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MIAMI — Miamiâ€s loanDepot park became the stage on Saturday for a fundraiser to support children and communities in Latin America and the United States, thanks to a partnership between La Gente del Barrio Foundation and VG27, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s charitable organization.

The event featured a celebrity softball game followed by a home run derby, during which the participants’ pop was on full display. And it boasted plenty of Latin American star power.

From Guerrero himself, who hosted the event, to José Ramírez, Juan Soto, Randy Arozarena, Junior Caminero, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Ezequiel Tovar, Teóscar Hernández and Julio Rodríguez, and such retired stars as Edwin Encarnación, Carlos Baerga and Andruw Jones, fans in attendance were treated to an impressive roster of baseball talent.

“For me, itâ€s a big achievement to be here with my teammates and to be able to put on a good event here in Miami,†said Guerrero. “The main thing is that we can help low-income children in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, all of Latin America.â€

The celebrity softball game was a true spectacle. With two teams made up of athletes and figures from the world of arts and entertainment, the game featured such standout moments as Arozarena robbing a home run, a Guerrero swing-and-miss that elicited laughs from the crowd and a great defensive play in right field by Hernández … all while holding his cell phone. Not to mention a shutout performance by retired slugger Encarnación.

“More than being here enjoying ourselves, itâ€s about the cause. … Itâ€s super important to be able to bring some kind of support to those people who need the foundation,” Hernández said. “For me, [participating] is more than a point of pride. I think [these events] are good for Latin culture and for all those people who love baseball.â€

After five scoreless innings, the softball game was decided by a mini home run derby that Caminero won. Caminero was crowned MVP, which earned him a custom event jacket in the style that Guerrero Jr.â€s Toronto Blue Jays have implemented in recent years.

A display of distance and power

Then came the main course: A home run derby featuring a group of names that would be the envy of any other competition.

Noelvi Marte, Perdomo, Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Arozarena, Ketel Marte, Guerrero, Ramírez and Carlos Santana were the protagonists, and with aluminum bats in hand, they unleashed mammoth blasts.

In the first round, two monumental shots from Caminero and one from Ketel Marte hit the loanDepot roof. Both Caminero and Ketel Marte advanced to the second round, alongside Noelvi Marte and Guerrero, who led the opening round with nine home runs.

Noelvi Marte and Guerrero made it to the final, with Marte claiming the crown (or, in this case, a commemorative jacket) after hitting five home runs compared with Guerreroâ€s two.

Prelude to the World Baseball Classic?

With so much Dominican talent in one place, it was impossible not to think about whatâ€s to come in just a few months, when loanDepot park hosts games for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Many of these same players will be back, but with a different aim: to clinch a second crown for the Dominican Republic. Several players were already thinking ahead on Saturday.

“There are a few [players already ready], yes,†said Hernández. “Hopefully, when the event comes, they can triumph and try to bring the championship to the Dominican Republic.â€

Added Ketel Marte: “I am ready; thank God I am well physically. The key is to get to Spring Training healthy and hope in God to continue like this and receive the invitation there.”

Even Guerrero, who came up just short of a World Series title last month, is already focused on getting in shape for the tournament.

“I started working out exactly last Monday,” he said. “Next Monday I start hitting and running. But I feel physically very good right now.â€

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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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Bangladesh secured victory over Ireland by eight wickets in the decisive third Twenty20 international between the sides in Chattogram.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim equalled the record for most number of catches from an outfielder in T20 cricket with five.

To make it more remarkable, all five of his catches came in consecutive Irish wickets as Bangladesh limited the visitors to 117 all out with one ball remaining.

After winning the second T20 on Sunday to level the series, Bangladesh were too strong for Ireland in their innings and needed just 13.4 overs to score 119 and win by eight wickets.

Ireland won the first match between the sides by a convincing 39 runs before the home side levelled the series with a four-wicket victory on Saturday.

In Tuesday’s decider, Tim Tector was the first Irish batter dismissed on 17, and his brother Harry was the next to fall on five with Ireland at a half-century.

Lorcan Tucker was bowled by Shak Mahedi Hasan to be out on one run, and Curtis Campher followed on nine before Paul Stirling fell in the 11th over to leave Ireland on 73-5.

Tanzid then caught Gareth Delaney (10), Mark Adair (eight), Matthew Humphreys (one), George Dockrell (19) and Ben White (five) in five consecutive Irish wickets.

Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with figures of 3-11, and White’s dismissal left Ireland all out on 117 with one ball remaining.

Despite the losses of Saif Hassan (19) and Litton Das (seven) in the opening five overs, Bangladesh were comfortable with the bat and 55 from the impressive Tanzid and 33 from Hossain Emon powered Bangladesh to 119 and an eight-wicket victory.

It was a successful series for Bangladesh, who also dominated the two-match Test series between the sides before the three T20s.

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AUSTIN, Texas — Itâ€s not uncommon for former players to experience a loss of purpose and identity when their career comes to an end.

To fill this void, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association invites former and current players nearing the end of their career to its annual Career Development Summit each year, to network and attend panels on a wide variety of topics that demonstrate that there is life after they hang up the cleats.

This yearâ€s summit was held Nov. 21-23 in the Lone Star State.

“Itâ€s such a great thing, especially for guys that are leaving the game or had recently left the game, or planning to leave the game, because itâ€s something I never thought about,†former Major Leaguer Scott Spiezio said on Saturday. “I thought about, ‘Iâ€m going to play, keep playing for 20 years,†and then all of a sudden, itâ€s over.â€

The event included such panels as “The Mental Aspect of Transition,†during which Spiezio and former big leaguers JP Arencibia and Travis Snider spoke openly about their struggles after their playing careers concluded, and “Entrepreneurial Plays Post-Baseball,†a panel on how former ballplayers used their desire for competition for post-career business opportunities.

Spiezio, who has been sober since 2018, was open about his struggles with addiction. His message to the attendees was profound and bigger than the game.

“My purpose is more about helping others and making an impact on others in a positive way than playing,†he said.

The majority of the panelists were former players, adding another layer of connection to attendees. Throughout the event, many panelists shared their personal phone numbers, encouraging all attendees to reach out.

“Itâ€s a brotherhood, it doesnâ€t matter where you are. If someone says, ‘I played Major League Baseball,†then we immediately have a connection,†said “Entrepreneurial Plays Post-Baseball†panelist Daniel McCutchen.

One of the most popular panels was “Broadcasting 101,†an hour-long session that featured Al Leiter, Bob Scanlan, Bengie Molina and Peter Moylan. Each shared how he got into broadcasting and how to navigate the media business. Leiter even challenged interested attendees, “Donâ€t be afraid to fail.â€

“[We have] the opportunity to be able to come here and share our stories with guys who are going through this and say, ‘Hey, youâ€re going to be fine, there is a second life after baseball,â€â€ Scanlan said.

The “MLB Network Radio Hits†event, led by MLB Network Radio broadcaster Mike Ferrin, gave attendees a taste of life behind the microphone as an analyst. During the exercise, participants shared their thoughts on the ABS system in a conversational tone, then received feedback on their performances. Each received a demo reel for their portfolio.

The summit also offered professional headshots and mock interviewing practice.

Although the summit is tailored to players, there were opportunities for spouses to participate in the “Women in Business†event and “Navigating Marriage & Transition from the Game.â€

“Theyâ€ve made more of an effort to incorporate families as well, which I think is crucial,†Scanlan said.

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How could Scotland start so poorly and finish so impressively?

“Was it because we’ve got that mindset where a point might do, so it’s cautious?” Dodds wondered. “Maybe the cautious approach came from what we needed out of the game, but then we realised at the end, we’re desperate and we nearly did it, but it didn’t really matter in the end, did it?

“It’s all about energy and belief. That’s when we’re at our best. It’s about having a go.”

McFadden thought “lousy defending” and “a nervousness” from their previous recent meetings with Greece contributed to Saturday’s eventful defeat.

“I thought our press was really poor,” he said. “They found it far too easy to play in the areas they wanted to play and we didn’t stop them.

“The distances were too big between defence and midfield and attack, so the press was never going to work, but then the second half started much better, much more aggressive, we’re getting players forward.

“You look at Andy Robertson’s cross for Ryan Christie’s goal. Earlier in the game, he probably turns back, because it’s not perfect, it’s bouncing.

“Earlier, John McGinn wasn’t driving forward, Scott McTominay wasn’t driving forward. We are at our best when McGinn’s driving forward, when McTominay’s getting into the box, when Robertson’s getting up the line and getting crosses into the box and, for whatever reason, the last three games have not been like that.”

Clarke said afterwards that “we need to believe in ourselves more”.

“I don’t know why they don’t believe in themselves, being the players we all know they can be,” McFadden said, recalling the struggle to beat Belarus at Hampden.

“I don’t know if it’s lack of belief, I don’t know if it’s confidence, but when you watch players and they’re doing things they don’t normally do, not for the better of the team, then you start to think is it maybe time for some of these players to be replaced and then you see them driving forward and playing how they can play.

“Is it because it’s a World Cup and there’s a real fear of failure?”

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Nov 15, 2025, 11:24 AM ET

Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel got the chance to play in his hometown of Milwaukee for the first time in his young career, and he took the idea of a homecoming game quite literally.

The first-round draft pick invited the whole Hornets team over to his family’s home a night before facing the Bucks.

“Taking the [team] bus down my street, going home, that was weird,” Knueppel said before Friday night’s game. “And a bunch of NBA players in my house. It was a lot of big people, but my family enjoyed it. My brothers definitely enjoyed it.”

So excited to host the Hornets at our home in MKE! pic.twitter.com/btmkBHBpEz

— Chari Nordgaard Knueppel (@ChariNKnueppel) November 14, 2025

Knueppel is the oldest of five boys. Both of his parents played college basketball, so being around a team is nothing new for the family. However, Knueppel said at least one of his teammates had never had an experience like this.

“Mason [Plumlee], one of our vets, 35 [years old], year [13 in the NBA] for him. And he was like, ‘I’ve never done this before, never gone to a teammate’s house,'” Knueppel said. “So that was cool to hear him say that. It was a special hour and a half for us.”

Perhaps most importantly, the team impressed Mom.

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“They were such great guys,” said Knueppel’s mother, Chari. “They’re young, and they’re so good to my younger sons. … It was just a really great life experience, just a core memory.”

The game itself was special too. With nearly 2,000 friends and family in attendance, Kon Knueppel scored a career-high 32 points, but the Hornets lost to the Bucks 147-134 in overtime of an NBA Cup game.

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First Test, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (day four of five)

Ireland 286: Stirling 60; Miraz 3-50 & 254: McBrine 52; Murad 4-60

Bangladesh 587-8 dec: Joy 171, Shanto 100; Humphreys 5-170

Bangladesh win by an innings and 47 runs

Scorecard

Bangladesh wrapped up a comprehensive first-Test victory over Ireland in Sylhet by an innings and 47 runs.

The tourists started day four in an ominous position at 86-5 in their second innings – still facing a 215-run deficit, but fought to make the hosts bat again.

However, Bangladesh continued to take Ireland wickets and sealed their thumping win after lunch.

The second match of the two-Test series starts in Dhaka on Wednesday – and Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie said his team must be “better for longer”.

“That was tough for us,” said the 34-year-old Dubliner.

“Bangladesh were just better than us in every aspect of the game. They showed us how to get a big first innings score and we were always on the back foot.

“What we wanted to do was fight for as long as possible and I thought we showed that in glimpses, but if we are going to compete a bit better, we are going to have to be better for longer.”

Andy McBrine led the fight on Friday with his fifth Test half-century which moves him into second place on the Ireland men’s Test run-scorer list to complement his status as their highest Test wicket-taker.

McBrine survived a couple of scares when given out in successive balls which were overturned on review, but batted with confidence which saw Ireland through to lunch.

Matthew Humphreys had chipped in earlier with 16, before McBrine and Balbirnie produced a 66-run stand – with the captain moved lower down the order to allow his injured finger time to rest.

However, Balbirnie was out lbw to Test debutant Hasan Murad who then caught McBrine off the bowling of Nahid Rana.

Number nine Jordan Neill added 36 before Murad dismissed him for his fourth wicket of the innings, while Taijul Islam sealed victory for the hosts by removing Barry McCarthy for 25 as Ireland were all out for 254.

“We are aware of how good a team Bangladesh are in their own conditions and skills-wise they are really good, but our players are going to show fight,” Balbirnie added.

“From a skills point of view, we have to get to them as soon as possible and that will come by playing as many matches as we can in these conditions which are testing.

“I’m really proud of how we’ve gone about it the last four days, but we want to be better going into the next match.”

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Bangladesh are on the brink of completing a win over Ireland in the first of two Test matches between the sides as they retained control on day three in Sylhet.

The hosts declared on 587-8 on Thursday, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy top-scoring for them in their first innings with 171 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also contributing a century.

Having scored 286 in their first innings, Ireland struggled to 86-5 by the close of play on the third day to trail by 215 runs.

Starting day three with a 52-run lead on 338-1, Bangladesh lost the wickets of Joy and Monimul Haque (82) early on Thursday to lie 346-3 but rallied to build up a first-innings lead of 301 before their declaration.

Shanto’s ton was compiled off just 114 balls, including 14 fours, while Litton Kumer Das’s 60 also helped steady the ship for his side.

Matthew Humphreys was the pick of the Irish bowlers as the slow left-armer ended with figures of 5-170.

Ireland were immediately up against it with captain Andrew Balbirnie unable to open the batting after spraining a finger in the field.

They lost Cade Carmichael, who replaced Balbirnie at the top of the order, for five to the bowling of Nahid Rana in the fourth over to sit 14-1.

Paul Stirling (43) and Harry Tector (18) combined for a second-wicket partnership of 47 but the fall of Stirling to a run out precipitated an Irish collapse as three wickets fell in the space of five-and-a-half overs for just 17 runs.

Tector was dismissed lbw by Taijul Islam, then Curtis Campher (5) and Lorcan Tucker (9) both fell to the bowling of Hasan Murad, who took 2-8 off his three overs.

Andy McBrine (4) and Humphreys (0) were the unbeaten batsmen at the end of the day with Balbirnie expected to bat next.

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First Test, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (day two of five)

Ireland 286: Stirling 60; Miraz 3-50

338-1: Joy 169; Humphries 1-78

Ireland won the toss

Scorecard

A career-best 169 not out from Mahmudul Hasan Joy has helped Bangladesh take a firm grip on the first Test against Ireland after day two in Sylhet.

The visitors entered the day two n 270-8 after four late wickets on Tuesday had given Bangladesh the upper hand at the close of play.

Ireland managed to add just 16 further runs to their tally as they lost Matthew Humphreys lbw to Taijul Islam for a two-ball duck before the innings ended with Barry McCarthy bowled by Hasan Mahmud after two early boundaries helped him to respectable tally of 31.

Bangladesh had no such issues with the bat with Joy cutting loose as the day progressed to surpass the 100 mark with a double century now in his sights.

His opening partner Shadman Islam did fall on 80 when caught by wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker from Humphreys’ delivery, but Mominul Haque would pick up the baton with 80 not out.

With the pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers, it was a flying start for Bangladesh as they wrapped up Ireland’s first innings before making rapid inroads with the bat.

Joy hit 14 fours and four sixes in the 283 balls he faced over the day, surviving a scare on 156 to remain at the crease as Paul Stirling missed the catch.

Shadman had been closing in on his century as he hit nine fours and also a six but his partnership with Joy concluded at 168 with Humphreys getting the dismissal he had been threatening.

However, it was a wicketless third session of the day with the hosts hitting 140 in 30 overs with Haque settling after a few close calls when attempting to sweep, hitting five fours and two sixes on his way to 80 not out to help Bangladesh into as healthy position going into day three.

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England failed to overcome another grim batting failure as New Zealand edged to a two-wicket victory in the third one-day international in Wellington to send the tourists to Australia on the back of a 3-0 series defeat.

England’s top order folded once more, bowled out for the third match in a row to continue a worrying trend leading into the Ashes later this month, before New Zealand threatened to botch a chase of 223.

They were cruising at 187-5, needing only 35 from 87 balls, only to lose captain Mitchell Santner for 27 and Daryl Mitchell for 44 in a collapse of 3-8.

That left 27 to get with two wickets remaining but hope of an unlikely, morale-boosting victory for England was snuffed out by an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership between Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner.

England’s bowling effort was admirable – this defeat instead down to their latest top-order collapse, which left them 44-5.

Joe Root was out for two, captain Harry Brook six and Ben Duckett eight and they only cleared 200 thanks to Jamie Overton’s 68 – his first ODI fifty.

Seven of this XI now travel to Perth to ramp up their preparation for the highly-anticipated series against Australia, which begins on 21 November.

They play only one warm-up – a three-day match against England Lions – leaving little opportunity for those struggling batters to find form before the series opener.

Brook’s 50-over side, meanwhile, have lost 11 of their 15 matches this year and require an upturn in fortunes when they return to action in the new year or else their direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup will come under significant threat.

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