MLB Player News

Ichiro becomes the first Japanese-born player headed to Cooperstown and fell just one ballot shy of being a unanimous selection with 99.7 percent of the vote. The Mariners icon wrapped up a legendary 19-year career with 3,089 hits, which doesn’t include his additional 1,278 hits overseas in Japan prior to his stateside arrival. The 2001 AL MVP Award winner broke George Sisler’s single-season record with a staggering 262 hits during a transcendent 2004 campaign and made 10 consecutive All-Star Game appearances from 2001-2010. A six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, Sabathia split his 19-year career between the Guardians and Yankees, with a memorable half-season stint for the Brewers sandwiched in the middle back in 2008 when he tossed an astounding seven complete games during a 17-start span. The generational southpaw, who finished with 251 wins in addition to a lifetime 3.74 ERA across 560 career starts, appeared on 86.8 percent of ballots to easily clear the 75 percent threshold. Among the elite closers of his generation and a strikeout machine, Wagner finally gets the long-awaited call for enshrinement — appearing on 82.5 percent of ballots — during his 10th and final year of eligibility after falling just short (73.8 percent) last year. The trio will join the late Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were selected for enshrinement back in December by the Classic Baseball Era Committee, this summer in Cooperstown.

Pederson blasted a 436-foot shot off of Mike Burrows in the third inning to put the Rangers up 2-1. It was the fifth homer of the season for Pederson, who has now homered in back-to-back games and three times in May. Pederson was responsible for three of the Rangers’ six hits in this one, doing everything he could to help out starter Jacob deGrom, who picked up the no-decision. Pederson is slashing .281/.386/.561 this month and has also driven in 11 runs.

Burrows allowed four hits in the first inning, but managed to hold the Rangers to just one run despite the early trouble. After pitching a scoreless second inning, Burrows would be taken deep by Joc Pederson for a solo homer in the third inning to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead, but he would settle in from there. Burrows didn’t allow another run on the night while getting through seven innings, and left with the game deadlocked at 2-2. Burrows has struggled throughout most of this season and ends this month with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Pirates.

The first run deGrom allowed on the evening came on a sacrifice fly in the second inning that scored Taylor Trammell from third after he doubled to lead off the inning. deGrom would later surrender a solo homer to Yordan Alvarez in the fourth inning, but otherwise did his part to limit runs and keep players off base. The veteran righty struggled in May, allowing four or more earned runs in three of his five starts while posting a 6.45 ERA on the month. His next start is scheduled for Monday on the road against the Cardinals.

Soler and Donovan Walton were the only players to register a hit for the Angels in Wednesday’s loss to the Tigers. Soler’s single in the second inning pushed his hitting streak to five straight games, but the right-handed slugger has just one extra-base hit in the past week and only two RBI over that span.

Things have not gone well for the Mets despite another tremendous season from Soto. His first inning home run gave them their first lead since last Friday, which they also got from a Soto first inning home run. Also, he was caught stealing for the second time this season in seven tries. For comparison, he was 38-for-42 as a base stealer last season. Even without carrying his newfound speed into this campaign, he has 12 home runs, a .301 batting average, and a .986 OPS through 39 games this season.

Williams did his best Houdini impression here, walking the first two batters he faced in a two-run game and eventually walking the bases loaded. Eventually, he struck out the other three batters he faced to secure the stressful save. After throwing 10 straight scoreless outings and only allowing two hits over that span, Williams coughed up a walk-off grand slam last time out and was shaky once again here. It looks like this could just be a Jekyll and Hyde type of season from the right-hander.

Tong was not as sharp here compared to his season debut against the Marlins last time out. There was some shoddy defense behind him – including his own error which led to an unearned run – but his changeup lacked serious bite and his curveball was literally all over the place. The one saving grace was his cutter. While also being erratic, it flashed as the exact swing-and-miss offering he’s desperately searching for to pair with his lively fastball. Tong is taking baby steps and should be left on waiver wires as he tries to build up his repertoire while working in this bulk relief role.

Here’s something you don’t see everyday: a batter coming to the plate six times in a game where their team only scored two runs. Just about the only way to do that is by stranding 17 runners on base like the Reds did here. Dunn contributed to that number himself too, by making two outs with runners in scoring position including a game-ending strikeout with the bases loaded. Nevertheless, this was his fourth straight game hitting lead-off – against a mix of right and left-handed pitchers – and he has instant fantasy value in that role.

Abbott did well to attack the zone here and dare the Mets’ floundering lineup to hit him. They did though, to a certain extent. Both Juan Soto and Eric Wagaman socked solo home runs to account for Abbott’s only two earned runs and an untimely Elly De La Cruz error followed by Carson Benge run-scoring single brought home the unearned run. While those were the only runs, the Mets stung 10 total hard-hit balls and there were more than a few balls caught by Reds’ outfielders on the warning track. Nevertheless, that made it six straight starts by Abbott in which he’s allowed two or fewer runs. The underlying stuff still isn’t strong with a 42:27 strikeout to walk ratio over 62 2/3 innings so far this season. He’s scheduled to face the Royals at home next time out.

Buxton put the Twins on the board early, slugging a leadoff homer off David Sandlin to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. It was the 17th homer of the season for Buxton, who continues to swing a hot bat for the Twins. The veteran righty is slashing .270/341/.703 on the month with nine homers and 16 RBI.