Lakers’ Rui Hachimura linked to 2 suitors in free agency
Two NBA teams are reportedly looking to pry Rui Hachimura away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the midst of a busy Lakers offseason, Hachimura has been viewed as the odd man out among L.A. free agents looking for a new contract. The 28-year-old played himself out of the Lakers’ price range with an outstanding playoff run that set him up for a big payday.
According to NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs are two teams that “have interest” in striking a deal with Hachimura.
The two potential landing spots could not be more different for Rui. In Brooklyn, the Japanese forward could become a top offensive option next to Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle. In San Antonio, Hachimura could latch onto a contender who could very well be in the Western Conference Finals throughout the duration of any pact he signs.
Veteran forward Harrison Barnes remains a free agent after losing his spot in the Spurs’ rotation last postseason. Hachimura could provide San Antonio with a younger, better version of Barnes should he decide to trade in his Tinsel Town address for one closer to the Alamo.
Hachimura isn’t the only Lakers veteran who could land a better deal elsewhere. The Purple and Gold could also lose Marcus Smart to another Texas team.
With Rob Pelinka committing big money to Austin Reaves, the cap crunch may very well force the Lakers to thin out its roster for the sake of salary flexibility going forward.
76ers rookie names 1 NBA star whose ankles he’s ready to break
One Philadelphia 76ers rookie is already calling his shot before ever setting foot on an NBA court.
Alabama product Labaron Philon, who went to the Sixers at 22nd overall, recently made some interesting comments during an interview for the NBA 2K League. Philon was asked which NBA player’s ankles he was prepared to break once he breaks into Nick Nurse’s rotation next season.
Rather than go with a safe answer by naming one of his peers, Philon genuinely answered the question and picked Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun.
“If it’s a superstar, Sengun,” Philon replied. “Sengun, for sure.”
“Like I said, I’d be on TikTok a lot. If you’re on there, they say he plays like he’s got a refrigerator on his back.”
Sixers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. says Alperen Sengun will be the first star whose ankles he breaks:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 27, 2026
“I be on TikTok a lot… they be saying he play like he got a refrigerator on his back.”
(via @NBA2KLeague) pic.twitter.com/6VVz6fzhDR
In the age of social media, there’s little doubt one of Sengun’s friends or teammates has already sent him Philon’s comments. Expect Sengun to be extra motivated on the defensive end when the Rockets take on the 76ers next season.
If Philon does get the better of Sengun, the clip above will almost certainly find its way back to the trending page.
Philon was widely projected to be a late lottery pick but fell all the way to the 76ers at 22. Perhaps his draft night freefall was partly caused by the fact that he apparently adopts some of his basketball opinions from TikTok.
Fans had questions about AJ Dybantsa’s first pitch with Red Sox
Baseball fans from the D.C. area probably won’t be smiling about AJ Dybantsa’s latest public appearance.
Dybantsa threw out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox home game Saturday against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. The Washington Wizards rookie threw a looping pitch to Mickey Gasper, then raised his hands in celebration as the Beantown crowd cheered.
AJ Dybansta threw the first pitch at the Boston Red Sox game today 💪
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 27, 2026
(via @mlb) pic.twitter.com/46X5ZRavV4
The clip spread across social media and left several fans confused. Many wondered why Dybantsa, who officially became a Wizard earlier this week, was throwing out the first pitch at a Red Sox game rather than at a Washington Nationals contest.
Why? Boston Celtics didnt draft him.
— Iceberg Thick! (@NaimTheDream) June 27, 2026
Why tf is he not in DC lol
— basement crew™ (@tweeto58) June 27, 2026
An embarrassment that the nationals couldn’t get him first, what are we doing? @Nationals
— Wigs (@WigsNBA) June 27, 2026
Dybantsa grew up in Brockton and started his high school hoops career at Saint Sebastian’s School in Needham, Mass. The former Massachusetts Boys’ Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year certainly has ties to the Boston area. But it’s still unusual that Dybantsa’s first pitch after being drafted by a Washington-based team came while wearing a Red Sox jersey rather than a Nationals one.
The BYU product is the Wizards’ most highly touted prospect since John Wall and joins a team that already has a foundation of veterans and young talent ready to compete for a postseason spot. His approval rating in the nation’s capital can probably withstand this for the time being.
D.C. sports fans can take solace in the likelihood that Dybantsa throws several first pitches with the Nats for years to come.
Braves signing former All-Star slugger
The Atlanta Braves are adding some veteran insurance heading into the second half of the season.
The Braves are reportedly signing first baseman Carlos Santana to a new deal. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Santana is joining Atlanta on a minor league deal.
Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a minor league contract, sources tell ESPN. Santana, 40, will head to Triple-A, where he provides insurance for Atlanta and can try to get back to the big leagues after being released by Arizona.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 28, 2026
Santana started the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks but played just eight games for the NL West team before suffering a right adductor injury. The D-Backs designated Santana for assignment earlier this week, which allowed the Braves to swoop in to sign him.
The 40-year-old struggled at the plate in the few games he played before injury. He went 2-for-24 with a double and a pair of walks in 26 plate appearances. His last game played was on April 5.
The Braves aren’t in dire need of help at first base with Matt Olson holding down that spot. But Atlanta could do far worse for a bench bat than Santana, who entered the year with double-digit home run tallies in every full season since 2011.
Dexter Lawrence has message for critics pointing out his low sack count
Dexter Lawrence sounds more than ready to quiet his doubters heading into next season.
The Cincinnati Bengals bet big on Lawrence when they traded for the 3-time Pro Bowler in April, acquiring him from the New York Giants for the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft. Some immediately questioned whether Lawrence was worth the price tag, pointing to Lawrence’s reduced production from the 2025 season.
Lawrence reportedly has a chip on his shoulder heading into next season, particularly with his non-existent sack output from the previous year. He only recorded half a sack in 17 games last season.
“I’m more managing it now because you can’t really beat up on other teams. So during the season you just let it go and you flow,” Lawrence said, via the Associated Post’s Joe Reedy.
“I know how I approach this game and my impact to the game, even when it doesn’t show up on the sack numbers.”
Sacks are far from the perfect metric when it comes to determining defensive impact for defensive linemen like Lawrence. But Bengals fans probably won’t be satisfied if Lawrence isn’t piling up sacks after giving up a first-round pick for his services.
The 28-year-old tallied 9.0 sacks across just 12 games in 2024. With Lawrence sounding more motivated than ever to prove the Bengals right, Cincinnati may get that version of Sexy Dexy come next season.
Sophie Cunningham explains her famous pointing meme
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham explained what she was trying to do in the meme that quickly took over the internet this week.
Cunningham became a viral sensation over a video of her pointing threateningly at Phoenix Mercury veteran DeWanna Bonner after an altercation on Monday (video here). On the latest edition of her “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham revealed she was trying to talk to the referee and ask why Bonner had not received a technical foul, but once she realized Bonner was annoyed by the gesture, she doubled down.
“I was just kind of pointing, and she was just like, ‘Don’t you point at me.’ And I was like, oh, shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t say a word,” Cunningham said. “So stupid. That is the stupidest thing I have ever done. I think it’s dumb. But it was pissing her off and I couldn’t help myself. She was losing her s–t and all I was doing was literally pointing.”
Sophie on her viral pointing meme:
— allison (@_girltalk) June 27, 2026
She asked why only CC got a tech and not DB… who didn’t like being pointed. Sophie said “oh you shouldn’t have said that” & continued to silently point at her.
“I think it’s dumb. But it was pissing her off, and I couldn’t help myself”
😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/PqrhKZ2tsX
The Cunningham memes have become fairly ubiquitous on social media thanks to the combination of the gesture and her facial expression while doing it. Not bad for something she was just trying to do to get under an opponent’s skin.
Cunningham has fully embraced her role as an agitator. The added attention that has come with it may not have been the goal, but she’s at least having fun with it.
Nikola Jokic considering intriguing decision about his Nuggets contract
Nikola Jokic is considering a rather risky move regarding his contract with the Denver Nuggets.
While Jokic is eligible to sign a new contract this summer, he is considering not doing so, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. That would open the door to Jokic potentially becoming a free agent in 2027.
Jokic made the same move last year, and it does not necessarily indicate that he wants to leave Denver. That said, any decision to leave his long-term future uncertain will undoubtedly invite speculation about whether the former MVP is fully committed to the Nuggets and still believes they can win a title.
By waiting until next summer, Jokic would be able to sign a long-term contract worth more overall money. The biggest reason for his delay, however, might simply be to allow the Nuggets a bit more wiggle room financially to build the team around him.
There have been no indications that Jokic is actively seeking to leave Denver. He made it clear at the end of the season, however, that he does not think the Nuggets are close to being a championship team at the moment.
Jokic is set to make just over $59 million this season. He has a player option for 2027-28, meaning his future would be firmly in his hands at that point if he does not sign a new deal this summer.
Jarren Duran has another altercation with a fan
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran got into a verbal altercation with a fan on Saturday, and not for the first time.
Reports suggested that Duran had to be pulled down the stairs and into the dugout during a confrontation with a fan during the eighth inning of Saturday’s win over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. While Duran said after the game that “nothing happened,” interim manager Chad Tracy admitted that a fan was “chirping” at Duran and that Red Sox players stepped in to diffuse the situation.
Jarren Duran seemed to verbally go at a fan in the eighth inning today.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) June 27, 2026
"Nothing happened," Duran said.
Chad Tracy: Fan was "chirping." "We grabbed [Duran] and got him down" the stairs.
Willson Contreras: "[Duran] was yelling, so I grabbed him" to try to diffuse situation.
Duran has a long history of getting into altercations with fans. On one occasion, the fan he confronted clearly crossed a line, but he seems to let more run-of-the-mill heckling get into his head as well. On one occasion, the language he used toward one fan actually got him suspended.
Duran is in the midst of a rough season for the Red Sox. He entered play hitting just .201 with 12 home runs on the year.
The Red Sox won Saturday’s game 4-1. Duran went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in the victory.
Magic release former top 10 draft pick
The Orlando Magic are moving on from a former top 10 draft pick.
The Magic released forward Jonathan Isaac, according to multiple reports. The move will save Orlando $6.5 million against the salary cap, with only $8 million of his $14 million salary for next year guaranteed.
Jonathan Isaac was guaranteed $8 million of his $14.5 million salary for the 2026-27 season. The following two seasons on his deal were non-guaranteed. The 28-year-old, 6-foot-10 forward now becomes an unrestricted free agent. https://t.co/6clP9WqdNc
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 27, 2026
The Magic made Isaac the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and the athletic forward looked to be on the fast track to stardom early in his career. A devastating 2020 knee injury changed the trajectory of that career, however, and he has never fully established himself since.
Reports indicate the Magic are not using a stretch provision on the $8 million they owe Isaac, so they can theoretically re-sign him if they want to.
Orlando was able to get out from under the Isaac contract in large part because of his inability to stay healthy. The 28-year-old should still draw plenty of interest, but likely as a rotation player.
Jaylen Brown reacts to controversial claim about his trade value
Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown inserted himself into a debate over his value on X Saturday as trade rumors continued to swirl.
A clip of ESPN’s Bobby Marks on SiriusXM NBA Radio went viral on Saturday in which Marks suggests Brown’s market may be smaller than expected because some analytically-oriented teams do not rate him as highly. Marks added in the interview that he does not agree with that assessment, but the part that went viral was Marks quoting an analytics staffer who claimed that Brown was viewed as the seventh-best player on the Celtics.
Here is the FULL four-minute answer @BobbyMarks42 gave @BGeltzNBA and @SamMitchellNBA regarding Jaylen Brown. pic.twitter.com/SmJhYk77RR
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) June 27, 2026
Brown took matters into his own hands on X and made several posts defending himself. He pointed out that no NBA player has won more combined regular season and playoff games than him over the last decade, criticized analytics as “AI hoops” that is “ruining the game,” and asked Marks to publicly name the person who made that claim about Brown’s value.
Analytics nowadays used to discredit and control narratives – Roll the ball out none of these guys better than me on both ends who does he work for https://t.co/ql3skXAutM
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026
Nobody has won more combined regular season and playoff games since I entered the league 10 years ago
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026
Analytics have / are ruining the game we playing AI hoops
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026
Brown clearly disliked the narrative that was going around and wants to combat it. It is odd to think that his trade value might not be very high considering he was just offered for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but not every team views him as a fit.
While the Celtics are not actively shopping Brown, they certainly appear willing to listen to offers for him. He averaged 28.7 points per game last season while playing largely without Jayson Tatum, and also has a Finals MVP to his name. The fact that he has to defend himself and his credentials on social media is genuinely odd.
Bills decide on whether to honor OJ Simpson at their new stadium
The Buffalo Bills had a decision to make on whether to acknowledge OJ Simpson at their new stadium.
When the Bills open Highmark Stadium in the fall, they will do so without any reference to Simpson. The team said in a statement that they have chosen not to include Simpson in any displays in or around the stadium despite his Hall of Fame career with the organization.
“We have made an organizational decision that he is not a fit to display inside our new stadium and family circle,” Pete Guelli, chief operating officer for the Bills, said in a statement on Saturday, via WIVB.
Simpson was the first player to ever be inducted into the team’s Wall of Fame, but everything changed after his 1994 murder trial. While fans still occasionally wear his jersey to games, the team itself had long distanced itself from him prior to his 2024 death. His legal troubles continued throughout his life, including his infamous prison sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping over a dispute regarding sports memorabilia.
The Bills are set to open Highmark Stadium this fall, having played at Ralph Wilson Stadium since 1973.
Former Cavaliers champion says he was snubbed from team reunion
The recent 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers reunion keeps proving to be more controversial than it was probably intended to be.
Timofey Mozgov, a center on that Cavaliers team, said in a new interview that he never received an invite to the team’s recent get-together. Mozgov said he would have loved to go if he had just received an invite.
“Yes, I saw the video of that party. No one wrote or called me,” Mozgov told Sport Express, via Johnny Askounis of EuroHoops. “If I’d been invited, I’d have gladly joined. Of course, I’d have loved to be there too, to drink some wine.”
Mozgov is a somewhat surprising omission, since he started 48 games for that Cavaliers team and made 13 playoff appearances. He wound up behind Tristan Thompson on the playoff depth chart, but he was as much a part of the bench as everyone else.
The Cavs’ reunion became a talking point when Kyrie Irving was accused of ghosting his former teammates after being invited. Irving himself has not really joined the discourse, but apparently, Mozgov would have been happy to take the spot he vacated.
Kawhi Leonard reportedly has interest in 1 new team
Kawhi Leonard may be priming himself for a return to The Lone Star State.
The Houston Rockets could potentially be in the mix to trade for the LA Clippers star forward Leonard, Michael Grange of Sportsnet reported on Saturday. The indication is that the Rockets have entered the fray as Leonard would be interested in possibly signing a contract extension with them.
Leonard, who turns 35 in a few days, is coming off the strongest statistical season of his NBA career. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points to go along with 6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for the Clippers and earned an All-Star selection for just the second time since 2021.
But Leonard is now entering his final guaranteed year under contract in 2026-27 at $50.3 million. If he cannot agree to an extension with the Clippers this summer, the prevailing thought is that the team will likely be trading Leonard away to avoid the possibility of losing him for nothing in 2027.
We heard a report earlier this week that Leonard was actually interested in reuniting with one of his old NBA teams. Now Leonard’s list may be expanding to include another notable team in the Rockets.
Houston went a stellar 52-30 last season but lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers. With Kevin Durant, 37, leading the charge and Leonard’s former Toronto Raptors teammate Fred VanVleet, 32, set to return next season from a torn ACL, the Rockets have emerged as a viable potential trade destination for the former Finals MVP Leonard.
Kevin Durant had shady comment about the Knicks
Kevin Durant seemingly had a shady remark about the New York Knicks’ recent championship in a new interview.
Durant offered some advice to Jalen Brunson and the Knicks in terms of the new opportunities that will be afforded to Brunson following his NBA title. The Houston Rockets forward responded by invoking the team’s 53-year title drought.
“Strike while the iron’s hot. This is a time that I don’t think New York or the Knicks are going to get back,” Durant said. “You gotta take advantage of this time right now. You don’t know if this will come around. It’s been 53 years. It could be another 53-year wait.”
Kevin Durant DISSES the New York Knicks after they just won a championship and urges Jalen Brunson & the rest of the team to take advantage of the hype because they might not win for another 53 years 👀
— Slime🐍 (@ItsKingSlime) June 26, 2026
“Strike while the iron’s hot. This is a time New Yorkers or the Knicks… pic.twitter.com/MJkyyrgJGj
Whether Durant meant it negatively or not, many viewed it as a bit of shade — or perhaps jealousy — toward the Knicks. While he does not really have any personal stake in the Knicks, he did play for the rival Nets for several years and has shunned the team in the past.
Durant was a non-factor in this year’s playoffs, as a knee injury limited him to just one playoff game. Most Knicks fans will not care about his thoughts in light of that.
Report: Bucks looking to trade 3 notable players after Giannis Antetokounmpo deal
The Milwaukee Bucks are coming in with the bulldozer after trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee is “working through and trying to assess the trade market” for three other players on the roster right now, veteran NBA writer Jake Fischer reported this weekend on a Bleacher Report stream. Those three players, Fischer says, are Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and the newly-acquired Tyler Herro.
This news comes as the Bucks pivot into a full rebuild after sending their franchise icon Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade. Herro was part of a wealth of assets that Milwaukee acquired in that deal, including several other players and future draft picks.
Of those three players, Turner probably has the most value. A 30-year-old center who is adept at blocking shots and hitting threes, Turner averaged 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in his first year with the Bucks last season. He has two more guaranteed years under contract (with a player option for 2028-29 as well) and has already spoken publicly as if he is unhappy in Milwaukee.
Kuzma, also 30, might be easier to move though as he is entering the final year of his contract next season at $20.5 million. Previous reports also suggested that the Bucks were trying everything they could to dump Kuzma.
Meanwhile, Herro is the most interesting piece here as a former All-Star and perennial 20-ppg scorer who is also a Milwaukee native (and on an expiring contract as well). But as the Bucks move into a full teardown after the Antetokounmpo blockbuster, it appears there may not be anybody who is safe on their roster.
Mets could re-hire 1 former manager
The New York Mets could turn back to a former manager to succeed Carlos Mendoza.
Carlos Beltran is viewed as a “strong candidate” for the Mets manager job, according to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Beltran currently works in the team’s front office in an advisory role and is already familiar with the team.
If the Mets did pursue Beltran, they would technically be hiring him for a second stint as manager. They originally hired him in 2019, but he never actually managed a game for the team as he was fired once it was revealed that he was one of the masterminds behind the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scheme.
The Mets have since had a change of ownership and brought Beltran back to the front office, so those concerns are less relevant now. The Boston Red Sox also fired Alex Cora for similar reasons around the same time, and went on to re-hire him a year later.
Even after firing Mendoza, the Mets have no plans to hire a full-time manager until the end of the season. One other high-profile ex-player is rumored to be interested in the job as well.
Roki Sasaki had worrying reaction after being pulled from his start
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki had a concerning reaction after his rough start against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Sasaki looked to be on the verge of tears after leaving Friday’s start at Petco Park in San Diego in the fifth inning. He had issued five walks through four innings as he battled his command.
In the dugout, Sasaki looked red-eyed as he watched following his departure.
Roki Sasaki looking visibly upset in the Dodgers dugout after being pulled from his outing against the Padres after issuing his fifth walk of the night. pic.twitter.com/GAgQLD4yfv
— Adrian Medina (@AdrianMedina_16) June 27, 2026
Concerningly, this is not the first time Sasaki has reacted this way to a poor outing. It had fans once again questioning the 24-year-old’s mental fortitude as he continues to struggle to put it all together.
The five walks were the biggest problem for Sasaki, who also allowed three earned runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts. He joined the Dodgers to much fanfare prior to the 2025 season but has yet to live up to expectations with a 4.74 career ERA midway through his second season. He did show that he is capable of more when he allowed one earned run in 10.2 innings during last year’s playoffs, but the organization still has yet to see that consistently.
Francisco Lindor says Mets players failed Carlos Mendoza
Shortly after the New York Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, star shortstop Francisco Lindor placed much of the blame for the team’s disappointing season on the players themselves.
“We failed Mendy,” Lindor said, via ESPN. “I failed Mendy. I didn’t play to my capability to help him win as many games as we could. And, yeah, this one’s on us as well.”
The Mets entered the day at 34-47, mired in last place in the NL East and riding a six-game losing streak. President of baseball operations David Stearns cited the club’s ongoing underperformance and injuries as reasons for the midseason change, naming Andy Green as interim manager.
Other players echoed Lindor’s sentiments. Juan Soto expressed appreciation for Mendoza’s support after joining the team, while Bo Bichette noted that managers often bear the brunt when the roster fails to meet expectations.
“It was unfortunate,” Bichette said. “Mendy was good to me. I guess sometimes the manager has to take the fall for the team underperforming.”
Mendoza guided the Mets to the NLCS in his 2024 rookie season but oversaw a late collapse in 2025 and a sluggish 2026 campaign despite significant roster investments. Stearns emphasized the decision was made to give the club the best chance to compete in the remaining 81 games, though the Mets remain long shots for postseason play.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has wild theory about his Texans release
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the veteran safety now with the Buffalo Bills, has offered perspective on his surprising release by the Houston Texans early in the 2025 season.
Gardner-Johnson attributed the move to an incident during training camp at The Greenbrier, where he said a person not technically part of the organization — a close friend of Texans general manager Nick Caserio — called him a derogatory term.
According to Gardner-Johnson, the confrontation escalated when the individual allegedly spoke to the general manager, influencing the decision to cut him after just three games. He firmly denied being a disruption in the locker room, emphasizing that no teammates viewed him as a problem and insisting he provided no reasons for his release.
“If y’all going to cut me, cut me,” Gardner-Johnson told The Athletic. “But I’ll give nobody reasons to cut me. I haven’t. I don’t. I’m not a cancer. There’s nobody in this locker room that says, ‘Chauncey’s a problem.’ The media loves me. The only thing that’ll do it is something that triggers somebody that has a say in the building that can alter somebody else’s mind. That happens every time.
“That’s how I got (cut) in Houston. One person that’s not technically a part of the organization called me a B-word at Greenbrier. I get out my body; he says something to the GM, and the next thing I’m cut.”
The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson via trade from the Eagles in the offseason, but released him on September 23 following a slow start to the season. Reports at the time cited scheme struggles and accountability issues, though the team declined to elaborate further.
Gardner-Johnson, a Super Bowl champion known for his playmaking and outspoken nature, has had brief stints with multiple teams. He maintains that his on-field contributions and leadership through actions should outweigh perceptions, as he looks to make an impact in Buffalo.
Derek Hill robs Juan Soto with stunning Catch of the Year candidate
In a spectacular defensive gem Friday night at Citi Field, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Derek Hill delivered one of the season’s most breathtaking plays, robbing New York Mets star Juan Soto of a potential two-run home run in the first inning of a 2-1 Phillies victory.
Hill, acquired from the Chicago White Sox on June 11, got an excellent jump on Soto’s 397-foot drive to right-center. Sprinting full speed, he timed his leap perfectly at the wall, extending high above the fence to snag the ball with his left hand.
The play left teammates and fans in awe, with Zack Wheeler cracking a rare smile on the mound and calling it the best catch he had seen in person.
“It’s the best one I’ve seen in person,” Wheeler said, via MLB.com. “That won the game right there.”
Brandon Marsh, converging from right field, celebrated wildly, while Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and others reacted with disbelief from the infield.
Hill, who also scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Turner’s RBI single, described the moment as pure instinct. Soto himself acknowledged the play’s brilliance. The grab proved pivotal as Wheeler pitched seven strong innings in the tight contest.
“It was an unbelievable catch,” Soto said. “When you see the replay, when you see how impressive it was — I mean, he didn’t even have any timing, he just went straight to the wall and jumped. That was incredible.”
The play capped an impressive week for Hill, who hit game-winning homers in consecutive nights prior, further solidifying his value to the surging Phillies.
