Sports
The American League Rookie of the Year Is Likely To Come From AL Central
Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Welcome to the year of the rookie in baseball, as we got our first look at some of the new young talent breaking onto the scene, and we might be in for one of the most fun rookie classes we’ve seen in a long time.
Three top rookies went yard on Opening Day, and a few others had multi-hit days as well. Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter hit two home runs in his regular-season MLB debut, becoming only the sixth player in MLB history to reach that milestone.
Cleveland has been searching for a corner outfielder with pop since Manny Ramirez left in 2001. They might have found their replacement in DeLauter, and nobody is happier about that than Jose Ramirez. He finally has some protection surrounding him in the lineup with DeLauter. You could have bet on DeLauter to win Rookie of the Year at 16/1 last week, but after a historic performance, you’ll only get him at 5/1.
Kevin McGonigle
He’s not the only superstar rookie in the AL Central, as Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle had himself a memorable debut, going 4-for-5. His four-hit day was two more than any other Tiger in their debut over the last 30 years.
McGonigle might have to move around the Tigers’ infield early on this season, but if he can provide any consistency with the bat, they won’t be able to take him out of the lineup. Gleyber Torres is locked in at second base, and with Trey Sweeney starting the season in Toledo, McGonigle will only fight with Colt Keith, Javier Baez, and Zach McKinstry for ABs. That trio had a productive 2025, though their second halves were cold. I don’t see how the AL ROY favorite doesn’t beat out that group.
Carter Jensen and Munetaka Murakami
Feb 20, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) hits a single against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Kansas City and Chicago also have fun rookies as well. Carter Jensen debuted in 2025, playing 20 games, and over that stretch, he slashed .300/.391/.550. Jensen still qualifies as a rookie this year, and if he can provide league-average defense to pair with his bat, he will put up enough WAR to be in the conversation for ROY. Getting to bet him at +800 feels like very solid value.
Munetaka Murakami isn’t really a rookie at this point, but he is by MLB standards. The 26-year-old had played professionally in Japan for the last eight years and is coming off a 24-home run season. He’s hit over 50 before in a season, and will immediately be one of the best hitters in a weak White Sox lineup. He’s 10/1 to win ROY, and it’s a bet I’d stay away from. The White Sox will most likely struggle again in 2026, and voters will be more inclined to give the award to a player on a team with more success, and if they are more of a “true rookie”.
Walker Jenkins
Lastly, Minnesota’s best rookie is still in AAA, but he’s still +4500 to win ROY. Walker Jenkins is one of the top prospects in the sport, and I think he’s MLB-ready right now. If you’re looking for a long shot, he’s the guy. I know the Twins wanted to get another year of control over Jenkins by keeping him in AAA longer, but I don’t think there’s anything for him left to prove down in St. Paul.
The AL Central is finally turning into a competent division, and this rookie class will make their games must-watch in 2026.
Sports
Alexander Kerfoot, Logan Cooley score twice as Mammoth rout Kings
Mar 28, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Mathieu Joseph (17) battle for the puck during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images
Alexander Kerfoot and Logan Cooley each scored twice as the visiting Utah Mammoth thumped the Los Angeles Kings 6-2 on Saturday night.
With the win, Utah (38-30-6, 82 points), currently in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, holds a five-point lead over the Nashville Predators, owners of the second wild-card position.
Los Angeles (29-25-18, 76 points) remains on the outside looking in, a point back of Nashville in the wild-card race.
Nick Schmaltz and Jack McBain also scored for Utah, while Mikhail Sergachev had four assists and Clayton Keller chipped in a pair of helpers for the Mammoth, who won for just the second time in five games (2-3-0).
Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves for Utah.
Adrian Kempe had a goal and an assist, and Anze Kopitar also scored for the Kings, who have dropped five of six (1-2-3).
Darcy Kuemper stopped 11 shots through two periods and was replaced by Anton Forsberg to start the third. Forsberg made 11 saves.
The Mammoth outshot the Kings 12-9 in the first period and led 3-1 after 20 minutes.
Utah opened the scoring 2:31 into the period as Kerfoot redirected a John Marino cross-ice feed past Kuemper.
Cooley doubled the Mammoth lead at 16:33, beating out the icing call and snapping a shot five-hole past Kuemper.
Los Angeles cut the lead in half 1:18 later as Kopitar tipped a Kempe shot from the point past Vejmelka.
Utah restored the two-goal lead on the power play at 19:51 as Cooley dangled around Mikey Anderson and snapped a shot high blocker-side past Kuemper.
The Mammoth took a 4-1 lead at 12:37 of the middle frame as Kerfoot showed patience, outwaited Kuemper, and put a shot over the shoulder of the Kings’ goaltender. Kerfoot has points in four straight games (three goals, two assists).
Schmaltz made it 5-1 at 16:17 of the second on a power play, taking a Keller pass, skate-to-stick and snapping a shot past Kuemper.
Kempe pulled the Kings to 5-2, putting a shot past a screened Vejmelka at 4:34 of the third.
McBain added an empty-netter at 13:53.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers sweep D-backs on Will Smith's late 2-run HR
Mar 28, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) celebrates with shortstop Mookie Betts (50) after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Will Smith hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning as the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers posted a three-game, season-opening sweep with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Freddie Freeman had three hits, including an RBI double, starter Tyler Glasnow went six strong innings and new Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz picked up his second save in two nights.
Smith’s second home run of the season came one batter after Mookie Betts worked a two-out walk in the eighth against Juan Morillo (0-1). Smith lined a 2-2 fastball over the wall in center for the lead on a night when all fans in attendance received a bobblehead representing his go-ahead home run in the 11th inning of Game 7 in last season’s World Series.
Corbin Carroll had a hit, an RBI and a run scored and Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic hero Eduardo Rodriguez gave up an unearned run over five-plus innings in a no-decision for the Diamondbacks. Rodriguez held Team USA scoreless over 4 1/3 innings in Venezuela’s WBC title-game victory earlier this month.
For the third consecutive game, the Diamondbacks took an early 2-0 lead. Carroll beat out an infield single in the first inning, on a play that was overruled to a hit on replay. Carroll went to second on a Geraldo Perdomo groundout and scored on a single by Pavin Smith.
Arizona added a second run in the third when Jorge Barrosa doubled, went to third on a Ketel Marte groundout and scored on a Carroll sacrifice fly.
The Diamondbacks also led 2-0 in the season opener against the Dodgers on Thursday and 2-0 in the third inning of Friday’s game.
Rodriguez was removed by Arizona manager Torey Lovullo after Kyle Tucker reached base on an error by first baseman Carlos Santana to lead off the sixth. Tucker stole second base with one out and scored on a two-out Freeman double against right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga.
Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless seventh for the Dodgers before Will Klein (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth. Diaz entered in the ninth to his regular greeting of trumpets and ended the game on a perfect ninth inning.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Women's NCAA roundup: TCU knocks off Virginia, next faces South Carolina
Mar 28, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) drives against Virginia Cavaliers guard Gabby White (3) during the third quarter in the Sweet Sixteen game of the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Marta Suarez scored a career-high 33 points, Olivia Miles added 28 in a near triple-double and third-seeded TCU ended Virginia’s magical NCAA Tournament run with a 79-69 victory in the Sweet 16 on Saturday in Sacramento, Calif.
Miles had 10 rebounds and eight assists and Suarez had 10 rebounds for the Horned Frogs (32-5), who will make their second straight Elite Eight appearance when they meet Sacramento Region 4 top seed South Carolina on Monday.
Miles’ two free throws with 26 seconds left for a 77-69 lead clinched it. She is one of four Division I players with at least 600 points, 250 rebounds and 100 assists in a season.
Paris Clark had 20 points and Kymora Johnson had 18 for the Cavaliers (22-12), the lowest seed to reach the Sweet 16 since 2022. Clara Silva had eight points and eight rebounds for TCU, which had a 38-27 edge on the boards and limited Virginia to 41% shooting.
No. 1 South Carolina 94, No. 4 Oklahoma 68
Ta’Niya Latson scored 28 points to help the Gamecocks defeat the Sooners in a Sweet 16 matchup in Sacramento.
Latson set the tone from the start, scoring eight points during the Gamecocks’ 10-0 run to start the game. South Carolina (34-3) will take on No. 3 seed TCU on Monday in the Elite Eight, seeking its sixth consecutive Final Four appearance.
Latson finished 7 of 11 from the floor with five assists. The Gamecocks shot 50.7% from the floor. Raven Johnson added 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and Tessa Johnson scored 14. For Oklahoma (26-8), which finished with a season-low nine assists, freshman Aaliyah Chavez led the way with 21 points.
No. 1 Texas 76, No. 5 Kentucky 54
Jordan Lee scored 18 and Madison Booker had 17 as the Longhorns knocked off the Wildcats in Fort Worth, Texas, and advanced to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season.
Texas (34-3) will take on Michigan, the No. 2 seed in Fort Worth Region 3, on Monday with a Final Four berth on the line. The Longhorns got a scare in the opening quarter when starting point guard Rori Harmon suffered a jammed right middle finger and went to the bench for a stretch. She finished the game with 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals with just one turnover.
Kentucky (25-11) was led by Clara Strack, who scored 16 points, and Asia Boone with 11. Teonni Key nearly chipped in a double-double with 10 points, albeit on 2-of-8 shooting, and nine rebounds.
No. 2 Michigan 71, No. 3 Louisville 52
Olivia Olson scored eight of her 19 points in the third quarter to help the Wolverines pull away for a win over the Cardinals in a Fort Worth Region 3 semifinal.
Syla Swords scored 16 points, Te’Yala Delfosse added 10 with eight rebounds and Brooke Q. Daniels added nine boards for Michigan (28-6), which has reached the second Elite Eight in program history.
Elif Istanbulluoglu scored 18 points with seven rebounds and Reyna Scot added nine points for the Cardinals (29-8), who were playing in their 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament.
–Field Level Media
Alexander Kerfoot, Logan Cooley score twice as Mammoth rout Kings
Dodgers sweep D-backs on Will Smith's late 2-run HR
