Latest news with #HunterPence
Daily Mail
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Baseball fans go crazy after 16-year-old with perfect name throws 100mph fastball
A 16-year-old baseball star has left fans stunned after throwing a 100mph fastball for the very first time in his career. Striker Pence took to the mound on Thursday afternoon for the Area Code Baseball Games, which is a six-day showcase of the top players from across the country. The teenager had previously caught attention when his fastball was clocked at 97mph earlier in the year but he blew that out the water with his showing in Long Beach. Footage emerged of Pence - who is a freshman at Santiago High School - launching a 100mph fastball at the event, before doing so six more times in a row. Clips of Pence's impressive fastball swiftly went viral but, despite this, the teenager played it cool when he was interviewed about the milestone after the game. Pence was asked how long he'd been working towards the achievement, to which he said: 'My whole life honestly. 'Everyday, just staying consistent in the weight room, working out. I've been playing since I was six-years-old. I feel like it's earned. Well deserved. 'When I was about 12 or 13, I was always the little guy that threw hard. And then at 14/15, I grew and when I grew I started getting stronger. I haven't slowed down'. The 6 foot 6 inch teenager - who weighs in at 200lbs - is the nephew of former MLB All-Star Hunter Pence, however that's not who he attributes his success to. Instead, Pence said: 'Probably my dad, making sure I'm consistent, keeping me honest and giving everything I have'. The RHP is unsurprisingly ranked as one of the top prospects in the class of 2028 after his impressive displays at the mound in recent months. Fans were left in awe of Pence's 100mph fastballs and quickly took to X to share their reaction - as well as offering advice to the teenager. Fans swiftly took to social media to share their reaction to the stunning footage One user who was stunned at the footage, as he simply wrote: 'Dude whaaat' Another said: 'Don't ruin his arm... limit the # of games'. Another jokingly wrote: 'He hit my son with a fastball this summer and he lived to talk about it [laughing emoji]. Finally, one user said: 'The pitching renaissance the next 5-10 years is gonna be unprecedented'.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Evan Carter's two-run single
Duane Kuiper vows to jump in Chase Field pool with wild outfit if Giants sweep Broadcasters Duane Kuiper and Hunter Pence join "Giants Pregame Live" before San Francisco's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Chase Kuiper vows to jump in Chase Field pool with wild outfit if Giants sweep originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area 3:13 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
2x World Series Champion Hunter Pence joins Because Baseball for unique event in Egypt
2x World Series Champion Hunter Pence joins Because Baseball for unique event in Egypt (Image Source: Getty) Now that the game of baseball is making headway in new communities around the globe. Two-time World Series Champion Hunter Pence is center stage of this one-of-a-kind Play Ball Weekend activation, which, for the record, is in Egypt. With the mission of spreading the love of baseball to untapped markets, Pence's participation amasses parallels with initiatives led by organizations aimed at developing the game globally, demonstrating Major League Baseball's commitment to collaborating with foreign institutions. The special event in the Pharaohs' land will be organized in a bid to attract new audiences to the game and the next generation of players and fans. Former Astros hitter Hunter Pence's mission in Egypt Hunter Pence, who is adored for his energetic playing style and unique swing as a member of the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and other teams over an 11-year Major League Baseball career, brings his star power and love of the game to the very centre of the African continent. His appearance during the Play Ball Weekend (June 13 to June 15, 2025), in Egypt, is part of a larger MLB effort that encompasses six continents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo It is a global initiative that will include more than 200 activities organized by MLB, its clubs, partner leagues, and international offices. Growing the game beyond borders This event is where these groups all push to make baseball a real and successful sport in parts that otherwise wouldn't have a shot at it. Understanding the essence of Play Ball Weekend is essential to bridging equity gaps around game access, equipment availability, and other opportunities for our young people of all backgrounds that need to be created. Also Read: Injured Tigers groundskeeper flips off live cameras during Giants-Tigers game delay Hunter Pence, the starting right fielder, is also taking an active and hands-on role in Cairo, teaching the basics, running drills, and telling stories from his own baseball experiences to the young, burgeoning players there, many of whom are encountering the game for the first time. As a child, you'll want to pay attention not only to the mechanics of the game but to the teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship that baseball teaches as well.
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
San Francisco Giants trade deadline primer: 3 storylines to watch
DENVER — Buster Posey was a major-league player for 11 trade deadlines. He understands the impact that a late-July addition can make on a clubhouse, from Marco Scutaro to Hunter Pence to Kris Bryant. He understands the impact inactivity can have on a clubhouse, too. Posey also understands that not all successful trade deadline acquisitions have to be blockbusters. Prior to the Giants' 8-7 walkoff loss at Coors Field on Thursday, Posey sat in the dugout and chatted with TV analyst Javier López, a former teammate and Core Four bullpen member on all three World Series championship teams and one of his most trusted advisers. It's easy to forget: López, who has a bronzed plaque on the Giants' Wall of Fame, arrived from Pittsburgh in a July 31 trade, too. Advertisement So how will Posey approach his first trade deadline as the Giants' top decision maker? Probably by emulating the man in charge during his playing career. When former GM Brian Sabean saw an opportunity to acquire an impact player, he did not hesitate to shuffle the deck or package prospects. Compared to many of today's executives, Sabean's risk tolerance would be considered on the high side. Will the Giants' current president of baseball operations be less risk averse, as well? Posey hinted as much last week when he appeared on Tim Kawakami's podcast and raved about one of the most controversial and ultimately unsuccessful trades of Sabean's tenure. It happened at the deadline in 2011 while Posey was laid up with the fractured ankle he sustained in a home plate collision in late May. Posey said he loved the Carlos Beltrán-for-Zack Wheeler trade. 'I just think it was such a bold move by Sabes, bringing in Carlos Beltrán, one of the great hitters in the game,' Posey told Kawakami. 'And it was just a signal to the group that he felt like we were in a position to go out and win again.' The Giants did not win down the stretch in 2011. Beltrán missed time with a hand injury and the Giants missed the playoffs. But going for it did not mean going for broke. The following season, with a healthy Posey winning an NL MVP award, the Giants returned to October glory and a parade route down Market Street. (Also, here is your required reminder that Wheeler was either hurt or ineffective for most of his career before reaching free agency, after which he blossomed into one of baseball's premier aces.) So if we assume the Giants and Posey will go for it without going for broke, what kinds of trades can have the biggest impact? And for what players? Let's break it down: The Giants are scoring 4.26 runs per game, which is just 0.06 runs below the league average. But they loaded up a lot of that production in April when they were creating constant traffic on the basepaths and collecting scads of situational hits. The lineup-wide cooling off period was so pronounced in May that Posey instituted his first roster shakeup June 4 when he designated LaMonte Wade Jr. for assignment and signed first baseman Dom Smith. The Giants went on a seven-game winning streak after making those moves — they were set to make it eight before third baseman Casey Schmitt made a costly error and the Rockies scored three in the ninth to salvage Thursday's series finale — and Smith, who hit a three-run homer on Thursday, has been a nice addition in the lineup and with his glove. Advertisement But the lineup still looks to be on the light side. The Giants are a game out of first place in the NL West but they've gotten there by going 21-9 against teams with losing records. They'll likely need to produce more runs to hang with the better opponents on their schedule, beginning this weekend with their first visit of the year to Dodger Stadium. Even if the Giants' deep rotation and league-best bullpen give them a chance to win virtually every day, good teams should be equipped to win a slugfest every now and again. It'll also be important for the Giants to coast to victories on occasion to take the pressure off the pitching staff. The most obvious place for the Giants to add a hitter is on the right side of the infield. Another first base option could allow them to use Smith in a more managed role and boost a bench that lacks veteran presence. With top prospect Bryce Eldridge at Triple-A Sacramento, though, they'd most likely limit themselves to the rental market for a first baseman. They also could seek an upgrade at second base, where Tyler Fitzgerald has played well defensively but hasn't resembled the player who dazzled for a 52-game stretch last season (.302/.355/.928 with 13 home runs) from early July to mid-September. A lefty-mashing hitter would help anywhere the Giants could fit him in the lineup. The Giants are 32-17 against right-handed starters, trailing only the New York Mets for the best winning percentage in the majors. But manager Bob Melvin's team is just 8-12 against left-handed starters. Melvin tried exposing lefty-hitting right fielder Mike Yastrzemski to same-side pitching earlier this season, but that didn't go so well. Jerar Encarnación is getting some of those starts against lefties now and the Giants will be patient as he works his way into rhythm after fracturing a finger in spring training. But if the Giants aren't getting that production a few weeks from now, they almost assuredly will be scouring the market for a right-handed platoon partner for Yaz that could offer more than Encarnación (who is out of options) or Luis Matos (currently at Triple A). Advertisement The Giants probably shouldn't limit themselves to platoon outfielders, though. An everyday presence that pushes Yastrzemski into a reserve role would deepen the position player core as well as the bench. In a perfect world, with Yastrzemski approaching free agency, the Giants would acquire a solid outfielder with club control for another season or three. What about catcher? Perhaps the biggest mistake Sabean made in 2011 following Posey's catastrophic injury was to stand pat at the position with Chris Stewart and Eli Whiteside. The Giants are rolling with Plan C behind the plate right now while Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey is on the 10-day IL with a strained neck. Although Bailey is likely to be ready when eligible to return June 19, he's batting just .185. The Giants won't sacrifice defense behind the plate, but another catching option who offers a little more with the bat wouldn't hurt. Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow shared an interesting insight in an appearance on KNBR last week. 'Buster Posey recently asked me, 'Between Hayden Birdsong, Landen Roupp and (Kyle) Harrison, who do you think is the best one?'' Krukow told Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher. 'And I think it's Harrison … because he has so many different ways to get better. Right now, he's a 100 percent four-seam fastball guy.' It's a bit too early for the Giants to begin fielding offers for their young pitchers. But they know the calls are coming. They also know it's just as important to have a handle on your own players as it is to do smart scouting homework on your potential trade targets. Is Posey already beginning to assemble a pecking order when it comes to the Giants' wealth of young pitching? It certainly seems that way. In terms of age and pure stuff, Harrison and Birdsong (both 23) will likely command more on the trade market than Roupp (26). Those factors also will make it harder for the Giants to part with either of their two young starting pitchers. Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who has won a pair of Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors for Sacramento this season, could be another significant piece to closing a deal. The Giants don't have another Wheeler in the system, though. So it could take multiple arms for the Giants to get an impact hitter. Advertisement What about former top shortstop prospect Marco Luciano, you ask? Even as a throw-in, it's hard to imagine Luciano being attractive to opposing clubs. He'll require a 40-man roster space, he hasn't looked major-league ready at Sacramento, and he'll be out of options next year. Names, names. You want names. We get how this works. The responsible answer is that it's too early. There's no way to tell whether the Boston Red Sox will be buyers or sellers six weeks from now. Or the Baltimore Orioles. Or whether the ground will open up under McCovey Cove and swallow the Giants whole. But the Red Sox, with their wealth of young position players, sure seem like an ideal matchup as a potential trade partner. Outfielder Jarren Duran is a triples and doubles machine whose game would be an ideal fit on the shores of McCovey Cove. Duran, who turns 29 in September, has three more years of club control, too. But if he's available for a pitching package, the Giants almost assuredly will be competing with the NL West-rival San Diego Padres to acquire him. It's almost impossible to outbid hyperactive Padres GM A.J. Preller without feeling a certain amount of discomfort. After the Duran suggestion, well … you can look at the standings and the rosters as well as I can. Nathaniel Lowe? Luis Robert, Jr.? Jesús Sánchez? Ryan O'Hearn? Taylor Ward? Bryan Reynolds? Maybe even Marcell Ozuna if the Braves continue to free-fall? All of them have warts. But a deadline acquisition doesn't have to be a perfect player. Sometimes being the right player at the perfect time is enough. (Photo of Posey with Patrick Bailey and Logan Webb: Suzanna Mitchell / San Francisco Giants / Getty Images)
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Gold Bar Distillery hosts record-breaking event on Treasure Island
Cocktail shakers and whiskey lovers took over Treasure Island this weekend, as more than 1,500 people gathered at the Gold Bar Distillery in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Battling strong winds and high spirits, the crowd came together to stir and shake their way into the record books for the most cocktails mixed simultaneously. While only the "most cocktails stirred" record was officially broken, the energy and enthusiasm of the event were anything but diluted. "It's an excuse to make memories with my son," said Gary Spenik, who attended the event with his family. "Like a lot of people, I think during COVID I got into cocktail making, made a few drinks. This seemed like a great opportunity to come out here." Guests were greeted with whiskey shots distributed by Gold Bar volunteers before the big moment. Amid laughter and the clinking of cocktail tins, participants awaited the official count. Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence was also on hand, supporting the brand and the record attempt. "We felt the Bay Area energy. We're in a beautiful location right on the water—you've got the whole skyline of San Francisco," Sam Thumm said, a Gold Bar Distillery representative. "Whenever people come out to the distillery, everyone is just in that great mood. There's a great vibe." Despite the festive atmosphere, officials from Guinness World Records carefully counted each participant and ensuring compliance with guidelines. In the end, only the stirring record was certified, but attendees weren't shaken by the outcome. "It's just something you don't see every day," one participant said. "I don't think I was in the Guinness Book of World Records before, but after today, we can all say we were part of it." Gold Bar Distillery plans to continue hosting community events at its Treasure Island location, raising spirits—and maybe more records—in the heart of the Bay.
