Atlanta, GA
‘Get him to Atlanta’: Tigers push for Zach McKinstry’s first All-Star selection
DETROIT — Zach McKinstry knew his throw had a chance.
The Detroit Tiger utility man charged toward a ball struck into right field and began to turn his body as it placed neatly inside his glove.
A spin over his shoulder and the ball popped into his hand and soared toward a waiting Javier Báez.
The wherewithal to go for the play at third base, despite a runner heading home for the Tampa Bay Rays, paid off as the throw reached Báez for a timely tag in a critical moment of the Tigers’ 5-1 win Monday night.
“I’m not sure how many natural outfielders can routinely make that play. That’s an athlete playing a position and using his skillset,“ manager A.J. Hinch said. ”That is feel for the game that doesn’t happen with every outfielder either.”
McKinstry had another standout performance for the Tigers amid something of a breakout season for the 30-year-old out of Central Michigan, with a few defensive highlights and a solo home run late in the game.
As the All-Star break approaches, Hinch’s message is simple: “Let’s get him to Atlanta.”
McKinstry is putting up All-Star level numbers, slashing .285/.355/.464 with seven home runs, eight triples, 12 doubles, 27 RBI and 11 steals.
His defensive prowess is elite and McKinstry’s played six different defensive positions this year — primarily right field and third base.
That’s part of the joy for the former Los Angeles Dodger, getting to impact the game from just about anywhere on the field.
“I love going out there and just being an athlete, doing what I can to help the team,” McKinstry told reporters after the game. “I feel like being able to help the team win from right field, third base; How many guys can say they’ve done that?”
His team certainly benefits from McKinstry’s versatility and the pleasure of seeing more “incredible” plays like Monday night, as catcher Dillon Dingler put it.
Through his incredible production this season — alongside being on one of the best teams in the league — Hinch has been proud of how even-keeled McKinstry remains.
“He’s understated,” Hinch said. “Because he’s playing somewhere different everyday, you can get lost in a little bit of the what he brings to the table. Everything.”
McKinstry’s not necessarily going to hold his breath for the All-Star game.
Even though his flexibility makes him a prime candidate to replace any injured or unavailable players currently on the All-Star roster, the call may not come to send him to Atlanta as a first-timer, alongside the four other Tigers set to compete.
McKinstry already has plans to spend the time off relaxing at a lake in Washington state before he can start aiming for another great stretch of baseball that will confirm what McKinstry and his teammates know — he belongs there.
“Definitely there’s hope, but we’ll see. If not, that’s OK,” McKinstry said. “I’m going to go and have a great second half and prove that I should’ve been there.”
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Atlanta, GA
2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say
Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.
The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.
Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.
Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.
Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.
At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”
“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.
The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.
Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More
On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.
Atlanta, GA
Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo
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The 2026 NBA All-Star Game takes a major positive step forward with real competition led by Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and rising stars.
An NBA player from an opposing team has called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves around celebrating a well-known local gentleman’s club.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to reconsider their “Magic City Monday” plans for a March 16 game against the Orlando Magic in a letter posted to Medium on Monday, March 2. Atlanta’s ownership group and front office recently touted the one-night collaboration as an ode to an “iconic cultural institution,” citing Magic City’s role and impact in Atlanta’s Black communities and hip-hop culture in the announcement.
But Kornet wrote that “the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’ “
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet continued. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
Magic City Kitchen is also slated to serve two versions of its “world famous” lemon pepper wings – Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ – at the March 16 game. The flavor is named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner, Lou Williams. Rapper T.I. is scheduled to perform at halftime and limited edition Magic City merchandise will be available to purchase at the game.
Magic City celebrated 40 years with a five-part STARZ docuseries, ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ that was produced by Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri. Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I. are scheduled to record a live podcast from inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena before the game.
Kornet, 30, hopes the Hawks and NBA officials listen to him instead.
“I’d like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold the Atlanta Hawks to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting,” Kornet wrote. “I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision. We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
Luke Kornet stats
Kornet is averaging a career-best 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first season with the Spurs. This is the sixth team he’s played for in his nine NBA seasons, with his previous four years spent on the Boston Celtics.
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