Brayden Haena Articles - Page 14

Juan Soto’s first game in a New York Mets uniform didn’t end with the heroic moment many fans had envisioned—but the superstar still showed grace in defeat. The Mets fell 3–2 to the Houston Astros on Opening Day, and the final out came with Soto at the plate, representing the go-ahead run. With runners on […]

The 2025 MLB season wasted no time bringing the drama. On Opening Day at loanDepot park, Miami Marlins rookie Kyle Stowers etched his name into the early-season highlight reel with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Miami a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and spoiling Paul Skenes’ first Opening […]

Opening Day at Globe Life Field is usually all about the Texas Rangers — especially fresh off a strong Spring Training. But on March 27th, just as the 2025 season was kicking off, a new chant rang out from the stands, one that had nothing to do with baseball. “Fire Nico!” fans yelled, loud enough […]

Baseball met Aviation Gin — and some seriously awkward sports lingo — thanks to a new MLB Opening Day spot starring actor Ryan Reynolds and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The commercial, released in celebration of Opening Day on March 27, is a playful jab at Ryan Reynolds’ limited baseball knowledge, despite his attempt to […]

ESPN personality Erin Dolan made waves on MLB Opening Day — and not just for her usual betting insights. Dolan, the rising star and ESPN betting analyst, showed off a stunning throwback Phillies jacket to support boyfriend Alec Bohm as he and the Philadelphia Phillies kicked off their 2025 season on the road against the […]

On Thursday at Nationals Park, MacKenzie Gore stepped onto the mound with the weight of Opening Day expectations. What followed was not just a breakout performance—it was a historic one. In his first career Opening Day start, the 26-year-old left-hander delivered a masterpiece, striking out 13 batters over six shutout innings while allowing just one […]

Jackson Merrill entered Opening Day with plenty of hype after a stellar rookie season, but the 21-year-old made sure to back it up with more than just talk. In front of a record crowd at Petco Park, Merrill delivered a historic performance, driving in four runs and helping power the San Diego Padres to a […]

With sky-high expectations, Paul Skenes entered his first Opening Day start with a skull-and-crossbones tie, a nod to his Pirates pride and the swagger he’s brought to the mound since being drafted first overall in 2023. And despite the Pirates’ eventual 5-4 walk-off loss to the Marlins, Skenes gave Pittsburgh exactly what they hoped for […]

Major League Baseball’s long-standing relationship with ESPN is officially winding down, and Commissioner Rob Manfred isn’t thrilled with how the news became public. Speaking on Mad Dog Unleashed, Manfred addressed the situation candidly when asked if ESPN’s decision to opt out of its MLB broadcast deal was a surprise. “Well, I didn’t have to see […]

Let the redemption arc begin in Detroit. Former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson will be on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster, a decision that reflects both his standout spring training performance and the organization’s continued belief in his potential. Torkelson, 25, is slated to start as the designated hitter when the Tigers open their […]

When Nolan Jones was pulled from the Rockies’ Cactus League lineup last Saturday, he didn’t know where he was going—only that he was being traded. Wandering the complex “shook,” the 26-year-old right fielder spent nearly an hour trying to process the news and guess his destination. The Cleveland Guardians? He ruled them out. “I did […]

A year ago, Ryan Johnson was pitching as a junior at Dallas Baptist University. Now, without having thrown a single professional pitch in the minor leagues, he’s officially a Major Leaguer. The Los Angeles Angels announced Tuesday that Johnson, their 2024 second-round draft pick, has made the Opening Day roster. It’s a rare and rapid […]

After weeks of speculation, Red Sox manager Alex Cora officially ended the debate on who will play third base this season in Boston. Speaking on WEEI Sports Radio Wednesday, Cora revealed that newcomer Alex Bregman will handle the hot corner while longtime third baseman Rafael Devers shifts to designated hitter. “We made a decision. Alex […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has long been seen as the face of the Toronto Blue Jays. But as the 2025 season kicks off, Vladdy’s future with the franchise is anything but certain. The 26-year-old slugger is entering the final year of his contract and appears poised to test free agency this offseason. Though Guerrero has repeatedly […]

Days before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home opener, Mookie Betts’ illness has turned into a troubling mystery, and his recent weight loss is raising red flags. Speaking to reporters after being scratched from Sunday night’s Freeway Series game against the Angels, Betts revealed he’s down to 157 pounds — nearly 20 pounds lighter than his […]

The Los Angeles Angels are adding a seasoned arm to their pitching depth just ahead of Opening Day.  “The Angels and RHP Carl Edwards Jr. have agreed to a minor league deal.” via Aram Leighton on X, formerly Twitter. The signing gives the Halos a potentially valuable bullpen piece with years of MLB experience, even […]

The Philadelphia Phillies will be without All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez to begin the 2025 season, as manager Rob Thomson confirmed Sunday that Suárez is expected to open the year on the 15-day injured list due to a lingering back issue. “We don’t want this thing to linger,” Thomson said, via MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “So if […]

The meteoric rise of Kristian Campbell through the Boston Red Sox farm system has culminated in the 22-year-old making the team’s Opening Day roster. Campbell was informed over the weekend that he’d break camp with the big league club, capping off a remarkable journey that began just two years ago when the Red Sox selected […]

Paul Skenes is no stranger to high expectations. As the reigning NL rookie of the year, opening day starter, and arguably the most electric young pitcher in baseball, Skenes isn’t just focused on strikeouts and Cy Young awards; he wants to change the narrative in Pittsburgh. “I think we owe something to the city,” Skenes […]

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoided a major loss this offseason by re-signing wide receiver Chris Godwin, and now the focus shifts to his health heading into the 2025 season. Godwin, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury last year, is making promising progress in his recovery, according to general manager Jason Licht. Licht shared an optimistic […]

The Toronto Blue Jays have locked in one of their most important pieces for the future, agreeing to a five-year, $58 million contract extension with catcher Alejandro Kirk. The deal includes a $6 million signing bonus and contains no club options or deferred money, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. It will keep Kirk in […]

As the Arizona Diamondbacks near the conclusion of spring training, the biggest question hanging over the team isn’t about final roster cuts or bullpen depth — it’s about Corbin Burnes, and when exactly the club’s $210 million ace will make his debut. What seemed like a straightforward plan — Burnes pitching the second game of […]

The Texas Rangers continued to shape their Opening Day roster this weekend, announcing the release of veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed. The decision comes as the team finalizes roster cuts ahead of the regular season and follows a wave of moves involving nonroster invitees who were informed they would not break camp with the big-league club. […]

On Saturday, Max Scherzer turned in another strong spring outing, but the veteran right-hander’s dominant four innings against the Minnesota Twins came with a familiar concern: the nagging thumb injury that has plagued him throughout camp. Scherzer, now entering his 20th Major League season, threw 62 pitches — 47 for strikes — in a crisp […]

The Seattle Mariners cruised to a 14-1 win over the White Sox on Saturday, but the celebration was tempered by a concerning moment involving outfielder Victor Robles. In the top of the fifth inning, Robles was hit on the right hand by an 87.2 mph slider from reliever Gus Varland and was forced to leave […]

With Opening Day fast approaching, the Houston Astros took significant steps toward finalizing their 26-man roster by making a flurry of roster moves on Saturday, including releasing veteran outfielder Ben Gamel and left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks. Gamel, 32, signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Astros in February after a solid but injury-shortened stint […]

The St. Louis Cardinals have made a pivotal roster decision ahead of Opening Day, opting to include infielder José Fermín as part of their 26-man squad. Fermín will assume a utility bench role, providing contact-hitting and defensive versatility across the infield. “José Fermín has made the #STLCards Opening Day roster, per sources. He’ll serve as […]

The Texas Rangers have decided to part ways with longtime veteran reliever Jesse Chavez, releasing him from his minor league contract just days before Opening Day. Chavez, who had been in spring camp with the Rangers, struggled considerably throughout spring training, leading to the team’s decision to move on. At 41 years old, Chavez was […]

The Baltimore Orioles have added veteran depth to their rotation by reuniting with 2021 All-Star pitcher Kyle Gibson on a one-year deal worth $5.25 million, with up to $1.525 million more available through incentives. This signing arrives just days before the Orioles open the season, addressing a pressing need following injuries and departures that have […]

The Yankees have officially confirmed Cody Bellinger as their No. 3 hitter, strategically placing him directly behind star slugger Aaron Judge to strengthen the middle of their batting order. After a spectacular spring training, in which Bellinger hit an impressive .465/.511/.791 across 16 exhibition games, the Bronx Bombers are optimistic he will translate this momentum […]

The Chicago Cubs have officially parted ways with veteran infielder Nicky Lopez, granting him his release following a request triggered by an opt-out clause in his minor league contract. Lopez, 30, initially signed with the Cubs as a non-roster invitee in early February, aiming to secure a spot as a versatile defensive piece in the […]

The Colorado Rockies were dealt a major blow with news that second baseman Thairo Estrada will miss four to eight weeks due to a broken right wrist. Estrada sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch from Texas Rangers’ Kumar Rocker, disrupting Colorado’s plans just one week before Opening Day. Estrada, signed to a […]

The Texas Rangers are betting big on a bounce-back year offensively, and the centerpiece of that revival could be their newest designated hitter, Joc Pederson. After a dismal showing at DH in 2024, the Rangers are counting on Pederson to help bring some much-needed pop back to the lineup — and manager Bruce Bochy isn’t […]

Former Michigan Wolverines co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss has been indicted on 24 federal charges stemming from an extensive hacking scheme that targeted thousands of college students and athletes across the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced the charges Thursday, which include 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 […]

The San Diego Padres’ starting rotation continues to be tested before the 2025 season even begins, as veteran right-hander Yu Darvish is now questionable for Opening Day due to elbow inflammation. Manager Mike Shildt provided the update following Darvish’s recent pause in his throwing program. While the team had previously cited “general fatigue,” Shildt clarified […]

As the Baltimore Orioles gear up for the 2025 season, catcher Adley Rutschman is embracing a clear mindset: tune out the noise and focus on winning. With expectations rising for a team that’s led the American League in wins over the past two seasons, Rutschman isn’t letting outside pressure define the group’s identity. “Our team’s […]

The New York Yankees made a roster move following their 4–0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, optioning infielder Jorbit Vivas to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The decision appears to be more about roster constraints than performance, as Vivas put together an impressive showing in spring training. Over 10 games, the 24-year-old infielder hit .435 […]

The Boston Red Sox added some intrigue to their Spring Training plans when top prospect Marcelo Mayer—long considered the team’s shortstop of the future—started at second base during Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. With Trevor Story healthy and locked into the shortstop position, the Red Sox are exploring ways to fast-track Mayer’s arrival to […]

The Philadelphia Phillies have filed a lawsuit against sports analytics companies Zelus Analytics and its parent company, Teamworks Innovations, accusing them of violating an exclusivity agreement regarding proprietary baseball analytics. The dispute centers around the Titan Intelligence Platform, a data-driven tool that provides teams with crucial insights into player evaluation, trade analysis, roster construction, and […]