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3 years ago

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7:00 AM ET

LOS ANGELES — After all the anxiety-inducing finishes, after the Fiesta Bowl upset of Michigan, after making history as the longest of long shots to make the College Football Playoff National Championship, TCU has just one thing left to do.

Its job.

“Do your job” is the unsexy, unflashy mantra that coach Sonny Dykes pounds into the heads of his Horned Frogs. Senior guard Wes Harris said he can’t even imagine how many times he’s heard it this season.

“Probably about 1,000 if I had to guess,” Harris said Saturday at media day. “Let’s see, I’m saying he says it 15, at least 20 times a week. I’m not good at math, but that’s a lot of doing your job. Two, three ‘do your jobs’ a day, five, six, seven days a week.”

Dykes obviously doesn’t see any need to break from that formula before TCU faces Georgia in the national championship game Monday at SoFi Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App).

There’s not much for the Horned Frogs to lean on other than putting in the work. They were supposed to be overmatched going into the season with a new coach while losing their two best players in the transfer portal — running back Zach Evans to Ole Miss and defensive end Ochaun Mathis to Nebraska. They were supposed to be outclassed in the Big 12, where they were picked seventh in the preseason poll without receiving a single first-place vote. They were supposed to be exposed in the Fiesta Bowl, making the playoff field despite being a historic outlier in recruiting rankings. No national champion in the CFP era had a recruiting class outside the top 15 in four years prior to winning the title. TCU has never had a single top 15 class since ESPN began its recruiting rankings in 2006.

“We come into this game with a lot of motivation, obviously,” Dykes said. “It’s been a long season. We’ve exceeded expectations, at least externally. And so anytime you do that there’s always a little bit of extra motivation.”

History keeps staring the Horned Frogs in the face. After being just the second team to make the CFP despite being unranked in the preseason (Michigan last year was the other), TCU is the first unranked preseason team to make the national title game since Auburn in 2013, two years before the CFP came into existence.

No team outside the preseason top 25 has won a national championship since Georgia Tech in 1990. And no team coming off a losing season — TCU was 5-7 last year — has won a national championship since Michigan State in 1965; only four have ever done it.

None of that is daunting to the Frogs, however, because their insouciant coach doesn’t care what the narrative may be about his team or his style.

“[Dykes] hasn’t changed a single game this whole year,” Harris said. “I feel like it helps us because obviously we haven’t been on this stage before, but it’s true, dude, like we ain’t got nothing to lose. We shouldn’t feel any pressure anyway.

“He’s like, ‘Man, just do your job. It’s another game. There’s no need to blow it out of proportion even though it is the biggest game you can play.’ He does a good job of kind of just telling everybody to calm down, take a deep breath and just soak it all in.”

Dykes no doubt is soaking it all in. Coaches coach their whole lives without getting an opportunity to play for a national championship. His late dad, Spike, did it for 40 years and never got a shot at one, perhaps coming closest in his first year as an assistant at Texas in 1972 — the Longhorns finished No. 3 in the postseason poll.

Dykes couldn’t have imagined being in this position a year ago as he watched Georgia claim its first national championship in 41 years from a table in the back of Mad Dog’s British Pub, a bar on the River Walk in San Antonio, where he was in town for the American Football Coaches Association convention. This year, he’s coaching against the Dawgs in Los Angeles.

The AFCA convention is annually held the same weekend as the title game. Georgia might have expected to miss it. Not TCU.

“Every year at the convention, you make plans on where you’re watching the national championship game,” offensive line coach A.J. Ricker said. “One of our graduate assistants told me, ‘We’re gonna miss the convention this year.’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s a good thing.'”

It’s been a surreal climb for TCU.

“This whole thing’s nuts, dude,” Harris said. “I’m just like, ‘When’s it gonna hit us, when’s it gonna hit us?’ I just feel like we just need to make the most of it because it is pretty cool.”

Harris said he was back home fishing last year at this time because football wasn’t really on his mind since TCU’s season was over. Josh Newton, the first-team All-Big 12 corner after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, wasn’t even at TCU yet, and watched the game at his cousin’s house in Monroe. Wide receiver Taye Barber said he watched with friends at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice complex that includes bars with giant TV screens. This year, his friends can watch him on those same screens.

“We just had to come together and believe in one another and just do our job like Coach Dykes said and it can happen,” Barber said. “No matter what, anything can happen.”

The TCU contingent is not just celebrating the journey to this point. This is a chance to finish one of the most unlikely runs in sports history, as the Frogs faced 200-1 odds to win the title before the season. They’re also the largest underdogs in the national title game era (since 1998), with Caesars Sportsbook listing Georgia as a 13-point favorite.

“Look, you don’t go through all the stuff we’ve gone through this season and work as hard as these guys have worked and make all the sacrifices these guys have made to say we’re just happy to be here,” Dykes said. “I think if anything, it gives you extra motivation to finish the job because we haven’t been here before. And if you haven’t been there before, then it’s hard to say, well, we’ll be back next year.”

Across the board, TCU players say they knew from the first meetings last December with Dykes and strength coach Kaz Kazadi that things would be different. TCU safety Abe Camara said they were “all business” from the jump.

“Everybody has told us from day one that this is a national championship team. ‘You guys can make it there, you guys can win it,'” Camara said. “We’re here. Obviously, the job’s not finished. So you get the job done. That’s all. We really want to do this. It’s not just for us, though. It’s for the city of Fort Worth. Our fans have been dedicated all year. We have so many people that have been there for us. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. It’s for everybody.”

TCU, the little private school that just made it to the Power 5 in 2012, is taking aim at Georgia, the defending national champions, the new SEC Death Star fashioned by Kirby Smart in the same pressure-cooked structure that Nick Saban used to turn Alabama back into a dynasty.

Now, after all the talk, analysis and hype, the Horned Frogs just have one more game to go.

“None of us will feel good about this year if we don’t win this game,” Dykes said. “I think we’ll feel like we’ve squandered an opportunity. And nobody wants to do that.”

Harris, the bearded Texan with the thick accent, said he knows just how to finish things off.

“I tell you what,” he said. “If there’s one thing we’re gonna do, it’s gonna be our job.”

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

Published

20 hours ago

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July 13, 2025

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

Jul 11, 2025, 08:19 PM ET

The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is set.

Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He was followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brent Rooker of the Athletics and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.

On Friday, however, Acuna was replaced by teammate Matt Olson.

With all the entrants announced, let’s break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.

Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more

2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 434 feet

Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.

Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.

2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.

Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.

2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet

Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.

Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.

2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet

Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.

Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.

2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet

Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.

Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.

2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet

Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.

Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.

2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.

Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.

2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet

Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.

Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.

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Reds’ Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

Published

21 hours ago

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July 12, 2025

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Reds' Fraley to play through partially torn labrum

  • Associated Press

Jul 12, 2025, 02:28 PM ET

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jake Fraley was activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday.

He had injured his right shoulder while trying to make a diving catch June 23 against the New York Yankees.

An MRI revealed a partially torn labrum that will eventually require surgery. Fraley received a cortisone shot and will try to play through it for the rest of the season.

The Reds were 7-4 in his absence.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who hasn’t played since Noelvi Marte returned from the IL on July 4, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

Published

21 hours ago

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July 12, 2025

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Royals P Lorenzen (illness) scratched from start

  • Field Level Media

Jul 12, 2025, 02:39 PM ET

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen was scratched from Saturday’s start due to an illness.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa replaced Lorenzen for the game against the visiting New York Mets.

Lorenzen, 33, is 5-8 with a 4.61 ERA through 18 starts this season.

Zerpa, 25, is 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 40 appearances out of the bullpen this season. His last start was in August 2023.

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