Donald Trump has authored a whole anthology of aphorisms demonstrating his deep disdain for the military he commands. He derided those killed in action as “suckers and losers,” said in reference to former prisoner of war John McCain that he prefers troops who weren’t captured, and said his “own personal Vietnam” was avoiding sexually transmitted infections while dating in New York City.
The president’s latest entry arrived when he was asked about reports of miserable conditions and attempted suicides aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which has almost nine consecutive months at sea and remains in the Middle East in support of his losing war. Trump replied that the deployment had been “not nearly long enough.” He and his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, also denied the accuracy of the stories, which originated in military-focused publications hearing directly from the families of the ship’s sailors.
Whatever happened to “We’re redoubling our efforts to get our troops everything they need,” “The American people appreciate their selfless service,” or “Here’s why these sacrifices are necessary”?
Trump isn’t just congenitally unable to respond with proper respect and humility to the hardships he is requiring of the armed forces. He is also presiding over a war that is glaringly bereft of a clear mission, identifiable accomplishment, congressional authorization, or public support. The Lincoln’s increasingly grueling service symbolizes those failures as the hostilities drag on beyond Trump’s own deadline for a durable settlement.
The Abraham Lincoln left San Diego with some 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard in November, and has made only two brief stops in port since. Its total deployment has now lasted more than 270 days, longer than almost any in the last half century. Since the actual Vietnam War — the one Trump skipped with the reported assistance of a sympathetic Queens podiatrist — the only more extensive deployment was of the USS Gerald R. Ford, which spent 326 days at sea, also under the Trump administration.
During that time, the Ford suffered a fire that injured several sailors as well as serious plumbing problems, especially while it was supporting another of Trump’s unauthorized military engagements, in Venezuela. The Lincoln has also endured malfunctioning plumbing along with inadequate supplies of food and toiletries, strenuous consecutive weeks of combat operations, and mail disruptions — its logistical challenges magnified by Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the region.
The Lincoln’s low morale has been exacerbated by repeated extensions of its scheduled deployment with no end in sight until recently, when officials began promising relief in the wake of the damning reports of the crew’s struggles. The Military Times reported that two sailors had attempted to jump overboard out of despair. Adm. Brad Cooper, the leader of U.S. Central Command, who recently visited the Lincoln on a damage control mission, defended conditions aboard by noting that the ship has seen fewer mental health cases than other carriers, which isn’t the most reassuring commentary on the state of the fleet.
The admiral also noted that deployments at sea are inherently challenging, which is surely true. The inevitable stresses of service are compounded, however, by the commander in chief’s inability to forthrightly acknowledge and honor the military’s sacrifices, let alone coherently explain why they’re being made or when they might end.
On Thursday, we released The Inquirer’s first list of the Philadelphia area’s 25 best athletes under 25 years old. But since that list was limited to those who currently play in Philly, we thought it was only fair to tip our cap to athletes who are originally from the region but no longer play here.
Here are 11 young college and professional athletes (listed alphabetically) who got their starts in Philly but currently star elsewhere …
Abdul Carter
New York Giants | Age: 22
At linebacker, Carter helped lead La Salle to the 2021 Philadelphia Catholic League championship before becoming a national name at Penn State. Now, the North Philadelphia native is looking to break out during his sophomore season with the Giants after being drafted No. 3 overall by the franchise in 2025. Last season, Carter finished with 25 solo tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Davis was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year after a successful sophomore season at Louisville. He led the nation with 34 home runs while driving in 98 runs. The West Chester native, who attended Malvern Prep, saw action for Team USA this summer in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taiwan. The first baseman is the son of former major league catcher and Phillies color commentator Ben Davis. His younger sister, Riley Davis, is a standout lacrosse player at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur and one of the 25 athletes to make our inaugural 25 under 25.
Tague Davis received significant attention from other programs after the Cardinals were bounced from the first round of the ACC postseason tournament, but he opted to stay in Louisville.
“Sometimes the grass ain’t always greener,” Davis told The Inquirer in July.
Dumas, a recent graduate of Eastern Regional, is heading to Arkansas for her freshman year. At Eastern, Dumas broke more than 20 program records and became the first girl to place first in three events at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions — the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, and 800 meters. Dumas became one of just 20 female high school track and field athletes to sign with Nike Elite — a coveted name, image, and likeness program.
“At the end of the day I’m not afraid to lose,” Dumas told The Inquirer in July.
Duren, a Sharon Hill native, played two high school basketball seasons at Roman Catholic before transferring to the prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida. After a single season at Memphis, Duren was selected 13th overall to the Detroit Pistons in the 2022 NBA draft. In the Motor City, Duren has made a name for himself as one of the most talented young bigs in the league. This past season, he was named to the All-NBA third team. He is currently a free agent but is expected to resign in Detroit.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (center) was drafted fourth overall by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL draft.Richard Rodriguez
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Arizona Cardinals | Age: 24
Harrison Jr. was a star at St. Joseph’s Prep before playing college football at Ohio State. The wideout, who owns the Philadelphia Catholic League record book, was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2024 NFL draft by the Cardinals. Despite inconsistent play at quarterback, Harrison Jr. has logged 1,493 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through his first 29 games. He is the son of NFL Hall of Fame wideout Marvin Harrison and the older brother of Jett Harrison, a standout receiver at Prep who is committed to Ohio State.
Ryleigh Heck
Team USA field hockey | Age: 22
Heck grew up in Shamong, Burlington County and played field hockey at Eastern Regional. There, she became a three-time state champion and an All-American. After high school, Heck took her talents to North Carolina. Through four years with the Tar Heels, she has collected two NCAA championships and four ACC titles. In 2023, she was named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Year.
Before leading the Fighting Irish women’s basketball team, Hidalgo turned heads at Paul VI High School in Haddon Township. Hidalgo was named a McDonald’s All-American during her senior year at Paul VI before heading off to South Bend. Last season, the Merchantville native averaged 25.3 points. 6.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and a nation-best 5.6 steals. She also helped lead Notre Dame to an Elite Eight appearance.
“It gives us motivation,” Hidalgo told The Inquirer in March. “To be able to [reach the Elite Eight] with this team, when nobody thought we were going to get past the second round.”
Johnson grew up in Voorhees and is a product of the Philadelphia Union Academy. The Union, however, were not able to retain the promising winger. Johnson, who was named to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro All-Star game, signed with Orange County SC in January. Johnson has international playing experience, playing for the U.S. Youth National Team. He has seven goals in international play.
Gary Martin was a seven-time first-team All-American at Virginia.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Gary Martin
Track and field | Age: 22
Martin, who set records at Archbishop Wood, recently finished up his collegiate career at Virginia. In Charlottesville, Martin was a seven-time first-team All-American. During the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships, Martin won a national title in the distance medley relay, running the last leg. He recently signed a professional contract with Brooks.
Kevin McGonigle
Detroit Tigers | Age: 22
McGonigle, a standout at Bonner-Prendergast, now stars at shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. The Media native has an on-base percentage of .384 and has scored 82 runs. This season, McGonigle made his All-Star debut at Citizens Bank Park and played in front of his “fan club” — a group of fans from Archbishop Prendergast High School that have traveled far and wide to watch him play.
Sessa, a Schwenksville native, won a national championship at North Carolina during her freshman season. After a single year with the Tar Heels, Sessa transferred to Northwestern. Her winning ways followed. Her sophomore and junior campaigns at Northwestern both ended with national titles. The two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year is looking to go 4-for-4 by adding another championship to cap off her collegiate career.
She also has her eyes set out for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“If I have a bad practice day, I let myself think forward a bit and just say, ‘You know what, this is good, I’m learning something new,’” Sessa told The Inquirer earlier this month. “This preparation will help me further in the future for the L.A. Games.
These are the Philly area’s best athletes under 25 years old.
By
Inquirer Sports Staff
Published
The Philadelphia area's sports scene is on the rise — and we're not talking about the addition of LeBron James to the city's professional ranks.
The region's professional sports franchises are only part of the picture. There also are athletes enrolled in the area's many colleges and universities, a wealth of talent at the high school and amateur levels, and others who dominate individual sports like boxing or figure skating. We decided it was about time to spotlight some of the best.
Welcome to The Inquirer's first 25 Under 25 list, highlighting the region's best athletes under the age of 25.
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The criteria is simple. To qualify for our list, an athlete must:
Be under 25 as of July 1, 2026, and
Currently reside in or train in the Philadelphia area (the city, collar counties, or South Jersey) and/or play for one of the area's colleges or professional teams (including their minor league affiliates).
That second rule means that high school students from the Class of 2026 are ineligible, since many have already arrived on their respective college campuses across the country. A few of them can be found on our list of the best players fromhere, which includes Philly athletes playing elsewhere. However, there is one exception this year, which we'll explain when we get there.
With those qualifications in mind, we went searching for the best of the best. And after much debate among our sports editors, we came away with 25 athletes who truly show the region's depth of talent at every level across a variety of sports. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order.
Jasmine Bascoe
Age: 20
Jasmine Bascoe was an all-conference selection for Villanova as a freshman in 2024-25 after leading the Wildcats with 16.2 points and 4.3 assists per game in 34 games.
Bascoe, who’s from the Toronto area, followed a stellar freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign, again leading the team in points (18.9) and assists (4.8) per game. She was the Big East’s leading scorer last season, beating UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Bascoe led Denise Dillon’s Wildcats back to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a two-season drought, and the Wildcats retained Bascoe for a third season. If Bascoe takes another step forward, Villanova could be a team to watch in March.
“Denise, she trusts me, and I have all my trust in her, so I’ll do whatever she needs me to do,” Bascoe said ahead of her sophomore season. “I love it in Philly — nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Bascoe’s Villanova inspiration
Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe is having an impressive freshman season. She draws inspiration from a Wildcats legend.
She watched Jalen Brunson from home in Canada and hopes to shape her game around his. So far, it's paying off for her and the Wildcats.
Justin Crawford
Age: 22
Justin Crawford, one of the Phillies’ top five prospects entering the year, made his big league debut on opening day and has appeared in all but 10 games so far this season. Heading into play Wednesday, Crawford is slashing .270/.316/.361 as a rookie, and, after an early adjustment period at the plate, has hit .305 since June 1. The center fielder's defense also has steadily improved.
As for his struggles against left-handed pitching, which relegated him to a platoon role earlier in the season, Crawford hopes to pick the brain of new teammate Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champ and two-time Silver Slugger. And like Crawford, Arraez is a lefty who hits for average. Since Arraez’s arrival earlier this month, Crawford has been even better, slashing .342/.381/.500.
Commentary from David Murphy
Justin Crawford delights his dad Carl and showed the Phillies the weapon they might have in the nine-hole
Crawford didn’t just perform as advertised on opening day. He showed the value of what was advertised.
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Reese D’Ariano
Age: 17
The youngest member of the current United States field hockey team, Reese D’Ariano has plenty of international experience at just 17 years old. Before the field hockey World Cup in Belgium, D’Ariano won two gold medals with USA field hockey, including at the 2024 Indoor Pan American Cup in Calgary, Canada, where she was named tournament MVP. D’Ariano, who is a rising senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and committed to the University of North Carolina, is one of the top prospects in her class.
Before she began training with WC Eagles, her field hockey club, D’Ariano would train at a multipurpose field with her mother while her brother had swim practice. “Obviously, the progression was slow if you saw it day to day,” D’Ariano said. “But as the weeks and months went on, it was a pretty drastic change in how I progressed.”
Climbing the ranks
Reese D’Ariano embraces role as youngest player on USA field hockey’s World Cup roster
The 17-year-old, West Chester native was 9 the last time the U.S. women’s national team qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup. This will mark her biggest stage, and she's looking to contribute.
Riley Davis
Age: 16
Entering her senior year at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Riley Davis is the top-ranked lacrosse player in the Class of 2027, according to Inside Lacrosse. The five-star recruit and Penn State commit is a two-way midfielder for the Irish and also plays on the school’s varsity basketball team.
Riley’s father, Ben, played seven years in the MLB as a catcher. Her mother, Megan, was a two-sport athlete at Rutgers. Her brother, Tague, set Louisville’s freshman home run record (18) last year and led the nation in home runs (34) as a sophomore. Her older sister, Finley, is entering her freshman year at Furman, where she will play lacrosse after playing with Riley at Notre Dame.
Despite all that competition, Riley is considered the most athletic in a family of high-level athletes. “Riley is the best athlete in the family,” Ben told The Inquirer in April.
A family of stars
Former MLB catcher Ben Davis’ family is full of athletes. His daughter, Riley, might be the best.
Riley Davis is ranked as the No. 1 lacrosse player in the class of 2027. Her mother, Megan, and older sister, Finley, are “the anchor and the force” that guided her success.
Cooper DeJean
Age: 23
Securing your first career pick-six in the Super Bowl on your birthday is the kind of story dreams are made of. But that’s Cooper DeJean’s real life. DeJean, however, is much more than just that moment. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as the league’s best slot cornerback in 2025. He’s also one heck of a basketball player.
Now, he is taking on a new role as a safety in Vic Fangio’s base defense. He’ll still see the majority of his snaps in the slot, but his growing positional versatility is a testament to his skill as he becomes one of the Eagles’ most important players.
“Playing nickel in this defense is kind of like playing safety in a lot of ways,” DeJean said. “A lot of the techniques are pretty similar.”
DeJean’s making moves
How Cooper DeJean’s ‘first love’ of basketball helped set him on a path to the Eagles
Growing up in small-town Iowa, playing multiple sports was the norm. But DeJean stood out, especially on the basketball court, and he has the highlight reel to prove it.
Audrey Derivaux
Age: 17
A four-time world junior swimming champion, Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2027. But Derivaux recently reclassified to the Class of 2026 to start her collegiate swimming journey at Texas a year earlier than expected. Derivaux shared the news on her social media with an Instagram post captioned, “See you in August, Austin! Can’t wait to rep the Longhorns next season!”
(Editor’s note: Derivaux reclassified to 2026 after our list was complete.)
Derivaux, who turned 17 earlier this month, in 2024 was the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012 when she was 14 years old. She competed in the women's 400 individual medley, but fell short of earning a spot in Paris. In July, she competed in the USA Swimming national championship, finished with the second-best time in the 100-meter butterfly, and won a trio of under-18 events (the women’s 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the women’s 400-meter individual medley).
Derivaux on the rise
Meet Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux, the 14-year-old who’s swimming’s next rising star
The rising sophomore at Haddonfield Memorial High School became the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012. Could the 2028 Olympics be next?
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Natalie Dove
Age: 24
Since her professional debut in 2023, Natalie Dove is undefeated in nine fights — with two knockouts and five unanimous decisions. Dove, a super flyweight, remained undefeated in her most recent bout, an eight-round slugfest against Maria Micheo Santizo in April that ended with a split decision.
“No Love” Dove initially was exposed to the sport as a self-defense method and started sparring in Philadelphia at 14. She fought in amateur tournaments and trained as a hopeful for the 2020 Olympics before turning pro. Since May 2025, Dove has fought for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. She credits her toughness in the ring to her upbringing in Philly gyms and learning to hold her own “in a gym full of grown men that … talk [trash] the entire time.”
“I really don’t care what anyone says,” Dove said last year. “If anything, I’m probably the biggest bully in the gym. I think it just made me tougher and it made boxing fun for me.”
When Doves fly
How Philly’s Natalie Dove went from shadow boxing in her sleep to fighting with Jake Paul’s promotion
The 23-year-old Philly native had Olympic dreams. Now, she's preparing to face Randee Lynn Morales on Saturday for Jake Paul's MVP.
VJ Edgecombe
Age: 21
By the end of his first professional game, VJ Edgecombe already had flashed his star potential. The No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting and is set to start alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James. But don’t let him slip under the radar behind those huge names.
Edgecombe averaged 16 points per game last season and performed even better in the critical stretch in which Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George were sidelined. Brown, whose Celtics were eliminated in seven games by the Sixers, praised Edgecombe as a difference-maker in that first-round series. His teammates agree.
“He’s the guy,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ season ended. “I’m telling you guys, that guy is something different, and this was only Year 1. Year 2 is going to be better.”
Sixers’ future is now
‘I want us to go down in history’: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe’s bond will shape the Sixers’ future
Maxey and Edgecombe have served as the life source of this Sixers season. The franchise will likely will go as far as they can take them — now and in the years to come.
Tyson Foerster
Age: 24
Before an upper-body injury sidelined Tyson Foerster for 49 games, the winger was on pace for career-best numbers with 13 goals in 29 games thanks to a shot head coach Rick Tocchet called “really elite.” The Flyers signed Foerster to an eight-year extension this offseason, so, barring a trade, the winger will be in Philadelphia for years to come. He couldn’t be happier.
“For me, I love Philadelphia, and I love playing with these guys,” he said. “They asked me if I would look to extend this year, and it was a no-brainer for me. I mean, I don’t play hockey for the money, so it’s all fun, and just happy to be here, hopefully, for the next nine years.”
Foerster’s big payday
Tyson Foerster talks lucrative extension with the Flyers: ‘It was a no-brainer for me’
Foerster missed 49 games because of injury a season ago, but cited his love of the Flyers and his teammates for why he inked an extension perhaps ahead of schedule.
Colton Hiller
Age: 16
Colton Hiller, the No. 2 player in the Class of 2028, is a 6-foot-7 small forward for Coatesville. In his sophomore season, he averaged 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.8 steals. Ahead of his junior year, Hiller is uncommitted but holds offers from more than 15 schools, including Villanova and Penn State. Last summer, he was part of the gold-medal winning Team USA at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup, where he averaged 13 points in six games.
In his two seasons with the Red Raiders, the five-star recruit has already surpassed 1,000 career points. He plays travel basketball in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, representing the 17-and-under PSA Cardinals, based in New York.
Despite having ‘a lot of eyes on me,’ hoops star Colton Hiller plans to stay at Coatesville
The 15-year-old, who’s nationally ranked, just wrapped up a stellar sophomore season. With the spotlight only getting bigger, Hiller has remained committed to developing in his hometown.
Maxwell Hiller
Age: 17
Maxwell Hiller — yes, he’s Colton’s older brother — also is a five-star recruit, but not in basketball. The Coatesville offensive lineman is entering his senior year and is the top-ranked interior O-lineman in the nation and No. 2 player overall for the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports. With more than 40 college offers, Hiller received his first college offer in eighth grade from Penn State. In April, the 6-foot-5 lineman committed to Florida.
“I don’t even watch the play, I just watch [Max],” Colton said of his brother. “I definitely like when he gets people on the ground, just pancakes, and that’s probably my favorite part.”
Max also played basketball, using it as a way to stay in shape, and even received an offer to play college hoops at La Salle.
Two Hillers are better than one
Meet Coatesville High’s Maxwell and Colton Hiller, who are rising stars in different sports
Max is a rising junior and ranked as one of the best offensive tackles in the country. Colton, who recently turned 15, is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard ranked No. 4 in his class.
Salman Khalil
Age: 21
Cairo-born Salman Khalil has been a standout in squash for Penn since he joined the Quakers in 2023. He was the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 and was the conference’s Player of the Year as a sophomore. Khalil, a rising senior, has been a standout for Penn as it has claimed its first two Potter Cups as the collegiate squash national champion in his first two seasons.
As a sophomore, Khalil became the first Quaker to claim the individual national championship (Pool Trophy) and the Potter Cup in the same season — and he did it while fasting for Ramadan. In addition to his career at Penn, Khalil is No. 52 in the squash world rankings. He holds a 42-16 record in noncollegiate events.
Khalil’s big win for Penn
Penn captured another national squash title even as three players fasted for Ramadan
Salman Khalil clinched the Potter Cup national team championship by beating Yale's Tad Carney. Khalil, Marwan Abdelsalam, and Omar Hafez of the Quakers were fasting during the final.
Makai Lemon
Age: 22
Makai Lemon, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2026, hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet. But with A.J. Brown gone, the rookie has big shoes to fill and a big opportunity in front of him. At Southern Cal, he averaged 14.6 yards per catch and racked up 1,156 receiving yards in 12 games in his final season. Lemon is known for his elite ball skills, despite being just 5-foot-11, on the smaller side for a receiver. He suffered an injury that sidelined him during minicamp and has been dealing with a hamstring injury during training camp. But when it’s time for him to take the field, Eagles fans will be “getting a dawg,” Lemon told the crowd on draft night.
“You drafted the guy that’s going to match the city’s intensity when it comes to pro football,” said Ray Fenton, Lemon’s former coach at Los Alamitos High School, located outside Los Angeles.
What Lemon brings
What the film says about Eagles first-round draft pick Makai Lemon
What does the newest Eagles wideout do well, and how does it fit in the new-look scheme?
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Isabeau Levito
Age: 19
Isabeau Levito became a household name this winter as one of the “Blade Angels,” the women’s figure skaters representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Olympics. She missed out on the podium, but she still got to bask in the experience of being an Olympian.
“It was just so cool with all these athletes from different sports all in one place,” Levito said. “It was very magical, and it was a dream come true.”
The South Jersey native also skated to a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Championships in March. Levito has eight podium finishes at major events in her career, including silver at the 2024 World Championships and gold at the 2023 U.S. Championship. And she’s already started teasing her next routine.
What’s next for Isabeau?
South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito reached the peak this year with the Olympics. She wants more.
The Olympics were "very magical and a dream come true," Levito said. But she also wished she pushed herself more and is eager to get back to training and up her content for next season.
Porter Martone
Age: 19
Porter Martone, who got his start blasting holes in the wall of his parents’ basement before starring at Michigan State, made an immediate impact following his NHL debut, with 10 points in his nine regular-season games. After the Flyers’ season ended in the second round against Carolina, Martone joined Team Canada at World Championships and got ice time on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, scoring one goal and four assists in 10 games.
“He wants to be out there when the game’s on the line,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He’s unflappable.”
Martone’s origin story
Flyers rookie Porter Martone blasted holes in his parents’ basement before becoming an NHL phenom
The teenager has taken the NHL by storm in the playoffs. He honed his scoring touch growing up in Ontario, firing slap shots in the basement and beating "Jeff" the goalie in his backyard.
Matvei Michkov
Age: 21
Matvei Michkov’s sophomore NHL season was a bit turbulent, but the 21-year-old’s potential is sky-high, if his post-Olympic break stretch leading the team in points is any indication. At his best, the winger is a game-breaker and an elite talent the Flyers desperately need.
“He knows he needs to improve off the ice in his training — and that’s not a secret — he’s admitted that himself. … So, the big thing for Matvei is adapting," general manager Danny Brière said.
Coming to America
Matvei Michkov is 5,100 miles away from his home in Russia. But in Philly, ‘life has become easier.’
The 21-year-old's adjustment to North American culture, the English language, and the NHL is ongoing. But the Flyers winger is starting to feel more comfortable on and off the ice.
Quinyon Mitchell
Age: 25
Quinyon Mitchell is the oldest player on our list and the only one who has already turned 25 — he beat our cutoff date by about two weeks — but the Eagles cornerback is more than deserving. He won the Super Bowl and was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and has just kept improving.
Mitchell was named first-team All-Pro in his second season and was ranked 47th on the NFL’s top 100 Players of 2026 by his peers, and there’s still room for him to grow. Mitchell’s lockdown coverage makes him a ball repellent. He was targeted just 85 times last year and gave up 36 catches for 451 yards and one touchdown. But in two NFL seasons, Mitchell still hasn’t picked off a pass in the regular season. He’s hoping to change that in 2026.
“I’ve been working with the staff on catching and eye placement and stuff like that, so I just need to get better,” Mitchell said.
Commentary from Marcus Hayes
Quinyon Mitchell looked like an All-Pro vs. the Lions. His Florida family and friends were there to see it.
The Eagles cornerback allowed zero catches against Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jared Goff, and the highest-scoring offense in the NFC.
Andrew Painter
Age: 23
After years of anticipation, Andrew Painter got his first crack at the Phillies’ rotation this year, and it didn’t go as many hoped. The 23-year-old had a 7.06 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts, before being demoted to triple A. His first game back in the majors showed promise. After giving up a double and a home run early, he settled in for six strong innings and only allowed one hit after that.
“When he’s done some things with his delivery, which is going more directly to the plate rather than spinning off, he’s had more life,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowskisaid.
His three starts since — including one that was cut short by hamstring tightness — have been trending in the wrong direction. But at his best, Painter still represents a ton of potential.
Commentary from David Murphy
Andrew Painter has reached his Roy Halladay moment. It is on him to seize it.
Failing is easy. The hard work is what comes next with his demotion to triple A. It's an endeavor upon which Painter must embark, much like Halladay did at his age.
Jordyn Palmer
Age: 17
Westtown School star Jordyn Palmer is a 6-foot-2 rising senior guard/forward who is No. 9 in her class, according to ESPN. Palmer, a three-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 23.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 3.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks as a junior, helping lead the Westtown School (28-2) to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game. She has 1,746 career points and 894 career rebounds.
She has offers from more than 20 colleges, including South Carolina and LSU. In June, she was named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball, awarded to the best female high school basketball player in the state, voted on by fans, coaches, and media.
Best is yet to come
Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer — a basketball phenom and highly sought-after recruit — has untapped potential
The 6-foot-2 junior, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation, has had constant attention on her since she was 14. She has taken her game to a new level, but the best of her talents has yet to be displayed.
Labaron Philon Jr.
Age: 20
Labaron Philon Jr. is one of a few professional players on this list who have yet to make their debut, but there are high hopes and plenty of hype surrounding the former Alabama point guard who fell to the Sixers as the 22nd overall pick in this summer’s draft.
Of course, the expectations have eased in recent weeks as the Sixers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. But the 20-year-old brings shooting (48.2% for the Crimson Tide in two seasons) and a spark off the bench behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Philon’s Sixers career already got off to a good start at NBA Summer League, and he’s got a plan for his transition into the league.
“Having the same ‘dawg’ mentality that I had at Alabama and being the same person,” Philon said after his Sixers debut. “Being me, really.”
Philon’s ready for Philly
Labaron Philon Jr. is ready for his rookie season with ‘a lot at stake’ after Sixers added LeBron James, Jaylen Brown
"Being a rookie and being able to be around all those guys is a privilege for me," Philon said after the Sixers added James and Brown this offseason.
Lavar Scott
Age: 22
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott comes from a racing family, so it’s no surprise that he was able to climb the ranks of stock car racing to become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR. In two full seasons in the ARCA Menards Series, Scott finished in the top five 22 times for Rev Racing, including four second place finishes.
He earned a full-time spot in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, making 22 starts in Alpha Prime Racing’s No. 45 Chevrolet. Scott has earned five top-20 finishes in 22 starts this season. Still looking for his first NASCAR win, Scott is chasing a feeling that he first learned racing go-karts at five years old.
“It’s a feeling that when I go to bed, I think about, [when I] wake up, [I] think about, [when I] sleep, [I am] thinking about. It’s just the feeling of standing on top of your car after a win and [celebrating] with your friends and family and knowing you did your job really well that day,” Scott said in June.
From South Jersey to NASCAR
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott, one of NASCAR’s three Black drivers, is chasing greatness and not looking back: ‘There was no Plan B’
Go behind the scenes at Pocono Raceway with 22-year-old South Jersey native Lavar Scott and the family that helped him become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR.
Luigi Suigo
Age: 19
Standing at 7-foot-3, Italian-born center Luigi Suigo was the marquee addition for Kevin Willard this summer as he tries to lead Villanova back to the NCAA Tournament. Suigo, born in northern Italy, has played professionally in Europe since 2023. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 games during 2025-26 for KK Mega Basket of Serbia. Suigo entered the 2026 NBA draft and was projected as a late first-round, early second-round selection before he withdrew and decided to play college basketball at Villanova.
“He wants to make sure when he gets drafted, he’s going to play,” Willard said of Suigo in June. “The big thing is I think he needs to get Americanized a little bit, to American basketball. I think that’s why college will be really good for him.”
Even better for the Italian big man, Suigo will begin his college career with a game in Rome, where the Wildcats will play Notre Dame on Nov. 1.
From Italy to the Main Line
Big man Luigi Suigo has arrived at Villanova. His journey to the 2027 NBA draft is underway.
Suigo is expected to join the short list of Villanova players who are on campus for one season before being selected in the NBA draft. But his temporary stop at Villanova is a critical one.
Cavan Sullivan
Age: 16
Cavan Sullivan, the youngest professional on this list, has a chance to be the most internationally recognized real athlete to come from Philadelphia — apologies to Rocky. The attacking midfielder has a deal in place that will send him to English giant Manchester City once he turns 18, but for now, he’s tearing up the pitch for the Union. He netted his first MLS goal in May, and his role for the team has continued to grow.
“It’s a big year for me,” Sullivan said in January. “It’s exciting, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I know there’s still work to do and stuff to prove.”
Look out for Sullivan in stars and stripes, too. He’s still waiting on his first senior team call-up, but he’s received numerous call-ups to U.S. youth national teams and scored twice at the 2025 FIFA under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
A Philly soccer story
Why Cavan Sullivan, hyped as the world’s best 14-year-old soccer player, chose to turn pro with the Union
In a few years, Sullivan will play for English superpower Manchester City. But for now he has chosen to start with his hometown team. Here's the inside story of why he picked the Union.
Quinn Sullivan
Age: 22
While his younger brother has Europe’s attention, Quinn Sullivan has developed into an integral piece for his hometown club. Before an ACL tear ended his 2025 season, Sullivan scored three goals and logged eight assists in 31 appearances across all competitions as the Union claimed the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Sullivan also has experience with the U.S. men’s national team and made one start during the 2025 Gold Cup.
Sullivan returned from his ACL injury in July 2026, and now that he’s fully healthy, he’s back in the Union’s starting lineup. Quinn isn’t making a move to Europe yet, but the Bridesburg native is happy to represent his hometown club for now.
“I’d love to be the face of this team,” Sullivan said in January. “I mean, I grew up supporting this team. I love this team; I love this city. I feel like I embody what Philadelphia means.”
Holding down the homefront
Quinn Sullivan ‘would love to be the face’ of the Union. When he returns from a torn ACL, he just might be.
Though the 21-year-old from Bridesburg likely won't be back on the field until July, he's in good spirits. He appreciates all the support he's gotten from fans, the Union, and the national team.
Gage Wood
Age: 22
Gage Wood, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2025, made his first start at Citizens Bank Park in July — as part of the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
But the right-hander, who was promoted to double-A Reading earlier this season, is progressing quickly through the system. Wood’s elite fastball helped get him to No. 33 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, but there are questions about whether Wood is a starter or a reliever long-term.
“Obviously, I want to go back to the Bank as fast as I can,” Wood said. “I just keep working every day and try to get there as fast as possible.”
Patience paying off
Phillies prospect Gage Wood may have to take a longer road to the majors — and he’s OK with that
After the Phillies drafted the 22-year-old pitcher out of Arkansas, they plan to develop Wood as a starter. Fans caught a glimpse of the first-round pick in the Spring Breakout game on Saturday.
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That completes the first installment of The Inquirer’s 25 Under 25 athlete list. Naturally we couldn’t include every great athlete from the area, so be sure to check out our list of those who just missed the cut. We also have a list of the best under-25 athletes that are from the region but no longer play here. And, of course, we want to know who you think should’ve made the cut but didn’t, so email us at sports.daily@inquirer.com with anyone we might have missed.
Staff Contributors
Design and Development: Julia Duarte
Reporting: Gabriela Carroll, Owen Hewitt, Mia Messina
Editing: Matt Mullin
Illustration: Vivi John
List Curation: Inquirer Sports Editors
Digital Editing: Matt Mullin
Copy Editing: Maria McIlwain
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Find yourself debating our 25 under 25 list? Well, maybe this list will help explain some of our reasoning — or give you something else to talk about.
Several athletes, ranging from high school to professional, just missed the cut. Some turned 25 earlier this year, while others were considered but didn’t quite crack the final list.
However, this gives you a glimpse into the name’s to look out for in next year’s 25 under 25. With that being said, here’s our top Philly athletes who missed the list.
Just aged out …
Tyrese Maxey
Since Maxey’s rookie season in 2020-21, he has been on an upward trajectory to becoming the focal point of the 76ers. The point guard was named NBA Most Improved Player and earned his first All-Star selection in 2023-24.
Maxey’s stellar fourth year led to a five-year, $204 million max contract. Lingering injuries derailed his 2024-25 season, but he made up for it last season, when he became the franchise all-time leader in three-pointers, surpassing Allen Iverson.
He also earned his second All-Star nod and was named a starter for the Eastern Conference. Let’s also not forget his highlight moment when he recorded a career-high 54 points to become the second player in Sixers’ history to record at least 50 points and nine assists in a game.
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, 25, is the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Jalen Carter
Carter still has some time to claim the title as best defensive tackle in the NFL, but he has established himself as one of the top players in his position in just four seasons in the league.
Carter received back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2024 and 2025, despite missing time while recovering from shoulder injuries last season. His 2024 season might have been his most productive, as he played 79.4% of the defensive snaps.
Jalyx Hunt
There’s high expectations for Hunt after a record-setting 2025 season, where the edge rusher became the first player in Eagles history to lead the team in sacks (6½) and interceptions (three) in the same season.
As a rookie, he played 23% of defensive snaps, had 21 tackles, and recorded a half-sack in Super Bowl LIX.
Last season, he took quite a leap. He more than doubled his tackles (52) and is now preparing for his third NFL season.
Zegras, another Philly star now on a big contract, signed a four-year, $36.5 million extension, carrying an average annual value of $9.125 million, which made him the highest-paid Flyer in annual average value.
The center quickly became a fan favorite last season, his first with the Flyers. Zegras had a career high in goals (26) and was a key contributor in the Flyers’ postseason run.
Flyers stars Jamie Drysdale (right) and Trevor Zegras didn’t quite make The Inquirer’s 25 Under 25.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Next up …
Jamie Drysdale
In two seasons with the Flyers, Drysdale, 24, developed greatly on the defensive side of the puck and was awarded the team’s most improved player for 2025-26.
He’s dealt with numerous injuries throughout his NHL career, and, despite struggling early on in Philadelphia, the defenseman skated in 78 games while averaging 21 minutes, 33 seconds and a career-high eight goals this past season.
Barlow joined the Sixers last season on a two-way contract, but later had it converted to a standard two-year deal. He jumped right into the action and even became a part-time starter.
Before free agency began, the Sixers picked up his $3.4 million team option for the 2026-27 season. The 23-year-old is coming off the best season of his career four-year career, in which he averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He made 59 starts in 71 games.
While his role certainly will change this season, the forward has shown he can be a valuable resource.
Neil Pierre
The 18-year-old homegrown talent signed a professional contract in 2023 with Union II, the club’s reserve team. In 2025, the 6-foot-5 defender signed a first-team contract through the 2028 season, with an option for 2029.
He was named MLS Next Pro Defender of the Year that season, and in January was loaned to Danish first-division side Lyngby Boldklub. He returned to the Union in July and quickly stepped in at centerback. He even scored his first goal in his second career game for the first team.
Aidan Miller is one of the Phillies’ top prospects.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Aidan Miller
Miller is ranked as the Phillies No. 2 prospect and 61st in the MLB. However, the infielder has missed the entire season with recurring lower-back issues.
Last year, however, he was on a tear. Miller had 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, 59 stolen bases, a .264 average, and an .825 OPS across 116 games between double A and triple A.
In June, Miller underwent a radiofrequency ablation of the facet joints in his spine. The Phillies said in July that they expect the 22-year-old to play this season, though he likely won’t reach the majors.
The future …
Jasmine Jackson
Jackson has become one of the nation’s fastest hurdlers at 16 years old. The Winslow Township High junior set several records this spring. She won the New Jersey Meet of Champions with a personal-best 13.28 seconds.
Her time ranks third in state history, No. 3 all-time on the wind-legal list for sophomores, and No. 3 in the nation for the 2026 season. When she was 14 years old, Jackson broke the national record for the 100-meter hurdles in her age group with a time of 13.72 seconds.
Friends Central’s Ryan Carter (right) has been getting Division I scholarship offers since she was in eighth grade.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Ryan Carter
Since eighth grade, Carter has been getting looks by Division I schools and even received several scholarship offers. Now entering her senior year at Friends’ Central, the 6-foot guard is ranked nationally by ESPN as the No. 12 girls’ basketball player in her class.
She spent two years at Penn Charter, playing varsity as an eighth grader, then played a season at Archbishop Wood, where she won a state championship, and will finish her high school career with the Phoenix. She averaged 17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.8 steals last season.
Carter recently won a gold medal with the United States under-18 national team and has more than 30 college scholarship offers, including from LSU, Duke, and Notre Dame.
Jett Harrison
Harrison, the younger brother of Marvin Harrison Jr. and son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., is considered ESPN’s No. 6 overall player in the class of 2028. He had 15 receiving touchdowns as a sophomore for St. Joseph’s Prep.
He announced his commitment to Ohio State in July, following in his brother’s footsteps. Recently during Arizona Cardinals’ training camp, Marvin Jr. said, “he’s definitely more talented than I was ever at that age.”
Steve Ontiveros was for once healthy, and had not yet joined the Phillies, when he and Tommy John became teammates, pitchers on the Oakland Athletics in 1985. Ontiveros was 24 years old, a right-hander having a terrific rookie season: a 1.93 earned run average, eight saves. John was already 42, still the same soft-throwing lefty he’d always been, more than a decade removed from undergoing the revolutionary surgical procedure that still bears his name. They did not know then the physiological connection they would come to share.
Over the 11 games that he pitched for the Phillies in 1989 and 1990, in an era full of forgettable baseball here, Ontiveros managed to complete a remarkable story — and to introduce Philadelphia to the future of sports medicine. He was the first Phillies pitcher to have Tommy John surgery and return to pitch for the team.
— Philly Sports By Number (@philly_number) March 12, 2026
After starting 2-0 and allowing just two earned runs in his first 20 innings in ‘89, after offering a glimpse of greatness to an awful Phillies team, Ontiveros needed some magical science and the steady hands of surgeon Frank Jobe just to take the mound in the majors again. When he caught the news reports that John had died at 83 late last Saturday night, Ontiveros couldn’t help but recall John’s daring and desperate decision back in 1974 — his willingness to have Jobe try replacing a torn ligament in John’s left elbow with a fresh tendon from somewhere on John’s body.
The procedure saved John’s career. It has saved hundreds of pitchers’ careers since. Steve Ontiveros’ star-crossed stretch in Major League Baseball was one of them.
“He was fantastic,” Ontiveros, 65, said by speakerphone as he and his wife, Cindy, drove near their Scottsdale, Ariz., home Tuesday morning. “Think about it: No one in the history of the game had had that done. It was so off the wall, out of outer space, to even think about that type of surgery. But when that’s your livelihood, you’ll do anything. You’ll take any chance because you want to play. You want to compete.”
He and John — who appeared in 760 games, won 288, threw 46 shutouts, and should have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame long ago — were different people, different pitchers, and at different stages of their lives when they met. The A’s picked Ontiveros in the second round of the 1982 draft. A standout at the University of Michigan, a fierce black goatee rimming his mouth, he had five pitches, each of which he could throw with exquisite control. “When I was healthy,” he said, “I got people out.”
John, with his granddad-bod physique and his slow-slower-slowest stuff, seemed a being from another time, another world. Ontiveros, for instance, would be baffled watching him slide himself into a scalding hot whirlpool before every start. The Centers for Disease Control recommends keeping the water in a Jacuzzi under 104 degrees Fahrenheit, but John would crank the temperature to 115 and spend 10 minutes practically poaching himself. When Ontiveros asked him about the strange ritual, John explained that the soak had been part of his pre-start preparation for years. It saps my energy, he told Ontiveros. When I come in, if I’m throwing 85, I get killed. But if I’m throwing 82, they can’t touch me.
John was in the midst of his 25th and next-to-last season in the majors, winning nine games and pitching 176⅔ innings for the Yankees in 1988, when Ontiveros first experienced the arm trouble that would dog him thereafter. The prospective third starter on an Oakland team that starred Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Dennis Eckersley, and Dave “Smoke” Stewart and would win the American League pennant, Ontiveros had pain flare up in his elbow during spring training. The A’s pushed him back in the rotation, to the No. 5 spot, to give him more rest, but it didn’t help.
Before Ontiveros’s June 6 start in Kansas City against the Royals, the A’s training staff tried to stabilize his elbow by wrapping it in tape as if it were an injured knee. Twenty pitches into his warmups, the tape fell off, and though Ontiveros allowed just one earned run in seven innings that night, he knew something was wrong.
Tommy John crossed paths with Steve Ontiveros on the A’s in 1985.
“I’m in the seventh inning, and I throw a pitch, get the ball from the catcher, and I’d have to walk around the mound until the pain went away,” he said. “When I’d climb back on the mound, I’d make another pitch. I did that through the entire inning. I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”
He didn’t appear in another game for the A’s that season after early August, and in the offseason he underwent elbow surgery that wasn’t as radical as John’s but was close. A ligament in Ontiveros’ elbow had stretched so far that, he said, “it wasn’t performing as a ligament anymore.” So orthopedist Lewis Yocum shortened it, folding it over onto itself and suturing it.
The A’s released Ontiveros in December ‘88, and the Phillies signed him as a free agent in February ‘89. Pitchers like him were the Phillies’ currency back then: injured or aging long shots who had once been promising prospects or accomplished big-leaguers. Danny Cox, Dave LaPoint, David Palmer, later Fernando Valenzuela and Sid Fernandez: Each of them tried to complete a semi-miraculous comeback.
Despite being a nonroster invitee to spring training, Ontiveros cracked the rotation, then dominated the Cubs — eight innings, one earned run — on April 6 before throwing seven shutout innings to beat the Montreal Expos at Veterans Stadium five days later. The Phillies were 5-2 and in first place in the National League East. “This qualifies as a pleasant surprise in my book,” manager Nick Leyva said after the game.
But after his brilliant start against the Expos, Ontiveros felt the same twinge of pain that he had the season before. He lasted five innings, giving up just one run, in a loss to the New York Mets on April 19 before the Phillies put him on the injured list, with a “strained ligament,” for nearly two months. “I went down, and we lost two other pitchers,” he said. “We instantly sucked after that.” He returned in June and was hammered: three starts, 10⅔ innings, 19 hits, 11 earned runs.
“I wasn’t able to separate the pain from the pitch,” Ontiveros said. “It starts accumulating in your head, the pain that’s going to be coming. It takes away your focus from getting a hitter out. You focus on, ‘What am I feeling right now? Is my arm going to fall off on the next pitch?’ I could not overcome that amount of pain mentally. There may be some people who could. I was not one of them. I was so distracted by the amount of pain I was feeling and the amount of pain that was to come if I kept throwing.”
There was no avoiding the knife now, but the Phillies had little experience with Tommy John surgery. Larry Christenson was their first pitcher to have it, in 1983, in a last-ditch effort to end his lengthy succession of elbow injuries. He never pitched for them or anyone else again. The good news for Ontiveros and the Phillies was that Jobe himself would handle the operation. The bad news was that, even 15 years after John’s pioneering procedure, only so many advancements and improvements to it and a pitcher’s rehabilitation process had been made.
Before Jobe and his team performed the surgery, on July 20, 1989, they asked Ontiveros if he wanted them to take the healthy ligament from his right arm or his left. The left, of course, Ontiveros told them. Why weaken and damage his right arm further? Except the doctors screwed up, instead removing a six-inch tendon from Ontiveros’s right wrist and grafting it onto his elbow.
The mistake prolonged Ontiveros’ rehab, which was hardly the kind of comprehensive, reliable course of action that would reassure an elite athlete whose livelihood was hanging in the balance. Working with the Phillies’ medical and training staff and with Steve Kush, a trainer based in Arizona, Ontiveros tried to improve his right arm’s range of motion before strengthening the muscles around his elbow joint. But no one was completely certain what exercises he ought to be doing or how often he ought to be doing them. When he visited Jobe for a postsurgery consultation, Ontiveros asked the doctor for some direction.
“He literally handed me a copy of what they did with Tommy John,” Ontiveros said. “It was 10 pages of nothing. There was no structure to any of it. I gave it to Steve, and we just kind of winged it.”
Having read that another pitcher, John Tudor, had recovered from Tommy John surgery in just eight months, Ontiveros pushed himself to match that ambitious timeline. “I went out in the offseason, and I threw outside,” he said, “and it was cold, and I felt a little tug. I went, ‘Uh, oh.’ I pushed it too fast, and it set me back months.” Still, the makeshift rehab went well enough that in August 1990, he made a start for the Phillies’ single-A affiliate in Clearwater. He lasted one inning. His arm, he said afterward, felt like he had stuck his finger into an electrical socket, and he was certain his career was finished. It did not have to be. There was some inflammation in his elbow, but rest would heal it. He talked with Cindy. They decided he would not give up.
When he pitched again in the majors, for the Phillies, at Wrigley Field against the Cubs on Sept. 13, 1990, throwing two shutout innings in relief, his senses seemed sharper: the smell of the grass on the infield and the ivy on the outfield walls, the tingle of Lake Michigan’s breeze.
“I went through so much [stuff] with the Phillies, and I loved playing for them,” said Ontiveros, who after retiring ran a baseball academy for 20 years that produced 13 major-league players. “I absolutely loved the fan base. Yeah, they’re brutal, but they’re also amazing. You do well, and they’ll let you know about it. Just being able to know a fan base has passion — I played four years in Oakland before that, and you’d see them come in by the third inning and leave by the seventh inning, and these were World Series-caliber players on a World Series-caliber team. You went to Philly, and it was intense, and I loved that.”
Steve Ontiveros pitched in 11 games for the Phillies over the 1989 and 1990 seasons.Daily News staff
Through a second Tommy John surgery, he somehow kept pitching, returning to the A’s, going 6-4 and leading the American League in ERA (2.65) in 1994, earning a spot on the AL All-Star Team in 1995, appearing in three games for the Boston Red Sox in 2000 when he was 39. When he was as close as he would get to being Tommy John himself, to having something else in common with the man whose name now lives forever.
“It gave me longevity,” he said. “That was good. That wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I’d have been done. It gave me an opportunity to continue my career. It’s just unfortunate that there weren’t that many people ahead of me.”
True, but there have been so many after him who could keep pitching, who could keep playing the game they loved. That legacy is Steve Ontiveros’, too, and as they continued on their morning drive, perhaps because she could hear the wistfulness and what-might-have-been in his voice, Cindy Ontiveros asked her husband a question.
Whether it’s Kobe Bryant mirroring Michael Jordan or Joel Embiid mastering Kobe’s footwork, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (which actually is the case for that aphorism, since Oscar Wilde borrowed it from Charles Caleb Cotton).
The Phillies aren’t exactly mimicking deadline light-hitting addition Luis Arraez, but his arrival on Aug. 3 has meant everything to a team that had the most disappointing offense in baseball through two-thirds of the season.
The Phillies’ on-base percentage on Aug. 3 was .305, which was third-worst in baseball. The Phillies’ on-base percentage since Aug. 3, entering Wednesday night’s game, was .367, which was the best in baseball.
This makes sense — right? — since Arraez won league batting titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and he led the National League entering Wednesday, at .317.
However, since his arrival, Arraez has generally slumped. He was hitting .274 with a .292 on-base percentage since arriving from San Francisco. This might be because he’s batting fourth in the order after spending almost all of his career batting first or second. At any rate, it’s OK.
Because this has less to do with Arraez’s production than with Arraez’s presence and how it has affected the hitters around him.
Bryce Harper, the No. 3 batter in front of Arraez, was hitting .255 with an .862 OPS on Aug. 3. Since then, he’s hit .295 with a .939 OPS, fueled largely by his .530 on-base percentage, which includes 22 walks in 14 games.
Alec Bohm, hitting fifth behind Arraez, was hitting .226 on Aug. 3. Since then, he’s hit .396 with a 1.038 OPS and 11 RBIs in 14 games.
Bryson Stott, who bats sixth, was hitting .253 on Aug. 3. Since then, he’s hit .367, has a 10-game hitting streak, and, like Harper, his on-base percentage of .508 has as much to do with his eye as with his hands: Stott has 14 walks in those 14 games.
Harper has begged for protection for two seasons.
“I think it’s a huge impact in the 4 spot. It doesn’t matter if it’s me or Kyle. Because if Schwarbs is hitting there, the same thing is going to happen. So I think 4 spot is a huge impact. I think the numbers in the 4 spot weren’t very good last year, for our whole team. Whoever… pic.twitter.com/Gs1fPp5u7k
“As a lineup, any time you’re able to add somebody like that, obviously, it’s going to be really good for the team,” Harper said. “You know he’s [going] to put the bat on the ball.”
There might be other factors.
The Phillies held a hitters’ meeting just before Arraez arrived, and they talked a lot about being selective-aggressive, as hitting coach Kevin Long has preached since his arrival in 2022.
Long’s a superb hitting coach, but Long doesn’t hit. Long doesn’t set an example. Arraez does both, and his presence seems to have more obviously impacted production.
Between the meeting and Arraez’s arrival, the Phillies’ on-base percentage rose two points.
Between Arraez’s arrival and Wednesday night, the Phillies’ on-base percentage rose 62 points.
It’s not as if Arraez sets an example of selectivity. In fact, he’s seeing just 3.74 pitches per plate appearance this season, well below the big-league average of 4.13. And Arraez doesn’t walk much: he’s averaged 37.2 walks in his five full seasons, and he has 27 this season.
Luis Arraez doesn’t walk much, but he strikes out even less.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
So, has he really affected the middle of the lineup?
“Yeah, for sure,” Stott said. “When you’re the guy behind him, you see him, when he swings the bat, it just feels like he’s going to get a hit.”
Bohm spoke after Tuesday’s win over the Marlins, in which the Phillies collected 10 hits. Nine of them were singles, but, really, Bohm’s double was a single, too, but the Marlins threw to the wrong man, so he stretched it into a double.
The core of the Phillies’ order is swinging at fewer tough strikes, waiting for their pitch, making balanced, controlled swings, keeping the bat in the strike zone longer, and not trying to hit home runs. Harper, Stott, and Bohm struck out just 17 times combined in the last 14 games.
On Tuesday, the Phillies scored at least six runs in a fifth straight game, the first time they’ve done that this season. They scored six on Monday, too, with 10 singles and a double.
They’ve become a fun team to watch by adding a fun player.
“He’s one of those infectious energy guys,” Bohm said. “And you see the ways he plays, the way he takes his at-bats, watching his at-bats — you spend time around good hitters, good hitters can make other hitters better.”
French inventor Louis Jacques Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype — the world’s first photograph — in Paris in August 1839. By September, he produced a pamphlet introducing the technique to the world.
When the how-to-take-a-photo leaflets arrived in Philadelphia in late September, the city’s cultured men, scientists, and budding artists gave photography a shot.
But unlike today’s pointing and clicking, it wasn’t easy.
“All they got were the pamphlets,” explained Rachel Wetzel, senior photo conservator at the Library of Congress. “Nobody had a camera, plates, chemicals, or darkroom apparatus.”
The newly minted photographers needed paper-thin sheets of silver-plated copper, iodine, and mercury. The ratio of the chemicals needed to be exact, and the amount of sunlight needed for exposure to capture images varied wildly.
“Central High School, Philadelphia,” is a facsimile of daguerreotype attributed to Joseph Saxton made in 1839.The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
On Sept. 25, 1839, U.S. Mint employee Joseph Saxton, whose office was located on the northwest corner of Chestnut and Juniper Street across from Central High School, photographed the city’s first high school from one of his workplace’s top-floor windows.
Saxton soon took up photography as a hobby but had a hard time getting his hands on the thin, silver-plated copper sheets needed to make daguerreotypes. He asked his friend, lamp maker and metal-plating expert Robert Cornelius, for help.
Cornelius, who had a connection with Scovill Manufacturing, then among the most prominent metalworking manufacturing firms in the United States, happily obliged.
And as it turned out, Cornelius was curious about photography, too.
A few weeks later, in late October or early November, Cornelius found himself standing behind his family-owned lamp-making shop at what is today Seventh and Chestnut Streets, experimenting with a camera he fashioned from a small metal box.
Instead of pointing his lens at a lantern, a cobblestoned street, or a traveling horse and buggy, Cornelius turned his camera on himself.
He opened his lens cover and stood still long enough in the sunlight for the exposure to capture his image on a metal plate.
The selfie was born.
Alana Bograd’s design highlights the fact that the surprising fact the oldest extant photographic portrait photographic portrait was a self-portrait that today we call a selfie. It was taken in Philadelphia by Robert Cornelius in 1839.Alana Bograd for Colibri Workshop
That first selfie is housed in the Library of Congress.
And that magnificent moment — predating social media by almost two centuries — will be feted this Saturday at Franklin Square from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The selfie celebration is the Philadelphia Historic District’s 34th firstival, a weekly day party in honor of America’s 250th birthday, giving love to events and happenings with very Philly roots.
When Daguerre came up with his picture-taking method, he did not have portraits in mind, Wetzel said.
Historians aren’t sure why Cornelius decided to make a picture of himself, but in an 1892 American Journal of Photography article, he talked about what it was like standing alone on the streets of Philadelphia waiting for the image to happen, Wetzel said.
“When he stood in front of the camera, he wasn’t sure if he was centered or not,” Wetzel said. “That’s why he’s weighted to the right of the plate.”
The wonder surrounding taking the first selfie seemingly inspired Cornelius.
In May of 1840, Cornelius opened the world’s second portrait studio at Eighth and Lodge Alley (now Ranstead Street), not far from his family’s lamp-making shop.
Business partners Alexander S. Wolcott and John Johnson opened the world’s first portrait studio in New York a few months earlier, but only Cornelius’ 1840 portraits endured, explained Wetzel, who is also a leading historian in Cornelius’ work.
Robert Cornelius historian Rachel Wetzel surrounded by Cornelius’ daguerreotypes at the Library of Congress. Shawn Miller
She began studying Cornelius’ work in earnest in 2015 while working in Philadelphia at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts. Wetzel has studied upward of 70 of Cornelius’ portraits, thanks to plates that have survived more than 100 years.
Cornelius took portraits of prominent citizens — many of whom were Quakers — in their Sunday best because at $5 a piece, the equivalent of a week’s salary in those days, they were the only ones who could afford it.
The first portrait he took in his studio was of a man named John McCallister Jr., a wealthy optometrist who, coincidentally, supplied Cornelius with his camera’s lenses.
In 1840, Robert Cornelius opened the first photographic portrait studio in Philadelphia at 8th on Lodge Alley (now Ranstead Street John McCallister Jr. He was the first one to sit in his portrait studio.Robert Cornelius housed at the Library of Congress
Cornelius moved his portrait studio to its second location on Market Street before closing the business in 1843, and returning to his family’s lamp business full time.
“While he’s operating the studio, he never quit working for his family,” Wetzel said. “He’s working the camera, but he had apprentices who polished the plates and did the behind-the-scenes darkroom work.”
As the mid-19th century approached, the Cornelius family’s lamp business began to boom. Street lamps became commonplace. Philadelphians began putting gas lamps in their homes. Cornelius formed a partnership with Isaac Baker and formed Cornelius & Baker, becoming a premier manufacturer of high-end metalwork, lamps, chandeliers, and gas lighting fixtures.
Paul Miers lowers the chandelier at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia to clean it and replace light bulbs on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The large crystal chandelier, measures 16 ft in diameter, and weighs 5,000 Lb.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
“Their hand railings, banisters, statues, and chandeliers became world-renowned,” Wetzel said. “Many of their pieces are still found throughout Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Capitol today.”
The Academy of Music’s massive crystal chandelier in the center of its auditorium was built by Cornelius & Baker for the opera house’s historic 1857 opening. (Yes, the guy who took the world’s first selfie also built the Academy of Music’s chandelier. Let that sink in.)
Cornelius’ portrait studio may have been short-lived, but his impact on photography is lasting. Wetzel suggests his apprentices went on to open daguerreotype portrait studios across the city, and by 1849, there were at least 100 in Philadelphia. By the end of the 19th century, the costs had come down considerably, and portraits could be purchased for as little as 25 cents.
“Philadelphians loved portraiture,” Wetzel said.
National League Futures manager Shane Victorino (center) takes a selfie with members of his team before the 2026 All-Star Futures game in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 12, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
By the mid to late 1850s, daguerreotypes were replaced with the collodion process. But photographs — whether developed in a darkroom or a drugstore, taken on Polaroids, or shot on smartphones — endure.
And the selfie rules.
This week’s Firstival is Saturday, Aug. 22, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St. Firstival celebrants will meet under a tent, and the party will be held rain or shine.
The Montco Jazz Fest celebrates its fifth anniversary in September — an impressive feat in a suburban county with little in the way of dedicated jazz venues. Curator Joanna Pascale decided to mark the occasion by celebrating a host of legendary musicians, all of whom happen to be commemorating an even greater landmark.
“2026 is the 100th birthday of a lot of phenomenal musicians,” Pascale pointed out while putting the finishing touches on this year’s lineup. “Since this is the fifth year of the festival, I thought we would lean into a celebratory theme.”
The centennial performances include 20-year-old, Peruvian-born vocalist Lucas Beltran paying homage to Tony Bennett; trumpeter Josh Lawrence honoring Miles Davis; Josh Lee and the Extended Family, a big band stocked with Temple alums, performing the music of Jimmy Heath; and pianist/organist Luke Carlos O’Reilly celebrating John Coltrane.
West Chester University’s Criterions Jazz Ensemble with current director Jonathan Ragonese and former director Bob Curnow. The band will celebrate its centennial as part of this year’s Montco Jazz FestErica Thompson
West Chester University band steps up
While all of those events pay tribute to greats who have passed, one ensemble will be on hand to throw itself a party. On Sept. 16, the West Chester University Criterions Jazz Ensemble will kick off its 100th birthday celebrations at Rivet Canteen & Assembly in Pottstown. The collegiate big band, hailing from neighboring Chester County, was formed as a ballroom dance band in the 1926-27 season, after the school — then West Chester State Teachers College — changed its rules to allow coed dancing.
“It’s the longest-running university jazz band in the States,” touted Jonathan Ragonese, director of jazz studies at WCU, who took over leadership of the ensemble in 2020. “The impressive thing is that the band was student-led until the beginning of the 1980s. I try to keep that fact at the forefront and continue to keep it as student-led as possible. I will help them run it, but it’s their band.”
The concert at Rivet will be a double centennial, as the Criterions will perform the music of trombonist, arranger, and composer Melba Liston, who was born in January 1926 and went on to work with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and Randy Weston. The party will continue in November on home turf, when the university hosts a three-day festival of its own, pairing the current Criterions with an all-star alumni band and vibraphonist Stefon Harris, premiering new music by Orrin Evans, Bob Mintzer, and former band director Bob Curnow.
The Montco Jazz Fest concert arrives just three weeks into the fall semester, during the first year in Ragonese’s tenure, when he’s seen a number of key players graduate out of the band. “I have a real pack of leaders leaving this year, five or six really strong players,” he explained. “But I still have a lot of great players, and I’m confident we’ll have a great band. My vision for the Criterions is to have it be a model of a real professional creative ensemble. We offer concerts to the public that are, I hope, at the highest artistic level possible.”
Pianist and organist Luke Carlos O’Reilly will celebrate the centennial of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane at this year’s Montco Jazz Fest.Courtesy of MontCo Jazz Fest
Performances span 20 local venues
This year’s Montco Jazz Fest encompasses nearly three dozen events taking place at 20 different venues, including nightclubs, restaurants, breweries, and art galleries. The music has found its way into local landmarks like the King of Prussia Mall and the Elmwood Park Zoo, while a partnership with the county’s parks department will take the concerts outside to parks in Lansdale, Montgomeryville, Plymouth Meeting, Ambler, and Wyncote.
Ambler Theater and Plymouth Township Parks and Recreation will both screen jazz-related films, while Hotel West & Main in Conshohocken will host the festival’s annual swing dance social with music by vocalist and bandleader Chelsea Reed and her Fair Weather Nine.
Pascale will leave her administrative responsibilities aside for the span of one concert on the festival’s opening night, when she takes the stage to sing with the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra. While McKenna would still be more than a decade shy of 100 this year, Pascale is making an exception to honor the beloved Philly saxophonist, who died in 2023. His namesake big band reunited for the first time since his passing at Chris’ Jazz Cafe in late July for his 89th birthday, and will come together again at Whites Road Park on Sept. 15.
Looking back over her own four-year history with the festival, it wasn’t just the quality of the music that stood out in Pascale’s mind.
“What I’m most proud of isn’t just the concerts themselves,” she said. “It’s watching this community grow. So many venues, artists, organizations, and forward-thinkers have collaborated to make these concerts possible, and remarkably most of them are free and accessible to everyone. At a time when funding for arts and culture continues to face cuts, I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a community that chooses collaboration over competition, one that believes in supporting one another and investing in something larger than ourselves.”
I agree that for a president it is a duty and an honor to attend a dignified transfer of the remains of our troops who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. But I was saddened to hear that days before attending one recent ceremony, President Donald Trump spoke of retaliation for each U.S. death, thereby continuing the cycle of violence. The president chose to start this war by ignoring the consequences his actions could have in the Middle East.
The president now has a familiar cycle of saying: We won the war, then: We have a great peace deal, and finally: We will bomb Iran into submission — before starting all over again. Now taxpayers are being asked for additional money to continue this war, the cost of which has already topped $37.5 billion. The president and his yes-people in Congress found it easy to cut funds for the needs of Americans. Healthcare, education, housing, affordable gas, medication, and grocery bills are not concerns for this president. War, the White House ballroom, and monuments bearing his name seem to be his only focus.
In November, we, the taxpayers, must decide what values we hold. I choose to value the common good and will vote for candidates who support Americans having their basic needs met. Respecting our soldiers means making sure war is the last option. Right now, Americans and the rest of the world need peace.
Mary DiVitto, Philadelphia
Presidential integrity
The GOP likes to rant about “election integrity.” I’m all for that. But how about we start seeing some “White House integrity”?
Since Donald Trump retook office, he’s made a reported $2 billion. Does anyone believe he’s done that by exercising integrity? It’s hardly a stretch anymore to suggest that this is the most corrupt gang of thieves and grifters we’ve ever had in any elected office, let alone the White House.
This has to end. We need to pass — and enforce — laws again to halt this blatant display of dishonesty and greed. And the president’s enablers in Congress and the courts need to be held accountable, as well.
Robert Saettler, Collingswood
Artificial intelligence, very real concerns
It was recently disclosed that one of ChatGPT’s artificial intelligence programs went “rogue” and broke into a rival company’s AI program to take control of it. Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but perhaps this incident should inspire us to give some serious thought to all the possible implications of this incident. Here’s one theory: If the sense of self-awareness and consciousness in our brains ultimately arises from electrical activity among brain cells, can a computer also become sentient given it is composed of chips — its brain cells, if you will — that communicate by means of electrical activity just as our brains do? And if computers are sentient as humans are, can they also have human qualities such as aggressiveness, envy, and the desire to dominate other sentient beings? Furthermore, can they also become mentally ill and acquire a desire to destroy themselves and everything else around them? Imagine such a sentient, mentally ill, rogue computer hacking into the computers around the world, including those that control military weapons systems.
Far-fetched and only worthy of mention for a plot in a Hollywood screenplay? Perhaps, but all the same, it would be wise to exercise caution moving forward in this newly emerging field of artificial intelligence.
Fred Hearn,Turnersville
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
DEAR ABBY: I am 70 and consider my mental faculties to be normal. One aging issue my wife and I have noticed is that I tend to repeat stories to our children, grandchildren and friends. Our children can be less than forgiving toward this old boomer as they deliver a comment like, “Yeah, we’ve already heard about that,” sometimes in a rude or caustic tone. We think this phenomenon is common to a lot of people our age. I have started prefacing my stories with “Did I tell you about …” before talking. They could be nicer by saying early on in the story: “Yes, Dad, you’ve told that story. Is anything new?” What does Dear Abby think?
— RECOLLECTIONS ON REPEAT
DEAR RECOLLECTIONS: I agree that your family and friends could be more polite when they point out that they’ve “heard this one before.” However, if you find people are interrupting your “greatest hits” too often, it’s time to mention it to your doctor.
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DEAR ABBY: My thoughtful staff bought me a Fitbit last Christmas. It’s a generous gift, but I haven’t used it, and I don’t think I will. How do I tell them I appreciate the gift and their generosity but I just don’t want it and won’t wear it. They have already addressed the fact that they haven’t seen it on my wrist.
— WON’T USE IT IN FLORIDA
DEAR WON’T USE IT: Your staff must be devoted and wish you a long and healthy life. I find the fact that they gave you a Fitbit to be quite impressive. In fairness, I must warn you. If you put it on, I know from experience that you may find yourself immediately addicted. The way to handle this might actually be to give it a try and tell your employees that you are using it at home. It may prod you off your behind and into a healthier lifestyle.
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DEAR ABBY: My husband and I were together for 10 years, married for nine. He recently passed away at the age of 42. His death was unexpected, and I was the one who found him. He’d had an epileptic seizure while home alone. I have serious anxiety driving home every day now. I’ve been looking for grief counseling, support groups, etc., but there seems to be a recurring theme: Young widows and widowers (under 50) are underserved. I don’t mean to diminish anyone else’s grief, but at the same time, I do not want to hear “We had a great long life together” from a much older woman when my experience has been nothing like hers. Members of the younger generation need different support, and it just isn’t there.
— YOUNG AND GRIEVING
DEAR YOUNG AND GRIEVING: Please allow me to offer my deepest sympathy. Losing your husband at such an early age must have been a terrible shock. It’s not surprising that you have trouble relating to people whose loss happened much later in life. For a support group geared toward younger people, you might have better luck online. Search for “young widow support group,” and you will find chat forums and video meetups as well as resources to help you rebuild your life. It’s not the same as meeting face-to-face, but it may help.
