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What was already a short day in the MLB was cut even shorter by rain in the Midwest as the games in Detroit and Cincinnati were postponed to bring today’s slate down from seven games to five. Of the ten teams playing, plenty of them took the hint and made it rain on Thursday with some offensive explosions coming from unexpected places. Let’s check out all the biggest news and best moments from yesterday around the MLB:
Today’s Headlines
More Details on Mizuhara and Ohtani Emerge
On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s longtime translator, would be pleading guilty to charges related to the theft of millions of dollars used to place a substantial amount of bets through a bookie. As the story unraveled on Thursday, we were provided with many more details about the extent and methods surrounding Mizuhara’s theft:
This detail from @Alden_Gonzalez and @pinepaula's story on Ippei Mizuhara being charged with stealing more than $16 million from Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani answers a long-standing question of how he got access to the money. Full story here: https://t.co/lzlaFNGAEB pic.twitter.com/jiPXjvNSVi
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 11, 2024
The full story can be found here and outlines many of the details surrounding the charges Mizuhara is facing. A key take-home from all of this is that Ohtani is being considered a victim and is in no way linked to Mizuhara’s actions. As this story nears its end, hopefully, the Dodgers’ superstar can move on and enjoy the rest of the baseball season without this scandal hanging over his head.
Bobby Goes Ballistic in Royals’ Sweep of Astros
One of the best surprises of the young season thus far has been the Kansas City Royals, who entered the day on a six-game win streak and a series win against the Houston Astros already in the books. Looking to complete a perfect homestand and finish the sweep, the Royals erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.
Who ordered the nine-run inning? pic.twitter.com/Cp7re3pb3a
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 11, 2024
Leading the charge for the home team was none other than Bobby Witt Jr., who is off to a scorching hot start in 2024. Witt capped off the first inning’s scoring with a two-run shot off Hunter Brown and then added a second blast in the seventh off Bryan Abreu:
Witt me baby one more time. pic.twitter.com/iyGQDRq8vK
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 11, 2024
This was Witt’s third career multi-homer game and is the Royals’ longest win streak since they won seven in a row last summer. The Royals will travel to Queens to take on the New York Mets on Friday as they look to extend their win streak to eight games or more for the first time since the Summer of 2017. As for the Astros? They’ll look to right the ship and improve on their 4-10 record with a tough test at home against the Rangers.
Party ’til the Cowsers Come Home
While the eyes of the baseball world have been on Jackson Holliday following the rookie phenom’s call-up on Wednesday, Colton Cowser reminded us that there is more than one Orioles rookie to be excited about in 2024. Facing a 2-0 deficit in the fifth inning, Cowser hit his first career home run just over the Green Monster to put the Orioles on the board:
The Green Mooooonster pic.twitter.com/lI3xwBproN
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 12, 2024
Cowser seemed to enjoy this experience and decided to replicate it once more in the tenth inning to essentially put the game away for Baltimore in their MLB-leading sixth comeback win of the season:
huge if true pic.twitter.com/p0XDRuszHp
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 12, 2024
This shot gave the outfielder a whopping 10 RBI in the series sweep of the Red Sox. With Cowser and Holliday both up and seemingly here to stay, the O’s seem set on young talent for the foreseeable future and can’t possibly have any more elite options waiting in the wings in Triple-A Norfolk.
hilarious Jackson Holliday thing is that his 1.077 OPS currently ranks 6th on the Norfolk Tides
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 10, 2024
Oh.
Mets Finish Road Trip Strong in Atlanta
While the Royals were taking it to the Astros, the Mets were also breaking out offensively after a slow start to the season, hanging 16 runs on the Braves on Thursday. Every Mets player that took an at-bat tallied at least one hit in the rout. Tyrone Taylor capped off the scoring in the ninth in a big way by hitting a grand slam for his first home run as a Met:
Grand Slam! pic.twitter.com/Gf96u5uzBs
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 11, 2024
The victory gave the Mets a much-needed series win against the mighty Braves and marked a second consecutive series win on their road trip. The Mets will travel home to face the red-hot Royals in what should be an exciting series between two surging teams.
Best Moments From Yesterday
It’s Miller Time
The Oakland Athletics finished off a surprising road series win over the defending champs on Thursday with a combined team 1-hitter, closing the door with a dominant ninth inning from closer Mason Miller. As he tends to do, Miller threw gas the whole ninth inning, topping out at a whopping 103 MPH to get Corey Seager for the second out of the inning:
Mason Miller turned it up … to 1️⃣0️⃣3️⃣! 👀
(MLB x @LoanDepot) pic.twitter.com/7TjGT5YLSo
— MLB (@MLB) April 11, 2024
Gunnar’s Extra-Inning Heroics
Sure, Colton Cowser put the cherry on top, but it was Gunnar Henderson who initially gave the Orioles the lead in the 10th on Thursday night. Check out his go-ahead shot over the Green Monster here:
Gunnar Henderson puts the @Orioles on top in extras! pic.twitter.com/OhnL6qzfQQ
— MLB (@MLB) April 12, 2024
Did Someone Order Onions with this Burger?
Today’s tug-at-your-heartstrings moment comes from Jake Burger and his grandfather, who has chronicled the infielder’s journey from little league to the bigs in the form of a scrapbook.
“Jake’s Journey”
A scrapbook curated by his very own grandpa, Terry. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/7UH588Sg6R
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 11, 2024
Loftin Gets Lofty
Safe to say Nick Loftin won’t be joining the track and field team for the 110-meter hurdles this summer in Paris.
Nick Loftin hit the hurdle button 😂 pic.twitter.com/ozmCpCm4NL
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 11, 2024
Baby Trout Doo-Doo, Doo-Doo, Doo-Doo
Mike Trout announced on Thursday that he and his wife Jessica are expecting their second child. Their son, Beckham, seems particularly pleased about the news. Congrats, Mike and Jessica!
Baby brother on deck pic.twitter.com/IAr0he2oF4
— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) April 11, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers missed Thursday’s game with shoulder soreness and should be considered day-to-day.
⚾ Pirates RHP Colin Holderman was activated from the 15-day IL.
⚾ Red Sox SS Vaughn Grissom will start a minor league rehab assignment on Friday.
⚾ Rangers 1B Nathaniel Lowe will also start a minor league rehab assignment Friday.
⚾ RHP Yohan Ramírez was acquired from the Mets by the Orioles for cash considerations.
⚾ Cubs optioned RHP José Cuas to AAA.
⚾ White Sox optioned OF Oscar Colás to AAA.
Articles You Should Read
‘One down, four to go’: After Holliday, O’s next prospects on standby — Jake Rill, mlb.com
What Tommy John surgery looks like today: Revision surgeries, internal brace procedures — Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic
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