Penton: Raleigh the best baseball story of 2025
By Bruce Penton
We’ll worry about playoff teams and who will contend for the World Series as late September and October nears, but for now, here’s a look at six of the best Major League Baseball stories of 2025.
6. Just in case an argument breaks out, here's the truth: Shohei Ohtani is still the best player in baseball. Through the middle of August, the man thy call Showtime had belted 43 home runs, led the league in four or five categories, including OPS and slugging. And, oh yes, he’s back pitching after a year away from the mound, with 25 strikeouts in 19 innings as the Dodgers are easing their ace into full-time mound duty.
5. Red-hot teams — Toronto Blue Jays shocked the baseball world in June and July by winning 24 of 28 games and vaulting into first place in the A.L. East, practically guaranteeing them a playoff spot. But lately, Milwaukee Brewers have held the hottest hand, putting together two streaks of 10 or more consecutive victories. It’s the first time a team has accomplished that in six years.
4. Jen Pawol made MLB history by becoming the first female to umpire in a regular-season game. She was at first base for a Braves-Miami game on a Friday, at third base the next day and behind the plate on Sunday. She missed a couple, as all umps do, but her overall grade was positive. But what’s the big deal? NBA and NFL games have had female officials in the past and by now, it’s at the ho-hum stage.
3. Nick Kurtz of the Homeless Athletics (currently based in Sacramento until their new stadium in Las Vegas is completed) —Almost certainly to be named the American League rookie of the year, Kurtz stunned the baseball world on July 25 with four home runs, eight RBI, went 6-for-6 and finished with 19 total bases. It was an astonishing display of power for the 22-year-old 6-foot-5, 240-pound first baseman.
2. Who is Pete Crow-Armstrong and why is he such a big deal? He may be the most popular player of any sport in the city of Chicago (sorry, Connor Bedard). The second-year Cub centerfielder has speed, power and the most important ingredient when it comes to winning over fans — charisma. And a great name, to boot. Crow-Armstrong has a huge following on Instagram and a recent story on ESPN.com said “For a league in search of superstars, MLB sees Crow-Armstrong as the next big thing.” While his batting average is hovering in the .260 range, Crow-Armstrong displays power (27 homers) and speed (30 stolen bases.)
1. Cal Raleigh — The breakout champion of 2025. The Mariners’ catcher had never hit more than 34 homers in a season, but after 121 games, he had a majors’-leading 46 to his credit, plus 100 RBI He also won the mid-season Home Run Derby. The game’s best individual story for 2025. Raleigh’s bat has turned Seattle into a playoff-bound unit.
Headline at fark.com: “Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson cold-calls sports gossip podcast host regarding episode about her infamous appearance at Miss Maine pageant, proves very quickly she’s a certifiable mess.”
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, on the ‘massive mess’ in U.S. college football: “Fixing it is like trying to stop a tornado with a ‘no trespassing’ sign.”
RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Three byproducts of Dennis Shapavalov being driven by what the ATP website calls ‘puppy power:’ 3. His forehand will get unleashed; 2. He'll play with more dogged determination; 1. He can give his opponents "what fur.’”
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on the ‘oddity' of President Trump having former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor attend the official announcement of the Presidential Fitness Test: “Taylor’s past, of course, includes cocaine, tax evasion and a guilty plea to the statutory rape of a 16-year-old. Are Trump’s advisers all on vacation?”
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “A racehorse in Ohio tested positive for meth. They first suspected a problem when the horse wouldn't shut up about his screenplay.”
Retired QB Tim Tebow, reciting one of his favourite quotes: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Former MLB pitcher Jim Boutin: “Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?”
RJ Currie again: “Alica Schmidt, dubbed the world's sexiest athlete, has blamed COVID for her poor performance at the German national track and field championships. Trust me, COVID is a real Schmidt disturber.”
Headline at theonion.com: “Panicking NBC Realizes They Left Cris Collinsworth In Broadcast Booth All Offseason”
Another one from fark.com: “SF Giants manager Bob Melvin talks about how the team can pull out of its current mess. Surprisingly absent: Firing Bob Melvin.”
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