اتخذ محمود الخطيب، رئيس مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي قرارًا عاجلًا ومفاجئًا، بشأن الأزمة التي يعيشها لاعب فريق الأهلي السابق وبيراميدز الحالي رمضان صبحي.

وكان رمضان صبحي قد تم إعلان حسبه على خليفة التزوير بدخول أحد الاشخاص مكانه لأداء الامتحانات في أحد المعاهد المصرية.

كما تم إعلان إيقافه لمدة 4 سنوات بسبب التلاعب في عينة المنشطات الخاصة به من قبل المحكمة الرياضية الدولية.

طالع | محامي رمضان صبحي يكشف موعد النظر في شكواه ضد إيقافه 4 سنوات

ووفقًا للموقع الرسمي للنادي الأهلي، قرر محمود الخطيب تكليف شادي البرقوقي، المستشار القانوني للأهلي، بالانضمام ـ بعد التنسيق ـ إلى فريق الدفاع عن اللاعب رمضان صبحي، بصفته أحد أبناء الأهلي، في الإجراءات القانونية المتداولة حاليًا.

وقرر تقديم جميع أوجه الدعم القانوني اللازم، جنبًا إلى جنب مع محاميه الخاص، كما كلّف الدكتور عبدالله شحاتة، المستشار القانوني الرياضي للنادي، بتقديم كل المساندة القانونية في قضية المنشطات، وذلك بالتعاون والتنسيق مع الفريق القانوني الخاص باللاعب.

وجاء قرار الخطيب انطلاقًا من الثوابت الراسخة التي تأسس عليها النادي الأهلي، والقائمة على دعم أبنائه والوقوف إلى جانبهم.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras venceu a Portuguesa por 2 a 0 e assumiu a liderança geral do Paulistão 2024. Ao final da partida, Abel Ferreira e explicou a ideia de escalar o time titular para o jogo, e também da disputa acirrada por uma vaga no meio campo do Verdão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel Ferreira define Palmeiras para pegar a Portuguesa; veja provável escalaçãoPalmeiras28/02/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras ‘acorda’ no segundo tempo, vence a Portuguesa e assume melhor campanha do PaulistãoPalmeiras28/02/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras reduz dívida milionária com a Crefisa; veja valoresPalmeiras28/02/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

– Temos a questão do calendário apertado, muitos jogos seguidos, requer tempo pra gente achar o rendimento ideal, mas gostei de ver as duplas ali no meio campo, de fato temos quatro jogadores muito competitivos. É uma posição que de fato vai me dar muita dor de cabeça, sempre bom ter opções de fora para entrar, Zé e Anibal jogaram bem, e os outros dois (Rios e Menino) entraram com muita intensidade, tanto que criaram a jogada do segundo gol – disse Abel Ferreira.

O técnico do Verdão também revelou ter conversado com Endrick após a passagem do jogador pela seleção e elogiou a energia e entrega da joia que já está negociada com o Real Madrid.

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– Ele mal chegou, nem tinha treinado ainda e já veio falar comigo. Queremos ele com essa alegria dentro de campo, essa energia e a audácia de além de fazer o que a gente pede sobre os comportamentos coletivos, a qualidade e sem tirar o pé, se fizer isso vai nos ajudar muito – finalizou o treinador.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão➡️

O Palmeiras se reapresenta nesta quinta-feira (29) e já inicia a preparação para o Choque-Rei de domingo, no Estádio do Morumbi.

Tudo sobre

Abel FerreiraEndrickPalmeiras

A report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters, has stated that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings had the case been handled properly. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report has detailed how "fundamental failures" and "concerted efforts" to blame fans led to justice never being served.

• Why no legal action can be taken

  Former South Yorkshire Police (SYP) chief constable Peter Wright and Ch Supt David Duckenfield are among the officers who would have had a case to answer had they been brought before the courts.

  The latest report has also upheld or unearthed new misconduct cases in 92 complaints. Those at the centre of said findings will not face any legal action as they had all retired by the time that investigations were opened again in 2012. Regulations were changed in 2017 and retired officers can now face misconduct charges, although laws cannot be applied retrospectively.

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  Revealed: Findings of IOPC report

  Representatives of the families that lost loved ones at Hillsborough have stated that it is a “bitter injustice” that nobody can be held to account for what happened on that fateful day in Sheffield.

  Lauren Poultney, the current South Yorkshire Police chief constable, said she was “deeply sorry for the pain and heartbreak caused” by the “litany of failures” that rumbled on for over two decades. She added: “There is nothing I can say today which can take away the years of pain and hurt caused by the force I now lead.”

  The IOPC report is said to have exposed “a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect”.

  Key findings from the 366-page document, as covered by the , include how the late Mr Wright “would have faced a case over 10 alleged breaches of the Police Disciplinary Code regarding his actions in the aftermath of the disaster”.

  Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was match commander, would also have faced 10 alleged breaches for “failures in decision making and communication in relation to managing the build-up to the game” as well as “key failings” relating to crowd control.

  Eight other SYP officers would have had cases to answer, while former WMP Assistant Chief Constable Mervyn Jones and Det Ch Supt Michael Foster would have needed to explain their roles in leading the initial investigation carried out into the disaster, with it claimed that they showed “alleged bias towards police and against supporters”.

• Victims and their families were failed by the system

  IOPC deputy director general Kathie Cashell admits that those hit hardest by the tragedy, which saw 97 lives lost, have been repeatedly let down. She said: “What they have had to endure over more than 36 years is a source of national shame.”

  Ms Cashell revealed a watchdog investigation has ended up costing £88 million ($116m), while Operation Resolve will add a further £65m ($86m) to that tally. Only six people have faced criminal charges in the wake of the disaster, with only former secretary of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Graham Mackrell, being convicted.

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  Changes to the law as a result of Hillsborough disaster

  Ms Cashell added: "The 97 people who were unlawfully killed, their families, survivors of the disaster and all those so deeply affected, have been repeatedly let down – before, during and after the horrific events of that day.

  "First by the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match, followed by its fundamental failure to grip the disaster as it unfolded, and then through the force's concerted efforts to deflect the blame onto the Liverpool supporters, which caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for nearly four decades.

  "They were let down again by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner."

  As changes are made to the legal system, in the wake of what happened on the terraces at Leppings Lane, the Public Office Accountability Bill – known as the Hillsborough Law – will introduce a legal duty of candour for all public officials.

The men are on the cusp of the WTC final, while the women are about to play their first Test at home in 22 years

Firdose Moonda14-Dec-2024Red-ball fever should be raging across South Africa with the men’s national team one win away from the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the women on the eve of their first Test at home in 22 years, and first of six in the next FTP cycle.But is it really raging? If you turn on your television, you may not think so. You may ask whether South Africans really care about watching Test cricket (which is, of course, different to knowing about it or celebrating it). The numbers say no. South Africa’s series win over Sri Lanka was watched by a total of around 14,000 people over nine days at Kingsmead and Gqeberha. On any single day of the matches, there were never more than 2000 people at the ground.So how many will turn up in Bloemfontein, a place cricket has largely forgotten, with no SA20 franchise, and a domestic team that was recently relegated but since promoted to the top division, to watch a women’s Test? The next four days will reveal the answer, but don’t be overly expectant. A heatwave is sweeping across the country and temperatures tipped over 40° Celsius in the Free State in the last week. With large swatches of the ground unprotected from the sun, fans may prefer the cool of their homes.Their absence may tempt you to explain the South African men’s lean Test schedule (they will only play 12 games in this cycle) in terms of a response to this perceived apathy, but it is more a case of economics. Broadcast rights, for one, favour fewer Tests, more white-ball games, and a franchise T20 tournament. Given all that, the South Africa men are still in the running for the WTC final, and the women will over the next four years play the same number of Test matches as they did in the 20 years between 2002 and 2022. So something is changing, and it may be that red-ball matches are rare enough to be really valued.Related

No DRS for South Africa women's one-off Test against England

England wait on Kate Cross fitness as one-off Test match looms

Mashimbyi wants more long-format cricket for all-format development

There is a general consensus that playing more red-ball cricket, especially in the women’s game, will benefit players across the board, and new coach Mandla Mashimbyi is specifically focused on the longer format as a key growth area. So the red-ball fever is there; you just have to dig a little deeper for it.”Mandla did a bit of a presentation for us yesterday on red-ball cricket, and a lot of the stuff he was saying made me definitely want to play more of the format,” Laura Wolvaardt said at the pre-match press conference. “I absolutely love Test cricket. It’s the purest form of the game, and to be able to play it is always such an awesome opportunity.”Her counterpart, Heather Knight, who has played four times as many Tests as Wolvaardt, used exactly the same words – “absolutely love” – to describe how she felt about Test cricket. “The mental challenge of it, the repetition of skill, the adapting to so many different situations that you might face, I think it’s a really good learner for younger players,” Knight said.But both of them acknowledged that it is tough to play a format at international level that they have no foundations in at domestic level. South Africa, England, and every other country apart from India and, as of this month Bangladesh, do not play any red-ball, or time-based version of cricket at any level other than occasional Tests. Wolvaardt described it as a “bit weird” that her only red-ball matches have been Tests, while Knight called herself a “novice at Test cricket”.In that context, it seemed unfair to ask bigger-picture questions over things like form or player development. Yes, South Africa have played two Test matches and lost them heavily this year, but they were in vastly different conditions – Perth and Chennai – and perhaps all they demonstrate is how difficult it is to adapt to playing in different places at Test level. Yes, England have a multi-format Ashes to think about and Knight admitted they have “one eye” on that while also trying to have success against South Africa. Without the consistency of playing Tests regularly, it’s more sensible to assess and analyse them in isolation.Following their comprehensive victory against Sri Lanka, South Africa’s men are just one win away from the WTC final•AFP/Getty ImagesIn this case, what stands out is how differently the teams have approached preparation, and what that may suggest about the kind of contest we can look forward to. Knight said England have “tried to incorporate the odd red-ball session to practice the skills”.South Africa, meanwhile, didn’t “really want to be training in the middle of a T20 series for the Test match, so we sort of just left it for right before the Test,” Wolvaardt said. What they agreed on was that the two-day turnaround after the last ODI to the start of this Test was too little time to work on any technical skills. Instead, they’re working with what they already have, but in opposite ways to England.Wolvaardt is trying to rein in any attacking instincts to allow herself to bat for longer. “Batting is more of a reaction type of thing. My cover-drive is my favourite shot, and now it’s the one shot that I’m not allowed to play early on, with all those slips behind me.”Knight thinks it’s better to play the way you normally would. “A key message is not changing your game too much because it’s a red ball. That certainly was a mistake I made early in my career, when I went into Test match cricket and I was like, ‘Right, I’ve got to block it, I’ve got to leave the ball’, and I don’t want us to have that mentality because I don’t think it’s a good mentality to have.”Heather Knight: “A key message is not changing your game too much because it’s a red ball”•ECB via Getty ImagesCould this indicate we will see a more aggressive England against a conservative South Africa? If that is how it transpires, it will be keeping with what we have to come to know about the teams’ DNA over time. It was no surprise that a reference to Ben Stokes (but not Bazball) was made when discussing how England will look to put the opposition under pressure, which drew a response that began with “We’re our own team,” and went on to touch on soaking up pressure and then counter-punching. Likewise, Wolvaardt was asked about the men’s performances in the WTC and called the second Test against Sri Lanka “very cool” to watch.These narratives will continue to be woven into women’s Tests until the matches become more than one-offs, though Knight cautioned against longer series until there is are domestic foundations in red-ball cricket. “Preparing bowlers [for Test cricket], in particular physically, without breaking them is really tough because naturally the amount of cricket that we play is all white ball,” she said. “It’s really tough to play too many more and get the preparation right in terms of those bowlers. Selfishly, I do really love playing Test cricket but I think it’s about how you incorporate it alongside franchise cricket, alongside all the cricket that we play.”And so the cycle of too much in a world that can’t get enough continues, but South Africa are an interesting case study. You could argue the men have had too little Test cricket and merely played the best hand they could have with the cards they were dealt, and that is proving inspirational for their women’s team too. “It’s obviously really nice to see them doing well and to see them almost in the final of their Test championship,” Wolvaardt said. “I hope that it just sparks interest around the country to watch more Test cricket. Hopefully if there’s a bit more of a buzz around Test cricket in the country people will be keen to watch us as well.”Maybe red-ball fever is not quite raging, but it is rumbling along until it gets the opportunity to really roar.

Bayern Munich are optimistic about retaining their star defender Dayot Upamecano beyond 2026, president Herbert Hainer has said. Talks are already underway with the French centre-back as the German giants look to ward off interest from Real Madrid, who are considering a free transfer for the 27-year-old.

• Bayern aim to resolve Upamecano's contractual situation

  Upamecano could leave the German giants after five years with the club as his contract comes to an end next summer. The defender has been a key force in their back line, further establishing himself as one of the finest defenders in the Bundesliga following his €40 million (£35m/$46m) transfer from RB Leipzig. 

  With Bayern pushing to tie him down to a new contract, negotiations have slowed over wage demands, with the Frenchman’s camp pushing for a salary package closer to €15m (£13m/$17m) per year and a significant signing bonus. With other teams interested, the German club may have to bow to his demands or risk seeing him follow David Alaba's example by leaving for one of their European rivals.

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  Hainer optimistic of Upamecano's renewal

  Hainer believes the French defender is comfortable at Bayern. The Bavarians are in lightning form under Vincent Kompany this season, and Upamecano's stature in their defence has been of good help to the Belgian's strategy so far. The 71-year-old president commented in an interview with "We are in the process of speaking with Upamecano. I believe he feels comfortable in Munich. It's obviously an important decision for him as well. In principle, he likes it very much at Bayern. We would like to keep him. I am cautiously optimistic."

• Real Madrid interested in defender

  Since Xabi Alonso's tactical takeover from Carlo Ancelotti this summer, Real Madrid have made it a priority to sign defensive reinforcements. In the summer, they acquired the services of young Spanish defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. However, another addition seems mandatory with Antonio Rudiger possibly leaving at the end of the current campaign. Their focus appears to have shifted to Germany for Upamecano with talks reportedly already in progress. The Bavarians' sporting director, Christoph Freund, has already declared that retaining the French international is their prime objective. For him, it is no surprise that clubs like Madrid or even Liverpool from the Premier League are interested in Upamecano. 

  "It's no secret that our main goal is to extend Upamecano's contract," he said. "It's also not surprising that many clubs, I don't know which ones, are interested in Upamecano because he's simply performing really, really well, is a great guy, and one of the best centre-backs in the world." 

  The 27-year-old is at the peak of his career and club legend, and former CEO Oliver Kahn believes it could be 'very expensive' to perform such an extension. 

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  Bayern's recent mind-boggling form

  Bayern enjoyed a record-breaking start to the 2025-26 campaign, managing to win all of their first 16 competitive matches before that run was halted by Union Berlin in their latest Bundesliga encounter. The game saw the Bavarians go down in the 27th minute before Luis Diaz scored the much-needed equaliser before the end of the half. In the 83rd minute, Doekhi completed his brace, only to see Harry Kane restore parity in the 90th minute to save Bayern's night and help them leave the pitch with a point. 

  This draw comes as a setback to Kompany's side just before the international break. When they return to the pitch, they will have crucial fixtures in the form of Freiburg and St. Pauli in the Bundesliga. Between these two games, they'll need to travel to London to take on Premier League giants Arsenal in a much-awaited encounter in the Champions League. 

  Bayern sit top of the European table, but Arsenal and Inter are level on points with them, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City linger two behind.

Left-arm seamer Jediah Blades has been picked in the absence of Alzarri Joseph

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2025

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been rested while allrounder Romario Shepherd is back in West Indies’ ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series at home against Pakistan. Alzarri, who had also been rested for the T20Is against Pakistan, will continue to have his workload being managed.Shepherd had last played ODI cricket in December 2024 and missed the ODI series against England and Ireland this year.Having been swept 3-0 by England in their most recent ODI series, West Indies, currently ranked tenth, are eyeing crucial points in their quest to secure direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.”Pakistan presents a different test and challenge as we continue our push for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a statement. “The upcoming matches against teams like Pakistan, who are ranked higher, provide crucial opportunities to earn valuable ranking points to improve our standing ahead of the World Cup.”Related

Forde to miss Pakistan ODIs with dislocated shoulder

Pakistan and West Indies look to break out of their ODI funk

Fakhar ruled out of remainder of WI tour

Chase becomes first Full Member team batter to retire out in T20Is

In Alzarri’s absence, rookie left-arm seamer Jediah Blades has been picked in the squad. Blades, 23, has played just one ODI and four T20Is so far and is capable of swinging the new ball. The rest of the side has a familiar look.West Indies had recently lost the T20I series 2-1 to Pakistan but their ODI form at home is encouraging: they have won their last three series so far. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad will host all three matches against Pakistan on August 8, 10 and 12.West Indies ODI squadShai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd

New Zealand have decided to move Devine to the middle order so that she can finish off games for them

S Sudarshanan03-Oct-2024Heading into Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, New Zealand had ten games against England – five at home and five away – and three against Australia. Playing two top T20I sides, their preparation could not have been any better, one would think. At the end of it, though, New Zealand have 13 T20I losses to show. This is the most un-winningest they have been heading into a T20 World Cup.Yet, alarm bells are not ringing in the New Zealand camp. The experience in the squad – only wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze is playing her first World Cup – is enough to maintain calm. The core of the unit has been the same for the last few years. And yet, they decided to make a tweak ahead of last year’s World Cup – separate the opening pair of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine. On the list of the most successful opening partnerships in T20Is, Bates and Devine – known as the Smash Sisters – sit pretty at third. New Zealand needed Devine’s power and hitting prowess in the middle and latter part of the innings and hence decided to make the switch.Georgia Plimmer has partnered Bates at the top after Bernadine Bezuidenhout’s retirement earlier this year but is yet to have the desired effect. It is no surprise because Plimmer is only 20, and facing some of the world’s best bowlers is no easy task. Wouldn’t New Zealand be better off with Devine at the top?Related

• October 4 at T20 World Cup: SA face WI in potential quarter-final; dew to play big role in India vs NZ

• Coach Leigh, spinner Kasperek: Scotland to New Zealand, twice over

• Smart Replay System to be used in 2024 Women's T20 World Cup

• Could this be the closest-ever Women's T20 World Cup?

• FAQs: The first ever women's T20 World Cup at a neutral venue

“We see Sophie in particular as an absolute world-class ball-striker and having the power a little bit later in the innings is something that we think is really, really important,” New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer told ESPNcricinfo.”We flip that [question] a little bit: when there are four [fielders] out and you’re asking someone to go at eight or tens an over and the game’s on the line, who better to have than Sophie Devine? That’s the way we’ve looked at it. To have Sophie up the top is amazing but we also think having Soph in the middle and finishing off games for us is amazing.”We are not expecting Sophie to be able to bat up top, get through a powerplay, do it at a really high strike rate, then bat through the middle and also finish the game off for us. That’s a lot to ask of one player. Getting off to a great start in the powerplay is really important but we also feel that finishing off the game is really important. We’d love to have Soph bat the whole way through, or any other world’s greats bat the whole way through, but it doesn’t tend to happen.”Katey Martin: “The biggest challenge for Sophie in the middle order will be to face spin”•Getty ImagesSince February last year, Devine has opened the batting for New Zealand just once. She has scored two fifties in this period, both at No. 4. In both the warm-up matches ahead of the tournament proper, though, she batted at No. 3, a position she last batted in a T20I at in 2018.”I like Sophie opening because I think the best players want to face the most number of deliveries,” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Katey Martin, who retired in 2022, told ESPNcricinfo. “But I understand the decision around why they see her through their middle order – to elongate the batting order. The biggest challenge for Sophie going from opening to a middle-order role is that you face spin quite regularly [in the middle order]. It’s you might face one over of spin early in the powerplay, but you’re actually facing more spin throughout that middle when you start and what are your options around that?”She is always a slower starter anyway. So it’s not like you’re going to get her exploding when she’s betting in the powerplay. It’s just the fact the number of deliveries she gets to face. For New Zealand, she is such a key weapon and I think maybe the fact that she batted at No. 3 in that warm-up game was to say that a floating role maybe when New Zealand chase. If she is going to bat in that middle order, [the challenge] is how the top three set up the game, so that they are enabling her to be as effective as she can, but also hitting a strike rate that they need in terms of their role.”Since last year’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand have scored 140 or more in an innings only seven times in 22 matches. Their collective batting average in this period is only 19.39; only Scotland and Bangladesh average lower among teams at this T20 World Cup. Their batting strike rate in the same period is 105.47; only Scotland, Pakistan and Bangladesh fare worse.

“She [Devine] is always a slower starter anyway. So it’s not like you’re going to get her exploding when she’s betting in the powerplay. It’s just the fact the number of deliveries she gets to face”Katey Martin on Sophie Devine

Prima facie it does seem like batting is a concern for New Zealand, especially in conditions that may be tough to bat in.”Batting is an area that hasn’t necessarily been developed through a period of time for years in New Zealand and it’s not specifically the batting,” Martin said. “It’s just the development of batters within our domestic game. And you’re not challenged as much [in domestic cricket] as you are internationally, which goes without saying. When you get an opportunity early in your career, not playing too many domestic games going straight away and playing international cricket, you get exposed so much quicker. And that’s not the fault of the players by any stretch of the imagination. It’s just the position that New Zealand cricket is in around developing those youngsters.”While it’s a concern in terms of that, the numbers aren’t necessarily there, when you look at the way that the team are playing, you still see them inventing, you see them moving around, you see them making the effort. So I don’t think it’s a lack of effort. It is a concern, but I still think that they’re trending in the right way.”You look at Australia, they’re all domestic contracted full-time players and they’re playing A tournaments, India A as well. There’s a lot of competition at that lower level below the international stage. WPL, WBBL, the standards, the pressure, the experience is allowing those players to develop a lot quicker. And you’ve seen a number of Indian and Australian domestic players perform at their international stage because they’ve learned that domestically. So that’s just a continued focus around how to develop the players so that they’re prepared for international cricket and prepared in a way that they can be successful straight off the bat rather than having to develop on their international stage.”

How do you solve a problem like Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski?

On July 11, Major League Baseball promoted Misiorowski—a flamethrowing rookie with five starts to his name—from mere curiosity to unwitting sports celebrity. The commissioner’s office named the 23-year-old to the National League All-Star team, making him the least experienced All-Star in history and setting off a firestorm of controversy.

It's true that Misiorowski has the makings of a phenomenon, and his Brewers are on an 11-game winning streak. However, he still falls just short of the experience needed to credibly contend for Rookie of the Year at this time. He should get there soon—this column's cutoff is 31 innings (a 50-inning pace over 162 games). Misiorowski has pitched 25 2/3 innings and is in line to start against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

In the meantime, a different Milwaukee youngster has seized the top spot in the NL pecking order since last month's check-in. Welcome to this edition of MLB Rookie Watch.

American League1. Jacob Wilson, shortstop, Athletics

He's still the boss after introducing himself on the national stage with a start in the All-Star Game. All three of his slash line numbers have nosedived since late June—and yet he still, with a .197/.246/.279 this month, remains second in the American League in batting average and 10th in offensive bWAR. He was hit on the wrist with a pitch against the Atlanta Braves on July 8, but it turned out, in his own words, to be "nothing serious." His biggest competition for Rookie of the Year may turn out to be…

2. Nick Kurtz, first baseman, Athletics

Wilson’s infield-mate, the white-hot Kurtz has raked to the tune of .329/.427/.776 since June 24 while Wilson has been hanging out around the Mendoza Line. It's his power stroke, however, that has put the AL on notice. His 18 home runs so far would put him on pace for 47 over 162 games, a threshold crossed only by Khris Davis (2018) among Athletics this century.

3. Noah Cameron, pitcher, Kansas City Royals

He may not be perennially unlucky Pirates hurler Paul Skenes, but he's not far off. Cameron is 4–4 with a 2.61 ERA, having received no-decisions in starts where he did not allow a run twice since the calendar turned to July. When he's on, he's on—ask the Pirates, who were overwhelmed by Cameron on July 7 to the tune of seven stellar innings. For that, he holds down his spot while (still-steady) Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez falls out.

Honorable Mention

Narváez; Roman Anthony, right fielder and designated hitter, Red Sox

National League1. Caleb Durbin, third baseman, Milwaukee Brewers

Along with Misiorowski, Durbin is a face of the unsinkable Brewers' in-season revival—a renaissance that has them in a dead heat with the Cubs in the NL Central race. In June, this column praised Durbin's unorthodox catalog of statistical accomplishments, like leading the NL in hit by pitches (he's still doing that) and leading NL rookies in win probability added (ditto). Now, thanks to a .373/.456/.542 tear, he's finding much more conventional success. It's getting to the point where Yankees fans are grousing about giving him up for two-time All-Star pitcher Devin Williams during the offseason.

2. Drake Baldwin, catcher, Atlanta Braves

Durbin has passed Baldwin in bWAR and in these rankings, though it should be noted that the Milwaukee fixture has done so in 61 more plate appearances. That's because the Braves remain stubbornly devoted to past All-Star Sean Murphy, who has rewarded his team's faith by slugging .774 since June 24. On Wednesday, David O'Brien of reported that Atlanta has "no intention of trading Murphy this month, despite much speculation to the contrary." This is probably good for a Braves team in observation mode, but bad for Baldwin's Rookie of the Year chances.

3. Yohel Pozo, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals

Making his first appearance in these rankings is Pozo as Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (still a contender) returns to earth. Pozo is not clearing this column's hitting threshold (95 at-bats; he has 96) by much, but this is a fractured race and that .302/.327/.490 slash line is hard to ignore. He actually made his MLB debut in 2021, after a period of homelessness reported upon by Levi Weaver of at the time. Look for his profile to increase if the Cardinals remain in contention.

Honorable Mention

Agustin Ramirez, catcher and designated hitter, Miami Marlins; Hyeseong Kim, second baseman and center fielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Ben Cliff’s maiden five-wicket haul in first-team cricket – a superb 5 for 46 from 8.3 overs – set Yorkshire up for an opening day Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over last year’s semi-finalists Warwickshire at Scarborough, by five wickets chasing 138.New-ball quick Cliff, aged 22, was playing his first first-team game since the summer’s opening week following a side injury, and he was the chief tormenter as the Bears were bowled out for 137 inside 37 overs at the start of Group B.Cliff struck four times in a devastating opening spell, with Warwickshire slipping to 38 for 7 before Vaansh Jani’s brilliant 82 off 92 balls. It was the 20-year-old’s maiden first-team fifty in his second game.Yorkshire, for whom Adam Lyth took four catches in the slips – equalling a club record for outfield catches in a List A innings – didn’t chase with ease on a tricky pitch. But Pakistani international opener Imam-ul-Haq held things together with 55 off 83 balls.Cliff struck twice in three balls in his opening over and four times in all as the Bears crumbled to 24 for 5 in the 10th having been inserted. He had both Rob Yates and Zen Malik caught at cover by James Wharton in the second over, the former via a leading edge as he looked to play to leg and the latter off a miscued drive.Cliff’s new-ball partner Jack White clipped Warwickshire captain Ed Barnard’s off bail with a beauty before Cliff struck again to get a driving Hamza Shaikh caught at second slip by Lyth. And when extra bounce forced Kai Smith to loop a catch to backward point, the Bears were five down and in serious strife.Things got worse before getting better. Alex Davies fell to Matthew Revis’s first ball for 15, the seam-bowling allrounder getting him and Jake Lintott caught by Lyth at slip. When Lintott fell to the third ball of the 14th over, Warwickshire were 38 for 7.Batting at No. 7, Jani’s first of six boundaries was a lovely on-drive against George Hill as Warwickshire strove for respectability.Hill’s seam accounted for Michael Booth caught at slip by Lyth – 63 for 8 in the 21st. Hill added a second wicket when Ethan Bamber drilled to mid-off, though Jani counterattacked.He hoisted Hill over long-on and scooped White over fine-leg for his first two of five sixes, reaching a 67-ball fifty, by which time the visitors were 101 for 9 in the 31st over.Right-handed Jani smashed Revis out of the ground over long-on before miscuing Cliff to mid-on to end the innings.Jani and Oliver Hannon-Dalby added 64, a Warwickshire List A record stand for the 10th wicket and comfortably the best of the innings. Last man Hannon-Dalby contributed one run.Yorkshire were cautious in reply. They lost Lyth and Will Luxton, the latter for 25, to the seam of Hannon-Dalby and Bamber – 47 for 2 in the 14th over.Booth’s pace then accounted for James Wharton and Revis in successive deliveries, caught behind off the inside-edge and caught low down at second slip, as the score fell to 72 for four in the 21st.But left-handed Imam anchored things. His first five scoring shots were boundaries, strong on the pull and drive, and he shared a calming fifth-wicket stand of 56 with Hill, 20 not out. Imam fell caught at deep square-leg with 10 to win, but it was a consolatory third wicket for Booth. Yorkshire won with 17.1 overs remaining.

With the 2025 MLB trade deadline upon us, there are some teams expected to take bigger swings than others as they look to gear up for a postseason push.

Different front offices face different amounts of pressure to improve their rosters in the pursuit of success. Some teams are stuck in a lengthy World Series drought that fans are eager to see end, while others have the make-up of contenders and are simply missing a piece or two.

Regardless of why, there will be a few front offices in the market for a seismic move, and we'll take a look at what organizations may be feeling the most pressure to make a big splash before Thursday's deadline.

New York Yankees