Latest news with #MajorLeaguers
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryce Harper ‘Frustrated' With Results at the Plate in the Early Goings
Expectations remain sky high for Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite a decent 19-15 record and a second-place standing in the National League East, Harper feels that he can produce more at the plate. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer is batting .234 with a .786 OPS, a 119 OPS+, six home runs, 17 RBIs, and 26 walks to 31 strikeouts through his first 128 at-bats. Advertisement These are fine numbers for the average player, but Harper is a different story entirely. 'I'm frustrated on a bigger level,' Harper told The Philadelphia Inquirer. 'Obviously, I've been through ruts in my career and gone through ups and downs worse than what I'm on right now. But, just frustrated for the fans, frustrated for my team.' Harper will need to regain his previous form if he is to lead the Phillies over the postseason hump and capture their first World Series title since 2008. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts after flying out to center during the tenth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Hartline-Imagn Images Since signing a 13-year, $330 million deal in February of 2019, he has kept himself in the upper echelon of Major Leaguers. Now in his seventh year with Philadelphia, Harper has 162-game averages of 34 home runs, 101 RBIs, a .282 batting average, a .918 OPS, and a 147 OPS+. Advertisement As he nears the end of his prime, it is now or never for the Phillies to capitalize on his value and a surrounding core of aging veterans. There is no need to worry, as Harper's advanced numbers are still strong, and even during this rut, he is still one of the more fearsome bats in this lineup. His frustration is more telling of his demeanor and competitiveness, both of which have propelled him to incredible heights, even with the spotlight on him since he was 16 years old. Expect Harper to go on a tear soon and resolve any potential doubts about his ability to still churn out hits and runs. Related: Phillies' Rob Thomson Sends Strong Alec Bohm Message Related: Phillies' Max Kepler Sends Strong Message to Coaching Staff
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet The New Guy: Robert Stock
Photo by Luis Gutierrez/Who is he and where did he come from? He's Robert Stock. The 35-year-old comes from Bellevue, Washington, and was a second-round pick in the 2009 MLB draft. He most recently played with the Narajaneros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific Winter League, where he pitched 84 1⁄ 3 innings and racked up ten victories. Obviously pitching for the Boston Red Sox is a different than playing in Hermosillo, Mexico. But Stock's also done that, pitching 13 1/3 big league innings for the team in 2020. Advertisement The guy nicknamed 'Cretch' had a pretty fantastic start so far in Worcester, going 8 1⁄ 3 scoreless in two starts allowing just four hits on twelve strikeouts. His contract has now been selected, and given that the Red Sox pitched 18 innings recently, it's possible he pitches in the next couple of days. Is he any good? If by 'he' you mean his tweets, yes. He seems a respectable guy by my account. But if you're referring to his pitching ability, it's a little more questionable. He's had a great start to 2025 and his trajectory back to the bigs has been commendable. But there has been little evidence in the last decade that he can sit down enough batters on strikes to have staying power. But by reading him breaking pitches down on Twitter, you can tell he's a student of the game and transparent about what he needs to improve, and he's always had a strength at avoiding getting hard hit. It's also comforting that he's worked on his longevity since his last Major League stint. Take that all how you will, though. Tl:dr; just give me his 2024 stats. 98 2⁄3 IP, 104 K, 3.38 ERA, including 10-2 with a 1.60 ERA in the MPWL Show me a cool highlight: Here's a no-hitter he threw against guys that at least used to be Major Leaguers as a member of the Long Island Ducks less than 24 months ago. What is his role on the 2025 Red Sox? He won't have much of one after the likes of Brayan Bello, Liam Hendriks, Patrick Sandoval and Lucas Giolito get back. He'll be a guy that may bounce up and down and put in three or four innings here and there when it's needed at a Major League roster. There's also evidence that he doesn't get taken yard much, so he may have that staying power I mentioned earlier, especially if the Red Sox offense stays hot. Think Chase Anderson last year, or what the Red Sox hope Copper Criswell may be in relief if Criswell gets back to form. As a worst case scenario, he'll mostly put in some solid innings in Worcester, giving relievers coming up in the system a chance to play with a lead. But either way, we'll hear candid thoughts about his game on his Twitter feed. Let's hope he's also fielding congratulatory mentions on the platform. Advertisement More from
New York Times
27-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Marucci, Victus replace Louisville Slugger as MLB's official bats: What it means
Louisville Slugger has been synonymous with Major League Baseball for more than 100 years, but now Marucci Sports, a company founded in 2002, has replaced it as MLB's official bat. 'I created (Marucci) in my backyard, in a shed, and it's now the official bat,' said Marucci co-founder and CEO Kurt Ainsworth, a 46-year-old former pitcher. Ainsworth was selected in the first round of the 1999 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants and won an Olympic gold medal as a member of Team USA in 2000. Arm injuries ended his playing career in 2006. But by that time he was already growing Marucci Bat Co. with his co-founders: LSU head athletic trainer Jack Marucci and former Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Joe Lawrence, a fellow Louisiana native. Advertisement Louisville Slugger bats have been used by top players since the 1800s. In 1905, Honus Wagner became the first athlete to endorse an athletic product when he signed a deal with Hillerich & Bradsby Co, which owned Louisville Slugger until it was sold to Wilson Sporting Goods in 2015. It became the official bat of Major League Baseball in 1997, but on Jan. 1, Marucci Sports took on that title. Now the brands Marucci and Victus, which was acquired by Marucci in 2017, have gained exclusive use of MLB and team logos, names, colors, and more on their products. The deal will run through December 2029. For MLB, this move marks a break from long-held traditions in favor of a more youthful and modern approach to one of the game's core pieces of equipment. 'The last few years, we have been looking for opportunities to let our players express themselves more,' said Noah Garden, Deputy Commissioner for MLB. 'Innovation is part of (Marucci and Victus') DNA. It brings kids along and appeals to a wider audience.' 'Change is tough, I will give MLB a lot of credit,' Ainsworth said of the league's move to take on a new bat partner. 'They made a lot of changes to the game to make it better. They are bringing in a more youthful audience if you will, making the game faster. … We saw an opportunity with this new regime and the changes they are making, to come in and do something different.' For Ainsworth, the deal completes a surreal trajectory to the top of the bat world. Marucci quickly grew from its backyard beginnings, developing a reputation for making quality bats by using wood from an Amish-run mill in Pennsylvania that Marucci bought in 2008. It also gave top Major Leaguers like Albert Pujols, Chase Utley and David Ortiz part ownership in the brand. Holding company Compass Diversified acquired Marucci for $200 million in 2020, then sold it to Fox Factory Holding Company for $572 million in November 2023. Advertisement 'I was immediately impressed by its quality and performance,' Utley said of his first impression of Marucci's bats. 'But what stood out even more was their unwavering commitment to prioritize its players. Marucci's consistency and dedication has been key to their much-deserved success … I couldn't be more excited for them and the League as they embark on this new chapter.' As far back as 2013, Marucci began to usurp Louisville Slugger in MLB usage — a Louisville Slugger spokesman described the breakdown to USA Today at the time as 'neck and neck' — and in 2018, Victus began to do the same. In 2024, over 50 percent of big leaguers swung bats provided by Marucci or Victus, according to those companies. 'Louisville Slugger is an iconic brand,' said Ainsworth. 'Everyone knows Louisville Slugger, so for us to take that designation (of official MLB bat) and (mark) the first time anyone else outside of Louisville Slugger has held that, it is something that is really special.' 'After careful consideration, Louisville Slugger made the decision to forgo our sponsorship status as the Official Bat of MLB starting with the 2025 season,' said Rick Redman, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Hillerich & Bradsby, which still produces Louisville Slugger bats exclusively for Wilson, in a statement provided to The Athletic. 'Louisville Slugger will remain an important supplier to Major League players. They, like millions of ballplayers and fans, recognize that our iconic brand is synonymous with this great game. … Now in our 141st year, Louisville Slugger continues to be the industry leader in product innovation, quality, and design.' Marucci, with its headquarters in Baton Rouge, LA, and Victus, which is based in King of Prussia, PA, go about business differently for being two brands that are tied together. Marucci acquired Victus after seeing it was getting its bats into the hands of minor league and younger players that Marucci didn't necessarily reach. Marucci felt Victus was going to be the wave of the future with its creative, graffiti-inspired designs that younger players gravitated toward. Advertisement Marucci never wanted to merge the companies under one name, seeing two different cultures, different audiences, and different brands. This is reflected in the styles of their leaders — Jared Smith, CEO and co-founder of Victus Sports, is more of a T-shirt and backwards hat wearing executive, whereas Ainsworth is more buttoned up. 'We are dialed into the pulse of what's going on in the world and how it applies to baseball bats,' said Smith. 'It comes down to design and making people feel something with those designs.' Two of the Victus designs that have resonated in recent seasons were the Pablo Sanchez bat used by Kansas City Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and the pencil bat used by Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott in the 2023 Little League Classic game. For Smith and his Victus co-founder Ryan Engroff, adding customization was the goal from the start in 2012. Early on, Smith and Engroff targeted certain players who they felt were eager to express themselves on the field. It started at Spring Training by showing up and sharing samples, which led to sending out more. It helped them learn what players wanted and how to improve. The first player to use a custom bat was former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones, who showed off a Victus camouflage design made for him on MLB Network in May 2012. In 2015, Bryce Harper, then playing for the Washington Nationals used a custom Independence Day themed Victus bat in order to mark the holiday. On July 4, 2016, he shared an image on Instagram of another patriotic bat, featuring the stars and stripes and the Statue of Liberty with an inscription that read 'Freedom is never given, it is won.' His caption on the post indicated that his use of a similar bat the previous year had caused a problem. 'One day I hope players in the MLB can express the way they feel and give thanks to everybody that makes our lives possible and safe every single day through bats or cleats or anything to that point,' he wrote. Advertisement According to a Washington Post article dated July 7, 2016, 'three people with direct knowledge of the situation said the company that made Harper's bat, Victus Sports, received a communication from officials at MLB reminding the company of the ramifications for not complying with baseball's rules. In short, their license could be suspended.' The rule in question is Rule 3.02 (d): 'No colored bat may be used in a professional game unless approved by the Rules Committee.' The rules had always been 1 color or 2-tone bats divided at the 18″, Black, Browns, and Natural colors were the only colors allowed. In recent years, those approvals have come around league-wide initiatives, like pink bats, gloves and cleats for Mother's Day festivities, light blue for Father's Day, or individual customizations for Players Weekend. Victus has always pushed the limits with their on-field bats. There have been fines, notices, and the feeling of sitting outside the principal's office. But, with this partnership, it seems that MLB is now accepting the trends and embracing the viral moments. Victus views this as perfect timing, as it has big plans for the MLB All-Star Game in 2026, which will be held at Citizens Bank Park, not far from its headquarters. Aside from that event, fans can expect a Pencil Bat for every team with their city abbreviations on it (NYY, LAD, CHI, TEX, etc.). Presentations of custom bats to well-known leaders, influencers, and the like across different industries will integrate baseball and the bat as a cultural piece and a collectible for fans. 'Nothing signifies baseball more than a bat,' said Smith. Who has the best crayon bat? I guess Opening day we will find out. 👀#MLB #Baseball — Victus Sports (@VictusSports) March 22, 2025 Players Weekend, traditionally just one weekend per season (with the potential to be expanded, according to Victus) and the Little League Classic will feature Victus custom bats. The first Home Run Derby where custom bats were used was in 2017 — now the Derby will serve as a runway for Victus' designs. Moments like games played abroad will be incorporating batting practice and in-game custom bats. Games on Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Armed Forces Day will be moments when Victus aims to show off its creativity. Advertisement 'We want fans to notice the Ms and the Vs,' Ainsworth said of his company's new place of prominence. In addition to the on-field models, Victus will produce souvenir 'trophy bats' for fans to buy (but not for use) on These trophy bats will be intended for display purposes and made from wood that doesn't meet the standard of their player models. An example of Victus bats as higher end collectibles dropped earlier this week, when the company released a Juan Soto/New York Mets bat that sold for $400 each with only 22 produced. One has already sold on eBay for $1,000. It will also be producing Wiffle Ball bats, called the Yardstick, for purchase after seeing a rise in fans making their own pencil wiffle bats. Victus has plans for their first fielding gloves, with a limited release to a thousand people. For the first time in 2025, Victus will have Boston Red Sox's up-and-coming star Jarren Duran, Philadelphia Phillies' All-Star reliever Matt Strahm, Arizona Diamondbacks' starting pitcher Merrill Kelly rocking their leather. The recently released MLB The Show 2025 also features Marucci and Victus. 'Kids want to pick their equipment based on what their favorite player is wearing and using,' said Garden. But what about the Silver Slugger Award known for recognizing the best hitter at each position? Will that change branding too? Ainsworth said it will stay with Louisville Slugger. 'This is not something we want to change, however, there is an avenue to create and add an award,' Ainsworth said. Smith mentioned a statistical category like the highest On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage (OPS) as a candidate. Ainsworth added that with all the metrics to track the value of a player, there are options. Other award concepts thrown around include one based on the most influential player, or the more modern statistical measures like exit velocity, hardest hit ball, or furthest home run. Altogether one thing is clear: change is underway. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Photos: Marucci)
Reuters
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Ohtani, Dodgers battle jet lag before opener with Cubs in Tokyo
TOKYO, March 14 (Reuters) - Baseball mania reached fever pitch in Japan on Friday with public appearances of national hero Shohei Ohtani and other Japanese players set to take part in MLB season-opening games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Ohtani's World Series champion Dodgers and the Cubs will take the field at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday and Wednesday after playing exhibition games against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers of Japan's pro league at the weekend. Hundreds gathered at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Thursday hoping to welcome the arrival of the Dodgers from the United States, only for the team to be spirited away from the crowds. Yukiko Nakamura was among the disappointed fans who waited in vain for a glimpse of Ohtani at Haneda. "I couldn't get a ticket (to the matches and training), so I hoped that I could at least meet him here at the airport," Nakamura said. More fans amassed outside the Tokyo Dome on Friday as the teams held practice inside. Ohtani told reporters he was still recovering from jet lag and was quick to share the spotlight with his fellow Major Leaguers. "In addition to the Japanese players I mentioned before, there will be other great players who represent the world with their own unique personalities," Ohtani said. "So I think it would be great if people could genuinely enjoy the power, speed, and other aspects that are the real appeal of Major League Baseball." The homecoming for Ohtani, who won his third Most Valuable Player award last year, follows a story book year for the pitching and batting phenomenon, as well as growing success for Japanese players in the majors. Giving his surgically repaired pitching arm a rest, Ohtani became MLB's first 50 home run, 50 stolen bases man, culminating in a World Series in his first year with the Dodgers after six frustrating seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani is joined by Japanese teammates Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, both pitchers, on the Dodgers, while the Cubs have outfielder Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Shota Imanaga. It marks the highest representation of Japanese players in the six times MLB has held season openers in Japan since 2000. "It's really all thanks to the Japanese players that came before us who created the stepping stones for us to be here now," Suzuki told reporters. "And I think I want to be kind of the stepping stone for the future generation of Japanese players to come and play in the MLB."
