felt like he didn't go down for an actual baseball move," he told reporters. "That's what I saw in the moment... All I know was that our catcher got hit hard and I was right there for his safety. And I'm glad that it obviously went in our direction.' Oregon has to avoid elimination against Cal Poly on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. Utah Valley will face Arizona in the winners bracket at 9 p.m. ET.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Jimmy De Anda drives in 3 runs and Utah Valley surprises Oregon 6-5 in Eugene Regional
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Jimmy De Anda drove in three runs with a double and a single, sparking Utah Valley's 6-5 victory over Oregon in the Eugene Regional on Friday night. No. 4 seed Utah Valley (33-27) will face second-seeded Arizona in the winner's bracket on Saturday. Regional host Oregon (42-15) will play Cal Poly in a loser-out game. Arizona defeated Cal Poly 3-2 in Friday's other game. Utah Valley's four-run third inning featured De Anda's run-scoring double down the left-field line followed by Luke Iverson's RBI single to right and a two-run single by Mason Strong for a 4-0 lead. Oregon scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, getting a two-run home run from Drew Smith and a solo shot by Anson Aroz. De Anda's two-run single made it 6-3 in the seventh. Smith added a solo shot in the eighth, giving him two home runs and three RBIs for the game. With a runner on base and two outs in the ninth he struck out to end the game. Carston Herman (5-3) got the win and Cooper Littledike earned his sixth save. Jason Reitz (5-1) took the loss. ___ AP college sports:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jimmy De Anda drives in 3 runs and Utah Valley surprises Oregon 6-5 in Eugene Regional
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Jimmy De Anda drove in three runs with a double and a single, sparking Utah Valley's 6-5 victory over Oregon in the Eugene Regional on Friday night. No. 4 seed Utah Valley (33-27) will face second-seeded Arizona in the winner's bracket on Saturday. Regional host Oregon (42-15) will play Cal Poly in a loser-out game. Arizona defeated Cal Poly 3-2 in Friday's other game. Advertisement Utah Valley's four-run third inning featured De Anda's run-scoring double down the left-field line followed by Luke Iverson's RBI single to right and a two-run single by Mason Strong for a 4-0 lead. Oregon scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, getting a two-run home run from Drew Smith and a solo shot by Anson Aroz. De Anda's two-run single made it 6-3 in the seventh. Smith added a solo shot in the eighth, giving him two home runs and three RBIs for the game. With a runner on base and two outs in the ninth he struck out to end the game. Carston Herman (5-3) got the win and Cooper Littledike earned his sixth save. Jason Reitz (5-1) took the loss. ___ AP college sports:
