The Cleveland Guardians organization will do something its never done before on the evening of July 14: select the No. 1 pick in the MLB First Year Player Draft.

That event is less than two weeks away and President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti detailed the front office’s mindset heading into the draft, including the opportunity to take the first pick.

“We look at this is an extraordinary and exciting opportunity for us,” said Antonetti. 

“I mean, oftentimes, when you’re thinking about your first pick you’re trying to guess who’s going to be off the board before you get an opportunity to select. This year we don’t have to guess, you know, we have control over that. Now, there are a lot of dynamics at play, a lot of things that will go into consideration for the first pick, but we know we don’t have to rely on other teams.”

Everyone wants to know who the Guardians will select with the No. 1 overall pick. At this point, those conversations are still ongoing and that dialogue will continue leading up to the draft. 

What Antonetti did reveal is that the organization is excited about just how deep this year’s draft class is.

“It’s really hard to say. I think one of the things we’re really excited about with this draft class is there’s a number of good, high-quality players available to us with the first pick. And we think that will be the case actually with subsequent picks we have after the first pick. So, that’s probably the best direction I can give you is that a group that we would be excited about bringing into the organization with the first pick.” 

We’ve already seen this depth in different mock drafts. Some analysts think the Guardians will take Oregon State 2B Travis Bazzana, while others believe it will be Georgia OF Charlie Condon. West Virginia INF JJ Wetherholt could certainly be in the mix, too.  

There are multiple factors that go into deciding who will be the No. 1 overall pick while also managing the other 19 rounds of the draft. Antonetti revealed a few of those aspects with reporters on Wednesday.

“First and foremost, I think what we are trying to solve for organizationally is use the resources and draft capital we have available to us to bring in the most talented group possible, and that’s really what we’re solving for. We think when we look up at the end of the draft, we will feel good about the group of players we bring into the organization.”

Of course, finances and slot value are key factors in the MLB Draft, and Antontti explained how the Guardians plan to approach this crucial detail while also having the first overall.

“That’s why people ask, ‘Who are you taking with the first pick?’ It’s a combination of factors for us because what we’re seeking to do is optimize that total pool. Some of that is based upon the ability in our assessment of the player, but also how much it would take to sign that player as we think about the totality of the group and might be able to use those resources.”

This isn’t to say that money will be the only motivating factor in their decision on who to take first overall. Antonetti made sure to emphasize they’ve offered higher or lower than the slot value with different picks in the past drafts, and that could always be the case here.

We’ll have to wait and see who Cleveland selects on July 14. Either way, it’s an exciting time to be a Guardians fan, given how well the major league team is playing and the bright future that lies ahead for the organization. 

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers suffered an early setback, as they will not have one of their incoming women’s basketball forwards for next season.

Kiara Willliams, a freshman forward, underwent successful surgery on a lower leg injury that will keep her out for the upcoming 2024-25 season, the program announced.

She played for Palm Bay High School in Palm Bay, Fla. and averaged 10.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a senior last season. She helped lead her team to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 4A Girls Basketball Playoffs.

Williams also had six double-doubles and averaged 0.8 blocks per game, ranking first and second in Florida 4A District 8, respectively.

She also had a great junior campaign in the 2022-23 season, where she averaged 13.1 points and 8.0 rebounds, along with 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks per game.

“We certainly wish Kiara well as she starts her recovery process,” Pitt head coach Tory Verdi said in a press release. “She will work hard with our training staff over the coming months, and we expect her to make a full recovery. Despite this setback, she has a bright future ahead.”

Williams was one of two recruits in the Class of 2024 for the Panthers, along with 6-foot guard Audrey Biggs, who played for Boyd County High School in Ashland, Ky.

Pitt added a number of players to their roster in the transfer portal, including guards in Amiya Jenkins and Brooklynn Miles from Kentucky and Mikayla Johnson from Colorado, plus forwards in Khadija Faye from Texas and Makayla Elmore from Clemson.

The Panthers also added an international wing in Jovana Spasovski from Serbia in early June, who rounded out their additions to two incoming freshman, five transfers and one international signing, for eight overall

There are also returners in guards, like senior Bella Perkins, juniors Raeven Boswell, Marley Washenitz and Aislin Malcolm and sophomore Aaryn Battle, plus sophomore forward Lauren Rust.

Pitt also had a few players depart the program after last season. This includes forwards in All-ACC First Team honoree and ACC Most Improved Player of the Year in Liatu King who transferred to Notre Dame, Rapuluchi Ayodele who transferred to Tennessee, Gabby Hutcherson who transferred to Duquesne and guard Jasmine Timmerson who transferred to Davidson.

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Rolfe Singerman, aged 87, of Upper Sandusky, OH, died June 29, 2024, at the Westbrook Assisted Living and Memory Center. Mr. Singerman was born March 27, 1937 in Cleveland, OH to Bernard and Ruth (Greetham) Singerman. He married Dona M. Fatibeno on January 30, 1960. They remained married for 24 years. Rolfe passed peacefully the same day after enjoying a nice luncheon and glass of wine at a local Upper restaurant with family. Mr. Singerman is survived by his children, Camille Swartz-Upper Sandusky, OH, and David Singerman-Jupiter, FL; grandchildren Connor Swartz-Upper Sandusky, Logan and Rylee Singerman-Jupiter, FL. Also surviving are his siblings; Ava Singerman-Brunswick, OH, Mike Singerman-Shaker Heights, OH, Charles (�Butch�) Necker-Phoenix, AZ, Tim Necker-Parma and Pam Bender-Brecksville, OH. Rolfe was a 1955 graduate of Cleveland Heights H.S. and subsequently attended Western Reserve University for both his Undergraduate and Master�s Degrees in Art Education and received his Teaching Certificate from the Cleveland Institute of Art. He was hired shortly thereafter by Painesville City Schools where he would spend the next 30 years and completing his career at Harvey High School. Teaching art may have been Rolfe�s primary profession early on, but it was his passion for photography and running that would really take him places. Rolfe took on the duties of the school yearbook and ensured quality productions every year which also led him to taking photos of local high school sports, and then acting on the advice of a friend took up wedding photography. Over the ensuing decades Rolfe would photograph over 800 weddings and in each one Rolfe usually managed to capture a singular, special moment that most wedding photos somehow miss; a spontaneous mix of action, affection, laughter, love and respect from those faces in the moment. Rolfe had an eye for inspiration and timing. Rolfe became a long-distance runner who participated in numerous 5 and 10K races and he ran in the 1979 Cleveland Marathon. Rolfe was the Cross-Country coach at Harvey High School and produced a pamphlet with illustrations teaching long-distance running techniques. In 2001, Rolfe moved to Cumberland, MD starting a new chapter in his life. In Cumberland, Rolfe soon began showcasing his talent displaying his new landscape photos at various art exhibits in picturesque Western Maryland, and right away received accolades and awards. In 2005, Rolfe was asked by a local author to collaborate on a cookbook, entitled the �Washington Street Cookbook� which featured the many of the beautiful and incredibly diverse architecturally designed homes lining the famous Washington Street in Cumberland, as photographed by Rolfe. The proceeds benefited the Washington Street Association. After completing this book, Rolfe studied residential architecture even more and would eventually write and illustrate his own Handbook of Washington Street Architecture in 2017 that provided the reader with a simple guidebook of the historic homes and descriptions of their particular architectural aspects, influences and time periods. Rolfe was an active member in his community always devoting as much volunteer time as he could for his church; the First Presbyterian Church; the Alleghany Arts Council; the Alleghany County Museum; the Washington Street Library and the American Red Cross. Rolfe helped out a local European pastry shoppe designing their menu and illustrating it. Rolfe generously opened his home up to traveling artists from around the world through the World Artists Experiences program and even designed their promotional posters. Rolfe will be fondly remembered for his endless curiosity, dry humor, respect for all things Art, Scottish dancing and never running on empty! A celebration of life service for Rolfe Singerman will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Cross, and or the Autism Foundation, and can be sent to Lucas Batton Funeral Home, 476 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky, Ohio, 43351. Online condolences may be sent to www.lucasbatton.com.