As details emerge on the personalized video that Bryce Harper says he unknowingly recorded on behalf of FanDuel for a sports-gambling addict, Major League Baseball is confident that the Phillies star didn’t violate any league policies.
“I think the important thing is that Bryce’s activity was not a violation of the basic agreement,” commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “We made sure about that, and we’ll continue to try to figure out exactly how we ended up, where we ended up on that.”
MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, which will expire Dec. 1, allows players to appear in advertisements or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball.
The Inquirer obtained a copy of a 21-second video from November 2024 in which Harper offered a greeting to a bettor, Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and lost $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit that the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed in March in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia.
Harper posted to Instagram on Monday that he thought he was just doing a message on the site Cameo — where celebrities are paid to record videos for fans — but “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”
“I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote, adding that he read a script “in good faith” before FanDuel put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. “I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Harper declined to comment beyond his initial statement on the advice of counsel.
Manfred said he’s “aware of the situation” and Harper’s statement about it, but said “I’m not really certain that I know all of the underlying facts well enough to evaluate the behavior.”
Harper will be in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park. He was selected as the commissioner’s “Legends Pick,” one spot on each league’s roster that is filled by Manfred.
Less than a week remains in what has been quite the summer of soccer already, thanks to the FIFA World Cup making a pit stop in South Philly and delivering six matches all while bringing a party to the Greater Philadelphia Region.
In fact, Philly hasn’t started basking in an afterglow just yet. The FIFA Fan Festival in Lemon Hill, which already committed to remaining open for the full 39 days of the tournament, is still bringing the noise to the Brewerytown section, with a week of scheduled concerts.
Half a million fans. Estimated $770M+ in economic impact. Over 6,600 jobs created. $51M in tax revenue.
The @FIFAWorldCup showed the world what PA can do—and the Philly Fan Festival is FREE through July 19. ⚽
— PA Department of Community & Economic Development (@PADCEDnews) July 13, 2026
This is in addition to showing the semifinal rounds between France and Spain on Tuesday (3 p.m., Fox29) and England and Argentina on Wednesday (3 p.m., Fox 29), all taking place before Sunday’s final match (3 p.m., Fox 29) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Oh, and if you’re into consolation matches, don’t forget the third-place game on Saturday (5 p.m., Fox29).
However, there are a few things that still have an attachment to Philly when it comes to the World Cup. We found three, from the obvious of what’s going on this final week at the Fan Festival, to the not so obvious that you still will want to check out if you’re looking for a lasting piece of the world’s biggest sporting event.
Soccer fans gather to watch Mexico play South Africa on a giant screen during the opening day of the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill on June 11. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Totally free concerts
Philadelphia Soccer 2026 has been keeping the party going with a free concert series that sold out the event on back to back nights with concerts by Wisin on Sunday and the pop punk group the All-American Rejects, packing the house — on a Monday night.
There are still two more concerts to go, with electronic music legend Deadmau5 slated to arrive on Thursday and pop star Bebe Rexha scheduled to close it down on Friday. Both concerts will start promptly at 7 p.m., with festival gates opening at 5 p.m. on both days.
If you were wondering why your local CVS has been a primary supplier of World Cup gear, so were we. Everything from hats, water bottles and other tchotchkes has been on display for the latter part of a month. However, the retail price of some of that merchandise made it a tough call to pick up any swag.
FIFA World Cup merchandise is on sale for up to 50% off at several CVS Pharmacy locations in the Greater Philadelphia Region.Kerith Gabriel / Staff
Not anymore. As of Monday, several CVS Pharmacy stores are selling FIFA merchandise at up to 50% off, and a manager at a Montgomery County location who preferred to remain anonymous informed this reporter that merchandise could drop to up to 70% by the end of the month. So if you were eyeballing that $30 FIFA baseball cap, or that $35 coffee mug, know that you can get it on the low in the same place you pick up your seasonal allergy medication.
The game is still on
World Cup fever is still here throughout the city courtesy of a number of mini pitches that have popped up all over the city. From Fishtown to Queen Village, people are taking advantage of the fields that have been installed to provide more places to introduce the sport.
Most notably, Bank of America, which installed a series of small fields on the site of the old Tip Top Playground near the foot of the Girard Station stop on the Market-Frankford Line in Fishtown/Northern Liberties, which has had decent crowds coming through for pickup games, particularly during the week.
When you take into consideration that these games are going on under a July heat, not only is it impressive, it also confirms that the game always had a grip on Philly, but with the World Cup, it would appear that grip has gotten a bit tighter.
Weeks have passed since the NHL draft, development camps across the league have wrapped up and there are still a few months to go until preseason hockey is underway.
But there’s still plenty happening to keep give fans their hockey fill, including Scott Wheeler of The Athletic releasing his list of Top 100 drafted NHL prospects on Tuesday morning.
The list of 100 prospects is made up of players who fall into two qualifications: skaters under age 23 and/or skaters not yet fully established with their clubs. The latter requirement is left up to Wheeler’s discernment. The players are then ranked from 1 to 100, and sorted into six tiers.
The ranking includes 24 players from this year’s draft and 25 from last year’s, with the other 51 ranging from the 2022 to 2024 drafts.
But despite the 38 picks the Flyers had across those five drafts, Philly had just two players make this list with Porter Martone coming in third on this list as a top-tier prospect and David Jiříček just inching his way onto the list at 97 as a sixth-tier prospect.
Alex Bump, Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, and Oliver Bonk were each part of the final cuts, and were considered by Wheeler to be tier six prospects.
Porter Martone was ranked No. 3 on the Athletic’s drafted prospects list, and nearly made No. 2. Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
Martone played just 19 games with the Flyers last season, nine in the regular season and 10 in the playoffs, making the 19-year-old eligible for the list on both qualifications. During the regular season, he had 10 points in his nine games, four goals and six assists, and his 14 shots on goal were the most by a rookie in his first two games in the league.
During the playoffs he became the first teenager in league history to score a game-winning goal in each of his first two career playoff games. He added three assists to those two goals to finish with five points in the playoffs.
With just the Nos. 1 and 2 overall picks in the 2026 draft, Penn State product Gavin McKenna (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Ivar Stenberg (San Jose Sharks) ranking ahead of him, the 6-foot-3 right winger is described by Wheeler as a “modern powered forward who blends size with skill, poise, physicality and scoring ability.” Wheeler says he debated ranking him No. 2.
Wheeler continued on to mention Martone’s build, battle for the puck and puck handling skills, and willingness to drop the gloves, among other attributes, but also noted that there are instances where he falls to poor play selection, turnovers, bad penalties, and other issues. His biggest note was about Martone’s skating which he said “can kick out from the knees” and will need to improve so the rest of his game can improve, but again noted the teenager’s many attributes.
“He’s going to score goals, make plays and be able to impose himself in the NHL when he really comes into his own,” Wheeler said. “He has the talent to become a high-end point-producing winger. The skill and hockey sense are real, and the consistency of his effort level and toughness have developed over time, too. He’s one of the top forward prospects in the game.”
Michael Misa of the Sharks finished out the top four, making Misa the second San Jose player in the top tier and one of six Sharks to make the list.
The Detroit Red Wings and the Vancouver Canucks also had six prospects each. The Blackhawks had the most appearances in the top 100 with eight prospects, followed by the Calgary Flames and the Nashville Predators who had seven each.
David Jiříček played in one NHL game in 2026-27 and projects as a key part of the Flyers’ future. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Helping close out the list was Jiříček who was drafted sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022. One of 30 defensemen in the ranking, the 22-year-old was acquired by the Flyers at this season’s trade deadline in exchange for Bobby Brink.
The 6-4 blueliner played one game with the Flyers in the last game of the regular season and was later called back up for the playoffs after the Phantoms season ended, but did not see ice time.
Wheeler said Jiříček has a number of desirable attributes including his point shot, commanding presence, and strong frame, but said he is stilted in his backwards skating and pivots, which causes him to struggle to keep up in a fast-paced game.
Jiříček’s offensive contributions, such as being a puck transporter and a puck handler or distributor, were also commended by Wheeler, but he noted that while Jiříček has tools one would look for in a top defenseman, he also lacks some of the most important tools including play reading ability.
“Because his decision-making and footwork don’t seem to be improving enough, he no longer projects as a top-four D and now looks more like a potential third-pairing type with some offense,” Wheeler said.
Flyers left wing Alex Bump was among the players who just missed the cut for the top 100. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
As for the rest of the Metropolitan Division, the New York Islanders had five prospects make the list, the most out of any team in the division, followed by the Washington Capitals with four.
Cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, had three players make the list with Harrison Brunicke (74) and Rutger McGroarty (84) coming in the fifth tier while Will Horcoff (92) came in tier six.
The New York Rangers also had three with Alberts Šmits (9) and Gabe Perreault (19) in the second tier and Liam Greentree (91) in the sixth.
The Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, and New Jersey Devils also had two prospects each on the list.
I understand some folks on social media are very upset with Phillies fans for booing every baseball player but their own during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night.
To those whom we’ve offended, may I humbly say: BOOOOO!!! There’s no crying in baseball, you whiny babies.
I wasn’t there in person so sadly I can’t claim to have been a part of the cacophonous crowd that joyfully jeered player after player as they walked onto the field (except, of course, for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who received thunderous applause), but I did laugh like hell while watching the incessant booing on TV.
Philly literally booed these guys just for daring to show up and be introduced at our ballpark. We are so unserious.
Our humor is just as brutal as our honesty and while it may not seem like it on the surface, both come from a place of respect. Sure, we could be fake and feign applause for players from other teams, or we could be “polite” and not say anything at all, but we’d rather be engaged and enjoy a good time and a good ribbing.
Heck, Monday night Phillies fans booed one of the kids picking up baseballs in the outfield because he didn’t catch a fly ball, so yeah, puppies and sunshine should be on high alert.
Over on Threads, users posted: “How totally classless!” and “The Philly crowd booing every single player is really gross” and those people were rightfully and immediately ratioed. Philadelphians responded with brilliant retorts like: “If you don’t get booed in Philly, you’re not an All-Star” and “If those players didn’t want to be booed, they should play for the Phillies.”
You know who didn’t seem to have a problem with the boos? The players who actually got booed! They appeared to get it and have fun with it. Every story that’s really a home run needs a good antagonist and a dramatic arc. For that night, they were our Moriartys and we were theirs.
Phillies Bryce Harper climbs the ropes of the boxing ring during his introduction at the MLB Home Run Derby in Philadelphia on Monday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
If you can’t stomach some theatrics when the Home Run Derby is broadcast on Netflix — there was a boxing ring on the field and Will Ferrell was providing unhinged commentary — then you probably should’ve watched the Little House on the Prairie remake instead, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Listen, I understand being surprised by the boos if you’re not familiar with Philadelphia’s dark and dystopian joie de vivre. Before I moved here, I don’t think I’d ever booed anything in my life or had ever been booed, and I couldn’t imagine a scenario in which either would happen (outside of my nightmares and Renaissance fairs, that is).
But after 19 years in Philly, I can now proudly say I’ve been booed in person, over the phone, via email, and on social media by Philadelphians, and I have participated in many communal and individual booing sessions. I didn’t realize how cathartic it could be or how much I’d been suppressing my medieval side, but I know now and have vowed to boo better.
Philadelphia Phillies fans boo the Houston Astros after batting practice ahead of baseball’s World Series Game 5 in 2022. We boo people at batting practice and you’re surprised we booed players at the Home Run Derby? Charles Fox / Staff Photographer
Most recently, I booed a tourist I was interviewing on July 2 when she told me she was visiting Philly through the 3rd and then heading to Boston to celebrate Independence Day on July 4. I did give her a pass when she later said her son and grandson lived in Boston, but I did not apologize. We can’t be getting soft around here.
I mean this is a city where our mascots throw popcorn at babies, harass opposing coaches, and eat people while at work — and they’re the ultimate Philly fans, so expecting us to treat baseball like the ballet is totally bananas (and I’m not talking about the Savannahs).
For those who remain offended, I suggest looking in a mirror and asking: When is the last time I booed something? If the answer is “never” or “not in a while,” give it a go — you may not realize how much you’ve been holding back.
And if you don’t want to boo yourself, turn on a Phillies game and boo us. We’ll take the compliment, because we can take a joke.
Tom Burgoyne was selling computer supplies for six months after graduating from Drexel when he saw a listing in the newspaper that said “mascots wanted.” It didn’t say who was looking for mascots or where the job would be located. Burgoyne, who was the mascot in high school at St. Joe’s Prep, didn’t need to know.
“I sent my resume to the P.O. Box,” Burgoyne said. “I thought I’d be like the Hamburglar or the Statue of Liberty at tax time. And then the Phillies called.”
Burgoyne aced his audition and spent five years as the backup Phillie Phanatic before becoming the main man inside the flightless bird from the Galápagos Islands.
But Burgoyne has long protected the mascot like a professional wrestler protecting the business.
He’s not the Phanatic. He’s the Phanatic’s best friend. He talks about the mascot in third person — “The Phanatic will be busy on Tuesday,” Burgoyne said of the All-Star Game — and does his best to separate the man from the bird. He knows another big-league mascot who is a teacher during the day but keeps his other job so secretive that people in his school don’t know he’s a mascot.
“I respect the hell out of that,” Burgoyne said.
So Burgoyne, who is participating in his 30th All-Star Game, needed some convincing to peel back the curtain for a documentary expected to premiere later this year about the character he brings to life every summer. But then Burgoyne remembered watching a documentary about the Muppets that showed Jim Henson pulling the strings for Kermit The Frog. If Henson could do that, then Burgoyne could talk about what he does.
Tom Burgoyne, the man inside the Phanatic, posed for a portrait with some of the children’s books he’s written at Citizens Bank Park in 2024.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The documentary — which is titled Big Phan — is directed by Flourtown native Hoag Kepner, the brother of longtime baseball writer Tyler Kepner. It tells the history of the mascot, Burgoyne said, and “has a lot of heart.” And it allowed Burgoyne a chance to admit that he’s more than just a friend of the Phanatic.
“You never want to think that there’s someone in the costume,” Burgoyne said. “I can look at an old clip of the Phanatic and I’m not thinking, ‘Oh, that’s me in there.’ I’m just thinking ‘That’s the Phanatic.’ You want that magic to stay alive.”
Burgoyne’s first All-Star Game was in 1996 at Veterans Stadium when Major League Baseball invited every mascot for the first time. The mascots were told to dress across Pattison Avenue at the Spectrum before the Home Run Derby, but the locker rooms were under construction when they arrived. So they took over the Vet’s umpire dressing room, which equipment manager Joey Dunn had already set up for the next day’s All-Star Game.
“Here come the mascots trashing the place on Monday,” Burgoyne said. “MLB has learned a lot over the years.”
The game has become the annual gathering of the mascots as they didn’t have a reason to come together before MLB started to invite them each July.
Burgoyne was in Boston in 1999 when Ted Williams returned to Fenway Park. He was in Pittsburgh when Ryan Howard won the 2006 Derby, and he was in New York in 2008 when they played 15 innings. But his favorite memory is the one that leaves him wondering what could have been.
The mascots were taking turns sliding down Bernie Brewer’s slide in Milwaukee during the 2002 Home Run Derby when the Phanatic took his turn.
“I think someone had to give him a shove with their foot,” Burgoyne said.
The big, feathery green thing neared the bottom of the slide just as Sammy Sosa homered off it. The Phanatic could have made a play.
“I’m telling you, the Phanatic was coming down the slide and it just missed,” Burgoyne said. “If the Phanatic slid two seconds earlier, he could’ve caught it on the fly in the slide. It’s such a regret. It would’ve been the ESPN Play of the Day.”
The mascot arrived in Philadelphia in 1978 and was brought to life by Dave Raymond, who retired after the 1993 season. The schtick has been fine-tuned in nearly 50 years, but the main elements have remained unchanged. Burgoyne makes fans allow themselves to believe that what they’re seeing is real. Because he’s not in the costume. He’s just a friend. And he has no plans of stopping.
“I’m still having fun,” Burgoyne said when asked how much longer he has in the gig. “I’ve been thinking of David Montgomery a lot and when they announced the All-Star Game so long ago for him, I was like ‘2026? Someone else can do that.’ But here we are. When you’re having so much fun, why not?”
The American League won the 2026 MLB All-Star Game 4-0, shutting out the National League in front of a sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly.
Phillies batters struggle as American League wins All-Star Game
Phillies Bryce Harper waves to the fans during the sixth inningElizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Well that was rough.
The American League blanked the National League 4-0 in the MLB All-Star Game in South Philly Tuesday night, where the only real fireworks were during a recreation of “The Sandlot.”
Phillies’ batters didn’t help much. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh went a combined 0-5 with three strikeouts.
Starting his first All-Star Game, Cristopher Sánchez struggled, giving up three runs on three hits. Teammates Jesús Luzardo and Jhoan Duran pitched well during their limited time on the mound.
Overall, the National League managed just three hits against dominant American League pitching, which recorded 15 strikeouts.
The AL has won 11 of the last 13 All-Star Games, for those keeping score.
Phillies fan nabs a souvenir that will ‘go into a case for life’
Phillies fan David MacDonald and his dad, Jim, after catching a Brandon Marsh foul ball. Abraham Gutman / staff
David MacDonald will leave the MLB All-Star game tonight with a souvenir.
The 23-year-old from Cape May caught a ball Brandon Marsh fouled in the second inning.
“My dad and I have been talking about going to the All-Star game even before it was announced it was here,” MacDonald said. “I shed tears during the national anthem and everything.”
Adding to the lore of what is guaranteed to be a story told and retold in the MacDonald household, father Jim MacDonald was in the bathroom for Marsh’s at bat.
The ball instantly became the young MacDonald’s most prized possession, he said, and it will immediately “go into a case for life” after the game.
The father-son due are Phillies diehards, and like so many children and their parents, they’ve bonded over their love of baseball.
“It means everything to us,” the young MacDonald said. “This is one of the coolest days of my life.”
A recreation of ‘The Sandlot’ at the All-Star Game
A recreation of The Sandlot scene was shown, and then those kids rode bikes onto the field to meet the players, all while “America the Beautiful” from Ray Charles plays.
Sánchez gives up three runs in All-Star Game start
Cristopher Sanchez walks off of the mound after pitching the first inning.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Upon being introduced Tuesday night, Cristopher Sánchez stood in the bullpen, hands on his hips, tapped his chest and saluted the crowd.
It was all downhill after that.
Sánchez, the first Phillies pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011, labored through a 34-pitch first inning in which he faced eight batters and gave up three runs on three hits.
The trouble for Sánchez began with a one-out single from the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez. Sánchez walked Shea Langeliers of the Athletics, and two batters later, walked the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases.
With action in the National League bullpen, Sánchez allowed back-to-back RBI singles to the Yankees’ Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice to drop the NL in a 3-0 hole before Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the first.
Sánchez came into the All-Star Game with a 2.62 ERA, ninth among all pitchers. But he quietly struggled before the break. He gave up nine runs in 3 1/3 innings in his worst career start July 6 in Kansas City, then dodged 10 hits in allowing only two runs in seven innings last Saturday in Detroit.
The full Philadelphia sports fan range of emotion in seconds, in equal passion applauding Kyle Schwarber and booing Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/k8C7Y5iBSK
Jennifer Hudson performs before the start of the All-Star Game.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerActor Miles Teller introduces the All-Star Game to fans and viewers on Fox. Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerJhoan Duran, Jesús Luzardo and Bryce Harper during player introductions.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 7:59pm
Big cheers for Phillies All-Stars during player introductions
Kyle Schwarber passes Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy during batting practice.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerLos Angeles Angles centerfielder Mike Trout prepares for batting practice.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer(From left) Phillies’ Jesús Luzardo, Pirates’ Braxton Ashcraft, Phillies’ Jhoan Duran, and Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski talk during batting practice.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff PhotographerPhillies interim manager Don Mattingly watches batting practice.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 5:47pm
Brandon Marsh’s dry hair among best looks from the MLB All-Star Game red carpet
Brandon Marsh waves during the All-Star red carpet event.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
You can take the baseball players off the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to stop sporting coordinated outfits.
The All-Star red carpet ran through Independence Mall on Tuesday before that night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, and the stars were putting their stellar fashion skills on display, as fans saw a lot of coordinated outfits between families.
Sometimes the best outfits are less about the clothes and more about the overall look, and with a head of hair like Brandon Marsh’s, there’s little the clothes have to do.
Marsh wore his signature locks notably dry and tied back with an all-black look, from shirt to pants, jacket, and shoes.
But he wasn’t just bringing the fashion, he also was offering tips on haircare.
The Phillies outfielder shared his hair routine with MLB Network’s Kait Maniscalco, stating that he doesn’t do much beyond washing it once or twice a week, usually after day games, and then, of course, wetting it every inning.
“I just water it every inning just like you do the grass or the flowers,” Marsh said.
Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton to throw ceremonial first pitches
Tonight’s ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by a pair of Phillies legends, Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
Receiving the pitches will be two other Phillies greats, Hall of Famer Scott Rolen and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels. #AllStarGamepic.twitter.com/PFRYN89wra
All-Stars talk Philly fans and ‘impressive’ Derby atmosphere
A fan celebrates after catching a home run from St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Jordan Walker during the Home Run Derby.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philly has a reputation for having some of the toughest fans in professional sports — and Monday night was a clear reminder why they’ve earned that reputation. During the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, fans booed anyone without Philly affiliation.
“I thought it was in a pretty impressive atmosphere last night,” said Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. “Just seeing the Home Run Derby, [Philly fans are] always going to have a good time and they want to win. So, yeah, [I] respect it.”
And nobody was safe — not even the kids in the outfield tasked with tracking down the non-home runs. After a failed attempt, some took heat from the Philly crowd, while others were cheered for their successful catches.
“To be honest, I didn’t see [the Home Run Derby,]” said Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. “But they’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.”
“They’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.” — Adley Rutschman on Philly fans pic.twitter.com/XGdWCO3phP
Phillies fans cheered loudly for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper on Monday night. The other Home Run Derby contestants? They got a different reception.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The boos at Monday’s Home Run Derby may have surprised some but it’s nothing new in Philly.
Fifty years ago, the fans at Veterans Stadium provided the soundtrack at the All-Star Game just like they did on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. The fans booed the rival Reds players during pregame introductions and roared for the Phillies. The Reds, who would beat the Phillies that October in the playoffs, had no issue with the South Philly serenade.
“They’ve got people in this town who boo the crack in the Liberty Bell,” said Pete Rose, who was one of five Reds in the starting lineup. “So I knew I’d get a few raspberries playing third base instead of Mike Schmidt. If the game was in Cincinnati and there were that many Phillies voted into the lineup, they would be getting boos. These people are going to hate us a lot more come October.”
The All-Star Game has grown substantially since 1976 as the midsummer classic is now a week-long event. But it’s a safe bet that it will sound like 1976 during pre-game introductions on Tuesday night. Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and even some others: cover your ears.
“I think the important thing is that Bryce’s activity was not a violation of the basic agreement,” commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “We made sure about that, and we’ll continue to try to figure out exactly how we ended up, where we ended up on that.”
MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on Dec. 1, allows players to appear in advertisements or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball.
The Inquirer obtained a copy of a 21-second video from November 2024 in which Harper offered a greeting to a bettor, Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and lost $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit that the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed in March in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia.
Harper posted to Instagram on Monday that he thought he was just doing a message on the site Cameo — in which celebrities are paid to record videos for fans — but “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”
“I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote, adding that he read a script “in good faith” before FanDuel put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. “I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Harper declined to comment beyond his initial statement on the advice of counsel.
Manfred said he’s “aware of the situation” and Harper’s statement about it, but said, “I’m not really certain that I know all of the underlying facts well enough to evaluate the behavior.”
Harper will be in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park. He was selected as the commissioner’s “Legends Pick,” one spot on each league’s roster that is filled by Manfred.
Photos: Check out the Phillies All-Stars on the red carpet
All six of the Phillies All-Stars took to the red carpet Tuesday on Independence Mall, sporting their freshest outfits with their families joining in on several of the looks. Here’s how they looked …
Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo and his wife, Francesca Sue Luzardo.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies closer Jhoan Duran and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies outfielder Brandon Marsh.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerGov. Josh Shapiro (left) greets Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies first baseman Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla Harper.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 2:45pm
Bryce Harper talks Home Run Derby and red-carpet fit
Greg Amsinger loves his red carpet outfit, but Bryce Harper isn't the biggest fan.😂
Harper spoke about what it means to represent the @Phillies in their home ballpark at the #AllStarGame!
Gameday Central: Previewing the All-Star Game — and the trade deadline
The All-Star Game is back in Philly for the first time in 30 years, and The Inquirer has you covered. Join Phillies reporter Scott Lauber and Phillies beat writer Lochlahn March for a special All-Star episode of Gameday Central at 2 p.m.
They’ll be on site at Citizens Bank Park to discuss All-Star week, recap the Phillies’ first half, and look ahead to the trade deadline and beyond.
// Timestamp 07/14/26 1:57pm
The stars are here: Watch the MLB Network Red Carpet show
// Timestamp 07/14/26 1:18pm
Fans arrive on Independence Mall ahead off red carpet
Farr: Stop whining about the boos at the Home Run Derby
A fan reacts after catching a home run from Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero during the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
I understand some folks on social media are very upset with Phillies fans today for booing every baseball player but their own two during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park Monday night.
To those whom we’ve offended, may I humbly say: BOOOOO!!! There’s no crying in baseball, you whiny babies.
I wasn’t there in person so sadly I can’t claim to have been a part of the cacophonous crowd that joyfully jeered player after player as they walked onto the field (except, of course, for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who received thunderous applause), but I did laugh like hell while watching the incessant booing on TV.
Philly literally booed these guys just for daring to show up and be introduced at our ballpark. We are so unserious.
Our humor is just as brutal as our honesty and while it may not seem like it on the surface, both come from a place of respect. Sure we could be fake and feign applause for players from other teams, or we could be “polite” and not say anything at all, but we’d rather be engaged and enjoy a good time and a good ribbing.
Heck, last night Phillies fans booed one of the kids picking up baseballs in the outfield because he didn’t catch a fly ball, so yeah, puppies and sunshine should be on high alert.
All-Star Game in Philly: Here’s how to watch and stream
Joe Davis (left) and Hall of Famer John Smoltz will call tonight’s All-Star Game on Fox.Fox Sports
The Phillies will be well-represented in tonight’s MLB All-Star Game (8 p.m., Fox), which is back on Fox for the 26th straight year.
Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League, and two Phillies players will be in the starting lineup — Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh. Bryce Harper, Jesús Luzardo, and closer Jhoan Duran are also on the National League squad.
Calling the game is Fox’s World Series crew — play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will report from Citizens Bank Park.
How to stream the All-Star Game
The game will stream live on the Fox Sports app, although it’s only available there for cable subscribers. It will also stream live on MLB.TV, although the subscription service is hardly worth it for Phillies fans in the Philadelphia market due to its blackout rules.
The game can also be streamed on a host of services that carry Fox, including FuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, or YouTube TV. If you live near Philadelphia, you can also watch it for free using a digital antenna, since Fox 29 is a broadcast channel.
Other All-Star Game coverage
Fox Sports will begin its live coverage at 7 p.m. with a pregame show hosted by Kevin Burkhardt alongside analysts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and David Ortiz.
The MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show will begin at 2 p.m. on MLB Network.
All-Star Game lineups: Kyle Schwarber will lead off for National League
Kyle Schwarber finished second in Monday night’s Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The starting lineups for Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game were revealed by the teams’ respective managers Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
The lineup behind Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, who gets the start on the mound for the National League, will begin with his Phillies teammate, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Outfielder Brandon Marsh will bat seventh for Dave Roberts’ NL squad.
Here’s a look at the full order:
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
Juan Soto, LF, Mets
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Brandon Marsh, RF, Phillies
Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers
Drake Baldwin, C, Braves
Meanwhile, here’s a look at the starting lineup for John Schneider’s American League side, behind starting pitcher Dylan Cease of the Blue Jays:
Some of MLB’s biggest stars are missing from this year’s All-Star Game
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani isn’t at the All-Star Game.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The best player in Major League Baseball — a player who can make a claim to being the greatest baseball player ever — will not play in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
The best player on the most popular team in Major League Baseball — a player who hit at least 53 home runs in three of the previous four seasons and is among the most recognizable figures in the sport — will not play either.
And the best pitcher for the franchise that is hosting the game — a pitcher who can make a claim to being the best starter in the majors for the last several years — wasn’t initially selected to be an All-Star, then was, then rejected the invitation.
If the stars everyone wants to see don’t play, does the All-Star Game still make a sound? It was a question worth contemplating Monday. It wasn’t the only one. The players who will make up the American and National League rosters Tuesday night plopped down on chairs along Ashburn Alley for the game’s media availability, and the juice wasn’t quite what it might have been.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has irritation in his left knee. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge has a stress fracture in his right rib. The Phillies’ Zack Wheeler has a bruise to his ego.
Kyle Schwarber falls in Home Run Derby heartbreaker
Kyle Schwarber looked set to take his first Home Run Derby title before Jordan Walker went on a late frenzy.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber needed to take a breath.
Schwarber went deep seven times in a nine-swing span in the semifinals of Monday night’s Home Run Derby. With three swings left, he needed to regroup.
And so, Schwarber did what any slugger in a hometown Derby would. He took a beat and waved to the Phillies fans in sold-out Citizens Bank Park to make more noise.
Schwarber won the round and nearly the Derby. But the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, who drew cheers from the 43,863 paying customers after each swing that didn’t result in a homer, smashed four homers in a row in bonus time to eke out a 12-11 victory in the finals.
It marked Schwarber’s third career Derby and second runner-up finish. He came in second to Harper in 2018 in Washington, then Harper’s home ballpark. Four years later, they became teammates with the Phillies.
There would be no rematch this time. Harper hit eight homers in the first round and didn’t advance despite crushing a 482-footer that disappeared beyond the second deck in right field before touching down in Ashburn Alley.
Philly road closures due to tonight’s All-Star Game
All-Star Game banners are in place around town.Conor Smith / Staff
Independence Mall will see road closures in place from 5 a.m. to midnight Tuesday due to the MLB Red Carper show, which begins at 2 p.m.
Those closures will affect:
Fifth and Sixth Streets from Arch to Walnut Streets
Market and Chestnut Streets from Fourth to Seventh Streets
Ranstead and Sansom Streets from Sixth Street to Seventh Streets
Philadelphia police, the city said, may institute additional closures in the interest of public safety.
All roads affected by closures will also be temporary no-parking zones, the city said. If vehicles are parked in those locations during the times they are closed, the vehicles will be moved.
Drivers who may have had their cars moved should contact the police district of the area where their vehicle was parked, the city said.
To accommodate fans heading to Citizens Bank Park, SEPTA will run six additional express trains on the Broad Street Line, also known as the B Line, to NRG Station before and after the All-Star Game.
Free rides on the line from NRG Station will also be available at select times during those events. Free rides begin after the sixth inning of the All-Star Game Tuesday, the city said.
When Rafael Peña throws to Kyle Schwarber in the batting cage, he likes to challenge him. The Phillies designated hitter will get a steady stream of curveballs, changeups, and sliders.
He’ll also get some trash talk. Peña jokingly dares the slugger to scrape out a hit. These sessions are meant to prepare; not to please. “We really don’t do a lot of feel-good BP,” Schwarber said.
But when the DH was deciding whether to participate in the Home Run Derby, it was Peña who came to mind. The assistant hitting coach has thrown more batting practice to Schwarber than anyone in the organization (with the exception of Kevin Long, who coached him before he arrived in Philadelphia).
So, Schwarber asked him if he’d be his pitcher about 10 days ago while the Phillies were on the road. But Schwarber hadn’t announced that he was participating in the Home Run Derby. The coach assumed he was talking about cage work.
“He asked me what I was doing,” Peña said. “And I was like, ‘I’m going to be in Philly.’ And he was like, ‘Do you want to throw to me? Do you want to throw BP to me?’
“And I was kind of like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he was like, ‘Well, in the Derby.’ I throw BP to him all the time. I didn’t know if maybe he was going to stay late one of the days or something like that.”
Kyle Schwarber electrified the Citizens Bank Park crowd in the Home Run Derby but came up just short of a title. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Peña agreed, and the two men got to work. On Saturday, when the Phillies were in Detroit, Peña, Schwarber, Long, and bullpen catcher Brad Flanders took a car service to Comerica Park.
They arrived hours before game time, and long before the rest of the team got there. Peña measured the exact distance from the plate that he’d be positioned in the Derby and set up behind an L screen.
Flanders, wearing the same bright red glove he’d later use on Monday night, bent into a crouch. Schwarber stepped up to the plate. Peña began firing pitches middle, middle-in.
The assistant hitting coach called it a “practice round.”
“We did 20 [pitches] and he hit 13 out of 20,” Peña recalled. “And then we did a 15 round and he hit nine out of 15.”
Long, who was watching from a few feet away, gave his stamp of approval.
“K-Long was just like, ‘Just feed it in there,’” Peña said. “‘You don’t need to go too crazy. Just feed it in there. Flandy has a big target, big red target.’”
It ended up being a harbinger of Schwarbombs to come. Two days later, with Peña behind the L-screen, the Phillies DH put on an epic performance in Citizens Bank Park, falling one home run short of winning the Home Run Derby.
Schwarber started slow — falling short in his first five tries — but gained momentum as the night went on. He finished his first round with 10 home runs, his semifinal round with nine, and his final round with 11.
He seemed like he was guaranteed a win, until Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker crushed 12 home runs a few minutes later (an especially impressive feat, given that the crowd was actively rooting for his demise).
Even though this wasn’t the result the Phillies wanted, for Peña, it was still a meaningful moment. The assistant hitting coach was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where his father, Rafael Sr., took him to his first baseball game at the age of 7.
Rafael Sr. was in the stands on Monday night. He had family and friends following along from the Dominican Republic. His daughters, Sophia and Isabella, were cheering him on from home in Oklahoma City.
Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena has a strong rapport with Schwarber, which was evident on Monday night. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
“They called me [today]. They’re like, ‘Hey Daddy, are you ready? Have you practiced?’” Peña said. “It’s fun.”
Peña said on Monday afternoon that if Schwarber hit like he did on Saturday, he’d have a good chance of winning it all. And his words proved prescient. Schwarber came incredibly close; Walker was down to his last swing.
But the baseball gods had other ideas, and Schwarber will have to wait another year, at least, for his next chance at the trophy. And if he calls, Peña will be ready.
“It’s special,” Peña said. “I’ve watched this since I was a little kid; every single Home Run Derby. So being a part of it is amazing.”
The best player in Major League Baseball — a player who can make a claim to being the greatest baseball player ever — will not play in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. The best player on the most popular team in Major League Baseball — a player who hit at least 53 home runs in three of the previous four seasons and is among the most recognizable figures in the sport — will not play either. And the best pitcher for the franchise that is hosting the game — a pitcher who can make a claim to being the best starter in the majors for the last several years — wasn’t initially selected to be an All-Star, then was, then rejected the invitation.
If the stars everyone wants to see don’t play, does the All-Star Game still make a sound? It was a question worth contemplating Monday. It wasn’t the only one. The players who will make up the American and National League rosters Tuesday night plopped down on chairs along Ashburn Alley for the game’s media availability, and the juice wasn’t quite what it might have been.
There were a couple of famous names, such as Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. There were emerging stars, such as the Washington Nationals’ James Wood and the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong. There were the grateful first-timers, such as the Phillies’ Jesús Luzardo and the Detroit Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle (a proud Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast alum). But because of some adverse circumstances, the showcase will be without three of the game’s greatest showmen.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has irritation in his left knee. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge has a stress fracture in his right rib. The Phillies’ Zack Wheeler has a bruise to his ego.
Shohei Ohtani (left) will sit it out Tuesday night along with Zack Wheeler.Mark J. Terrill
They were missed Monday and will be missed Tuesday, though their conspicuous absences weren’t all their fault. As the Dodgers’ best hitter and one of their best pitchers, Ohtani already bears some heavy obligations; he can be forgiven for declining to play hurt through even an inning Tuesday. And Judge hasn’t appeared in a game for the Yankees since May 31.
Wheeler is a different story, though, and his situation did raise the issue of the All-Star Game’s purpose. Is it a showcase for the game’s most popular and accomplished players, a chance for fans to see those stars all together at once? Is it a reward for those players whose performances in the season’s first half were particularly excellent? If so, does the game really need its longtime quota system of having every team represented?
Wheeler’s snub touched on all those topics. It had become a cause célèbre around here, of course, and he was so miffed that on Friday, when Major League Baseball offered him a spot on the NL team, he said no, telling reporters, “They disrespected me, so I’m not going to participate in it.” His nose-thumbing at MLB has garnered him a lot of atta-boys from Phillies fans and media members. Still, it would be easier to be sympathetic to Wheeler if he hadn’t been selected to the All-Star Team in 2024 and 2025 and declined each year not just to pitch but to show up to the game.
In fairness to Wheeler, he was suffering from some back tightness in 2024 and had pitched on the Sunday before the 2025 game. But in fairness to the people who make such decisions, how many times does a player have to turn down participating in the All-Star festivities before they catch the hint that he’d rather spend the break down the shore?
Maybe the honor of playing in the All-Star Game doesn’t matter as much to Wheeler as the honor of saying he’s an All-Star does, especially once it comes time for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s voters to consider his credentials and case for induction.
But then, Wheeler’s attitude toward the game is nothing new among major leaguers, despite the common assertion (and reality) that baseball’s All-Star Game carries more meaning than the NBA All-Star Game or the Pro Bowl. If it does, it’s not by much.
“I never felt like there was that much at stake,” said Phillies manager Don Mattingly, a six-time American League All-Star selection during his 14-year career with the Yankees. “I felt like it was an exhibition, really. There was so much stuff around it, all the stuff you have to do. At game time, guys want to play, but you’re not as invested as you are in a pennant race, going down to the last week of the season. It doesn’t feel like that.”
So instead of Wheeler, the National League’s pitching staff will have the San Diego Padres’ Adrian Morejon, a 27-year-old middle reliever with a 3.42 earned-run average this season. And because the rotation schedules of Jacob Misiorowski, Paul Skenes, and Max Meyer — three of the National League’s top starters — made them unavailable to pitch Tuesday night, Luzardo was among some late additions to the roster.
“There’s two sides,” said Luzardo, who is 8-4 with a 3.51 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 110⅓ innings this season. “The child in me sees it as all the best stars in baseball getting together and playing a game. That was me growing up watching the All-Star Game. Now, being a player, it’s a reward for the success you’ve had. Obviously, there’s a lot of motivation to go out and perform every time out. You’re going to get the best out of everyone at these games.”
The question isn’t whether the fans will see these players give their best. The question is whether the players they’ll see are really the best — and how many of the best of the best really want to be there at all.
With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.
Player: Jonathan Jones
Position: Cornerback
Age: 32
Previous experience: Jones is the most veteran player in the cornerbacks room, bringing 10 years of NFL experience to the Eagles. He spent nine seasons and earned two Super Bowl rings (2016, 2018) with the New England Patriots, the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2016.
He spent most of his early Patriots career as a backup defensive back (primarily at nickel) and a special teams contributor until 2022, when he earned the starting outside cornerback job out of training camp. That year, he started 16 games, registering a career-high four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), three forced fumbles, and 11 pass breakups.
Jones remained the starter in New England in 2023 and 2024, then signed with the Washington Commanders as a free agent in 2025. As a backup last season, he started seven games, making five pass breakups and notching one sack. He took the bulk of his snaps on the outside.
Path to a roster spot: Cornerback depth — at either spot, but most likely on the outside. The Eagles are set among their starting trio of Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen on the outside and Cooper DeJean in the slot. Michael Carter II could be the primary backup in the slot if he doesn’t win the starting safety job, but Jones could earn the top backup role on the outside if he fares well in training camp against contenders that include Kelee Ringo and Mac McWilliams.
Quotable: “I can remember being the younger guy in the room, full of veterans, Devin McCourty and those guys, and just trying to compete with them. And so now being the older guy in the room, just still having that joy of the game, coming out, competing in practice and games, and just still having that childhood joy of playing football is definitely what keeps you going.” — Jones in March on his rare longevity as an undrafted player
Samori Touré (83) saw limited action with the Packers earlier in his career. Paul Sancya / AP
Player: Samori Touré
Position: Wide receiver
Age: 28
Previous experience: Touré, who is 6-foot-1, 196 pounds, has four years of NFL experience, spending the latter half primarily on practice squads.
He began his career with the Green Bay Packers, the team that drafted him in the seventh round out of Nebraska in 2022. Touré saw limited action in Green Bay, combining for 13 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown in 22 games (two starts) in two seasons on the active roster. He was released in August 2024 after ending the previous season on injured reserve.
Since his release from the Packers, he has been on three practice squads: the Chicago Bears (2024), the Denver Broncos (2025), and the New Orleans Saints (2025). He was only active on game day with the Saints, the team that picked him up in late November last season after the Broncos released him in late October. Touré had one reception for three yards in one game with the Saints.
Path to a roster spot: Receiving depth, both on the outside and in the slot, most likely as a member of the practice squad. The active roster seems like a stretch, given that Touré will be competing with Darius Cooper, Johnny Wilson, Elijah Moore, and Britain Covey for one of those last couple spots in training camp.
Even the practice squad will be a challenge for Touré to make, seeing as he does not have special teams experience. In addition to the aforementioned active roster contenders, Touré will have to beat out practice squad incumbents Danny Gray and Quez Watkins for a spot on that unit.
However, while Touré did not overlap with Sean Mannion in Green Bay, they are both products of Matt LaFleur’s offense to an extent. That experience could give Touré a boost while competing for a role in the revamped Eagles offense, which will likely feature similarities to the Packers’ scheme.
Quotable: “Samori has had his moments, and we gotta continue to build upon those and become more and more consistent along the way. But he’s a guy that we definitely have high hopes for. He has the tools necessary that you look for in terms of being able to separate. He has them in his body. He possesses those. It’s just continuing to get more and more reps.” — LaFleur on Touré in July 2023, via Packers.com
In the center of Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was surrounded by dozens of media members standing shoulder-to-shoulder, pushing their way through the crowd with mics in hand to ask the Dodgers pitcher a question.
And standing shoulder height to the other media members, getting pushed around in the middle of it all, was 12-year-old Philadelphia native Isabella Gonzalez.
12-year-old Philadelphia native Isabella Gonzalez getting right in the middle of the action for media day pic.twitter.com/LMw0iCHiSc
“So, I’m actually claustrophobic, I hate tight spaces,” Gonzalez said. “But when I was over there, because of how wild it was, I started to get smushed in. Everyone slowly started closing in.
“So, I felt someone’s shoulder go on my cheek. I didn’t want to be rude and fully shove them. Because like everyone was ahead of me, so I’m like rushing over. It was so chaotic. But I think it was easy to deal with because I can just be like, ‘Oh, excuse me.’ Or give them a light [shove].”
Despite her fear of tight spaces, she found her way to the front of the crowd, took a deep breath, and let her voice be heard.
My name is Bella. Congratulations on making it to All-Stars. I’m from Philly, but my family background is from Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. I have a question for you.
After getting out of the crowd, she let out a sigh of relief and was onto her next assignment: an interview with Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo — and this interaction would hold a special place in Gonzalez’s heart.
Earlier this year, Luzardo filmed a video for Gonzalez informing her that she was selected to serve as a Players Exchange Student Correspondent, where she would be interviewing MLB players during All-Star media day. Since then, he’s been a favorite for the Phillies fan.
Philadelphia student Isabella Gonzalez, 12, served as a Players Exchange Student Correspondent, interviewing MLB players during All-Star media day on Monday.Ariel Simpson
“My favorite [interview] was Jesús Luzardo,” Gonzalez said. “Obviously, he made a video for me. So, knowing that he was the player who made me a video and that the whole class had to watch me see that video, it made me happy because I feel like I could make a few connections toward him. My dad always told me about him … He was just telling me that he’s a really good guy and be proud that’s the man who made you a video.”
Gonzalez, a seventh-grader at Decatur Elementary School in Northeast Philly, has been part of the MLB’s Players Exchange program for a year. The program, designed for 11- to 14-year-old students, teaches collaboration, communication, and global connection through insight from MLB players.
Ahead of media day, Gonzalez was able to prep with her own media tour — making an appearance on PHL17.
Now, after conducting a number of her own interviews, pushing through crowds of reporters, and overcoming a fear of tight spaces, the 12-year-old is already thinking about a career in reporting.
“Everyone’s like, ‘You speak so fluently, you sound so good,’” Gonzalez said. “I’m like, maybe that’s going to be my future. One of my aunts messaged my mom and was like, ‘We’re going to have a reporter in our family.’ I was on the news on Friday and my mom was like, ‘I’m surprised how comfortable she was.’ How I got comfortable was I was just pacing around the green room.”
And after a day full of interviews in the heat, Gonzalez tied her hair up, tossed on her Phillies hat, grabbed her claw clip and was ready to enjoy the rest of the All-Star Weekend experience — attending the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game.
“What I found the most best about the whole thing was being able to learn more about the players and being able to ask any questions,” Gonzalez said. “I also like how they didn’t just give a tiny answer. They told you the reason behind the answer.”
