All articles tagged with #ken griffey jr
Cal Raleigh hit his 55th and 56th home runs, tying and surpassing Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr.'s single-season record, and set a new record for home runs by a catcher in a season, as the Mariners continue their strong season with Raleigh's historic power display.
The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby in Seattle was a record-breaking event, with a total of 341 home runs hit by eight players. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. emerged as the champion, following in the footsteps of his father, and setting a new record of 25 home runs in the final round. The Derby showcased the talent of young Latin stars, and the presence of Ken Griffey Jr., a three-time winner and iconic figure in the event's history, added to the excitement. The overall field was the most productive in the Derby's history, with an average of 24.4 home runs per round. The changes made to the format and rules have made the Home Run Derby a must-watch event every year.
Former baseball superstar Ken Griffey Jr. has organized the inaugural Swingman Classic, an all-star game featuring players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), in an effort to promote and elevate HBCU baseball programs. The event, co-sponsored by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation, aims to increase the presence of African American players in baseball and provide opportunities for HBCU players to showcase their talent. The initiative is part of MLB's broader efforts to improve diversity and accessibility in the sport, with the hope of reclaiming baseball's hold on the African American community.
The BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament in South Carolina has attracted a star-studded celebrity lineup, including former athletes Ken Griffey Jr. and Pudge Rodriguez, 11-time NFL Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley. The event has raised over $15 million for the community in the past 20 years.
The Texas Rangers are currently leading the AL West division and their starting pitcher, Jon Gray, is on a run of great games. The Mariners have some real threats to go deep tonight, but Gray's fastball is his weakness. In other Mariners news, Mike Ford is back and will be DHing, while Marco is still dealing with his left forearm and Bryan Woo will start tomorrow. The article also includes a list of notable events in Mariners history, including Ken Griffey Jr.'s selection in the 1987 June Draft and his retirement from MLB in 2010.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays has become a Yankee killer, just like Ken Griffey Jr. once was. Guerrero, who is hitting .341, blasted a two-run homer to start the scoring on Friday and did it again on Sunday, pulling a blistering liner into the seats near the left field foul pole with two outs in the sixth inning. Guerrero's .614 slugging percentage at Yankee Stadium is the best of any player in the ballpark's 15-year history. Guerrero said it's a personal thing with the Yankees, but he didn't elaborate.
The Seattle Mariners will face off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim California Disneyland USA in their fifth game of the season. The Mariners are hoping to bounce back after a disappointing opening series against the Guardians. Anthony Rendon has been handed a five-game suspension for an incident with a fan, but is still in the lineup for the Angels. Ken Griffey Jr. and his father became the first father/son combination to play in the majors at the same time in 1989.
Trea Turner hit two home runs to help Team USA reach the World Baseball Classic final, becoming only the second player in WBC history to hit multiple homers in a game for the team, after Ken Griffey Jr. accomplished the feat in 2006. Turner also set a WBC record by recording his second consecutive game with four RBIs. Team USA will face the winner of Monday's Mexico-Japan semifinal in Tuesday night's championship game.