Kansas

Former Kansas City Royals Infielder Optioned By Athletics

Published

2 days ago

March 20, 2025

Former Kansas City Royals Infielder Optioned By Athletics

On Thursday, the Athletics announced that they have optioned infielder CJ Alexander to Triple-A Las Vegas. Alexander, 28, made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals last season, getting into four games in late June, three at third base and another as the team’s designated hitter.

In his brief cup of coffee, he went 1-for-8 (.125) with a single and three strikeouts. He was designated for assignment by the Royals at the end of August. The Athletics claimed him off waivers on September 4 and optioned him to Vegas, where he would play the remainder of the season.

He ended up hitting .294 with a .410 on-base in 12 games with the Aviators, swatting three homers and driving in 14 RBI. He also struck out (8) as much as he walked.

Coming into camp, Alexander was viewed as a depth option, but given his extensive experience in the minor leagues, the A’s wanted to make sure they got a good look at him, holding him until the final week of spring training. He ended up hitting .194 with a .326 OBP in camp, facing roughly Double-A pitching according to Baseball Reference.

In his time in the minors, Alexander has played both corner infield spots, as well as both corner outfield spots. In his brief stint with Las Vegas last season, he was used in left field for six games, third base for another six, and then first base for a lone appearance.

WIth the team adding Gio Urshela and Luis Urías to take the bulk of the work at third base, Alexander’s path to West Sacramento is a little tricky. That said, his most direct way forward would be as a potential replacement for Seth Brown, another left-handed hitter that plays left field and some first base.

If Brown were to miss some time, Alexander’s experience at first could put him in position to get the call, given that Brown is expected to fill in for Tyler Soderstrom on occasion at the position. Being a lefty also wouldn’t hurt his case. He is the sole left-handed bat on the 40-man roster that is not currently projected to be in the big leagues already.

The A’s now have 32 players in camp, which includes 30 players on the 40-man roster and two non-roster invitees. The breakdown includes 16 pitchers, two catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders.

Next. Who Should Start the A’s Opener in Sacramento? . Who Should Start the A’s Opener in Sacramento? . dark

Source link

Kansas

Kansas State Basketball Star Reveals Frustration on Leaked Details About Record NIL Deal

Published

6 hours ago

March 22, 2025

Press Room

Kansas State Basketball Star Reveals Frustration on Leaked Details About Record NIL Deal

Coleman Hawkins was one of the most heavily recruited guards in the transfer portal last season.

The 6-9 star was coming off a big season for the Illinois Fighting Illini, and he was looking for a new program for his final season. He landed with the Kansas State Wildcats and did so after he snagged name, image and likeness deals upwards of $2 million, according to published reports.

In fact, that dollar figure hit the internet minutes after Hawkins announced his commitment to the Wildcats.

Statistically, Hawkins’ season was frustrating. He averaged 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.8 steals per game. He was injured near the end of the season and missed a few games. He did earn All-Big 12 Conference third-team honors.

When the season ended and Kansas State didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, their coach, Jerome Tang, opted the program out of any other postseason play. So, Hawkins’ college career is over and the NBA awaits.

But, on his way out the door, he had some words about NIL, specifically about the transparency of those contracts. He believes his NIL package’s value never should have been made public in an interview with the Field of 68 podcast.

“Whatever the number was never should have been public,” Hawkins said. “That’s not my fault. I won’t say whose fault it is, but when there is a tweet from (NBA insider) Shams (Charania) and people share your information, that is not cool.”

When the Wildcats were eliminated from the Big 12 Tournament, Hawkins broke down and cried in the locker room at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. Some of it was due to the finality of the season. Some of it was due to the pressure he felt, and the vitriol he received, from fans due to the price tag of his NIL deal.

He said he dealt with similar things at Illinois. But at Kansas State, he said, that attention went to “another level.”

NIL isn’t going away, nor are the pressures of signing a deal as Hawkins did. Assuming the House vs. NCAA settlement is formally approved, then revenue sharing will come to college athletics, giving players like Hawkins more opportunities to make money.

After that, any NIL deal over $600 would have to be vetted by a clearinghouse to ensure the player is receiving fair market value.

If you ask Hawkins, the details of those deals should be private moving forward.

Source link

Kansas

Investigation underway after police shooting near 11th & Prospect

Published

17 hours ago

March 22, 2025

Press Room

Investigation underway after police shooting near 11th & Prospect

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – An investigation is underway by the Missouri State Highway Patrol after a police shooting in Kansas City Friday evening.

It happened in the area of 11th Street and Prospect Avenue. That’s in the area of Prospect Plaza Park.

MSHP said a preliminary investigation revealed KCPD officers located a stolen Hyundai just before 5 p.m. that was part of a burglary earlier Friday morning. When KCPD officers tried to make a traffic stop near Independence Avenue and Benton Boulevard the driver refused.

A KCPD helicopter tracked the vehicle to the area. Eventually, the Hyundai came to a stop near 11th and Prospect, where the driver ran from the vehicle.

MSHP said an officer fired shots at approximately 5:02 p.m. striking the suspect during a chase on foot. The suspect continued running but was later taken into custody.

Police said the suspect was hospitalized but suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A handgun was found near the scene where the suspect was shot, MSHP said.

The investigation remains ongoing.

KCTV is sending a crew to the scene to gather more information. We will update this breaking news story as more information becomes available.

Source link

Kansas

How to watch Kansas State vs. Fairfield in Women’s March Madness: Time, TV channel, streaming

Published

1 day ago

March 21, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Kansas State vs. Fairfield in Women’s March Madness: Time, TV channel, streaming

The No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats (26-7) meet the No. 12 Fairfield Stags (28-4) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Kansas State heads into this contest following a 73-69 loss to West Virginia on Friday. Fairfield won its most recent matchup 76-53 against Quinnipiac on Saturday. Kennedy Taylor scored a team-best 21 points for Kansas State in the loss. Meghan Andersen scored a team-best 27 points for Fairfield in the victory.

Kansas State vs. Fairfield TV channel NCAA Tournament

Location: Memorial Coliseum in Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPNews (watch on Fubo)
Stream: Fubo

What time is Kansas State vs. Fairfield basketball today?

Kansas State and Fairfield take the court at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Watch Fairfield vs. Kansas State with Fubo

Kansas State vs. Fairfield odds, lines, spread

Spread: Kansas State -16.5
Total: 135.5
Moneyline: Kansas State -2500, Fairfield +1127

Kansas State’s offense has been much less productive over its last 10 games, putting up 72.2 points a contest compared to the 79.3 it has averaged this year. Over its previous 10 games, Fairfield is putting up 68.9 points per contest, four fewer points than its season average (72.9).

March Madness First Round schedule

Michigan Wolverines (6) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (11): Friday, 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2
Kentucky Wildcats (4) vs. Liberty Lady Flames (13): Friday, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
Utah Utes (8) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (9): Friday, 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3) vs. Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks (14): Friday, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
Kansas State Wildcats (5) vs. Fairfield Stags (12): Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNews
Baylor Bears (4) vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes (13): Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU
TCU Horned Frogs (2) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (15): Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
South Carolina Gamecocks (1) vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (16): Friday, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
Vanderbilt Commodores (7) vs. Oregon Ducks (10): Friday, 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPNews
Ohio State Buckeyes (4) vs. Montana State Bobcats (13): Friday, 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Louisville Cardinals (7) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10): Friday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Ole Miss Rebels (5) vs. Ball State Cardinals (12): Friday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Richmond Spiders (8) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9): Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNews
Duke Blue Devils (2) vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks (15): Friday, 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Tennessee Volunteers (5) vs. South Florida Bulls (12): Friday, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
UCLA Bruins (1) vs. Southern Jaguars (16): Friday, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Iowa Hawkeyes (6) vs. Murray State Racers (11): Saturday, 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
UConn Huskies (2) vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (15): Saturday, 1 p.m. ET on ABC
Alabama Crimson Tide (5) vs. Green Bay Phoenix (12): Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
NC State Wolfpack (2) vs. Vermont Catamounts (15): Saturday, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
Oklahoma Sooners (3) vs. Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14): Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU
USC Trojans (1) vs. UNC Greensboro Spartans (16): Saturday, 3 p.m. ET on ABC
Oklahoma State Cowgirls (7) vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (10): Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Maryland Terrapins (4) vs. Norfolk State Spartans (13): Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
North Carolina Tar Heels (3) vs. Oregon State Beavers (14): Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Michigan State Spartans (7) vs. Harvard Crimson (10): Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPNews
California Golden Bears (8) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (9): Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Illinois Fighting Illini (8) vs. Creighton Bluejays (9): Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPNews
Florida State Seminoles (6) vs. George Mason Patriots (11): Saturday, 7:45 p.m. ET on ESPN2
LSU Tigers (3) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (14): Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN