Listen, we know it's tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn't easy. It's okay, though, we're going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
★★★
Monday was the Red Sox home opener, and 22-year-old center fielder Mookie Betts owned it. The day wasn’t his alone, though, as another young outfielder, Cubs’ 23-year-old right fielder Jorge Soler, ruled the night with his own huge performance. It was a day of baseball’s youth ushering in the future of the game, showing off the makings of potential star players who could be cornerstones for their current teams as soon as this year.
Betts got things going by robbing Nationals’ phenom Bryce Harper of a first-inning homer, and it was to the races from there. Literally speaking, even, as Betts led off the bottom half of the frame, drew a walk and proceeded to steal second and then third on the same throw because the shift was on David Ortiz. Betts was the Sox’ first run of the afternoon, and was then responsible for the next three, as he hit a line drive shot over the Green Monster his next time up. Betts also hit a bases-loaded infield single to drive in his fourth run of the day, and he’s now batted .283/.358/.447 with seven homers in his first 58 major-league games. Not bad for a kid who was in Double-A this time last year. Oh, and hadn’t played the outfield yet.
As for Soler, he had his own impressive all-around game, smacking a pair of homers -- the second of which a straightaway shot to center field that tied the game up for his Cubs -- and scored the winning run in extra innings. He got to show off his defensive chops as well, gunning down a runner at third base after Jon Lester’s off-target pickoff attempt allowed Zack Cozart to advance. Soler is now hitting .295/.328/.589 in 30 career games with seven homers of his own, and while he still needs to learn to be more selective to keep getting pitches to crush, you can see him getting there. Everyone is waiting for Kris Bryant to be called up, but don’t let that distract you from the powerful rookie the Cubs already have.
- Speaking of Kris Bryant, Friday is the first day he can be promoted to the majors without it costing the Cubs that extra year of service time baseball’s awful loophole allows them to get. He might be needed, too, as Chicago’s regular third base options are dinged up.
- Billy Hamilton might have some reverse lineup protection, as having the patient Joey Votto behind him gives Hamilton more time to make his decision to steal a base.
- Billy Butler murdered a baseball on Monday night, and it left announcer Ray Fosse nearly speechless.
- Where will the game’s active home run leaders finish their career on the all-time leaderboards?
- Pedro Martinez threw batting practice to Tom Brady before Monday’s Red Sox game, giving years and years of New England fan fiction the emotional payoff it deserved.
- A Mets fan threw his beer at Grady Sizemore through a fence, which is idiotic on a number of levels.
- The Braves are in first place, with a surprise 6-1 start. There are teams that come out of nowhere every season: is there any reason the Braves can’t be that club in 2015?
- The hidden ball trick was used in a minor-league game, and no one was more confused about what was going on than the announcers.
- We need a new box score for the modern game. Is this it?
- If you are reading this and also happen to play for the Rangers, you should probably just retire now. Please think of your health and safety first, baseball is just a game and you have your whole life ahead of you.
See More:
