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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sportsworks 7-13-25 -- Hammer, Stoney & Caputo talk Tigers, All Star Game, MLB Draft, Pistons and Lions
Jennifer Hammond was joined by Mike Stone and Pat Caputo to discuss the Tigers tough weekend, the upcoming All Star Game and Sunday night's MLB Draft. They also talked about the Pistons and Lions as well.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Montour graduate recalls the moment the Pirates called his name "A complete surprise."
Screams of happiness rang out when the words were read during the MLB Draft. "With the 383rd pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates select Dylan Mathiesen." "We had no idea I was getting drafted until we saw it, and everyone went crazy," Mathiesen, the Pirates' 383rd overall pick, recalled. "We were just sitting around, looking at all the picks, and we just saw my name, and everyone went crazy. It was a complete surprise." The Pittsburgh native and Montour High School grad was selected by his hometown club on day two of this past year's MLB Draft. It's a moment he and the community will remember forever. "I mean, it's just amazing having everyone behind me," he said. "At JD's yesterday, I had so much support, everyone pulling for me, and it really means a lot." Mathisen started his collegiate career at the DII level and then ended up at Liberty University, where he had a strong season last year, garnering attention from pro clubs. Unfortunately, an injury got in the way. "Went out for warmups, and it felt pretty bad," he recalled. "Then, I threw a slider and I felt a sharp strain, and threw the next pitch and hit the guy. I kind of knew what it was, and I didn't want it to be Tommy John, but now it is." Mathisen was in the brace when he had his pre-draft visit with the Pirates in early June. He said he couldn't do anything physical, but the meeting went really well, and he stayed in contact. Now that it's official, and he saw his name called by his boyhood team, he's getting back to work. Mathisen said that he's heading down to the Complex League in Florida and will continue his rehab there. He also hopes to compete in Bradenton next fall.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
South Alabama signee Jamaurion McQueen, a Brandon star, picked by Texas Rangers in MLB Draft
Former Brandon baseball star and South Alabama signee Jamaurion "Jay" McQueen was selected No. 595 overall by the Texas Rangers in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on July 14. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior helped Brandon reach the MHSAA 7A state championship game for he second consecutive year after the Bulldogs won it in 2024. McQueen was named to the Clarion Ledger All-State first team and was a 2025 Dandy Dozen selection. McQueen, who plays outfield and is a pitcher, was rated as the No. 16 player in Mississippi and No. 5 outfielder from Perfect Game's high school recruit rankings. McQueen joins four Mississippi high school players drafted in 2025, including JoJo Parker, Landon Harmon, Talon Haley and Jacob Parker. Jamaurion McQueen stats McQueen appeared in 38 games in 2025. .435 batting average .503 on-base percenatge 54 hits 39 RBIs 2.98 ERA 40 strikeouts Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@ or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jamaurion McQueen, a Brandon star, selcted by Texas Rangers in MLB Draft
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daniel Pierce headlines Rays' class of five Day 1 MLB Draft picks
By the time the Rays were on the clock in the first round of the MLB Draft, an early trend already had emerged. The first eight position players taken Sunday night all had been shortstops. Six of them were high school players who will almost certainly never play for their college program of choice. With the 14th overall pick, the Rays added a number to each tally. Daniel Pierce, an 18-year-old shortstop from the Atlanta metro area, became the Rays' highest draft pick since 2017. 'It's exactly what I wanted,' Pierce said on a conference call. 'I think it still (hasn't) hit me yet ... I'm just in a really good place right now and excited.' A University of Georgia commit, Pierce was 13th-ranked prospect and seventh-best prep prospect entering the draft. Baseball America had him as the No. 10 high school player and the 24th overall prospect. Chuck Ricci, director of amateur scouting for the Rays, said Pierce impressed at a pre-draft workout despite his luggage, including his bat and cleats, getting lost after flight delays. 'You know he's a good infielder when he traveled on the plane and didn't check his glove,' Ricci said. 'The way he handled that for me was a big plus.' Pierce was prolific in his senior season at Mill Creek High School under the tutelage of his father, Paul. The right-handed hitter batted .451 with a .605 on-base percentage and .939 slugging percentage with 10 doubles, three triples and eight home runs in 82 plate appearances. He drew 33 walks and struck out only nine times. Amidst a crowded class of high school infielders, Pierce said he thinks he stood out to the Rays because he projects as capable of playing shortstop long term. grades Pierce as a well-rounded infielder with above-average speed and average fielding, arm and hit tools. His power is graded as just below average but is noted to have the potential to develop into a 15-homer threat in the big leagues. Pierce, 6 feet, 184 pounds, models his game after Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who was picked second in the 2019 draft and won a Gold Glove in 2024. 'I think I (have) a chance to be a true five-tool player,' Pierce said. With the 42nd overall pick, the Rays took Brendan Summerhill, an outfielder from the University of Arizona. Summerhill, a Chicago native, played three seasons with the Wildcats. Over the course of a 124-game career, he hit .323 with a .424 on-base percentage and a .535 slugging percentage while primarily playing in centerfield. While he was frequently on base, Summerhill rarely rounded them all, hitting only 14 home runs in 465 career at-bats. MLB Network's Harold Reynolds said Summerhill must hit for power more frequently to play as an MLB outfielder, adding that his 6-3, 195-pound frame should serve him well. He entered the draft ranked 16th by 'He looks like the guys (you see) when you turn on the TV and watch Major League Baseball,' said University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello on the broadcast. 'I think they might have got a steal here.' 'He's far from the finished project,' Ricci said. 'But I think on both sides, offensively and defensively, he's really heading in the right direction.' The Rays took another high school shortstop with their next pick, 18-year-old Cooper Flemming of Aliso Niguel High School in Southern California at 53rd overall. Flemming, a bit larger than Pierce at 6-3, 190, was ranked as the 82nd prospect on and is committed to Vanderbilt. One of his best attributes is his arm which, if he adds muscle, might lead him to play third base, said MLB Network's Jim Callis. Ricci said Flemming is an excellent shortstop and there are no plans to play him elsewhere but added he 'has a chance to be a really good defender all around the infield.' 'Cooper really impressed, not just with his bat-to-ball, but his maturity,' Ricci said. 'There was no doubt he was ready to take on the challenge out of high school.' With the 67th pick, the Rays selected Dean Moss, their first-ever pick from IMG Academy in Manatee County. The 19-year-old primarily played centerfield in high school and is a strong left-handed batter. In 2025, he hit .471 with a .615 on-base percentage. He is committed to LSU. 'He's been on our radar for quite some time,' Ricci said. The Rays drafted Taitn Gray, a 17-year-old, switch-hitting catcher and corner outfielder with above-average power, at No. 86. 'Most guys with this kind of raw power don't have the contact skills that Taitn does,' Ricci said. MLB Draft Monday, Atlanta Streaming: 11:30 a.m. Rounds 4-20, Rays Day 1 picks Player, position, school, round (pick) Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Ga.), first (14th) Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona, competitive balance A (42nd) Cooper Flemming, SS, Aliso Niguel HS (Calif.), second (53rd) Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy, supplemental second (67th) Taitn Gray, C, Dallas Center-Grimes HS (Iowa), third (86th) • • • Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida. Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports. Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ethan Holliday signs with Rockies, landing top bonus for high school player, per report
A few days after Fort Cobb-Broxton star Eli Willits landed the largest signing bonus of a high school baseball player in MLB Draft history, Stillwater's Ethan Holliday topped it. Holliday signed his contract with the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, agreeing to a deal with a signing bonus of $9 million, according to Jim Callis. It's about $229,000 over the slot value of the fourth overall pick. Advertisement Willits, the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals, signed his contract with a bonus of $8.2 million, surpassing the $8.19 million bonus former Stillwater star Jackson Holliday — Ethan's older brother — agreed to with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022. Willits' deal was well below the slot value of $11,075,900. Holliday now officially joins the organization that drafted and developed his father, Matt, who became a World Series champion and seven-time All-Star. More: Ethan Holliday could be No. 1 in MLB Draft like his brother. Add it to their competition. Jacob Unruh is the deputy sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jacob? He can be reached at junruh@ or on X/Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support Jacob's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at . This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ethan Holliday signs with Rockies for largest HS bonus, per report
