Tag Archives: Sunday Night Baseball

New York Yankees Preparing to Activate Top Prospect Jasson Dominguez

Posted on by
Reply

Jasson Dominguez is thisclose to his big league closeup…

The New York Yankees have informed the 20-year-old Dominican professional baseball outfielder, nicknamed El Marciano, that he’ll be activated on Friday, sources confirmed, in time for the team’s series against the Houston Astros.

Jasson DominguezThat would include an appearance on Sunday Night Baseball this weekend.

Dominguez, a top prospect, will be joined on the big league roster by 24-year-old catching prospect Austin Wells, ESPN sources have confirmed.

Dominguez is a switch-hitting centerfielder, someone the Yankees pursued as an amateur because of his unusual combination of power and speed.

The Yankees signed Dominguez for a $5.1 million bonus in 2019, and he has steadily moved through the organization’s farm system, generating mostly middling results against older competition.

But after a late-season promotion to Triple-A this summer, he thrived in an eight-game sample, hitting .444 with five walks and two strikeouts, clinching his ascent to the majors.

Overall, Dominguez has an .801 OPS in 117 games in Double-A and Triple-A combined, including 15 homers and 39 stolen bases (in 47 attempts).

The Yankees are in the midst of what could become their first losing season in more than 30 years, and in recent days, they have summoned some of their best prospects to the majors to play in the final weeks of the regular season.

Dominguez figures to get time in centerfield, following the Yankees’ decision to place veteran outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers; it’s expected that Bader will be claimed by a contending team on Thursday.

Wells was a first-round draft pick in 2020.

The two prospects will join a big league roster that already includes shortstop Anthony Volpe (22), infielder Oswald Peraza (23) and outfielder Everson Pereira (22).

ESPN2 to Launch “Kay-Rod,” A Sunday Night Baseball Broadcast Featuring Alex Rodriguez & Michael Kay

Posted on by
Reply

Alex Rodriguez’s Sunday night card is filling up…

For eight games on ESPN2, the 46-year-old Dominican American former professional baseball shortstop and third baseman, nicknamed “A-Rod,” will join veteran commentator Michael Kay for Sunday Night Baseball with Kay-Rod.

Alex RodriguezThe broadcast will be similar to the ManningCasts that featured former quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning during Monday Night Football this season.

A-Rod’s new show will feature special guests as well as fantasy baseball and predictive elements.

Rodriguez and Kay will also serve as the primary broadcast team for two games during the 2022 season.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Perez will also be joining the ESPN team on Sunday nights.

The 52-year-old Cuban American former professional baseball player, coach and current television sports color commentator will serve as an analyst for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts.

Perez had a 13-season career that ended in 2006. He worked for ESPN from 2006 to 2010, left for Cleveland’s front office, coached for Miami and Houston, and returned to ESPN in 2014.

Ernesto Jerez Named a Finalist for Ford C. Frick Award for Excellence in Baseball Broadcasting

Posted on by
Reply

Ernesto Jerez has voiced his way to the top…

The 52-year-old Dominican sportscaster and commentator for ESPN Deportes has been named a finalist for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting

Ernesto Jerez

Jerez has worked ESPN Deportes’ Sunday Night Baseball for more than 25 years along with the World Series, All-Star Game and World Baseball Classic.

He’ll face off against Hall of Fame pitchers Dizzy Dean and Don Drysdale, along with Fox‘s Joe Buck, ESPN‘s Dan Shulman and NBC‘s Al Michaels.

Dave Campbell and Buddy Blattner also are finalists, the Hall said Monday.

The winner will be announced on Dec.ember 9 and will be honored next July 24 ahead of the Hall of Fame inductions, along with 2020 Frick winner Ken Harrelson. The 2020 ceremonies were called off became of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year’s Frick Award is for national voices, part of a three-year rotation that includes broadcasting beginnings (autumn 2021) and major league markets (autumn 2022).

Broadcasters must have at least 10 continuous years of major league broadcast service with a team, network or combination.

Alex Rodriguez Joins the Team for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Broadcasts

Posted on by
Reply

Alex Rodriguez is heading back to the diamond…

The 42-year-old Dominican-American former professional baseball player and New York Yankees star will join the ESPN team this season to work on Sunday Night Baseball telecasts.

Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod joins the broadcast team of Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney and new play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian.

Rodriguez joined Fox Sports as a full-time MLB analyst in March 2017 after working as a guest for some telecasts — including the 2015 World Series. He’ll continue to work for Fox during the postseason. ESPN’s parent company, Disney, has agreed to acquire part of 21st Century Fox, including regional sports networks.

“I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my broadcasting career,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “It’s an exciting time in baseball and now I get that front row seat to tell that story every Sunday night on ESPN as well as calling my fourth post season on Fox where I started this journey.”

Rodriguez replaces analyst Aaron Boone, who was named manager of the New York Yankees this offseason.

Rodriguez last played in the majors in 2016, for the Yankees. He played 22 years in the big leagues, making 14 All-Star Games and winning the MVP three times. But his image took a hit when he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended for the entire 2014 season.

Rodriguez will also appear in and serve as executive producer of several ESPN specials, the network announced.

He has started to rebuild his image with his analysis of baseball on Fox broadcasts. He’s also remained in the spotlight because of his romance with Jennifer Lopez.

“I am incredibly excited to work with both Alex and Matt,” Mendoza said in the statement. “Matt has been a friend for a long time and someone whose work I’ve long admired. Alex’s achievements as a player speak for themselves, and I’ve been greatly impressed by the passion and dedication he has put into his broadcasting career. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

Vasgersian is only the third voice of Sunday Night Baseball, following Jon Miller and Dan Shulman. The program is entering its 29th season.

“Jon and Dan set the bar super high for Sunday Night Baseball play-by-play, so it’s a real thrill for someone who still remembers his first minor league bus trip in 1991 to have a chair like this one,” Vasgersian said in the statement. “I know firsthand how passionate both Alex and Jessica are about baseball, and I can’t wait to get started with them.”

Molina Agrees to Three-Year, $60 Million Extension with St. Louis Cardinals

Posted on by
Reply

Yadier Molina is embracing the spirit of St. Louis for longer…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher has agreed to a three-year, $60 million extension with the St. Louis Cardinals, the multiple Gold Glove winner told ESPN.

Yadier Molina

The Cardinals have scheduled a 2 p.m. ET media conference Sunday at Busch Stadium, presumably to discuss Molina’s contract extension.

The deal will keep Molina in St. Louis through at least 2020.

General manager John Mozeliak said Friday that he was optimistic a deal would get done by the first pitch of the Cardinals’ Sunday Night Baseball game against the World Series champion Chicago Cubs, scheduled for 8:35 p.m. ET.

Mozeliak said over the past few days that he worried Molina’s contract extension could be a distraction if it wasn’t taken care of by Sunday.

Molina’s current contract, signed ahead of the 2012 season, contained a mutual $15 million option for 2018 with a $2 million buyout.

His strong play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, coupled with his hot hitting following the 2016 All-Star break and his comments after returning from the competition, had put pressure on the Cardinals to get a deal done as quickly as possible.

Molina’s biggest impact to the Cardinals over the years has been in run prevention. He became the full-time starter in 2005 and made seven All-Star teams while winning eight Gold Gloves.

Just when his hitting seemed to be in serious decline, Molina, 34, batted .365 with a .926 OPS following last season’s All-Star break.