CHICAGO — Nick Pivetta arrived at Wrigley Field on Monday morning, climbed a set of stairs and walked along an aisle in the lower seating bowl. When he reached a spot behind home plate, a dozen rows from the field, he lifted his phone and took a photo. “It was just taking in the moment,” Pivetta said later. “I enjoy …
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Astros’ Framber Valdez denies deliberately hitting own catcher after giving up grand slam | Houston Astros
Houston starter Framber Valdez said he apologized to his catcher César Salazar after hitting him in the chest with a pitch on Tuesday night, but he insisted that he didn’t hit his teammate on purpose. Salazar appeared to ask Valdez to step off the mound when the bases were loaded in the fifth inning of the Astros’ loss to the …
Read More »Astros ace Framber Valdez accused of intentionally crossing up catcher
An Astros ace is accused of a bush-league maneuver — and this one doesn’t involve a trash can. Ex-MLB pitcher Dallas Braden and plenty of others allege that Houston lefty Framber Valdez intentionally plunked his catcher, Cesar Salazar, with a pitch after some confusion moments after allowing the game-changing grand slam to Trent Grisham in the Yankees’ 7-1 win Tuesday …
Read More »Did Astros’ Framber Valdez intentionally cross up his catcher? Lefty says ‘I hit him by mistake’
HOUSTON — Baseball’s highest-paid left-handed pitcher looked every bit the part Tuesday night at Daikin Park. An Astros southpaw seeking something close to that salary stumbled, seemed to set up a young catcher, and, after the commotion calmed, got summoned into a meeting inside his manager’s office after a 7-1 loss to the New York Yankees. Before it began, Framber …
Read More »Red Sox catcher comes up big in rare pinch-hit opportunity
BOSTON — It was only the fifth inning Monday afternoon when Alex Cora decided to go for it. With the Red Sox locked in a back-and-forth rock fight of a game with the Cleveland Guardians, the bases loaded and the score tied at 3-3, Cora didn’t like the matchup of the lefthanded-hitting Nathaniel Lowe against Cleveland lefty reliever Erik Sabrowski. He …
Read More »Cal Raleigh Breaks The Catcher Homer Record In A Big (Dumper) Way
For anyone who engaged with MLB All-Star Week, the lasting image of Cal Raleigh is a ruddy-cheeked kid strutting about a yard with a baseball bat and declaring himself the home run derby champion. The Raleigh of now, in all honesty, doesn’t look all too different—still baby-faced with a generally pink mien—but time has given him the rare ability to …
Read More »Cal Raleigh’s catcher home run record, surprising power seasons
David SchoenfieldAug 24, 2025, 05:30 PM ET Close Covers MLB for ESPN.com Former deputy editor of Page 2 Been with ESPN.com since 1995 Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh blasted his 48th and 49th home runs on Sunday in back-to-back at-bats in the first two innings against the Athletics, breaking Salvador Perez‘s record for most home runs in a season by …
Read More »Red Sox make 4 roster moves: third catcher DFA’d, Nathaniel Lowe signing official
BOSTON — The Red Sox made four roster moves Monday, including announcing the signing of first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Lowe, a 30-year-old former Gold Glover and Silver Slugger, will be active for Monday’s game against the Orioles at Fenway Park and will wear No. 37. Boston also recalled outfielder/infielder Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester, placed outfielder Rob Refsnyder (left oblique …
Read More »Red Sox add catcher from Blue Jays; he will join team in San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The Boston Red Sox claimed catcher Alí Sanchez off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. He is in San Diego and will be added to Boston’s 26-man roster. A source said the Red Sox are “still working through” roster moves. So it’s unclear whether Carlos Narváez (knee) is headed to the IL or the Red …
Read More »After simple advice, Pirates catcher Henry Davis hopes homer signals turnaround at plate
For all of the work Henry Davis has done in the batting cage trying to find his way out of a funk at the plate, the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher got some simple but sage advice from a baseball lifer. After taking early batting practice Thursday, it was a conversation with Gene Lamont that led to a breakthrough. What the 78-year-old …
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