TBNL: New City Connect unis, Ryan Jeffers, NCAA home runs

The Nike City Connect uniforms were, generally, a resounding success in most cases. There were some poor examples, of course, but the efforts were almost universally well-received by fanbases around the league.

This is why it was a surprise to learn late last year that some of these uniform variations would not return.

Thankfully, those concerns appear to have been shortlived. Eight teams will unveil new City Connect uniforms this year. According to details shared by Phil Hecken at Uni Watch, seven of the eight will be totally new designs. The San Francisco Giants are planning “some changes to the current version.”

Only one of the eight will be keeping their original City Connect uniforms. The Boston Red Sox yellow and blue set will be worked into the team’s regular rotation, reportedly replacing the team’s blue road alternate. They will get a new City Connect uniform in addition to the yellow.

The other six teams on the list are the Diamondbacks, White Sox, Rockies, Marlins, Astros, and Nationals.

Bravo, Ryan Jeffers

Hat tip to Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers.

The Big Lead’s J.P. Hoornstra has the details, but Jeffers was somewhat ambushed with a question bringing up Bauer during an interview with Minneapolis’ KFAN morning show, “The Power Trip” with host Ben Leber, who brought up the fact that his son is “infatuated” with Bauer’s YouTube channel:

Jeffers’ response was blunt, but he took the time to explain himself. The conversation between the two continued and remained pleasant. Jeffers kept his answers thoughtful and didn’t take any direct jabs at Bauer, but there was a clear hint that he sees what most of the rest of us do — that the chances of Bauer returning to an MLB clubhouse again in the future are virtually zero. The distractions and headaches he brings far outweigh any talent he might have left.

Opening Day starters

Some clubs have started announcing their Opening Day starters, which in most cases is just a formality. Still, it’s an honor for pitchers to get the ball in Game 1 of the season, particularly when that game is the home opener.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Friday that Carlos Rodón will get the ball on Opening Day against Milwaukee. The start likely would have gone to Gerrit Cole before he underwent Tommy John surgery. Rodón also started on Opening Day for the White Sox in 2019.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza let reporters know that converted reliever Clay Holmes will get their first start at Houston. The Mets are also hampered by injuries to their pitching staff, with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the shelf.

The Orioles coaching staff had a little fun with their announcement, looping Zach Eflin’s wife and daughters in via FaceTime to tell the right-hander he’ll throw on Opening Day at Toronto. Eflin also started on Opening Day for Baltimore last year.

Five straight homers

A feat happened on Wednesday for just the fourth time in NCAA baseball history. It’s never occurred in the major leagues (or minors, for that matter).

In a midweek matchup, the Kansas Jayhawks just demoralized the Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning 29-1 in a game called after seven innings. The key moment came in the third inning. Chase Diggins, Max Soliz Jr., Brady Counsell (Cubs manager Craig Counsell’s son), Brady Ballinger, and Jackson Hauge connected on back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back (that’s five straight) home runs.

The MLB record is four straight homers. It has been done 11 times, most recently in 2022 by the Cardinals.

Cruz Jr. out at Rice

José Cruz put together a respectable 19-year career in the majors, collecting more than 2,200 hits while finishing with a .284/.354/.420 (120 OPS+) slash line.

Josê Cruz Jr. spent a dozen years in the majors, hitting .247/.337/.445 (102 OPS+) after a standout collegiate career at Rice that ended with him being selected 3rd overall in the 1995 Draft.

Cruz Jr. took over as the head coach of the Rice Owls prior to the 2022 season with high expectations. The Owls fired Cruz Jr. on Friday following a 2-14 start to the 2025 season. Cruz. Jr. was 63-126 in his three-plus seasons with the school.

Figuring out financials

A somewhat random question on Reddit reminded me of a detail about MLB contracts that many still don’t fully understand. Notably, players on non-guaranteed league-minimum contracts are paid a pro-rated amount based on the number of days they spend on the active roster.

The league calendar is 186 days long. Last year, the league minimum was $740,000, which is just under $4,000 per day.

Rich Hill, for instance, only spent 13 days on Boston’s active roster last season. The oldest player in the league earned just under $54,000.

The league minimum was raised to $800,000 this year.

Elsewhere, around the sport …

• Miguel Cabrera appeared in the lineup for Venezuela in every iteration of the World Baseball Classic. After retiring following the 2023 season, Cabrera is looking towards taking on a coaching role for the team next year based on quotes he gave to Jesús David Castellano at elextrabase.com.

• Wladimir Pinto had moments where he looked like a potential future weapon out of the Tigers bullpen, but Pinto never made it past Triple-A. He’s since spent three years pitching the independent Atlantic League before word came out Friday that he’d signed with Draci Brno in the Czech League. Brno made news not long ago after announcing that they would become the first team in the league to pay their players, beginning this season.

• Last week I wrote about a pair of Cuban outfielders who failed in MLB but are still continuing their playing careers.

• Japanese import Tomoyuki Sugano signed with the Orioles this winter and the move didn’t receive a lot of fanfare. Sugano’s resume in the NPB would suggest he could be among the best pitchers in the league and he’s done little to dispel that in spring training. Sugano has made four appearances so far this spring for Baltimore, throwing 10.1 scoreless innings with three walks and 11 strikeouts.