Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Logan Evans has had an eventful month. He was called up from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers for the first time in his career April 27 and made his major league debut against the Miami Marlins the same day and earned the win.
Evans capped off his incredible April by being recognized in the organization's first set of monthly minor league awards of the season.
The Mariners named Evans April's minor league pitcher of the month May 1.
These guys were on fire
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) May 1, 2025
Congratulations to our April Minor League Players of the Month! #TridentsUp
https://t.co/ykogwRi7JZ pic.twitter.com/wDXeT7ghFa
Evans made five starts for the Rainiers this season before he was promoted to the major leagues. He had a 3.86 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 25.2 innings pitched and posted a 1-1 record. He went at least five innings in all five outings and fanned seven batters on two respective occasions.
Evans, 23 years-old, was picked in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Pittsburgh. He was originally projected as a reliever but developed into a legitimate starting prospect.
Evans pitched five innings in his debut and struck out three in his major league debut. He allowed two earned runs on two hits (one home run).
Logan Evans, first strikeouts of his career.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) April 27, 2025
• Curveball to Kyle Stowers (82.9 mph / 3,155 RPM)
• Fastball to Matt Mervis (94.9 mph / 2,163 RPM) pic.twitter.com/pJUae1QeWs
Evans received his major league call-up due to an injury to team ace Logan Gilbert, who will spend several weeks on the injured list due to a Grade 1 right elbow flexor strain.
Evans will receive several more starts in the majors. Seattle will make a decision to option either him or pitcher Emerson Hancock down to the Rainiers when George Kirby is activated off the IL in the coming weeks.
MARINERS PROSPECT TYLER LOCKLEAR NAMED MINOR LEAGUE CO-HITTER OF THE MONTH: The Mariners recognized the former second-round pick in their first set of monthly minor league awards. CLICK HERE
MARINERS SELECT OUTFIELDER RHYLAN THOMAS FROM TRIPLE-A TACOMA RAINIERS: The Mariners brought up the former USC product after an injury to outfielder Luke Raley. CLICK HERE
TOP 100 MARINERS PROSPECT JONNY FARMELO HITS HOME RUN IN 2025 DEBUT: The Mariners outfielder hit a homer in his first game of the season, as he comes back from a torn ACL. CLICK HERE
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in his seventh season with the Toronto Blue Jays, having made his MLB debut in 2019. From the moment he stepped onto a big-league field, Guerrero Jr. showcased formidable offensive talent. However, it was in the 2021 season that he fully broke out as a superstar. That season, the 26-year-old slugger finished second in American League MVP voting while leading all of baseball with 48 home runs and 123 runs scored. In April 2025, Guerrero Jr. secured his long-term future in Toronto by signing a 14-year, $500 million contract extension—the richest deal in Blue Jays history and the second-largest in MLB history. He has justified that massive investment with sustained dominance, earning his fifth consecutive All-Star selection this year. On Friday, the Blue Jays defeated the Detroit Tigers 6–2, thanks in large part to Guerrero Jr.’s contributions. He went 2-for-5, recording a pair of doubles, scoring twice, and driving in one run. Asked afterward how it felt to be on a personal hot streak amid Toronto’s post–All-Star-break surge, Guerrero Jr. replied, “If the team is winning, I’m hot.” Friday’s victory marked Toronto’s third straight win and improved their record to 62–42, the best mark in the league. It is the first time the franchise has held the top overall record this late in the season since 1992. The win also stretched the Blue Jays’ lead in the tightly contested AL East to 5.5 games after the New York Yankees fell to the Philadelphia Phillies. Over his last seven games, Guerrero Jr. has been scorching hot, batting .483 (14-for-29) with a 1.255 OPS, including one home run and seven RBIs.
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Are NBA players underpaid? Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry argues yes. The greatest shooter in NBA history said Thursday on Complex’s “360 With Speedy” that because the league’s current CBA doesn’t allow for current players to invest in league and team equity, players are leaving money on the table. “I would say, yes, we are underpaid,” Curry admitted when asked, despite enormous salaries, if the players were getting short-changed, “because you wanna be able to participate in that rise [of equity].” “It’s a partnership with ownership, [and] it’s a partnership with the league,” the 37-year-old stressed, revealing that league salaries do not reflect players’ impact on team valuations. If anyone has the right to begrudge the current CBA on player participation in equity, it’s Curry. When drafted in 2009, the Warriors were worth $315 million. Current valuations in May of 2025 have the team at $9.4 billion, the most in the league. Curry’s been paid handsomely during his time in Golden State, and he doesn’t overlook it. “I know we’re blessed to be in a position where we’re playing basketball for a living, and these are the type of checks that people are earning,” he told Complex. However, when he signed his $62.6 million one-year extension in 2024 that would keep him in a Warriors’ jersey until 2027, many felt that no amount of money the franchise could offer him would represent his worth. Curry had an undeniable impact on the Warriors’ valuation increasing by nearly 3,000%. He’s benefited by being the most salaried player on the roster and plenty of endorsement deals. But is he getting his fair share? Something similar may happen with reigning NBA Finals MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed the richest contract in league history with an average annual value of $71.25 million. According to Forbes, the Thunder’s valuation increased 20% from 2023 to 2024 and will likely take another jump after this year’s championship. Curry concedes that player participation in equity isn’t a simple concept and not all markets are created equal: “You got competitive advantage considerations…and want every market to have a fair chance, like I get all that.” He believes, however, that finding a solution is a “mutually beneficial proposition” for players, teams and the league. Even the most expensive people in the world need to find other investors to make owning an NBA team possible. The best example of Curry’s point is the Boston Celtics sale in March. The most-championed franchise in league history was sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the largest ever sports franchise sale in North America at the time. Chisholm needed Rob Hale, Bruce Beal Jr., and private equity firm Sixth Street, to afford the purchase. Because team ownership is already a multi-investor operation, the league could potentially come to an agreement with the players by the next CBA negotiation at the end of the decade. If not, the league's best players will continue to simultaneously earn a ridiculous amount of money, and it will not be nearly enough.