By Jon Rapoport July 29, 2015
Remember Robinson Cano?
After emerging as one of baseball's most recognizable players, during his nine seasons with the New York Yankees, the six-time All-Star has moved somewhat under the radar, since arriving in Seattle for the 2014 season. Don't feel too bad for Cano though, considering that he joined the Mariners after inking a much publicized 10-year/$240 million deal.
By Jon Rapoport July 29, 2015
Almost exactly one year ago today, Austin Jackson was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Seattle Mariners. The three-way deal also involved the Tampa Bay Rays.
Recently, Jackson and his Seattle teammates returned to the city in which the OF spent the first five seasons of his career.
Above is an original shot of Jackson signing autographs for his former fan base, courtesy of iFolloSports.com Michigan correspondent Lance Martinez.
By Ryan Rapoport July 28, 2015
One of the Minnesota Twins top prospects, 3B/DH Miguel Sano, finally made his MLB debut this month. Sano, a Dominican Republic native, signed with the Twins back in 2009, in a deal that included a $3.15 million signing bonus. In 2013, while playing in the Class AA Eastern League, Sano hit 35 homeruns and drove in 103 runs.
Twins fans and the team itself have been waiting a long time for Sano's bat to appear in the lineup. In Sano's brief period in the Big Leagues, he has shown some power, belting 3 long balls and 11 RBI's, entering Tuesday.
By Jon Rapoport July 27, 2015
It is hard to argue with the notion that Los Angeles Angels CF Mike Trout is the best player in baseball. Entering Monday, the five-tool superstar is batting .315, with 31 HR and 64 RBI. Trout currently leads MLB in homeruns and runs scored, while placing second in slugging and third in OPS.
Only in his fourth full Big League season, the New Jersey native's résumé already includes 2014 AL MVP and 2012 AL Rookie of the Year honors, as well as four All-Star appearances and two All-Star Game MVP awards.
Not bad for a guy who will turn just 24-years-old next month.
By Ryan Rapoport July 27, 2015
Minnesota Twins 2B Brian Dozier is fresh off his first career All-Star Game appearance, which included an eighth inning solo HR, in the AL's 6-3 win in Cincinnati. Dozier, a Mississippi native, is currently in the midst of his best season. As of Monday, Dozier has belted 21 long balls, scored 72 runs and posted 55 RBI, helping the surprising Twins to a 52-46 record.
By Jon Rapoport July 24, 2015
Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson really cashed in this offseason. After arriving in Detroit last February, courtesy of a midseason trade from the Thunder, Jackson flourished. In 27 games, the 2011 first round pick averaged 17.6 points, 9.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds. Thanks to his increased productivity, as well as the more prominent role he will see with the Pistons moving forward, Jackson was recently rewarded with a five-year/$80 million contract.
By Ryan Rapoport June 30, 2015
Michael Wacha is a starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, in his third MLB season. Wacha immerged onto the scene in 2013, after being named NLCS MVP. Going into Tuesday, Wacha has a 10-3 record, with a 2.77 ERA, for the first place Cardinals.
Recently, iFolloSports.com gathered the above original video of Wacha signing autographs at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis.
By Ryan Rapoport June 30, 2015
St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has achieved a high level of success in the short time that he has been at the helm of the Red Birds. Since 2012, Matheny has reached the playoffs each season, winning the NL pennant in 2013. Going into Tuesday's action, the Cardinals are once again winning big, owning a 51-24 record, which is by far the best record in baseball.
Prior to becoming a manager, Matheny was a well known catcher, winning 4 Gold Gloves, while playing with 4 teams in 13 seasons.
By Ryan Rapoport June 24, 2015
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was the second pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and is considered Major League Baseball's second ranked prospect. The Twins organization, as well as the team's fans, have been patiently awaiting the potential five-tool player's arrival, with the Georgia native recently making his Big League debut. Thus far, the 21-year-old is batting .189, amid 37 at bats.
By Ryan Rapoport June 24, 2015
Kris Bryant is the Cubs 3B/OF, who is considered Major League Baseball's top prospect. The second pick in the 2013 MLB Draft made his big league debut earlier this season, with the Las Vegas native already providing the Cubs with a spark. Going into Wednesday, Bryant has 10 HR, 42 RBI and a .278 average, in just 62 games.
By Jon Rapoport June 24, 2015
3 All-Star appearances and a National League hitting crown (2011) is a pretty good way for a big leaguer to begin his career. Now, in his sixth season, Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has done just that. At only 25-year-old, the Dominican Republic native is in prime position to now be one of the leaders of an emerging Cubs roster, filled with highly touted prospects and an excellent manager.
Entering Wednesday, Castro is batting .264, with 5 HR and 35 RBI.
By Jon Rapoport June 3, 2015
The 2015 Stanley Cup Final's presence in Tampa highlights what a major epicenter of sports the Central Florida region has become. Though the area has pro teams in all four major sports (3 in Tampa/St.
Celebrity:
Tiger Woods
Shaquille O'Neal
Derek Jeter
Mariano Rivera
Grant Hill
Vince Carter
Jon Gruden
2015 Stanley Cup Final
By Ryan Rapoport June 2, 2015
Manny Mota is a former Major League Baseball player/current Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster for SportsNet LA. Mota played for 4 teams from 1962-1980, officially finishing his playing career, after a brief comeback in 1982. Mota played his final 13 seasons with the Dodgers, also serving as a coach from 1980-2013, before becoming a commentator in 2013. The 1973 All-Star was a member of the coaching staffs for the 1981 and 1988 LA World Series winning teams.
By Lance Martinez May 28, 2015
Early in the baseball season, I sat down with legendary Detroit Tigers 2B Lou Whitaker for an exclusive interview. The conversation took place at Taylor Town Trade Center, in the Detroit suburb of Taylor, Michigan. Whitaker was in attendance for an autograph signing event.
By Ryan Rapoport May 21, 2015
Steve Garvey is one of the most popular Los Angeles Dodgers players, dating back to when the team moved west for the 1958 season. Garvey, who spent most of his career at 1B, was part of many great Dodger clubs in the 1970's and early 1980's, helping LA to four World Series appearances (1974,1977,1978,1981), with a World Series victory in 1981.
By Ryan Rapoport May 12, 2015
Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer, originally a catcher, is considered one of the best hitting catchers in MLB history and was once considered one of the game's best present-day hitters. Mauer, the 2009 AL MVP, is a three-time AL batting champion and three-time Gold Glove winner, who received all of his honors while playing behind the plate. The St. Paul, Minnesota native is easily the most famous Twins player of this generation.
By Jon Rapoport May 6, 2015
While the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw is widely considered the best pitcher in the National League, it can easily be argued that the title of the best hurler in the American League belongs to the Mariners Felix Hernandez.
Thus far in 2015, Hernandez is 5-0, while boasting a 1.73 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. Already in his 11th season, the 29-year-old's career record stands at 130-92, with a 3.05 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Monday night, Hernandez dazzled against the Angels, allowing 1 run and 6 hits over 7 innings.
By Jon Rapoport May 6, 2015
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Danny Farquhar is pitching in his third full Big League season. After a brief stint with the Blue Jays in 2011, the South Florida native has found a home in Washington State, appearing in 124 games out of the bullpen, since his arrival in 2013.
By Jon Rapoport May 6, 2015
Sunday, Seattle CF Austin Jackson suffered a sprained ankle, while running to 1B. The former Tiger, who has struggled in his first full season with the Mariners, has since been placed on the 15-day Disabled List.
Tuesday, iFolloSports.com spotted the injured speedster, as he made his way onto the M's charter bus, outside The Westin South Coast Plaza, in Costa Mesa, California.
By Ryan Rapoport May 4, 2015
Torii Hunter is the longtime MLB outfielder and current member of the Minnesota Twins. Hunter, now in his 19th season, has played for 3 teams, after initially starring in Minnesota from 1997-2007. The Pine Bluff, Arkansas native's résumé includes 5 All-Star selections and 9 Gold Gloves.
Last winter, Hunter, who is one of the most popular Twins players of the last 20 years, re-signed with the team, coming home to potentially conclude his career in the place that it first began.
By Jon Rapoport April 24, 2015
Celebrity:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Texas Rangers
Josh Hamilton
By Ryan Rapoport April 20, 2015
Paul Wight, more commonly known as the Big Show, is a very prominent professional wrestler. The Big Show debuted in the old WCW in 1995, before joining the WWE in 1999. The now 43-year-old has been a champion 23 times during his career, 5 in WCW and 18 as part of Vince McMahon's circuit (2-time World Heavyweight Champion).
The South Carolina native is a larger than life figure, standing 7 feet tall and weighing an incredible 455 pounds.
Pages