I Dig Sports
PITTSBURGH -- Paul Skenes doesn't just make baseballs go fast. The Pittsburgh Pirates' young ace can make merchandise fly off shelves, too.
Fans began lining up outside PNC Park more than five hours before Saturday's game between Pittsburgh and Cleveland in hopes of landing a bobblehead featuring the reigning National League Rookie of the Year.
The gates didn't open until 90 minutes before the first pitch. Lines stretched out in all directions from the park early Saturday afternoon, including one that snaked over the Roberto Clemente Bridge behind center field, which links Pittsburgh's North Shore to the city's downtown.
We know how unique today's Paul Skenes Rookie of the Year bobblehead giveaway is and how popular it is for our fans. We don't want any fan who attended today's game to not receive one.
Any fan who scanned into today's game after the first 20,000 bobbleheads were given away... pic.twitter.com/e1lZNIEJBL
Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 19, 2025
Demand grew so great that the club -- which has endured its share of public relations issues during the season's opening weeks -- pledged to make sure everyone in the expected sellout crowd who did not receive one will have an opportunity to obtain one.
Team president Travis Williams called interest in the bobblehead "unprecedented," and in a social media post, the team added that it realized "how popular it is for our fans."
The promotion also happened to align with Skenes' fourth start of the season. The top pick in the 2023 amateur draft dropped to 2-2 after allowing two runs over seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Guardians.
This is hardly the first time an item featuring Skenes drew outsized attention. A one-of-a-kind card featuring Skenes sold for more than $1 million at auction last month.
The card, manufactured by Topps, included a patch of the No. 30 jersey Skenes wore during his big league debut. It generated the kind of buzz typically reserved for iconic collectibles featuring Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, announced the birth of their first child Saturday.
"I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter," Ohtani wrote in an Instagram post. "To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents."
The Dodgers placed Ohtani on MLB's paternity list prior to their series opener Friday night against the Texas Rangers.
Manager Dave Roberts said after Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rangers that Ohtani texted him and said he would rejoin the club for the series finale Sunday.
Ohtani can miss up to three games while on leave. The Dodgers have an off day Monday, then play the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday.
Ohtani, 30, posted on his Instagram account in late December that he and Tanaka, 28, a former professional basketball player from his native Japan, were expecting a baby in 2025.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Carlos Alcaraz reached the Barcelona Open final for the third time in four years, where he will face Holger Rune for the title.
Spanish world number two Alcaraz, bidding for his second title in seven days, swept aside France's Arthur Fils 6-2 6-4.
Alcaraz won his home tournament in 2022 and 2023 before missing it last year because of injury.
"Since I was a little kid, I watched the final every Sunday," Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, said.
"Being in the final again means a lot, in front of my people and my friends who came from Murcia [Alcaraz's home city].
"Let's see if tomorrow we will end the day with the trophy."
Denmark's Rune secured his place in the final with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russia's Karen Khachanov.
The victory also ensured Rune will return to the world's top 10 for the first time since April 2024 when the rankings are updated on Monday.
Jelena Ostapenko continued her dominance over Iga Swiatek with a three-set victory to reach the Stuttgart Open semi-finals.
Latvia's Ostapenko beat world number two Swiatek 6-3 3-6 6-2 to extend her unbeaten winning streak against the Pole to six matches.
Ostapenko is the first player to beat five-time major champion Swiatek on every surface - once on grass, four times on hard courts and now once on clay.
"She's a great clay-court player but I won the French [Open] as well, so I can say the same thing about myself, " the 27-year-old said.
"I have so much respect to her and her team but every time I step on the court with her, it's a battle and I'm ready for it."
Ostapenko will face a semi-final against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat third seed Jessica Pegula 6-0 6-4.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka, who reached the quarter-finals without playing a match after opponent Anastasia Potapova withdrew with injury, faces Elise Mertens later on Saturday, before Coco Gauff plays Jasmine Paolini.
Grit and Genius: Hugo Calderanos Unforgettable Run at the ITTF World Cup 2025
As Hugo Calderano books his spot in the finals of the mens singles of the ITTF World Cup 2025, he etches his name in the history books, becoming the first Brazilian and Pan American player to make it to the finals of the mens singles of the ITTF World Cup. With this win, he also cements his status as the greatest ever Pan American table tennis player.
Hugo Calderano, now 28, has been a trailblazer in table tennis since his early days. Starting at just 8 years old, he burst onto the international stage in 2013, making history as the youngest player to win a leg of the ITTF World Tour. That same year, he achieved the unique feat of claiming singles titles on both the ITTF Junior Circuit and the ITTF World Tour, establishing himself as a prodigious talent.
In 2014, Hugo Calderano achieved a groundbreaking milestone for Brazilian table tennis by securing the bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games in China. This historic accomplishment marked Brazils first-ever medal in table tennis at an Olympic-level competition, further cementing Calderanos reputation in the sport.
Since then, he has never looked back, consistently being amongst the top 10 players in the world over the last few years. However, despite his remarkable achievements, a medal at one of the sports premier competitions had eluded him.
The Paris Olympics in 2024 seemed poised to deliver that breakthrough, but Calderano narrowly missed out, finishing in a heartbreaking 4th place in what was widely seen as his strongest opportunity yet.
But a relentless Calderano refused to give in, reinventing his game and seeing his dedication pay off in a spectacular run at the ITTF World Cup 2025 in Macao. Delivering the performance of a lifetime, he staged an extraordinary comeback from 1-3 down to overcome crowd favourite and World No. 2 Wang Chuqin, etching his name into the annals of table tennis history.
The win has major ramifications for the sport, as it put firmly puts Brazil and Pan America on the map as one of the sports major powers. It is evident that the presence of Hugo has forced his compatriots and continent to push their level. Fellow Pan-American Kanak Jha had a great tournament, making it to the Round of 16 in the Mens singles, while compatriot Bruna Takahashi was the only non-Asian womens player to make it to a historic Quarterfinals of the Womens singles.
Teammate and long-time friend Vitor Ishiy was emotional watching from the sidelines as his friend lay sprawled on the ground after his semifinal victory. It is amazing, who would have thought that a Brazilian would get a medal at this stage! It is not over yet; we still have a chance to get the gold and Hugo will fight very hard for it. What he has done for Brazil and for Pan America is just unbelievable. He is single handedly responsible for many kids picking up a racket in Brazil and creating a culture, and he is an amazing ambassador for the sport. He loves doing developmental work as well, and has a huge impact on the popularity of the sport. He always gives his 200% when it comes to table tennis, and he deserves everything good coming his way, said an ecstatic Ishiy.
Hugo Calderano, widely celebrated as the Thrill from Brazil, is not only a remarkable athlete but also a multi-talented individual. Self-taught in reading and writing at just 4 years old, he later mastered solving the Rubiks cube with a stunning 9-second average and speaks seven languages fluentlyPortuguese, English, Spanish, German, Mandarin, French, and Italian.
As Calderano gears up for the thrilling final tomorrow, he will aim to prolong his phenomenal streak and mesmerize fans with his genius. With his determination, he might just secure a historic gold medal to crown his journey.
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Fender, James Ratti, Tristan Davies, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Morse.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Owen Williams, Iestyn Hopkins.
Sin-bin: Morse 39
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Gabriel Hamer-Webb; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Thomas Young, Aled Davies, Rory Jennings.
Sin-bin: T Williams 6, Mann 51, Millard 75
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse & Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Harlequins: Green; Anderson, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Care; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Herbst, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, Evans, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Jibulu, Els, Jones, Launchbury, Lawday, Gjaltema, Benson, Waghorn.
Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, Ma'asi-White, Reed; Ford, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Bamber, Hill, Van Rhyn, T Curry, JL du Preez.
Replacements: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Dugdale, Andrews, Quirke, Bedlow, Wills.
Referee: Matthew Carley.
Exeter: Hodge, Hammersley, Slade, Hawkins, Brown-Bampoe; Skinner, Cairns; Sio, Yeandle, Street, Tuima, Jenkins, Moloney, Capstick, Fisilau.
Replacements: Norey, Blose, Roots, Vermuelen, Vintcent, Armstrong, Haydon-Wood, Rigg.
Yellow card: Jenkins.
Bath: De Glanville, McConnochie, Ojomoh, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer; Van Wyk, Annett, Du Toit, Richards, Ewels, Bayliss, Reid, Green.
Replacements: Dunn, Obano, Stuart, Molony, Hill, Schreuder, Bailey, Barbeary.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
England thrash Scotland to set up Grand Slam-decider
England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Shekells, MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Galligan, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), M Packer, Feaunati.
Replacements: Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Talling, Matthews, Hunt, Rowland, Scarratt.
Scotland: Rollie; Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie; Nelson (capt), Mattison; Young, Skeldon, Clarke, Bonar, Boyd, Gallagher, McLachlan, Konkel.
Replacements: Martin, Bartlett, Poolman, Ferrie, Bell, Clarke, Phillips Scott.
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
SAPULPA, Okla. Jacob Denney was like many aspiring dirt midget drivers, dreaming that legendary car owner Keith Kunz would one day call with an offer to drive for his team.
The difference is his phone rang.
Five months since answering, the Ohioan has already found his pace with the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team after capturing his first career Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota feature win at the season-opening World of Outlaws Illini 100.
I was super pumped in the moment, and it was a dream come true, really, Denney said. Im really happy to be where Im at in this stage with them. Kaleb (Wyrick) has been giving me a great car every night, so everyone helping around me has really been a blessing. I cant thank Keith (Kunz), Pete (Willoughby), Toyota, and JBL enough for really taking a chance with me and allowing me to drive their car.
Denney built his name on the national midget stage with Malloy Motorsports in 2023 and 2024, picking up six combined feature wins between USAC and POWRi. Denney finished seventh and fifth in the USAC National standings both years.
He made his first start for KKM at the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series finale at Jacksonville Speedway in a No. 68 LynK Chassis, finishing seventh the first night and 11th in the finale. Then, he made three additional starts for KKM at the POWRi finale, picking up his first win with the team, before he was officially announced to take over the JBL Toyota from Ryan Timms.
The first night of Creek County for the POWRi opener, I was so comfortable, Denney said. I wasnt really phased; I just went in and found my limit. But from the first lap, Ive been super comfortable. It takes a lot to be fast, so finding it comfortable really helps. (At Farmer City) it helps in times where its treacherous but finding that trust in yourself and running up to the wall makes it rewarding.
Most tracks on the 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midgets schedule are facilities the Galloway, Ohio, driver has never visited. The upcoming swing of races in Oklahoma and Kansas will see his first visits to Humboldt Speedway (Friday, May 9) and 81 Speedway (Saturday, May 10), respectively.
Denney is not worried by the lack of experience, as the Illini 100 win at Farmer City marked the first time he raced at the quarter-mile bullring.
I mean, you have to feel prepared, or cant be confident when something new is next, Denney said. I mean, it was my first night at (Farmer City) and we did just fine, so you just gotta dive into it. (The tracks) are all kind of the same, they all have their little tricks and things that make you faster at every place, so as long as there is confidence going into it and we do our normal thing, we can keep things going.
As he chases his first national midget title with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets in 2025, Denney is blocking out any unneeded thoughts that might distract him from competing in the best racing opportunity hes earned.
I dont think theres been so much pressure, Denney said. You just gotta go in and do your job. You dont know whats gonna happen, so thinking about it or adding pressure when nothings happened doesnt help you at all. Racings all about confidence, so you gotta be confident in yourself, your car, trust yourself, and things will all work out.
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