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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer made it clear Tuesday that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has not been told he will be the top pick of the NFL draft.

Fitterer’s comment came 24 hours after Young canceled the rest of his pre-draft visits. Carolina has the No. 1 pick when the draft begins April 27.

“That was a decision he made on his own,” Fitterer said at the team’s pre-draft news conference. “I just refer you to his reps and to Bryce as to the why.”

With speculation intensifying that Young will be the top pick over Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Fitterer also made it clear that Young’s size (5-10, 204 pounds) will not be a factor.

Fitterer reminded everyone that he was in Seattle in 2012 when the Seahawks selected 5-11 Russell Wilson in the third round and that Wilson had only three balls batted down at the line of scrimmage his final year at Wisconsin. He then noted Young had only two this past season.

“This doesn’t seem to be an issue,” Fitterer said of Young’s height. “When you grow up a shorter quarterback, you learn how to evolve your game and adapt and see the field. He’s done that.”

Stroud, who was at Bank of America Stadium for his pre-draft visit Tuesday, was considered the early favorite to be the top pick because, at 6-3, he more closely resembled every quarterback new Carolina coach Frank Reich has worked with over the past 17 years.

Reich has never had a starting quarterback under 6-2.

But over the past few weeks, with Reich insisting Young’s height wasn’t a factor and many draft analysts agreeing Young was the better quarterback in large part because of his ability to process, momentum has shifted to the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama.

Fitterer reiterated that he still hasn’t asked Reich whom he would select but said he believes they’ll be on the same page once he does ask.

“The reason I didn’t want to ask [Reich] that question was I didn’t want to close off our minds to where we, like, made that decision back in March,” Fitterer said. “But we do see things the same way. We value the same traits, the same characteristics. There’s certain things we really want, and that’s where the clarity comes from.”

Fitterer said the team continues to discuss all four quarterbacks — Young, Stroud, Kentucky‘s Will Levis and Florida‘s Anthony Richardson — brought in for pre-draft visits.

But a source close to the situation told ESPN midway through the process that Young and Stroud were the two quarterbacks being considered for the top pick and recently reiterated that that hasn’t changed. The source also said those were the two quarterbacks the Panthers were most focused on when they traded with the Chicago Bears to move from the ninth pick to first overall.

“I’d hate to be at 9 right now trying to figure this out,” Fitterer said. “So I know we made the right decision to go up there. The next step is going to be execution on draft day and giving these guys the resources they need beyond that to be successful.

“This is a big decision for the organization. We don’t want to lock on to something early on just to decide that’s our guy. We want to keep this process open all the way through.”

Fitterer also said he wasn’t looking to trade out of the pick — something he left open a month ago — but added that the Panthers will “always pick up the phone and listen.”

The only drawback on Young all along has been his size, but his overall frame and weight could factor into durability.

“Nutritionally, we can do some things to educate him,” Fitterer said. “When we get him into the weight room, you see when you really look at his lower body [that] he’s gotten bigger. He’s put on a lot of mass down there.

“A lot of times quarterbacks don’t want to lift upper body because they get a little bound up. But he’s naturally going to put on size as he ages.”

Fitterer said Wilson was around 206 pounds in 2012 and has bulked up to the 215-220 range.

“That’s something he can control, something we can help him with,” Fitterer said of Young.

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.

If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.

“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”

Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.

“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”

Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.

The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.

“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”

The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.

Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.

The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”

Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.

San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.

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Cardinals’ Arenado (sprained finger) exits early

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Cardinals' Arenado (sprained finger) exits early

The St. Louis Cardinals removed star third baseman Nolan Arenado from their 6-5 loss to the visiting Atlanta Braves on Friday night because of a sprained right index finger.

Arenado, who was 1-for-3, was replaced in the seventh inning by Thomas Saggese. While it was unclear how Arenado hurt the finger, it is the same injury that kept him out of two games last week during a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Arenado has 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in 84 games this season.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.

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Twins SS Correa helped off with sprained ankle

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Twins SS Correa helped off with sprained ankle

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa had to be helped off the field after injuring his right ankle when Pittsburgh‘s Tommy Pham slid into him at second base.

Pham was trying to get to second on his liner off the wall in right field in the seventh inning of the Twins’ 2-1 victory Friday night. Right fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr.’s throw beat Pham, whose batting helmet made contact with Correa’s lower leg.

Correa rolled over and stayed on the ground before leaving the game. Brooks Lee moved from second base to shortstop to replace Correa. The team said Correa had a mild ankle sprain.

Correa said X-rays were negative and that he expects to sit out Saturday’s game, adding that he “hopefully” can play on Sunday, according to MLB.com.

The 30-year-old Correa is already in his 11th big league season and has been a mainstay at shortstop for the Twins since signing as a free agent in 2022. He missed about half of last season with a concussion and a plantar fascia injury, the latter of which kept him from playing in the All-Star Game after he was chosen for the third time.

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