Latest news with #springtraining
New York Times
28-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
After long wait, Wenceel Pérez provides Tigers another sublime moment
DETROIT — It was the last day of spring training. The Tigers were in Clearwater. The final game was over. That is when Wenceel Pérez walked through a set of double doors and entered the clubhouse. Most of his teammates were already dressed. Their bags were packed, their spirits were high. Another long spring was over. The Tigers were headed to San Francisco for a pair of exhibition games, and Opening Day was within reach. Advertisement Pérez, though, was still in uniform. He wore a sullen look on his face. He made no eye contact and hurried toward the showers. We soon learned an explanation for the strange scene. Pérez reported pain in his lower back. He had missed time earlier in camp with back tightness. He has battled back injuries dating to his time in the minor leagues. He tried to keep going, wanted to play through the pain. It finally became too much. 'I think I was swinging hard and too much,' Pérez said Tuesday. 'I was feeling out of my rhythm and out of my timing. I was taking so many swings, and then that's when I started feeling it again.' Pérez had little choice but to tell the staff. He finished spring training with only three hits. So his teammates packed up and boarded the plane. Pérez stayed at the Tigers' spring training facility and reckoned with the road ahead. 'Yeah, it was tough,' Pérez said. 'I was trying to get through it, but it was just getting worse and worse and worse and worse.' The rehab was not exactly easy, either. He went on the 60-day injured list with lumbar spine inflammation. Two months of his season were promised to be lost. He rehabbed with teammates like Matt Vierling and Alex Cobb, gathered and cooked out while the Tigers played on Opening Day. By May 16, he finally started a rehab assignment, one that caused him to bounce around. He started in High A, playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps in Fort Wayne. He was bumped to Triple-A Toledo, then moved to Class-A Lakeland because of weather concerns in the Midwest. 'Oh my gosh,' Pérez said. 'That was not a vacation.' By Monday, Pérez was in Detroit awaiting activation. The Tigers had just gotten Vierling back from a shoulder injury and were finally nearing full strength. What ended up happening Tuesday tells the story of the 2025 Tigers in ways good and bad. Vierling, it turns out, went back on the IL with shoulder inflammation. He's going to get more tests. Right now, the vibes seem worrisome. Advertisement 'We put him on the injured list, which should tell you we don't think he can play,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'We'll have more information as we get more tests, and more doctors need to weigh in.' But Pérez was indeed activated and started in center field. This was some emotional yin and yang. 'We should not steal any joy away from getting Wenceel back,' Hinch said. 'This guy is so fun to be around. He's energetic, big smile, bounces around the clubhouse.' By the bottom of the second inning on Tuesday, Pérez was up facing Giants right-hander Logan Webb. Pérez had gone just 4-for-18 during his rehab assignment. He found himself perturbed with the tedium of the minor leagues. 'At the beginning, it's just tough, getting the same stuff probably three or four times a game, in the spot, same team again,' Pérez said. 'I was a little bit frustrated with it, but it's a game, and I have to control what I can control and come back as strong as I can.' Here in his first big-league at-bat since October, he took two balls, then got a 2-0 sinker over the heart of the plate. Pérez let loose the short stroke that came through for the Tigers in so many big moments last season. The ball crashed into his bat, then went screaming out over the right field wall at 100.5 mph. Home run. WELCOME BACK WENCEEL 💣 — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 27, 2025 'So proud for that kid,' Hinch said. 'He's worked hard. Obviously, injuries are hard on everybody. Think about the last game of spring training, and we're getting on the plane to go to the exhibition game. He's got to report that he's not feeling great. That's a crushing blow at any point in the spring, but that's like getaway day for the most exciting day of the year at that point.' Pérez struck out in his two subsequent at-bats, but the Tigers won 3-1, bumping their record to 36-20. Aside from tough luck with injuries, that's what it's been like so far this season. Cards that keep turning up in the Tigers' favor. Advertisement Now back with the team, Pérez should see time at all three outfield spots. He is 25 years old, only one year removed from converting from infielder to outfielder last spring. In 2024, he was a pesky and dependable presence that often felt more important than his 1.1 fWAR would indicate. He's joining a first-place team that has endured without its injured players for the first two months of the season. Tuesday, he provided another memorable moment in what could become a summer full of them.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everything Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko had to say at Coaches' Night on Wednesday night
During this part of the football calendar, there's not much happening beyond recruiting updates. However, coaching events offer valuable insights into the team's progress following spring training. For Texas A&M, lingering questions remain after last season's conclusion and a vanilla Spring Game. While the team is still searching for breakout stars, the Aggies boast plenty of experience on both sides of the ball. Advertisement The offensive line is set to return all five starters, providing a strong foundation for the unit. With a deep running back room and a playbook tailored to quarterback Marcel Reed's skill set, the offense looks promising. While wide receiver and tight end positions are still being finalized, the talent pool remains deep. Defensively, the secondary brings valuable experience, bolstered by the addition of cornerback Julian Humphrey. However, the defensive line faces its biggest challenge after losing three key players, Shemar Turner, Shemar Stewart, and Nic Scourton, to the NFL. Seniors Cashius Howell and Albert Regis will lead the charge, with hopes that emerging talent will step up. On Wednesday, Coach Mike Elko addressed the Brazos County A&M Club at Coaches' Night, highlighting the program's transformation: Coach Elko comments on the journey to this point "It's been a long journey to get here to Texas A&M. A year ago I stood on this podium for my first Coach's Night at Texas A&M. One year later, we've had tremendous progress into building the program you want to see." The Texas A&M football program is taking the next step forward "We are building the foundation of a championship level program. One of the biggest things we had to do was change the culture of what Texas A&M football is all about." Coach Elko comments about the talent on the roster "When you look at the current roster, we project to have more NFL Draft picks on this 2025 roster than we've had in a long time. We project anywhere from 10 to 12 players to hear their name called in the 2026 draft." Coach Elko believes his defense will be better that last season "We bring back eight starters on defense. It was well documented that we need to finish seasons better. That group is really hungry to go out and play the level of defense Texas A&M fans deserve." Coach Elko comments on Marcel Reed's development "Marcel Reed's development is what I'm most excited about. His development as a leader and in the passing game is important. He was a great player last year, but you'll see a significantly better version of him this fall." Coach Elko is ready to get his team back on the field and play at a high level for the whole season "We're excited to go out there and finish... We didn't finish the way we wanted to in November. That has been our mantra this offseason." Coach Elko sees something special happening in Aggieland and everyone wants to be part of it "Success is never linear. We are on course for where we want to be. I'm proud of our retention. We didn't lose starters in the portal. We're not losing coaches. There are signs that something really special is about to happen here" Coach Elko speaks on the resilience of his roster "The core of our roster has battled through a lot of adversity here. They're here because they believe in Texas A&M. They believe in what we're building here. I believe we have kids who are truly committed to Texas A&M and what it stands for." Coach Elko highlights the continuity of his roster "When you bring back 16 starters, our conversations start at a much higher level in Spring camp. We can hit the ground running at a much higher pace in year two." Coach Elko knows how last season ended and is committed no to repeat that "We all understand how we finished the year. We played three bad games of defense to finish the year. We're all aware of that. That's not how we play defense at Texas A&M. We have to have a better commitment for getting the job done at a higher level." Coach Elko comments on the team's schedule "We all understand how we finished the year. We played three bad games of defense to finish the year. We're all aware of that. That's not how we play defense at Texas A&M. We have to have a better commitment for getting the job done at a higher level." Advertisement Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M Football: Coach Elko provides key updates at Coaches' Night
Washington Post
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
MLB seems ready for automated balls and strikes. Players remain skeptical.
This spring, Major League Baseball tested an automated balls and strikes challenge system in spring training games, allowing hitters, pitchers and catchers to challenge ball or strike calls they thought the home plate umpire missed. After years spent vetting the concept and testing its logistics in the minor leagues, the decision to subject the system to its harshest and most skeptical critics — major league players — signaled MLB's intentions: Automated balls and strikes (ABS) are coming to the big leagues, sooner or later. The questions are when, and in what form.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Yankees move rehabbing reliever another step closer to the majors
There's something quietly devastating about being so close to your dream, only to watch it slip away—again and again. For Scott Effross, that feeling has become all too familiar. After nearly two lost seasons to Tommy John and back surgeries, 2025 was supposed to be the fresh start. Advertisement Effross arrived at the New York Yankees spring training not just healthy, but hungry. He wasn't asking for guarantees—just a chance. Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports Then came February, and with it, another cruel twist: a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Just like that, his momentum halted. When you're a pitcher clawing back from major injuries, every inning matters. Every pitch thrown feels like a statement. Effross didn't pitch in the majors last year beyond 3.1 innings, and before that, not since 2022. That's an eternity in baseball time. The slow climb back begins in Florida After months of setbacks and slow progress, Effross finally stepped onto a mound this week in the Florida Complex League. Advertisement His one inning on Tuesday was uneventful in the best way possible: one hit, one strikeout, no drama. It might've looked like a small step, but for Effross, it was the equivalent of a hiker taking their first breath above the tree line. There's a long way to go, but he's moving forward. That clean inning was more than just numbers—it was a reminder he's still in the fight. The Yankees have been understandably cautious. Rehab from multiple major surgeries is never linear, and Effross has felt that. But the team sees the value he brings when healthy—his ability to generate soft contact, his funky arm angle, his guts. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Double-A Somerset: The next proving ground On Thursday, the Yankees announced that Effross is heading to Double-A Somerset for the next stage of his rehab assignment. Compared to rookie-level hitters, Double-A lineups offer real resistance. They're filled with legitimate prospects trying to prove themselves. Advertisement It's not the Bronx, but it's a step closer—and that matters. Because every time Effross takes the mound now, he's auditioning for something bigger. The Yankees aren't just looking at his box score. They're watching his mechanics, his velocity, his composure with runners on. His next few outings will likely determine whether he gets bumped up to Triple-A Scranton or—if everything goes perfectly—the major league roster. Yankees bullpen struggles spotlight the need New York's bullpen is inconsistent, and Saturday's meltdown—seven runs in just two innings—was a glaring reminder. Effross doesn't need to be a savior. But even a reliable middle reliever could provide desperately needed stability. Advertisement The team's cautious approach is rooted in self-preservation. They can't rush him, but the temptation will be there. If Effross proves himself in Somerset and beyond, he could be back in pinstripes sooner than later. Hope flickers, and it's enough—for now There's something admirable about Effross' resilience. Injuries have chipped away at his career, but not his resolve. Like a veteran ship battered by storm after storm, he's still afloat, still steering toward safe harbor. His journey isn't over. But it's resumed, and that alone is reason to believe better days are ahead. Popular reading: Yankees 7, Athletics 11: Good news and bad news as New York's bullpen collapses in loss Advertisement Related Headlines
