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SEATTLE — Will it be the Year of the Newbie at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game?

There are 33 — yes, 33 — first-time All-Stars on the rosters of Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park. To put it into perspective, that’s tied for the eighth most ever (the record is 42, set in 2021) and only three fewer than in 1933 — the first All-Star Game.

While some of these players are sure to be on baseball fans’ radars — particularly if they play for their favorite team or one of its rivals — more than a few faces might be unfamiliar.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable first-timers — and how they might rock the All-Star Game.

The rookies

Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks

The number(s) that got him here: The 22-year-old outfielder, born and raised in Seattle, is the first rookie in MLB history with 15 home runs and 25 stolen bases before the All-Star break.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: By hitting a home run and stealing a base. Or stealing three. He’s that good and that fast.

The quote: “It’s a great accomplishment. I’m super proud of it. Being in the stadium and hometown I grew up in is very special. The support I have here in Seattle is so cool.” — Carroll


Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

The number(s) that got him here: Jung is the first rookie primary third baseman with at least 15 home runs and 50 RBIs before the All-Star break since Evan Longoria in 2008.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: With a diving stop at third base. Jung is one of only eight third basemen in the majors with positive defensive runs saved.

The quote: “That’s some pretty big shoes to fill. Being here is cool, but I have a long time to make up for what he was doing.” — Jung on carrying the All-Star torch for former Ranger Adrian Beltre at third base

The ‘old’ rookie

Yennier Cano, Baltimore Orioles

The number(s) that got him here: Cano had the longest scoreless innings streak to begin a season by an Orioles reliever (21⅔) during the Expansion Era (since 1961). The 29-year-old’s 1.48 ERA is also the lowest first-half ERA from an Orioles rookie with at least 40 innings pitched in franchise history.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If he allows even one baserunner it’ll be a surprise, as Cano has thrown the most innings (42⅔) with the lowest WHIP (0.89) of any reliever in the game.

The quote: “It’s the biggest thing to ever happen to me in baseball. Starting out the year in Triple-A and then being here, it’s incredible.” — Cano

The star finally getting his due

Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays

The number(s) that got him here: A lot of votes. Arozarena’s stats are good, but his popularity made him an All-Star, via the fan voting. The star of Tampa Bay’s 2020 World Series run finished in the top three among outfielders — along with injured former MVPs Aaron Judge and Mike Trout — putting him in the game.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: Take your pick. Jumping into the stands for a selfie while making a diving catch, hitting a game-winning home run or stealing one at the fence. Arozarena might do them all.

The quote: “If I were a betting man, I’d say he’s going to win the MVP. I know he’s going to fold his arms and do his pose at some point.” — Rays teammate and fellow All-Star Wander Franco

The breakout bats

Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers

The number(s) that got him here: García leads MLB in RBIs (75) and outfield assists (10). The only other players to lead MLB in RBIs and outfield assists at the All-Star break? Manny Ramirez in 2005 and Chuck Klein in 1933.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: By throwing out a runner at home plate.

The quote: “Adolis is a great card player. We play a game called Casino. He’s probably the best one in our locker room for sure. Oh, and he’s the best hitter.” — Rangers teammate and fellow All-Star Jonah Heim


Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers

The number(s) that got him here: Heim has the most RBIs by a Rangers primary catcher before the All-Star break since Ivan Rodriguez in 2000.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If he throws out a runner attempting to steal. That hasn’t happened in an All-Star Game since Lance Berkman got caught in 2011.

The quote: “He’s such a hard worker. He stays after games and hits on the field. His work ethic is unmatched. But he’s only pretty good at ping-pong and his card playing is OK. He’s always in a good mood, though.” — Rangers teammate and fellow All-Star Josh Jung


Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics

The number(s) that got him here: Rooker leads the A’s in home runs (16). He’s one of only two Oakland players to hit at least 10 in the first half (Shane Langeliers is the other).

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If he’s traded midgame. Rooker has switched teams three times since the beginning of last season, yet here he is as the lone All-Star from the A’s.

The quote: “As a 27-year-old, spending most of last season at Triple-A, this seemed like a far reach, but here I am. The All-Star Game didn’t cross my mind until last Sunday when they told me I was in it.” — Rooker

The breakout arms

Alexis Diaz, Cincinnati Reds

The number(s) that got him here: Diaz is tied for the MLB lead (26) in saves. Of the three closers he’s tied with, he has the fewest blown saves (one).

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If, when he runs in from the bullpen, Timmy Trumpet breaks out Narco from the warning track in an ode to brother Edwin, the New York Mets closer who’s out for the season after getting hurt during the World Baseball Classic. Well, maybe not …

The quote: “He told me if you put in this hard work, you’ll be able to get there. He was excited and happy for me. But I’m not going to have Timmy Trumpet play. I’m going to play my song.” — Diaz on his brother Edwin


Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants

The number(s) that got him here: Doval is tied for the MLB lead in saves with 26.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: He’ll make headlines if he nails a couple of hitters, as he ranks in the top five among relievers in hitting batters with pitches.

The quote: “I took advantage of the opportunities given to me. My teammates enjoy seeing me play. I really enjoy the game. It’s a dream come true. I will never forget it.” — Doval


Michael Lorenzen, Detroit Tigers

The number(s) that got him here: He has the lowest ERA among Tigers starters, outside of Eduardo Rodriguez, who was injured when selections were made, and has logged the most innings.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: When Lorenzen, a former quasi two-way player, is pressed into service as a pinch hitter, winning the game at the plate and pitching the final inning.

The quote: “There’s a little bit of, ‘Do I deserve to be here?’ Probably not, to be honest, but I’m going to enjoy it. No one can take it from me.” — Lorenzen


Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs

The number(s) that got him here: The NL starter trails Clayton Kershaw by 0.01 points (2.56 to 2.55) for the league lead in ERA at the break.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: When, after making a stellar All-Star Game debut, he pivots during an on-field interview, talking about his beloved New Orleans Saints. Steele might like them more than pitching. If not, it’s close.

The quote: “I’ve done a lot of reflecting. Being here is so special. I guess I started thinking about [the All-Star Game] when it popped up on social media. And meeting Clayton Kershaw is very cool. I grew up idolizing him. To share a locker room with him is just awesome.” — Steele

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Rangers P deGrom (elbow) throwing, ‘feels good’

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Rangers P deGrom (elbow) throwing, 'feels good'

ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom already has thrown off the mound this offseason and said everything felt normal after missing most of his first two seasons with the Texas Rangers because of elbow surgery.

The three starts deGrom got to make in September were significant for him.

“That way I could treat it like a normal offseason and not feel like I was in rehab mode the whole time,” he said Saturday during the team’s annual Fan Fest. “So that’s what this offseason has been, you know, normal throwing. Been off the mound already and everything feels good.”

The right-hander said he would usually wait until Feb. 1 before throwing, but he started earlier this week so he could ramp up a bit slower going into spring training.

DeGrom, 36, has started only nine games for the Rangers since signing a $185 million, five-year contract in free agency two winters ago. They won all six starts he made before the end of April during his 2023 debut with the team before the surgery. After rehabbing most of last year, he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 10⅔ innings in those three September starts.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is a healthy season from Jacob, and for our fans to see what that looks like, and how good he is,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “It’s just electric, and coming to the ballpark every day that he’s pitching, knowing that we’ve got a great chance to win the game, it’s an exciting feeling. Our fans truly haven’t experienced that over the course of a season. We’re excited and hopeful that this is the year they get to see that.”

Since his back-to-back Cy Young Awards with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019, deGrom hasn’t made more than 15 starts in a season. He started 12 times during the COVID-19-shortened 60-game season in 2020.

DeGrom had a career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings in 2021 before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then was shut down late during spring training in 2022 because of a stress reaction in his right scapula. He went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts over the last two months of that season before becoming a free agent.

His fastball touched 98 mph in the last of his three starts last season, when he pitched four innings of one-run ball against the Los Angeles Angels.

“In those games, you know, it’s still a thought in the back of your mind, you just came back from a major surgery and you probably don’t get another one at my age,” he said. “So it was, hey, is everything good? And then like I said, was able to check those boxes off in this offseason, treat it normal.”

Now deGrom feels like he can start pitching again without worrying about being injured.

“Just throw the ball to the target and not think about anything,” he said. “So, yeah, I think I can get back to where I was.”

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Source: Sarkisian lands new 7-year deal at Texas

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Source: Sarkisian lands new 7-year deal at Texas

More than a week after its season ended in the College Football Playoff, Texas has agreed to a new contract with coach Steve Sarkisian, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Saturday, confirming a report. The sides came to an agreement Friday night in a deal that includes an extension.

A source told ESPN that it’s a seven-year contract for Sarkisian, 50, that adds a year to his deal and makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

News of the agreement was first reported by The Action Network, which noted that the deal came after Sarkisian declined interviews with two NFL franchises for coaching positions.

The Longhorns, in their first season in the SEC, advanced to the title game and won two CFP playoff games against Clemson and Arizona State before being eliminated by Ohio State on Jan. 10 in the Cotton Bowl.

Texas played Ohio State tight before a late fumble return stretched the Buckeyes’ lead to 14 points. Sarkisian said being the last remaining SEC team in the playoff in their first year in the league is something the Longhorns take pride in.

“I really believe this is a premier football conference in America because of the week-in, week-out task that it requires physically and mentally,” Sarkisian said. “I know unfortunately for Georgia, they lost their starting quarterback in the SEC championship game, and I’m sure other teams in our conference had to endure things that can take their toll on your team, and that’s no excuse. At the end of the day, we have to find a way to navigate our ways through it, but to be here on this stage to be back in the final four wearing that SEC patch on our jersey, we’re going to do our best to represent it because this is a heck of a conference.”

Sarkisian arrived at Texas in 2021 after serving as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama in his previous stop. As head coach previously at Washington and USC, combined with his run at Texas, he is 84-52 overall. With the Longhorns, he is 38-17 and won the Big 12 title last season.

Texas will open next season with a rematch against Ohio State on Aug. 30 in Columbus, Ohio. In that game vs. the Buckeyes, the likely starter under center for Sarkisian will be Arch Manning, who backed up Quinn Ewers for two seasons and will soon get his chance to headline what will be one of the most anticipated quarterback situations in recent memory. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of Archie Manning came to Texas as ESPN’s No. 5 recruit in the 2023 class.

Arch Manning saw more playing time this season as Ewers dealt with injury, and he completed 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. He also showcased big-play ability as a runner, breaking off a 67-yard scamper against UTSA and averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

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AD: Irish prefer independence over vying for bye

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AD: Irish prefer independence over vying for bye

ATLANTA — Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua said the independent Irish are comfortable continuing to give up access to a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff — something currently granted to only the four highest-ranked conference champions — as long as the fate of conference championship games remains the same.

“We’re comfortable that if conference championship games continue as they’re currently configured, part of the deal we made is that we wouldn’t get a bye, and that’s understandable,” Bevacqua said Saturday, speaking to a small group of reporters at the national championship game media availability at the Georgia World Congress Center. “And quite frankly, I wouldn’t trade that [first-round] Indiana game at Notre Dame Stadium for anything in the world, but you also have to be smart and strategic, and your odds of making a national championship game are increased if you get to play one less game.

“So I think a lot is going to depend on the fate of the conference championship games,” he said. “Should they go away? And that’s obviously not my decision. Should they be altered in some sort of material way where it’s not the top two teams playing for a championship, but something else? Then I think we absolutely have to re-look at Notre Dame’s ability to get a bye if we end up being one of the top four teams.”

Bevacqua’s comments come as he and the FBS commissioners prepare to meet Sunday to begin their review of the inaugural 12-team field, which will produce a national champion on Monday with the winner of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame.

Bevacqua is part of the CFP’s management committee, which is also comprised of the 10 FBS commissioners tasked with determining the format and rules of the playoff to eventually send to the 11 presidents and chancellors on the CFP board for their approval. The commissioners and Bevacqua will have a 90-minute business meeting to start to discuss possible changes for the 2025 season, which would require unanimity, leaving many CFP sources skeptical that next season will look much different.

Bevacqua said he thinks “there’s a chance” the group could agree on a change to the seeding, but one option that has been floated by sources with knowledge of the discussions is having the committee’s top four teams earn the top four seeds — which opens the door for Notre Dame to earn a first-round bye without playing in a conference championship game.

“I think everybody wants what’s best for the overall system,” he said. “It was interesting, when you think about those four teams that got a bye, they didn’t advance. Now I don’t think that has anything to do with the fact that they got a bye, I think that was mostly competition and happenstance. But I think there’ll be a good, honest conversation that will start tomorrow. Are there any changes that we ought to make from this year to next year and make something that’s worked really well work even better? Will there be changes? I’m just one person. I’m not sure.”

CFP executive director Rich Clark, who also spoke to a small group of reporters at the media day event, said some changes for 2025 would require “more lead time than a few months to implement,” so no major structural changes like the size of the bracket are expected for 2025.

Clark said the commissioners will talk about every aspect from “cradle to the grave,” including seeding and re-seeding possibilities.”

Clark said whatever changes are made for 2026 and beyond — the start of a new, six-year contract with ESPN — need to be determined by the end of the calendar year. That could include increasing the bracket size, possibly to 14 or 16 teams.

“We’re trying to beat that timeline,” Clark said. “We don’t want to obviously wait until the limits of it. So we want to move smartly on these things, but we don’t want to make bad decisions, either.”

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