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ORLANDO — Major League Baseballâ€s Take the Field program kicked off on Saturday morning in the most fitting way possible: with a five-person alumni panel.

Take the Field, a two-day program created in 2018 and held during the annual Winter Meetings, is aimed toward those interested in pursuing baseball operations, front office or on-field careers.

The program provides opportunities for education and engagement through breakout sessions, speaker panels and professional development facilitated by industry leaders from all 30 Major League clubs and the league office.

This year marks the biggest Take the Field yet, with more than 130 attendees chosen from over 800 applications. Seeing this sort of evolution is gratifying to Julia Hernandez, MLBâ€s coordinator of on-field operations.

“Being able to watch this event grow from its inception when I was in the seats that some of our participants are in now, all the way to now, when we are getting close to three times the size of it in terms of participants and club representation,†Hernandez said. “We have all 30 clubs here represented in some way, shape or form. That really shows how important this is to the industry as a whole, and how clubs see this as a value to themselves, to try and find their next person that they want to bring in and develop.â€

Take the Field offers participants opportunities to learn from current baseball employees, develop in their areas of interest and network with peers and other industry professionals. Sessions cover all the bases: analytics, baseball operations, coaching, player development, research and development, scouting, technology and umpiring.

While MLB selects participants based on their readiness for job opportunities such as internships, fellowships and entry-level full-time positions, existing experience isnâ€t the be-all and end-all. Take the Field also holds resume reviews, mock interviews and networking.

Michael Hill, MLBâ€s senior vice president of on-field operations and workforce development, has worked in the game for decades. In his speech, he emphasized that these types of early career events didnâ€t exist when he was trying to break into the industry. Giving back is something Hill takes pride in being part of now.

“No matter how you approach it, everyone’s just looking for whatever that competitive edge is to be successful,†Hill said. “And hopefully, over these next two days, we’ll be able to give our applicants a little taste, a look behind the curtain, so that hopefully they can pursue their dreams in the game.â€â€¯

Hill then introduced friend and keynote speaker Chanda Lawdermilk, vice president and assistant general manager with the Rays, to detail her circuitous journey. Lawdermilk, who started as an unpaid intern giving tours at the then-new Astros ballpark in the early 2000s, at one point worked at a call center before rejoining the Astros.

Lawdermilk later shared three themes that stood out when she polled some of her colleagues from various organizations about working in baseball: the importance of resilience, being open to opportunities not on oneâ€s vision board and selflessness.

“I think as humans, it’s very easy to put the goal outside of it and just work towards it like blinders on,†Lawdermilk said. “‘I’m going to do this. I’m going to be this.†But even my story, like being in the HR department, it was not something that was on the bingo card at all. But had I not done that, I would not be able to do the things I get to do today.â€

That was a sentiment echoed by all five panelists: Amanda Taylor (Braves, assistant in Minor League operations), Hailey Leviton (Twins, assistant director of baseball operations), Rachel Neugart (Mets, Dominican Republic assistant field coordinator), Emma Segerman (MLB, international operations coordinator) and Micaela Abbatine (Pirates, amateur scouting coordinator). Each had attended Take the Field for multiple years.

The panelists covered topics ranging from why they chose a career in baseball to what separates employees: authenticity, hard work, attention to detail, curiosity and open-mindedness. They also took questions ranging from how to reset from the daily grind to the importance of player evaluation.

“My best piece of advice would be just to be present,†Taylor said. “I think so often when we’re job seeking, when you have internships or thinking about ‘what’s next, what’s next,†it’s really hard to be present. I’m definitely guilty of that. … There’s a lot of knowledge in this room. There’s a lot of really awesome people here. So just be present. Enjoy this. Take all your notes. Listen closely, ask the questions you want to ask.â€

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The Cubs had one of baseball’s most potent outfields in 2025, with the group’s .778 OPS ranking second in MLB behind only the Yankees. But what had been a reliable set of run producers became a source of less certainty when right fielder Kyle Tucker hit the free-agent market.

Though the Cubs are said to be focused on their pitching needs as the Winter Meetings get underway on Monday, the loss of Tucker certainly isn’t a non-factor. But the team has options to fill the void.

Here are five ways the Cubs could go:

The simplest solution to the outfield situation is to bring Tucker back. But it won’t be easy or cheap, as he’s perhaps the most coveted player in this year’s free-agent class. Consider this: Though injuries limited Tucker’s availability and production (by his standards) each of the past two seasons, he still had a combined 156 OPS+. His 22 homers last season were his fewest in a full season, but he still had an .841 OPS and a 143 OPS+. He also swiped 25 bases for his third 20-20 season. Those are “down-year” numbers that any player would take. Of all the options on this list, this one is probably the most attractive to Cubs fans.

A reunion with Bellinger would make a lot of sense. He signed a one-year free-agent deal with the Cubs before the 2023 season and made a good first impression, hitting .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs and an .881 OPS in 130 games. That led to a three-year, $80 million extension ahead of 2024. That season, however, wasn’t nearly as strong as 2023. He played the same number of games, but saw his numbers drop across the board. He hit .266 with 18 homers, 78 RBIs and a .751 OPS. But after a trade to the Yankees ahead of the 2025 season, Bellinger rebounded with 29 homers, 98 RBIs and an .814 OPS. He was also worth seven Outs Above Average on defense, his highest mark since 2020. Perhaps most notably, he played in 152 games — his most since 2019. He’s now a free agent after exercising an opt-out on the final year of his contract.

This move would be risky, but it could work out fine. Suzuki clubbed 32 homers and had 103 RBIs last season as a primary DH, but his second half was a struggle. He had just six homers after July 18 and hit just .207 from that point on. Plus, as a defender, Suzuki is limited. He’s been worth minus-5 Outs Above Average in his career. But if his bat returns to its first-half production, it could make up for his defensive shortcomings. But all things considered, this would be a move with the potential to go south in a hurry. Ballesteros, meanwhile, showed promise as a DH during his 20-game audition in 2025 (18 as DH). Chicago’s No. 2 prospect, he hit .298 overall with an .868 OPS in 66 plate appearances. Is he ready for a full-time role? Maybe, but it’s far from certain.

Let the kids play? It’s definitely an option. Caissie, the Cubs’ top prospect, and Alcántara, their No. 5 prospect, have both had brief stints in the Majors after strong showings with Triple-A Iowa. But as with Ballesteros, the question is whether they’re ready for bigger roles with the big league team. Caissie, 23, hit .192 with a homer and a .568 OPS in 27 plate appearances after an August callup. Alcántara, 23, debuted briefly in 2024 (one hit in 10 plate appearances) before a second callup in 2025 in which he hit .364 with a .781 OPS in 12 plate appearances. But he’s out of Minor League options, so the Cubs could be motivated to give him a bench spot. Neither Caissie nor Alcántara has a big enough MLB sample size to tell us anything, so giving either of them a prominent role would carry at least some risk.

5. Bring back the other Kyle at DH and figure out the rest

Like every other team in the Majors, the Cubs would love to add free agent Kyle Schwarber to their lineup. But as with Tucker, this is a Kyle who would be tough and expensive to acquire. Not to mention that he’s essentially a full-time DH at this point. Still, 56 homers and 132 RBIs make for an attractive investment and tend to make other lesser questions go away. Schwarber, of course, had big years with the Cubs from 2015-20. He had two seasons with 30 or more homers and helped them win the 2016 World Series, during which he hit .412 with a .971 OPS despite having not played in big league games since early April after tearing his left ACL. So, yeah, a Schwarbs reunion in Chicago would be a feel-good story all the way around. As for the ripple effects of such a move — Who plays right field? Who’s the odd man out? — well, they could just figure it out on the fly.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — City officials in St. Petersburg showed off the newly enclosed dome at Tropicana Field on Wednesday and said they are confident the ballpark will be ready for the Tampa Bay Rays’ homer opener on April 6 against the Chicago Cubs following work to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Milton.

“We have no concern about being open or ready for opening day,” said Beth Herendeen, managing director of City Development Administration. “We hope we keep it that way.”

Some seam work remains on the final panels to close small gaps at the top and interior repairs are well underway.

Tropicana Field sustained extensive damage on Oct. 9, 2024. High winds ripped sections of the original roof, allowing rain to fall into the stadium bowl for months. Water caused mold and damage to electrical, sound and broadcast systems.

The city contracted ETS, AECOM Hunt and Hennessy Construction to lead the repairs, and brought back Geiger Engineering, the dome’s original designer, to help reengineer the roof. The synthetic membranes of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are thicker and built to current wind-load codes.

“The roof that was replaced had to be designed to today’s codes,” city architect Raul Quintana said. “It’s a much stronger material than it was 35 years ago, and it’s going to last.”

The Rays played 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.

Installation of the new roof began in August, and the final panel was put in place Nov. 21. Some triangular panels still show color variation, with newer pieces beige and earlier ones already bleached white, but Quintana said they will eventually match.

“It took about three months to bleach out the ones that were first installed,” he said.

The air-conditioning system has been reactivated, and contractors are focused on electrical work, seating and sound equipment. The team is upgrading the luxury suites and the stadium videoboard.

“Drywall is being hung, seats are being painted, and the catwalk electric is being installed,” Herendeen said. “The new stadium sound system will be installed this month and tested in January.”

New artificial turf is scheduled to arrive in mid-January. Other final updates include new home plate club seats, clubhouse carpet and lockers, and new flooring on the outfield deck.

Tampa Bay starts the season with a nine-game trip to St. Louis, Milwaukee and Minnesota.

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≡ USATF BOARD TURMOIL ≡

USA Track & Field is experiencing a golden age of performance by American athletes, who won a sensational 34 medals (14 gold) at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and 26 medals (16 gold) at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Off the field, the federation is navigating significant financial difficulties, ending 2024 with negative net assets of $6.125 million, with $29.730 million in assets and $35.855 million in liabilities.

Now, the USATF Board of Directors is fighting among themselves, dismissing two of its members over the last 10 days:

â— Jere Summers-Hall, a shot and hammer All-American at Louisville and now an operations specialist for large digital firms, was elected as the Chair of the USATF Athletes Commission in December 2024.

â— Kristie Killough-Ali, a Chicago attorney, was elected as an Independent Director to the USATF Board in 2018 and whose term will expire in 2026.

The USATF Board did not simply vote Summers-Hall and Killough-Ali off of the Board, but suspended their USATF memberships, making them ineligible for them to attend the USATF Annual Meeting taking place at Lake Buena Vista, Florida this coming Friday and Saturday (5-6 December).

This is especially noteworthy in view of the fact that Summers-Hall submitted 45 proposals and sub-proposals for consideration by the Law & Legislation Committee and then by the membership or other governance bodies as a whole, and Killough-Ali submitted eight.

Whatâ€s going on here?

¶

Summers-Hall has been, according to multiple close observers, a relentless inquirer about USATFâ€s financial affairs, budgeting, expenditures and how athletes – including Paralympic athletes, now under USATF governance – can be further supported, and also how Paralympic athletes can be more deeply incorporated into the USATF governance structure.

On 25 November, she was sent a letter – seen by The Sports Examiner – from the USATF Board which referred to an Executive Session on 24 November:

“During this discussion, the athlete representatives on the Board spoke candidly about concerns they and other athletes have raised regarding the direction of the Athleteâ€s Commission (‘ACâ€) under your leadership as Chair.

“The Board received detailed reports of several significant concerns. These include, but are not limited to, allegations that you have not fulfilled the duties of your position by failing to work with the AC to ensure all athlete appointments are made to the organizationâ€s committees; that you have exceeded the authority of your position by making certain decisions and appointments without first obtaining the ACâ€s input; and that you have harassed and berated other athletes and National Office staff. The athlete representatives also reported that the AC has been unable to advance any of its initiatives over the past year due to the disruption caused by these behaviors. They expressed that, if such conduct continues, athlete engagement in the AC is likely to further decline. In light of these concerns, they requested that the Board take immediate action.

“Given the risk of substantial harm to USATF, including the AC, and after thorough deliberation, the Board moved, seconded, and voted to direct its CEO to take emergency action under USATF Regulation 21-T. Accordingly, your USATF membership is hereby temporarily suspended. Please note, pursuant to Regulation 21-T, you have the right to a hearing before the Board upon your written notice to the National Office within five (5) days of this communication.â€

A message sent from the eight USATF athlete members of the Board to the USATF Athlete Commission members on 26 November included:

“The concerns raised regarding Jeréâ€s conduct and leadership compelled us to act in what we believe is the best interests of both athletes and the broader organization.

“Over the past year, the relationship between the Athletes†Commission and USATF leadership has deteriorated. After much reflection, it became clear that the Chair’s approach and values no longer align with what athletes need for effective, collaborative representation in our sport.â€

Summers-Hall sent a four-page reply on 27 November, which opened with:

“After reviewing the governing documents and applicable federal law, the Boardâ€s emergency action appears to have been taken in violation of the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (the ‘Ted Stevens Actâ€), USOPC Bylaws, and USATFâ€s own Bylaws and Regulations.

“The cited allegations are not safety or integrity related. They lack specificity, evidence, or any indication of immediate risk. They reflect unsupported internal allegations that should have been addressed, if at all, through regular procedures, not emergency discipline aimed at silencing an athleteâ€s advocacy carried out in good faith and in the best interests of both athletes and USATF.â€

She noted the suspension “appears retaliatory†and requested revocation of her membership suspension and asked for future actions to comply with the Ted Stevens Act and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee requirements.

There was an “emergency meeting†online of the USATF athletes on 1 December, which Summers-Hall – now suspended – was invited to join and during which she explained her position. It eventually ended with the USATF Athletes Commission Board – a group separate from those athletes on the USATF Board of Directors – moving to a private discussion of next steps.

What appears true is that the USATF Board will not allow Summers-Hall to attend the General Meeting in Florida and she will remain suspended pending a Board hearing (where her request to be reinstated is unlikely to be reversed).

¶

Killough-Aliâ€s temporary suspension was also delivered in a 25 November letter and involve a defamation suit between former USATF staff member and former Board member Jim Estes and the federation, over his consulting role with Chattanooga, Tennessee as a bidder for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, eventually awarded to Orlando, Florida.

In short, Estes†suit has involved former USATF Board Chair Mike Conley, the 1992 Olympic menâ€s triple jump gold medalist and 1993 World Champion and Killough-Aliâ€s apparent discussions with Conley related to this matter. The 25 November letter included:

“After further consultation with outside counsel, the Board discussed the immediacy of discovery and the likelihood that your position will be adverse to USATF. As a result, the Board holds significant legal and ethical concerns regarding your continued involvement in USATF governance committees and other membership functions while Litigation remains pending.

“Although you offered to discuss the matter further with the Board, you did not take actions to resign from the Board and other committees, nor did you volunteer to suspend your USATF membership. Therefore, the Board remains concerned that your continued participation could be detrimental to USATF both with respect to the Litigation specifically and the organizationâ€s broader mission.

“Given the risk of substantial harm to USATF, and after careful deliberation and thoughtful discussion, the Board moved, seconded, and voted to direct its CEO to take emergency action under USATF Regulation 21-T. Accordingly, your USATF membership is hereby temporarily suspended until the Litigation has concluded. Please note, pursuant to Regulation 21-T, you have the right to a hearing before the Board upon your written notice to the National Office within five (5) days of this communication.â€

USATF President Curt Clausen, also an attorney, send Killough-Ali a prior letter on 20 November, which asked for her resignation and also included:

“At a minimum, it is likely you will be a critical witness in the Litigation – both with respect to USATFâ€s defense of Jim Estes†claims and with respect to USATFâ€s claims against Mr. Conley. We expect your positions may be adverse to USATFâ€s interests in the Litigation.â€

Killough-Ali replied to Clausen on 24 November, a day before the Board suspension letter arrived and noted, in part:

“1. The concerns reflected in your letter suggest that providing truthful information is inconsistent with loyalty to USATF, the organization. In fact, the opposite is true: honesty, transparency, and legal compliance are essential to fulfilling our fiduciary obligations.

“2. The letter conflates and confuses loyalty for our CEO & COO with loyalty to USATF. My fiduciary duty is owed exclusively to USATF, the organization – not to individual executives. Truthful testimony upholds that duty; suppressing it violates it.

“3. If legally required to testify, I will do so truthfully and in full alignment with my fiduciary duties owed to USATF.â€

She called the 20 November letter “the most serious instance of retaliation†and asked for independent legal counsel to help guide the federation through the legal minefield of the Estes case.

¶

Both Killough-Ali and Summers-Hall referred to a non-disclosure agreement that Killough-Ali stated in her reply was from “Attorneys representing the CEO and COOâ€; Estes†action against them was dismissed, but the complaint against USATF has been allowed to proceed to the discovery phase.

The non-disclosure agreement was provided to each of the USATF Board members and asked the signees to promise to “not use, disseminate or in any way disclose or otherwise convey any portion of the Confidential Information furnished to it or such other materials described in (1) above to any person.â€

The “Confidential Information†included a long list of items, such as financial data, transactions, business strategy, potential event locations and many others. Killough-Ali did not sign it and stated in her reply, “I have NOT breached my fiduciary duty,†and “I remain committed to acting in good faith and in the best interest of USATF, consistent with my fiduciary duties, and look forward to discussing this matter with the Board.â€

Summers-Hall also responded on the non-disclosure agreement, noting that the restrictions appeared to limit her ability to talk to Athlete Commission members about information they should know.

She also submitted the non-disclosure agreement to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, which, according to Summers-Hill, “the USOPC sent a letter to USATF leadership, now shared with the full [USATF] Board, stating that: [t]he concerns raised about the NDA are reasonable†and should be clarified and more limited.

Meanwhile, the Estes vs. USATF suit goes on and the drama will apparently continue.

All part of being a national federation which was one of six nominees for the World Athletics Member Federations Award for 2025, and won “bronze recognition for Best NGB or Organizing Body of the Year at the 2025 Sports Business Awards.â€

¶

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Armand Duplantis has capped a remarkable 2025, in which he broke four world records and won another world title, by being named World Athletics†male athlete of the year.

Immediately after picking up the award, the Swedish pole vaulter took aim at Michael Johnsonâ€s Grand Slam Track, which collapsed earlier in the summer and is still yet to pay athletes their full prize money.

“There was another tour that tried to exclude field events,†Duplantis said to an audience that included multiple athlete stars as well Prince Albert II of Monaco. “That didnâ€t didnâ€t go so well, did it? I am very proud to represent field eventers.â€

That received applause and laughter in the room, and there was more when Duplantis, who was unbeaten in 16 competitions in 2025, said he was “delighted and honoured to win the award – I just love pushing myself and pushing boundaries.â€

The female athlete of the year award was won by the American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who won world 400m gold in Tokyo in a time of 47.78sec – the second fastest time in history.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won 400m gold in Tokyo this year. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

For good measure, McLaughlin-Levrone, who is now unbeaten in 24 races, also won the women track athlete of the year too. She also became the first athlete to have won world titles in both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles, and was part of the USâ€s gold medal-winning 4x400m team in Tokyo.

“Honestly I am blown away,†she said. “I donâ€t feel deserving to be honest. But Tokyo was a really special moment and I am so thankful for this honour and recognition.â€

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Elsewhere, the Australian high jumper Nicola Olyslagers won the womenâ€s field award, while the 800m world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya won the menâ€s track world honour.

The London marathon winner Sabastian Sawe won the out of menâ€s stadium athlete of the year, while the Spanish race walker María Pérez won the womenâ€s award.

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By the time the final buzzer sounds on Friday night, we will know the eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, the bracket-style knockout round stage of the tournament.

While we already know a couple of the final eight (the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers), the final six spots — four division winners plus one wild card in each conference — will be decided on Friday. Here are four must-watch games that will go a long way to determining who advances and starts playing for the size of their bonus check and a trip to Las Vegas.

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Orlando at Detroit

The math is pretty simple here: Win and you’re in. Whichever team wins this game advances to the quarterfinals and wins East Group B. If Detroit loses, it would need a lot of help to advance as the wild card. However, if Orlando loses a close game and doesn’t ding its +61 point differential too much, it very likely would advance to the quarterfinals as a wild card.

Milwaukee at New York

If the Knicks win, they advance as the winners of East Group C, but if they lose, they are out. With a New York victory, both teams would be 3-1, but the Knicks would advance because they won the head-to-head matchup. If Milwaukee wins, Miami wins the group at 3-1 (the Heat do not play Friday), and the Knicks are eliminated — and if Milwaukee wins in a blowout, the Bucks become a long shot to advance as the wild card, but they need a lot of help.

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Even if the Knicks win, Miami has a chance to advance as the Wild Card with its +49 point differential. However, the Heat would need some help (depending on the point differential of the other 3-1 teams, the Heat would need Orlando to lose by more than 12 and Cleveland to lose or at least beat Atlanta by less than 16).

Phoenix at Oklahoma City

Another win-and-you’re-in scenario. Whichever team wins this game will be 4-0 in group play and will advance to the quarterfinals. With Oklahoma City entering the game +71 in point differential for NBA Cup games and Phoenix at +35, the loser of this game has a very good chance to advance as the wild card (but if the Suns lose they need it to be close). Also of note, Oklahoma City — which made it to the finals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas last year — will get Jalen Williams back for this game.

San Antonio at Denver

It’s another win-and-you’re-in scenario, but this game is far more influenced by injuries than the others. No Victor Wembanyama for San Antonio, which makes matching up with Nikola Jokic a challenge and puts a lot on Luke Kornet’s plate. Denver is dealing with injury issues itself, down two starters (Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon), and is now asking a lot more of Peyton Watson. The loser of this game could advance as the wild card if it’s a close game and OKC blows out Phoenix, and Memphis doesn’t blow out the Clippers.

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The best football shin pads are an essential part of every footballer’s matchday gear, but they can get overlooked.

While you may not like wearing them, shin pads are mandatory, so you may as well get the best. Whether you’re concerned about your shin pads being too bulky, uncomfortable, or hindering your mobility, we’ve rounded up the best options on the market, so you won’t have those problems here.

The shin pads in this guide are made using cutting-edge technology to improve comfort, protection and breathability. They also cover a range of price points, so there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking to maximise performance, you should also consider reading our guides for the best football boots (obviously) the best grip socks for football, and even the best football boot insoles. But, for the best football shin pads, scroll down below.

Mitre Aircell Pro (Image credit: Mitre)

Mitre Aircell Pro

They are best known for footballs, but Mitre have made huge strides in the world of shin pads

Specifications

Sizing: UK XS – XL

Colourways available: 2

Reasons to buy+

Affordable

+

Range of sizing options and great breathability

Reasons to avoid-

Not as protective against hard challenges

Mitre may be best known for footballs, but they make great shin pads, too. The Mitre Aircell shin pads offer a solid balance of comfort, protection, and affordability, making them a popular choice for both amateur and intermediate players.

What sets these shin pads apart is the Aircell technology, which integrates a breathable design to improve airflow, reducing sweat buildup and keeping players cool during intense matches. The lightweight feel of the pads makes them unrestrictive, allowing players to move freely without feeling weighed down.

The hard outer shell provides ample defence against impact, covering key areas of the shin, while the soft, padded interior absorbs shocks and minimises discomfort. The shape is contoured for a secure fit, conforming well to the shin. The shin pads come with a pair of compression sleeves that will hold your shin pads in place while playing. Overall, Mitre Aircell shin pads are a reliable and cost-effective choice, particularly for younger players or those who play at a less aggressive level, offering good durability and comfort at a reasonable price.

G-Form Pro-S Blade CE Shin pads (Image credit: G-Form)

G-Form Pro-S Blade CE Shin pads

An excellent choice for players seeking lightweight, flexible protection

Specifications

Sizing: UK S – XL

Colourways available: 10

Reasons to buy+

Slim, low-profile design

Reasons to avoid-

Take some time to get used to

The G-Form Pro-S Blade CE shin pads are excellent for players seeking lightweight, flexible protection without sacrificing durability.

These shin pads use G-Form’s signature SmartFlex technology, which hardens on impact, offering solid protection while maintaining a slim and low-profile design. The pads are soft and flexible in their natural state, adapting to the player’s movement and giving a barely-there feel, which is perfect for those who dislike the bulkiness of traditional shin pads.

The Pro-S Blade CE pads are slip-on, so no straps or sleeves, but they do come with a pair of leg sleeves. The material is also highly breathable, allowing for better air circulation and minimising sweat build-up during play. This design makes them easy to wear directly against the skin or under socks, with minimal risk of shifting, to offer a distraction-free playing experience. Overall, the G-Form Pro-S Blade CE shin pads are ideal for players who prioritise comfort and flexibility, offering solid, reliable protection in a sleek and innovative design.

Smart Armor Shin pad (Image credit: Smart Armor)

Smart Armor Shin Pad

When it comes to shin pads, it probably won’t get better than this

Reasons to buy+

Body mapped shape

+

Breathable sweat-wicking mesh

Shin pads don’t get better than this. The Smart Armor S1 Pro Shin pads probably feature the most technology of any shin pads on the market. It’s like wearing the Venom symbiote on your legs, if you can imagine what that’s like.

The shin pads are made from a smart material known as Rheon, the development of which began at NASA (yes, the place that makes rockets). Rheon has the properties of a shear-thickening liquid, meaning that in its normal state, it’s soft and flexible, but the moment it is hit with force, it becomes as hard as a rock. Additionally, it was specifically designed to sit perfectly on top of your shin muscle, as it was designed by taking several scans of an athlete’s legs. Not only does this make them incredibly comfortable, but because of how light they are, you’ll forget you’re wearing them.

These shin pads come with a set of leg compression sleeves, which feature a kangaroo-style pouch that you place them in, so they don’t move while you’re playing. If you want the best of the best when it comes to shin pads, don’t bother looking anywhere else.

Carbon Athletic Carbon Fiber shin pads (Image credit: Carbon Athletic)

Carbon Athletic Carbon Fibre shin pads

These shin pads are made from carbon fibre and are trusted by some of the best in the game.

The Carbon Athletic Carbon Fibre shin pads are used by players like Gabriel Martinelli, Reece James and Joao Felix, which shows that they can be trusted at the highest level.

By using carbon fibre, these shin pads offer great strength while still being lightweight. A low-profile design also means they go unnoticed while you play and don’t disrupt player mobility. On top of everything, they also have an ergonomic fit for an anatomical design with specific left and right pads.

These shin pads come with EVA foam for enhanced comfort, and you get a zip-up carry case for convenience and a luxurious feel. If you’re looking for something premium and trusted by pros at the top level, then the Carbon Athletic carbon fibre shin pads could be the right choice for you.

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Dominican Republic beats Puerto Rico at Citi Field in exhibition game

\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” game was also billed as a tribute to Dominican second baseman Robinson Canó, who went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk before being replaced at second base in the bottom of the seventh. Every member of the Dominican team wore Canóâ€s No. 24 and game action paused when retired former Mets second baseman Luis Castillo emerged from the third-base dugout to retrieve Canó.\n\nThe 17-year MLB veteran, who played for the Mets from 2019-22, fought back tears as he tipped his cap to a cheering crowd and embraced his teammates.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

Robinson Cano in tears as he plays his final game in the United States pic.twitter.com/iQ6QeR8ck8

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) November 15, 2025

\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” back here again and being able to play again means a lot to me, as I was here and got to witness the greatness of the Mets team, the treatment, the fans with that desire for a championship,†Canó said prior to the game. “Coming back here again to this field, really, it means a lot to me, and this day will have a special place in my heart.â€\n\nSeveral former Mets were part of the festivities, including former first baseman Carlos Delgado, who managed the Puerto Rican team, and former outfielder Carlos Gómez, the skipper for the Dominican squad. Former outfielder Carlos Beltrán, currently a special assistant to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, served as a coach for the Puerto Rican team.\n\nGómez made it clear that, although it was an exhibition game, he had every intention of winning.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

Recap desde el Citi Field âš¾

Así se vivió el partido de esta tarde entre RD 🇩🇴 y PR 🇵🇷

📸 vía: @CitiField #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/JTBFLUtFwy

— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) November 15, 2025

\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” who follows baseball knows that when the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico face off, itâ€s a healthy competition, and anyone who comes to watch a game, comes to watch a real game,†Gómez said prior to the game. “Even in Little League, when they face off, they give it their all.â€\n\nThis is the third consecutive year that Citi Field has hosted Caribbean teams. In November 2023, the Tigres del Licey and Ãguilas Cibaeñas from the Dominican Republicâ€s winter circuit faced off in a three-game exhibition series in Queens, where the two teams also played a one-game exhibition last fall.\n\nBased on Saturdayâ€s official attendance, 20,057 fans braved temperatures that hovered around 45 degrees to witness the game, reflecting the enthusiasm these types of matchups stir among the New York fanbase.\n\n\”Itâ€s the reason for the event,†Delgado said. “New York, obviously, is a huge platform, especially for Latinos. With the Dominican and Puerto Rican demographic here, itâ€s natural to create this kind of event. This transcends the sport because itâ€s a cultural celebration.—,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/dominican-republic-beats-puerto-rico-at-citi-field-in-exhibition-game”,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”NEW YORK — Citi Field played host to one of Caribbean baseballâ€s most storied rivalries on Saturday, as All-Stars from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico winter leagues squared off in the “RD-PR Showdown,†an exhibition game that the Dominicans won, 6-2.\nDominant pitching was the story early on. 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3:18 AM UTC

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Eastern Michigan head coach Robbie Britt is leaving the program to join the Boston Red Sox as the organizationâ€s field coordinator, sources told Baseball America.

Britt will replace Andrew Wright, who departed the Red Sox last month to join the Nationals. Assistant coach Trevor Beerman is expected to be elevated to interim head coach as EMU moves forward without the leader it hired just over two years ago.

Britt exits Ypsilanti after two seasons of guiding the Eagles and nearly a decade of coaching across the Division I, II and III levels. He accumulated a 35-69 record at Eastern Michigan but showed year-to-year improvement with 14 total wins in his first season and 21 in 2025.

When Britt was hired in 2023, Wright praised the move from afar, calling him an “incredible hire†and adding, “Robbie embodies the passion, intentionality, and knowledge of the game that is essential in building a championship program. He is a man of high integrity, character, and has an elite work ethic.â€

Britt arrived at EMU in June 2023 following a dominant four-year run as head coach at Division II Charleston, where he posted a .722 winning percentage and built the Golden Eagles into a consistent regional force. His Charleston teams won three regular season conference championships, won two conference tournament titles and reached the NCAA Tournament three times. He coached 27 all-conference players.

Before his success at Charleston, Britt spent three seasons at Middle Tennessee State, where he progressed from director of baseball operations to volunteer assistant to interim head coach. He helped engineer a significant offensive breakthrough in 2017 as the Blue Raiders jumped to second in Conference USA in batting average and doubled their home run total from the previous year.

Brittâ€s exit triggers a 30-day transfer window for Eastern Michigan players, though meaningful roster movement is highly unlikely. Because of academic calendar rules, any non-graduate Division I player who enters the portal now would be required to sit out the 2026 season unless he obtains a waiver or successfully challenges his eligibility via the legal system. That reality alone makes late-November departures improbable.

EMU will now shift into search mode with Beerman expected to guide the program in the interim.

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Any injury to Wood would be a huge worry to England given his record.

He has not played a Test since August 2024, when he was ruled out of the rest of that year because of an elbow injury.

He returned in white-ball cricket at the beginning of this year but sustained a knee injury at the Champions Trophy which subsequently required surgery.

The hamstring problem is in the same leg on which Wood had the knee operation.

The tour match against the Lions was Wood’s first cricket of any kind in nine months and his first in whites for 15 months.

Still, on a slow pitch he was immediately up to high pace, hitting 91mph in his first spell.

The England selection for the tour game appeared to hint at their plans for the first Test, with Wood part of a five-man pace attack and frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir playing for the Lions.

In recent years spin has played a diminished role in Tests in Australia, and Optus Stadium, the venue for the first Test against Australia starting on 21 November, is particularly suited to seam.

Another England pace bowler, Brydon Carse, missed the first day of the tour match through illness but is expected to join the game in the coming days.

Stokes, playing for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in July, took two wickets in each of his three spells.

Opener Ben McKinney, England white-ball batter Cox, 17-year-old Thomas Rew and Ashes seamer Matthew Potts made half-centuries for the Lions.

Potts was dismissed by what turned out to be the final ball of the day, discomforted by a Jofra Archer bouncer. It means England will begin their reply when play resumes on day two.

“It was a decent day out,” said Brook. “It was good to get out there, put some miles in the legs and for the bowlers to bowl a few spells.

“We haven’t spent much time together, so to get back together as a group, get out on the pitch and work towards 10 wickets was a successful day.”

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