NHL Rank: Counting down the top 100 players for 2023-24
There has never been a better time to be a hockey fan, with legendary players such as Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin still playing at a high level, in-their-prime superstars like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews generating highlight-reel fodder on a nightly basis, and a rising crop of tantalizing youngsters such as Connor Bedard and Matty Beniers.
So how are we expected to rank them?
We asked an ESPN panel of more than 50 broadcasters, analysts, reporters and editors to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2023-24 season compared to their peers. Emphasis was placed on their value for this upcoming season, which explains why players that are currently out injured (but expected to return) might be lower than if they were completely healthy.
The New Jersey Devils and Tampa Bay Lightning lead the charge with six players each in the top 100, while the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers failed to get anyone on our list. Positionally, centers continue to dominate, with 34 of 100 slots and six of the top 10. Defensemen accounted for 28 of 100 spots, while nine goalies made the top 100 (and only one in the top 25). As for the wings, left wings win this round, with 18 in the top 100 compared to 11 right wings.
Write-ups are courtesy of ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski.
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2022-23 rank: 98
Age: 29
While his profile has receded as the Sharks have in the standings, Hertl is still a high-level power forward in the West. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: 55
Age: 32
A perennial Selke Trophy candidate, O’Reilly is looking to make his mark on a Predators team that fell three points shy of the final wild-card spot. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 20
A Calder Trophy finalist and member of the NHL’s All-Rookie Team for 2022-23, the No. 1 pick of the 2021 draft just inked a seven-year contract extension that begins with the 2024-25 season. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 35
When you average out the play of “Regular-Season Bob” (.901 save percentage, 3.07 goals-against average) with “Playoff Bob” (.915, 2.78) you get a goaltender worthy of being in the top 100. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: 79
Age: 29
While he had a bit of defensive regression last season, Rielly remains one of the league’s better offensive defensemen, skating for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: 53
Age: 30
Miller has put contract uncertainty behind him and is settled back into Vancouver, where he’s gathered back-to-back 30-plus goal seasons and started this season off with a four-point effort to boot. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 64
Age: 33
Carlson’s value to the Capitals’ might best be understood in how much the team struggled without him last season — Washington’s play sunk after losing their top defender to injury, and having him back now will be a needed boost. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 80
Age: 33
Tavares remains an effective top-six center who is quietly averaging a point-per-game each season. Last season he produced an unheralded 36-goal campaign to eclipse the 30-plus goal mark for the first time since 2018-19. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 73
Age: 33
Though he falls in the rankings here, Doughty had the second-most points of his illustrious career last season. A key piece as the Kings push for another Cup. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 50
Age: 26
If not for the lower-body injury that sidelined him for two months, Barzal would have scored more than 70 points for the second time in his career. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 74
Age: 29
Trouba packs a punch from the blue line, both with his steady two-way contributions and the throwback physical nature of his game that continues to divide NHL fans. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 37
Age: 24
Thomas’ greatest strengths are his smarts on the ice and how instinctive he is with and without the puck. These are quite valuable traits in the franchise’s prized two-way centerman. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 18
The thing about ranking the Blackhawks’ rookie phenom here? There’s an equal chance it could be seen as too high or too low by season’s end. What’s clear already: Bedard’s shot and offensive creativity should have him mentioned among the NHL’s brightest stars in short order. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 29
A newcomer to the rankings, Montour used last season to show that he can handle what comes with being a top-four defenseman on a Cup contender, finishing with 73 points in 80 games. Offseason shoulder surgery will delay the start of his 2023-24 season by a couple months. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 54
Age: 33
Kadri’s first season in Calgary was productive (including his fifth time scoring 20-plus goals), but he and the Flames are hoping for a breakthrough this season after missing the playoffs in 2022-23. — Clark
2022-23 rank: HM
Age: 22
The artist known as “Goal Caufield” is coming off injury and has a chance to hit the 30-goal mark — a feat he could have achieved last season if completely healthy. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 95
Age: 33
Aside from winning his second Stanley Cup, Pietrangelo tied his career-best mark in points last season (54). — Clark
2022-23 rank: 47
Age: 25
Injuries have frustrated Laine lately, but when healthy, the Blue Jackets’ star winger is a highly effective contributor with the size, speed and shot to drive Columbus’ offense. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 70
Age: 26
Boeser has an excellent shot and nose for the net that could lead him toward a career-best season, especially if that four-goal outing on opening night is indicative of similar performances to come. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 25
Bratt has broken out as a marvelous scorer in his own right. But paired with teammate Jack Hughes? That’s serious trouble for the rest of the league. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 49
Age: 27
Demko’s terrific athleticism and composure have always stood out, and with consistency to match he could stay perennially ranked among the NHL’s most effective netminders. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 69
Age: 29
Slavin remains one of the most trusted defensemen in the league, forming one of the league’s premier partnerships alongside Brent Burns. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 38
Age: 22
How Seider performs in his third season could be central to how the revamped Red Wings fare this season. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 22
Boldy rightfully turned heads in his first full NHL season, with a 31-goal showing that highlighted a highly effective emerging talent with terrific hands and vision. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 52
Age: 25
Kyrou often comes through in the clutch for St. Louis, setting up timely goals — or scoring them himself — with an enviable speed and agility. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 59
Age: 29
Signing Toews to a seven-year extension will keep him teamed up with Cale Makar, as they’ve formed one of the best pairings in the league. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 67
Age: 39
The second-oldest player in the NHL gave the Stars the type of venerable two-way presence that further legitimized their window of contention. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 25
Dubois is a big, rangy center who fills that top-nine role as well as he does the net with a consistent 20-plus goal output. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 72
Age: 30
Scheifele has been a dependable point-per-game producer and high-skilled top-six piece for Winnipeg his entire career — hence the organization investing seven more years in him to keep their impactful center in-house. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 56
Age: 29
Guentzel made a quick recovery from offseason ankle surgery to start the season for Pittsburgh, who need every ounce of Guentzel’s scoring touch and playmaking ability to be at their best. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 15
Age: 30
Huberdeau had a rough first season in Calgary — with a humbling slide in point total to prove it — but under the Flames’ new regime, he has potential to reignite his offensive spark. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 35
Age: 26
Connor recovered from a slow start to record his fifth season of more than 30 goals for the Jets. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 30
All RNH did in 2022-23 was notch his first 100-point season — and score more points last season than he did the previous two seasons combined. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 20
The reigning Calder Trophy winner is the face of an upstart Kraken franchise trying to show last year’s playoff appearance was no accident. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 36
Age: 25
A change could do DeBrincat good after the high-flying winger saw his numbers drop slightly last season in Ottawa — but he’s off a strong start already in his first campaign leading the Red Wings’ offense — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 31
Toffoli led the Flames with 34 goals last season and joined a high-octane Devils offense via trade in the offseason. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: 39
Age: 26
Lineup absences have clouded Werenski’s reputation, because otherwise he’s played at an elite level throughout his eight-year NHL career. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 28
His breakout season saw him become a first-time NHL All-Star who finished in the top five of Norris Trophy voting. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 76
Age: 28
Underrated no more, Lindholm has firmly established himself as a preeminent two-way center who anchors the Flames’ offense while raising the teammates around him. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 38
Burns is as known for his point totals and shot generation as he is for his hirsute face and menagerie of pets. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: 58
Age: 24
If Hughes can harness what he did under Rick Tocchet for a full season, it could prove big as the Canucks make a push to get back into the playoff mix. — Clark
2022-23 rank: HM
Age: 32
A six-time 20-goal scorer, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner is one of the many reasons the Golden Knights could make it two in a row. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 27
Meier is a sharpshooting forward with the physical edge and all-around ability to be a problem on the ice — unless, of course, you’re on his side. New Jersey should rely on him for 30-plus goals a season for the foreseeable future. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 10
Age: 29
For all that he has accomplished, it’s possible his two-month absence to start the season could further underscore his importance to the Bolts. When healthy, still one of the world’s most dominant goaltenders. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 92
Age: 36
Letang has faithfully — and successfully — patrolled Pittsburgh’s blue line for nearly two decades and can still find ways to thrive in a consistent top-four role. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 25
Breaking out to score 37 goals and 86 points pushed Keller into the top 100 — and helps foster the idea that the Coyotes could be turning a corner back to contention. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 48
Age: 27
Larkin is continuously growing into a more complete 200-foot skater, with a heightened focus on defense to complement his impressive offensive stats. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 75
Age: 25
The Lightning lean on Sergachev to play important minutes in any situation, and the blueliner delivers on both sides of the puck, doubling his offensive totals last season while maintaining a high level of defensive play. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 97
Age: 29
Jones remains a mobile puck-mover with the vision and booming shot to threaten from the blue line. Chicago relies on him to carry a heavy load, and he’s continued to provide steady returns. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 29
Age: 28
No goalie faced more shots than Saros last season, and his efforts nearly dragged the Predators to the playoffs. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 27
Age: 29
What could a healthy Forsberg accomplish in a goal-friendly system like the one he now has with new coach Andrew Brunette? His career high is 84 points, scored in 69 games in 2021-22. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 63
Age: 30
There’s a potency to Hamilton’s offensive game that’s unrivaled by many of his peers. The defender’s stickhandling and powerful shot make him a threat in every on-ice situation — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 99
Age: 25
Chychrun excels in small spaces on the ice, forcing opponents to the outside and disrupting chances off the rush. A series of injuries have made availability an issue, but when he’s in, Chychrun makes his presence felt. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 30
Ullmark was the league’s darling in net last season, pacing all goalies in most statistical categories and winning his first Vezina Trophy after backstopping Boston to a record-breaking regular-season finish. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 57
Age: 27
Fiala combines explosiveness with composure, with a shiftiness making him difficult to defend. It’s no wonder he’s clocked more than a point per game in consecutive seasons with the Kings. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 91
Age: 36
L.A.’s captain is only getting better with age. He’s one of the league’s premier two-way centers, leading by example for the Kings’ crop of rising young stars. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 87
Age: 25
The tallest player (at 6-foot-6) to ever score 40 goals and 90 points in a single season is expected to come up big again for a team seeking its first playoff berth in more than a decade. — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 29
Lindholm was the breakout star of Boston’s blue line last season, producing career-best numbers as a mobile puck-mover who can be a sneaky-good asset in the Bruins’ transition game. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 16
Age: 30
Zibanejad is an instinctive forward who thrills as both scorer and playmaker. Now entering his 30s, Zibanejad’s numbers continue going up — which is great news for New York’s present and future prospects. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 33
Karlsson’s jaw-dropping 101-point performance in San Jose last season put him firmly back under the league’s spotlight and earned the veteran an unexpected Norris Trophy. Now with the Penguins, it’s time to chase a Stanley Cup. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 89
Age: 27
Nylander hit 40 goals for the first time last season and had a strong showing in the playoffs (10 points in 11 games). It was a reminder of how good Nylander’s offense can be when the winger is consistent with the all-around details of his game. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 33
Age: 30
Things can only be looking up for Gaudreau in Columbus after a tough first season. The veteran scored at a high level, dropping in 21 goals and 74 points that showed that even under bleak circumstances, Gaudreau can be an offensive spark. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 42
Age: 31
Regular season or playoffs, Stone is the two-way constant who is trying to captain the Golden Knights to back-to-back championships. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 17
Age: 38
Ovi moved into second on the NHL’s all-time goals list, and he finished with higher than a point-per-game average as well. Will he catch Wayne Gretzky this season? — Clark
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 26
Everything Hintz pulled off last season (75 points in the regular season, followed by 24 in 19 playoff games) has created the expectation that he could be the next star to ascend in Dallas. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 43
Age: 35
Marchand’s consistency as a bona fide top-six producer for Boston is more important than ever with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci having retired. The Bruins’ new captain hasn’t lost his feisty edge, either, and he pairs it with impressive offensive totals. That’s no easy feat in a league that continuously seems to value youth over everything. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 88
Age: 24
Last season allowed Oettinger to showcase what makes him valuable to the Stars, as one of the handful of goalies who can play nightly in this era of tandems. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 20
Age: 33
The longtime Lightning captain has hardly entered the twilight of his career, as the past two seasons have been among his best. Stamkos is as competitive and smart as they come on the ice, and those are lasting traits to keep him on pace with the Bolts’ high-flying forward group. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 18
Age: 31
Panarin wields equal talent as scorer and playmaker, with a pass-first flair that pays major dividends for his teammates. He’s an undeniable driver of the Rangers’ offense and seems poised to possibly hit the 100-point mark this season for the first time in his career. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: NR
Age: 24
Hischier raised the bar last season with a breakout performance that included eclipsing 30 goals for the first time and establishing himself as one of the league’s finest two-way centers. If Hischier keeps that up, the crescendo of Selke Trophy buzz building around him will keep getting louder. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 82
Age: 28
Don’t let last season’s breakout fool you; Sorokin was no overnight success on Long Island. The netminder had been underrated until he served up a top-three SV% among regular starters (.924) in 2022-23 and carried New York on his back into the postseason. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 28
Age: 24
Last season showed the offensive side of his game. Could this be the season Heiskanen makes a push for the Norris Trophy? — Clark
2022-23 rank: 11
Age: 27
Shesterkin’s performances have validated him as one of the best goalies in the game, and he’s one of the main reasons the Rangers have legitimate title aspirations. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 14
Age: 33
Another all-around defenseman who has been among the NHL’s best. Seeing how he’ll perform in this new era of the Predators will be fascinating. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 68
Age: 23
Dahlin is as dynamic from the blue line as any forward, with the skating, stickhandling and shooting ability to prove it. The 23-year-old is fresh off a career-best season in which he averaged nearly a point per game while showing off the defensive traits that earned him Norris Trophy buzz. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 34
Age: 25
Having a do-everything, puck-moving defenseman has become pretty much a necessity in today’s NHL. That’s what makes McAvoy so valuable to the Bruins’ success both now and in the future. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 26
Age: 27
Tampa Bay is literally not the same team without Point. He’s the Lightning’s jack-of-all-trades, a potent scoring threat at 5-on-5 and special teams, with a strong defensive foundation he uses to generate even more offensive opportunities for himself and others. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 13
Age: 36
Whether or not the Penguins have aged out of Stanley Cup contention, Crosby remains one of the NHL’s best point producers as he enters the twilight years of a legendary career. — Wyshynski
2022-23 rank: 22
Age: 26
Aho provides the sort of consistent two-way presence that practically makes him the embodiment of the Hurricanes. It’s something the Canes will seek to tap into once again in a season that has them as a top Stanley Cup contender. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 85
Age: 21
Stutzle has the breakneck speed, skating ability and the scoring touch of a burgeoning offensive star. His dominant 90-point season in 2022-23 just scratched the surface of where Stutzle’s all-around skill set came take him (and the Senators). — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 12
Age: 26
Marner dazzles like few playmakers can. Still more confident passing than shooting, Marner has put together consecutive seasons of nearly 100 points, with a maturing defensive game to match his offensive prowess. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 31
Age: 24
There’s an electric energy and obvious confidence that elevates Tkachuk above the competition. He’s already a perennial 30-plus goal scorer with a solid two-way foundation, and his high character is an asset Ottawa will continue to appreciate from its young captain. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 8
Age: 32
Could this season be the most important of Hedman’s career? He is seemingly always on the ice for critical minutes, and will continue to prove crucial as the Lightning seek to navigate life without Andrei Vasilevskiy for the first two months of the season. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 7
Age: 26
Kaprizov is a goal-scoring menace who is more than capable of creating challenges when he distributes. He is among the game’s best wingers and a pivotal figure in the Wild’s bid to reach the playoffs once again. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 32
Age: 24
Opening the season with a four-point game shows why he has been compared to aliens since the moment he debuted. It’s another example of what has made Pettersson a franchise cornerstone for a team trying to change its fortunes. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 9
Age: 28
It’s possible the “he’s underrated” talk could still exist. But what Barkov did last season by serving as the two-way anchor who captained the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final has made him harder to ignore. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 46
Age: 30
Hellebuyck has handled a heavier load than any goaltender in the league in recent seasons, and done it so well the Jets extended their workhorse on a seven-year pact to keep him from going elsewhere. Considering the 30-year-old Hellebuyck tied for the second-most wins last season (37) with an exemplary .920 save percentage, that looks like a safe bet for now. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 23
Age: 25
Fox has finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting the past five seasons, while being the sort of multidimensional defenseman who is a problem for opponents. He’s a critical component of the Rangers’ championship push. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 30
Age: 24
A second 40-goal campaign was just the start for Robertson, who also scored 100 points for the first time. Those individual accomplishments set the stage for him and the Stars to reach the conference finals, showing they can be the next big threat in the West. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 19
Age: 25
Tkachuk bested his own best self last season to produce a second consecutive 40-plus goal effort and a career-high 109 points. The Panthers’ firecracker used that skill to will his team to a playoff berth — and was a driving force in Florida’s unexpected ride to the Stanley Cup Final. And Tkachuk was a Hart Trophy finalist to boot. So, what will he do for an encore? Suffice it to say, Tkachuk is more than some simple pest. He’s a bona fide star. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 21
Age: 27
An elite scorer already, Pastrnak had 61 goals last season, bested only by McDavid’s 64. Pastrnak continuing his progression into one of the NHL’s most dangerous finishers would aid a Bruins team seeking more production following the departures of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, among others. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 25
Age: 27
Eichel came into his own with Vegas last season and it no doubt contributed to the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup victory. After years of waiting for a taste of the postseason, Eichel averaged over a point per game on Vegas’ run and laid to rest any notion that following a hard disk surgery and rehab process he wouldn’t be a top-tier player again. If anything, Eichel could have more to give. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 5
Age: 30
Take away the 30 goals he scored last season and his 83 assists would have still put him among the top 25 in points. Last season just reinforced what makes Kucherov one of the game’s most dangerous players, and arguably the scariest winger in the NHL. It’s something the Lightning will continue to count on to open the season now that Andrei Vasilevskiy is recovering from back surgery. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 24
Age: 27
The discussion around Denver the past few years regarding Rantanen was that his shot was just as treacherous as his ability to create. It was just a matter of when he would be able to showcase both. He did in 2022-23, and the result was a 55-goal, 50-assist season, a feat he’ll push for again as the Avs have their eyes on another title. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 6
Age: 28
Draisaitl’s perennial stance among NHL leaders in goals and point production continue to prove that he’s more than just McDavid’s wing man. He has carved out a starring role in his own right, including his 52 goals and 128 points last season. And Draisaitl is an inspiring leader apart from just scoring ability — he excelled for Edmonton in last year’s postseason while skating on a fractured ankle. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 3
Age: 26
Matthews opened his season with a hat trick performance that put him past the 300-goal mark in only 482 career games. The Leafs’ top center has one of the league’s best shots, is strong at both ends of the ice and keeps evolving in his craft, for example by taking on a penalty-killing role. — Shilton
2022-23 rank: 44
Age: 22
Perhaps no player to make the top-100 list from last season did more to boost his standing in the NHL than Hughes. His fourth season saw him nearly double his point total from the prior campaign, and he was a major reason the Devils reached the postseason. The conversation around the best centers in the NHL has been dominated recently by players such as Matthews, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Could it be time for that discussion to have another entrant? — Clark
2022-23 rank: 4
Age: 28
A perennial threat to score 100 points, MacKinnon finally reached the century club last season when he finished with a career-high 111 in 71 games. MacKinnon’s combination of creativity, power and speed is what has made him one of the NHL’s most dangerous players who is also one of the main reasons why the Avalanche are seeking to add a second Stanley Cup in three seasons. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 2
Age: 24
Makar can use his intelligence, speed and stick to either escape situations or to find ways to make opponents uncomfortable on either end of the ice. While his offensive exploits are what attracts the most attention, there’s more to Makar than just points. Last season, Makar became a more complete defenseman, playing on both special teams and leading the NHL in average ice time. — Clark
2022-23 rank: 1
Age: 26
He is imminent danger personified. Anytime McDavid has the puck — or even when he doesn’t — he’s always a threat to do something. He can create for others or for himself in a number of different situations. This is why he remains the No. 1 player in the game, less than 150 points away from 1,000 in his career and turning 27 this year. — Clark
Honorable mentions
Chris Kreider, LW, New York Rangers
Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo Sabres
Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks
Troy Terry, C, Anaheim Ducks
Noah Dobson, D, New York Islanders
Bo Horvat, C, New York Islanders
Carter Verhaeghe, C, Florida Panthers
Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets
Logan Cooley, C, Arizona Coyotes
Adrian Kempe, C, Los Angeles Kings
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Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani jogged off the pitcher’s mound and leaned against the dugout railing while strapping on his elbow guard and batting gloves. He was thrown a towel to wipe the sweat off his face, then walked to the batter’s box to face San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease without taking any practice swings.
With that, Ohtani began his quest to once again do what many in the sport consider impossible.
Ohtani made his pitching debut from Dodger Stadium on Monday, giving up a run in his lone inning of work, then struck out in his first plate appearance as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ designated hitter, marking the first time he has pitched and hit in a game since Aug. 23, 2023. He would eventually finish 2-4 with two RBIs in his club’s 6-3 victory.
Ohtani is close to 21 months removed from a second repair of his right ulnar collateral ligament but faced hitters only three times before essentially rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation, his last session, from Petco Park in San Diego last Tuesday, spanning three simulated innings and 44 pitches.
Ohtani communicated to the Dodgers that facing hitters hours before games, then cooling off and having to ramp back up to DH later that night, was more taxing on his body than doing both simultaneously, prompting him to return to pitching sooner than expected. These initial starts will basically function as the continuation of Ohtani’s pitching rehab. On Monday, he was basically utilized as an opener.
Ohtani reached 99.9 mph and 100.2 mph with his fastball but also uncorked a wild pitch while utilizing 28 pitches to record the first three outs. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off with a bloop single and Luis Arraez followed with a line-drive single. Ohtani should have recorded a strikeout of Manny Machado, who went around on a two-strike swing. But first-base umpire Ryan Blakney ruled otherwise, bringing the count to 2-2 and later prompting a sacrifice fly to score the game’s first run.
Ohtani followed by inducing groundouts to Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts, and with that, his pitching debut was over.
The Dodgers hope it’s the first of many starts.
Ohtani, 30, functioned as a transformative two-way player from 2021 to 2023, winning two unanimous MVPs and also finishing as the runner-up to Aaron Judge. On offense, Ohtani slashed .277/.379/.585 with 124 home runs and 57 stolen bases. On the mound, he posted a 2.84 ERA with 542 strikeouts and 143 walks in 428⅓ innings.
Top Boston Red Sox officials said the team traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday because they could not find “alignment” with their star slugger, whose relationship with the organization degraded after he declined a request by the team to switch positions for the second time this season.
In a 40-minute media availability Monday night, Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow defended the decision to trade the 28-year-old Devers, a three-time All-Star in the second season of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract. The deal, which came after a sweep of the rival New York Yankees extended Boston’s winning streak to five games, roiled Red Sox fans still embittered by Boston trading future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
Though Kennedy and Breslow acknowledged the disappointment in the trade that netted Boston left-handed starter Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs III, right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks and right-hander Jose Bello, they noted the financial flexibility the deal gives the organization, with San Francisco taking on the remaining $254 million of Devers’ contract.
Pointing to the ability to add talent as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, Breslow said: “This is in no way signifying a waving of the white flag on 2025. We are as committed as we were six months ago to putting a winning team on the field, to competing for the division and making a deep postseason run.”
He also added, “I do think that there is a real chance that at the end of the season we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would’ve.”
At 38-36 following a win Monday night against Seattle, the Red Sox are in fourth place in the AL East but hold the final AL wild-card playoff spot. Their new-look lineup featured first baseman Abraham Toro hitting in Devers’ typical No. 2 spot and rookie outfielder Roman Anthony, who hit his first big league home run Monday, batting third.
Devers, who had been with the Red Sox organization since signing out of the Dominican Republic at 16, went from a fundamental part of Boston’s future to the latest ex-Red Sox player in a matter of months. The organization had spent the winter ensuring Devers would remain at third base, the position he had played his whole career. When Boston signed third baseman Alex Bregman on the eve of spring training, Devers was asked to move to designated hitter. He refused before eventually relenting.
A season-ending injury to first baseman Triston Casas in early May compelled Breslow to inquire about Devers’ willingness to move to first. He spurned the idea and criticized the organization, prompting owner John Henry, Kennedy and Breslow to fly to Kansas City, where the Red Sox were playing, and talk through their issues.
Despite the strong play of Toro and Romy Gonzalez at first, the issues persisted. Though neither Kennedy nor Breslow would expound specifically on where there was misalignment between the parties, Devers rejecting a second position switch soured an organization that gave him the largest deal in franchise history.
“We had certain expectations that went with that contract,” Kennedy said. “And when we came to the conclusion that we did not have a full alignment, we moved on.”
Breslow said the Red Sox talked about Devers with multiple teams — and two rival general managers told ESPN on Monday that Devers’ name came up in conversation about potential deals. Ultimately, Boston pulled off the polarizing trade with San Francisco, which agreed to inherit the entirety of Devers’ contract and in exchange sent back a package of talent that paled in production compared to Devers.
Over nine seasons with the Red Sox, Devers hit .279/.349/.510 with 215 home runs and 696 RBIs in 1,053 games. He represented the last player from Boston’s most recent World Series-winning team in 2018 — a group to which Kennedy and Breslow alluded when emphasizing the organization’s goals in moving a player who was hitting .272/.401/.504 this season.
“I do think that there is a real chance that at the end of the season, we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would’ve.”
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow
“As we think about the identity and the culture and the environment that is created by great teams,” Breslow said, “there was something amiss here, and it was something that we needed to act decisively to course correct.”
Said Kennedy: “We did what we felt was in the best interest of the Red Sox on and off the field to win championships and to continue to ferociously and relentlessly pursue a culture that we want everyone in that clubhouse to embody and doing everything in their power night in and night out to help the team.”
The two continued returning to the word “alignment” — Kennedy used it nine times, Breslow five — to rationalize the deal. They pointed to allowing the team’s young core — which includes Anthony and infielders Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, all of whom were among the top 15 prospects in MLB entering the season — to receive regular playing time as a benefit, with more at-bats available in the DH slot.
“I understand why the initial reaction would be that it’d be tough to sit here and say when you move a player of Raffy’s caliber, when you take that bat out of the lineup, how could I sit here and say that we’re a better team?” Breslow said. “And I acknowledge on paper we’re not going to have the same lineup that we did, but this isn’t about the game that is played on paper. This is about the game that’s played on the field and ultimately about winning the most games that we can. And in order to do that, we’re trying to put together the most functional and complete team that we can.”
The Red Sox have squandered the benefit of the doubt with a fan base that saw the team win four championships from 2004 to 2018. Dealing Betts for a paltry return remains a sticking point with a wide swath of fans, and one of Breslow’s first deals after taking over following the firing of his predecessor, Chaim Bloom, was trading left-hander Chris Sale to Atlanta, where he won the National League Cy Young Award last year.
“I’ll put our record up against anybody else’s in Major League Baseball over the last 24 years,” Kennedy said. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built here. We’ve got more trophies and banners to show for it than any other organization in Major League Baseball.”
Saying that Devers “means so much to that group, means so much to the organization, to the city of Boston,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora nevertheless stood behind the deal, saying he believes Harrison (who was optioned to Triple-A) and Hicks (on the injured list) will help the team this season.
“We’ve got to keep going. That’s the bottom line,” Cora said. “We put ourselves in a good spot. We have played good baseball for an extended period of time. Now we have to do it without Raffy, but at the same time, we added some pieces that we do believe are going to help us.”
Breslow and Kennedy each expressed disappointment over the handling of the Devers situation, with Breslow saying, “I need to own things I could have done better,” particularly in communicating. They agreed, though, that the decisiveness with which they agreed to deal Devers — regardless of the public outcry — was done in service of something larger.
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Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — Hours before making his season debut, Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was in the batter’s box inside an empty Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon hitting off a high-speed pitching machine. Atop his list of preparation priorities was being ready to handle elite velocity. That, he believes, will best determine whether he will succeed in his return from tendon injuries in both elbows.
Stanton’s first test, though it came in a loss, was a success: The slugger went 2-for-4 with three hard-hit balls and a double in an 11-inning, 1-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.
“With not as many at-bats under my belt, that’s going to be the most important,” Stanton said of hitting velocity. “Just make sure I’m ready. See the ball early. Normal things you would say midseason, but just emphasize it a little more now.”
Stanton was sidelined through Sunday, missing the Yankees’ first 70 games. He played through a “high level” of joint pain in both elbows in 2024, including during the postseason when he smashed seven home runs in 14 games and was named American League Championship Series MVP, but he was shut down from swinging a bat in January until late March, delaying his readiness for the season.
Batting fifth Monday in his first major league action since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, Stanton received a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was introduced for his first plate appearance. He then hacked away.
He swung at the first pitch he saw — a 96-mph sinker from Angels right-hander Jose Soriano — and cracked a 101.5 mph groundout to the third baseman.
He roped a 111.1 mph line drive single to left field in his second at-bat for his first hit of 2025 and struck out swinging in his third at-bat before clobbering a 102.9 mph leadoff double down the left-field line in the ninth inning.
Stanton’s night ended there when Jasson Dominguez replaced him at second base as a pinch-runner. The Yankees wound up spoiling the scoring opportunity. They have gone 20 innings without scoring a run, a skid that goes back to the ninth inning of a loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
“It’s great to be back,” Stanton said. “Obviously, want to win, but it’s good to be back out there. I saw the ball pretty well besides one at-bat. So we’re just working on that, making sure my timing’s geared up and get rolling.”
Stanton, 35, was eligible for reinstatement from the 60-day injured list in late May, but the Yankees, not desperate for offense and with multiple choices for DH, did not rush him back.
He began a rehab assignment last week, appearing in three games over consecutive days for Double-A Somerset after an extended period taking swings off machines and in live batting practice. He went 3-for-11 with a double, four RBIs, a walk and three strikeouts for Somerset.
The Yankees have 16 games over the next 16 days, but manager Aaron Boone does not expect Stanton, whose 429 career home runs lead all active players, to play every day. Stanton’s availability will partly depend on his next-day recovery after a game.
“I would think that things might come up from time to time and that could play into different things on a given day if you feel like it’s best to give him a day,” Boone said. “But I think he’s built some good momentum here over the last couple of months with it. The strength in his hands and things like that has returned in a good way so certainly something we’ll pay attention to but feel like we’re in a pretty good spot.”
Boone has the luxury to play it on the safer side with an offense that thrived without Stanton, the 2017 National League MVP. The Yankees entered Monday ranked second in the majors with a 123 weighted runs created plus and .794 OPS with Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Dominguez primarily cycling through the DH spot.
That’s where things become complicated for New York. Stanton’s return will, as it stands, present a daily lineup puzzle for Boone to solve — not only in the DH slot, but in the outfield where he has Judge plus three players (Dominguez, Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham) for two spots (center field and left field). Decisions will mostly come down to workload and matchups.
Paul Goldschmidt, another former MVP, and Domínguez, one of baseball’s top prospects entering the season, were the odd players out Monday, though both entered the game late.
“I’ve talked to them, and we know what the goal is,” Boone said. “And right now it’s to get to the playoffs and try and win a division and then obviously from there, trying to get to and win a World Series. So, making sure we have everyone on the same page and the buy-in. And there’s going to be days when maybe a guy deserves to be in there, isn’t. Everyone’s not going to be happy about it all the time and that’s OK.”
Said Stanton: “Whatever is best for us to win, that’s important. And the guys that are going to be starting are going to come in huge pinch-hit spots. So, in that opportunity, it’s usually a chance to win a game anyway so, yeah, we’ll work with it.”
Stanton’s return perhaps most impacts Rice, who has started 43 of the Yankees’ 71 games as their DH. The second-year player, who started at first base Monday, is batting .229 with 12 home runs and a .769 OPS this season.
Boone on Monday repeated that he plans to occasionally have Rice start at catcher to alleviate the logjam and get his bat in the lineup more often.
Rice, 26, was drafted as a catcher and spent most of his minor league career behind the plate, but he has yet to start at the position for the Yankees since making his major league debut last season. Rice has tallied just 6⅔ innings behind the plate in the majors.
Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra have split time at catcher this season, with Wells starting 52 of the team’s 70 games behind the dish.
“I see him playing quite a bit,” Boone said of Rice. “Again, just kind of the matchups. As far as the catching component, I do plan on getting him back there at some point. I don’t know how frequent it would be. Because, again, I really value what J.C.’s done back there. As you’ve seen lately, I do value getting Austin his days so there’ll be a day I get him back there and that can factor into things a little bit.”
The Yankees designated utility man Pablo Reyes for assignment to make room on the active roster for Stanton.
Also Monday, Boone said right-hander Jake Cousins is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday.
Cousins spent the first three years of his big league career with the Milwaukee Brewers before joining New York last season. Cousins became a significant part of New York’s bullpen, posting a 2.37 ERA across 37 games during the regular season before allowing five runs in six postseason appearances.
The Yankees expected Cousins to return before the All-Star break when he was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain to begin the season. But his recovery was stalled by a pectoral injury and he was pulled off a recent rehab assignment with elbow trouble. He is now expected to miss a significant portion of the 2026 season.
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