It’s not often that a Minor-League prospect can dominate Major League Baseball’s headlines for a full week, but that’s how special the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is. He debuts Friday night when Toronto takes on the Oakland Athletics, and after tearing up the Minor Leagues, many are expecting the same out of his bat in the Majors. Elsewhere, the injury-depleted Yankees look to the trade market for reinforcements and Zack Greinke helps the Diamondbacks keep rolling.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has absolutely raked in the minor leagues. Can he live up to the hype in the show?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s spray chart from his 4 years in @MiLB, during which he hit .331/.413/.531 with 71 doubles, 6 triples & 44 homers in 288 games.
Here’s what to expect from the #BlueJays phenom in #MLB: https://t.co/2E3vw7H0X0 pic.twitter.com/zYQRGScw9i
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 25, 2019
The Yankees have suffered enough injuries to fill a playoff lineup. They traded with the Indians for Cameron Maybin to try to bolster what’s left on the field.
Yanks have acquired Cameron Maybin, who was at AAA with the Cleveland Indians. That gives them some OF depth as he can play all three positions. #yankees
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) April 25, 2019
The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of baseball’s surprise teams thus far. They somewhat quietly finished a sweep of the Pirates to remain within a half-game of first place behind one of their few known commodities, ace Zack Greinke.
Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks sweep Pittsburgh Pirates to finish 8-2 road trip. https://t.co/hajqa4NGg6 pic.twitter.com/6GvHkysMoR
— azcentral (@azcentral) April 26, 2019
Remember Jacob Rhame? MLB suspended the Mets’ bespectacled reliever for two games for throwing at the Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins (who already punished Rhame with a slow, slow home run trot against him the next night)
MLB has handed down a two-game suspension and undisclosed fine to Jacob Rhame “for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of Rhys Hoskins.” Unless Rhame appeals, the suspension starts Friday.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) April 25, 2019
The Cubs are taking their time with Addison Russell’s return to the club after his domestic-violence suspension.
“You don’t risk deflating one of the game’s biggest stars to make room for a player who is lucky his team even kept him around.” @Ken_Rosenthal discusses the Cubs’ future plans with shortstops Addison Russell and Javier Báez. pic.twitter.com/t76kARuBNr
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 25, 2019
TOP STORIES
• Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is baseball’s prince who was promised | The Ringer
• Yankees acquire Maybin from Indians | MLB.com
• Greinke leads Diamondbacks past Pirates for 4-game sweep | Associated Press
• MLB punishes Jacob Rhame for head-hunting | New York Post
• Epstein: ‘No finish line’ on Russell’s return to Cubs | ESPN.com
