Elly De La Cruz Becomes Youngest MLB Player to Post 25 HR, 60 SB Season

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Elly De La Cruz has etched his name in the annals of Major League Baseball history.

The 22-year-old Dominican professional baseball infielder, who plays for the Cincinnati Reds, became the youngest player in MLB history to hit 25 home runs and steal 60 bases in a season during his team’s 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

But that’s not all… He’s also the first shortstop with 25 homers and 65 steals in a season.

De La Cruz hit the benchmark when he blasted his 25th home run of the season in the fourth inning, a three-run shot that struck the railing just below the upper-level bar in right field, to make the score 6-0. He finished the game with three hits, including a double, and four RBIs.

De La Cruz joined Eric Davis and Barry Larkin as the only Reds players with 25 homers and 65 stolen bases in a season.

“It means a lot to me, those are great players,” De La Cruz said. “I feel great. I wanted to finish strong.”

De La Cruz stole his 65th base of the season on Friday night. It was his 100th career stolen base in his 251st career game.

Also on Saturday, De La Cruz became the third player in major league history with 35 doubles, 25 homers and 60 stolen bases in a season, joining the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2023 and Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan in 1973, according to ESPN Research.

Oneil Cruz Switching Positions with Pittsburgh Pirates

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Oneil Cruz is switching positions…

The 25-year-old Dominican professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates is switching positions, moving from shortstop to center field.

Cruz is likely to be the designated hitter for the three-game series against the Chicago Cubs that starts on Monday night.

He’ll go through pregame workouts during the early part of the week before likely making his center-field debut sometime during a three-game weekend series at Cleveland.

The 6-foot-7 Cruz has made only one appearance in the outfield since breaking into the major leagues late in the 2021 season.

He played one inning in left field in 2022.

Cruz became the tallest shortstop in Major League Baseball history when he made his debut on Oct. 2, 2021.

“It’s something that we’ve been talking about,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of the position change before Monday night’s game. “It’s not something we took lightly. He’s an unbelievable athlete. We feel that [center field] is probably the best position for him and for the Pirates.”

Cruz has been charged with 24 errors this season in 112 games, including 12 in his past 28 games. He is hitting .265 with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases.

In last place in the National League Central, the Pirates are trying to get a jump on 2025.

“We wanted to make sure that we had a runway of games going into next year, for that to be important,” Shelton said. “Excited to see him out there. This kid is a dynamic athlete. With the way that we’re set up now, I feel that’s the best thing for us.”

Veteran infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa is expected to get the bulk of starts at shortstop for the remainder of the season. The Pirates acquired him from Toronto in a July 30 trade and he is signed through 2025 as part of a two-year, $15 million contract with the Blue Jays.

The Pirates also made four roster moves on Monday — second baseman Nick Gonzales (left groin strain) was activated from the 10-day injured list, catcher Joey Bart (strained left hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL, catcher Henry Davis was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and right-hander Jake Woodford was designated for assignment.

Rookie right-hander Jared Jones is expected to be activated from the 15-day IL to start Tuesday night against the Cubs. He has been out since July 4 with a strained right lat.

Bryan de la Cruz Acquired by Pittsburgh Pirates

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s all hands on deck for Bryan de la Cruz.

With an eye on a playoff push, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired two new bats ahead of Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, including the 27-year-old Dominican professional baseball outfielder.

de la Cruz was acquired alongside utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

de la Cruz led the Miami Marlins with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs while batting .245 in 105 games this season. He is one homer away from tying his career high set last year.

In 431 career games for Miami since debuting in 2021, De La Cruz has batted .258 with 55 homers and 191 RBIs.

Diego Castillo Claimed by New York Mets

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Castillo is headed to the Big Apple…

The 26-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball infielder has been claimed by the New York Mets off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Castillo appeared in one Major League Baseball game last year, flying out as a pinch hitter on July 31.

He hit .313 with 33 doubles, three home runs, 72 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 124 games at Triple-A Reno.

Castillo made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022, when he batted .206 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 96 games. He was traded to Arizona in December 2022.

He was designated for assignment on December 22 to open a roster spot when the Diamondbacks re-signed outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Rowdy Tellez Agrees to $3.2 Million, One-Year Contract with Pittsburgh Pirates

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s all hand on deck for Rowdy Tellez.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with the 28-year-old half-Mexican American professional baseball first baseman/designated hitter.

Tellez can earn $800,000 in performance bonuses as part of the deal, which is pending a successful physical.

Tellez hit .215 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. The left-handed Tellez is a career .233 hitter in six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee.

The Pirates entered the offseason in need of help at first base. They began 2022 with Carlos Santana at the position before sending him to Milwaukee at the trade deadline. Connor Joe and Jared Triolo saw time at first, among others, over the final two months of the season.

Tellez should find the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park inviting. He is a career .277 hitter at PNC Park, with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs in 21 games.

Tellez is the second significant addition by the Pirates during free agency. Pittsburgh acquired left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales from the Seattle Mariners last week

Ali Sánchez Agrees to 1-Year Deal with Pittsburgh Pirates

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ali Sánchez is battening down the hatches…

The 26-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball catcher has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving the team another player to throw in the mix behind the plate with Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis.

Sánchez spent last season with Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, hitting .311 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 67 games. He also threw out 22 baserunners.

Sánchez has appeared in seven Major League Baseball (MLB) games, five for the New York Mets in 2020 and two for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.

While Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has insisted that Davis, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft, will get a chance at catcher, Sánchez’s arrival gives Pittsburgh flexibility at the position. Davis played primarily in right field after making his major league debut in June.

The Pirates also claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Munoz off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Muñoz, 23, went a combined 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA in 34 appearances at multiple levels of the minors in 2023.

Houston Astros Star Jose Altuve Notches 2,000 Career Hits

Posted on August 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jose Altuve has 2,000 reasons to smile…

The 33-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball player and Houston Astros star has notched 2,000 career hits, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone.

Altuve hit a leadoff single in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert on Saturday night.

He was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a double, but the Minute Maid Park crowd was ready to celebrate.

As Altuve trotted toward the dugout, a 2,000-hit graphic was displayed on the jumbotron and the eight-time MLB All-Star tipped his helmet to the roaring crowd. With the fans still cheering, Altuve stepped up out of the dugout for a curtain call, once again tipping his helmet.

“We did a little champagne toast and they said some things about me and then I had to say some things about me, too,” Altuve said about the postgame clubhouse celebration. “It was good.”

Hall of Famers Craig Biggio (3,060) and Jeff Bagwell (2,314) also reached 2,000 hits with the Astros. They were both in attendance on Saturday night.

Altuve also singled on Gilbert’s first pitch of the game and singled in the seventh, ending the day with 2,001 career hits. He finished 3-for-5 in a 10-3 loss to Seattle.

“That’s quite an accomplishment,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “A couple other Hall of Famers here got 2,000 hits. … Hopefully he can stay healthy and be around for the next 1,000.”

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and Chicago White Sox infielder Elvis Andrus also reached 2,000 career hits this season. Andrus got his milestone hit on April 5. Freeman accomplished the feat on June 25, and McCutchen reached the milestone on June 11.

There are seven active MLB players with at least 2,000 hits: Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz, Andrus, McCutchen and Freeman.

Milwaukee Brewers Acquire Carlos Santana from Pittsburgh Pirates

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Things are brewing for Carlos Santana.

The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired the 37-year-old Dominican-American professional baseball player and first baseman from the Pittsburgh Pirates, attempting to shore up a tepid offense as they try to hold onto first place in the National League Central.

Santana was dealt to a contender for the second consecutive season after going from Kansas City to Seattle last year. Long considered a clubhouse leader, Santana will fill in at first base for Rowdy Tellez, who, while recovering from a forearm injury, tore a fingernail on a chain-link fence while shagging batting practice.

In exchange for Santana, who is hitting .235/.321/.412 with elite defense at first base, the Pirates will receive 18-year-old shortstop Jhonny Severino, who signed with Milwaukee for $1.23 million last year and is currently playing in the Arizona Complex League.

At 57-46, the Brewers have clawed back into the NL Central pole position despite scoring just 423 runs — three fewer than their top-notch pitching staff has allowed.

While a resurgent Christian Yelich has paced the offense, only one other season-long regular, catcher William Contreras, has an OPS above .700.

Milwaukee, which shipped closer Josh Hader to San Diego at the trade deadline last season and blew a three-game division lead, was expected to add players on the margins rather than go after bigger-name players.

Santana is owed around $2.5 million for the remainder of the season.

Severino hit .268 with a team-leading 25 RBIs in 48 games while playing in the Dominican Summer League in 2022.

Late Baseball Great Roberto Clemente to be Subject of Biopic

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Clemente’s life story is headed to the silver screen…

The late baseball icon is getting the biopic treatment from producer Jonah Hirsch and actor/producer AJ Muñoz in collaboration with the Clemente family.The as-yet-untitled film will be based on the family’s best-selling book Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero.

The announcement comes on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Pirates MLB All-Star’s passing, and the recent news of select Florida schools removing books on Clemente’s life.

The film will showcase Clemente’s rise to greatness against all odds and tell his inspirational life story inclusive of both his baseball career as well as his fight for Latin American equality and social justice.

By acquiring the life rights to Clemente as well as the family-authored book, Hirsch and Muñoz alongside the legend’s sons Roberto Clemente Jr. and Luis Roberto Clemente will serve as executive producers on the project.

“I recall sitting in a meeting with our mother in the summer of 1974 about making this film, and there have been plenty of announcements over the past 50 years including major players in the industry, but nothing ever got done. Now, for the first time, we feel we found the right partners. Clemente fans have been waiting a long time for this film and we will make sure that it was worth the wait.” Roberto Clemente, Jr. said in a statement.

Luis Clemente adds, “My brother and I are very excited about this partnership since our family book will be used to tell dad’s story through our personal experiences and immediate family memories. I’m truly looking forward to working with Jonah and AJ to present this story to new generations to be inspired and to share unknown stories with the fans who will learn even more about the ‘Great One.’”

Clemente is a legendary figure in Latin American culture, having been a 15-time All-Star Major League Baseball player, as well as an advocate and a humanitarian.

Across his 18-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was awarded the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1966 and won four National League batting titles. He was also the first non-white recipient of the National League Gold Glove Award and finished his playing career with exactly 3,000 hits.

As well as being known for his contributions to baseball history, Clemente was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his humanitarian work.

“At a time when most heroes are fictional characters, we couldn’t think of a better time to elevate and reintroduce Clemente’s heroic story to a new generation,” Hirsch and Muñoz said in a joint statement.

Muñoz and his childhood friend Abe Mata, in partnership with Hirsch, established the production company Dreams Are Free around the Clemente story, which will serve as their first signature film with other Latino-driven projects in active development.

Miguel Castro Agrees to One-Year Contract with Arizona Diamondbacks

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Castro is shining bright like a Diamond(back)…

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed the 27-year-old Dominican professional baseball hard-throwing reliever to a one-year contract.

Castro, who turns 28 this month, has already spent eight years in the big leagues, most recently with the New York Yankees. He was 5-0 with a 4.03 ERA in 34 appearances last season.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander has averaged more than a strikeout per inning over the past three seasons. The bullpen was a weak spot for Arizona this year and general manager Mike Hazen said upgrading that area — particularly with power arms — was a priority.

The Diamondbacks finished 74-88 last season, a 22-win improvement over a dreadful 2021.

Arizona also claimed catcher Ali Sánchez off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s appeared in seven major league games with the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals over the past two seasons.

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