Latest news with #GrapefruitLeague
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Mike Vasil slipped away from Mets — and is quickly making most of White Sox chance
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Mike Vasil assumed he was going to once again be a Met. Informed a few days before the season began that he was not going to make the Rays roster, the Rule 5 draft pick packed up his stuff and drove to Port St. Lucie. The vast majority of the time, when a Rule 5 selection cannot stick with a team that has taken a chance on him, that player is offered back to his original club. But he only gets offered back to the original club after a waiver period. In a rarity, another team — the White Sox — put in a claim. On March 23, Vasil sat in the Mets' backyard and watched the NCAA Tournament when he received a phone call from a Florida phone number that he assumed would entail the Rays officially telling him he had been returned to the Mets. Instead it was Tampa Bay president of baseball operations Erik Neander, who told him 'to get on a plane to Chicago for Opening Day,' Vasil recalled from the visiting clubhouse Tuesday. 'And I was like: Wow, this is pretty crazy. … My head really just started spinning.' Vasil, a former top pitching prospect for the Mets, has proven elusive since becoming a former Met. 3 Former Mets prospect Mike Vasil has started to find success with the White Sox. Eric Canha-Imagn Images Left unprotected in December's draft, he was grabbed by the Phillies but then flipped to the Rays. He allowed seven runs in 10 ²/₃ Grapefruit League innings with the Rays but showed enough that the White Sox believed they could find a role for the longtime starter in their bullpen. They might be right. Vasil entered play Tuesday with a 2.30 ERA in his first 16 major league games, essentially filling the same role that Max Kranick has carved out in Queens. Vasil has pitched three innings in a game five times and been a nice piece for a team that can use any help it can get. 3 Mike Vasil celebrates after recording the final out in the White Sox win over the Reds on May 14, 2025. Getty Images This is not how the Mets had envisioned Vasil reaching the majors, but the Amazin's had long envisioned he would reach the majors. Vasil was an eighth-round pick in 2021 who climbed through their system, was rated as their 11th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2023 and 2024, but stumbled last season with Triple-A Syracuse. On the doorstep of a debut with the Mets, Vasil could not break through and pitched to a 6.04 ERA in 29 games last season. This year, he said, he 'would like to think [my stuff] is a little bit better.' He has ditched his cutter and relied more on his slider, maybe the only reliever in the game with a six-pitch mix. 'Off to a good start,' Vasil said of an unexpected major league opportunity with the White Sox he twice called 'awesome.' 'But I realistically just want to pitch well, especially coming off of last year. So that was kind of my main goal.' If he regresses, the Mets would welcome him with open arms. Vasil has to survive the season on the active roster for the White Sox, who would have to offer him back to the Mets instead of optioning him. 3 Mike Vasil during Mets spring training in 2024. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST He had not reached the major leagues with the Mets, yet he spent time this week catching up with player development folks around the team in his first big league visit to Citi Field. 'I think for me, for them being such a big organization, obviously, and being in New York, how personal they can make things for you and how you get to know everyone,' Vasil said, 'I think is a really, really cool thing.'
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Red Sox Predicted to Move $50 Million Outfielder to Bench After Roman Anthony Call-Up
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. The Boston Red Sox are back to a losing record after falling to their division rival Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The team has underwhelmed after adding some significant firepower in Alex Bregman, Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler this offseason. And as Boston's roster falls short of expectations, calls are mounting to bring up some more highly ranked prospect talent. The team has already called up Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer — two members of its so-called "big three" in leading talent. But they haven't found a spot for the No. 1-ranked prospect in all of baseball, Roman Anthony. As Anthony's addition to the big-league roster appears imminent, Sean McAdam of MassLive has predicted the Red Sox will make room by benching a versatile outfielder. FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 8: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the dugout during a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort... FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 8: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the dugout during a Grapefruit League game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston)"It seems inevitable that, eventually, Ceddanne Rafaela will be the odd-man-out in the Red Sox' outfield puzzle as the team finds room for Roman Anthony," McAdam wrote. "I get that. Rafael hasn't made the strides the team had hoped offensively." Rafaela has enjoyed several highlight-worthy defensive plays for the Red Sox so far this season. But after signing a $50 million extension with the team last year, he has slashed just .220/.275/.327 with 36 strikeouts and 37 hits so far this year. Meanwhile, Anthony is slashing .321/.453/.518 in Triple-A so far this season. And as the Red Sox look for another jolt before it's too late, it seems moving Rafaela would be the best way to get him onto the big-league roster. Still, the Red Sox would be losing one of the best defenders in all of baseball with such a move. "But I'll miss watching him play center — which he does brilliantly, and seemingly effortlessly," McAdam added. One of Rafaela's most valuable characteristics is his versatility and the Red Sox would be able to find some consistent playing time for him even with Anthony taking on an everyday outfield role. More MLB: How to Watch Dodgers vs Mets: Live Stream Sunday Night Baseball, TV Channel
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Royce Lewis is Back and Better Than Ever… on Defense
Royce Lewis didn't go north with the Minnesota Twins out of Spring Training. That's because, as Grapefruit League play was wrapping up, he suffered a hamstring strain that cost him 34 regular season games. From there, the start of the Twins season only got worse, as they stumbled out of the games to a 7-15 start. It wasn't until their recent 13-game winning streak that Rocco Baldelli & Co. finally crawled out of that early hole they dug for themselves. Now comfortably back above .500, at 27-22 entering Thursday's off day, Lewis is back in the MN Twins lineup and seemingly getting better with every game that he plays. Advertisement But Royce Lewis has already proven, for the most part, that he can hit big league pitching. It's what he has done to fix his defensive problems at third base that is turning heads, not just inside the fanbase, but in the Twins' dugout as well. Royce Lewis playing great defense for Minnesota Twins…? Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Royce put in the additional work this offseason, trying to improve arm angles, among other things, to try and improve the throwing errors that have hindered him since arriving in the big leagues. Through 14 regular season games since returning from the injured list, Lewis suddenly looks like a new guy with his glove on his hand. Advertisement One guy who has taken notice of the former No. 1 pick's improvements at the hot corner is Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who told the Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale that he and the other coaches have absolutely taken notice of Lewis' increased competency on defense.. 'We've all been really impressed. All of us in the dugout, seeing the way that he's making his initial decisions and his reads — that's where a lot of those plays are made. In the moment after the ball's hit, in the first split-second which direction you're going to go in and how you're going to attack the ball, he's been making a lot of really good decisions.' Rocco Baldelli – Star Tribune Last season, the MN Twins bounced Royce Lewis around the diamond. He didn't like the idea of playing second base. Thus, he was all but handed the hot corner prior to spring training, over Brooks Lee, who had proven to be a much better defender at third base, prior to 2025. Lewis credits both infield coach Ramon Borrego (who Lewis worked with in the minors) and St. Paul manager Toby Gardenhire for helping him get to where he needs to be, especially on defense. Royce says he's so confident in his glove right now that he feels 'like a true shortstop playing third base'. '[They] have really helped me get into a position where I feel comfortable again. I'm happy for it, man. I love being an athlete. I feel like a true shortstop playing third base.' Royce Lewis – Star Tribune Advertisement Minnesota needs Lewis to develop into a plus defender at third base, if their current and future roster makeup is going to settle like the organization believes it will. Defense is something he can contribute even when the bat isn't quite there. Like now, as he tries to find his swing, following a month and a half in the IL. Advanced metrics back up defensive eye test After going hitless in his first five games, Lewis is batting .265 with a .736 OPS in his last nine games. He launched his first home run against Milwaukee, over the weekend, and would have tied the game with his second, had he not been robbed by outfielder Jackson Chourio, later in that contest. But we know Royce will find it offensively. Until then, defense is key. Last season, Royce Lewis was worth -2 DRS (defensive runs saved) at third base (411 innings). In 2023, he finished with a +2 DRS, in roughly the same number of innings. Through just 84 innings in 2025, he's already accumulated +2 DRS. His 1 OAA (outs above average) is impressive too. You don't need advanced metrics to appreciate the way Lewis has flashed the glove since returning from the injured list. Minnesota needs that from him as well considering Brooks Lee is filling in for Carlos Correa at shortstop. Lewis has never played more than 416 innings of defense at any one position during a given season. His injury history has held him back from doing so. If he can remain healthy the rest of the way, Minnesota may have a real asset at the hot corner on their hands.
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Blue Jays quick hits: Tampa bandbox isn't so hitter friendly for visitors at the 50-game mark
The Blue Jays might have won the Grapefruit League title earlier this spring, but wins in Florida are a lot harder to come by during the regular season. With Tropicana Field still not operational following damage to the roof during last year's hurricane, the Jays made their first trip this season to nearby George Steinbrenner Field for a series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The minor-league park is known as very hitter friendly, but someone forgot to tell the Jays, who had their three-game win streak snapped with a 3-1 loss on Friday night. That dropped the Jays' record to 25-25 and moved them back into a tie with the Boston Red Sox for second place in the American League East. Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen struck out three across six scoreless innings to earn the victory. The loss went to Jays lefty Eric Lauer, who surrendered three runs on six hits and a pair of walks during his second official start of the season. Here's everything you need to know about the game: The Jays appeared to have something going in the top of the third when Jonatan Clase hit a one-out double off Rasmussen. Nathan Lukes followed with a single to left that was hit too hard to score the speedy Clase. That should have put runners on the corners for the top of the order, but Lukes made an ill-advised decision to make a run for second. Catcher Danny Jansen threw a strike to second baseman Brandon Lowe for the easy out. Bo Bichette then stepped into the box and flew out to right, which ended the inning without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting to the plate. Lauer escaped a couple of early jams but got into more trouble in the third. Lowe, who homered twice in last week's series against the Jays, went deep again on a 2-and-1 slider. The two-run shot was Lowe's ninth of the season and put the Rays in front by two. Curtis Mead added a solo homer in the fourth when he lifted a 2-and-0 cutter over the wall in left. Lauer has made five appearances for the Jays this season and has yet to complete five innings in any of them. The Jays had opportunities to score in almost every inning; they just didn't do anything with them. In the fourth, Addison Barger struck out to strand a pair of runners. In the fifth, two runners were on when Bichette hit a scorching 110-m.p.h. grounder to third. Junior Caminero made a highlight-reel grab, then started a double-play to end the inning. In the seventh, Rays reliever Mason Montgomery walked the bases loaded with nobody out and yet the Jays settled for just one run, after Clase hit into a double-play and Lukes flew out to centre. In the eighth, they had two runners on before Alejandro Kirk grounded out to second. The Jays finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners.
Toronto Star
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Toronto Star
Blue Jays quick hits: Tampa bandbox isn't so hitter friendly for visitors at the 50-game mark
The Blue Jays might have won the Grapefruit League title earlier this spring, but wins in Florida are a lot harder to come by during the regular season. With Tropicana Field still not operational following damage to the roof during last year's hurricane, the Jays made their first trip this season to nearby George Steinbrenner Field for a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
