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Year two of the Jung Hoo Lee experience is going well for the San Francisco Giants. The Korean center fielder signed a six-year, $113 million contract in 2024 but missed most of last season with an injured shoulder. He’s back and slashing .340/.404/1.000 this season. He went 2-for-2 with his first homer of the year in a waterlogged first visit to Yankee Stadium. Back in Oracle Park, the Hoo Lee Gans fan club (fan-organized and not to be confused with the organization’s weekend Jung Hoo Crew) is growing in membership. He wears No.51 in honor of Ichiro Suzuki. He goes by “Grandson of the Wind” after his father, “Son of the Wind” Jong Beom Lee. After missing on marquee free agents, Lee might actually be the Hero that San Francisco needs.
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Today’s Headlines
Astros Rout Angels, Go Positive
Yainer Diaz hit his first grand slam, Cam Smith hit his first home run, and Isaac Paredes went deep for the first time on his new team. In their 14-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, the Houston Astros scored 27% of their 2025 total. Eleven Astros went to the plate and scored six runs in the fifth inning. Asher pointed out that the Milwaukee Brewers flipped their run differential to the plus side on Wednesday. The Astros wake up this weekend at +1. They’re the only AL West team with a positive RD today and one of just four AL squads out of the red.
Mike Trout hit his co-league leading sixth home run of the season. He’s at 384 for his career.
Yamamoto and Edman Propel L.A.
Two different types of acquisitions from last season led the way for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Megadeal free agent signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out nine in 6.0 IP. Trade deadline target Tommy Edman gave the Dodger pitching staff a three-run cushion with his sixth homer (tied with Trout and company). Los Angeles ran out a parade of potential closers — Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, and Tanner Scott — to shut down the last three innings.
Southside Slide Stops at 8
Today’s result was brought to you by a key prospect in the Sox exchange that sent Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox. Chase Meidroth started at second base, reached base four times (1 H, 3 BB), and scored twice in the Chicago White Sox’s 11-1 win. Starter Davis Martin went six innings with six strikeouts, the bullpen threw three shutout innings, and eight of the nine starters had a hit. In a season already trending toward “worst ever” contention once more, White Sox fans in attendance hopefully enjoyed a complete performance by the entire team.
NL Best Keeps Rolling
The Dodgers sit in third place at 11-4. The Giants pummeled the New York Yankees 9-1 in a game that only lasted five innings to stay in second place at 10-3. The division-leading San Diego Padres (11-3) blanked the last-place Colorado Rockies 8-0. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered in his return from his Tuesday injury. Nick Pivetta struck out 10, walked one, and gave up three hits in 7.0 IP. This could be an especially rough year for the Rockies. The top three teams in their division currently have three of the four best run differentials in the league. Even the 7-7 Arizona Diamondbacks are in the black after a 7-0 loss to Jose Quintana (7.0 IP, 0 ER) and the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. Colorado? A chilly -36.
Alonso Tops Leaderboards
The Athletics almost stole this spot from Pete Alonso with a ninth-inning rally, but the Polar Bear’s 3-for-3, 3 RBI night stays put. The A’s couldn’t overcome the lineup featuring the league’s hottest hitter. No, not Juan Soto. Alonso leads the league in batting average (.378), slugging percentage (.778), and OPS (1.260).
Best Moments From Yesterday
Raleigh Cap
Cal Raleigh hit his 96th home run, the most for a Seattle Mariners catcher. He passed Mike Zunino, who played 587 games over six seasons in Seattle. Raleigh just started his fifth season and played game 478 last night. His homer turned out to be the game-winner in a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Guardians on Guard
If I can, I’ll make sure a middle infielder’s defensive gem makes the list every Saturday. The Cleveland Guardians gave us an over-the-shoulder snag by Gabriel Arias that turned into a double-play. Arias also hit a three-run home run in a fantastic night for him.
Okay, we’ll give the outfielders some love, too. Angel Martínez iced the game with this dive.
Grandson of the Wind (and Rain)
Baseball only gets better as a global game. This call by Korean announcers is electric and poetic.
https://twitter.com/blackwings2011/status/1910857195958173960
No Mitter
Did Austin Hedges catch this foul tip without his glove and secure the strikeout barehanded? I watched this frame-by-frame like an NFL replay crew trying to decide what a catch is. I’m 99% sure the ball never touched leather after caroming off Jonathan India’s bat.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Chicago Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher Tom Cosgrove from the San Diego Padres for cash considerations. Right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian was designated for assignment.
⚾ The Los Angeles Angels placed flamethrower Ben Joyce on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. Michael Darrell-Hicks will make an MLB roster for the first time after his call-up from Triple-A.
⚾ The Kansas City Royals placed right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey on the 15-day IL with a teres major strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Steve Cruz from Triple-A.
⚾ The Detroit Tigers activated infielder Gleyber Torres from the 10-day IL.
⚾ The San Diego Padres placed infielder Jake Cronenworth on the 10-day IL with a non-displaced right rib fracture. (That sounds worse than cramping.) They also selected the contract of utility player Tyler Wade and moved right-handed pitcher Matt Waldron to the 60-day IL.
⚾ Catcher Joey Bart left the Pittsburgh Pirates game with lower back discomfort.
⚾ Shortstop CJ Abrams left the Washington Nationals game with a hip flexor issue.
⚾ Shortstop Masyn Winn left the St. Louis Cardinals game with back spasms.
Articles You Should Read
Luis Arraez Struck Out — Leo Morgenstern, FanGraphs
Before the torpedo bat: History of experiments, revolutions — Bradford Doolittle, ESPN
MLB diversity shows increase in Black players on Opening Day 2025 — Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com
Winston-Salem Welcomes Prom Kings, Queens and Emperors — Benjamin Hill, The Baseball Traveler
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