Baseball

Blue Jays use first choice to select left-hander Cole Carlon at No. 39 in MLB draft

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 5:43 PM CDT

PHILADELPHIA - The Toronto Blue Jays drafted left-hander Cole Carlon out of Arizona State University with the 39th pick of the first round in the MLB draft on Saturday.

The six-foot-five, 230-pound Carlon recently finished his junior season in the NCAA, where he made the move to being a starter after two years working as a reliever.

He was named an all-American as a reliever in his sophomore season.

Carlon, 21, had a 5-2 record across 16 starts this past season, with a 3.87 earned-run average and 133 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. The Tempe, Ariz., native was named to the all-Big 12 first team this season, his second career nod.

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Baseball

Blue Jays’ Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani’s rookie mark in 5-3 win over Padres

Bernie Wilson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Blue Jays’ Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani’s rookie mark in 5-3 win over Padres

Bernie Wilson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 1:03 AM CDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a season in the majors and lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Okamoto drove a tiebreaking, three-run shot into the left-field seats on a 95-m.p.h. sinker from reliever Jhony Brito with one out in the fifth.

Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels when he hit 22 in 2018.

"Obviously, you guys all know Shohei is an awesome player, he’s the unicorn. Being able to match that record, yeah, it’s awesome, but I just want to do my best so that I can get closer to his level kind of thing,” Okamoto said through translator Yusuke Oshima.

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Updated: 1:03 AM CDT

Baseball

Toronto Blue Jays' Brandon Valenzuela, right, puts a home run jacket on Kazuma Okamoto, left, after Okamoto hit a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 10, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Blue Jays’ Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani’s mark by a Japanese-born rookie

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Blue Jays’ Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani’s mark by a Japanese-born rookie

The Associated Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 11:41 PM CDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run Friday night to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a single season in the majors.

Okamoto homered into the seats in left on a 95-m.p.h. sinker from reliever Jhony Brito with one out in the fifth, a three-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 5-2 lead.

Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels when he hit 22 in 2018.

Ohtani, in his third season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit his 300th career homer Tuesday against Colorado's Michael Lorenzen to become the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach the milestone.

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Yesterday at 11:41 PM CDT

Baseball

Magic push for playoffs at U15 provincials

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:13 PM CDT

Chayse Paradis pitched a complete-game, one-hitter as the under-15 Westman Magic beat the Central Energy 9-1 at AAA provincials in Winnipeg on Friday.

Hayley Barkley had two hits and two runs, while Jessa Church and Georgia Koop picked up two RBI each.

Paradis struck out seven batters.

Westman dropped to 3-1 with a 7-0 loss to Eastman later in the day, managing just four hits while Wildcat Hannah Skrabek picked up a whopping 13 strikeouts in five innings.

Baseball

Manitoba drops to 1-2 at nationals

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:12 PM CDT

Team Manitoba lost 21-11 to Quebec 2 at the Baseball Canada women’s national championship in Winnipeg on Friday.

Manitoba, which includes Brandon’s Caitlan Nickel and Jasmine Horwood, Boissevain’s Ally Neufeld and Strathclair’s Amber Baker, blasted Saskatchewan 19-1 on Thursday night, after opening with a 10-0 loss to British Columbia.

The host province takes on Ontario 2 today at noon, with the winner securing a spot in the quarterfinals and the loser awaiting a tiebreaker as they’re in a three-way tie with Nova Scotia.

» The Brandon Sun

Baseball

Blue Jays acquire catcher Sprock from Twins in exchange for right-hander Nance

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays acquire catcher Sprock from Twins in exchange for right-hander Nance

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:31 PM CDT

TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired catcher Ryan Sprock from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for right-hander Tommy Nance and international signing bonus pool space.

Sprock has played 67 games between the Twins single-A affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla., and their high-A affiliate in Cedar Rapids, Ia., with a batting average of .297, 13 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 38 RBI.

The 21-year-old right-handed hitter was selected by the Twins in the eighth round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft out of Elon University.

He's batted .288 with 14 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 49 RBI over two seasons in the Twins system.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:31 PM CDT

Baseball

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to miss All-Star Game, next mound start because of left knee irritation

David Brandt, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to miss All-Star Game, next mound start because of left knee irritation

David Brandt, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:37 PM CDT

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will miss next week's All-Star Game in Philadelphia because of continued irritation in his left knee.

The Dodgers added that Ohtani would not make his scheduled start on the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, but would continue his role as the team's designated hitter throughout the weekend.

The team says that after the series against the D-backs ends on Sunday, Ohtani will have some “interventions” done on his knee to get his ready for the second half of the season, which will cause him to miss the All-Star Game.

The four-time Most Valuable Player has once again been one of the best players in the big leagues this season and stands alone as the game's premier two-way player.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:37 PM CDT

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Baseball

Blue Jays sluggers Jose Bautista, left, and Edwin Encarnacion celebrate scoring on a three-RBI double by Troy Tulowitzki during Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals in Toronto on Oct. 21, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Deadline adds, strong second half fuelled ’15 Jays to playoffs, can ’26 team do same?

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Deadline adds, strong second half fuelled ’15 Jays to playoffs, can ’26 team do same?

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Thursday, Jul. 9, 2026

TORONTO - The memorable 2015 Toronto Blue Jays team was in a similar position to the current squad as the trade deadline approached that year.

A roster that boasted franchise legends like Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion endured a mediocre first half before a strong 60-game run to end the season led to a division title and ended a 22-year playoff drought.

The 2026 Blue Jays are hoping to follow the same path back to the post-season this year. To do it, they'll need a big uptick in their offence and improved defensive play.

"I look at it on paper and I go, 'What do you do well every day?" Donaldson said of this year's squad. "There's not one thing to me that sticks out about this team."

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Thursday, Jul. 9, 2026

Baseball

Virden’s Hadley Robertson, shown throwing at the Wheat City Classic last month, can be a dominant pitcher on an under-15 Westman Magic team that has five chuckers. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
July 9, 2026

Deep U15 Magic look for consistency at provincials

Perry Bergson 6 minute read Preview

Deep U15 Magic look for consistency at provincials

Perry Bergson 6 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

The under-15 Westman Magic have an unusually deep squad this year, and will need contributions from all 12 players as they begin Softball Manitoba’s provincial championship today at Headingley’s John Blumberg Park.

Head coach Marc Lyver said the club has come a long way this season in part because everyone has the ability to be the hero on any given day.

“We talked about coming together as a team from day one and that would probably be our biggest improvement,” Lyver said. “There isn’t just one player, it’s been one through 12 all season. It’s been different from all the other groups I’ve ever coached. You usually have your top-end four or five but this group has been consistent from one to 12.

“Every day, somebody new comes to the plate and has a big hit or someone makes a big play in the field. It’s really good to see.”

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Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Baseball

Westmanites head to women’s baseball nationals

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Westmanites head to women’s baseball nationals

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Ally Neufeld is heading back to Baseball Canada nationals for the fourth straight summer, but this time she’s back in familiar colours.

The Boissevain native was disappointed Manitoba didn’t have a team in the women’s championship in Quebec City last year. Still, she found a way to compete by joining Team Nova Scotia.

Since the tournament is in Winnipeg — running today through Sunday — it was easier to put a squad together and return to the national stage.

“It’s so exciting, especially not having a team last year,” said Neufeld, who spent May to August 2025 playing in a women’s baseball league in Quebec.

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Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Baseball

Comets reflect on decade of growth

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Comets reflect on decade of growth

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

RIVERS — Stepping onto the Rivers diamond in a Comets uniform takes Mike McFadden back 10 years.

His body may disagree, with an arm that “isn’t what it used to be” and a repaired left Achilles tendon. But mentally, the longest-tenured member of the senior AA baseball team can’t imagine not stretching his playing days out as long as possible.

McFadden played in the Comets’ first game back in Rivers in 2016, and took a moment to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the return last weekend.

“I was here when this diamond was being constructed, so showing up to this ballpark and getting to play, I’ve seen the grass roots of it and take so much pride in this diamond and this team,” McFadden said.

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Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Baseball

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto, right, is congratulated by Ernie Clement (22) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease loses no-hit bid in 9th inning of 10-0 win over Giants

Steve Kroner, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease loses no-hit bid in 9th inning of 10-0 win over Giants

Steve Kroner, The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Toronto’s Dylan Cease worked eight no-hit innings against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday before allowing a single to Heliot Ramos leading off the ninth as the Blue Jays rolled to a 10-0 victory.

Cease (6-4) was pulled after Ramos’ clean line-drive single to center and got a standing ovation from the San Francisco crowd. The All-Star right-hander threw a career-high 118 pitches, 81 for strikes. Former Giants reliever Tyler Rogers got the final three outs on four pitches.

Cease struck out 11 to increase his American League-leading total to 148.

The 30-year-old Cease threw a no-hitter for the San Diego Padres at Washington on July 25, 2024. Eight days later, Blake Snell threw one for the Giants. Since then, there have been two combined no-hitters — including one in March by Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, Alimber Santa of the Houston Astros — but no pitcher has done it on his own.

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Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Baseball

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease, middle, reacts with shortstop Andrés Giménez, left, and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos hit a single during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease has bid for his 2nd career no-hitter broken up by Giants in 9th inning

Steve Kroner, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease has bid for his 2nd career no-hitter broken up by Giants in 9th inning

Steve Kroner, The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Wednesday before the Giants’ Heliot Ramos broke it up a line-drive single to center field.

Cease was lifted after Ramos’ hit and got a standing ovation from the San Francisco crowd. Tyler Rogers came on and got the last three outs on four pitches as the Blue Jays won 10-0.

The 30-year-old Cease threw a career-high 118 pitches, 81 for strikes, as he sought his second career no-hitter and the first solo no-hitter in the majors since 2024. The All-Star right-hander struck out 11 to increase his American League-leading total to 148.

Cease threw a no-hitter for the San Diego Padres at Washington on July 25, 2024. Eight days later, Blake Snell threw one for the Giants. Since then, there have been two combined no-hitters — including one in March by Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, Alimber Santa of the Houston Astros — but no pitcher has done it on his own as managers more frequently pull pitchers in the middle of hitless outings because of concern over pitch counts and players' health.

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Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Baseball

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos, left, slides home to score against Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Blue Jays whip Giants 9-3 as Clase hits first homer of season

Michael Wagaman, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Blue Jays whip Giants 9-3 as Clase hits first homer of season

Michael Wagaman, The Associated Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jonatan Clase hit his first home run of the season, Ernie Clement had three hits, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants 9-3 on Tuesday night.

Sean Keys drove in two runs during a five-run third inning to help the Blue Jays end a three-game skid. Clase, Keys and Brandon Valenzuela had two hits each.

Heliot Ramos and Luis Arraez had two hits apiece for the Giants.

Clase provided the biggest spark with his home run off Giants starter Trevor McDonald, a three-run shot in the second inning that came in Clase’s second at-bat since getting recalled from the minors on July 1.

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Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026

Baseball

Martine bolsters Cardinals lineup

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Martine bolsters Cardinals lineup

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026

JT Martine traded highway drives for line drives this summer.

For that, the Brandon Cardinals are grateful. The former Brandon Marlins AAA player, who spent the past two summers with the Pembina Valley Orioles of the Manitoba Junior Baseball League, has been a key piece of the Cardinals’ lineup all year.

He helped them finish second in the South West Baseball League’s South Division at 10-4, earning home-field advantage for the division semifinal series against the Deloraine Royals (8-6).

“Pembina Valley’s loss is our gain. He really enjoys ball and you can see the family loves baseball and practises all the time,” said veteran second baseman Chris Kennedy.

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Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026

Baseball

Brandon wins 11U provincial crown

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Brandon wins 11U provincial crown

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

Luke Kirkup and the Brandon Mariners couldn’t have imagined a better provincial championship Sunday.

Kirkup pitched his 11-and-under AA squad through a 7-3 semifinal victory over Mitchell, then recorded the game-ending double play to lead Brandon to a 5-1 triumph over Altona in the gold-medal game in Reston.

“It was their best hitter at bat. He had already hit a rocket to Luke earlier in the game. We had everybody playing deep,” said head coach Jonathan Kirkup.

“He hits a rocket to Luke again, and he makes the play. We were yelling at him just to get one out … getting the second out, it was a shock that it was over right then and there.

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Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

July 11, 2026

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