Tag: MLB

The Mets’ City Connect purple-ish jerseys are here and fans generally liked what they saw

Fans think the Mets did a pretty good job on these.

After much anticipation, the New York Mets unveiled their City Connect jerseys for the 2024 season.

Fans knew to expect at least some purple on the uniforms or hats based on the teaser video posted earlier this month. But now that they are officially here, we now know exactly what the jerseys will look like when they are on the field.

New York will wear these for the first time on April 27 against the Cardinals. The team will continue to rock the purple look for the majority of their home games played on Saturdays for the remainder of the season.

While the MLB jerseys produced by Fanatics are getting widely criticized this year, these are generally receiving positive reviews.

Some cool details include nods to the concrete sidewalks, the New York subway system (including the 7 Line train to Citi Field) and tokens, bridges, and maps.

Fans generally liked what they saw

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1374]

See Cameron Brink’s epic New Balance ad with Shohei Ohtani and Coco Gauff

Shohei Ohtani. CoCo Gauff. Cameron Brink. YES.

Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink is in a new ad for New Balance with six other sports stars, including Shohei Ohtani and Coco Gauff, and it’s fantastic.

Cameron Brink, who the Sparks drafted at No. 2 overall on Monday, is having one heck of a week. Brink, who’s had a NIL deal ā€” now likely turned endorsement ā€” with New Balance since 2023, is in an epic ad with several sports giants.

As part of New Balance’s “We Got Now” campaign, the company recently released another commercial with Brink in it. I have to say, the list of athletes she’s with is super impressive. This is my kind of carrying-on.

Rutgers baseball: How is former-Scarlet Knight Ryan Lasko shaping up in the MiLB?

Ryan Lasko is going through an adjustment in the Oakland Athletics minor league system.

After getting drafted by the Oakland Athletics in Round 2 of the 2023 MLB Draft, former Rutgers centerfielder Ryan Lasko is very much finding his feet for Stockton Ports.

In his first season with the Athletics’ single A team, Lasko has registered a .138 batting average throughout his 29 at-bats early on this season. In seven games, the 6-foot, 190-pound outfielder recorded four hits, two RBIs, four walks, and one stolen base, logging a .242 on-base percentage.

[lawrence-related id=37399]

While with the Scarlet Knights, Lasko tied Rutgers’ single-season doubles record (24) in 2022 and received All-Big Ten First Team honors in 2023. In three seasons with Rutgers baseball, he registered a .314 batting average throughout his 641 at-bats. Lasko started 154 games for Rutgers, logging 201 hits, 38 home runs, 47 doubles, seven triples, and 135 RBIs.

[lawrence-related id=37437,37421,37426]

It is common for players to struggle early on in the minor leagues and the season is still very young. Lasko certainly showed the potential at Rutgers to take the next step and play at this level.

 

Nationals option Trey Lipscomb, activate Nick Senzel

Nationals option Trey Lipscomb and activate Nick Senzel.

Washington optioned former Vol Trey LipscombĀ to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

The move comes after former Vol Nick Senzel was activated from the 10-day injured listed by the Nationals.

Lipscomb made his Major League Baseball debut with Washington on March 30 after Senzel was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured right thumb.

Senzel made his 2024 debut with the Nationals on Monday at Los Angeles. He started at third base and went 1-for-3 and recorded one walk versus the Dodgers.

Senzel signed a one-year contract with the Nationals during the offseason.

PHOTOS: A look at Trey Lipscomb through the years

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Former Diamond Heel JB Bukauskas to IL with lat strain

Former Diamond Heel J.B. Bukauskas is heading to the Injured List after a strong start to his 2024 MLB season.

College baseball has been playing since mid-February, while MLB didn’t celebrate Opening Day until March 28.

It’s too early to pick out the World Series contenders, but there is plenty of excitement already.

The Milwaukee Brewers are one of those teams who’ve created plenty of excitement, thanks to its young offensive core and strong pitching. It’s particularly encouraging to see the Brew Crew succeeding on the mound, as they lost ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason.

One of many Milwaukee pitchers enjoying a solid opening month is former UNC standout J.B. Bukauskas, who carries a 1.50 earned run average through six appearances. Bukauskas was 21-6 with a 3.18 ERA in three season at North Carolina, including a 9-1 campaign in 2017.

Unfortunately for JB, he’ll be out of baseball for a couple weeks, as he was recently placed on the 15-day Injured List with a lat strain.

Bukauskas, picked 15th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, has bounced around a bit since making his MLB Debut in 2021.

He won his first two games with the Arizona Diamondbacks that year, making a career-high 21 appearances. Bukauskas played in the minor leagues throughout 2022, then spent five 2023 MLB games between the Brewers and Seattle Mariners.

Hopefully for JB, he doesn’t spend more than the minimum time on the IL.

Follow usĀ @TarHeelsWire on XĀ and like our page onĀ FacebookĀ to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Former Diamond Heel Michael Busch taking advantage of starting opportunity in MLB

Michael Busch, who starred at UNC from 2017-2019, is one of the MLB’s best young hitters this year.

Getting chosen in the MLB Draft is every young baseball player’s dream.

Hundreds of players are selected across 20 rounds, but only a select few progress enough through the plentiful levels of minor league baseball.

One of those select few who rose through the minor leagues is former UNC baseball player Michael Busch, a 2019 first-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Busch led North Carolina to three NCAA Tournament Appearances, highlighted by a 2018 College World Series berth, by hitting for a .282 career batting average with 32 home runs and 142 RBIs.

Busch spent the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 season playing for four separate Dodger affiliates, compiling a .283 average and earning an MLB call-up in 2023. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in January, as Freddie Freeman made Busch’s path to a starting first base gig significantly tougher.

After hitting under the Mendoza Line (.200 batting average) for the Dodgers last year, Busch is amongst the MLB’s best hitters in the Windy City this year.

Busch enjoyed a strong Sunday to further boost his season stats, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in Chicago’s 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners. He is now hitting .327 (25th-best in the MLB) with five home runs (sixth-most) and 11 RBIs.

Busch’s home run total and batting average also have him tops on the Cubs (9-6), who are tied for second in a stacked NL Central.

So far this year, Busch is proving he’s Chicago’s first baseman of the future. He’s just 26, so we could see the former Diamond Heel in the Windy City for a long time.

Follow usĀ @TarHeelsWireĀ on XĀ and like our page onĀ FacebookĀ to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Rob Gronkowski spiked his first pitch for the Red Sox and, honestly, what did we expect?

What better way to honor Patriots Day than with a Patriot legend doing the thing that helped make him legendary?

Rob Gronkowski found a way to make one of the NFL’s oldest and simplest touchdown celebrations — the spike — and make it his own. He did this not through a clever twist or innovative move, but because he’s big as hell and found the end zone a lot. 107 times in nine seasons as a pro, in fact.

While the final two years of that career came as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, he’s best remembered for the seven he spent in New England. Gronkowski won three Super Bowl rings alongside Tom Brady in the Patriots’ second dynasty era. Thus, it made sense for him to be invited to Fenway Park to toss out the ceremonial first pick of the Boston Red Sox’ annual Patriots Day game.

And Gronk made sure to remind everyone what holiday it was once he took the mound.

Rather than risk the humiliation of a horrible first pitch — known these days as a 50 Cent but previously a dishonor claimed by Baba Booey and Michael Jordan — Gronkowski leaned in and smashed the ball into the mound. Though it didn’t have the resilient, unpredictable bounce of a football, the point was made. Gronk remains Gronk, whether he’s at Gillette Stadium or Fenway Park.

Trey Lipscomb records RBI in Nationals’ win at San Francisco

Former Vol Trey Lipscomb records RBI in the Nationals’ win at San Francisco.

Washington (5-6) defeated San Francisco (4-8), 5-3, on Tuesday at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California.

Former Vol Trey Lipscomb started at third base for the Nationals. He went 0-for-3 and recorded one RBI on a sacrifice fly in seventh inning to give Washington a 4-3 lead.

Lipscomb played at Tennessee from 2019-22 and appeared in 103 games, including 78 starts.

He recorded a .331 batting average, 24 home runs, 103 RBIs, 83 runs, 37 walks and seven stolen bases for the Vols. During the 2022 campaign, he becameĀ the first Vol since Cody HawnĀ (22) in 2009 to hit 20-plus home runs in a season.

Lipscomb appeared in 66 games in his final season at Tennessee in 2022. He totaled 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, 68 runs, 89 hits, 19 doubles, three triples, 26 walks and four stolen bases.

Tennessee won the Southeastern Conference East division, the league regular-season and tournament championships in 2022.

He was selected by Washington in the third-round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft (No. 84 overall).

PHOTOS: Trey Lipscomb through the years

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Wakefield’s daughter throwing a first pitch to Jason Varitek was a beautiful, sad moment

We’re not crying. YOU’RE CRYING.

Pitcher Tim Wakefield passed away in October of 2023 from brain cancer. Still, his iconic knuckleball lives on through baseball and through his daughter, Brianna, who tossed out the first pitch at a recent Boston Red Sox game. The clip from that moment will give you chills.

Tim was part of the 2004 Red Sox team that won the World Series, and on Tuesday, he and his teammates were honored at Fenway Park. Fittingly, the organization asked Tim’s daughter, Brianna, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Not only did she nail it ā€” you’ll see her face light up with glee afterward ā€” but she ran into the arms of her dad’s teammate, Jason Varitek, as Phil Collins’ You’ll Be In My Heart was playing.

The cherry on top? Brianna and her brother, Trevor, raised the 2004 World Series trophy into the air for the home crowd. MY EYES ARE SWEATING.

Trey Lipscomb steals home at San Francisco

Former Vol Trey Lipscomb steals home in Washington’s win at San Francisco.

Washington (4-6) defeated San Francisco (4-7), 8-1, on Monday at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California.

Former Vol Trey Lipscomb started at third base for the Nationals. He went 3-for-5, recording one RBI, one run and three stolen bases. Lipscomb stole home during the second inning.

He is the fourth rookie to steal home for Washington since 2005: CJ Abrams (2022), Trea Turner (2016) and Bryce Harper (2012).

Lipscomb played at Tennessee from 2019-22 and appeared in 103 games, including 78 starts.

He recorded a .331 batting average, 24 home runs, 103 RBIs, 83 runs, 37 walks and seven stolen bases for the Vols. During the 2022 campaign, he becameĀ the first Vol since Cody HawnĀ (22) in 2009 to hit 20-plus home runs in a season.

Lipscomb appeared in 66 games in his final season at Tennessee in 2022. He totaled 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, 68 runs, 89 hits, 19 doubles, three triples, 26 walks and four stolen bases.

Tennessee won the Southeastern Conference East division, the league regular-season and tournament championships in 2022.

He was selected by Washington in the third-round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft (No. 84 overall).

PHOTOS: Trey Lipscomb through the years

Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports