Category: Baseball

A month before Nick Kurtz put the exclamation mark on his Rookie of the Year campaign when he became the youngest player ever to homer four times in a game, Athletics slugger Brent Rooker already knew what he was witnessing was unlike anything he had seen from a 22-year-old. 

The Athletics returned home from a road trip to host an Astros team that employed two of Major League Baseball’s most overpowering late-inning relievers in Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader. On June 16, Rooker was standing on first base in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kurtz pulverized a slider from Abreu, pulling it 111.7 mph off the bat and 447 feet out to right field at Sutter Health Park for a walk-off home run. 

Three days later, Kurtz walked off Hader in a similar manner, taking the Astros closer 416 feet out to dead center.

It was one of just two home runs that Hader allowed to a left-handed hitter all year, and it came off the bat of a player who was less than a year removed from his last college game. 

“I think a lot of our eyes were opened,” Rooker told me months later, “to just kind of how special he is.” 

It was around that time that Kurtz transformed from an intriguing prospect into the best hitter in Major League Baseball. From June 15 through the end of the season, Kurtz led MLB in both OPS (1.112) and wrC+ (200), hitting 100% better than league average and posting numbers that topped even what Yankees star Aaron Judge accomplished over that time. It was one of the best second halves ever, a remarkable feat for any player, let alone one who was drafted the season prior and had played in only 32 minor-league games. 

“There’s obviously a little bit of pressure added on top of that because, ‘He moved up fast, is he ready, is he not?’” Kurtz told me in September, a day before the A’s put up 17 runs on the Angels. “That’s kind of why you do it, you know? Yeah, it’s tough, but it’s what makes it fun and kind of the challenge of it all. All right, how good can I be with all that pressure?”

Historically good, as it turns out. 

Kurtz wasn’t called up until April 23, yet he still produced one of the greatest rookie seasons of all time, launching 36 home runs with a 1.002 OPS. The only other rookies to reach those numbers in the last 100 years were Judge in 2017 and Albert Pujols in 2001. 

The circumstances could’ve overwhelmed Kurtz. Instead, the quick ascension — and the doubters that came with it — served as extra motivation. 

“You think I’m not as good as I am? I’m going to try to prove you wrong,’” Kurtz said. “Then there’s also going and proving people right.”

‘He’s Years Advanced’

It’s easy now, considering Kurtz was crowned the unanimous Rookie of the Year on Monday, to forget that it took some time for his raw power to manifest as a big leaguer. 

For much of the year, Kurtz’s teammate, Jacob Wilson, was the odds-on favorite to win MLB’s top rookie honor. While Wilson racked up hits in bunches, Kurtz had a .558 OPS 23 games into his career. 

The 2024 No. 4 overall pick didn’t hit his first home run until his 17th game, and after he finally went deep, he then went hitless over his next six games. Kurtz struck out in 31 of his first 77 at-bats. 

And yet, by season’s end, he still led all rookies in home runs, runs, RBI, walks, slugging and OPS.

“The mental fortitude he has at 22, I was nowhere near that,” said teammate Shea Langeliers. “He’s years advanced.”

Langeliers, a 2019 first-round pick who was also an A’s top prospect when he debuted at 24 years old, could relate more than most to Kurtz’s situation. During Kurtz’s slow start, he encouraged the phenom first baseman to take a step back and think about the incredible situation he found himself in, living out his lifelong dream. 

The early growing pains were understandable for a player in Kurtz who was playing college baseball just a year ago. Suddenly, the pitches were moving more, and he was no longer seeing the same mistakes he was making at the lower levels with the same frequency. 

“It can be overwhelming,” Langeliers said. “It feels like you’ve got to be the best player on the field at all times.”

The biggest change Kurtz had to make was more mental than mechanical. 

Entering the big leagues, he always thought he should be able to get a hit off anybody in any at-bat. He would learn that’s not always possible. 

“Just being OK with failure,” Kurtz explained. “Being OK with, ‘I can’t hit a homer off this guy today, what else can I do to get on base? How can I provide value?’”

His A’s teammates helped him gain that perspective. 

“I’m talking to Shea, I’m talking to Rook, I’m talking to guys that are like, ‘This is what they’re doing to you, you got nothing to hit that at-bat, move on,’” Kurtz said. “… A lot of it is like, OK, what do I do now? What do I need to change? I got a hit off that last time. What should I look for next time?’”

Kurtz is prone to swing and miss, but he doesn’t chase out of the zone, and he’ll take his free passes. He always has. In just three seasons at Wake Forest, Kurtz set the team’s single-season and career records for walks. Even when Kurtz’s power wasn’t translating early on with the A’s, his teammates saw that same quality of at-bat and advanced approach and believed it was only a matter of time until everything clicked. They would relay those words of encouragement to the 22-year-old slugger. 

“‘Hey man, you’re obviously super talented,” Rooker would tell him. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, keep doing the right things, the production’s going to come.”

“‘You made it, just enjoy the moment, be in the moment,’” Langeliers recalled telling Kurtz. “And just something along the lines of, ‘Be yourself. You don’t have to be anything more. You’re here for a reason. You are that good. Just believe in that.’” 

Darren Bush, the team’s director of hitting, encouraged Kurtz to be a good hitter first and the home runs would follow. Over a 43-game stretch after the early slump, Kurtz blasted 22 homers. 

Mechanically, nothing significant had changed. 

“He was drafted last year, and he’s in the big leagues,” Bush said. “You’re not going to make a whole lot of changes. You have to learn how to adjust. You have to learn how to face big-league pitching and understand what they’re trying to do, and you have to learn how to continue to do what you do well and not allow them to alter you off of what you do well. That takes time.”

Yet after the slow start, Kurtz somehow seemed immune from the peaks and valleys most young players experience. 

While his average dipped down the stretch, his OPS for each individual month from May through the end of the year was above .850. He could hit any type of pitch, slugging over .500 against fastballs, breaking balls and offspeed pitches. 

By year’s end, he was one of just three players along with Judge and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to finish the season with an OPS over 1.000 in more than 400 at-bats. Seeing his name alongside those MVPs elicited a grin. 

“Obviously I know it’s there, I have Instagram,” Kurtz said. “I see that kind of stuff.” 

He tries not to let it impact him. 

“I really just like being where my feet are,” Kurtz said. “Today, let’s worry about today. Today sucked? OK, let’s worry about tomorrow. That’s how I kind of deal with failure, moving on. Baseball’s not life or death.” 

Homers and Standing Ovations

That mindset, even going back to Wake Forest, has always served Kurtz well. 

Kurtz had an OPS over 1.100 all three years in college, but through his first 19 games of his junior season, he was hitting .231 with only three home runs. 

He then mashed 14 home runs over his next 10 games. 

His ability to withstand the ups and downs of a season, Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter believes, is both the result of Kurtz’s exceptional decision-making at the plate and his personality. Even when Kurtz was getting pitched around late in his college career, he didn’t let that frustration bleed into his performance or force him out of the zone. 

“It’s not a ‘ride the emotional rollercoaster,’” Walter told me. “He takes a mature and professional approach to the game, and he understands that there are going to be stretches where you’re struggling, and there are going to be stretches where you’re really going good, and over time those are going to kind of even out.”

That’s how it played out in his first year with the A’s. 

Kurtz, who describes himself as a streaky power hitter, hit four home runs over a four-game stretch and seemed to be picking up steam in late May when he strained his hip flexor. He returned on June 9. A week later, he delivered the walk-offs against Abreu and Hader. 

Suddenly, the home runs started coming in bunches. 

His prodigious power was evident in his bat speed (sixth highest in MLB this year), his barrel rate (seventh in MLB), his 18 home runs that traveled more than 400 feet and the way he sprayed his homers across all fields. From July 8-21, he launched six in 10 games, setting the scene for the most memorable game of his captivating rookie year. 

On July 25 in Houston, Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four home runs, a feat accomplished only one other time in MLB history, when Shawn Green did it in 2002. Three of his four home runs went the other way into the Crawford Boxes in left field. It was such an extraordinary power display that it even earned an ovation and hat tips from Houston fans.

The rest of the year, Kurtz would continue to inspire awe with his feats of strength. 

In the middle of September, he hit such a breathtaking grand slam that his teammate Lawrence Butler, who was standing on second base, just turned around and stared at the ball with his mouth agape. The mammoth shot to center, a 493-foot blast that cleared the batter’s eye at Sutter Health Park, was the longest home run by any player since Ohtani hit one the same projected distance two years prior. 

“The way he handled the failure, this kid gets it,” Langeliers told me. “A lot of guys — I would say most guys — struggle with that when they first get here just because whatever your hole is, they’re going to find it, and they’re going to expose you.”

Only time will tell how Kurtz might need to adjust again. His breakout year came despite struggles against lefties and the seventh-highest strikeout rate among all players with at least 400 plate appearances. In addition, poor defensive grades at first base limited his overall value. Those deficiencies might also demonstrate the ceiling still untapped in the preternatural 22-year-old, who is part of a fascinating nucleus of offensive standouts in Sacramento. 

The A’s only won 76 games this year, but their offense ranked eighth in OPS. And with the emergence of Kurtz and Wilson, who became the first set of teammates to finish first and second in AL Rookie of the Year voting since 1984 (Mariners duo Alvin Davis and Mark Langston), they can envision a more prosperous future — one that their 35-29 record in the second half might indicate is not far away. 

“It’s visible that we’re building toward something special,” Langeliers said. “We have that core group here, guys that are performing and only getting better.” 

Added Kurtz: “This team could be as good as we want to.”

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

 

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The Mets spent big last offseason but couldn’t reach October baseball. The Phillies looked poised for a World Series run but fell short once again. 

Both teams are expected to headline the NL East next season, but three other teams — the Marlins, Braves, and Nationals — will try to build toward making the division race a bit more interesting. 

After tackling the American League East, our series continues with the NL East. Here are the biggest needs for a star-studded division that boasts multiple World Series contenders:

Teams are listed in order of their records, best to worst, in the 2025 season.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Biggest need: Re-signing Kyle Schwarber

Given the lack of a clear replacement for Schwarber — really, there is no replacing the 56-home run season he just put up — keeping the 33-year-old in Philly is undoubtedly the team’s biggest need this winter. We’ve been mentioning the possibility of the Phillies’ championship window closing for years now, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is finally at that crossroads. Letting Schwarber walk away would signal the first domino falling. Paying what is expected to be a long-term nine-figure contract would help keep that window open. 

Still, Dombrowski has to make more decisions regarding the uncertainty of his roster beyond Schwarber — though he is the club’s biggest priority. Catcher J.T. Realmuto and left-hander Ranger Suarez are also free agents. Zack Wheeler’s availability going forward is in question after his thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Bryce Harper was reportedly “hurt” by Dombrowski’s comments on his 2025 performance, which the two-time MVP interpreted as trade speculation. So, yes, there’s a lot going on in Philly. But the core has won the division in back-to-back seasons now, before being eliminated in the NLDS in both years. With a few shrewd moves, the Phillies still have a chance at winning the World Series, but it starts with bringing back their elite designated hitter. 

NEW YORK METS

Biggest need: Starting pitching

The Juan-Soto powered Mets, with all their championship dreams and Big-Apple bragging rights over their crosstown rivals, walked into the 2025 season without a true ace. Flashing a $342 million payroll without a top-tier reliable starting pitcher was an indefensible miscalculation. President of baseball operations David Stearns cannot make that same mistake again. Fixing the club’s weak rotation is a significant task, but a savvy trade or two could be the answer. 

Right-hander Freddy Peralta reuniting with Stearns in Queens would be a good fit, but the Brewers picked up his $8 million team option, making him a steal after his 33-start, 2.70 ERA season. It would now be surprising if Milwaukee was willing to part with Peralta. Then there’s the possibility of a Tarik Skubal trade. If the Mets are willing to put together an extremely attractive trade package that involves emptying out the top talent in their farm system, Skubal is exactly the type of elite ace that the rotation needs to build around long-term. Otherwise, the Mets should be shopping at the top of the free-agent market for arms like Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Michael King. But it’s important to note that the Amazins haven’t had an ace since Jacob deGrom departed in free agency for the Texas Rangers. They need a long-term solution, not a temporary bandage.

MIAMI MARLINS

Biggest need: First base 

The Marlins are coming off a largely successful season with a ton of encouraging developments within their still-young, still-rebuilding roster. They had breakout offensive performances from Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee. They weren’t even mathematically eliminated from postseason contention until the final week of the regular season. They won 17 more games in 2025 than they did in 2024, jumping from last to third place in the division in that span. It was a better year than most expected from the Fish, and they have a real shot at getting into the expanded playoffs in 2026. 

To do so, they will need to find an upgrade at first base, preferably a right-handed power bat to balance out their lefty-heavy lineup. It’s unclear if the Marlins will spend more than usual this offseason after promoting Gabe Kapler to general manager under president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. I’m expecting Miami to be in the market for a mid- to low-tier free agent first baseman, rather than going for Pete Alonso or Josh Naylor at the top end. Someone like Rhys Hoskins could make sense for the Marlins. Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 90 games for the Brewers, and he’s likely to land a one- or two-year deal at a reasonable price range that should fall under $20 million. 

ATLANTA BRAVES

Biggest need: Shortstop

Before Ha-Seong Kim somewhat surprisingly declined his $16 million player option, I would’ve said starting pitching was the Braves’ biggest need. And while Atlanta still has hopes of re-signing Kim, they at least have competition now – with top playoff contenders like the Yankees and Blue Jays expected to be in the mix to solve their middle-infield vacancies this offseason. So now, the Braves’ biggest priority this winter is signing a shortstop. Their in-house option, Nick Allen, was excellent in the dirt with his glove. But his .535 OPS isn’t going to cut it. 

It’s a thin market for shortstops this winter, with Miguel Rojas’ 4.5 WAR leading the short list of free agents. After Rojas, there’s only Bo Bichette, Kim, and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa as far as quality middle-infield options. Bichette, of course, provides the best bat among that group. But it’s unlikely the Braves are willing to pay for his exorbitant price tag. If they are, then it would make more sense to move Bichette to second base, since he ranked last among all qualified shortstops with a -10 fielding run value in 2025. That way, they can shift Ozzie Albies to shortstop and solve their middle-infield problem. Otherwise, their best plan is probably to remain in the mix for Kim and bring him back on a pricier deal. 

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Biggest need: Developing their young stars

The Nationals have plenty of room in their payroll to shop for splashy free agents, but they’re not there yet. Still in a rebuild, their first-year president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and rookie manager Blake Butera will likely focus on upgrading various parts of their organization, including technology and analytics, before advertising Washington D.C. as a free-agent destination. 

Rather than solving any major roster holes, it’s more important for the Nationals to continue developing their young stars to ensure they will have promising futures. That includes Dylan Crewes, C.J. Abrams, and even Daylen Lile after he posted a 137 OPS+ in his first 91 games in the big leagues this year. Their rebuild only works if those young hitters are taking positive steps forward. Wood, an All-Star in 2025, is about to enter his third year in the majors, and he could benefit from the Nationals adding a power hitter who will protect him in the lineup. Toboni has said his front office will focus on adding controllable starting pitchers, but with left-hander MacKenzie Gore expected to be on the move before he becomes available for arbitration next year, the Nats can look to secure a power-hitting first baseman in a potential trade for their southpaw.

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz is due in court Monday on charges accusing him and teammate Emmanuel Clase of taking bribes to help bettors in their native Dominican Republic win prop bets placed on pitches they threw.

According to the indictment against the two unsealed Sunday, the highly paid hurlers took several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two unnamed gamblers in their home country win at least $460,000 on bets placed on the speed and outcome of certain pitches, including some that landed in the dirt.

Clase, who was the Guardians’ closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on nondisciplinary paid leave since July, when MLB started investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when the two pitched. Some of the games in question were in April, May and June.

Ortiz, 26, was arrested Sunday by the FBI at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday. Clase, 27, is believed to be outside the U.S., according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and did so on condition of anonymity.

Ortiz and Clase “betrayed America’s pastime,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said. “Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. When corruption infiltrates the sport, it brings disgrace not only to the participants but damages the public trust in an institution that is vital and dear to all of us.”

Ortiz’s lawyer, Chris Georgalis, said in a statement that his client was innocent and “has never, and would never, improperly influence a game — not for anyone and not for anything.”

Georgalis said Ortiz’s defense team previously documented for prosecutors that the payments and money transfers between him and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legal activities.

MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating unusual betting activity and has fully cooperated with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” a league statement said.

In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”

Clase and Ortiz are each charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

In one example cited in the indictment, Clase allegedly invited a bettor to a game against the Boston Red Sox in April and spoke with him by phone just before taking the mound. Four minutes later, the indictment said, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would toss a certain pitch slower than 97.95 mph.

Clase, a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, had a $4.5 million salary in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. The three-time AL save leader began providing the bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn’t ask for payoffs until this year, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary this year, got in on the scheme in June and is accused of rigging pitches in games against the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The charges are the latest bombshell developments in a federal crackdown on betting in professional sports.

Last month, more than 30 people, including prominent basketball figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in a gambling sweep that rocked the NBA.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres were named the winners of the 2025 Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards, recognizing the top defensive players in their respective leagues.

In the American League, Witt Jr. became only the fourth shortstop to earn the honor since the award’s 2011 inception and the second Royals player to win after Alex Gordon. He tied for the Major League lead with 24 Outs Above Average, started 153 games at shortstop and committed just 10 errors in 578 chances.

In the National League, Tatis Jr., who also won the award in 2023, claimed his second Platinum Glove. He fended off a challenge from the standout Cubs rookie Pete Crow‑Armstrong.

The Platinum Glove is reserved for the best overall fielder in each league, chosen from that year’s Gold Glove winners via fan voting and the SABR Defensive Index.

The Rangers took home the Gold Glove team honor in the AL, while the Cubs were named the best defensive club in the NL.

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Two Major League Baseball pitchers were indicted Sunday on charges they took bribes to give sports bettors advance notice of the types of pitches they’d throw and intentionally tossed balls instead of strikes to ensure successful bets.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while MLB investigated unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched.

Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction.

Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday.

MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating the unusual betting activity and “has fully cooperated” with authorities. “We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” its statement said.

In a statement, the Guardians said: “We are aware of the recent law enforcement action. We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.”

A lawyer for Ortiz declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press and a lawyer for Clase did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Major League Baseball announced its 2025 Silver Slugger Award winners this week, and while the usual superstar suspects are on this year’s list of winners, there are also plenty of first-timers.

The awards, which go to the top offensive player at each position and the best offensive teams in each league, are voted on by MLB managers and coaches. Who made the cut this year?

Here is the full list of Silver Slugger Award winners in the National League and American League:

*signifies first-time winners

National League

Catcher — Hunter Goodman, Colorado*

First base — Pete Alonso, New York*

Second base — Ketel Marte, Arizona

Third base — Manny Machado, San Diego

Shortstop — Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona*

Outfield — Juan Soto, New York

Outfield — Corbin Carroll, Arizona*

Outfield — Kyle Tucker, Chicago

Designated hitter — Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles

Utility — Alec Burleson, St. Louis*

Team: Los Angeles

American League

Catcher — Cal Raleigh, Seattle*

First base — Nick Kurtz, Athletics*

Second base — Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York*

Third base — Jose Ramirez, Cleveland

Shortstop — Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City

Outfield — Aaron Judge, New York

Outfield — Byron Buxton, Minnesota*

Outfield — Riley Greene, Detroit*

Designated hitter — George Springer, Toronto

Utility — Zach McKinstry, Detroit*

Team: New York

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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It’s never too early to look toward the 2026 MLB season, and that starts with keeping tabs on all the deals.

Here are all the notable free agency signings, trades, and extensions throughout the offseason. 

MLB free-agent and trade tracker

November 5

Rays trade RHP Cole Wilcox to Mariners
Reported Terms: Mariners acquire Wilcox; Rays get cash considerations

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November 4

Cubs trade RHP Andrew Kittredge to Orioles
Reported Terms: Orioles acquire Kittredge; Cubs get cash considerations

–>

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 Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, who missed the World Series because of what the team said at the time was a “deeply personal family matter,” said on Friday his daughter, Sterling, has died.

“Our little angel we love you forever & you’re with us always,” Vesia and his wife, Kayla, said on Instagram in a post that included a picture of an infant holding hands with adults. “Our beautiful daughter went to heaven Sunday October 26th. There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her.”

Vesia went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 68 regular-season games and 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven postseason appearances. The team announced on Oct. 23, the day before Game 1 against the Blue Jays, that he was not with the team in Toronto.

Dodgers relievers wore Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps in a tribute to their absent teammate. Blue Jays relievers joined them in the tribute for Game 6.

Vesia and his wife, Kayla, thanked the medical staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for taking care of their family. They also thanked both teams for their understanding and support.

“Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” the Vesias wrote. “Thank you Dodger Nation, Blue Jays organization and all baseball fans for your love and support. We have seen ALL your messages, comments and posts. It’s brought us so much comfort.”

The Dodgers beat Toronto in seven games, their second straight World Series championship.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Prince Harry went to Toronto for events marking the end of World War I and found himself on an apology tour for offending Canadians.

Speaking to a military charity on Thursday night, the Duke of Sussex sought to once again address the “blue-hatted elephant in the room.” He was referring to his widely ridiculed choice to wear a Los Angeles Dodgers cap at a World Series game in Los Angeles against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was seen as a major snub in Canada, a British Commonwealth nation, where his father, King Charles III, is the head of state. He was blasted on social media in the Great White North.

Harry apologized for the blunder and tried to put a humorous spin on the incident he referred to as “Hat Gate.”

“When you’re missing a lot of hair on top, and you’re sitting under floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s available,” he joked in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CTV.

He then donned a Blue Jays cap that happened to be an arm’s length away.

The incident was perceived by some as a test of his allegiance between his birthplace and his adopted home in the U.S. The prince and his wife, Meghan, stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to Canada briefly before settling in California.

The appearance of Harry and Meghan at Game 4 of the series — that L.A. went on to win in seven games — also rankled some Dodgers fans who were upset at their prime position behind home plate.

The couple sat in the first row – in front of L.A. royalty — Dodgers great Sandy Koufax and Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who is a part owner of the team.

Harry said the couple, who live about an hour west of Los Angeles in the ritzy coastal enclave of Montecito, had been invited to the game by the team owner.

He felt “under duress” and wore the hat as a polite gesture, something he told the Toronto audience that he thought Canadians — known for their civility — would support.

Harry was in Canada for two days of events and meetings in advance of Remembrance Day on Tuesday that honors armed forces members who died in the line of duty.

“I am truly sorry for wearing a Dodgers cap,” he said to applause at a dinner for the True Patriot Love Foundation, a charity for Canadian service members and veterans.

He then played up his connections to the country, including the fact that his actor wife — before they married and when she was known as Meghan Markle — lived so long in Toronto filming the show “Suits” that many thought she was Canadian.

“Hopefully you can forgive her as a native Californian for her Dodgers loyalty, even if for just one evening,” he said. “But all jokes aside, this city has always meant a great deal to me — you provided me a wife.”

Harry insisted that he was rooting for the Jays for the final three games of the series — an admission that he told CTV might make his return to L.A. more difficult.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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San Diego reliever Mason Miller, Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto and Kansas City third baseman Maikel Garcia are among 34 players with two-to-three years of service time who are eligible for salary arbitration.

Colorado outfielder Brenton Doyle, Milwaukee shortstop Brice Turang, Cincinnati shortstop Matt McLain and Washington right-hander Jake Irvin also made the cutoff of 2 years, 140 days of major league service.

Seattle right-hander Kowar Jackson, Tampa Bay right-hander Manuel Rodriguez and Cincinnati left-hander Brandon Williamson just missed at 2 years, 139 days. Behind them at 2 years, 136 days were San Francisco catcher Patrick Bailey, Royals right-hander Kuis Erceg and Giants right-hander Ryan Walker.

The cutoff was up from 2 years, 132 days last offseason and 2 years, 118 days for 2024. The cutoff was as low as 2 years, 115 days in 2019 and as high as 2 years, 146 days in 2011.

McLain was the last player above the cutoff at 2 years, 140 days. New York Mets right-hander Reed Garrett has 2 years, 143 days, and Houston outfielder Taylor Trammell and St. Louis left-hander Matthew Liberatore each has 2 years, 144 days.

Tampa Bay right-hander Alex Faedo would have been eligible but was designated for assignment this week and elected for free agency.

Others eligible include Cincinnati shortstop Nick Allen, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, Boston left-hander Brennan Bernardino, Mets right-hander Huascar Brazoban, Cleveland outfielder Will Brennan, New York Yankees infielder Jose Caballero, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Alex Call, Washington right-hander Cade Cavalli, Miami right-hander Calvin Faucher, San Diego catcher Freddy Fermin, Cleveland right-hander Matt Festa, Guardians third baseman David Fry, Tampa Bay right-hander Kevin Kelly, Kansas City right-hander James McArthur, Athletics right-hander Luis Medina, Miami right-hander Max Meyer, Seattle right-hander Bryce Miller, Rays outfielder Richie Palacios, Houston left-hander Bennett Sousa, Pittsburgh outfielder Jack Suwinski, Rays right-hander Edwin Uceta, A’s left-hander Ken Waldichuk, Atlanta left-hander Joey Wentz and Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski.

The top 22% of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration as long as they had at least 86 days of service this year. They join the group of three-to-six-year players.

Players and teams are set to exchange proposed salaries on Jan. 8, and hearings for those lacking agreements will be scheduled for Jan. 26 to Feb. 13 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Players were eligible after two years of service from 1974-85, and the threshold increased to three years in 1986. The super 2 class began in 1991 at 17%, and it increased to 22% in 2013.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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