SEATTLE — A presentation was taking place inside a conference room at the Seattle Kraken‘s practice facility when one of the doors began to slowly open.
Panic began taking shape at that moment.
This forced a 6-foot-tall, furry, blue troll with an anchor hoop earring dangling on his left side and a blue tentacle hanging from his right ear to find a hiding spot. It made everyone else inside the room burst into laughter, right after the person who tried going into the room was told it was not a good time.
Now you know the lengths the Kraken are willing to go to keep a secret.
At that time, less than 50 people on the planet had even seen Buoy. That changed Saturday when the Kraken introduced their mascot to the rest of the world by having him rappel from the Climate Pledge Arena rafters before a preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks.
It was no secret the Kraken were going to have a mascot. Everything else, however, was a mystery. Nobody knew what name they would choose or what the mascot would even look like, until now.
Hundreds of ideas and names were submitted in the Kraken’s quest for a mascot. From it all came Buoy. His backstory is that he is the nephew of the Fremont Troll, the iconic Seattle sculpture that inspired his creation. The name was chosen because the Kraken kept coming back to how it sounded for a mascot.
“We looked at all the characters in this area and we wanted to make sure that what we brought was going to be unique. We didn’t want to be like anybody else,” Kraken vice president of entertainment experience and production Lamont Buford said. “When you look at a lot of mascots in sports, you can tell which mascots that were generated from looking at another mascot. We wanted to make sure we avoided that.”
Creating a mascot comes with obstacles — especially in the post-Gritty era in which already-high expectations are even higher for what is often a subjective task. The goal for the Kraken was to find a mascot that felt local. But that request also came with limitations. They did not want to have an octopus for a mascot because that already belongs to the Detroit Red Wings.
They also did not want to use a kraken. The argument is that nobody knows what a kraken looks like. And because of that, they wanted to keep that mystery going but still have a mascot that could strike the right tone.
“We talk about the kraken as living in the theater of the mind. It’s a mysterious beast. We don’t want to be a cartoon brand which is why we have not revealed the full kraken,” Kraken senior vice president of marketing and communications Katie Townsend said. “It was a fairly obvious choice that we would not go with a kraken, but would do a deep dive led by Lamont and team to examine what is the right mascot for the city, for the fans and for the brand.”
Buford said Buoy’s blue fur matches the shade of the team’s color scheme. His hair is a nod to hockey hair, while also paying homage to the long hair famously associated with Squatch, the longtime mascot of the Seattle SuperSonics. The tentacle dangling from the ear is a way to let fans know Buoy “had an encounter with a kraken,” while his earring is the same anchor used as the team’s shoulder patch.
To Buford’s knowledge, the only team that has a troll for a mascot is Trinity Christian College, an NAIA school in Illinois.
Going with something that was unique meant the Kraken wanted to test Buoy with different focus groups to make sure his look was both family- and adult-friendly. That way, the team could send an inviting presence out into the community for events like birthday parties or festivals.
One of the ways to do that was to make Buoy have a squeaky nose. He also has a removable tooth so he can look like a hockey player, and a dance called the “Buoy Boogie” that he will do at various times.
It even extends to how Buoy signs his name. The B is designed to look like a buoy with flashing lights, while the tail from the Y continues to go underneath his name in a wavelike pattern.
The process began in 2020, with the organization asking if they needed a mascot. Buford and Townsend said the Kraken kept hearing from fans that they wanted one. So they took on the challenge, spoke with different stakeholders within the organization and began brainstorming.
Eventually, the team narrowed it to nine ideas, with Buoy being the eventual winner.
“Some of them are things you could have imagined what they would have been,” Townsend said. “There were some that were abstract like a Squatch. We looked at marine life. We looked at things associated with a kraken. It would never be Squatch. We hope the Sonics will come back someday, and that is the Sonics’ mascot.”
Of course, as all this was being discussed, Buford and Townsend also kept an eye on the door to make sure nobody else knew about the mascot. Secrecy has become a significant part of the Kraken’s operation. It was like that when it came to their logo and uniform design, and nobody knew for certain they were hiring coach Dave Hakstol until they issued a release saying they had hired the former Philadelphia Flyers coach to be the first in team history.
Buford’s team designed Buoy, so they were in constant contact. Townsend’s team did not see it until May. The Kraken’s executive ownership team saw Buoy in September, while the Kraken’s players met the mascot about a week before the release.
There were several questions the Kraken had to answer prior to Buoy’s introduction. Perhaps one of the most important was how he would be received by fans and the hockey world at large?
Mascots can often be a polarizing topic. Some people love them. Others could go without them for a number of reasons. Everything from the name to how they look, along with other nuances, can become social media fodder for at least a few days.
How does a team that spends years working on a mascot prepare for the potential criticism that could come its way?
“I think with a mascot, I almost expect it to be 50-50,” Townsend said. “It’s very divisive. People feel very passionate. Not everyone is a mascot person, and that’s also fine. I think what we do is our due diligence with our focus groups … and we feel we’ve created a mascot that is fun and fits our brand, then we’re going to go forward with the launch.”
Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
The last-place Washington Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, the team announced Sunday.
Rizzo, 64, and Martinez, 60, won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, but the team has floundered in recent years. This season, the Nationals are 37-53 and stuck at the bottom of the National League East after getting swept by the Boston Red Sox this weekend at home. Washington hasn’t finished higher than fourth in the division since winning the World Series.
“On behalf of our family and the Washington Nationals organization, I first and foremost want to thank Mike and Davey for their contributions to our franchise and our city,” principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington, D.C.
“While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”
Mike DeBartolo, the club’s senior vice president and assistant general manager, was named interim GM on Sunday night. DeBartolo will oversee all aspects of baseball operations, including the MLB draft. An announcement will be made on the interim manager Monday, a day before the club begins a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Rizzo has been the top decision-maker in Washington since 2013, and Martinez has been on board since 2018. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the team made the postseason four times: in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. The latter season was Martinez’s lone playoff appearance.
“When our family assumed control of the team, nearly 20 years ago, Mike was the first hire we made,” Lerner said. “Over two decades, he was with us as we went from a fledging team in a new city to World Series champion. Mike helped make us who we are as an organization, and we’re so thankful to him for his hard work and dedication — not just on the field and in the front office, but in the community as well.”
The Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild that has moved slower than expected, though the team didn’t augment its young core much during the winter. Led by All-Stars James Wood and MacKenzie Gore, Washington has the second-youngest group of hitters in MLB and the sixth-youngest pitching staff.
The team lost 11 straight games in a forgettable stretch last month. And during a 2-10 run in June, Washington averaged just 2.5 runs. Since June 1, the Nationals have scored one run or been shut out seven times. In Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Boston, they left 15 runners on base.
There was industry speculation over the winter that the Nationals would spend money on free agents for the first time in several years, but that never materialized. Instead, the team made minor moves, signing free agents Josh Bell and Michael Soroka, trading for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and re-signing closer Kyle Finnegan. Now, the hope is a new management team, both on and off the field, can help change the franchise’s fortunes.
The rosters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game will feature 19 first-timers — and one legend — as the pitchers and reserves were announced Sunday for the July 15 contest at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner who made his first All-Star team in 2011, was named to his 11th National League roster as a special commissioner’s selection.
Kershaw, who became only the fourth left-hander to amass 3,000 career strikeouts, is 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts after beginning the season on the injured list. He joins Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera as a legend choice, after the pair of sluggers were selected in 2022.
Kershaw said he didn’t want to discuss the selection Sunday.
Overall, the 19 first-time All-Stars is a drop from the 32 first-time selections on the initial rosters in 2024.
Kershaw would be the sentimental choice to start for the National League, although Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who leads NL pitchers in ERA and WAR, might be in line to start his second straight contest. Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, a three-time All-Star, is 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA after Sunday’s complete-game victory and also would be a strong candidate to start.
“I think it would be stupid to say no to that. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Skenes said about the possibility of being asked to start by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I didn’t make plans over the All-Star break or anything. So, yeah, I’m super stoked.”
Kershaw has made one All-Star start in his career, in 2022 at Dodger Stadium.
Among standout players not selected were New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a $765 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who had made eight consecutive All-Star rosters since 2016.
Soto got off to a slow start but was the National League Player of the Month in June and entered Sunday ranked sixth in the NL in WAR among position players while ranking second in OBP, eighth in OPS and third in runs scored.
Earning his fifth career selection but first since 2021 is Texas Rangers righty Jacob deGrom, who is finally healthy after making only nine starts in his first two seasons with the Rangers and is 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA. He has never started an All-Star Game, although Skubal or Brown would be the favorite to start for the AL.
“Red carpet, that’s my thing,” Chisholm said. “I do have a ‘fit in mind.”
Rosters are expanded from 26 to 32 for the All-Star Game. They include starters elected by fans, 17 players (five starting pitchers, three relievers and a backup for each position) chosen in a player vote and six players (four pitchers and two position players) selected by league officials. Every club must be represented.
Acuna, Wood and Raleigh are the three All-Stars who have so far committed to participating in the Home Run Derby.
ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees were seemingly in deep trouble Sunday when Juan Soto cracked a pitch to left field in the seventh inning.
The New York Mets, down two runs, were cooking up a rally with no outs. Francisco Lindor stood at first base, Pete Alonso loomed on deck, and Brandon Nimmo was in the hole. This was the heart of the Mets’ potent lineup. Given the Yankees’ recent woes, fumbling their two-run lead and suffering a Subway Series sweep at the hands of their neighbors — and a seventh straight loss — seemed almost fated.
Then Cody Bellinger charged Soto’s sinking 105 mph line drive, made a shoestring catch and fired a strike to first base for an improbable double play to secure a skid-snapping 6-4 win — and perhaps rescue the Yankees from another dreadful outcome.
“Considering the context of this week and everything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “that’s probably our play of the year so far.”
Soto’s line drive off Mark Leiter Jr. had a 10% catch probability, according to Statcast, but Bellinger, a plus defender at multiple positions who started at first base Saturday, was just able to snatch it before it touched the grass. Certain that he caught it clean, he made an 89.9 mph toss that reached first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a line, over Lindor, who didn’t slide into the bag.
“I saw it in the air and had a really good beat on it,” said Bellinger, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk at the plate.
The Mets challenged the catch, but the call stood.
“That was incredible,” said Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, who swatted his 33rd home run of the season in the fifth inning. “I’ve never seen something like that on the field.”
For the past week, a stretch Boone described as “terrible” for his ballclub, poor defense has been an issue for the Yankees. Physical errors. Mental lapses. Near disasters. The sloppiness helped sink a depleted pitching staff, more than offsetting the offense’s strong production.
That combination produced the team’s second six-game losing streak in three weeks and a three-game deficit in the American League East standings behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.
The surging Blue Jays won again Sunday to extend their winning streak to seven games and keep their division lead at three games, but Bellinger’s glove and arm ensured it didn’t grow to four.
“That was an unbelievable play,” Goldschmidt said. “Amazing catch and absolute cannon to me at first. To make that play was a game-changing play and potentially game-winning play for us today. And we needed it.”