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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-news-randy-arozarena-career-milestone-hr-vs-royals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Randy Arozarena hits career milestone with HR vs. Royals');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Randy-Arozarena.jpg"></figure><h1>Randy Arozarena hits career milestone with HR vs. Royals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T20:58:14-07:00">June 30th, 8:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T21:15:28-07:00">June 30th, 9:15pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When the Seattle Mariners hit a milestone home run in 2025, thoughts immediately turn to Cal Raleigh. The Gold Glove catcher <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-news-cal-raleigh-adds-mlb-home-run-record-32nd-blast">leads the majors with 32 homers</a> this season. But in Monday’s matchup against the Kansas City Royals, Randy Arozarena grabbed the spotlight.</p><p>The All-Star outfielder <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1939876136651301200" rel="noopener">left the yard</a> in the fourth inning, hitting his 100th career home run, per MLB.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">100 career home runs for Randy Arozarena 💪 <a href="https://t.co/MSfgKFToZH">pic.twitter.com/MSfgKFToZH</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1939876136651301200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Arozarena jumped on the first pitch of the at-bat, blasting a Michael Wacha cutter 395 feet to right center. It was his ninth homer of the season and the 100th of his seven-year career.</p><p>But Arozarena wasn’t done yet. He added to his impressive career total the following inning, crushing a 94 mph four-seamer 401 feet to center. The three-run bomb gave the Mariners a 5-1 lead over Kansas City.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Randy Arozarena, again … His second of the game, after crushing career No. 100 earlier tonight.</p><p>Exit velo: 106.0 mph<br>Launch angle: 25°<br>Distance: 401 ft.<br>Hang time: 4.9 seconds <a href="https://t.co/OLcJLw0uU3">pic.twitter.com/OLcJLw0uU3</a></p><p>— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DKramer_/status/1939881678841028622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Randy Arozarena reaches 100 home runs in multi-homer game for Mariners</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Randy-Arozarena-2.jpg"><figcaption>Steven Bisig-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Seattle <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-news-seattle-trades-for-rays-star-randy-arozarena-in-bombshell-move">acquired Arozarena in a trade</a> with the Tampa Bay Rays at the deadline last season. The team had hoped the addition would spark the Mariners’ struggling offense and help with a second-half playoff push. That didn’t materialize as Seattle missed the postseason for the second straight year.</p><p>Arozarena hasn’t put up eye-popping stats with the Mariners. But with his two-homer game, he’s now on pace for his fourth consecutive 20/20 season as he’s up to 10 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 2025. He entered Monday’s contest slashing .244/.358/.416 with a 122 OPS+ and 2.7 bWAR in 81 games.</p><p>While Arozarena has contributed solid stats, the Mariners’ offense in 2025 revolves around their switch-hitting catcher. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-news-cal-raleigh-drops-humble-admission-after-joining-legendary-list">Raleigh joined elite company</a> with his power surge in the first half of the season. He leads the majors in home runs and RBI while adding Gold Glove-caliber defense behind the plate.</p><p>However, Seattle’s pitching has been a disappointment this year. While the rotation was the team’s biggest strength in 2024, several key starters have dealt with injuries this season.</p><p>The Mariners did get a strong outing from George Kirby on Monday. He allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts over six innings of work. The fourth-year veteran was an All-Star and Cy Young candidate in his breakout 2023 campaign and turned in another strong performance last year. But <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-news-seattle-major-george-kirby-injury-update">Kirby began the 2025 season on the injured list</a> with shoulder inflammation and didn’t make his debut until May 22.</p><p>The Mariners have gone 10-6 over the last 16 games heading into the series opener against the Royals. However, the Houston Astros have once again taken control of the AL West, building a 6.5 game lead over Seattle in the division.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Randy Arozarena hits career milestone with HR vs. Royals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-freddie-freeman-seals-win-royals-web-gem');   ga('set', 'title', 'Freddie Freeman seals win over Royals with web gem at 1st base');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Freddie-Freeman_06d174.jpg"></figure><h1>Freddie Freeman seals win over Royals with web gem at 1st base</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T22:03:33-07:00">June 27th, 10:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T22:12:55-07:00">June 27th, 10:12pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers relied on their trio of MVP winners to edge out the Kansas City Royals Friday. Reigning NL MVP <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-makes-royals-pay-leadoff-hr">Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a home run</a> – his league-high 29th bomb of the season. Ohtani later tied the game with a fifth inning RBI triple before scoring the go-ahead run on a base hit by 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts.</p><p>The score remained 5-4 when the Royals threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning. But the Dodgers <a href="https://x.com/Dodgers/status/1938796421043429534?t=ays-RrnhKGvZ50420Vd8uQ&amp;s=19" rel="noopener">got out of a jam</a> thanks to a spectacular defensive play by 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"FREDDIE FREEMAN SAVES THE DAY!" <a href="https://t.co/GTcoxckdG7">pic.twitter.com/GTcoxckdG7</a></p><p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1938796421043429534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>LA reliever Tanner Scott was facing rookie right fielder Jac Caglianone with the bases loaded and one out. Caglianone swung at the first pitch he saw, slapping a grounder to second baseman Tommy Edman. Edman flipped the ball to Betts, who stepped on second and fired over to first base where Freeman made an incredible pick on the short hop to complete the game-ending double play.</p><h2><b>Dodgers’ MVPs lead LA to victory</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Freddie-Freeman-2.jpg"><figcaption>Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Freeman has cooled off at the plate this month as he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-freddie-freeman-dishes-truth-quad-injury-concern">deals with a quad injury</a>. After an incredible May, during which he slashed .410/.462/.638 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI, he’s down to .182/.258/.227 with no homers and 4 RBI in 23 June games.</p><p>However, he’s still batting .305 on the season with an .867 OPS. And Freeman is one of the Dodgers’ most important veteran leaders, who always seems to come through in the clutch, evidenced by his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-freddie-freeman-reaction-world-series-mvp-award">MVP-winning World Series performance</a>.</p><p>Non-former MVP Max Muncy continued his offensive onslaught in the series opener against the Royals. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-max-muncy-hot-streak-alive-4th-hr-4-days">Muncy hit his fourth home run in four games</a> Friday. The Dodgers third baseman has 15 RBI during his four-game power binge.</p><p>With the victory over Kansas City, the Dodgers extended their winning streak to five straight games. LA has gone 11-2 since the San Francisco Giants moved into a first-place tie in the NL West on June 13. The Dodgers are now 21 games over .500 and have a 6.5 game lead in the division.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Freddie Freeman seals win over Royals with web gem at 1st base

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-max-muncy-hot-streak-alive-4th-hr-4-days');   ga('set', 'title', 'Max Muncy keeps hot streak alive with 4th HR in 4 days');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Max-Muncy_913ec6.jpg"></figure><h1>Max Muncy keeps hot streak alive with 4th HR in 4 days</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T19:12:42-07:00">June 27th, 7:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T19:27:58-07:00">June 27th, 7:27pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers kept their winning streak going against the Colorado Rockies. Los Angeles swept Colorado, outscoring the team 20-9 in the three-game series. And, despite the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup, Max Muncy stole the spotlight with his recent offensive eruption. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-max-muncy-dazzles-2nd-grand-slam-3-games">Muncy hit his second grand slam in three games</a> on Wednesday, driving in 6 runs. In LA’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals, the veteran third baseman was <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1938759312991756745" rel="noopener">at it again</a>.</p><p>Muncy hit a home run in his first at-bat against the Royals Friday, going deep for the fourth time in his last four games, per MLB.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Max Muncy clubs his 4th homer in his last 4 games! <a href="https://t.co/pdHW22Rx7o">pic.twitter.com/pdHW22Rx7o</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1938759312991756745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Batting in the second inning, Muncy worked the count in his favor before hammering a 3-1 four-seamer from Royals starter Noah Cameron to deep center. The 424-foot bomb is Muncy’s 13th on the season and his fourth in four contests. He now has 15 RBI in that span as well, bringing his season total to 53.</p><h2><b>Max Muncy continues crazy power surge for Dodgers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Max-Muncy-3.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-max-muncy-replicates-bonkers-mlb-feat-last-done-in-1951">Muncy’s offensive production has come in bunches</a> this season. But he’s been fantastic in June. The two-time All-Star entered Friday’s matchup slashing a scorching .328/.459/.642 in 22 games this month. After his second inning fireworks against the Royals, he has 7 home runs, 22 RBI and 20 runs scored in June.</p><p>That production would put him on a 162-game pace for 45 homers, 150 RBI and 142 runs scored. And the Dodgers have Muncy batting eighth in the lineup on Friday – a testament to the ridiculous collection of talent in LA.</p><p>And speaking of ridiculous talent, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-makes-royals-pay-leadoff-hr">Shohei Ohtani started off the game with a leadoff home run</a>. Ohtani passed Aaron Judge with his National League-leading 29th dinger of the season. He also hit his seventh triple of the year, picked up two more RBI and scored two runs. And it’s only the sixth inning.</p><p>The Dodgers entered the Royals series having won 10 of their last 12 games and four straight. The hot streak allowed LA to retake control of the NL West after the San Francisco Giants tied the Dodgers for first place on June 13. Los Angeles now has a six game lead in the division.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Max Muncy keeps hot streak alive with 4th HR in 4 days

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-rumors-trade-offer-kris-bubic');   ga('set', 'title', 'The trade offer that could make Royals ‘consider’ dealing Kris Bubic');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kris-Bubic.jpg"><figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff -Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The trade offer that could make Royals ‘consider’ dealing Kris Bubic</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T10:12:39-07:00">June 27th, 10:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T10:12:39-07:00">June 27th, 10:12am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Kansas City Royals have much to consider regarding pitcher Kris Bubic. In addition to other <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/3-royals-who-must-be-on-trade-block-ahead-of-2025-deadline">Royals pitchers on the trading block</a>, Bubic could join them before the July 31st deadline.</p><p>MLB Network insider Jon Morosi hints that the Royals <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/1938306980205969412" rel="noopener">could take a chance</a> and give up Bubic if they could get some offense out of it. Even though he doesn’t foresee Bubic getting traded.</p><p>“I don’t believe Bubic is getting traded, he said.” But I will say this, the Royals have lost four in a row. Their pitching overall is quite good. Bubic, importantly, is under control for one more year at a very reasonable number.”</p><p>However, he had his little caveat.</p><p>“If the Royals could get 2 impactful young bats, I think this is something they’d at least have to consider,” Morosi said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"If the Royals could get 2 impactful young bats, I think this is something they'd at least have to consider."</p><p>– <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonmorosi</a> on if Kansas City would be open to trading Kris Bubic ahead of the Deadline <a href="https://t.co/zrO3Be04jX">pic.twitter.com/zrO3Be04jX</a></p><p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1938306980205969412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Bubic is in a unique situation. On the one hand, he’s have a solid season with a 6-5 record, 2.18 ERA, and 96 strikeouts. On the other hand, Bubic is under a one year contract with the Royals set to expire at the end of the season.</p><p>In addition, he’s eligible for arbitration in 2026 and can be a free agent in 2027.</p><p>As a result, the Royals don’t have total control over him and could trade him. Meanwhile the Royals are 38-43, fourth place in the American League Central Division.</p><p>They are also in the midst of a four game losing streak. On Friday, they take on the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a three game series.</p><h2><b>Who could the Royals get for Kris Bubic?</b></h2><p>Aside from the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-maikel-garcia-vinnie-pasquantino-homers-white-sox">dynamic duo of Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino</a>, the Royals offense have struggled as of late.</p><p>Even though they bring the power, others are not stepping up. In addition, the Royals are having difficulty consistently getting on base.</p><p>Their on-base percentage is .298, ranked 26th in the MLB. In terms of offensive weapons, Kansas City could <a href="https://royalsreporter.com/2025/06/12/four-hitters-who-could-be-interesting-trade-targets-for-the-royals/" rel="noopener">look at</a> a few notable players if they trade Bubic.</p><p>Among them include JJ Bleday, Mike Tauchman, Mickey Moniak, or Jesus Sanchez, per the Royals Reporter.</p><p>Each of whom have shown stints of consistency and power at the plate.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The trade offer that could make Royals ‘consider’ dealing Kris Bubic

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-all-star-retirement-decision');   ga('set', 'title', 'Former Royals All-Star explains recent retirement decision');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Whit-Merrifield-with-the-Royals.jpg"><figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Former Royals All-Star explains recent retirement decision</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T07:47:08-07:00">June 27th, 7:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T07:53:45-07:00">June 27th, 7:53am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After nine seasons, former Kansas City Royals infielder <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-news-whit-merrifield-retires-nine-seasons">Whit Merrifield announced his retirement</a> on Tuesday.</p><p>Two days later, Merrifield <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1938380881489547712" rel="noopener">made clear his reasoning</a> behind his decision, per the Foul Territory podcast.</p><p>Merrifield stated that his production on the field, combined with his desire to be with his family, influenced his decision.</p><p>“I really have known that retirement was gonna be in the cards since playing last year, “he said. “It wasn’t the same for me. My wife and I’s first child was born in March during right in the middle of spring training last year. Just playing the year, I kind of wrote in my little spiel I was asked to put out. I’m not good enough to show up and play and there had to be a lot that went into it for me to be successful.”</p><p>In addition, Merrifield said the game was moving beyond him, but he is more than content.</p><p>“The game is trending in a way that’s going away from players like myself, which is fine, games evolve, and the way games are played and viewed evolve,” Merrifeld said. “That evolution, unfortunately, wasn’t good for me, but it’s good for the game, I think. So I’m happy to be on this side now and don’t have to worry about a scouting report; all I got to worry about is who we’re talking to and what I’m talking to you guys about. I don’t have to worry about sliders or two steams or splitters or anything like that.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hear from the man himself on why he decided to hang 'em up after nine seasons in The Show. <a href="https://t.co/IzhNSBrDI0">pic.twitter.com/IzhNSBrDI0</a></p><p>— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1938380881489547712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Whit Merrifield’s time with the Royals </b></h2><p>Merrifield played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves. While with the Phillies, he had a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-retiring-whit-merrifield-hilarious-take-philly-tenure">admittedly underperforming time</a>.</p><p>He played for the Royals from 2016-2022. While there, Merrifield played second base and became a fan favorite.</p><p>He made two out of his three All-Star appearances with the Royals (2019, 2021).</p><p>Consequently, he set a record for playing 553 consecutive games from June 2018 to July 2022. In addition, Merrifield became the 14th player in franchise history to achieve 1,000 hits.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Former Royals All-Star explains recent retirement decision

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-retiring-whit-merrifield-hilarious-take-philly-tenure');   ga('set', 'title', 'Retiring Whit Merrifield drops hilarious take on Phillies tenure');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Whit-Merrifield-as-a-member-of-the-Phillies.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Retiring Whit Merrifield drops hilarious take on Phillies tenure</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-24T15:37:59-07:00">June 24th, 3:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-24T15:37:59-07:00">June 24th, 3:37pm</time><address><a>Russell Steinberg</a>Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Three-time All-Star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-news-whit-merrifield-retires-nine-seasons">Whit Merrifield announced his retirement</a> on Tuesday, and on his way out the door, he took time to thank Philadelphia Phillies fans in the most hilarious way possible.</p><p>Merrifield played for the Phillies in 2024, hitting just .199 with a .572 OPS <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-make-whit-merrifield-roster-decision">before the team released him</a> and he caught on with the Atlanta Braves.</p><p>“Philly, I liked you way more than you liked me,” he wrote in his goodbye post on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLTEI7iypHX/" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>. “Sorry I stunk for you.”</p><p>Merrifield was slightly better for Atlanta, where he hit .248 with a pedestrian .648 OPS. He became a free agent at the end of last season and did not sign with a team over the winter.</p><p>“Since I’ve not had some time away from the game, I’ve had a chance to reflect on my individual career for the first time in my life,” Merrifield wrote. “I’m proud of myself. The toughness I developed and the things I was able to accomplish, nobody outside of my camp thought possible. I spent a lot of energy proving people wrong but my real joy came from proving my small circle of believers right.”</p><h2><b>Ex Phillies OF Whit Merrifield made his name with the Royals</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Whit-Merrifield-with-the-Royals.jpg"><figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While Merrifield’s time in the National League East didn’t go so well, he was one of the best hitters in the American League from 2017 to 2021. He <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/ex-royals-all-star-blasts-jac-caglianone-roster-move-criticism">came up with the Kansas City Royals</a> and led the AL in hits in 2018 and 2019. He also led the league in stolen bases in 2017, 2018 and 2021.</p><p>Two of Merrifield’s three All-Star nods came as a member of the Royals and he finished his time in the City of Fountains seventh in franchise history in steals (174) with a .286 average in that time.</p><p>The Royals then traded Merrifield to the Toronto Blue Jays midway through the 2022 season where he was a member of two Blue Jays playoff teams.</p><p>“I was so privileged and blessed to have played in the cities I played in,” Merrifield wrote. “KC, you became a second home to my family and I. Toronto, playing for an entire country was an honour I’ll never forget.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Retiring Whit Merrifield drops hilarious take on Phillies tenure

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-bobby-witt-jr-al-central-rival-praise-jose-ramirez');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bobby Witt Jr. gives AL Central rival eye-opening praise');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Bobby-Witt-Jr-and-Jose-Ramirez.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bobby Witt Jr. gives AL Central rival eye-opening praise</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-24T09:45:37-07:00">June 24th, 9:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-24T09:45:37-07:00">June 24th, 9:45am</time><address><a>Russell Steinberg</a>Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cleveland Guardians</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Reigning American League <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-bobby-witt-jr-fix-mlb">batting champion Bobby Witt Jr.</a> is well aware that his Kansas City Royals are chasing the Cleveland Guardians, both in the AL Central and in the Wild Card race. That didn’t stop him from giving credit where it’s due.</p><p>When reporter Chris Henderson asked him the ideal infield he would like to play with — and Witt himself excluded his own teammates from the discussion — Jose Ramirez was the <a href="https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1937532700757492027" rel="noopener">first name he mentioned</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bobby Witt Jr. names the ideal infield he’d like to play with, no teammates allowed</p><p>C: Cal Raleigh<br>1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<br>2B: Brendan Donovan<br>3B: Jose Ramirez</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/See_Hendo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@See_Hendo</a>) <a href="https://t.co/TbuRYZRfkl">pic.twitter.com/TbuRYZRfkl</a></p><p>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1937532700757492027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I like the way Jose Ramirez plays the game,” Witt said. “Hate we’re always playing against him but he plays the game the right way, plays hard. He’s an All-Star but he’s a little underrated All-Star.”</p><p>Ramirez, now in his 13th season in the Majors, all with Cleveland, has long had the reputation of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/cleveland-guardians/guardians-news-jose-ramirez-mlb-era-history-incredible-2025-season">underrated superstar</a>. He has twice led the league in doubles and hit for an OPS of .900 or better three times. The six-time All-Star has also won five Silver Sluggers. He still hasn’t captured that elusive MVP award, but has finished in the top three in voting three times.</p><p>So far this season, he is hitting .323 with a .910 OPS and 13 home runs.</p><h2><b>Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. goes around the infield</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mariners-catcher-Cal-Raleigh.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With Witt manning shortstop in his ideal infield and Ramirez at third base, he went on to name the rest of his fantasy team. Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners catcher who is on pace to break Aaron Judge’s American League home run record, got the nod behind the plate.</p><p>“He plays the game the right way, he plays hard, I love the guy,” Witt said.</p><p>Through 77 games, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/mariners-news-cal-raleigh-adds-mlb-home-run-record-32nd-blast">Raleigh has hit 32 home runs</a>, putting him on pace for 67 long balls, well ahead of pace compared to Judge’s 62.</p><p>At first base, Witt went with the Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is pacing toward his fifth consecutive All-Star selection. He agreed to a 14-year extension with the Jays in April, keeping him off the free agent market, likely for the rest of his career.</p><p>Finally at second, Witt chose another rival — this time from across the state. He chose Brendan Donovan, the St. Louis Cardinals infielder who is having the best year of his career so far. In 71 games the 28-year-old is hitting .307 with an .812 OPS and a strikeout rate of only 13.6%.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bobby Witt Jr. gives AL Central rival eye-opening praise

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/3-royals-who-must-be-on-trade-block-ahead-of-2025-deadline');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Royals who must be on trade block ahead of 2025 deadline');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Royals-who-must-be-on-trade-block-ahead-of-2025-deadline.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Royals who must be on trade block ahead of 2025 deadline</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-23T08:50:52-07:00">June 23rd, 8:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-23T08:51:27-07:00">June 23rd, 8:51am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A .500 record in late June has the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/royals-news-all-star-concerning-injury-update">Kansas City Royals</a> reconsidering their approach to the 2025 trade deadline. After a breakout 2024 and high expectations for this season, the Royals’ offense has sputtered, and their outfield production ranks among the league’s worst. With a crowded roster and a farm system flush with catching prospects, Kansas City must weigh the value of moving established big-leaguers to address glaring needs and keep their postseason hopes alive. Here are three Royals on the active roster who must be on the trade block ahead of the 2025 deadline.</p><h2>Seth Lugo</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/seth-lugo-mark-canha-and-kyle-isbel.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Seth Lugo has been a workhorse for the Royals’ rotation, providing innings and stability amid a season of offensive inconsistency. At 35, Lugo remains effective, but his value to a contender in need of starting pitching could outweigh his importance to a Royals team hovering around .500. With Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans, and Michael Lorenzen also in the rotation, the Royals have enough depth to withstand Lugo’s departure, especially if they receive a major-league-ready bat or high-upside prospect in return.</p><p>Lugo’s contract is manageable, and his ability to pitch deep into games makes him an attractive target for teams seeking rotation reinforcements for a playoff push. For Kansas City, trading Lugo could be the key to landing the middle-of-the-order power bat they desperately need, as their offense ranks near the bottom of the league in home runs and wRC+. Lugo’s postseason experience and steady performance would command a strong return, giving the Royals a chance to address their most urgent weaknesses without fully sacrificing their competitive aspirations.</p><h2>Mark Canha</h2><p>Mark Canha was signed to provide veteran stability and a right-handed bat for the Royals’ outfield, but his impact has been modest. Now 36, Canha’s contract is affordable, and his track record as a disciplined hitter with occasional power still holds appeal for contenders seeking outfield depth and leadership. With Jac Caglianone’s emergence and the club’s commitment to giving younger players more opportunities, Canha’s role has diminished, making him a logical trade candidate.</p><p>Moving Canha would allow Kansas City to clear a roster spot for a younger, more dynamic outfielder while recouping value from a player whose skill set is coveted by playoff-bound teams. His ability to play both corner outfield spots, get on base, and provide a professional at-bat makes him a fit for clubs with injury issues or a need for veteran presence in the clubhouse. The Royals could target a controllable reliever or a prospect with upside, helping to shore up their own bullpen or add organizational depth. Trading Canha now, while he’s healthy and productive, maximizes the return and aligns with the club’s long-term vision.</p><h2>Kyle Isbel</h2><p>Kyle Isbel’s elite defense in center field has been a bright spot for the Royals, but his offensive production has failed to develop as hoped. At 28, Isbel is entering his prime and remains affordable, making him a prime candidate for teams looking for a glove-first outfielder with some offensive upside. With Drew Waters and John Rave also vying for outfield time and the Royals actively seeking a corner outfield upgrade, Isbel’s future in Kansas City is uncertain.</p><p>Trading Isbel would allow the Royals to pivot toward a more offense-oriented outfield while capitalizing on his value as a defensive specialist. His speed, range, and ability to play all three outfield spots make him a fit for contenders needing late-inning defense or a platoon option. The Royals could look to package Isbel in a deal for a power-hitting corner outfielder or as part of a larger trade to bring in multiple pieces. Moving Isbel now, while his defensive metrics are strong and his contract is team-friendly, could help Kansas City address their offensive woes and balance their roster for the stretch run.</p><p>With the 2025 trade deadline looming, the Royals must be proactive in reshaping their roster to address glaring weaknesses and position themselves for sustained success. Mark Canha, Seth Lugo, and Kyle Isbel are three active roster players whose value on the open market could help Kansas City acquire the impact bat or pitching depth they desperately need. By making tough decisions and leveraging their assets, the Royals can remain competitive this season while building a stronger foundation for the future.</p><p>By acting decisively at the deadline, the Royals can send a clear message to their clubhouse and fanbase that they are committed to both short-term competitiveness and long-term growth. Whether these moves lead to an immediate playoff push or set the stage for future contention, the 2025 deadline will be pivotal in shaping the next era of Royals baseball.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Royals who must be on trade block ahead of 2025 deadline

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-diego-padres/padres-news-fernando-tatis-smashes-107-9-mph-bomb-royals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Fernando Tatis Jr. smashes crucial 107.9 MPH bomb vs. Royals');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fernando-Tatis.jpg"></figure><h1>Fernando Tatis Jr. smashes crucial 107.9 MPH bomb vs. Royals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-21T20:48:56-07:00">June 21st, 8:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-21T21:05:02-07:00">June 21st, 9:05pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite capping off a wild four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-3 win Friday, the San Diego Padres left LA feeling bitter. Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was plunked by the Dodgers for the third time this season. And although the two-time All-Star’s X-rays were negative, teammate <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-diego-padres/padres-news-manny-machado-sends-warning-after-fernando-tatis-jr-injury">Manny Machado warned the Dodgers “better pray”</a> his imaging results are clean.</p><p>Apparently Tatis isn’t feeling any ill effects from the beaning as he remained in the Padres lineup for the series opener against the Kansas City Royals Friday. And in Game 2 he <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1936596455902376118" rel="noopener">blasted</a> a three-run homer that left his bat at a blistering 107.9 mph, per MLB on X.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Turned on and DEMOLISHED!</p><p>Fernando Tatis Jr. belts this 3-run homer 107.9 MPH 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/2WtPjPcBtA">pic.twitter.com/2WtPjPcBtA</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1936596455902376118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Stepping in against Royals reliever Taylor Clarke with two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Tatis turned on a 95 mph sinker, belting it 380 feet to left center. The three-run shot gave the Padres some breathing room, extending San Diego’s lead to 5-1.</p><h2><b>Padres’ star Fernando Tatis Jr. busts out of slump with 3-run bomb</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Fernando-Tatis2.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Tatis entered Saturday’s matchup in a bit of a slump. He had gone just 2-17 over his last five games and hadn’t had an extra-base hit since June 15. Tatis last homered on May 27 against the Miami Marlins – a 22-game drought.</p><p>But the sixth-year veteran busted out of his slump against Kansas City, leading the Padres to a much-needed win. Tatis now has 14 home runs, 34 RBI and 56 runs scored on the season. He’s hitting .268 with an .818 OPS and 3.3 bWAR in 74 games.</p><p>Despite the 5-1 win over the Royals, the Padres have lost seven of the last 10 games, including three of four contests to the Dodgers. San Diego is now 5.5 games back in the NL West.</p><p>The latest chapter in the Padres’ heated rivalry with the Dodgers added to the animosity between the divisional foes. With San Diego up 5-0 in the series finale, Tatis got hit by a 93 mph four-seamer that ran in on his hands. Tempers flared as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-fernando-tatis-jr-shohei-ohtani-pelted-managers-go-at-it-padres-dodgers-clash">Mike Shildt and Dave Roberts went at it</a>, leading to the benches clearing.</p><p>Order was restored but the drama didn’t end there. San Diego retaliated in the bottom of the ninth, plunking Shohei Ohtani with a 99 mph fastball that caught him flush on the thigh.</p><p>The two teams don’t play each other again until the second half of the season when the Dodgers host the Padres for a three-game clash beginning August 15. It’s safe to assume players on both squads have that date circled on their calendars.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Fernando Tatis Jr. smashes crucial 107.9 MPH bomb vs. Royals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-bobby-witt-jr-fix-mlb');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bobby Witt Jr. ‘finds’ fix that will terrify MLB');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_26492782-scaled-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bobby Witt Jr. ‘finds’ fix that will terrify MLB</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-20T08:39:13-07:00">June 20th, 8:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-20T08:39:13-07:00">June 20th, 8:39am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Kansas City Royals have endured recent struggles, including a five-game losing streak. Infielder <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-bobby-witt-jr-honest-message-getting-shut-out-athletics">Bobby Witt Jr. was blunt</a> after a June 14 loss to the Athletics.</p><p>“We have to figure something out, he said, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. “We have to change something. So the time was now.”</p><p>Nevertheless, Witt is having a fairly decent season. He’s batting .285 with 83 hits, nine home runs, and 39 RBIs, along with an OPS of .830.</p><p>Good numbers, but pale in comparison to the numbers he put up last year.</p><p>In 2024, Witt batted .332 with 211 hits, 32 home runs, and 109 RBIs as well as an OPS of .977. He was in the hunt for the American League MVP before it was given to Aaron Judge.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/ranking-50-best-mlb-players-2025-season">Witt was named one of the 50 best MLB players</a> entering this season.</p><p>He entered Thursday’s game against the Texas Rangers 28% above the league average in OPS. Also, the Royals are ranked 29th in runs per game, just above the Pittsburgh Pirates.</p><p>However, Witt <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6439197/2025/06/20/mlb-trade-deadline-mets-white-sox-royals/" rel="noopener">is improving</a> thanks to a few techniques, per Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.</p><p>According to a team official, Witt’s been working with his hitting coaches as well as biomechanical experts to improve his hitting. Moreover, he’s made a crucial adjustment to hit the ball better.</p><p>Over the last four games, Witt is 7-for-15 at the plate, a batting average of .467. He’s added a home run and three doubles in the process.</p><p>On Thursday, he went 2 for 3, including a walk, as the Royals defeated the Rangers 4-1.</p><p>The Royals are 37-38 and are in 4th place in the American League Central Division.</p><h2><b>The value of Bobby Witt Jr. to the Royals</b></h2><p>Witt is<a href="https://motorcyclesports.net/bobby-witt-jr-reshapes-royals-strategy/"> considered to be</a> the face of the Royals. In February 2024, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/grading-bobby-witt-jr-massive-288-8-million-royals-extension">Witt signed a massive $288 million contract extension</a> with the franchise for 11 years.</p><p>He’s a consistent hitter who can hit for average and power. In addition, Witt is ubiquitous on the base paths.</p><p>In the field, he can play shortstop and third base and won a Gold Glove Award in 2024.  The hope for the Royals is to build the team around him for the future.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bobby Witt Jr. ‘finds’ fix that will terrify MLB

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-all-star-concerning-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Royals’ All-Star dealt concerning injury update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cole-Ragans.jpg"><figcaption> Jeff Curry-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Royals’ All-Star dealt concerning injury update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T21:07:10-07:00">June 19th, 9:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T21:07:10-07:00">June 19th, 9:07pm</time><address><a>Guillermo Guajardo</a>Guillermo Guajardo is a dynamic sports presenter with experience on various television channels and digital platforms, most recently with A Tiempo.TV. He is also a multidisciplinary artist with 10 years of experience in acting, directing, writing, and hosting. His work in film has been recognized at international festivals, earning awards for both his performances and directorial projects.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans will be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/royals-news-crucial-cole-ragans-roster-move">out of action</a> for at least another three weeks after being diagnosed with a mild rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder. The 27-year-old left-hander has been shut down from throwing and is expected to be re-evaluated in early July, according to the team.</p><p>Ragans first felt discomfort after his June 5 outing against the Cardinals, which was his first appearance following a previous stint on the injured list for a left groin strain. On June 11, the Royals officially placed him back on the IL, retroactive to June 8. A recent <a href="https://x.com/anne__rogers/status/1935463044638728652" rel="noopener">second medical opinion</a> confirmed the initial diagnosis: no surgery or injection is needed, just some good old-fashioned rest.</p><p>Even though he’s understandably frustrated about being sidelined again, Ragans is trying to stay positive and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-cole-ragans-shut-down-until-july-due-to-shoulder-injury" rel="noopener">focus on his recovery.</a> “It gives you little things to look forward to through it,” Ragans shared with MLB.com. “It still sucks. I want to be out there… but you can’t rush something like this.” The Royals are taking a cautious approach, aiming for his return sometime after the All-Star break.</p><p>Manager Matt Quatraro highlighted the silver lining in the situation. “No surgery. No injection. Just rest,” he said, reassuring that Ragans’ long-term outlook is still bright. In the meantime, the Royals will lean on a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/royals-news-kansas-city-pitching-staff-dealt-concerning-injury">mix of pitchers,</a> including rookie Noah Cameron, veteran Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha, to keep the rotation steady.</p><p>This marks Ragans’ second trip to the IL in 2025, interrupting a season where he<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2025/06/19/royals-ragans-will-be-shut-down-4-weeks-with-mild-rotator-cuff-strain/" rel="noopener"> has a 2-3 record</a> with a 5.18 ERA over 10 starts. Last year, he wrapped up the season with a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts across 31 games, earning his first All-Star nod and finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting. The Royals are hopeful he can return to that impressive form once he’s back on the mound.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Royals’ All-Star dealt concerning injury update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-what-jac-caglianone-said-hitting-first-career-home-run');   ga('set', 'title', 'What Royals’ Jac Caglianone said after hitting first career home run');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Royals-rookie-Jac-Caglianone-homers-in-Rangers-Globe-Life-Field.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>What Royals’ Jac Caglianone said after hitting first career home run</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T16:42:40-07:00">June 19th, 4:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T16:43:41-07:00">June 19th, 4:43pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Kansas City Royals</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Kansas City Royals (37-38) are finally gaining some solace in what has been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-bobby-witt-jr-honest-message-getting-shut-out-athletics">a miserable June overall</a>. They won consecutive games for the first time in almost a month on Wednesday, and on Thursday, the ballclub watched its top prospect reach a much-anticipated milestone. Rookie Jac Caglianone hit his first two MLB home runs in a 4-1 win versus the Texas Rangers, helping KC earn a desperately-needed series sweep in Globe Life Field.</p><p>The first dinger was particularly noteworthy, beyond the obvious reason. Caglianone went yard off left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz in the second inning, connecting on a fastball that was way above the strike zone and launching it 387 feet. He then tacked on a late insurance run in the ninth, belting a 439-foot homer.</p><p>Michael Wacha (allowed only one run on two hits in six innings pitched) and the bullpen did not require much run support, but the entire clubhouse was surely elated to see the young slugger emerge versus the Rangers.</p><p>Caglianone did <a href="https://x.com/_abigaiiiil/status/1935818123615035422" rel="noopener">not initially know how high</a> he actually swung to launch his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/kansas-city-royals/royals-news-watch-jac-caglianone-1st-career-home-run">first big-league blast</a>, surprising himself and everyone who watched the striking display of power. “I didn’t realize until I looked on video how far up I got {Lutz},” the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft told reporters after the victory, per Abby Jones of DLLS Sports.</p><p>The 22-year-old should take a nice, long exhale after his monster afternoon. “It’s something I tried not to think about, but as the days kind of kept climbing, I was conscious of it more and more. I just got a nice little relief right there.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jac Caglianone speaks on his first (and second) home run of his MLB career. </p><p>“I didn’t realize how far up I got [Jacob Latz]” <a href="https://t.co/0jM5taEOas">pic.twitter.com/0jM5taEOas</a></p><p>— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) <a href="https://twitter.com/_abigaiiiil/status/1935818123615035422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Can Jac Caglianone, Royals build on this productive outing?</b></h2><p>This is  a potentially crucial outing for both Jac Caglianone and the Royals. The player needed a confidence boost after batting just .196 with a .235 slugging percentage and 12 strikeouts in his first 52 plate appearances. Kansas City is starving for consistent offense, and outside of Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia and the surging Vinnie Pasquantino, who hit a two-run homer on Thursday, the lineup is scuffling.</p><p>While it is unfair to place such a big burden on a rookie’s shoulders, Caglianone could be a huge difference-maker if he continues to produce out of the batter’s box. The Royals do not want their rising talent to feel that level of pressure, though. They are hoping he just stays focused and composed after this possible breakthrough in Arlington.</p><p>KC finishes its road trip with an upcoming three-game set against the San Diego Padres (39-34), eager to get back to .500 after dropping six straight last week.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

What Royals’ Jac Caglianone said after hitting first career home run

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
54	5.50	18	1.33	3

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
54	5.50	18	1.33	3

Seth
Lugo

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