Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
Today’s Headlines
Four new members inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
Presenting your Hall of Fame Class of 2024! pic.twitter.com/T2fINcg4IO
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) July 21, 2024
Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, and Jim Leyland were officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York on Sunday afternoon.
The speeches and sentiments are always my favorite part of the afternoon. Beltré thanked some of his teammates before getting to longtime teammate and good friend Elvis Andrus, calling him a “pain in my… butt” with a laugh.
To: Rangers Fans
Love: Adrian ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JWfPwQJS5s
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 21, 2024
From one Hall of Famer to another, Larry Walker spoke about former teammate Todd Helton’s impressive run in Colorado and how it was a lot of fun hitting in front of Helton who was always driving him home.
Todd Helton, welcome to baseball immortality!@baseballhall pic.twitter.com/q66YlG2i8f
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 21, 2024
Joe Mauer tipped his cap to fellow Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, and Jack Morris from St. Paul, Minnesota, and said, “Watching them as a kid was my first glimpse of hope that maybe I could make it in baseball as well.”
That kid from St. Paul grew up to be a first ballot Hall of Famer 🥹 pic.twitter.com/8sgUDCzOUQ
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 22, 2024
And last but not least, Jim Leyland talked about the joy that baseball brought to his life. Leyland also spoke about how rewarding it was to manage minor leaguers because you got to deliver the news that they were going to the big leagues. He managed in the big leagues with the Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, and Tigers, bringing a World Series to my hometown team in South Florida in 1997 and a World Baseball Classic victory to Team USA in 2017.
This is baseball at its very best. #HOFWKND pic.twitter.com/fVUhLyygmf
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) July 22, 2024
Yordan hits for the cycle
Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez had a historic day on Sunday, hitting for the cycle against the Mariners. It was something he’s never done before, not even when playing video games according to Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart.
Alvarez hit a single in the first inning, a towering 429-foot home run in the fourth, an unlikely triple in the sixth, and capped it off with a double in the eighth. Yordan’s cycle on Sunday was the 10th in Astros’ franchise history.
YORDAN ALVAREZ HAS JUST HIT FOR THE CYCLE!!!! pic.twitter.com/Pgo8CoNMzn
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 21, 2024
This & That
The segment that highlights some top performers worthy of praise! Sunday’s players include:
- Hayden Birdsong: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, 27 whiffs
- Shohei Ohtani: 473 ft. home run hit at 116.7 mph
- George Springer: 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs
- Michael King: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
- Seth Lugo: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
SHOHEI JUST HIT A HOMER 473 FEET. pic.twitter.com/H8ceT0H0Yx
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 22, 2024
Springer Dingers are so nice, he did it TWICE!
It's a TWO-homer game 👏 pic.twitter.com/tqxrbg5qSU
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 21, 2024
Seth Lugo finishes off the first complete game of his career! pic.twitter.com/wrcN56S1Ge
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2024
Best Moments From Yesterday
Lil Ceddanne on SNB
The Sunday Night Baseball crew was interviewing Ceddanne Rafaela and shared a clip from the 2012 Little League World Series. Rafaela was playing for Curacao and said his favorite player was Derek Jeter before doing a backflip for the camera. A cool, full-circle moment for the Red Sox rookie.
How it started ➡️ how it's going with Ceddanne Rafaela 🤩 pic.twitter.com/KHRiWkeWrv
— ESPN (@espn) July 21, 2024
Big Papi’s got jokes.
Adrián Beltré really doesn’t like people touching his head, but David Ortiz had to do it one last time!
Don't you ever, EVER touch my d̶r̶u̶m̶ s̶e̶t̶ head. You understand? pic.twitter.com/29uN3T9psd
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2024
IYKYK
If you don’t know, read the third article in the list below.
He always comes through. pic.twitter.com/eevdpIINp8
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 21, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ 2B Ozzie Albies has a broken wrist and will miss approximately eight weeks.
⚾ OF Julio Rodríguez injured his ankle but X-rays were negative. He’ll likely have an MRI today but for now, consider him day-to-day.
⚾ SP Ryan Pepiot was placed on the IL with a knee infection.
⚾ SP Max Fried landed on the injured list with left forearm neuritis.
⚾ SP Reese Olson hit the 15-day IL with a shoulder strain.
Articles You Should Read
Emotional and eloquent, Leyland deeply touched by HOF induction — Jason Beck, MLB.com
Helton, who has spent his career lifting others, ascends to baseball’s highest pedestal — Thomas Harding, MLB.com
Major news story? Let’s tune in to Nick Castellanos’ next at-bat — Levi Weaver, The Athletic
Fantasy Baseball Coverage