#scouting-reports

#scouting-reports

When the Red Sox lost a trio of highly respected veterans in free agency, many turned to Rafael Devers as someone who will need to step up and become a leader in Boston's clubhouse.But as Alex Cora revealed Wednesday, having a commanding voice among his teammates won't be a new responsibility for the star third baseman.

After wrapping up a series against the Orioles yesterday, the Yankees are set to finish up a homestand this weekend with some interleague action.Starting tonight, the Padres will be in town for a three-game series in the Bronx.After knocking off the 100+ win Mets and Dodgers in last year's postseason and signing Xander Bogaerts, the Padres were a trendy NL West and World Series pick going into this season.

The ping pong balls have been picked and the envelopes opened, and as a result of the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the Toronto Raptors will pick 13th at the 2023 NBA Draft.The Raptors, who finished a middling 41-41 this past season, had the 13th-worst odds heading into the lottery, and just a 1% chance at landing the top pick.

One of Chaim Bloom's top priorities upon taking over the Red Sox was to improve both the top-end talent and depth of the club's farm system.Roman Anthony might be the latest example of success in both.Boston drafted Anthony in the 2022 MLB Draft, taking him as a second-round compensatory pick with the No. 79 selection in the draft.

Before Sunday's comeback win over the Rays, hitting coach Jose Castro discussed the White Sox' woeful start at the plate.He talked about the drills the players go through, the iPitch machine the team uses that simulates the stuff of opposing pitchers and the scouting reports everybody reads."They're all in, it's just that things are not working out," Castro said.

One month and three days before pitchers and catchers are set to report to spring training, the Cardinals' second-most prominent off-season acquisition stepped back from his role Thursday, opening the door for another fan favorite to enter the fold.Matt Holliday, the Cardinals Hall of Famer who was announced as the team's new bench coach Nov. 6, resigned that position.

The Miami Dolphins made the unexpected move of going cornerback with their first 2023 pick in the NFL draft, taking South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith at No. 51; here are some things to know about the Dolphins' second-round pick:
Pos./round: Cornerback/Second (No. 51)
School: South Carolina
Year: Redshirt junior
Hometown: Blythewood, S.C.
Comment: Smith has length as well as press coverage skills but the scouting reports say he's better suited for zone coverage, which is what new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes to play.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.Back in November, when Creighton set out for the Maui Invitational, the Bluejays stopped in San Diego and the next day shared a charter jet with the San Diego State team on their flight to Hawaii.Memories of Creighton's overtime win over San Diego State in the first round of the men's N.C.A.A. tournament the previous March might have led to some awkward moments.

A new rule banning infield shifts will require big league second basemen to cover far more ground than they have for the past decade or so, when teams regularly positioned three infielders on the right side against left-handed hitters.That could make it risky for a team with World Series aspirations to entrust the position to a rookie who made only 27 starts at second base in five minor league seasons and is not considered an elite defender at his primary spot - third base.

Ryan Sadowski was drafted in the 12th round in 2003 by the Giants out of the University of Florida.He broke into the Majors in 2009 as a 26-year-old, tossing six scoreless frames against the Brewers at Miller Park.The magic continued in Ryan's next start against the Astros.By the time he was scored upon in his third start, Sadowski had opened his career with 16 scoreless innings, a San Francisco Giants record.

Fish Stripes staffer providing credentialed coverage at today's Marlins workout: Noah Berger () Marlins Podcast Episodes


The following pitchers are scheduled to throw live batting practice at Marlins camp today: Matt Barnes, Johnny Cueto, Jesús Luzardo, Tommy Nance, A.J. Puk, Trevor Rogers and Will Stewart.

The hot new thing at this year's NHL trade deadline is getting deals done early.The Islanders kinda kicked things off around the All Star Break by getting Bo Horvat, and a number of other players have been moved in the last two weeks or so.With the actual deadline just a few days away on Friday afternoon, Lou Lamoriello struck again, acquiring winger Pierre Engvall from Toronto today for a third round pick in 2024.

Mason Thompson is still trying to earn a stable spot in the Nationals' bullpen.(John McDonnell/The Washington Post)WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Mason Thompson kept putting more and more space between each syllable, so change-up became chaaaange-uuup and curveball became cuuuurrrvebaaaall - as if he were imitating the slowest Texas drawl.

The 2023 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List is humming right along, and we've hit the quarter century mark as we seek to list the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.Coming in at No. 25 is right-handed pitcher Will Bednar, who tumbles 17 spots after being ranked No. 8 in his inaugural CPL last year.

No, he's not the reigning Minnesota Twins player that the San Francisco Giants thought they were getting, nor is he the multiple-time All-Star New York Yankees player that the Giants hoped they were getting.But Gary Sánchez is reportedly on the Giants radar.The news was reported by insider Héctor Gómez.

Happy weekend, San Francisco Giants fans.It is, unfortunately, not a happy weekend for our friend Austin Wynns.The Giants backup catcher was designated for assignment on Friday, after his first season with the team.Wynns made his Giants debut on June 9, after joining the team to backup Curt Casali when Joey Bart was sent back to the Minors for a little bit more Sacramento seasoning.

The Atlanta Braves are back in the business of signing top international amateurs, and this year their big bonus is going to Luis Guanipa.The 17 year old Guanipa is an outfielder from Venezuela and may be the most exciting international prospect the Braves have signed since the ill-fated 2016 class.

The gradual development path that the Toronto Maple Leafs have laid out for Timothy Liljegren is paying dividends.Taking the patient approach with their 2017 first round (17th overall) pick appears to have been a sensible decision by the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the rewards just starting to show.Rather than being flung into NHL action, Liljegren has taken a decidedly slower route to regular big-league minutes.