The MLB trade deadline has come and gone and each team has made its last wave of moves before the final stretch of the season over these next two months.
The Miami Marlins made two last minute trades, one of which they obtained MLBbro Josh Bell.
The Marlins obtained Bell due to his switch-hitting prowess. While he is not putting up huge numbers this season, he is an improvement over Garrett Cooper, their previous first basemen whom they sent to the San Diego Padres.
The MLBbro was signed in free agency to help propel the Celeveland Guardians past the ALDS in which they were eliminated last year. But with the Guardians struggling in a very weak American League Central Division, the team decided to go in another direction.
The Marlins however are currently tied for a third National League wild card spot. With the red hot Atlanta Braves well ahead of them in the division, the MArlins are targeting a wild card spot to reach the playoffs.
Marlins’ fans did not have to wait long to reap the benefits of their new MLBbro acquisition. In his debut, Bell had his fingerprints all over the game. Facing the Philadelphia Phillies, the MLBbro started at first base and immediately impacted the game.
Bell went 4-5 with a home run, a walk, and 2 RBI. This would jumpstart the Marlins’ comeback, as right after Bell, MLBbro Jazz Chisholm Jr. would go back-to-back with a home run of his own. Bell’s second game wasn’t nearly as impressive, going 0-3 with a walk.
The Marlins still have to be thrilled about the debut and outlook for their recently acquired MLBbro. With the addition of Bell to the squad the team should be able to maintain their position as a wild card holder, and possibly aim higher.
Bell has a player-option after the season. He will surely spend the rest of the season getting familiar with the organization and evaluate how he can be an asset to Miami in the present and future.
When you get an opportunity that you can’t pass up on, you have to make the most of it. And that is what Jay Jackson is doing. For those who don’t know, Jackson was recently called up by the Toronto Blue Jays and made his 2023 debut on May 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He threw one inning, walking one batter and did not allow a run.
The 35-year-old has spent time in the big leagues before and now he’s looking to make an impact for Toronto and become an everyday pitcher out of the bullpen. Toronto has needed some help in the bullpen and Jackson is someone who has MLB experience and can add some much-needed help.
When he found out he would be joining the Blue Jays, Jackson was excited to get back to the big leagues.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Jackson told reporters Friday in an article from www.si.com. “So it’s just an amazing feeling.”
A big reason why Jackson was called up by Toronto was because of his impressive performance during Spring Training.
Jay Jackson’s 16-year pro career has taken him around the world to play baseball.
“Slider execution, striking guys out — he was really good,” manager John Schneider said of Jackson’s spring performance.
Before being called up, Jackson spent time with Toronto’s triple-A affiliate team in Buffalo. He appeared in nine games and had an 0-1 record with a 5.91 ERA with 15 strikeouts. Even though Jackson did not make the Opening Day roster, he continued to have respect for the organization and knew the decision wasn’t anything personal.
“The amount of love and respect and honesty [the Blue Jays] showed me, I wanted to be here just as much as they wanted me here,” he said.
Making a major league team can be an impossible task for some. There are players who have been in the minor leagues their whole career and are still waiting for that opportunity. So, for Jackson, he understands how difficult it is to make it on an MLB team. This is the MLBbro journeyman’s fifth team and he’s going to do everything he can to help Toronto become a team to beat in the AL East.
Jackson is no stranger to the Big Leagues.
Jackson first made his MLB debut back in 2015 with the San Diego Padres. It was toward the end of the season, so a lot of players were being called up to teams across the league. He appeared in six games and pitched in 4.1 innings striking out four batters and finished with a 6.23 ERA.
Four years later, Jackson had the opportunity to pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers. His time in Milwaukee was the most action he had seen in his career.
During the 2019 season, he made 28 appearances on the mound, throwing 30.1 innings and also finished with a 1-0 record with two holds. He also had a 4.45 ERA and struck out a career high 47 batters.
In 2021 he made his first start of his career with the San Francisco Giants. That start came on September 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a quick outing for Jackson as he only went 0.1 innings giving up three earned runs. That season he did finish with a 2-1 record with a 3.74 ERA in 23 games. He proved that he could get MLB hitters out on a consistent basis.
Before this season, his last appearance in the league was in 2022, appearing in two games with the Atlanta Braves. So it’s safe to say that Jackson has bounced around the league a few times. And he also spent some time playing in Mexico and Japan.
But now, he’s focused on securing a permanent role with Toronto, who desperately needs to sure up the bullpen if they plan to contend with the Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and dangerous Red Sox all season. He certainly has the arm to do so. Now he has another opportunity to write another chapter in his MLB career.
Toronto Blue Jays superstar MLBbro George Springer has been struggling at the plate through the season’s first 25 games, but there’s a lot of season left for the leadoff man extraordinaire. Jaelen Gilkey has the scoop for MLBbro.com.
After signing a seven-year $175 million deal before the 2022 season, the Texas Rangers’ MLBbro Marcus Semien was expected to do big things. The team, focused on returning to the American League playoffs, signed Semien to play a vital role in these aspirations. After the Rangers finished 68-94, Semien and the club regrouped and focused their efforts towards competing in 2023. The front office continued to spend money and chase big name free agents, most notably dominant but injury-prone pitcher Jacob deGrom.
Texas Rangers In First Place: Seeking First MLB Playoffs Since 2016
The club has gotten off to a 12-6 start and is first in the American League West Division. Semiens’ return to dominance has spearheaded the strong start. The MLBbro came out the gate much faster than his first season in Arlington, batting .293 with four home runs and 18 runs batted in so far in the young season. His hot start is much more impressive considering his totals last year when he only tallied 13 hits total with zero home runs and six runs batted in from March to April.
Semien, who was MLBbro’s inaugural Player of the Year, needs a bounce-back season. His numbers were down a bit across the board in 2022, but he still managed to produce his first 20-20 season. The infielder has been one of the most durable players in the Major Leagues, averaging 161 games played over the last four full MLB seasons. If he can once produce numbers closer to record-breaking his 2021 output (45 home runs, 102 RBI), the Rangers could remain in contention for a playoff appearance.
Semien Building Legacy As All-Time Great Second Baseman
Not many second baseman can provide the kind of power and speed combination that the electric MLBbro can. If Semien continues at his current pace, he could be returning to the All-Star game and likely chasing another Silver Slugger Award.
These are the types of accolades the Rangers expected him to be chasing since cashing Semien out after the 2021 season. It may have taken him a year to get back to elite form, but if the Rangers get to experience post season baseball for the first time since 2016, he will be worth every penny.
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