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MLB News & Moments You Should Know – June 25

Freeman emotional in Atlanta return; Judge, Yankees settle at $19M.

Steve Drumwright
MLB Morning News 6/25/2022

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

The no-brainer marquee event on Friday’s schedule was Freddie Freeman‘s return to Atlanta as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. As predicted, there were plenty of tears as well as a standing ovation. All of this is summed up in the Best Moments section.

Otherwise, Friday had all your usual defensive gems, home runs, and terrific pitching. Here is a roundup of the key things that happened and other viral moments:

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Judge, Yankees Settle Arbitration Case At $19M

One of the underreported consequences of the owners’ lockout that delayed spring training and the start of the season was how arbitration cases would go. All we are going to say is that we are in the last week of June, and cases are still being heard. That was almost the case in Aaron Judge‘s arbitration battle with the New York Yankees. Both sides were ready to state their positions over Zoom when the hearing was delayed to see if a last-minute settlement could be reached. It was, and the Yankees will pay the hulking outfielder $19 million this season. The sides, which exchanged figures in spring training, had been $4 million apart before agreeing to the midpoint. Judge rejected the Yankees’ seven-year, $213.5 million contract offer just before Opening Day, meaning the slugger will hit free agency after this season. Entering Friday, Judge leads MLB in home runs with 27 homers and is slashing .307/.379/.658.

Yankees’ Home Win Streak Ends At 15

Thanks to seven vintage innings by Justin Verlander and a three-run homer from Kyle Tucker, the Houston Astros beat the Yankees 3-1, snapping New York’s winning streak at Yankee Stadium at 15 games. Verlander allowed four hits while walking one and striking out four in his 102-pitch effort. Tucker broke up a scoreless game with his blast off Yankees right-hander Luis Severino in the top of the sixth inning. Giancarlo Stanton countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth off Verlander.

Royals’ Perez Has Thumb Surgery

Salvador Perez was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Kansas City Royals, who said the franchise catcher will have surgery to repair his left thumb. Turns out surgery happened later Friday, and Perez will miss about eight weeks. A seven-time All-Star, Perez is on the IL for the second time this season after spraining the same thumb in May and reinjuring it Tuesday. Perez is slashing .211/.254/.426 with 11 homers this season.

Blue Jays’ Hitting Coach Suspended 5 Games

Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martinez was suspended five games by MLB for “unsportsmanlike conduct” while exchanging lineup cards before Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Martinez’s ire was directed at umpire Doug Eddings, who the night before turned in an awful performance calling balls and strikes. Martinez made contact with Eddings during the meeting at the plate Wednesday, thus the suspension.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

Emotional Return For Freeman

Freddie Freeman is now wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform, but that didn’t prevent the Atlanta Braves fans from welcoming back the star first baseman with open arms. Friday marked Freeman’s first game back in Atlanta following 12 MLB seasons with the Braves as the Dodgers visit for three games. There was a pregame press conference where Freeman broke down in tears, he was presented his 2021 World Series ring by manager Brian Snitker, a video presentation was played, Freeman addressed the crowd, and the fans showered him with applause during his first plate appearance.

Mr. Trout, Meet Mr. J-Rod

Players greeting players is a commonplace occurrence these days, but sometimes a new introduction is worth noting. Angel Stadium was the site of one of those occasions when Los Angeles Angels star center fielder Mike Trout jogged over to exchange pleasantries with Seattle Mariners rookie outfielder Julio Rodríguez.

Holidays Are Gonna Be Awkward

One is a pitcher, the other a catcher. Together, Aaron and Austin Nola have more than made their family proud by making the majors, Aaron as a pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies and Austin as a catcher for the San Diego Padres. But that also means they are going to face each other from time to time. Friday marked the second time the brothers faced each other, with Aaron having struck out his older brother on three pitches in August, then giving Austin the strikeout ball as a Christmas present. Austin gained his revenge Friday, lining an opposite-field single to right in the sixth inning for the game’s only run, snapping an 0-for-4 skid against little bro. It was the first time that brother-on-brother crime happened in modern MLB history (since 1900).

Slapgate, Redux

We found out just how petty MLB players get when playing fantasy football when Cincinnati Reds outfielder slapped San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson pregame when the two teams opened a series in Cincy a few weeks ago. On Friday, the Reds visited San Francisco, and the topic was still top of mind with many.

Not-So-Routine Double Play

Everyone is used to the 6-4-3 double play, its cousin 4-6-3, and the crisp 5-4-3. But Cleveland Guardians right fielder Oscar Gonzalez showed off his skills in the top of the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox when he snared a J.D. Martinez sinking liner off his shoe top and fired home to Guardians catcher Austin Hedges to nail Red Sox runner Christian Arroyo.

Right Twix Or Left Twix?

Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach might have been a little hungry during his at-bat. Either that or he didn’t agree with a call.

Halfway To Christmas

Today marks six months between last Christmas and this year’s Christmas, which for some is a time to celebrate. Why? Not really sure, but the Los Angeles Angels jumped on the sleigh Friday and went with scoreboard graphics in a Christmas theme. Also, there was a Shohei Ohtani snowglobe giveaway.

Shoes Steal The Show

The Milwaukee Brewers were the latest team to officially debut their City Connect jerseys in the opener of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The jerseys look pretty good, with light-blue tops and “Brew Crew” across the chest. The hats have MKE, the airport code for Milwaukee, with the 414 area code slightly hidden in there. The Brewers will wear the City Connects all weekend and then at home on Fridays. Many of the Brewers players chose to step up their shoe game, but none topped first base coach Quintin Berry.

 

Injuries

 

Dodgers left-hander Andrew Heaney was placed on the 15-day IL with a left shoulder strain and is expected to miss a handful of starts.

Dodgers right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson‘s season is over after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament while making a play against the Braves.

Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson, on a rehab assignment after having mono, has sustained a lat injury.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Pirates prospects get their first taste of pro ball and had their eyes opened — Rob Biertempful, The Athletic

What is behind Joe Musgrove’s success? The Padres’ ace visualizes failure — David Waldstein, New York Times

Blue Jays rookie Matt Gage survived the minors, indy ball and playing in Mexico before reaching the majors at age 29 — Brittany Ghiroli, The Athletic

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Starting Pitcher Roundup

Hitter Performances

Reliever Ranks

Starting Pitcher Streamers

 

Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)

Steve Drumwright

Steve Drumwright is a lifelong baseball fan who retired as a player before he had the chance to be cut from the freshman team in high school. He recovered to become a sportswriter and have a successful journalism career at newspapers in Wisconsin and California. Follow him on Twitter @DrummerWrites.

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