MLB

Shohei Ohtani Signs $700M Deal With Dodgers, Largest Contract In Baseball History

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Shohei Ohtani, baseball’s superstar, has signed a 10-year, $700M deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal is the largest in the history of baseball. Furthermore, it brings an end to the understated and surprisingly quiet sweepstakes for the most sought-after free agent in baseball. “I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself. Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world,” Ohtani wrote after the deal was announced.

Ohtani’s deal eclipses the previous record nearly by over $250M. The previous mark was $426.5M, set by Mike Trout’s 12-year deal with the Angels. “This is a unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player. Shohei is thrilled to be a part of the Dodgers organization. He is excited to begin this partnership, and he structured his contract to reflect a true commitment from both sides to long-term success. Shohei and I want to thank all the organizations that reached out to us for their interest and respect. Especially the wonderful people we got to know even better as this process unfolded. We know fans, media and the entire industry had a high degree of interest in this process, and we want to express our appreciation for their passion and their consideration as it played out,” Ohtani’s agent said in a statement.

Read More: Shohei Ohtani Reaches Historic Two-Way Player Milestone

Shohei Ohtani Will Hit, Not Pitch In 2024

Of course, Ohtani has established himself as the new definition of a two-way player. However, he not spend his first season in LA as a two-way player. Towards the end of the 2023 season, Ohtani tore his ulnar collateral ligament. Requiring surgery, Ohtani will not pitch next season. This will limit him to hitting duties, which he is likely to do from the designated hitter role.

As the news was announced, Ohtani thanked the Angels faithful for supporting him for the first six years of his MLB career. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years. As well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process. Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever,” Ohtani wrote.

Read More: Top 10 Athletes Of 2023

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Here Are The Walkup Songs For The Players In The MLB’s ALCS And NLCS Playoff Series

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Corey Seager, Jeremy Pena, Bryce Harper, Evan Longoria MLB player walk up songs
Getty Image/Merle Cooper

The start of the 2023 MLB Playoff season brought plenty of surprises, but that’s what the playoffs are about right? The top seeds in both the AL and the NL were sent home as the Baltimore Orioles were swept 3-0 by the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves, a team that logged 104 wins this season, were also sent packing after losing 3-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The pennant race is officially underway thanks to game one of the ALCS, which went down on October 15. The Texas Rangers are up against the Houston Astros with the Rangers up 1-0 after their Sunday night win. On the flip side, the Arizona Diamondbacks are up against the Philadelphia Phillies with game one set to go down on October 16.

Both the Phillies and the Rangers have been cruising through the playoffs with unofficial team anthems that have proven to be a rallying cry for the players and their fans. For the Phillies is Tiesto and Calum Scott’s “Dancing on My Own,” and for the Rangers, it’s Creed’s “Higher.” However, these aren’t the only songs getting players in the right mindset for these pressure-filled playoff games.

Here’s a list of the walkup songs that get each player on the remaining playoff teams pumped before an at-bat.

ALCS

Texas Rangers

Marcus Semien (R) 2B: KB & Brandon Lake — “Graves”

Corey Seager (L) SS: Rvshvd — “For The Streets”

Mitch Garver (R) DH: David Bowie — “Fame”

Adolis Garcia (R) RF: Lecrae — “Spread The Opps”

Evan Carter (L) LF: Led Zeppelin — “Kashmir”

Jonah Heim (S) C: Russell Dickerson — “Home Sweet”

Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B: Naked And Famous — “Young Blood”

Josh Jung (R) 3B: Red Hot Chili Peppers — “Can’t Stop”

Leody Taveras (S) CF: Juan Luis Guerra — “Las Avispas”

Max Scherzer (R) P: Ludacris — “Last Of A Dying Breed” Feat. Lil Wayne

Nathan Eovaldi (R) P: Gary Clark Jr. — “Come Together”

Jordan Montgomery (L) P: 50 Cent — “Back Down”

Jon Gray (R) P: White Zombie — “Thunderkiss ’65”

Dane Dunning (R) P: Motley Crue — “Kickstart My Heart”

Houston Astros

Jose Altuve (R) 2B: El Alfa — “Le Doy 20 Mil” Feat. Prince Royce

Alex Bregman (R) 3B: Boosie Badazz — “Set It Off”

Yordan Alvarez (L) DH: Mike Jones — “Still Tippin”

Jose Abreu (R) 1B: Willy Chirino — “Pa’Lante”

Kyle Tucker (L) RF: Travis Scott — “Escape Plan”

Chas McCormick (R) LF: Caleb Gordon — “Rocky Road Pt. 2”

Mauricio Dubon (R) CF: Grup Frontera — “No Se Va (En Vivo)”

Jeremy Peña (R) SS: Nelly — “Grillz”

Justin Verlander (R) P: Eminem — “Til I Collapse” Feat. Nate Dogg

Frambler Valdez (L) P: Myke Towers — “Maltida Envidia”

Cristian Javier (R) P: Juan Luis Guerra — “Las Avispas”

Hunter Brown (R) P: Red Hot Chili Peppers — “Can’t Stop”

Jose Urquidy (R) P: Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizarraga — “El Corrdio De Mazatlan”

NLCS

Philadelphia Phillies

Kyle Schwarber (L) DH: Waka Flocka Flame — “Grove St. Party,” Bone Thugs N Harmony — “Thuggish Ruggish Bone,” Lakeside — “Fantastic Voyage,” and “Living Colour — “Cult Of Personality”

Trea Turner (R) SS: Tiesto — “Lay Low” & Future — “Look Ahead”

Bryce Harper (L) 1B: Moby — “Flower,” Morgan Wallen — “I Wrote The Book,” Bazzi — “Paradise,” and Nelly — “Ride Wit Me”

Alex Bohm (R) 3B: Kanye West — “Famous”

Bryson Stott (L) 2B: Tai Verdes — “AOK”

J.T. Realmuto (R) C: NEEDTOBREATHE — “Money & Fame”

Nick Castellanos (R) RF: Drake — “Over My Dead Body”

Brandon Marsh (L) LF: Lil Uzi Vert — “444+222” & “Pluto To Mars”

Johan Rojas (R) CF: El Alfa & Yaisel LM — “El Dueno De Lo Croky”

Zack Wheeler (R) P: Alice N Chains — “Rooster”

Aaron Nola (R) P: Newsboys — “I Am Second”

Ranger Suarez (L) P: Kid Cudi — “Mr. Rager”

Taijuan Walker (R) P: Moneybagg Yo — “Me Vs. Me”

Cristopher Sanchez (L) P: Jey One — “Socorro”

Arizona Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll (L) 2B: Metro Boomin — “Overdue” Feat. Travis Scott

Ketel Marte (S) 2B: CJ — “Replica” Feat. El Alfa & Bad Bunny — “Tití Me Preguntó”

Tommy Pham (R) 2B: Young Thug — “Digits”

Christian Walker (R) 2B: Travis Scott — “Goosebumps” & Morgan Wallen — “Me On Whiskey”

Gabriel Moreno (R) 2B: Rauw Alejandro — “Desesperados”

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) 2B: N/A

Alek Thomas (L) 2B: Lil Wayne — “A Milli”

Evan Longoria (R) 2B: Tantric — “Down And Out”

Gerlado Perdomo (S) 2B: Waka Flocka Flame — “No Hands” Feat. Roscoe Dash & Wale; 50 Cent — “In Da Club”

Zac Gallen (R) 2B: Lil Wayne — “Let The Beat Build”

Merrill Kelly (R) 2B: M.O.P. — “Ante Up (Robin Hoodz Theory)”

Brandon Pfaadt (R) 2B: N/A

Ryne Nelson (R) 2B: N/A

Tommy Henry (L) 2B: N/A

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Steve Garvey Net Worth 2023: What Is The Baseball Icon Worth?

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Nestled in the heart of Tampa, Florida, the city once bore witness to the birth of a baseball phenomenon in the making: Steve Garvey. As early tendrils of dawn would kiss the diamond fields, a young Garvey, bat in hand, would dream of major league glory. The path from Florida to Major League Baseball was paved with dedication and a love for the game. By 2023, that same journey led him to amass an impressive net worth of around $28 million, as cited by Fresherslive.

Career Highlights & Accolades

steve garvey
(Original Caption) Los Angeles, CA.: Head and shoulders portrait of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ infielder, Steve Garvey, wearing his uniform.

Steve Garvey stands out in the annals of baseball lore. He is known for impeccable fielding and a batting average that would make pitchers wince. Embarking on his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Garvey’s talent was evident from the get-go. Over the years, he has also accumulated accolades, including the prestigious National League MVP title and multiple Gold Glove Awards. His impressive 10 All-Star game appearances solidified his place as one of baseball’s most formidable first basemen. Overall, the phrase “consistency is key” might as well have been coined watching Garvey at play.

Personal Life & Highlights

steve garvey
COOPERSTOWN, NY – JULY 29: Former player Steve Garvey stands after being acknowledged by Claire Smith. During her speech after being awarded the J.G. Taylor Spink Award during the 2017 Hall of Fame Awards Presentation on Doubleday Field. At the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday July 29, 2017 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB via Getty Images)

Beyond the roaring crowds and the pressure of the pitch, Steve Garvey’s life off the field has been a mix of personal triumphs and challenges. As with many sports icons, his personal life occasionally found its way into tabloid columns. However, through it all, Garvey’s commitment to family and his grounded approach to life remained unwavering. His philanthropic efforts, particularly towards children’s charities, showcased a man who sought to give back as much as he gained.

Business Ventures & Philanthropy

steve garvey
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Former Major League Baseball player Steve Garvey (L) and Sgt. 1st Class Charles Shuck. Attend Bark In The Park at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Outside of the baseball diamond, Garvey also proved his mettle in business. With astute investments and business endeavors, he augmented his baseball earnings, ensuring a legacy beyond the sport. His entrepreneurial journey further saw him delving into areas from sports merchandising to broadcasting. A heart as big as his swing, Garvey’s philanthropic streak shone brightly. Through various charitable foundations and initiatives, he has continually extended support to underprivileged kids, aspiring athletes, and community-driven causes, underscoring a life lived with a purpose beyond personal gain.

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Kid Cudi Tosses Wild First Pitch At Cleveland Guardians Game: Watch

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There are a lot of rappers who wish they could be star athletes, and there are some athletes who wish they could be rappers. There have been a ton of examples where both stars from each respective profession could do both. Quavo is a stud on the basketball court, participating in multiple NBA All-Star Celebrity games. On the other side, you have multiple superstars who can flat-out spit bars. NBA point guard Damian Lillard has a couple of projects out right now that are more than listenable. Shaquille O’Neal is also big in the music scene nabbing a recent feature on a recent single with rap duo Coyote. But, Kid Cudi is not one that fits that mold.

Mr. Rager fits into tons of examples of artists flopping in sports. About nine years ago, most of the world witnessed possibly the worst first pitch in MLB history with 50 Cent. However, Cudi might have something to say about holding that title. Just this past weekend (September 22), the native Clevelander was asked to represent his hometown. The singer and rapper was brought onto the baseball diamond to throw out the first pitch for the Cleveland Guardians.

Read More: Jaidyn Alexis Restaurant Video Explained By Blueface: “She Was D**n Near Running That Bih”

Kid Cudi Maybe Got A Little Nervous

In the video clips above obtained by HipHopDX, you can see in the second one that Cudi threw a solid practice pitch. However, things took a turn for the worse when more eyeballs were on him. Cudi wound up and threw the ball way outside of home plate, but all he could do was laugh and do a little dance afterward. He did not take himself too seriously, responding to fans saying, “I am a NON ATHLETE bro, its all in good fun!! I havent thrown a baseball since mini league as a kid and I wasnt good then too haha.” At least the Guardians would go on to win their game 9-8 against the Baltimore Orioles, so it was not all bad.

What are your initial thoughts on Kid Cudi’s first pitch at the Cleveland Guardians game? Where does his first pitch rank amongst the rest of the rappers’ appearances on the mound? Do you think you could make a pitch to home plate on an MLB field? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Kid Cudi, as well as the rest of the sports world.

Read More: Joe Budden Reacts To Jeezy & Jeannie Mai’s Divorce: “I’m Not Surprised”

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Major League Baseball Teams with Chuck D to Celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

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Major League Baseball Teams with Chuck D to Celebrate Hip Hop's 50th Anniversary

In honor of the milestone anniversary of Hip-Hop, MLB has joined forces with music legend Chuck D to bring special content and programming that celebrates the intersection and influence of music, culture, and baseball.

Chuck D, co-founder of the iconic group Public Enemy, will take center stage as MLB’s special correspondent during the much-anticipated Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium concert. He will capture the electrifying atmosphere and share exclusive content across MLB’s platforms, including @MLB and @MLBLife social handles, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB Network.

“As a longtime baseball fanatic, I am beyond honored to be the first Hip Hop artist to work with Major League Baseball in this exciting new way – connecting sound and culture to the stories of the game,” said Chuck D. “Thank you to MLB for adding me to the lineup…and the pitch is on the way.”

The acclaimed lyricist, producer, and author will also collaborate with MLB on various content, music, and stories throughout the 50th anniversary year. The partnership will feature social media, MLB Network, and in-stadium videos that delve into the evolving relationship between baseball and Hip Hop culture.

The yearlong collaboration kicks off on August 11 with Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium, a star-studded event marking the birthplace of Hip-Hop, the Bronx. MLB and its Clubs will continue to create compelling content, merchandise, and giveaways under the Hip Hop 50 banner until the 2024 season.

Chuck D’s recent release, “We Wreck Stadiums,” pays tribute to baseball’s greats, while his role as developer and executive producer of “Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World” underscores his commitment to exploring the genre’s historical significance. The four-episode series premiered on PBS in the US in 2023.

The post Major League Baseball Teams with Chuck D to Celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary first appeared on The Source.

The post Major League Baseball Teams with Chuck D to Celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary appeared first on The Source.

Bo Jackson Tries Weird Cure For Hiccups

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Bo Jackson is a sport legend. The College Football Hall of Famer was the number one pick in the 1986 NFL draft. He enjoyed three fantastic seasons in the NFL before his career was cut short by injury. However, he also played eight seasons of Major League Baseball, joining the Kansas City royals in 1986. Yes, if you didn’t already know who he was, Jackson played two pro sports concurrently.

However, Jackson has reportedly been suffering from the hiccups for a full year now. Anyone whose had the hiccups for more than an hour knows just how bad they can get. Furthermore, prolonged hiccuping can cause damage to your body. But some of the things Bo has tried to cure his hiccups are just downright weird.

Bo Jackson (May Have) Sniffed A Porcupine’s Butt

CHICAGO, IL – CIRCA 1991: Bo Jackson #8 of the Chicago White Sox looks on walking off the field during a Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Jackson played for the White Sox in 1991 and 1993. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

“I’ve had the hiccups since last July,” Jackson said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “I’m getting a medical procedure done the end of this week, I think, to try to remedy it. I’m busy at the hospital sitting up with the doctor’s poking me, shining lights down my throat, probing me every way they can to find out why I’ve got these hiccups.” According to Jackson, he’s tried all the traditional cures of hiccups. But nothing has worked.

However, while listing the cures he had tried, he very casually some absolute insanity. “I have done everything—scare me, drink water upside down, smell the ass of a porcupine, it doesn’t work.” That’s right, while talking about getting scared etc., Bo Jackson also said that he had sniffed the ass of a porcupine. Now, Jackson was probably speaking hyperbolically to indicate the great lengths he had gone to. Furthermore, HotNewHipHop could not find any evidence of smelling a porcupine’s butt as a cure for the hiccups. However, several websites do recommend smelling strong odors as a way to cure the hiccups. So who knows, maybe Jackson wasn’t speaking so figuratively as one may initially believe. What’s your go-to cure for the hiccups? Let us know in the comments below.

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2024 MLB Season To Start In South Korea

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Seven MLB seasons in the league’s 120-year history have begun outside the US and Canada. The first season to leave the home of the league’s 30 teams was 1999, when the season opener was played in Mexico. Five seasons have started in Tokyo, Japan, most recently in 2019. Finally, the 2014 season got underway in Sydney.

International games are becoming more and more common as the MLB attempts to replicate the success of the NFL in attracting a wider international audience. The MLB played games in London for the first time in 2019 and has returned several times after that. This year the Cubs and Cardinals will play in the British capital. What is unique about the MLB is that, unlike the NFL, there are premier baseball leagues located outside the United States. Now they will be heading to a brand new country next year.

Dodgers And Padres To Play In Korea

SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 1: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the San Diego Padres hits a three-run home run in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds May 1, 2023 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

According to a source who spoke with ESPN, the MLB will play its first-ever games in South Korea in 2024. Korea is a major baseball nation and serves as home to the KBO League. Furthermore, there are currently five active Korean-born players on MLB teams. However, the MLB has never played games in South Korea. That is all set to change in 2024. NL West rivals Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will face off in a two-game series in Korea. The location of the games has not been announced but it is likely that Seoul will be the venue for the two games. Sources also told ESPN that the games would be played early enough in the year to minimize the disruption for the Dodgers and Padres ahead of the rest of the season.

Of the two teams chosen, the Padres currently have Korean player on their roster. Infielder Ha-seong Kim has played with the team since 2021. Prior to joining the Padres, Kim played for six seasons in the KBO. The last time that the Dodgers had a Korean player on the roster was in 2019. That was last of six seasons that pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu spent in Los Angeles. KBO players are able to join MLB teams through a process called posting. The posting system allows MLB teams to bid on Japanese and Korean players as free agents. Are you excited to see the MLB head to Korea?

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Lil Wayne Visits The Houston Astros

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Lil Wayne has been very active in the sporting recently. Aside from the usual pictures of him at various NBA events, he has been making his presence known. He face-timed both the Cavinder Twins as well as LSU during the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament. He is even reportedly collabing with LSU freshman and rapper Flau’jae Johnson. Wayne is currently touring the US in his “Welcome To Tha Carter” tour. It began in Nashville and is set to end in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Houston Astros are off to a strong start in the 2023 MLB season. The defending champions, at the time of writing, are second in the AL West. They are 2.5 games back from the Texas Rangers, whose massive off-season spending is paying off for the team. The Astros are currently five games into a six-game homestand before taking to the road to face the Mariners, Angels, and White Sox. However, they recently struggled, winning just two of their last five games.

Lil Wayne Visits The Astros, Gets Custom Jersey

According to a post from the Astros, Lil Wayne paid a visit to the Houston dugout on May 2. Wayne was in Houston for a stop on this “Welcome To Tha Carter” Tour. The video, captioned “game recognizes game”, shows Wayne eagerly meeting players. He is also heard greeting infielder Alex Bregman with the moniker “Tiger”. This is likely a reference to Bregman’s collegiate career at LSU. Bregman was a standout player at LSU. However, he never appeared in the College World Series while with the Tigers. The Tigers would later finish runners-up in the 2017 College World Series.

However, things didn’t just end with a quick visit. Wayne took photos with members of the team. Furthermore, he was presented with a signed #27 jersey with the nameplate “Tunechi”. #27 is the current number of second baseman Jose Altuve, who has worn it since 2011. What’s amusing about this entire encounter is that back in 2008, Wayne revealed in an ESPN article that he was a Red Sox fan. Does still back the Sox? Or has he changed his allegiance to Houston? Follow HotNewHipHop for all the latest sports and music news.

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Fernando Tatis Jr. Dances To Wrigley Field Taunt: Video

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Fernando Tatis Jr. has quickly become one of the faces of the MLB. The San Diego Padres star is a cornerstone for the franchise. However, the San Diego star did run into an issue last season. Tatis missed all of last season due to suspension from the league’s PED regulations. As Tatis is continuing to get back into the swing of his former self on the field. Fans in visiting ballparks haven’t been too receptive to Tatis’ return to the game. Including the Cubs faithful at Wrigley Field.

On Tuesday night, fans at Wrigley showered Tatis in right field with plenty of insults. Including the chant of, “he’s on steroids.” Instead of becoming angry with the fans in Chicago, Tatis had a little fun with it. During the chant, Tatis was seen dancing to the beat of the insult. The actions by Tatis made the chant feel less fun for the fans in Chicago. However, both sides seemed to have a good time at the ballpark. Check out the clip of the viral moment below.

Fernando Tatis Jr. Has Fun With Cubs Fans

In the end, the Cubs got the last laugh. Chicago got the 5-0 victory over the Padres on Tuesday night. However, expectations are still high in San Diego. Along with Tatis, the Padres are filled with great talent. Including Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts defining the left side of the field. The franchise has a lot of money tied into those three players. So if the team doesn’t make a run at a World Series soon, decisions will have to be made.

When it comes to Tatis’ PED suspension, the Padres star still denies it. Tatis claims that he never intentionally took the performance-enhancing drug that came up positive on his test. However, Tatis has apologized for his actions and what his suspension did to the team. Tatis is well aware of what he brings to the team when at full health. So, do you think Fernando Tatis is handling vising crowds the right way? Let us know what you think in the comment section. For the latest MLB news, keep it right here with HNHH.

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