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Washington Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
MLB's longest active hitting streak belongs to … the Nats' Daylen Lile
Sometimes, the 22-year-old finds a moment for video games. He likes 'MLB: The Show,' fittingly. He grew up using retro teams and mashing the controller buttons as he swung as Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Now, 29 games into his big league career, he is playing as himself. Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile said being a playable character is a dream turned into reality. If anything, he'd just make a few changes to his rating. 'They knocked my power a little bit,' Lile said. 'But we'll get there.' His character's attributes should improve soon, given what the real-life Lile has been doing at the plate. After struggling in his first call up to Washington, Lile went back to the minor leagues and regained his composure. Nationals coaches say Lile has among the best plate discipline of the organization's young players, but it didn't show up in his first big league opportunity. Now in his second chance, Lile has found consistent contact, which has led to a 14-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors. The Louisville native's route to a regular role in Washington included a Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the 2022 season, his first full year as a professional, and a back injury from tumbling over an outfield wall during a spring training game in 2024. Lile began this season in Class A Harrisburg and was called up in May to replace an injured Jacob Young. But he struggled to find a routine. The nerves changed the way he played, as pressure often affects first-time big leaguers. With a .194 batting average in 11 games, he was optioned to Class AAA Rochester. Lile's father Danny Lile Jr. said his son was disappointed to be demoted but understood that to turn a corner he'd need to be more disciplined. Lile said he liked to chase pitches as a kid, especially in high school. Sometimes, he would swing at pitches far off the plate when opponents just tried to avoid pitching to him entirely. He tried anything, standing on the inside chalk of the batter's box to outside pitches, just hoping to put the ball in play. And yet, he struck out just six times as a high school senior. While his talent could outweigh impatience at that level, it wouldn't in MLB. So during his stint in Rochester, Lile focused on playing his own style again. In his first chance with Washington, Lile said he was worried about proving himself and that hurt his performance. Returning to Rochester would be a needed mental reset. He was in Rochester for just under two weeks before Washington called him back up. This time it appears he's here to stay. During his hitting streak, Lile is batting .327, and he has just two more strikeouts (six) than walks in that time (four). He has brought his batting average for the year up to .245. 'This time around, he's not trying to do a whole lot,' then-Nationals manager Davey Martinez said July 2, before he was fired this past weekend. 'He's working good at-bats, he's seeing the ball a lot better. He's also trying to stay in the middle of the field.' As the hits started coming, Lile's high school coach, Rick Arnold, sent Lile's father a text. He said just one hit a game is all Lile needs. One hit a game means a few two-hit nights sprinkled in, too. That's exactly what Lile is starting to produce. Lile has tallied just one hit in 11 of the 14 games during the streak. He has struck out just once in his last 11 games and his whiff rate (13 percent) would rank among the best in baseball if he played enough games to qualify. Plate discipline means being prepared before he steps in the box. In the eighth inning of a July 2 game against Detroit, Lile knew relief pitcher Brenan Hanifee relied on his sinker (65.7 percent of his pitches) and slider (another 20 percent). So that's what he looked for. It wasn't what he got. Lile's awkward swing at a changeup — a pitch Hanifee uses just 4.8 percent of the time — nearly sent his helmet flying off as he 'adapted for a hit.' Standing on first base, Lile couldn't help but laugh. Even with his inexperience, there have been only a few things that are surprising him in his second stint. Now he's prepared to handle them.
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
New Mets pitcher Justin Garza credits video game MLB The Show for helping save career
Pitcher Justin Garza was thinking about quitting the game he loved during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as he struggled in the minor leagues. However, as Garza is joining the New York Mets now after a deal with the San Francisco Giants, he credits one thing to saving his career. A video game. "MLB The Show actually was a big part about me learning how to pitch and figuring out how to pitch," Garza told The New York Post. "It's so realistic at times, just playing that video game." Garza is not the only player in professional sports to use video games to prepare for games or rework their mechanics. Garza specifically uses the game mode Diamond Dynasty, where he said the different camera angles helped him experience how to use his pitches. Using a catcher's view to pitch, he started reworking his arsenal. Though it was not intentional, he was happy something clicked by playing the game. "Once I started to play more and more, it was like, 'OK, well, I actually have a cutter, I have this four-seam, I have this changeup, and maybe my stuff can play like this," Garza told The Post. Garza was an eighth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2015, but he struggled in his first taste of professional ball. He was only able to post one season with an ERA under five, owning a 3.36 ERA in 2018. However, the pandemic break saw Garza as a rejuvenated hurler on the mound. Garza posted a 1.59 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 14 games in Triple-A Columbus before being called up for the first time in his career. He had 21 appearances in 2021 in the big leagues. He did not make it back to the big leagues until 2023, this time with the Boston Red Sox, but it did not go according to plan. Garza had an 8.35 ERA in 17 appearances (one start) before being moved to the Giants. Garza was in Triple-A Sacramento this year before moving to the Mets. Garza has played one game with the Mets, tossing two-thirds of an inning with two strikeouts in his first appearance. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
New Mets reliever Justin Garza used video games to revive his stalled career
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 When the COVID-19 pandemic put the world on hold in 2020, Justin Garza began to consider quitting baseball. The right-handed pitcher had been stuck in Single-A for three seasons, struggling to stay healthy, with his confidence dwindling. But as he took time for himself away from the field, an unlikely hobby helped the reliever get his career back on track: video games. ' 'MLB The Show' actually was a big part about me learning how to pitch and figuring out how to pitch,' said Garza, whom the Mets acquired from the Giants Saturday. 'It's so realistic at times, just playing that video game.'
Time Business News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Time Business News
EZG MLB The Show 25 Tutorial About How To Get May Spotlight Rewards? - Preview Of All Missions
MLB The Show 25 May Spotlight Program focuses on players who have performed well in May. By completing these tasks and earning points, players can unlock rewards for May Spotlight Program. Among these rewards, two 88 OVR Topps Now series cards and one 91 OVR Spotlight series card are worth noting. Besides Moments and Missions, players can also complete collection tasks, which can earn numerous points at a time, but require many MLB 25 stubs for sale to collect players. Missions Get 1,000 PXP with May Spotlight Drop 1 Get 350 PXP with Topps Now Kyle Manzardo Get 350 PXP with Topps Now Zach Agnos Get 5 extra-base hits with a player who is primarily a right fielder Get 12 Total Bases with a player who is primarily a center fielder Get 7 hits with a player who is primarily a third baseman Get 10 home runs with a Miami Marlins player Get 15 strikeouts with a Minnesota Twins pitcher Rewards 5 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 10 points: 88 OVR Topps Now Kyle Manzardo 15 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 20 points: 88 OVR Topps Now Zach Agnos 25 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 30 points: Ballin' is a Habit pack 35 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 40 points: 5,000 XP 45 points: May Spotlight pack Drop 1 50 points: 91 OVR Spotlight Kyle Stowers Kyle Stowers finally proved his worth this May, as he hit home runs against Dodgers and Athletics, earning him NL Player of the Week honors. In his recent game against the Angels, Kyle Stowers showed his best form in Marlins' loss. For this card, 91 OVR Spotlight Kyle Stowers ranks 35th among right fielders. He is a good left-handed hitter who is quite good at hitting pitches from the right, but he is quite bad at dealing with pitches from the left. Missions Get 1,000 PXP with May Spotlight Drop 2 Get 350 PXP with Topps Now Matthew Lugo Get 350 PXP with Topps Now Stephen Kolek Get 350 PXP with Spotlight Kyle Stowers Get 12 total bases with a player who is primarily a left fielder Get 5 extra-base hits with a player who is primarily a first baseman Get 10 strikeouts with a player who is primarily a starting pitcher Get 10 home runs with a Yankees player Get 24 total bases with a Cardinals player Rewards 5 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 10 points: 88 OVR Topps Now Matthew Lugo 15 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 20 points: 88 OVR Topps Now Stephen Kolek 25 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 30 points: Ballin' is a Habit pack 35 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 40 points: 5,000 XP 45 points: May Spotlight pack Drop 2 50 points: 91 OVR Spotlight Jasson Dominguez Jasson Dominguez had an exceptional May month, hitting three home runs in a single game. Although his overall batting average was low, his power and bat speed showed his incredible talent. Jasson Dominguez is a switch hitter, and this card shows that. The defensive stats are high, but there are no quirks, much like 91 OVR Spotlight Kyle Stowers, which limits the card's potential. Both of these guys are very good free outfielders and would be great options to have when building your team if you don't have enough stubs. Fortunately, you can also get a lot of MLB 25 stubs at EZG at a very low cost, without worrying about security and delivery. It will definitely give you a pleasant surprise. Missions Get 1,000 PXP with May Spotlight Drop 3 Get 350 PXP with Topps Now Mick Abel Get 350 PXP with Topps Now Moises Ballesteros Get 350 PXP with Spotlight Jasson Dominguez Complete 3 home runs with a player who is a primary first baseman Complete 12 total bases with a player who is a primary right fielder Complete 5 extra-base hits with a player who is a primary catcher Complete 10 extra-base hits with a Giants player Complete 24 total bases with a Reds player Rewards 5 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 10 points: 88 OVR Topps Now Mick Abel 15 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 20 points: 88 OVR Topps Now Moises Ballesteros 25 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 30 points: Ballin' is a Habit pack 35 points: MLB The Show 25 pack 40 points: 5,000 XP 45 points: May Spotlight pack Drop 3 50 points: 92 OVR Spotlight Wilmer Flores Recently, Wilmer Flores hit three home runs in a game, one of which was a grand slam. This earned his Team 8 points, giving San Francisco Giants a near-crushing victory. 92 OVR Spotlight Wilmer Flores is an almost perfect switch hitter, with both contact and power at the best level, which is why he only has one quirk but ranks 13th among first basemen. Although Rafael Palmeiro, worth about 4,500 stubs, is the 12th-ranked first baseman, the free card Wilmer Flores has a higher floor with excellent stats, and he will definitely not have any terrible performance, so Wilmer Flores is more useful in your team. The above are MLB The Show 25 May Spotlight missions and rewards. Most missions won't waste too much of your time, with Spotlight series of cards serving as both excellent hitters for your team and helping you complete collection missions. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Royals No.1 Prospect Jac Caglianone's Position Change Catches Attention
When the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals lineup was announced Thursday evening, fans were surprised to see a new player starting in right field. Kansas City Royals No. 1 prospect Jac Caglianone got the start in right field for the Naturals. It was his first time playing outfield at the professional or college level. The sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft played first base and pitcher with the Florida Gators. With the big league club's outfield struggling at the plate this season, Caglianone's position change was a breath of relief for the Royals fan base. Advertisement "Fast tracking him to the majors with him at RF," one user wrote. "Way better than Renfroe already," another said. Hunter Renfroe is batting .164 with three RBI in 18 games this season. "Left-handed Aaron Judge." Another user commented. Known for his eye-popping exit velocity, Caglianone has been on a tear at the plate this season for Northwest Arkansas. He's slashing .284/.356/.500 with a team-leading four home runs and 20 RBI in 18 games. Caglianone went 2-for-2 off future Hall-of-Famer Clayton Kershaw - who was making a rehab start for the Tulsa Drillers - on Tuesday. Kansas City Royals first-round draft pick Jac Caglianone poses with his sister Samantha Medley-Imagn Images The 6-foot-5, 250-pound product has even swiped one bag for the Naturals. Advertisement 'If you go by 'MLB The Show,' I'm (a) 59,' he told the Kansas City Star regarding his speed. 'Not great, but not bad.' Outfield isn't completely unfamiliar to Caglianone, who played the position at Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. He's also been learning to play right field by working with Royals outfield and baserunning advisor Rusty Kuntz. Despite his success, and the Royals outfield struggles, it'd be surprise to see the 22-year-old Caglianone called up anytime soon. In 2021, Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. spent 61 games at Northwest Arkansas and another 63 at Triple-A Omaha before making his MLB debut on April 7, 2022. Advertisement Related: Royals No. 1 Prospect Bests Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw Related: Fans in Disbelief Over Royals No. 1 Prospect's Latest Feat
