
MLB Power Rankings: Rays crack top 10 while Braves continue free fall
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1 month agoon
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adminAs we start to approach the halfway point of the season, teams have mostly settled into their respective places. This week’s list, however, saw a fair bit of movement, including the Dodgers falling to their lowest ranking of the season … at No. 4.
The Tigers, meanwhile, remain in the No. 1 spot after a 2-1 series win against the Cubs, followed by a host of seven National League teams, interrupted only by the Yankees at No. 3.
Just like in our previous weeks’ rankings, four American League teams reside in the top 10. The same four? Not so much. While the Mariners dropped seven places to No. 15, the Rays found their way back to the top 10 for the first time since Week 1.
Outside of the top 10, improvements were made by teams like the Blue Jays and Astros, while the Braves fell to their lowest ranking of the season at No. 21.
Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Record: 44-25
Previous ranking: 1
Zach McKinstry has been a crucial part of Detroit’s improved offense, hitting .275/.362/.436 while leading the team’s position players with 1.6 WAR (and tied for the AL lead with seven triples). He has started games at five different positions (3B, RF, LF, SS, 2B) and hit well in high-leverage situations (around .400). McKinstry entered 2025 with a career OPS+ of 77, including just 74 last season, when he hit .215/.277/.337, so we’ll see if he can keep it up, but manager A.J. Hinch has been starting him nearly every game of late, including against left-handers. — Schoenfield
Record: 44-24
Previous ranking: 3
The Mets continue to play well and have opened up a bigger division lead over the slumping Phillies. New York leads the majors in ERA and the consistency of the starting pitching has been remarkable: Only twice all season has a Mets starter allowed more than four runs (Blade Tidwell allowed six making a fill-in start in a doubleheader and Griffin Canning allowed five on May 28 against the White Sox). Clay Holmes is looking like one of the bargains of the offseason and is now 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA. He’s making a push for All-Star consideration as a starter after twice making it as a reliever with the Yankees. — Schoenfield
Record: 41-25
Previous ranking: 4
Giancarlo Stanton, who began a rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, did not shut down the possibility of making his season debut this weekend against the Red Sox. Stanton has been on the injured list with severe tendon injuries in both of his elbows, and the Yankees have still posted the highest OPS and wRC+ in the majors. As the roster stands, his return will create a logjam in the DH spot with Stanton, Ben Rice, Jasson Dominguez and Aaron Judge — when manager Aaron Boone wants to get him off his feet — as options for the slot. — Castillo
Record: 41-28
Previous ranking: 2
Matt Sauer, a 26-year-old journeyman, threw a career-high 111 pitches while allowing nine runs on Tuesday. Enrique Hernandez, a utility player, then recorded the final seven outs. The following afternoon, it was Ben Casparius going as long as he could in yet another bullpen game. The Dodgers’ pitching situation is quite dire these days — but there is hope on the horizon. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are off a mound and progressing. Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, threw a 44-pitch simulated game earlier this week and should return at some point next month. Until then, the Dodgers must survive. — Gonzalez
Record: 41-27
Previous ranking: 6
We’ve reached the point in the calendar where the sample sizes mean something, and that means Pete Crow-Armstrong is a legitimate National League MVP candidate. PCA leads the NL in fWAR (3.6) for a Cubs team that has the second-best record in the NL. The 23-year-old center fielder is one of the best defenders in the sport at any position and a burner on the basepaths with 21 steals. His chase rate ranks among the highest in the majors, but he’s still producing at an elite level with a slash line of .271/.305/.545. Maybe the offense regresses, but since it’s been more than two months, it might just be for real. — Castillo
Record: 39-29
Previous ranking: 5
Are the Phillies good? They’re 7-0 against the Rockies and barely over .500 against everyone else. They have just the 14th-best run differential in the majors and only five series wins against teams that currently have a winning record (the Dodgers, Cubs twice, Rays and Guardians). Jesus Luzardo has suddenly lost it, allowing a remarkable 20 runs over consecutive starts (the Phillies believe he was tipping his pitches). Aaron Nola is still out with a stress reaction in a rib and won’t throw for at least two weeks. Bryce Harper just landed on the IL. The bullpen continues to scuffle. — Schoenfield
Record: 40-28
Previous ranking: 9
The Giants erupted for four ninth-inning runs against the Rockies on Tuesday night, giving them not only their sixth consecutive victory but their sixth consecutive one-run win — one shy of the major league record, set by the 1927 Cubs. The Giants lead the majors with 17 one-run wins this season. And though at least some of that is probably fluky, there’s also a very tangible reason for their success in those situations: Their bullpen continues to be lights out. Giants relievers boast the lowest ERA (2.34) and WHIP (1.09) in the majors this season. — Gonzalez
Record: 38-29
Previous ranking: 7
Yu Darvish and Michael King remain on the IL, and it seemed as if Manny Machado was single-handedly carrying the offense over these past few weeks. Yet, the Padres have found a way to win games. Heading into their showdown against the Dodgers this week, they had won 10 of 16 games. Six of those wins were decided by a single run. During that stretch, Padres relievers put up a 1.58 ERA, third lowest in the big leagues. — Gonzalez
Record: 37-30
Previous ranking: 10
The Astros’ offense continues to scuffle without Yordan Alvarez, who has been limited to 29 games because of a fracture in his right hand. But the pitching staff continues to keep this team afloat. This month alone, the Astros have received dominant starts from Hunter Brown, Framber Valdez and Lance McCullers Jr. while winning six of nine games and vaulting into first place in the AL West. Ronel Blanco‘s Tommy John surgery and Spencer Arrighetti‘s fractured thumb have forced Brandon Walter into the rotation, and he has responded with a 1.64 ERA in two starts. — Gonzalez
Record: 36-32
Previous ranking: 15
The Rays recently optioned rookie Chandler Simpson — one of the fastest players in baseball — after he stole 19 bases in just 35 games, but they’re not slowing down on the basepaths. Utilityman Jose Caballero leads the majors with 25 steals in 29 attempts while Jake Mangum, another rookie, is 10-for-10. The Rays, as a team, are tops in the majors with 96 stolen bases — 10 more than the second-ranked Brewers. That alone has helped them stay within striking distance of the first-place Yankees in the AL East. — Castillo
Record: 36-31
Previous ranking: 112
Minnesota’s pitching has led the way while the offense has been about league average, but what’s interesting is where the Twins are getting that offense from — a lot of so-called “free talent” acquisitions. Harrison Bader and Ty France signed in February as bargain basement free agents. Bader is second to Byron Buxton in WAR among position players while France is second in RBIs. Kody Clemens signed in late April after the Phillies waived him, and he has a 123 OPS+. The Twins signed Willi Castro ahead of the 2023 season after the Tigers let him go, and he’s consistently put up solid numbers. With Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis still scuffling, those four have been huge keys in the first half. — Schoenfield
Record: 33-26
Previous ranking: 11
For nearly a year, Ivan Herrera has quietly been one of the best hitters in the majors when healthy. Since June 1 of last year, the catcher/designated hitter’s 166 wRC+ is fifth in the majors among batters with at least 250 plate appearances. Only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Ketel Marte have posted better marks. The problem is Herrera has played in just 66 games during that span compared to Judge, for example, who has played in 150-plus. This season, Herrera missed more than a month with a knee injury, but when he’s on the field he produces. In 35 games, he’s batting .317 with seven home runs and a .941 OPS. — Castillo
Record: 38-30
Previous ranking: 18
The Blue Jays’ best hitter this season hasn’t been their $500 million first baseman (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) or their big free agent acquisition (Anthony Santander) or their two-time All-Star shortstop (Bo Bichette). It’s been George Springer, a 35-year-old outfielder whose best years appeared to be behind him after a disappointing 2024 season. Springer is enjoying a rebound campaign with a .259/.366/.488 slash line and 10 home runs in 64 games. His .854 OPS leads the Blue Jays among qualified hitters and is 10th best among qualified outfielders across the majors. It’s been a throwback performance for the four-time All-Star. — Castillo
Record: 36-33
Previous ranking: 13
While the Brewers’ pitching carousel seemingly never stops, Freddy Peralta is still in Milwaukee churning out quality seasons — and this one might be his best. The veteran right-hander, who held the Padres to one hit over six scoreless innings Sunday, has a 2.69 ERA over 14 starts. Peralta, 29, is en route to his second All-Star appearance for a club that is once again exceeding expectations and in the postseason hunt. — Castillo
Record: 33-34
Previous ranking: 8
The Mariners were eight games above .500 and 3½ games up in the AL West when they beat the Astros on May 23. They have since dropped 13 of 17 games and sit four games back of Houston. Their offense has struggled, with Jorge Polanco in particular coming back down to Earth. But the biggest culprit has been the pitching staff — more specifically the bullpen, which has put up a major league-worst 5.98 ERA during that 28-game stretch. Making matters worse, Bryce Miller didn’t respond to a cortisone injection for his elbow inflammation and will be out for at least another month. — Gonzalez
Record: 35-34
Previous ranking: 21
Hunter Greene appeared on his way to a second straight All-Star nod before he landed on the IL last week with a groin strain for the second time this season. While a timetable for his return is not known, Greene left the Reds for Los Angeles on Monday to seek a second opinion on his groin and lower back, which began bothering him in his last start against the Brewers. The 25-year-old is one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball and has a 2.72 ERA in 11 outings this season. The Reds, who have been hovering around .500 most of the season, will attempt to stay in the race without him. — Castillo
Record: 34-34
Previous ranking: 17
Noah Cameron had the first rough outing of his seven-start MLB career on Tuesday, serving up a two-run homer to Aaron Judge in the first inning and then a three-run homer to Austin Wells in the fourth. That raised his ERA up to 2.17 as the six runs he allowed doubled his total of three entering the start. Indeed, the 25-year-old lefty has been a nice surprise, a seventh-round pick in 2021 out of Central Arkansas who only sits at 92 mph with his fastball but relies on a five-pitch mix. The strikeout rate is low (25 in 37⅓ IP), so we’ll see if this last outing was a blip or the league making some adjustments. — Schoenfield
Record: 35-32
Previous ranking: 14
Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to the Reds ensured a third straight series loss for Cleveland after losing two of three to the Yankees and Astros. That was also the ninth game in a row where the Guardians failed to score more than four runs as they hit just .215 with a .289 OBP in that stretch. Slade Cecconi had his best start, allowing one run in five innings, but was issued zero runs of support for his second start in a row. Kyle Manzardo‘s slump has been a key reason for the offensive woes as he hit .164 with one home run and four RBIs over 19 games before his two-hit, two-RBI outing Wednesday that included a double. — Schoenfield
Record: 34-34
Previous ranking: 19
When Corbin Burnes decided to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery last Friday, the D-backs were a .500 team in a highly competitive NL West. Their rotation held the sixth-highest ERA in the majors. Arizona proceeded to get swept by the Reds, then bounced back by sweeping the Mariners, setting the Diamondbacks up for some really difficult decisions ahead of the trade deadline next month. If they decide to punt on 2025, the likes of Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez will be fascinating names to monitor. — Gonzalez
Record: 34-36
Previous ranking: 22
The Red Sox finally did it. Less than a month after his 21st birthday, Roman Anthony got called up. After banging on the big league door for weeks, baseball’s consensus No. 1 prospect drove from Worcester to Boston on Monday to make his long-awaited debut at Fenway Park against the Rays. He batted fifth and played right field despite primarily playing in left and center field in the minors this season. Anthony went hitless in his debut before recording his first career hit — a two-run double — Tuesday. Fans were eagerly awaiting his arrival, and the pressure is high to deliver for a team with postseason aspirations. — Castillo
Record: 29-38
Previous ranking: 16
The Braves had a disastrous seven-game losing streak, mirroring their 0-7 start to the season, which dropped them well back in the NL wild-card race. They have a stretch of games coming up against the Mets and Phillies that will no doubt determine their trade deadline decisions. Among those losses was arguably the worst defeat of 2025 for any team: The Braves blew a 10-4 lead at home to Arizona in the ninth inning as Scott Blewett and Raisel Iglesias gave up seven runs. Back-to-back walk-off losses to the Giants followed, including Pierce Johnson blowing a ninth-inning lead on Matt Chapman‘s home run. — Schoenfield
Record: 32-36
Previous ranking: 20
A Rangers offense that had spent most of the year in a comatose state erupted for 16 runs against the Twins on Tuesday night, during which Evan Carter supplied three hits — including a home run — and a walk. The Rangers have been waiting for Carter to live up to the promise he displayed during the stretch run of the 2023 season. He struggled while dealing with a back injury last year, then struggled again before injuring his quad this year. Since coming back up from the IL, though, Carter is 9-for-21 with four extra-base hits. If he can keep that going, the Rangers might just make a run in the division. — Gonzalez
Record: 30-37
Previous ranking: 23
Where might the Nationals be if they had a better bullpen? Tuesday’s loss was indicative of the season as they blew a 4-2 lead to the Mets, allowing two runs in the eighth and then suffering a walk-off loss in the 10th. Only the A’s have a worse bullpen ERA, and the Nationals rank in the bottom third of the majors in bullpen win probability added. The Nats did get close to .500 — they were 28-30 as recently as May 31 — but Tuesday’s loss dropped them back to six games under .500 as the offense has gone back into a deep slump after exploding for 38 runs in four games at the end of May. — Schoenfield
Record: 33-34
Previous ranking: 24
Jo Adell has always displayed a propensity to run hot and cold, and at this point, he’s on a real heater. The Angels’ enigmatic young outfielder is slashing .325/.413/.875 with seven home runs since May 30, raising his season OPS by 136 points. His team is 8-4 during that stretch, which should come as no surprise — the Angels’ offense looks very different when Adell is supplying consistent production from the bottom third of the lineup. The hope is he can ride this stretch just a little bit longer to help L.A. creep back over .500. — Gonzalez
Record: 27-39
Previous ranking: 25
Heston Kjerstad, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, was given his first long runway in the majors to start this season, and he struggled mightily before he was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday. The outfielder batted .192 with a .566 OPS in 54 games. His 59 wRC+ was tied for 13th worst in the majors among players with at least 160 plate appearances this season, and his minus-1.1 fWAR was tied for the third lowest. The Orioles hope a stint in Norfolk can get him back on track. — Castillo
Record: 28-41
Previous ranking: 26
Paul Skenes has given up seven runs (six earned) in 48⅓ innings across his past seven starts, maintaining a pristine 1.12 ERA. He hasn’t surrendered more than two runs in any of the six outings. The Pirates’ record in those games? They are 3-4. Skenes was credited with just one of those wins and is 4-6 on the season despite a 1.88 ERA over a major league-leading 91 innings. The Pirates have improved under interim manager Don Kelly — they’re 15-15 after going 12-26 with Derek Shelton at the helm — but the offense has left wins on the table with their 23-year-old right-hander on the mound. –– Castillo
Record: 25-41
Previous ranking: 27
It was great to see Eury Perez back in the majors, making his first start since September 2023 after he blew out his right elbow in spring training in 2024. He allowed four runs in three innings against the Pirates, with five strikeouts and two walks, and fought his command as he threw 70 pitches. His four-seamer averaged 98.5 mph — up 1 mph from what he averaged as a rookie. Still, it was a reminder of how good he was back in 2023. Unfortunately for Miami, right as Perez returns, Max Meyer (hip impingement) and Ryan Weathers (shoulder and lat strain) landed on the IL. — Schoenfield
28. Athletics
Record: 26-44
Previous ranking: 28
Jacob Wilson, the biggest bright spot in a suddenly spiraling season, has missed the past two games with tightness in his left hamstring but is expected back in the lineup by Friday. Since the start of May, his batting average is precisely .400, tops among qualified hitters. For the year, the 23-year-old shortstop is batting .366, with Aaron Judge (.394) the only player standing in the way of a batting title. Wilson’s walk and strikeout rates are comically low, but this isn’t some reincarnation of Luis Arraez; Wilson is also slugging .520, the 13th highest mark in the majors. — Gonzalez
Record: 23-45
Previous ranking: 29
Two offseason acquisitions are paying off nicely for the White Sox. Shane Smith was a Rule 5 pick from the Brewers and, after allowing one run in six innings to beat the Astros on Tuesday, he improved to 3-3 with a 2.37 ERA. Seven unearned runs have helped that ERA, but he’s done a nice job keeping the ball in the park with just four home runs in 68⅓ innings. Chase Meidroth was an afterthought in the Garrett Crochet trade but he was consistently getting on base in the minors and is doing that with the White Sox, hitting .296 with a .385 OBP. — Schoenfield
Record: 12-55
Previous ranking: 30
A rare bright spot emerged last week. The Rockies won all three of their games against the Marlins, giving them their first series win of the season and their first sweep in over a year. Unfortunately, good feelings don’t last very long in Colorado these days. The Rockies proceeded to lose five in a row against the Mets and Giants. They’ve already had eight losing streaks of four or more games this season. Four of them have spanned eight games. And it’s only June. — Gonzalez
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‘Just a top-shelf human being’: Teammates, opponents remember Ryne Sandberg
Published
8 hours agoon
July 29, 2025By
admin
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Jesse RogersJul 28, 2025, 11:30 PM ET
Close- Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg died on Monday at age 65. Sandberg, known for his power, speed and defensive prowess during his 16-year major league career, was the face of the Cubs during his 15 seasons with the franchise and a fan favorite throughout the sport.
Originally diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January of 2024, Sandberg was still around the Cubs as recently as spring training — and just as he did in his playing days, he made his presence felt with his signature combination of power and grace.
As the baseball world mourns the loss of an icon, those who knew Sandberg best shared their favorite stories about the Hall of Famer.
‘Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m.’
Sandberg was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cubs in January 1982 after struggling during his first call-up in Philly. A legendarily hard worker, Sandberg was willing to do whatever it took to make sure his stay in Chicago would go differently.
Larry Bowa, who was dealt along with Sandberg in the trade for veteran infielder Ivan DeJesus, remembers the hours Sandberg put in as he transformed from a light-hitting rookie in Philadelphia to a budding superstar in Chicago.
“I think about how he handled himself when he first got called up. He struggled out of the gate. I watched this guy not let it affect him. It might have affected him on the inside, but the way he handled himself on the outside was great,” Bowa said.
“Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m. [Manager] Jim Frey would tell him [to] hit every ball over the tarp and into the seats down the left-field line in foul territory. Hit it with authority over that tarp. Ryno looked at him like he was crazy. ‘I want every ball with authority over that tarp,’ Frey kept telling him. He did it for a week straight. That’s how he learned how to pull the ball.”
‘Just ungodly consistent’
2:27
How Ryne Sandberg will be remembered in Chicago
Jesse Rogers reflects on Ryne Sandberg’s career in Chicago after he died on Monday at the age of 65.
After his power stroke clicked, it didn’t take long for Sandberg to take his game to the highest level. He was named National League MVP in 1984 after hitting .314 with 19 home runs and 19 triples, stealing 32 bases and leading the Cubs to their first postseason appearance in 39 years.
Perhaps no one had a better view for Sandberg’s dominant campaign than his close friend, Cubs leadoff hitter Bobby Dernier. The two batted 1-2 in the Chicago lineup and earned the nickname “The Daily Double” as they combined to score 208 runs that season.
“Just ungodly consistent,” Dernier said of what made Sandberg so great. “And the style of game back then demanded a little bit of baserunning prowess and being capable of stealing bases and scoring a lot of runs. And so that was our style. He was tremendous.
“Pitchers were always paying a little more attention to me on the bases than him at the plate, and that was a big mistake and he’d take full advantage. He’d almost giggle about it, is what I remember in the dugout.”
Sandberg cemented his legacy during that season with a signature game against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 23, forever known in Chicago as “The Sandberg Game.” He hit two game-tying home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in the ninth and 10th innings before the Cubs won the game in the 11th — in front of a national TV audience.
“After he tied it up, I ended up hitting the ball off the wall, but if mine goes out, it’s probably never called the Sandberg game,” outfielder Gary Matthews said with a laugh. “He was great at everything that he did. I hit behind him and he was always on base.”
‘He had a perfect swing for his home ballpark’
Sandberg hit 282 career home runs during an era of baseball where second baseman weren’t known for that kind of power, but he was more than just a long ball threat. Six of those home runs — the second most off an opposing pitcher — were hit off Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who recalled one memorable afternoon for Sandberg.
“I gave up two home runs to him in a game and I had a [autograph] card show after the game and everyone in the world knew I gave up two home runs to Ryne Sandberg,” Smoltz said. “One was an inside-the-park home run. Those fans at the card show reminded me of that.
“He had a perfect swing for his home ballpark. He had a flatter swing that worked great for the angles at Wrigley Field, especially when the wind was blowing in.”
Sandberg was more than just an offensive threat; he also won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards during his time with the Cubs and posted a 123-game errorless streak.
“I used to tell Joe Morgan, ‘This guy doesn’t have to take a second seat to anybody on defense,'” Matthews said. “Morgan would say Ryne’s uniform was always clean. I said, ‘Well, you have to dive because you can’t get in front of it! Don’t get on him for perfecting the backhand.’ In the end Joe said, ‘You’re right.'”
‘He’s in a class by himself’
For all of his accomplishments on the field, the way Sandberg handled himself as a competitor and away from the game is what many who knew him best will remember about him.
“He’s an outstanding human being,” Bowa said. “That’s what I think of. Such a good family guy. His mental toughness is off the charts. Don’t let people deceive you by that little laugh he has all the time. He wanted to win as much as anybody. I’ve been around Pete Rose, and Ryno is right there.”
Smoltz added: “He’s in a class by himself. You would never know he was one of the greatest players ever, just by the way he carried himself and the ‘aw, shucks’ type attitude.
“I love competing against greatness that has integrity and character like Ryne Sandberg had. The way he carried himself, the way he was as a person is what I think about. It sure was nice to see him represent the sport and the city he played for.”
“Joy,” Dernier said. “That’s the first thing, and way so many more happiness types of stories. And it’s a grin on my face to think about him. And yeah, right now it’s melancholy that we know he’s gotten called up to the real big leagues. But I’m glad I knew him and I loved him being underestimated.”
‘Oh, man, I loved Ryno, but he’s lucky he was that good at baseball’
Of course, there were a few moments in Sandberg’s career where he wasn’t as gracious. In the Cubs clubhouse, teammates saw a different side of the Hall of Famer — a playful troublemaker and prankster.
“We had those chairs directors they use making movies, held together by sticks,” Matthews said. “Ryno would always take the sticks out, put the seat back in, and daily I’d fall to the ground. He’d be over there snickering or walking away.
“Or he would load your cigarette up and make it explode in a non-harmful way. Then when you figured it out, he would put two of those in the pack. He thought that was the funniest thing.”
Despite that kind of back-and-forth, Matthews and Sandberg often golfed together.
“I would ask for a few strokes,” Matthews said. “He would politely say, ‘no strokes, play better.’ He would hit some balls you couldn’t believe. Ball after ball. He would hit one and know it’s a good one but he’d ask, ‘Do you think that was any good?’ And just smile at me.
“Oh, man, I loved Ryno, but he’s lucky he was that good at baseball,” Matthews said with a laugh.
“He’d stir the pot and then walk away and look over his shoulder,” Bowa added. “He’d be cracking up after getting us going. He was so quiet outwardly with you guys [media], but not with us.”
‘He made such an impact on me ‘
After his playing days, Sandberg served as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015 before returning to Chicago, often putting on a uniform as a spring instructor and imparting the lessons from his Hall of Fame career to a new generation of Cubs.
“I just think it’s cool that he’s somebody that has kind of done everything in our sport but still doesn’t approach the game with any kind of ego,” current Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He doesn’t talk like he has the answers to everything or the conversation is never about him.
“He’s kind of softspoken, but then if you got him going on something he really cared about, it’s really cool to hear him open up, whether it’s routines he had or how he took care of his body or just fun memories with teammates or playing at Wrigley.”
Shortstop Dansby Swanson added: “Just such a top-shelf human being. He made such an impact on me even in my short time of being able to be around him. Just an unbelievable human being and someone that I’m very, very grateful to have met and spent time with, whether it’s talking about life or talking about ball.”
It’s those attributes, the ones the baseball world got to see on the field and the ones only his teammates were able to witness, that were missed in retirement. But his attitude about life stands out for everyone.
“We talked about a lot of things, about defense and offense, but we talked about life, too,” rookie third baseman Matt Shaw said. “When he first came up, he struggled a little bit early on and he was like, ‘No matter what happens, you just got to keep believing in yourself and keep going.’ And I definitely take that to heart, and that’s something that I definitely think about a lot — is that belief to just to keep going.”

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ESPN News Services
Jul 28, 2025, 09:26 PM ET
CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs died Monday at age 65.
Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home, according to the team.
Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.
But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”
“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.
The Cubs said they would wear a special jersey patch to commemorate Sandberg for the rest of the season.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.
He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1-for-6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.
It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and collected nine Gold Gloves.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”
Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made only two postseason appearances in his time there.
He was the National League MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7-for-19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the NL Championship Series at Wrigley Field.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.
The Cubs paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when they unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.
“He was a superhero in this city,” Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations, said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about [Michael] Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”
Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8-for-20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.
Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.
“When you examine the offense and defense, you’ll find some years where he was the best player you’ve ever seen in your life,” former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said.
Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third year on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same season.
“Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook,” Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark said. “With it, he inspired all those who knew him.”
Sandberg also managed the Phillies from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
Sandberg is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children, Justin, Lindsey, Steven, BR and Adriane; and 11 grandchildren.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sports
D-backs 3B Suárez hit on hand, X-rays negative
Published
9 hours agoon
July 29, 2025By
admin
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Associated Press
Jul 28, 2025, 10:05 PM ET
DETROIT — Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez hopes he avoided a major injury when he was hit on the right index finger by a pitch late in Monday night’s 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Suárez, who is a candidate to be traded to a contender, was struck by a 95.6 mph sinker from Will Vest in the ninth inning. Suárez immediately doubled over in pain and quickly left the field.
“The good news is that the X-rays were negative, but it still obviously hurt,” said Suárez, who was not bending the finger. “There are more tests scheduled for [Tuesday], and we will go from there. I’ll come back as quickly as I can.”
The 34-year-old infielder is hitting .248 with 36 homers and 87 RBIs in 104 games this season — the seventh time he has hit at least 30 homers across the past eight full campaigns.
“He’s very tough, and he never even winces,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “When he reacts like that, you know it isn’t good.”
Lovullo said he didn’t blame Vest.
“I don’t think there was any intent there,” Lovullo said. “He’s one of the most impressive hitters in MLB, and you don’t want to take those type of players off the field.”
The Diamondbacks are 51-56 and already have signaled they will be unloading players at the deadline. One of the teams believed to be interested in Suárez is the Tigers. The Venezuelan was signed by Detroit at age 17 and made his debut for the club in 2014, before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds after that season.
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