>>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Wins 2023 Home Run Derby
(Seattle, WA) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the 2023 Home Run Derby champion. Vladdy Jr. joined Senior to become the first father-son duo to win the event. The Blue Jays’ slugger mashed 25 home runs in the final round to take down Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena, who hit 23. Guerrero Jr. began the night by eliminating Mookie Betts 26-11. He also took down Mariners’ outfielder Julio Rodriguez 21-20 in the semis. Rodriguez set a single-round record in the derby with 41 home runs in the quarterfinals against Pete Alonso, who crushed 21 long balls. Arozarena advanced to the finals after topping Adolis Garcia 24-17 in the quarters and exploding for 35 home runs in semis to eliminate White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. Robert eliminated Adley Rutschman 28-27 in round one.
>>MLB All-Star Game Preview
(Seattle, WA) — The top players in baseball are set to take the field for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game tonight. The American League will be going for its 10th straight victory over the National League when the two sides square off at T-Mobile Park. The Atlanta Braves have a Major League Baseball-leading eight players suiting up for the NL, while the Texas Rangers lead the AL with six selections. Gerrit Cole of the Yankees will start for the AL, while Zac Gallen of the Diamondbacks earns the starting nod for the NL. This game marks the third Midsummer Classic to be held in Seattle and first since 2001.
>>Yankees Hire Sean Casey As Hitting Coach
(Bronx, NY) — The Yankees are hoping their latest addition will help improve a stagnant offense. New York has hired Sean Casey as its new hitting coach. The 49-year-old had been working as an analyst for MLB Network, and will fill the role for the remainder of the season so he can better decide if it’s a position he would like to remain in going forward. The Bronx Bombers have been hitting a major-league-low .218 in 31 games since losing Aaron Judge to a toe injury, and fired hitting coach Dillon Lawson on Sunday. Casey is a three-time All-Star who hit .302 across 12 MLB seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox.
>>Cardinals Draft Eight More Players
(Seattle, WA) — The St. Louis Cardinals concluded day two of the 2023 MLB Draft with eight more players in their system. The team selected Boston College outfielder Travis Honeyman in the third round, Stanford pitcher Quinn Mathews in the fourth round, and Miami outfielder Zach Levenson in the fifth. The Cardinals added another outfielder and four more pitchers in rounds six through ten. The MLB Draft continues today.
>>Arenado Gears Up For All-Star Game
(Seattle, WA) — Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is enjoying the All-Star Game festivities in Seattle. Arenado is starting at third base for the National League after winning the fan vote last month. The 32-year-old is in the All-Star Game for the eighth time in his career. Arenado wrapped up the first half of the season with a .283 average, 19 home runs, and 62 RBI in 86 games. The All-Star Game gets underway at 7:00PM tonight.