Sports
What makes a baseball player exciting? We asked two rising MLB stars
What makes a baseball player exciting?
In some ways, this is an unanswerable question, an aesthetic judgment that defies quantification. What makes a player exciting? Who can say? You know it when you see it.
The beauty is that there is no right answer, as ESPN’s most exciting MLB player brackets — last year’s debut and the 2025 version released Tuesday — help illustrate. Excitement in baseball comes in many different forms, and different fans will be drawn to different traits.
“I just like seeing guys who can do a lot of different things on the field,” said James Wood, the Washington Nationals’ representative in the bracket, who embodies several common qualities among our 32 entrants:
• With a 2025 baseball age of 22, he’s young. The bracket overall skews young, with the average age (26.4) more than two years younger than the MLB average (28.6).
• We’re still getting to know Wood, who debuted just last season. The median debut season of our 32 entrants is 2022. Three players — Nick Kurtz, Roman Anthony and Colson Montgomery — have debuted since this year’s Opening Day.
• At 6-foot-7, Wood is tall for a hitter. That’s the same height as Aaron Judge and just 2 inches taller than Elly De La Cruz and Kurtz. The average height in MLB is 6-1½.
• Wood has a quick bat that generates hard contact. His swing speed (76.1) ranks in the 95th percentile and his average exit velocity (94 mph) is in the 98th percentile, according to Statcast. Collectively, the hitters in the group own an average swing speed (74.9) far above the MLB average (71.6) and generate much higher exit velocities (92.2 mph versus the average of 89.2).
But in the end, it’s not any one of these things that mark a player as exciting. It’s a combination of skills — and it looks a little different for each of them. For Wood, it’s a rare mashup of that height, the grace of movement, the almost laconic body language that suddenly explodes when bat meets ball or when he is chasing down a fly ball in center field.
“Just being able to hit for power and run the bases, play defense, just affect the game in a lot of different ways,” Wood said. “I think that’s the way to bring excitement.”
For his part, Wood grew up admiring left-handed hitters such as Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano, and originally tried to model his game after Barry Bonds. Wood might also remind you of a lefty-hitting Dave Winfield because of his build and the way his long limbs kind of unfold as he moves.
“I haven’t really watched a whole lot of video on [Winfield],” said Wood, smiling because it’s not the first time he has heard the comparison to the Hall of Famer. “I’ve gotten that one a few times, especially when I was in San Diego. I probably need to do a little more homework.”
Nearly all of the 28 hitters in the bracket are superior athletes and run well, helping them fill the columns of the stat sheet. But you can also get there by being a pure masher — Kyle Schwarber can’t run and hardly plays the field anymore, but with baseball’s second-highest hard-hit rate (behind the rookie Anthony), he hits the ball so hard so often that you can’t take your eyes off him. Even when he’s striking out.
“The loudest roars I hear during the game are either home runs or a big strikeout,” Wood said. “Or when someone hits one down the line and everyone’s just running all over the bases.”
Given the variety of ways in which a position player can manifest exciting qualities, it’s fairly difficult for a pitcher to get into the bracket. We’ve got five of them, or, well, 4½.
The half-pitcher is Shohei Ohtani who, on the pitching side, demonstrates the two things that register as most exciting, at least in our nomination process: He’s a starter, and he’s dominant.
According to strikeout-minus-walks percentage, a solid proxy for dominance, our four qualifying pitchers — Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Paul Skenes and Jacob deGrom — rank first, third, fourth and sixth, respectively, in K-BB% across MLB. If Ohtani qualified, he’d edge Crochet for third.
Ohtani also registers as more than a little exciting at the plate, rating in the 99th percentile in exit velocity, the 94th in swing speed and well above average in sprint speed. The full swath of skills is unmatched in the grand pool of players in MLB history, so that’s tough to beat.
You already knew all about Ohtani, of course. One of the fun things about the bracket is that because every team gets at least one nominee, it’s a chance for more casual fans to realize that dynamic performers are found across the majors even if they haven’t yet achieved the fame of national superstars such as Ohtani, Judge and Juan Soto.
The players know who these stars are, though. When asked to name some of his favorite players to watch, Wood cited familiar names including Judge, Corbin Carroll and Fernando Tatis Jr., whom he saw as a onetime Padres prospect, and Soto, for whom he was once traded.
Then, unprompted, Wood said:
“I like teams like Milwaukee. They don’t have a lineup full of sluggers, but they’re the best team in baseball right now because they defend and they run the bases better than anybody. It’s a headache playing against them. You got guys flying all over the place. So yeah, they’re fun to watch.”
This points to another way to get into the bracket: stand out on MLB’s best and most exciting team. Which brings us to Milwaukee Brewers nominee Brice Turang, who seemed slightly taken aback when told he had been selected. You can understand the reaction because Turang has plenty of competition in the excitement category in his own clubhouse.
“We just got guys who are gamers,” Turang said. “I’m not saying other teams don’t, but the guys in here have competitive at-bats, steal bases, drop bunts, play great defense. We are just playing every aspect of the game.”
The Brewers are all over the team leaderboards in categories including fielding run value (third), sprint speed (second), stolen bases (second) and Fangraphs’ baserunning value metric (first). This is how a team that ranks 19th in home runs can be second in runs scored, even in 2025 baseball.
Turang embodies all of that and even has added some power to his arsenal, which has helped him stand out that much more. As a Gold Glove second baseman, he’s one of nine middle infielders in the bracket. Add in four center fielders and one catcher (Cal Raleigh), and 14 of the entrants play up the middle on defense, where athleticism like Turang’s can really shine.
Not surprisingly, Turang’s favorite player to watch early in life was Ken Griffey Jr., who was a teammate of Turang’s father, Brian, for two seasons with the Seattle Mariners. Later, Turang’s interests tilted toward Ichiro Suzuki, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and Andrelton Simmons.
Among contemporaries, Turang echoes Wood in that he simply marvels at how many different ways players in today’s game can exhilarate.
“They’re all a little bit different,” Turang said. “You have guys like Bobby Witt, who rips the cover off the ball, plays good defense, can run, can do kind of everything. And then you got guys like Judge who are big, strong dudes hitting massive homers.”
There is truly no one thing that marks a player as exciting, and perhaps the real proof is provided by the fans in the ballpark who react to the amazing things they see unfold on the green expanse before them. There is much to see.
“I feel like the game is faster than it’s ever been, so athletic,” Wood said. “The power and speed combo, there’s a lot of guys who did it, but I feel like now there are more than ever. There’s a ton of guys who can hit 30 and steal 30.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The first time Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw the ball to tight end Travis Kelce against the Washington Commanders on Monday night, the play resulted in a 1-yard loss. But on the next play, Mahomes put the ball in Kelce’s hands. The lone issue for the Chiefs was that the ball didn’t stay with Kelce, instead bouncing in the air and intercepted by linebacker Bobby Wagner.
From that moment on, Kelce put together a vintage performance, one that powered the Chiefs to a 28-7 victory. Kelce led the Chiefs with six receptions on eight targets for 99 yards for his best game of the season.
Kelce’s 10-yard touchdown late in the third quarter — which gave the Chiefs a 14-point lead — was also historic, as his 83rd career score tied former running back Priest Holmes for the most total touchdowns in Chiefs franchise history
The biggest highlight for Kansas City was when Kelce wasn’t Mahomes first, second or third passing option on a play-action snap early in the third quarter. Kelce leaked out after blocking for a wide-open 38-yard gain in which the tight end rumbled into the red zone.
Together, Mahomes and Kelce are just the third quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history to record 75 touchdowns, including the playoffs, joining Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski (105) and Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates (90).
Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:
Most surprising performance: Defensive end Mike Danna has struggled for much of this season, but the five-year veteran had a night to remember. Danna ended the Commanders’ opening drive with an interception, the first of his career after quarterback Marcus Mariota‘s pass bounced off the shoulder of receiver Deebo Samuel.
And just before the end of the third quarter, Danna collected his first sack of the season, a 10-yard loss on third down that pushed the Commanders out of field goal range.
Stat to know: Monday’s game was another example of the Chiefs proving to be the NFL’s best offense on fourth down. Twice against the Commanders, the Chiefs converted on fourth down, the latter occurring at a pivotal point early in the third quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Mahomes scrambled to extend the play before finding running back Kareem Hunt in the end zone for a touchdown. With Mahomes on the field this season, the Chiefs have converted on 14-of-16 attempts on fourth down (87.5%), the highest success rate of teams who have had 10 or more attempts.
Trend to watch: The Chiefs should have all of their projected defensive starters available for Sunday’s game against the Bills, and the group of linemen around pass rusher Chris Jones — defensive ends George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu and Danna — are performing better than they did at the beginning of the season. — Nate Taylor
Next game: at Buffalo Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Commanders did what they could to beat the Chiefs. They moved the ball, at least in the first half, forced turnovers and were aggressive on fourth down.
It didn’t work.
Washington fell to 3-5 after Monday’s loss to Kansas City. A team that won 12 games last season is already fighting for its playoff life. Washington has upcoming home games against the Seattle Seahawks (5-2) and Detroit Lions (5-2).
Injuries have played a key role in the Commanders’ early stumbles. They played for a third game this season without quarterback Jayden Daniels, this time out because of a hamstring injury. They also lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a hamstring injury in the first half.
But Washington’s defense, which intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice in the first half, kept giving up big plays — often because of one player not adhering to his responsibility. It led to gains of 27, 31, 38 and 24 yards. It has been a seasonlong issue and shows no signs of abating.
After Washington outgained Kansas City 195-156 in the first half, it finished with only 260 for the game. The Chiefs took over in the second half leading to more misery and questions for Washington.
What to make of the QB performance: It’s hard to put all blame for this one on Marcus Mariota, who completed 21-of-30 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. He played with poise and kept his eyes downfield, allowing him to make plays on the move. But key drops, two interceptions and an inability to make plays on fourth down hurt.
Turning point: The first drive of the second half for each team was the difference. After Kansas City scored on its first possession for a 14-7 lead, Washington responded with returner Jaylin Lane muffing the kickoff and having to start from its own 2-yard line. Lane then dropped a pass on third down to kill the drive — and the Chiefs rolled.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The run game continues to struggle. Of Washington’s 60 yards rushing, Mariota led with 28. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt finished with only 25 yards on nine carries. Washington needs to revive the run game in a hurry. — John Keim
Next game: vs. Seattle Seahawks (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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Riley Gaines challenged Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, to a debate on Monday after the two sparred on social media.
Gaines, an OutKick contributor, appeared on Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle” after Ocasio-Cortez responded to the former NCAA swimmer’s criticism of the Democrat.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during a rally for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
“So, here is what I will say. I want to honestly challenge AOC to a debate,” Gaines said. “She can defend socialism. I will defend capitalism. She can defend removing God. I defend embracing a Biblical worldview. She can defend child sacrifice. I will defend the sanctity of life. Any of the radical, insane Democratic policies that they stand for, I will debate the opposite and I am challenging AOC to it here.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez for comment, but the spat continued on social media.
Ocasio-Cortez later responded, “And I would like to challenge this person to get a real job.”
Gaines shot back at Ocasio-Cortez.
“This is comical given it’s coming from someone whose own party shut down the government and left you technically…jobless. And I guess I’ll take that as a no (which is to be expected when your positions are indefensible on virtually every issue),” she wrote on X.
“I have a real job. I’m a mom. It’s the most important & rewarding job in the world. I think if you had a baby girl like I do, you’d understand my positions a little better.”
Gaines posted a photo featuring Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Gaines wrote, “We’re being destroyed from within.”
The New York Post editorial board slammed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for creating the policies that have led to New York City becoming too expensive for residents. (Tom Williams/Getty Images)
Ocasio-Cortez responded, “Maybe if you channeled all this anger into swimming faster you wouldn’t have come in fifth.”
“Her position is morally bankrupt and politically foolish. For clarity, yes, I finished fifth in the nation at the Division I national championships, tying with a 6-foot-4 man who ranked 462nd in the men’s division in the year prior,” Gaines said. “It was like a ‘South Park’ episode but real life. And whose side does AOC and the rest of the Democratic Party take? They take the 6-foot-4 man who flashed his junk at women in the locker room – that’s who’s side they take.
Riley Gaines, a former All-American University of Kentucky swimmer, speaks before Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis at the Greenville Convention Center on Friday, June 2, 2023. (MCKENZIE LANGE/ Staff / USA TODAY NETWORK)
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“They cannot help themselves but be on the wrong side of every 80/20 issue whether it’s border, whether it’s crime, whether it’s castrating children, whether it’s parental rights, whether it’s men in women’s sports.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Brendan Rodgers has left Celtic amid a wave of criticism from principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.
Rodgers resigned as manager on Tuesday after Celtic’s poor start to the season. The club have put Martin O’Neill and former midfielder Shaun Maloney in temporary charge.
A statement from Desmond, after Rodgers’ exit, read: “Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation as manager of Celtic Football Club.
“I want to acknowledge Brendan’s contribution across his two spells as manager, during which he helped deliver success that forms part of the club’s modern history. However, I must also express my deep disappointment at the way the past several months have unfolded.
“When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success. Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust.
“In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him. He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue.
“We met with Brendan regularly, including in December last year and at the start of the summer, with regular dialogue in between, to discuss and agree our collective strategy, priorities, and approach. Every player signed and every player sold during his tenure was done so with Brendan’s full knowledge, approval, and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false.
“His later public statements about transfers and club operations came entirely out of the blue. At no point prior to those remarks had he raised any such concerns with me, Michael, or any member of the board or executive team. In reality, he was given final say over all football matters and was consistently backed in the recruitment process — including record investment in players he personally identified and approved.
“When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue. Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative.
“Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board. Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable.
“Every member of the Board and executive team is deeply passionate about Celtic and acts at all times with professionalism, integrity, and a shared desire for success. What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual’s desire for self-preservation at the expense of others.
– Rodgers resigns as Celtic boss after poor start to season
– Report: Hearts beat injury-hit Celtic, go eight points clear in SPFL
– Scottish Premiership table
“Celtic’s structure — where the manager oversees football, the chief executive manages operations, and the board provides oversight — has served the club with great success for more than two decades. We all share the same ambition: to ensure Celtic’s continued success domestically and to achieve further progress in Europe. Every pound generated by the club is reinvested towards those goals and the continuous improvement of Celtic Football Club.
“Celtic is greater than any one person. Our focus now is on restoring harmony, strengthening the squad, and continuing to build a club worthy of its values, traditions, and supporters.”
Rodgers leaves after consecutive Premiership defeats, leaving Celtic eight points adrift of Hearts. Celtic added a statement thanking Rodgers for his “contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the club”.
He had previously won two league and cup trebles in a prior stint with Celtic.
O’Neill rejoins the club 20 years after leaving Celtic for Aston Villa and six since his last head coaching role in the game.
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