CARDINAL COMPLETE MLB DRAFT
The St. Louis Cardinals concluded their 2021 Major League Baseball Draft, selecting 21 players over the three-day event. The Cardinals selected 18 collegians and three high school preps. The Cardinals selections by position included 12 pitchers, a catcher, four infielders and four outfielders. Highlights from Day 3 of the draft included players who were previously drafted including LHP Alex Cornwell, previously selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 37th Round of 2017 and outfielder Elijah Cabell, previously drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 14th Round of the 2018 Draft. Cabell hit 29 home runs over three seasons at Florida State University including an iconic blast against Pittsburgh that traveled 489 feet, which would tie for the longest home run ever hit at Busch Stadium III.
FOUR OVC PLAYERS DRAFTED BY MLB TEAMS
A total of four Ohio Valley Conference players were selected in this year’s MLB Draft. Eastern Illinois shortstop Trey Sweeney was selected in the First Round by the New York Yankees. A day later Southeast Missouri pitcher Dylan Dodd was taken in the Third Round by the Atlanta Braves. On Tuesday, Jacksonville State pitcher Christian Edwards was selected in the 11th Round by the Chicago White Sox while Austin Peay outfielder Garrett Spain was picked in the 15th Round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
AREA MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
In area Minor Leage games last night, the Louisville Bats lost to the Sounds 2-1 in ten innings in Nashville, while the Redbirds beat the Norfolk Tides 4-3 in Memphis. The St. Louis Cardinals are off until Friday when they begin a home series against the Giants.
RINNE RETIRES
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is hanging up his skates and retiring after 15 NHL seasons. Rinne announced his decision yesterday. He was a four-time NHL All-Star with 369 career victories and 60 shutouts, all with the Preds.
VOLS COACHES GET CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
Baseball coach Tony Vitello and basketball coach Rick Barnes are among nine Tennessee Vols head coaches getting contract extensions. Vitello’s new contract will run through 2026 and pay him one-and-a-half-million dollars annually. The new contract for Barnes will run through the 2025-2026 season.
TEAM NAME TO BE ANNOUNCED FOR KNOX PRO SOCCER TEAM
The group bringing a United Soccer League franchise to East Tennessee next year will announce the official team name today. Knox Pro Soccer will make the announcement this afternoon at 1 o’clock Eastern Time. Earlier this year the group released four potential names as part of its Dub the Club initiative. The names are the Knoxville Rovers, Knoxville Ascent, Knoxville Soccer Club and One Knoxville.
NATIONAL SPORTS BRIEFS
The American League emerged victorious in baseball’s midsummer classic, beating the National League 5-2 in Denver. Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took the MVP trophy, homering and batting two runs in. Rays catcher Mike Zunino also went deep for the A-L. Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani earned the win, pitching a spotless opening frame. White Sox closer Liam Hendriks secured the save, despite allowing two hits. Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto put the N-L on the board with a fifth inning homer. Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes was charged the loss, allowing two runs over two innings.
Some of the newer rules in Major League Baseball might not stick around next season. In a press conference on Tuesday, Commissioner Rob Manfred said seven-inning doubleheaders and playing extra innings with a runner on second base probably won’t continue into 2022 and that those rules were only installed due to COVID-19. Manfred also mentioned how the league could look into banning the shift, something that is being experimented in Double-A ball.
The Bucks and Suns are set for Game Four of the NBA Finals in Milwaukee tonight. Giannis Antetokounmpo will look to keep his dominant reign rolling following back-to-back 40-plus point and 10-plus rebound games. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Shaquille O’Neal. His performance paved the way for a 120-100 win at home in Game Three this past Sunday. Devin Booker will look to help the Suns bounce back. Booker finished with just 10 points in the game. The Suns still lead the series 2-1.
Kawhi Leonard is undergoing successful surgery to repair a partially torn A-C-L in his right knee. The Los Angeles Clippers said Tuesday there is no timetable for his return. The forward was injured during Game Four of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz, and missed the team’s last eight playoff games — including the entire Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns. Leonard has a player option for the 2021-22 season. He averaged 24.8 points per game last season.
The WNBA All-Star Game is tonight in Las Vegas. There’s a twist to this year’s game as the WNBA All-Stars battle the U.S. Women’s National Team. Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles and others will represent the USA women, while Liz Cambage, Courtney Williams, and Candace Parker will suit up for Team WNBA. The 1996 gold-medal winning U.S. Women’s Olympic Team will also be honored during the game.
One of the most successful tennis players of all time won’t compete in the upcoming Olympic Games. Roger Federer announced on Twitter he’s withdrawing from the Games that begin later this month. He blamed a “setback” with his knee following two surgeries on his right knee. The Swiss superstar said the issue happened during the recent grass court season. He played at the just-completed Wimbledon tournament, but lost in the men’s quarters.
TUESDAY’S SCOREBOARD
MLB All-Star Game
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American League 5, National League 2
NBA Playoffs
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No Game Scheduled
WNBA
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No Games Scheduled
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE (All Times Are Eastern)
NBA Finals
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9:00 p.m. – Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks
(Suns lead best-of-seven NBA Finals, 2-1)
MLB
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No Games Scheduled (All-Star Break)
WNBA All-Star Game
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7:00 p.m. – Team USA vs Team WNBA
(WNBA All-Star Game at Las Vegas, NV) C
