KUAthletics.com LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas baseball infielder/outfielder&nbsp;Brady Counsell, right-handed pitcher&nbsp;Alex Breckheimer&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;Derek Cerda&nbsp;were all selected in the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday.&nbsp;The three Jayhawks drafted marks nine players picked from Kansas in the last two seasons. Counsell was chosen in the 10th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Breckheimer was a 16th round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals and Cerda went in the 17th round to the Chicago White Sox. "Having guys drafted is one of the many signs of a healthy program and having guys drafted for the first time is a major sign of great development," head coach&nbsp;Dan Fitzgerald&nbsp;said. In the last two years, Fitzgerald and his coaching staff of&nbsp;Brandon Scott,&nbsp;Tyler Hancock,&nbsp;Jon Coyne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ryan Holland&nbsp;have helped 11 Jayhawks become professional baseball players. The combination of draft picks and free agent signings over the last two years is the most in consecutive seasons in school history. Counsell&nbsp;is the third Kansas player in the last two drafts to be a Top 10 round pick, with&nbsp;Hunter Cranton&nbsp;(third round) and&nbsp;Kodey Shojinaga&nbsp;(sixth round) being chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft. The last time Kansas had players selected in the top 10 rounds of back-to-back MLB Drafts was 2018 and 2019.The 2025 season marked one of the most historic years ever for Kansas. A 43-17 overall record helped KU reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2014. Fitzgerald was named the first Big 12 Coach of the Year in program history and the Jayhawks set program records in regular season wins (42), Big 12 wins (20), conference wins (20), conference series wins (seven), conference series sweeps (five), road wins (20), come-from-behind wins (26) and home runs (104).INF/OF&nbsp;Brady Counsell&nbsp;(Sr.)Round 10, No. 303 Overall, Arizona Diamondbacks. Counsell, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick, became the first Kansas player in school history to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2025. One of Counsell's greatest strengths was his durability to start every game, the only Jayhawk to do so this past season. "Brady will be a great Diamondback and really checks every box for the type of player you want in your organization," Fitzgerald said. "He can really work and is an incredible teammate. He is a total pro – on the field and in the clubhouse. "One of four Kansas players with double-digit home runs, Counsell finished the year with 12 home runs. He drove in 57 RBIs and scored 54 runs, both of which were the second most on the team. His 57 RBIs were also tied for seventh in the Big 12. Defensively, Counsell posted a .992 fielding percentage with only one error in 121 chances to earn his Gold Glove. Counsell's versatility was on display all season as he started 30 games at third base, 25 games in left field and five games at second base. A native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Counsell came to Kansas for his final year of eligibility after spending his first three years at Minnesota. Counsell made an emphatic return to Minnesota in 2025 by hitting the third of an NCAA record-tying five consecutive home runs on March 12 at U.S. Bank Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752581558049.jpeg" alt="KUAthletics.com" />
 <figcaption>KUAthletics.com</figcaption>
 </figure>KUAthletics.com LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas baseball infielder/outfielder&nbsp;Brady Counsell, right-handed pitcher&nbsp;Alex Breckheimer&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;Derek Cerda&nbsp;were all selected in the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday.&nbsp;The three Jayhawks drafted marks nine players picked from Kansas in the last two seasons. Counsell was chosen in the 10th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Breckheimer was a 16th round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals and Cerda went in the 17th round to the Chicago White Sox. "Having guys drafted is one of the many signs of a healthy program and having guys drafted for the first time is a major sign of great development," head coach&nbsp;Dan Fitzgerald&nbsp;said. In the last two years, Fitzgerald and his coaching staff of&nbsp;Brandon Scott,&nbsp;Tyler Hancock,&nbsp;Jon Coyne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ryan Holland&nbsp;have helped 11 Jayhawks become professional baseball players. The combination of draft picks and free agent signings over the last two years is the most in consecutive seasons in school history. Counsell&nbsp;is the third Kansas player in the last two drafts to be a Top 10 round pick, with&nbsp;Hunter Cranton&nbsp;(third round) and&nbsp;Kodey Shojinaga&nbsp;(sixth round) being chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft. The last time Kansas had players selected in the top 10 rounds of back-to-back MLB Drafts was 2018 and 2019.The 2025 season marked one of the most historic years ever for Kansas. A 43-17 overall record helped KU reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2014. Fitzgerald was named the first Big 12 Coach of the Year in program history and the Jayhawks set program records in regular season wins (42), Big 12 wins (20), conference wins (20), conference series wins (seven), conference series sweeps (five), road wins (20), come-from-behind wins (26) and home runs (104).INF/OF&nbsp;Brady Counsell&nbsp;(Sr.)Round 10, No. 303 Overall, Arizona Diamondbacks. Counsell, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick, became the first Kansas player in school history to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2025. One of Counsell's greatest strengths was his durability to start every game, the only Jayhawk to do so this past season. "Brady will be a great Diamondback and really checks every box for the type of player you want in your organization," Fitzgerald said. "He can really work and is an incredible teammate. He is a total pro – on the field and in the clubhouse. "One of four Kansas players with double-digit home runs, Counsell finished the year with 12 home runs. He drove in 57 RBIs and scored 54 runs, both of which were the second most on the team. His 57 RBIs were also tied for seventh in the Big 12. Defensively, Counsell posted a .992 fielding percentage with only one error in 121 chances to earn his Gold Glove. Counsell's versatility was on display all season as he started 30 games at third base, 25 games in left field and five games at second base. A native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Counsell came to Kansas for his final year of eligibility after spending his first three years at Minnesota. Counsell made an emphatic return to Minnesota in 2025 by hitting the third of an NCAA record-tying five consecutive home runs on March 12 at U.S. Bank Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trio of Jayhawks Hear Names Called in 2025 MLB Draft

KStateSports.com MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;K-State saw two baseball players selected on the final day of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, as shortstop&nbsp;Maximus Martin&nbsp;and left-handed pitcher&nbsp;Jacob Frost&nbsp;heard their names called on Monday. Martin was selected in the 10th&nbsp;round by the Boston Red Sox with the 298th&nbsp;overall pick, followed by Frost, who was taken with the 315th&nbsp;pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers to close out the round. Martin becomes just the second Wildcat ever drafted by the Red Sox, joining Robert Youngdahl (2011), while Frost is the ninth player in program history selected by the Dodgers. Under seventh-year head coach&nbsp;Pete Hughes, K-State has had 12 players selected within the first 10 rounds. In total, Hughes has overseen 91 players selected in the MLB Draft, including eight first-rounders during his 28 seasons as a head coach while he has recruited 145 players who have gone on to play professionally. In his first season at K-State, Martin earned ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region honors and was named Second Team All-Big 12. A native of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, he slashed .320/.420/.612, tallying a team-high 18 doubles and 14 home runs – tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history. Martin was one of the league's top offensive performers, finishing the regular season ranked in the Big 12's top 10 in three statistical categories. He garnered both Golden Spikes Award and National Shortstop of the Week recognition. He led the team with 18 games with two or more hits and ranked second with 15 multi-RBI games. Frost caps his second season with the Cats where earned his first All-Big 12 accolade in 2025, striking out 75 batters while holding opponents to a .238 batting average – the eighth-best mark in the league. The St. Louis, Missouri, product was one of two K-State pitchers to record 10 or more strikeouts in a single game this season, notching a career-high 10 against KU. He also led the Big 12 with 22 strikeouts looking in conference play. Across two seasons with the Wildcats, Frost posted a 4-6 record with a 6.49 ERA and totaled 115 strikeouts over 32 appearances and 23 starts, including three quality starts. In 2024, he helped lead K-State to its ninth no-hitter in program history.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752581361470.jpeg" alt="KStateSports.com" />
 <figcaption>KStateSports.com</figcaption>
 </figure>KStateSports.com MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;K-State saw two baseball players selected on the final day of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, as shortstop&nbsp;Maximus Martin&nbsp;and left-handed pitcher&nbsp;Jacob Frost&nbsp;heard their names called on Monday. Martin was selected in the 10th&nbsp;round by the Boston Red Sox with the 298th&nbsp;overall pick, followed by Frost, who was taken with the 315th&nbsp;pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers to close out the round. Martin becomes just the second Wildcat ever drafted by the Red Sox, joining Robert Youngdahl (2011), while Frost is the ninth player in program history selected by the Dodgers. Under seventh-year head coach&nbsp;Pete Hughes, K-State has had 12 players selected within the first 10 rounds. In total, Hughes has overseen 91 players selected in the MLB Draft, including eight first-rounders during his 28 seasons as a head coach while he has recruited 145 players who have gone on to play professionally. In his first season at K-State, Martin earned ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region honors and was named Second Team All-Big 12. A native of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, he slashed .320/.420/.612, tallying a team-high 18 doubles and 14 home runs – tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history. Martin was one of the league's top offensive performers, finishing the regular season ranked in the Big 12's top 10 in three statistical categories. He garnered both Golden Spikes Award and National Shortstop of the Week recognition. He led the team with 18 games with two or more hits and ranked second with 15 multi-RBI games. Frost caps his second season with the Cats where earned his first All-Big 12 accolade in 2025, striking out 75 batters while holding opponents to a .238 batting average – the eighth-best mark in the league. The St. Louis, Missouri, product was one of two K-State pitchers to record 10 or more strikeouts in a single game this season, notching a career-high 10 against KU. He also led the Big 12 with 22 strikeouts looking in conference play. Across two seasons with the Wildcats, Frost posted a 4-6 record with a 6.49 ERA and totaled 115 strikeouts over 32 appearances and 23 starts, including three quality starts. In 2024, he helped lead K-State to its ninth no-hitter in program history.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two Wildcats Taken on Final Day of 2025 MLB Draft

ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round. The Mariners' breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athletics’ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Park’s right-center field seats was the longest of the night. Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.

ATLANTA (AP) — Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the NL lineup, with Ronald Acuña Jr. batting second and Ketel Marte third. Paul Skenes of the Pirates will start for the NL, while Detroit’s Tarik Skubal will pitch for the AL. Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Riley Greene and Aaron Judge. Skenes and Skubal rank first and second in fastball velocity this season. Skenes has a 2.01 ERA, while Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, holds a 2.23 ERA.

ATLANTA (AP) — Curveballs are disappearing from Major League Baseball as pitchers prioritize velocity, emphasizing sliders and sweepers. Curveball usage dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.4% this season, with 22,962 fewer thrown in 2024 than five years earlier. Pitchers and coaches say the focus has shifted to harder, faster pitches that generate more swings and misses. Batters are hitting .225 against curveballs this season, lower than fastballs. The game continues evolving toward power and speed.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy is back at Royal Portrush and feeling plenty of love as the Masters champion. It's far different from when the British Open was last held in Northern Ireland. He was overwhelmed by the support and wound up missing the cut. McIlroy says he tried to treat 2019 like another Open. This time he is ready to embrace it. He now has the career Grand Slam. He wants to play well for the home crowd. But he's a lot more at peace and energized about another crack at Royal Portrush. He played 18 holes before bad weather arrived.

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama says he expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the past few months. Wembanyama made the comments to French newspaper L’Equipe in remarks published Monday. There was no immediate word from the Spurs on the report. Wembanyama was the NBA's rookie of the year two years ago and was the front-runner for defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February and was shut down.

Major League Baseball is spotlighting player fashion at the All-Star Game red carpet event on Tuesday. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, styled by Whitney Etoroma, is expected to make a statement. While Yamamoto isn’t big on fashion, Etoroma hopes he’ll choose an exclusive Thom Browne look. MLB has provided stylists for players like Yamamoto, Cal Raleigh, and Tarik Skubal to elevate the league’s style profile. Skubal plans to incorporate Detroit and Atlanta themes into his outfit, while Raleigh looks forward to a polished look despite calling his style “bland.” The event aims to boost MLB’s fashion appeal among fans.

ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball is testing automated ball-strike systems in the All-Star Game for the first time. The system, used in some minor leagues since 2019, allows teams two challenges per game, retaining them if successful. All-Star starters Tarik Skubal of Detroit and Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh say pitchers often think everything is a strike. Clayton Kershaw believes the system works if it's adjusted for player height, which it does. During spring training tests, teams won 52.2% of challenges.

ATLANTA (AP) — SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says the SEC and Big Ten have not agreed on a College Football Playoff format beyond this season. Sankey noted frequent discussions with Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti but highlighted differing views on playoff allocations. The current 12-team playoff guarantees spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions. Sankey emphasized collaboration but stated changes could proceed without unanimous agreement. The CFP contract allows the SEC and Big Ten to propose and impose changes if aligned.

Less than two weeks after terms of a multibillion-dollar college sports settlement went into effect, friction erupted over the definition of a “valid business purpose” that collectives making name, image likeness payments to players are supposed to have. The new College Sports Commission sent a letter to athletic directors last week saying it was rejecting deals in which players were receiving money from collectives that were created solely to pay them and don’t provide goods or services to the general public for profit. An attorney for the players responded by saying those instructions went against settlement terms and asking the CSC to rescind the guidance.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the deal Monday, though it has not been officially announced. Wilson, drafted 10th overall in 2022, was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three years. Jets management, including general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, have focused on building a younger roster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round. The Mariners' breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athletics’ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Park’s right-center field seats was the longest of the night. Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.ATLANTA (AP) — Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the NL lineup, with Ronald Acuña Jr. batting second and Ketel Marte third. Paul Skenes of the Pirates will start for the NL, while Detroit’s Tarik Skubal will pitch for the AL. Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Riley Greene and Aaron Judge. Skenes and Skubal rank first and second in fastball velocity this season. Skenes has a 2.01 ERA, while Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, holds a 2.23 ERA.ATLANTA (AP) — Curveballs are disappearing from Major League Baseball as pitchers prioritize velocity, emphasizing sliders and sweepers. Curveball usage dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.4% this season, with 22,962 fewer thrown in 2024 than five years earlier. Pitchers and coaches say the focus has shifted to harder, faster pitches that generate more swings and misses. Batters are hitting .225 against curveballs this season, lower than fastballs. The game continues evolving toward power and speed.PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy is back at Royal Portrush and feeling plenty of love as the Masters champion. It's far different from when the British Open was last held in Northern Ireland. He was overwhelmed by the support and wound up missing the cut. McIlroy says he tried to treat 2019 like another Open. This time he is ready to embrace it. He now has the career Grand Slam. He wants to play well for the home crowd. But he's a lot more at peace and energized about another crack at Royal Portrush. He played 18 holes before bad weather arrived.San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama says he expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the past few months. Wembanyama made the comments to French newspaper L’Equipe in remarks published Monday. There was no immediate word from the Spurs on the report. Wembanyama was the NBA's rookie of the year two years ago and was the front-runner for defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February and was shut down.Major League Baseball is spotlighting player fashion at the All-Star Game red carpet event on Tuesday. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, styled by Whitney Etoroma, is expected to make a statement. While Yamamoto isn’t big on fashion, Etoroma hopes he’ll choose an exclusive Thom Browne look. MLB has provided stylists for players like Yamamoto, Cal Raleigh, and Tarik Skubal to elevate the league’s style profile. Skubal plans to incorporate Detroit and Atlanta themes into his outfit, while Raleigh looks forward to a polished look despite calling his style “bland.” The event aims to boost MLB’s fashion appeal among fans.ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball is testing automated ball-strike systems in the All-Star Game for the first time. The system, used in some minor leagues since 2019, allows teams two challenges per game, retaining them if successful. All-Star starters Tarik Skubal of Detroit and Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh say pitchers often think everything is a strike. Clayton Kershaw believes the system works if it's adjusted for player height, which it does. During spring training tests, teams won 52.2% of challenges.ATLANTA (AP) — SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says the SEC and Big Ten have not agreed on a College Football Playoff format beyond this season. Sankey noted frequent discussions with Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti but highlighted differing views on playoff allocations. The current 12-team playoff guarantees spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions. Sankey emphasized collaboration but stated changes could proceed without unanimous agreement. The CFP contract allows the SEC and Big Ten to propose and impose changes if aligned.Less than two weeks after terms of a multibillion-dollar college sports settlement went into effect, friction erupted over the definition of a “valid business purpose” that collectives making name, image likeness payments to players are supposed to have. The new College Sports Commission sent a letter to athletic directors last week saying it was rejecting deals in which players were receiving money from collectives that were created solely to pay them and don’t provide goods or services to the general public for profit. An attorney for the players responded by saying those instructions went against settlement terms and asking the CSC to rescind the guidance.NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the deal Monday, though it has not been officially announced. Wilson, drafted 10th overall in 2022, was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three years. Jets management, including general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, have focused on building a younger roster.

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Anne Rogers MLB.com ATLANTA -- The Royals were always going to eye upside with their first selections of the MLB Draft, and as the picks got closer on Sunday night, they zeroed in on hitters.

With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Royals selected second baseman/outfielder Sean Gamble out of IMG Academy in Florida.

Just five picks later, with their prospect promotion incentive pick at No. 28, the Royals selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) Academy.

That gave the Royals two prep hitters –&nbsp;Nos. 26 (Hammond)&nbsp;and&nbsp;27 (Gamble)&nbsp;on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list – to begin a busy first day of the Draft on Sunday, with five picks between Rounds 1-3.

And with the prep bats comes a lot of upside and high ceiling, especially with the different skill sets that Gamble and Hammond represent.

“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”

Gamble, 19, is a Des Moines, Iowa, native, but he left his home state at 14 years old to go to IMG Academy, where he first went for summer camps. Coaches there recognized the talent, though, and offered him a spot for high school. Over the next four years, Gamble excelled – and got a lot stronger along the way.

A smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, Gamble can barrel the ball to all fields and is developing more power as he keeps gaining strength. He controls the strike zone well and makes a ton of contact. His tools also include plus speed and a strong arm, making him a well-rounded player the Royals envision at the top of their lineup one day.

“We look at him as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He’s a 70 runner.”

Bridges also mentioned that Gamble has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the infield.” Gamble’s speed and arm allow him to play center field, too, so the Royals value his ability to be an up-the-middle player.

The Royals expect to sign Gamble away from his Vanderbilt commitment.

The same goes for Hammond, a Wake Forest commit. He has two-way experience in high school but hit .471 with six home runs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian.

2025 MLB Draft presented by NikeDay 1 (Rounds 1-3):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-complete-coverage?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Pick-by-pick analysis</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-top-storylines-takeaways?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Top storylines, takeaways</a>Day 2 (Rounds 4-20):&nbsp;Monday, 11:30 a.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV)

It’s the plus raw power that got the 18-year-old drafted. Hammond’s 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame generates consistently high exit velocities. The Royals drafted him as a shortstop, but his strong arm and agility could give him a home at third base, too. His fastball hit 96 mph in high school and might have gotten him drafted in later rounds, too.

Kansas City was drawn to Hammond’s athleticism, with evaluators saying he has a chance to be an impact bat in the middle of the order.

“He can really swing the bat,” Bridges said. “He can get to that power. The kid can hit the ball as far as anybody I’ve scouted.

“… The one thing our analytics department liked was his ability to make contact in the zone on several different pitches. There’s stuff there to build with. You hit enough with his strength and power, he’s going to hit homers.”

Anne Rogers MLB.com ATLANTA -- The Royals were always going to eye upside with their first selections of the MLB Draft, and as the picks got closer on Sunday night, they zeroed in on hitters.Their first two picks fit the target.With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Royals selected second baseman/outfielder Sean Gamble out of IMG Academy in Florida.Just five picks later, with their prospect promotion incentive pick at No. 28, the Royals selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) Academy.That gave the Royals two prep hitters –&nbsp;Nos. 26 (Hammond)&nbsp;and&nbsp;27 (Gamble)&nbsp;on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list – to begin a busy first day of the Draft on Sunday, with five picks between Rounds 1-3.And with the prep bats comes a lot of upside and high ceiling, especially with the different skill sets that Gamble and Hammond represent.“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”Gamble, 19, is a Des Moines, Iowa, native, but he left his home state at 14 years old to go to IMG Academy, where he first went for summer camps. Coaches there recognized the talent, though, and offered him a spot for high school. Over the next four years, Gamble excelled – and got a lot stronger along the way.A smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, Gamble can barrel the ball to all fields and is developing more power as he keeps gaining strength. He controls the strike zone well and makes a ton of contact. His tools also include plus speed and a strong arm, making him a well-rounded player the Royals envision at the top of their lineup one day.“We look at him as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He’s a 70 runner.”Bridges also mentioned that Gamble has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the infield.” Gamble’s speed and arm allow him to play center field, too, so the Royals value his ability to be an up-the-middle player.The Royals expect to sign Gamble away from his Vanderbilt commitment.The same goes for Hammond, a Wake Forest commit. He has two-way experience in high school but hit .471 with six home runs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian.2025 MLB Draft presented by NikeDay 1 (Rounds 1-3):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-complete-coverage?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Pick-by-pick analysis</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-top-storylines-takeaways?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Top storylines, takeaways</a>Day 2 (Rounds 4-20):&nbsp;Monday, 11:30 a.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV)With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Royals selected second baseman/outfielder Sean Gamble out of IMG Academy in Florida.Just five picks later, with their prospect promotion incentive pick at No. 28, the Royals selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) Academy.That gave the Royals two prep hitters –&nbsp;Nos. 26 (Hammond)&nbsp;and&nbsp;27 (Gamble)&nbsp;on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list – to begin a busy first day of the Draft on Sunday, with five picks between Rounds 1-3.And with the prep bats comes a lot of upside and high ceiling, especially with the different skill sets that Gamble and Hammond represent.“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”<h2>2025 Draft: Sean Gamble, 2B/OF</h2>Gamble, 19, is a Des Moines, Iowa, native, but he left his home state at 14 years old to go to IMG Academy, where he first went for summer camps. Coaches there recognized the talent, though, and offered him a spot for high school. Over the next four years, Gamble excelled – and got a lot stronger along the way.A smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, Gamble can barrel the ball to all fields and is developing more power as he keeps gaining strength. He controls the strike zone well and makes a ton of contact. His tools also include plus speed and a strong arm, making him a well-rounded player the Royals envision at the top of their lineup one day.“We look at him as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He’s a 70 runner.”Bridges also mentioned that Gamble has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the infield.” Gamble’s speed and arm allow him to play center field, too, so the Royals value his ability to be an up-the-middle player.The Royals expect to sign Gamble away from his Vanderbilt commitment.The same goes for Hammond, a Wake Forest commit. He has two-way experience in high school but hit .471 with six home runs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian.<h2>2025 Draft: Josh Hammond, 3B</h2>It’s the plus raw power that got the 18-year-old drafted. Hammond’s 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame generates consistently high exit velocities. The Royals drafted him as a shortstop, but his strong arm and agility could give him a home at third base, too. His fastball hit 96 mph in high school and might have gotten him drafted in later rounds, too.Kansas City was drawn to Hammond’s athleticism, with evaluators saying he has a chance to be an impact bat in the middle of the order.“He can really swing the bat,” Bridges said. “He can get to that power. The kid can hit the ball as far as anybody I’ve scouted.“… The one thing our analytics department liked was his ability to make contact in the zone on several different pitches. There’s stuff there to build with. You hit enough with his strength and power, he’s going to hit homers.”

Royals go for offensive upside with Gamble, Hammond on Day 1 of Draft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nick Loftin delivered his second game-winning hit in less than a week, driving in Tyler Tolbert from second base with a single in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.

Tolbert singled off Sean Manaea, who had been dominant in relief in his season debut for the Mets. And when the speedster stole second base, that gave Loftin the chance to deliver another winner after his deciding single Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

Manaea (0-1), who had been out after straining an oblique in spring training and then developing an elbow issue during his rehab outings, allowed that lone run and five hits while striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings.

Noah Cameron delivered another brilliant start for Kansas City, scattering seven hits while matching a career best with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. And the rookie left-hander was in line for his fourth win when John Schreiber and Lucas Erceg shepherded a 2-0 lead — courtesy of John Rave's second-inning double — to All-Star closer Carlos Estévez.

Ronny Mauricio led off the ninth with a double off Estévez (4-2). Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI triple off the center-field wall, and fellow pinch hitter Jared Young delivered a sacrifice fly moments later to tie the game.

Clay Holmes allowed two runs and five hits and a walk over five innings for New York.

Tolbert entered the game in the eighth for Jac Caglianone for his defense. It wound up being his offense that mattered, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep heading into the All-Star break.

The Mets went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight in the game.

The Mets will be represented at the All-Star Game in Atlanta this week by LHP David Peterson, RHP Edwin Diaz, SS Francisco Lindor and 1B Pete Alonso. The Royals will have INF Maikel Garcia, Estévez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. and LHP Kris Bubic there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752497094197.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin hits a single to score the game-winning run during the ninth inning of a baseball game. against the New York Mets, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin hits a single to score the game-winning run during the ninth inning of a baseball game. against the New York Mets, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nick Loftin delivered his second game-winning hit in less than a week, driving in Tyler Tolbert from second base with a single in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.Tolbert singled off Sean Manaea, who had been dominant in relief in his season debut for the Mets. And when the speedster stole second base, that gave Loftin the chance to deliver another winner after his deciding single Tuesday against Pittsburgh.Manaea (0-1), who had been out after straining an oblique in spring training and then developing an elbow issue during his rehab outings, allowed that lone run and five hits while striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings.Noah Cameron delivered another brilliant start for Kansas City, scattering seven hits while matching a career best with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. And the rookie left-hander was in line for his fourth win when John Schreiber and Lucas Erceg shepherded a 2-0 lead — courtesy of John Rave's second-inning double — to All-Star closer Carlos Estévez.Ronny Mauricio led off the ninth with a double off Estévez (4-2). Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI triple off the center-field wall, and fellow pinch hitter Jared Young delivered a sacrifice fly moments later to tie the game.Clay Holmes allowed two runs and five hits and a walk over five innings for New York.<h2>Key moment</h2>Tolbert entered the game in the eighth for Jac Caglianone for his defense. It wound up being his offense that mattered, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep heading into the All-Star break.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Mets went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight in the game.<h2>Up next</h2>The Mets will be represented at the All-Star Game in Atlanta this week by LHP David Peterson, RHP Edwin Diaz, SS Francisco Lindor and 1B Pete Alonso. The Royals will have INF Maikel Garcia, Estévez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. and LHP Kris Bubic there.

Nick Loftin hits second game-winner in less than a week, Royals beat Mets 3-2 to avoid 3-game sweep

LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner insisted early on at&nbsp;Wimbledon&nbsp;that he put an excruciating loss to Carlos Alcaraz in their epic French Open final behind him. Sinner was sure that one defeat wouldn’t haunt him, wouldn’t prevent a quick recalibration and certainly wouldn’t mean a thing at the All England Club.

Exactly five weeks after the&nbsp;devastating defeat at Roland-Garros&nbsp;against his rival, Sinner reversed the result, beating two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first championship at the grass-court major.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how you win or you lose the important tournaments. You just have to understand what you did wrong. Trying to work on that — that’s exactly what we did. We tried to accept the loss and then just kept working,” Sinner said Sunday, his shiny gold hardware in his hands. “And this is, for sure, why I’m holding this trophy here.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sinner-australian-open-djokovic-zverev-5bac6dd5b82549ba4577cddc0c3c9e8a">No. 1-ranked Sinner</a>&nbsp;earned his fourth Grand Slam title overall, moving him one away from No. 2 Alcaraz’s total as the two no-longer-rising-but-firmly-established stars of the game separate themselves from the rest of the pack in men’s tennis.

Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, put an end to several streaks for Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard,&nbsp;who had been 5-0 in Grand Slam finals.

Alcaraz had won their last five matches, most famously across five sets and nearly 5 1/2 hours on the red clay of the French Open on June 8. Sinner took a two-set lead, then held a trio of match points, but couldn’t close the deal.

“Today was important not just because it was a Grand Slam final, not just because it was Wimbledon, and not just because Carlos had won the last five matches against him,” said Darren Cahill, one of Sinner's two coaches, who had planned to leave the team at the end of 2025 but now might stick around. “He needed that win today. So he knew the importance of closing this one out when he had the opportunities.”

Asked during Week 1 at Wimbledon whether what happened in Paris created lingering doubts, Sinner immediately replied: “Why negative feelings? Because I lost in (that) final?”

Then he continued: “No. Look, it’s a new tournament, new Grand Slam, new surface. I’m not concerned about my level I can play. ... I’m not concerned that one loss can influence you for so long a time. I believe that here is a new chance that I can do something good.”

This time, he didn't waver, asserting himself in a match that featured moments of terrific play by both men, but also the occasional lapses — and one memorable, brief, interruption right before a Sinner serve when a Champagne cork came flying out of the stands and settled on the turf.

With&nbsp;Prince William and Princess Kate in the Royal Box, along with King Felipe VI of Spain, Alcaraz stepped into the sunlight bathing Centre Court with a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club.

“It’s difficult to lose,” Alcaraz said. “It’s always difficult to lose.”

The last man to beat him at Wimbledon? Sinner, in the fourth round in 2022.

So this served as a bookend win for Sinner, who would be forgiven for at least thinking a bit about his collapse in their last match — especially when facing two break points while serving at 4-3, 15-40 in the fourth set Sunday.

But he calmly took the next four points to take that game, then soon was serving out the win after a chorus of “Car-los! Car-los!” rang out from spectators.

“The things that went his way in Paris," Sinner said, “went my way this time.”

When it ended, he put both hands on his white hat. After embracing Alcaraz, Sinner crouched with his head bowed, then pounded his right palm on the grass.

He has participated in four consecutive major finals, including triumphs at the&nbsp;U.S. Open&nbsp;— shortly after the world learned about&nbsp;a doping case that eventually led to a three-month ban&nbsp;— and the Australian Open.

Wearing the same tape job and white arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using since&nbsp;falling in the fourth round, Sinner never showed any issues, just as he hadn't while eliminating&nbsp;Novak Djokovic&nbsp;on Friday.

In the final, Sinner and Alcaraz produced scintillating points, with few, if any, half-measures. They sprinted at top speed and swung away with full force, rarely bending to the other's will.

From 4-2 down, Alcaraz took four games in a row. That spurt included a 140 mph ace that sprayed the air with a cloud of white chalk dust and a set-capping, flick-of-a-backhand winner at an impossible angle after barely getting his racket on the ball.

As fans rose and roared, Alcaraz pointed to his ear and spun around, then pumped his right fist overhead.

Sinner was undaunted, quickly breaking to lead the second set. He returned exceptionally, even as Alcaraz served aggressively, which did lead to 15 aces — but also to a 53% first-serve percentage and seven double-faults.

Much like at the French Open, there was often an unrelenting intensity to these three-plus hours, and any slight misstep created problems. It was Alcaraz who had more of those, although Sinner might have had the most memorable, blowing an overhead right after coming up with a behind-the-back, through-the-legs half-volley in the third set.

In all, these guys showed why they combined to win the past seven Grand Slam trophies, and nine of the last 12.

Fittingly,&nbsp;this marked the first time the same two men&nbsp;faced off in the title matches at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It hadn't happened for more than a half-century before that trilogy.

“I'm just really, really happy about having this rivalry with him,” Alcaraz said about Sinner. “It's great for us, and it is great for tennis.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752496899282.jpeg" alt="Jannik Sinner of Italy holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)" />
 <figcaption>Jannik Sinner of Italy holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner insisted early on at&nbsp;Wimbledon&nbsp;that he put an excruciating loss to Carlos Alcaraz in their epic French Open final behind him. Sinner was sure that one defeat wouldn’t haunt him, wouldn’t prevent a quick recalibration and certainly wouldn’t mean a thing at the All England Club.Sure was right about all of that.Exactly five weeks after the&nbsp;devastating defeat at Roland-Garros&nbsp;against his rival, Sinner reversed the result, beating two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first championship at the grass-court major.“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how you win or you lose the important tournaments. You just have to understand what you did wrong. Trying to work on that — that’s exactly what we did. We tried to accept the loss and then just kept working,” Sinner said Sunday, his shiny gold hardware in his hands. “And this is, for sure, why I’m holding this trophy here.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sinner-australian-open-djokovic-zverev-5bac6dd5b82549ba4577cddc0c3c9e8a">No. 1-ranked Sinner</a>&nbsp;earned his fourth Grand Slam title overall, moving him one away from No. 2 Alcaraz’s total as the two no-longer-rising-but-firmly-established stars of the game separate themselves from the rest of the pack in men’s tennis.Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, put an end to several streaks for Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard,&nbsp;who had been 5-0 in Grand Slam finals.Alcaraz had won their last five matches, most famously across five sets and nearly 5 1/2 hours on the red clay of the French Open on June 8. Sinner took a two-set lead, then held a trio of match points, but couldn’t close the deal.“Today was important not just because it was a Grand Slam final, not just because it was Wimbledon, and not just because Carlos had won the last five matches against him,” said Darren Cahill, one of Sinner's two coaches, who had planned to leave the team at the end of 2025 but now might stick around. “He needed that win today. So he knew the importance of closing this one out when he had the opportunities.”Asked during Week 1 at Wimbledon whether what happened in Paris created lingering doubts, Sinner immediately replied: “Why negative feelings? Because I lost in (that) final?”Then he continued: “No. Look, it’s a new tournament, new Grand Slam, new surface. I’m not concerned about my level I can play. ... I’m not concerned that one loss can influence you for so long a time. I believe that here is a new chance that I can do something good.”Great, even.This time, he didn't waver, asserting himself in a match that featured moments of terrific play by both men, but also the occasional lapses — and one memorable, brief, interruption right before a Sinner serve when a Champagne cork came flying out of the stands and settled on the turf.With&nbsp;Prince William and Princess Kate in the Royal Box, along with King Felipe VI of Spain, Alcaraz stepped into the sunlight bathing Centre Court with a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club.“It’s difficult to lose,” Alcaraz said. “It’s always difficult to lose.”The last man to beat him at Wimbledon? Sinner, in the fourth round in 2022.So this served as a bookend win for Sinner, who would be forgiven for at least thinking a bit about his collapse in their last match — especially when facing two break points while serving at 4-3, 15-40 in the fourth set Sunday.But he calmly took the next four points to take that game, then soon was serving out the win after a chorus of “Car-los! Car-los!” rang out from spectators.“The things that went his way in Paris," Sinner said, “went my way this time.”When it ended, he put both hands on his white hat. After embracing Alcaraz, Sinner crouched with his head bowed, then pounded his right palm on the grass.He has participated in four consecutive major finals, including triumphs at the&nbsp;U.S. Open&nbsp;— shortly after the world learned about&nbsp;a doping case that eventually led to a three-month ban&nbsp;— and the Australian Open.Wearing the same tape job and white arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using since&nbsp;falling in the fourth round, Sinner never showed any issues, just as he hadn't while eliminating&nbsp;Novak Djokovic&nbsp;on Friday.In the final, Sinner and Alcaraz produced scintillating points, with few, if any, half-measures. They sprinted at top speed and swung away with full force, rarely bending to the other's will.From 4-2 down, Alcaraz took four games in a row. That spurt included a 140 mph ace that sprayed the air with a cloud of white chalk dust and a set-capping, flick-of-a-backhand winner at an impossible angle after barely getting his racket on the ball.As fans rose and roared, Alcaraz pointed to his ear and spun around, then pumped his right fist overhead.Sinner was undaunted, quickly breaking to lead the second set. He returned exceptionally, even as Alcaraz served aggressively, which did lead to 15 aces — but also to a 53% first-serve percentage and seven double-faults.Much like at the French Open, there was often an unrelenting intensity to these three-plus hours, and any slight misstep created problems. It was Alcaraz who had more of those, although Sinner might have had the most memorable, blowing an overhead right after coming up with a behind-the-back, through-the-legs half-volley in the third set.In all, these guys showed why they combined to win the past seven Grand Slam trophies, and nine of the last 12.Fittingly,&nbsp;this marked the first time the same two men&nbsp;faced off in the title matches at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It hadn't happened for more than a half-century before that trilogy.“I'm just really, really happy about having this rivalry with him,” Alcaraz said about Sinner. “It's great for us, and it is great for tennis.”

Jannik Sinner beats 2-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to win his first Wimbledon title

LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner can look forward to his next matchup against Carlos Alcaraz now because he has finally ended a losing streak against his rival. Sinner wanted to win Wimbledon and it would have meant a lot to him no matter who the opponent was in the final. But that his fourth Grand Slam title came via a victory against Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club on Sunday means a lot to Sinner. The 23-year-old Italian had lost his past five matches in a row against Alcaraz. That included a setback in the French Open final five weeks ago.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N,J. (AP) — Cole Palmer scored twice and fed João Pedro for a goal as Chelsea overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain in the first half and beat the European champions 3-0 in the final of the first expanded Club World Cup. Palmer had almost identical left-footed goals from just inside the penalty area in the 22nd and 30th minutes, then sent a through pass that enabled João Pedro to chip goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43d for his third goal in two starts with the Blues. A 23-year-old who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, Palmer scored 18 goals this season.

LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner has defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon championship and reverse the result of their epic French Open final five weeks ago. The victory Sunday by the No. 1-ranked Sinner gave him his fourth Grand Slam title overall. It also allowed the 23-year-old Italian to put an end to several streaks for No. 2 Alcaraz. The 22-year-old Spaniard had won the past five head-to-head matches. And Alcaraz entered the day on a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He also had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club. The last man to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon was Sinner in 2022.

LONDON (AP) — Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon championship has moved her up to No. 3 in the WTA rankings, and Amanda Anisimova’s runner-up finish allowed the American to break into the top 10 for the first time at No. 7. Jannik Sinner's title at the All England Club kept him at No. 1 in the ATP, followed by runner-up Carlos Alcaraz. A year ago, Anisimova was ranked 189th and wasn’t able to get into the field at the All England Club automatically. So she tried to qualify but lost. This year, Anisimova was seeded at Wimbledon and made it all the way to her first Grand Slam final, beating No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals before losing to Swiatek 6-0, 6-0.

Aaron Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 home runs on Saturday. It feels inevitable that the Bronx slugger will eventually join the hallowed 500-homer club in the coming years. He might have some company. Roughly a dozen players could reach 500 over the next decade, including Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. The group is reminiscent of a stretch from 2001 to 2009 when Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. were among nine sluggers to reach 500.

BOSTON (AP) — Many of the Boston Red Sox players started wearing T-shirts during batting practice and in the clubhouse the past week with a quote from teammate Romy Gonzalez written across the front. It says: “Tremendously locked in.” They certainly look that way heading into the All-Star break.

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Chris Gotterup gets to spend an extra week on links golf after winning the biggest title of his career. Gotterup held his nerve against Rory McIlroy to win the Scottish Open. The victory gives him one of three spots in the British Open next week. Gotterup shot 66 and finished two clear of McIlroy and Marco Penge. It's his second career title. He came over to play the Scottish Open and had a flight booked to California for the next stop. Now it's a short hop over the Irish Sea to play his first British Open after a big win.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football staff member Connor Stalions says he knew almost every signal opponents used in seven games over two seasons. Stalions shared those details Saturday on social media, responding to TCU coach Sonny Dykes telling On3 that his team changed some signs in advance of its win over the Wolverines in the 2022 College Football semifinals. Stalions' actions triggered an NCAA investigation. Michigan had a hearing with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions last month, and the governing body takes three months on average for contested cases to make a final decision.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Terry Francona has added another milestone to his impressive career. Francona became the 13th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins when the Cincinnati Reds beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2. The 66-year-old Francona joins Texas’ Bruce Bochy as the only active managers with at least 2,000 wins. Ten of the 12 other managers who have accumulated at least 2,000 wins are in the Hall of Fame. Bochy and Dusty Baker, who isn’t yet eligible, are the only exceptions. Finals

INTERLEAGUE Final Chicago Cubs 4N.Y. Yankees 1 Final Miami 11 Baltimore 1 Final Pittsburgh 2 Minnesota 1 Final Kansas City 3 N.Y. Mets 2 Final Arizona 5 L.A. Angels 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Boston 4 Tampa Bay 1 Final Texas 5 Houston 1 Final Seattle 8 Detroit 4 Final Cleveland 6 Chicago White Sox 5 Final Athletics 6 Toronto 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Cincinnati 4 Colorado 2 Final Milwaukee 8 Washington 1 Final St. Louis 5 Atlanta 4 Final Philadelphia 2 San Diego 1 Final L.A. Dodgers 5 San Francisco 2

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner can look forward to his next matchup against Carlos Alcaraz now because he has finally ended a losing streak against his rival. Sinner wanted to win Wimbledon and it would have meant a lot to him no matter who the opponent was in the final. But that his fourth Grand Slam title came via a victory against Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club on Sunday means a lot to Sinner. The 23-year-old Italian had lost his past five matches in a row against Alcaraz. That included a setback in the French Open final five weeks ago.EAST RUTHERFORD, N,J. (AP) — Cole Palmer scored twice and fed João Pedro for a goal as Chelsea overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain in the first half and beat the European champions 3-0 in the final of the first expanded Club World Cup. Palmer had almost identical left-footed goals from just inside the penalty area in the 22nd and 30th minutes, then sent a through pass that enabled João Pedro to chip goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43d for his third goal in two starts with the Blues. A 23-year-old who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, Palmer scored 18 goals this season.LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner has defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon championship and reverse the result of their epic French Open final five weeks ago. The victory Sunday by the No. 1-ranked Sinner gave him his fourth Grand Slam title overall. It also allowed the 23-year-old Italian to put an end to several streaks for No. 2 Alcaraz. The 22-year-old Spaniard had won the past five head-to-head matches. And Alcaraz entered the day on a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He also had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club. The last man to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon was Sinner in 2022.LONDON (AP) — Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon championship has moved her up to No. 3 in the WTA rankings, and Amanda Anisimova’s runner-up finish allowed the American to break into the top 10 for the first time at No. 7. Jannik Sinner's title at the All England Club kept him at No. 1 in the ATP, followed by runner-up Carlos Alcaraz. A year ago, Anisimova was ranked 189th and wasn’t able to get into the field at the All England Club automatically. So she tried to qualify but lost. This year, Anisimova was seeded at Wimbledon and made it all the way to her first Grand Slam final, beating No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals before losing to Swiatek 6-0, 6-0.ATLANTA (AP) — Curveballs are disappearing from Major League Baseball as pitchers prioritize velocity, emphasizing sliders and sweepers. Curveball usage dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.4% this season, with 22,962 fewer thrown in 2024 than five years earlier. Pitchers and coaches say the focus has shifted to harder, faster pitches that generate more swings and misses. Batters are hitting .225 against curveballs this season, lower than fastballs. The game continues evolving toward power and speed.Aaron Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 home runs on Saturday. It feels inevitable that the Bronx slugger will eventually join the hallowed 500-homer club in the coming years. He might have some company. Roughly a dozen players could reach 500 over the next decade, including Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. The group is reminiscent of a stretch from 2001 to 2009 when Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. were among nine sluggers to reach 500.BOSTON (AP) — Many of the Boston Red Sox players started wearing T-shirts during batting practice and in the clubhouse the past week with a quote from teammate Romy Gonzalez written across the front. It says: “Tremendously locked in.” They certainly look that way heading into the All-Star break.NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Chris Gotterup gets to spend an extra week on links golf after winning the biggest title of his career. Gotterup held his nerve against Rory McIlroy to win the Scottish Open. The victory gives him one of three spots in the British Open next week. Gotterup shot 66 and finished two clear of McIlroy and Marco Penge. It's his second career title. He came over to play the Scottish Open and had a flight booked to California for the next stop. Now it's a short hop over the Irish Sea to play his first British Open after a big win.ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football staff member Connor Stalions says he knew almost every signal opponents used in seven games over two seasons. Stalions shared those details Saturday on social media, responding to TCU coach Sonny Dykes telling On3 that his team changed some signs in advance of its win over the Wolverines in the 2022 College Football semifinals. Stalions' actions triggered an NCAA investigation. Michigan had a hearing with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions last month, and the governing body takes three months on average for contested cases to make a final decision.CINCINNATI (AP) — Terry Francona has added another milestone to his impressive career. Francona became the 13th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins when the Cincinnati Reds beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2. The 66-year-old Francona joins Texas’ Bruce Bochy as the only active managers with at least 2,000 wins. Ten of the 12 other managers who have accumulated at least 2,000 wins are in the Hall of Fame. Bochy and Dusty Baker, who isn’t yet eligible, are the only exceptions. FinalsINTERLEAGUE Final Chicago Cubs 4N.Y. Yankees 1 Final Miami 11 Baltimore 1 Final Pittsburgh 2 Minnesota 1 Final Kansas City 3 N.Y. Mets 2 Final Arizona 5 L.A. Angels 1AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Boston 4 Tampa Bay 1 Final Texas 5 Houston 1 Final Seattle 8 Detroit 4 Final Cleveland 6 Chicago White Sox 5 Final Athletics 6 Toronto 3NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Cincinnati 4 Colorado 2 Final Milwaukee 8 Washington 1 Final St. Louis 5 Atlanta 4 Final Philadelphia 2 San Diego 1 Final L.A. Dodgers 5 San Francisco 2

Monday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mark Vientos had a three-run double in the eighth inning, Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer in the ninth and the New York Mets beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Friday night.

Brandon Nimmo singled to open the eighth and Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto walked to load the bases against Steven Cruz (2-1). Carlos Estévez entered to strike out Pete Alonso before Vientos cleared the bases for a 4-3 lead.

Lindor added his 19th homer in the ninth. He has 29 home runs and 81 RBIs against the Royals, his most against any opponent. Juan Soto followed with his 22nd homer, the sixth pair of back-to-back homers by the Mets.

Huascar Brazobán (5-2) won after allowing four hits and a two-run homer by Bobby Witt Jr. while pitching the seventh.

Kodai Senga returned from the injured list to make his first start in since leaving a June 12 start with a right hamstring strain.

Working on a pitch limit, Senga threw four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out four.

Michael Wacha allowed a run on two hits and three walks in five innings, striking out five.

After Kyle Isbel’s seventh-inning leadoff single, pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert stole second. The Mets challenged and the safe call was overturned because Tolbert came off the bag during his head-first slide. Witt homered two batters later.

Senga’s “ghost fork” has induced 113 of his 206 career strikeouts.

Mets RHP Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) was set to face Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61) on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752331158597.jpeg" alt="New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, July 11, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, July 11, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mark Vientos had a three-run double in the eighth inning, Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer in the ninth and the New York Mets beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Friday night.Brandon Nimmo singled to open the eighth and Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto walked to load the bases against Steven Cruz (2-1). Carlos Estévez entered to strike out Pete Alonso before Vientos cleared the bases for a 4-3 lead.Lindor added his 19th homer in the ninth. He has 29 home runs and 81 RBIs against the Royals, his most against any opponent. Juan Soto followed with his 22nd homer, the sixth pair of back-to-back homers by the Mets.Huascar Brazobán (5-2) won after allowing four hits and a two-run homer by Bobby Witt Jr. while pitching the seventh.Kodai Senga returned from the injured list to make his first start in since leaving a June 12 start with a right hamstring strain.Working on a pitch limit, Senga threw four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out four.Michael Wacha allowed a run on two hits and three walks in five innings, striking out five.<h2>Key moment</h2>After Kyle Isbel’s seventh-inning leadoff single, pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert stole second. The Mets challenged and the safe call was overturned because Tolbert came off the bag during his head-first slide. Witt homered two batters later.<h2>Key stat</h2>Senga’s “ghost fork” has induced 113 of his 206 career strikeouts.<h2>Up next</h2>Mets RHP Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) was set to face Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61) on Saturday.

Mark Vientos and Francisco Lindor lead the Mets past the Royals, 8-3

KUAthletics.com&nbsp; LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– Former Kansas men's basketball coach Ted Owens will receive the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in a black-tie banquet to be held Monday, August 4, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Formerly called the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award, Owens will be just the 11th recipient of the prestigious award since the hall originated in 1989. The Lifetime Achievement Award&nbsp;is the highest award presented by the association and recognizes a lifetime of achievement by people who set examples that influence others to strive for the highest goals and who blaze the trails which leave behind the pathways for others to follow.&nbsp;The award is not an annual honor and past lifetime achievement award recipients include Johnny Bench, Lynne Draper, Abe Lemons, George Nigh, Samuel Lloyd Noble, Tom Osborne, Steve Owens, Allie Reynolds, Chris Schenkel, and Barry Switzer. A native of Hollis, Oklahoma, Owens was a Class of 2009 inductee into the Oklahoma Sport Hall of Fame.

Owens was a three-year basketball letterman at the University of Oklahoma (1949-51). He honed his coaching skills as head coach at Cameron State Junior College, now Cameron University, in Lawton, Oklahoma. In four seasons, his teams never won fewer than 20 games, and Cameron advanced to the national junior college tournament semifinals three times. At Cameron, Owens amassed a 93-24 record and boasted four junior college All-Americans. In 1958, he coached the Cameron baseball team to the NJCAA national championship.

Owens then accepted an assistant coach position under Kansas head coach Dick Harp in 1960 and was promoted to head coach when Harp resigned following the 1963-64 season.

Kansas basketball is rich in tradition, having only eight head coaches in its 126 seasons. Owens roamed the KU sidelines as head coach for 19 seasons from 1964-65 through 1982-83, where he compiled a 348-182 (65.7%) record. Coach Owens' 348 wins rank as the fourth-winningest coach in Kansas basketball history behind&nbsp;Bill Self, Phog Allen and Roy Williams.

Under Owens, Kansas won six Big Eight Conference regular-season titles, eight Big Eight Holiday Tournaments and one Big Eight postseason tournament. Under Owens, KU advanced to NCAA postseason play seven times. His 1971 and 1974 teams made it to the Final Four, and in 1968 the Jayhawks made the finals of the National Invitation Tournament.

Owens was named Big Eight Coach of the Year five times and was National Coach of the Year in 1978 by Basketball Weekly. He coached five All-Americans: Jo Jo White, Darnell Valentine, Dave Robisch, Bud Stallworth and Walter Wesley, all of whom have had their jerseys retired at Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752242088073.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KUAthletics.com&nbsp; LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– Former Kansas men's basketball coach Ted Owens will receive the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in a black-tie banquet to be held Monday, August 4, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.Formerly called the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award, Owens will be just the 11th recipient of the prestigious award since the hall originated in 1989. The Lifetime Achievement Award&nbsp;is the highest award presented by the association and recognizes a lifetime of achievement by people who set examples that influence others to strive for the highest goals and who blaze the trails which leave behind the pathways for others to follow.&nbsp;The award is not an annual honor and past lifetime achievement award recipients include Johnny Bench, Lynne Draper, Abe Lemons, George Nigh, Samuel Lloyd Noble, Tom Osborne, Steve Owens, Allie Reynolds, Chris Schenkel, and Barry Switzer. A native of Hollis, Oklahoma, Owens was a Class of 2009 inductee into the Oklahoma Sport Hall of Fame.Owens was a three-year basketball letterman at the University of Oklahoma (1949-51). He honed his coaching skills as head coach at Cameron State Junior College, now Cameron University, in Lawton, Oklahoma. In four seasons, his teams never won fewer than 20 games, and Cameron advanced to the national junior college tournament semifinals three times. At Cameron, Owens amassed a 93-24 record and boasted four junior college All-Americans. In 1958, he coached the Cameron baseball team to the NJCAA national championship.Owens then accepted an assistant coach position under Kansas head coach Dick Harp in 1960 and was promoted to head coach when Harp resigned following the 1963-64 season.Kansas basketball is rich in tradition, having only eight head coaches in its 126 seasons. Owens roamed the KU sidelines as head coach for 19 seasons from 1964-65 through 1982-83, where he compiled a 348-182 (65.7%) record. Coach Owens' 348 wins rank as the fourth-winningest coach in Kansas basketball history behind&nbsp;Bill Self, Phog Allen and Roy Williams.Under Owens, Kansas won six Big Eight Conference regular-season titles, eight Big Eight Holiday Tournaments and one Big Eight postseason tournament. Under Owens, KU advanced to NCAA postseason play seven times. His 1971 and 1974 teams made it to the Final Four, and in 1968 the Jayhawks made the finals of the National Invitation Tournament.Owens was named Big Eight Coach of the Year five times and was National Coach of the Year in 1978 by Basketball Weekly. He coached five All-Americans: Jo Jo White, Darnell Valentine, Dave Robisch, Bud Stallworth and Walter Wesley, all of whom have had their jerseys retired at Kansas.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Ted Owens to Receive Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in his Home State

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson entered the 2024 season with just one start under his belt.

As a true sophomore, the former four-star recruit navigated a season full of ups and downs. With 10 interceptions, Johnson undeniably had his&nbsp;forgettable&nbsp;moments. On the flip side, Johnson added numerous plays to his highlight reel, throwing for 25 touchdowns and also scoring seven times on the ground.

After&nbsp;a full year of starting experience, Johnson is ready to take the next step and is setting the bar high in 2025.

"Winning the Big 12 Championship,&nbsp;I wanna go undefeated and win a national championship," Johnson said at Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday when asked what his goals are for 2025. "Those are the goals we talk about inside Vanier, inside our walls, all the time. Those are the goals we are going to shoot for."

In 2024, it was fair to cut Johnson some slack for his mistakes, as it was essentially his first year on the job in Manhattan. To fully grow and get better, a quarterback has to learn, digest and absorb the adversity. Aside from his on-field performance, though, Johnson&nbsp;has fine-tuned his leadership skills and is prepared to guide his team.

"It's really no different than last year as far as being the signal caller and a guy that people can turn to and see as a leader, but I'm kind of just spending this offseason growing more into my leadership role," Johnson said. "Being more vocal. Being that guy that people can come to in adverse times. Really just growing as a player and as a person so that when hard times do strike on that field, guys know that they can count on me to settle down and get things rolling."

No. 2 has all the charisma needed to be the face of a collegiate football program. Johnson isn't a rah-rah guy, but he sets the standard on and off the field for the Wildcats.

Johnson isn't out of the woods yet on the gridiron. As a passer, he needs to make smart decisions and play with decisiveness. Do things look promising? Absolutely, but he has to prove it.

Ryan Gilbert GoPowercat.comKansas State quarterback Avery Johnson entered the 2024 season with just one start under his belt.As a true sophomore, the former four-star recruit navigated a season full of ups and downs. With 10 interceptions, Johnson undeniably had his&nbsp;forgettable&nbsp;moments. On the flip side, Johnson added numerous plays to his highlight reel, throwing for 25 touchdowns and also scoring seven times on the ground.After&nbsp;a full year of starting experience, Johnson is ready to take the next step and is setting the bar high in 2025."Winning the Big 12 Championship,&nbsp;I wanna go undefeated and win a national championship," Johnson said at Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday when asked what his goals are for 2025. "Those are the goals we talk about inside Vanier, inside our walls, all the time. Those are the goals we are going to shoot for."In 2024, it was fair to cut Johnson some slack for his mistakes, as it was essentially his first year on the job in Manhattan. To fully grow and get better, a quarterback has to learn, digest and absorb the adversity. Aside from his on-field performance, though, Johnson&nbsp;has fine-tuned his leadership skills and is prepared to guide his team."It's really no different than last year as far as being the signal caller and a guy that people can turn to and see as a leader, but I'm kind of just spending this offseason growing more into my leadership role," Johnson said. "Being more vocal. Being that guy that people can come to in adverse times. Really just growing as a player and as a person so that when hard times do strike on that field, guys know that they can count on me to settle down and get things rolling."No. 2 has all the charisma needed to be the face of a collegiate football program. Johnson isn't a rah-rah guy, but he sets the standard on and off the field for the Wildcats.Johnson isn't out of the woods yet on the gridiron. As a passer, he needs to make smart decisions and play with decisiveness. Do things look promising? Absolutely, but he has to prove it.

Avery Johnson embracing leadership role ahead of 2025

KANSAS CITY (AP) - New York Mets (53-41, second in the NL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (46-48, second in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Kodai Senga (0-0); Royals: Michael Wacha (4-9, 3.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 79 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE:&nbsp;Mets -141, Royals +118; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the New York Mets on Friday to begin a three-game series.

Kansas City has a 46-48 record overall and a 23-24 record at home. The Royals have a 27-9 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

New York has gone 20-27 on the road and 53-41 overall. The Mets are 25-13 in games when they did not allow a home run.

The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. has 31 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 52 RBIs for the Royals. Salvador Perez is 13 for 39 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games.

Juan Soto has 21 home runs, 75 walks and 53 RBIs while hitting .264 for the Mets. Brandon Nimmo is 12 for 40 with three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 7-3, .244 batting average, 3.41 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs

Mets: 5-5, .235 batting average, 5.63 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Mark Canha: 10-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Mets: Jesse Winker: day-to-day (back), Starling Marte: 10-Day IL (knee), Tylor Megill: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jose Butto: 15-Day IL (illness), Dedniel Nunez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Paul Blackburn: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Griffin Canning: 60-Day IL (achilles), Jose Siri: 60-Day IL (shin), Max Kranick: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kodai Senga: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Brooks Raley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Danny Young: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Minter: 60-Day IL (lat), Sean Manaea: 60-Day IL (oblique), Nick Madrigal: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christian Scott: 60-Day IL (elbow)

KANSAS CITY (AP) - New York Mets (53-41, second in the NL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (46-48, second in the AL Central)Kansas City, Missouri; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Kodai Senga (0-0); Royals: Michael Wacha (4-9, 3.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 79 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE:&nbsp;Mets -141, Royals +118; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the New York Mets on Friday to begin a three-game series.Kansas City has a 46-48 record overall and a 23-24 record at home. The Royals have a 27-9 record in games when they did not allow a home run.New York has gone 20-27 on the road and 53-41 overall. The Mets are 25-13 in games when they did not allow a home run.The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. has 31 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 52 RBIs for the Royals. Salvador Perez is 13 for 39 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games.Juan Soto has 21 home runs, 75 walks and 53 RBIs while hitting .264 for the Mets. Brandon Nimmo is 12 for 40 with three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 7-3, .244 batting average, 3.41 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runsMets: 5-5, .235 batting average, 5.63 ERA, outscored by 11 runsINJURIES: Royals: Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Mark Canha: 10-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)Mets: Jesse Winker: day-to-day (back), Starling Marte: 10-Day IL (knee), Tylor Megill: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jose Butto: 15-Day IL (illness), Dedniel Nunez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Paul Blackburn: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Griffin Canning: 60-Day IL (achilles), Jose Siri: 60-Day IL (shin), Max Kranick: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kodai Senga: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Brooks Raley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Danny Young: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Minter: 60-Day IL (lat), Sean Manaea: 60-Day IL (oblique), Nick Madrigal: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christian Scott: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Mets visit the Royals to start 3-game series

LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz takes on Taylor Fritz, and Jannik Sinner faces Novak Djokovic in the men’s semifinals at Wimbledon. Both matchups are scheduled to be played Friday at Centre Court, with No. 2 seed Alcaraz vs. No. 5 Fritz leading things off at about 1:30 p.m. local time, followed by No. 1 Sinner vs. No. 6 Djokovic. The two winners will meet Sunday to decide the champion. Alcaraz has won the last two trophies at the All England Club, beating Djokovic in the final each time. Djokovic is trying to tie Roger Federer's men's mark of eight Wimbledon trophies and become the first tennis player in history with 25 major singles titles.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0 for 5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his groove, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block. Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have joined the lineup for Monday night's All-Star Home Run Derby in Atlanta. Rooker, representing the Athletics, says he won’t change his usual approach at the plate. This marks the first time an A’s player has participated since 2021. Rooker has hit 58 home runs since 2024, third among American League players. His former youth coach, Joe Caruso, will pitch to him during the event. Chisholm, a Yankees infielder, is making his Derby debut. Other participants include Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton, Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Cal Raleigh and James Wood.

LONDON (AP) — Either Amanda Anisimova or Iga Swiatek will leave the All England Club’s grass courts as Wimbledon’s eighth consecutive first-time women’s champion. They will play in the final on Saturday. Swiatek has won five Grand Slam titles but never been to the final at Wimbledon before. Anisimova is making her debut in a major title match. Swiatek is a 24-year-old from Poland who spent most of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons ranked No. 1. Anisimova is a 23-year-old from the United States who is climbing her way to the top of the game after leaving the tour in 2023 because of burnout.

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe scored the winning run with an acrobatic slide on Aaron Judge’s shallow sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the New York Yankees rallied past Seattle 6-5 after Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo took a no-hitter into the eighth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled leading off the eighth for New York’s first hit. Woo quickly allowed another single and was lifted after Austin Wells’ sacrifice fly shaved Seattle’s lead to 5-1. Pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton made it 5-3 with a two-run homer off Matt Brash, and the Yankees were down to their final strike multiple times before tying it on Wells’ two-run single off All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz in the ninth.

NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh thinks All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz was tipping pitches when he squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees. Muñoz was handed his sixth blown save in 27 opportunities this season after starter Bryan Woo held the Yankees hitless into the eighth. With the Mariners holding a 5-3 lead, Muñoz entered in the ninth and loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a two-out walk. Standing at second base while Austin Wells batted, Cody Bellinger waved his arms when Muñoz threw his slider. Wells worked the count full and lined a fastball into right field for a two-run single that tied it. New York then scored in the 10th to win 6-5.

A new college sports agency has rejected certain NIL deals involving donor-backed collectives. These collectives, formed to funnel money to athletes or schools, fail to meet NCAA rules requiring deals to serve a valid business purpose. A letter sent to Division I athletic directors explained that deals solely raising funds for athletes, like selling merchandise or hosting events, do not qualify. Since July, schools can now pay players directly under the $2.8 billion House settlement. Meanwhile, collectives tied to schools like Georgia and Alabama are shutting down. Over 1,500 deals have been approved through NIL Go, a clearinghouse launched in June.

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Jake Knapp is loving his taste of links golf. Now he'd like to make sure he stays for more than one week. He opened with a 64 in the Scottish Open to share the lead with Sepp Straka, Nico Echavarria and Victor Perez. Scottie Scheffler was at 67 while Rory McIlroy finished with three straight birdies to salvage a 68. Knapp is not yet in the British Open at Royal Portrush next week. The leading three players from the Scottish Open not already in the field will earn exemptions. Knapp says he'd love nothing more than to delay his trip home.

GENEVA (AP) — Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya has won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights in her seven-year legal fight against track and field’s sex eligibility rules. The court’s 17-judge highest chamber says Semenya had her rights to a fair hearing violated at Switzerland’s Supreme Court where she had appealed against a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favor of track and field’s World Athletics. Her case should now go back to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne. Europe’s top human rights court in Strasbourg, France, dismissed other aspects of Semenya’s appeal.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — English golfer Charley Hull withdrew from the first round of the Evian Championship on Thursday after collapsing to the ground twice because of a virus. Organizers say Hull felt unwell on the fourth tee and received medical attention after collapsing. She then got up and hit her tee shot before going to the ground again. Organizers said Hull underwent medical checks that showed she had a virus but was otherwise OK. Hull had started on the back nine and was 1-under par after 12 holes. She was taken off on a stretcher by a golf buggy at Evian Resort Golf Club, which is hosting the fourth women's major of the year. Finals

INTERLEAGUE Final Baltimore 3 N.Y. Mets 1 Final Chicago Cubs 8 Minnesota 1 Final Baltimore 7 N.Y. Mets 3 Final Athletics 5 Atlanta 4

AMERICAN LEAGUE Cleveland at Chi White Sox 3:10 p.m. (Postponed) Final Boston 4 Tampa Bay 3 Final N.Y. Yankees 6 Seattle 5 Final Texas 11 L.A. Angels 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Cincinnati 6 Miami 0 Final St. Louis 8 Washington 1 Final San Diego 4 Arizona 3

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz takes on Taylor Fritz, and Jannik Sinner faces Novak Djokovic in the men’s semifinals at Wimbledon. Both matchups are scheduled to be played Friday at Centre Court, with No. 2 seed Alcaraz vs. No. 5 Fritz leading things off at about 1:30 p.m. local time, followed by No. 1 Sinner vs. No. 6 Djokovic. The two winners will meet Sunday to decide the champion. Alcaraz has won the last two trophies at the All England Club, beating Djokovic in the final each time. Djokovic is trying to tie Roger Federer's men's mark of eight Wimbledon trophies and become the first tennis player in history with 25 major singles titles.LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0 for 5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his groove, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block. Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have joined the lineup for Monday night's All-Star Home Run Derby in Atlanta. Rooker, representing the Athletics, says he won’t change his usual approach at the plate. This marks the first time an A’s player has participated since 2021. Rooker has hit 58 home runs since 2024, third among American League players. His former youth coach, Joe Caruso, will pitch to him during the event. Chisholm, a Yankees infielder, is making his Derby debut. Other participants include Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton, Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Cal Raleigh and James Wood.LONDON (AP) — Either Amanda Anisimova or Iga Swiatek will leave the All England Club’s grass courts as Wimbledon’s eighth consecutive first-time women’s champion. They will play in the final on Saturday. Swiatek has won five Grand Slam titles but never been to the final at Wimbledon before. Anisimova is making her debut in a major title match. Swiatek is a 24-year-old from Poland who spent most of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons ranked No. 1. Anisimova is a 23-year-old from the United States who is climbing her way to the top of the game after leaving the tour in 2023 because of burnout.NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe scored the winning run with an acrobatic slide on Aaron Judge’s shallow sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the New York Yankees rallied past Seattle 6-5 after Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo took a no-hitter into the eighth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled leading off the eighth for New York’s first hit. Woo quickly allowed another single and was lifted after Austin Wells’ sacrifice fly shaved Seattle’s lead to 5-1. Pinch-hitter Giancarlo Stanton made it 5-3 with a two-run homer off Matt Brash, and the Yankees were down to their final strike multiple times before tying it on Wells’ two-run single off All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz in the ninth.NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh thinks All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz was tipping pitches when he squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees. Muñoz was handed his sixth blown save in 27 opportunities this season after starter Bryan Woo held the Yankees hitless into the eighth. With the Mariners holding a 5-3 lead, Muñoz entered in the ninth and loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a two-out walk. Standing at second base while Austin Wells batted, Cody Bellinger waved his arms when Muñoz threw his slider. Wells worked the count full and lined a fastball into right field for a two-run single that tied it. New York then scored in the 10th to win 6-5.A new college sports agency has rejected certain NIL deals involving donor-backed collectives. These collectives, formed to funnel money to athletes or schools, fail to meet NCAA rules requiring deals to serve a valid business purpose. A letter sent to Division I athletic directors explained that deals solely raising funds for athletes, like selling merchandise or hosting events, do not qualify. Since July, schools can now pay players directly under the $2.8 billion House settlement. Meanwhile, collectives tied to schools like Georgia and Alabama are shutting down. Over 1,500 deals have been approved through NIL Go, a clearinghouse launched in June.NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Jake Knapp is loving his taste of links golf. Now he'd like to make sure he stays for more than one week. He opened with a 64 in the Scottish Open to share the lead with Sepp Straka, Nico Echavarria and Victor Perez. Scottie Scheffler was at 67 while Rory McIlroy finished with three straight birdies to salvage a 68. Knapp is not yet in the British Open at Royal Portrush next week. The leading three players from the Scottish Open not already in the field will earn exemptions. Knapp says he'd love nothing more than to delay his trip home.GENEVA (AP) — Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya has won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights in her seven-year legal fight against track and field’s sex eligibility rules. The court’s 17-judge highest chamber says Semenya had her rights to a fair hearing violated at Switzerland’s Supreme Court where she had appealed against a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favor of track and field’s World Athletics. Her case should now go back to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne. Europe’s top human rights court in Strasbourg, France, dismissed other aspects of Semenya’s appeal.EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — English golfer Charley Hull withdrew from the first round of the Evian Championship on Thursday after collapsing to the ground twice because of a virus. Organizers say Hull felt unwell on the fourth tee and received medical attention after collapsing. She then got up and hit her tee shot before going to the ground again. Organizers said Hull underwent medical checks that showed she had a virus but was otherwise OK. Hull had started on the back nine and was 1-under par after 12 holes. She was taken off on a stretcher by a golf buggy at Evian Resort Golf Club, which is hosting the fourth women's major of the year. FinalsINTERLEAGUE Final Baltimore 3 N.Y. Mets 1 Final Chicago Cubs 8 Minnesota 1 Final Baltimore 7 N.Y. Mets 3 Final Athletics 5 Atlanta 4AMERICAN LEAGUE Cleveland at Chi White Sox 3:10 p.m. (Postponed) Final Boston 4 Tampa Bay 3 Final N.Y. Yankees 6 Seattle 5 Final Texas 11 L.A. Angels 4NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Cincinnati 6 Miami 0 Final St. Louis 8 Washington 1 Final San Diego 4 Arizona 3

Friday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice, Jac Caglianone hit the longest measured homer by a Royals rookie, and Kansas City beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

Perez broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with his longball off Isaac Mattson (2-1). He opened the scoring with a 444-foot shot to center in the second.

But the most impressive homer of the game belonged to Caglianone —&nbsp;a 466-foot, two-run drive&nbsp;to center in the fourth against Bailey Falter. It was the longest homer by a Royals rookie since Statcast started tracking in 2015 and the fourth-longest by any Kansas City player at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals have won six of seven overall. They did not have a multi-homer game this season before doing it Monday night against Pittsburgh, and now they've done it three games in a row. Kansas City hit nine homers in the series.

Pittsburgh fell to 0-6 on its nine-game trip ahead of the All-Star break after getting shut out in three straight games at Seattle.

Perez had his second multi-homer game of the season and 19th of his career, extending his franchise record.

Lucas Erceg (4-2) worked a scoreless eighth and Carlos Estevez pitched the ninth for his 25th save.

Ke'Bryan Hayes had a two-run single in the Pirates' three-run sixth.

Perez sent the first pitch of the eighth&nbsp;to the walkway just short of the fountains in right-center.

Kansas City swept a series at home for the first time since a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox in early May.

Pirates: Begin a three-game series at Minnesota on Friday.

Royals: Host the New York Mets for three games starting Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752150058555.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin (12) celebrates with Salvador Perez (13) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin (12) celebrates with Salvador Perez (13) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice, Jac Caglianone hit the longest measured homer by a Royals rookie, and Kansas City beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.Perez broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with his longball off Isaac Mattson (2-1). He opened the scoring with a 444-foot shot to center in the second.But the most impressive homer of the game belonged to Caglianone —&nbsp;a 466-foot, two-run drive&nbsp;to center in the fourth against Bailey Falter. It was the longest homer by a Royals rookie since Statcast started tracking in 2015 and the fourth-longest by any Kansas City player at Kauffman Stadium.The Royals have won six of seven overall. They did not have a multi-homer game this season before doing it Monday night against Pittsburgh, and now they've done it three games in a row. Kansas City hit nine homers in the series.Pittsburgh fell to 0-6 on its nine-game trip ahead of the All-Star break after getting shut out in three straight games at Seattle.Perez had his second multi-homer game of the season and 19th of his career, extending his franchise record.Lucas Erceg (4-2) worked a scoreless eighth and Carlos Estevez pitched the ninth for his 25th save.Ke'Bryan Hayes had a two-run single in the Pirates' three-run sixth.<h2>Key moment</h2>Perez sent the first pitch of the eighth&nbsp;to the walkway just short of the fountains in right-center.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas City swept a series at home for the first time since a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox in early May.<h2>Up next</h2>Pirates: Begin a three-game series at Minnesota on Friday.Royals: Host the New York Mets for three games starting Friday.

Perez and Caglianone power Royals to 4-3 win over Pirates for 3-game sweep

PHOENIX (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the contract say the Phoenix Suns have signed star guard Devin Booker to a two-year, $145 max contract extension. The 28-year-old Booker has been one of the NBA’s best shooting guards, earning four All-Star appearances in 10 NBA seasons. The two-time all-NBA player has averaged 24.4 points since Phoenix took him out of Kentucky with the 13th overall pick of the 2015 draft. Booker averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46% from the floor during a disappointing 2024-25 season for the Suns. Phoenix has revamped its front office and roster since a disappointing 2024-25 season, including a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston.

The Detroit Tigers now have five All-Stars, tying them with the Dodgers for the most in the majors. Zach McKinstry was added Wednesday, replacing injured Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. McKinstry joins teammates Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez, Riley Greene, and pitcher Tarik Skubal. Meanwhile, Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen for the AL team in place of the Guardians' José Ramírez, who wants to spend the week recovering from an Achilles injury. Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was picked to replace Astros pitcher Hunter Brown and Brewers closer Trevor Megill to replace teammate Freddy Peralta.

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic is more than a decade older than any other man in the Wimbledon semifinals. He says it motivates him to see if he can keep going toe-to-toe against the younger players at the top of tennis these days. The 38-year-old Djokovic is trying to win his eighth Wimbledon title to tie one record and his 25th Grand Slam trophy overall to break another. He will face No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday for a berth in the final. The other semifinal at the All England Club is No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz against No. 5 Taylor Fritz. Two-time defending champion Alcaraz is 22, Sinner is 23 and Fritz is 27.

NEW YORK (AP) — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is the hardest-throwing member of the New York Yankees’ rotation. Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night, pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victory before a throng of friends and family members in the crowd. One of the team’s top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York’s seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year. But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain routed Real Madrid 4-0 in a Club World Cup semifinal, moving closer to a historic quadruple. Having won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League, PSG plays Chelsea on Sunday in the Club World Cup final. PSG’s blue, red and white jerseys don’t have glamorous names pressed across the back, and they may not be as ubiquitous as the the red shirts of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester City’s light blue or Chelsea’s royal blue. But the team is filling up the trophy display at its cramped, outdated stadium, Parc des Princes.

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic has reached the Wimbledon semifinals for a men’s-record 14th time as he pursues his unprecedented 25th title from all Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic beat Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday to set up a showdown against No. 1 Jannik Sinner for a berth in the final. Sinner eliminated Ben Shelton 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 and didn’t play like someone dealing with an injured right elbow. He used terrific serving and his usual booming forehand to win against Shelton for the sixth consecutive time. Sinner hurt his elbow in a fall during his fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov on Monday night.

Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced he will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta. Hours later, he learned he will start at third base for the American League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. All that came after Caminero belted his 22nd homer in a 7-3 win over Detroit. The 22-year-old leads AL third basemen in home runs during his breakout season and is batting .254 with 58 RBIs. Caminero joins five others in the Derby lineup, with two spots still open. Rays manager Kevin Cash calls it a "coming-out party" for Caminero, showcasing his talent to fans nationwide.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryce Harper broke out of a slump with a career-best four extra-base hits — and then issued a reminder about his place in the game. After the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 13-0, Harper said, “I'm really good. I mean, I really am.” Harper hasn’t been himself much of the season. The two-time NL MVP and eight-time All-Star missed most of June with inflammation in his right wrist. He had gone 1 for 14 in four games before Wednesday, when he hit a homer and three doubles, all to the opposite field.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Lionel Messi became the first player in Major League Soccer history with four consecutive multi-goal games, scoring twice to lead Inter Miami past the New England Revolution 2-1. Miami has won four straight and is unbeaten in its last five. Defender Tanner Beason misplayed a header and Messi capitalized, scoring on a half-volley to open the scoring in the 27th minute. Messi made it 2-0 in the 38th. Messi has at least one goal in five straight games. He has 14 goals and seven assists in 15 regular-season matches. Nashville's Sam Surridge with 16 is the only player with more MLS goals than Messi.

Finals INTERLEAGUE N-Y Mets at Baltimore 5:05 p.m.(Postponed) Final Boston 10 Colorado 2 Final Minnesota 4 Chicago Cubs 2 Final Kansas City 4 Pittsburgh 3 Final Atlanta 9 Athletics 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Chicago White Sox 2 Toronto 1 Final Tampa Bay 7 Detroit 3 Final N.Y. Yankees 9 Seattle 6 Final Cleveland 4 Houston 2 Final L.A. Angels 11 Texas 8

NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Milwaukee 3 L.A. Dodgers 2 Final Philadelphia 13 San Francisco 0 Final Cincinnati 7 Miami 2 Final Washington 8 St. Louis 2 Final Arizona 8 San Diego 2

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>PHOENIX (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the contract say the Phoenix Suns have signed star guard Devin Booker to a two-year, $145 max contract extension. The 28-year-old Booker has been one of the NBA’s best shooting guards, earning four All-Star appearances in 10 NBA seasons. The two-time all-NBA player has averaged 24.4 points since Phoenix took him out of Kentucky with the 13th overall pick of the 2015 draft. Booker averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46% from the floor during a disappointing 2024-25 season for the Suns. Phoenix has revamped its front office and roster since a disappointing 2024-25 season, including a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston.The Detroit Tigers now have five All-Stars, tying them with the Dodgers for the most in the majors. Zach McKinstry was added Wednesday, replacing injured Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. McKinstry joins teammates Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez, Riley Greene, and pitcher Tarik Skubal. Meanwhile, Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen for the AL team in place of the Guardians' José Ramírez, who wants to spend the week recovering from an Achilles injury. Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was picked to replace Astros pitcher Hunter Brown and Brewers closer Trevor Megill to replace teammate Freddy Peralta.LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic is more than a decade older than any other man in the Wimbledon semifinals. He says it motivates him to see if he can keep going toe-to-toe against the younger players at the top of tennis these days. The 38-year-old Djokovic is trying to win his eighth Wimbledon title to tie one record and his 25th Grand Slam trophy overall to break another. He will face No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday for a berth in the final. The other semifinal at the All England Club is No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz against No. 5 Taylor Fritz. Two-time defending champion Alcaraz is 22, Sinner is 23 and Fritz is 27.GENEVA (AP) — Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya has won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights in her seven-year legal fight against track and field’s sex eligibility rules. The court’s 17-judge highest chamber says Semenya had her rights to a fair hearing violated at Switzerland’s Supreme Court where she had appealed against a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favor of track and field’s World Athletics. Her case should now go back to the Swiss federal court in Lausanne. Europe’s top human rights court in Strasbourg, France, dismissed other aspects of Semenya’s appeal.NEW YORK (AP) — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is the hardest-throwing member of the New York Yankees’ rotation. Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night, pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victory before a throng of friends and family members in the crowd. One of the team’s top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York’s seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year. But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain routed Real Madrid 4-0 in a Club World Cup semifinal, moving closer to a historic quadruple. Having won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League, PSG plays Chelsea on Sunday in the Club World Cup final. PSG’s blue, red and white jerseys don’t have glamorous names pressed across the back, and they may not be as ubiquitous as the the red shirts of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester City’s light blue or Chelsea’s royal blue. But the team is filling up the trophy display at its cramped, outdated stadium, Parc des Princes.LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic has reached the Wimbledon semifinals for a men’s-record 14th time as he pursues his unprecedented 25th title from all Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic beat Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday to set up a showdown against No. 1 Jannik Sinner for a berth in the final. Sinner eliminated Ben Shelton 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 and didn’t play like someone dealing with an injured right elbow. He used terrific serving and his usual booming forehand to win against Shelton for the sixth consecutive time. Sinner hurt his elbow in a fall during his fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov on Monday night.Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced he will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta. Hours later, he learned he will start at third base for the American League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. All that came after Caminero belted his 22nd homer in a 7-3 win over Detroit. The 22-year-old leads AL third basemen in home runs during his breakout season and is batting .254 with 58 RBIs. Caminero joins five others in the Derby lineup, with two spots still open. Rays manager Kevin Cash calls it a "coming-out party" for Caminero, showcasing his talent to fans nationwide.SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryce Harper broke out of a slump with a career-best four extra-base hits — and then issued a reminder about his place in the game. After the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 13-0, Harper said, “I'm really good. I mean, I really am.” Harper hasn’t been himself much of the season. The two-time NL MVP and eight-time All-Star missed most of June with inflammation in his right wrist. He had gone 1 for 14 in four games before Wednesday, when he hit a homer and three doubles, all to the opposite field.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Lionel Messi became the first player in Major League Soccer history with four consecutive multi-goal games, scoring twice to lead Inter Miami past the New England Revolution 2-1. Miami has won four straight and is unbeaten in its last five. Defender Tanner Beason misplayed a header and Messi capitalized, scoring on a half-volley to open the scoring in the 27th minute. Messi made it 2-0 in the 38th. Messi has at least one goal in five straight games. He has 14 goals and seven assists in 15 regular-season matches. Nashville's Sam Surridge with 16 is the only player with more MLS goals than Messi.Finals INTERLEAGUE N-Y Mets at Baltimore 5:05 p.m.(Postponed) Final Boston 10 Colorado 2 Final Minnesota 4 Chicago Cubs 2 Final Kansas City 4 Pittsburgh 3 Final Atlanta 9 Athletics 2AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Chicago White Sox 2 Toronto 1 Final Tampa Bay 7 Detroit 3 Final N.Y. Yankees 9 Seattle 6 Final Cleveland 4 Houston 2 Final L.A. Angels 11 Texas 8NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Milwaukee 3 L.A. Dodgers 2 Final Philadelphia 13 San Francisco 0 Final Cincinnati 7 Miami 2 Final Washington 8 St. Louis 2 Final Arizona 8 San Diego 2

Thursday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Jackson Roberts Sports Illustrated The Kansas City Royals' primary issue is offense, but that's not stopping them from trying to upgrade the pitching staff.

With All-Star lefty Cole Ragans on the 60-day injured list, the Royals are one more starting pitching injury away from having to dip into the minor leagues to fill out a rotation.

On Wednesday, the Royals signed 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract,&nbsp;per a report&nbsp;from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

"Keuchel, 37, held a workout last week and was up to 92 mph. He’ll start at AAA and if he gets to the big leagues would make $2 million prorated," Passan wrote.

That $2 million salary is already more than half-gone, as the Royals have played 93 games, Realistically, Keuchel could wind up making around $750 thousand at most.

Keuchel's career to this point has been a story of highs and lows. In addition to the Cy Young Award, he was a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Houston Astros. He also won five Gold Gloves, the most recent of which came in 2021 with the Chicago White Sox.

However, Keuchel also owns a career ERA of 4.04, due in large part to the 6.24 mark he's put up in 60 appearances since the start of 2021. He's pitched for five teams in that time frame, and accrued -2.6 bWAR.

Keuchel last pitched in the majors in 2024 for the Milwaukee Brewers. He had a 5.40 ERA and 5.63 FIP in 16 2/3 innings.

Whether Keuchel will make it to the active roster for the Royals remains a mystery, but this is clearly a team unafraid to take gambles on veteran pitching. They signed 45-year-old Rich Hill, who owns a 6.17 ERA in Triple-A Omaha, back in May.

Perhaps Keuchel will have better luck working his way through the minors in the Kansas City organization.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752072321868.jpeg" alt="Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images" />
 <figcaption>Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images</figcaption>
 </figure>Jackson Roberts Sports Illustrated The Kansas City Royals' primary issue is offense, but that's not stopping them from trying to upgrade the pitching staff.With All-Star lefty Cole Ragans on the 60-day injured list, the Royals are one more starting pitching injury away from having to dip into the minor leagues to fill out a rotation.On Wednesday, the Royals signed 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract,&nbsp;per a report&nbsp;from ESPN's Jeff Passan."Keuchel, 37, held a workout last week and was up to 92 mph. He’ll start at AAA and if he gets to the big leagues would make $2 million prorated," Passan wrote.That $2 million salary is already more than half-gone, as the Royals have played 93 games, Realistically, Keuchel could wind up making around $750 thousand at most.Keuchel's career to this point has been a story of highs and lows. In addition to the Cy Young Award, he was a two-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Houston Astros. He also won five Gold Gloves, the most recent of which came in 2021 with the Chicago White Sox.However, Keuchel also owns a career ERA of 4.04, due in large part to the 6.24 mark he's put up in 60 appearances since the start of 2021. He's pitched for five teams in that time frame, and accrued -2.6 bWAR.Keuchel last pitched in the majors in 2024 for the Milwaukee Brewers. He had a 5.40 ERA and 5.63 FIP in 16 2/3 innings.Whether Keuchel will make it to the active roster for the Royals remains a mystery, but this is clearly a team unafraid to take gambles on veteran pitching. They signed 45-year-old Rich Hill, who owns a 6.17 ERA in Triple-A Omaha, back in May.Perhaps Keuchel will have better luck working his way through the minors in the Kansas City organization.

Royals Acquire 37-Year-Old Cy Young Winner In Out-Of-Nowhere Minor League Signing

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference to stay with only five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand from 12 to 16 teams as many expect after this season, instead of each of the four power conferences being guaranteed multiple bids.

“We have the responsibility to do what’s right for college football ... not what's right for one or two or more conferences,” Yormark said Tuesday at Big 12 football media days. “I think 5-11 is fair. Earn it on the field, assuming we want to expand. I love the current format, but if we’re going to expand, let’s do it in a way that’s fair and equitable and gives everyone a chance.”

While the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will have more of a say on the playoff format starting in 2026, when ESPN's $7.8 billion contract kicks in, Yormark believes&nbsp;the 5-11 format&nbsp;would be good for now and in the future. He said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips feels the same way, and is expected to express that during his league's media days in two weeks.

“We do not need a professional model because we are not the NFL,” Yormark said. "We are college football and we must act like it."

In the&nbsp;12-team format&nbsp;still in place for this season, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff. The difference this year is that the top four highest-ranked champions are no longer guaranteed the top four seeds that come with first-round byes.

Among&nbsp;potential 16-team formats&nbsp;would be four automatic qualifiers from both the SEC and Big Ten, and two each for the Big 12 and ACC. The Big 12 last season had only conference champion Arizona State make the playoff last season.

“We want to earn it on the field," Yormark said. “It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12, given your comments about (automatic qualifiers), but long term, knowing the progress we’re making, the investments we’re making, it’s the right format for us.”

Yormark, who is going into his fourth year as Big 12 commissioner, believes that the&nbsp;landmark NCAA House settlement&nbsp;will have a positive impact for all conferences, especially if the&nbsp;College Sports Commission&nbsp;works the way it is intended in enforcing the rules in the remade system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752066475109.jpeg" alt="Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks at the Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)" />
 <figcaption>Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks at the Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)</figcaption>
 </figure>FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is doubling down on his preference to stay with only five automatic qualifiers if the College Football Playoff does expand from 12 to 16 teams as many expect after this season, instead of each of the four power conferences being guaranteed multiple bids.“We have the responsibility to do what’s right for college football ... not what's right for one or two or more conferences,” Yormark said Tuesday at Big 12 football media days. “I think 5-11 is fair. Earn it on the field, assuming we want to expand. I love the current format, but if we’re going to expand, let’s do it in a way that’s fair and equitable and gives everyone a chance.”While the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten will have more of a say on the playoff format starting in 2026, when ESPN's $7.8 billion contract kicks in, Yormark believes&nbsp;the 5-11 format&nbsp;would be good for now and in the future. He said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips feels the same way, and is expected to express that during his league's media days in two weeks.“We do not need a professional model because we are not the NFL,” Yormark said. "We are college football and we must act like it."In the&nbsp;12-team format&nbsp;still in place for this season, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff. The difference this year is that the top four highest-ranked champions are no longer guaranteed the top four seeds that come with first-round byes.Among&nbsp;potential 16-team formats&nbsp;would be four automatic qualifiers from both the SEC and Big Ten, and two each for the Big 12 and ACC. The Big 12 last season had only conference champion Arizona State make the playoff last season.“We want to earn it on the field," Yormark said. “It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12, given your comments about (automatic qualifiers), but long term, knowing the progress we’re making, the investments we’re making, it’s the right format for us.”Yormark, who is going into his fourth year as Big 12 commissioner, believes that the&nbsp;landmark NCAA House settlement&nbsp;will have a positive impact for all conferences, especially if the&nbsp;College Sports Commission&nbsp;works the way it is intended in enforcing the rules in the remade system.“It will. I have a lot of faith in Bryan Seely,” Yormark said of the former Major League Baseball executive named CEO of the new CSC. “It should create a level playing field, and I'm not giving that up.”The Big 12 was already in transition and still at 10 teams when Yormark arrived in 2022. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joined the league the following year.Texas and Oklahoma, who won football national championships while in the Big 12, completed their&nbsp;long-planned move to the SEC&nbsp;last year. That is when Pac-12 schools Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah came into what is now a 16-team Big 12."I think parity matters, and I think ultimately over time, and that’s hopefully sooner than later, there’ll be a couple of our schools that will emerge, you know, as elite schools that are always part of the conversations at the highest levels. And that’s what we’re working towards,” Yormark said. “But it starts with parity and being competitive top to bottom. And I think we’re there.”