Latest news with #NLRookieoftheYear
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Braves rookie AJ Smith-Shawver tore UCL in injury Spencer Strider appeared to catch
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver will miss the remainder of the 2025 season and more with a torn UCL, an injury he sustained under curious circumstances. Mark Bowman reported the diagnosis hours after the Braves placed the Rookie of the Year candidate on the 60-day IL. It has reportedly not been determined if he will undergo Tommy John surgery or the newer internal brace procedure, which requires less rehab time, but both surgeries will knock him out until at least the start of the 2026 season. Advertisement The injury occurred during Smith-Shawver's start on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. He encountered his first misfortune when a 96.6 mph line drive from Bryson Stott hit him in the ankle, but he remained in the game. During his next few pitches to Trea Turner, Smith-Shawver started to wince and shake his arm. The Braves coaching staff only appeared to notice the issue after another pitcher, Spencer Strider, saw what was happening and pointed it out to them. Strider has his own experience with elbow issues, having missed most of 2024 with a torn UCL. Turner flied out on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, and it was only after that when Smith-Shawver reportedly told Snitker he felt a "pop" in his elbow. Smith-Shawver's velocity was dropping significantly while all that was happening. His last pitch to Stott was a 95.8 mph four-seamer, a tick below every other four-seamer he had thrown that day. The velocity kept dropping against Turner, with his four-seamer going from 95.9 mph to 94.7 mph to 94.2 mph on the final pitch. AJ Smith-Shawver's Rookie of the Year campaign is officially over. (Photo by Abdoul Sow/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Abdoul Sow via Getty Images) Whether Braves coaches should have been more proactive — or aware — of Smith-Shawver's troubles, the 22-year-old is a notable loss for a team trying to recover from a slow start. Smith-Shawver was ranked as the No. 83 overall prospect by Baseball America entering this season and was off to a strong enough start that he was third in BetMGM's NL Rookie of the Year odds as of Thursday. Now, the Braves will have to wait until next year, at least, to see him on the mound again.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Braves rookie AJ Smith-Shawver tore UCL in injury that Spencer Strider appeared to catch
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver will miss the remainder of the 2025 season and more with a torn UCL, an injury he sustained under curious circumstances. Mark Bowman reported the diagnosis hours after the Braves placed the Rookie of the Year candidate on the 60-day IL. It has reportedly not been determined if he will undergo Tommy John surgery or the newer internal brace procedure, which requires less rehab time, but both surgeries will knock him until at least the start of the 2026 season. Advertisement The injury occurred during Smith-Shawver's start on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. He encountered his first misfortune when a 96.6 mph line drive from Bryson Stott hit him in the ankle, but he remained in the game. During his next few pitches to Trea Turner, Smith-Shawver started to wince and shake his arm. The Braves coaching staff only appeared to notice the issue after another pitcher, Spencer Strider, saw what was happening and pointed it out to them. Strider has his own experience with elbow issues, having missed most of 2024 with a torn UCL. Turner flied out on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, and it was only after that when Smith-Shawver reportedly told Snitker he felt a "pop" in his elbow. Smith-Shawver's velocity was dropping significantly while all that was happening. His last pitch to Stott was a 95.8 mph four-seamer, a tick below every other four-seamer he had thrown that day. The velocity kept dropping against Turner, with his four-seamer going from 95.9 mph to 94.7 mph to 94.2 mph on the final pitch. AJ Smith-Shawver's Rookie of the Year campaign is officially over. (Photo by Abdoul Sow/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Abdoul Sow via Getty Images) Whether or not the Braves coaches should have been more proactive — or aware — with Smith-Shawver's troubles, the 22-year-old is a notable loss for a team trying to recover from a slow start. Smith-Shawver was ranked as the No. 83 prospect in baseball by Baseball America entering this season, and was off to a strong enough start that he was third in BetMGM's NL Rookie of the Year odds as of Thursday. Now, the Braves will have to wait until next year, at least, to see him on the mound again.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former GM floats Red Sox blockbuster trade for ‘true ace' Paul Skenes
The Pittsburgh Pirates have publicly stated that they don't want to trade Paul Skenes. But as one former MLB general manager notes, it might be their wisest course of action. On Wednesday, former GM Jim Bowden laid out five different trade proposals that might motivate the Pirates to trade away their 22-year-old ace. One of those proposals is for the Boston Red Sox. Advertisement A trade for Skenes wouldn't come cheap. Bowden described the young star as 'the most valuable trade asset in decades' due to his unique combination of talent, price and youth. 'He has more than four years of team control remaining and is the hardest type of player to acquire in the major leagues: a true ace, face of the franchise and fan favorite,' Bowden wrote." So what would it take for Boston to pry away one of the brightest talents in baseball? Bowden suggests a package of prospects: OF Roman Anthony, 2B/SS Franklin Arias, 1B/OF Justin Gonzales, RHP Luis Perales. 'To start the package, the Red Sox could offer Anthony, the top position-player prospect in baseball, whom the Pirates could promote to the majors immediately, giving him a chance to win NL Rookie of the Year this season,' Bowden wrote. 'They'd also improve their longer-term future by acquiring a middle infielder in Arias, a power bat in Gonzales and a power arm in Perales. Meanwhile, for Boston, a rotation led by Skenes and Garrett Crochet would be a game-changer.' Advertisement Skenes has already established himself as one of the most exciting talents in baseball. However, Pittsburgh doesn't have much else on the roster. Here's the other thing: The franchise is notoriously cheap. Bowden doubted that the Pirates would be willing or able to shell out the "$350 million to $400 million" it would take to lock up Skenes before he hits free agency. For now, the Pirates are saying all the right things. When asked about the idea of trading Skenes, former Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said the idea was off the table. 'No, it's not at all part of the conversation,' Cherington said to reporters. Advertisement But should it be? Pittsburgh has the second-worst record in the National League and not much optimism to be a contender during the next few years. A Skenes trade could alter the course of the franchise moving forward. But it wouldn't come cheap. If you're the Red Sox, you have to consider it – even if it means giving up the No. 1 prospect in baseball. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Cubs ace Shota Imanaga progressing from hamstring strain
Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed) baseball Chicago Cubs ace left-hander Shota Imanaga has taken a step toward returning from a left hamstring strain that has sidelined him since May 4, manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday. Before the Cubs series finale again Colorado, Imanaga threw a 28-pitch bullpen session, ran and took fielding practice. 'So all in all, a very good workday,' Counsell said. 'Kind of repeat that this weekend, assuming everything turns up well tomorrow, and then go from there.' Imanaga would next progress to the Cubs training facility in Mesa, Arizona. That could happen when the Cubs start a nine-game road trip Tuesday, Counsell said. Imanaga was an All-Star last season, his first in the majors after coming from Japan, going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts. He signed a $53 million, four-year contract with Chicago in January 2024, then finished fourth in balloting for the NL Rookie of the Year. The 31-year-old started this season at 3-2 and 2.82 ERA in eight starts before getting hurt in Milwaukee as when he went to cover first base on a potential double play in the sixth inning of a 4-0 loss. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers acquire former All-Star reliever Alexis Díaz in trade with Cincinnati Reds
Eric Samulski evaluates what to expect from Camilo Doval after the San Francisco Giants named the former National League saves leader their closer moving forward. LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired former All-Star reliever Alexis Díaz from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday in a trade for minor league pitcher Mike Villani. The Dodgers moved right-hander Evan Phillips to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for Díaz, who had a 12.00 ERA in six games for Cincinnati this season. Díaz finished fifth in voting for NL Rookie of the Year in 2022, and he was chosen for the NL All-Star team in 2023 when he went 9-6 with a 3.07 ERA and 37 saves. He recorded 28 saves in 32 opportunities last season with a 1.30 WHIP, but he also began a decline that continued into this season. Díaz lost his job as Cincinnati's closer last month, and he was demoted to Triple-A Louisville nearly a month ago despite making $4.5 million this season. The 28-year-old Díaz is the brother of Mets closer Edwin Díaz. Villani, a Long Beach State product, was the Dodgers' 13th-round pick in last year's amateur draft. Phillips went on the injured list May 7 with elbow discomfort, and his recovery does not appear to be going well. Manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week that Phillips' inability to begin a throwing program was 'a little concerning.' Phillips is among of 14 Dodgers pitchers on the injured lis, a group making more than $100 million combined this season. The injured arms include starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki, and the relievers include Phillips, Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol. Phillips was a key component of the eventual World Series champions' bullpen last year, and he earned 42 saves over the past two seasons.
