Nicholas Alexander Castellanos (pronounced cah-ste-YAHnos)...Married, wife¡¯s name is Jessica; has two sons, Liam and Otto...2010 graduate of Archbishop McCarthy High School (FL)...As a senior, was the state¡¯s Gatorade Player of the Year and a Baseball America second-team High School All-American...Ranked 12th nationally in the final 2010 Perfect Game class rankings...Played in 2009 Perfect Game National Showcase and 2009 PG World Showcase...Was teammates with Bryce Harper on USA Baseball¡¯s 2009 18U Team that went 8-0 to claim the gold medal in the COPABE Pan Am AAA Championships...Hobby: Baseball...Signed by: Rolando Casanova.
2023
In his second year as a Phillie, made his second career All-Star team and recorded a career-high 106 RBI, his third career 100-RBI season...Ranked T-5th in the NL in doubles (37), T-6th in RBI (106), eighth in multi-hit games (48), T-8th in hits (170) and T-9th in XBH (68) & games (157)...Reached 10 years of Major League service on 8/19 at WSH; hit a three-run HR and tallied 4 RBI in the game...Did not commit an error in 148 games, the longest errorless streak in the majors; his 346 straight errorless games in the outfield since 7/19/21 is the longest by a ML outfielder since Robbie Grossman (440 games) from 6/14/18-7/8/22...His 104 hits pre-All-Star break were the most by a Phillie since Chase Utley also tallied 104 hits prior to the 2014 All-Star break...His 13 three-hit games led the Phillies and were tied for seventh in the NL...Had a career-high 11 stolen bases...Tallied four multi-HR games (4/22 vs COL, 6/2 at WSH, 8/9 vs WSH, 9/20 at ATL), his most such games in a single season in his career...Recorded 10 outfield assists (T-5th in the NL) in a season for the second time in his career...Per Elias, is the only Phillie in the expansion era (since 1961) to record 5 or more outfield assists through his first nine games of a season; the last major leaguer with 5 outfield assists in such a span was MIL¡¯s Matt Mieske in 1997...Snapped a 31-game homerless streak on 4/22 vs COL, part of his 10th career multi-HR game and first as a Phillie...Slashed .324/.353/.543 (.897 OPS) in 44 games from 4/22-6/11 with 8 HR (184 PA), compared to .288/.367/.400 with no HR in his first 21 games of the year (90 PA)...Slashed .351/.387/.567 (.954 OPS) across 24 June games; his 34 hits were the most by a Phillie in June since Od¨²bel Herrera (34) in 2017...His home run on 7/5 at TB gave him one against all 30 major league clubs...In the All-Star Game on 7/11 at T-Mobile Park, played five innings in CF and scored the game-tying run for the NL in the eighth inning...Homered in his 5,000th career at-bat on 7/19 vs MIL, the first Phillies player to accomplish such a feat since Jim Thome in 2003...Registered a season-high 13-game hitting streak from 7/30-8/12 (.339/.351/.679, 1.029 OPS)...Notched two hits in an inning (2nd inning) on 8/11 vs MIN for the second time in his career (also, fifth inning, 7/10/14 at KC w/ DET)...Registered a career-high-tying eight putouts in RF on 8/6 vs KC (last, 9/14/18 at CWS)...Slashed .372/.404/.930 (1.334 OPS) with seven HR and 17 RBI in 12 games from 9/12-24...His HR on 9/21 vs NYM traveled 454 feet with an exit velocity of 110.3 mph, the farthest and third-hardest-hit HR of his career (in Statcast era)...Homered in back-to-back games three times (7/1-2, 8/9-10, 9/20-21) and had 4 HR across four games from 9/18-21...Collected an extra-base hit in five straight games from 9/20-24, tied for the second-longest such streak of his career...Became the first player in MLB history with multiple HR in back-to-back postseason games and the third player in Phillies history with two multi-HR games in a single postseason (Jayson Werth & Chase Utley, 2009) ¨C NLDS Game 3 on 10/11 vs ATL (Bryce Elder & AJ Smith-Shawver) and NLDS Game 4 on 10/12 vs ATL (Spencer Strider)...With a HR on 10/16 in Game 1 of the NLCS vs ARI (Zac Gallen), joined Reggie Jackson (NYY, 1977) as the only players in MLB history with five HR across three postseason games...Was the third player in Phillies history to homer in three straight games in a single postseason, joining Bryce Harper in 2022 and Gary Matthews in 1983.
2022
With runners on base, posted a .311/.354/.429 slash line in 237 PA...In his first season with the Phillies, had a career-high seven steals...Recorded eight of the team¡¯s 22 OF assists...Missed the game on 5/3 vs TEX for the birth of his son...His HR on 5/30 vs SF (Logan Webb) was the 500th XBH of his career...Recorded his 300th career double on 7/29 at PIT...Collected his 11th career four-hit game on 7/31 at PIT...Posted a 14-game hitting streak from 8/11-24 during which he batted .367 (22-60) with a .900 OPS...Was on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain from 9/3-26...In his final 31 road games of the regular season (beginning 6/26), batted .339 (40-118) with an .801 OPS...Hit .308 (45-146) with 6 2B, 5 HR, 16 RBI and 18 runs in his last 39 games of the regular season (beginning 7/28)...Scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning on 10/7 in Game 1 of the NLWCS at STL (0-3, R, BB)...In Game 1 of the NLDS on 10/11 at ATL, became the 10th player in franchise history to collect at least three hits and three RBI in a postseason game (last: Jayson Werth, 10/21/09 vs LAD in Game 5 of the NLCS)...Reached base safely in seven straight postseason games from 10/19-11/1...Collected a hit and scored a run in three straight postseason games from 10/19-22 during the NLCS...Made his first career World Series appearance in Game 1 on 10/28 at HOU (1-5, RBI, R).
2021
Made his first career All-Star team, starting in RF for the NL and batting fifth...Earned his first career Silver Slugger Award...Named All-MLB Second Team...Was a finalist for the NL Hank Aaron Award...Earned the Ernie Lombardi Award from the Cincinnati chapter of the BBWAA after leading the team in AVG (.309), hits (164), total bases (306), RBI (100), doubles (38)and SLG (.576)...Was the CIN recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award...Ranked 3rd in the NL in SLG, T-3rd in extra-base hits (73), 4th in doubles, AVG and OPS (.939), 5th in total bases, 6th in RBI, 7th in home runs (34), 8th in hits and 9th in runs (95)...Became the 19th player in CIN franchise history with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in a season...Established career highs in home runs, AVG, OBP (.362), SLG and OPS...On 4/5 vs PIT, reached 500 career RBI on a solo HR off Sam Howard...Was on the suspended list, 4/20-21...Recorded his 1,000th career hit, 4/23 at ST...(solo HR off Kwang Hyun Kim)...Batted .409 (38-93) in May...On 5/2 vs CHI, tied a career high with five hits and recorded his eighth career multi-home run game...Hit safely in a career-best 21 straight games, 5/12-6/5, a streak that included 15 multi-hit games...His 21-game hitting streak was the 2nd-longest in MLB to LAA¡¯s David Fletcher (26 games)...Hit his 250th career double, 5/15 at COL...Had an 18-game hitting streak at home, 5/17-6/26, the 2nd-longest in Great American Ball Park history ...Played in his 1,000th career game, 6/6 at STL...Set a career high with seven RBI and slugged his sixth career grand slam, 6/28 vs PHI...Hit his 150th career home run, 6/30 vs SD (Joe Musgrove)...Scored the 500th run of his career on 7/5 at KC (solo HR off Mike Minor)...Was on the IL, 7/22-8/4, with a fractured right wrist...At the time of his injury, led the NL in AVG (.329), doubles (29), extra-base hits (48) and total bases (133)...Hit his seventh career grand slam, 9/1 vs STL, recording six RBI in the first two innings...Was the first CIN player with at least six RBI in the first two innings of a game since RBI became an official stat in 1920...Homered in a career-best four straight games, 9/24-27...His homer on 9/25 vs WSH was his second career walk-off homer, and second walk-off hit of the season.
2020
In his first season with the Reds led the team in games, runs, hits, total bases, doubles and triples...Was National League Player of the Week for 7/27-8/2 (6g, .429, 2 2b, 4hr, 10rbi, 1.095slg, 23tb)...led the NL in slugging percentage and total bases and tied for the league lead in HR and RBI...Became only the fourth batter since 1900 to hit at least six HR in the Reds' first 11 team games of a season... joined Wally Post (7 HR in 1956), Austin Kearns (6 HR in 2003) and Adam Dunn (7 HR in 2004, 6 HR in 2006)...His 12-game hitting streak beginning Opening Day (15- 41, .366, 3 2b, 6hr, 13rbi, .878slg, .447obp) was the longest in the Major Leagues to open this season, the longest by a Reds batter to begin a season since Barry Larkin's 12-game hitting streak in 1995 and the longest by a player to begin his Reds career since D'Angelo Jimenez' 15-game hitting streak in 2003...Was the only Reds player to appear in every game and one of 15 Major League players to appear in all of his team's games during the regular season...Started 59 of the Reds' 60 games, including each of the first 58 games...didn't start the 59th contest, but in the seventh inning of that 7-3 loss at Min pinch hit and produced an RBI-single off Taylor Rogers...Made 57 of his 59 starts in RF, the other two as the team's designated hitter (9/11 at StL, 9/14/g1 vs Pit)...Led the team with 50 starts batting second, including each of his last 48 starts beginning 8/5 at Cle...On 8/5 at Cle appeared in the 900th game of his Major League career...In the Wild Card Series sweep loss at Atl led the Reds in hits (3), total bases (4) and doubles (1)...Elected to remain on the Reds' roster for the 2021 season when he did not exercise the opt out provision in his 4-year contract.
2019
At the 7/31 deadline was traded from the Tigers to the Cubs for minor leaguers RHP Alex Lange and RHP Paul Richan...In 151 apps for the Tigers and Cubs hit .289 with 58 doubles, 3 triples, 27 HR, 73 RBI and 100 runs scored...Became only the third right-handed batter in Major League history to produce in a season at least 55 doubles and 25 HR, joining Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg (1934) and Joe Medwick (1937)...Established career highs in doubles, HR and runs scored...Led the Major Leagues with 58 doubles in becoming only the 10th players in Major League history to produce that many in a season...Became the first player to lead the Major Leagues in doubles while playing for more than 1 team...Ranked second in the Major Leagues with 88 extra-base hits (Bos' Rafael Devers, 90)...In his last 51 apps of the season beginning 8/1, led the National League in doubles (21) and led the Cubs in hits (68), doubles, HR (16) and runs scored (43)...Became only the fourth player to hit at least 8 HR in his first 20 apps as a Cub, joining Hank Sauer (9hr, 1949), Mandy Brooks (8hr, 1925) and Donnie Murphy (8hr, 2013)...His 11 home runs in August were the most by a Cubs batter for that month since Sammy Sosa's 11 HR in August 2002...His 12 first-inning home runs were second in the majors to Eugenio Suárez, who hit a club-record 15 HR in the first inning...From 8/18-8/21 became the first player in Cubs history to homer in the first inning in 3 consecutive apps...Made 136 starts in right field and 4 starts in left field, all for Chi.
2018
Played in 157 games for the second consecutive season in 2018 and established career highs in runs scored (88), hits (185), doubles (46) and walks (49)...Selected the Tiger of the Year by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America...Finished the season ranked third in the American League with 185 hits and 56 multi-hit games, while he was fourth with 46 doubles and 10 outfield assists, eighth with 310 total bases and 74 extra-base hits and ninth with a .298 batting average…also ranked second in the Majors with 19 games of three-or-more hits...Led the Majors with a .381 (56x147) batting average vs. lefties, while he was seventh with a .432 on-base percentage…hit .273 (129x473) with righthanded pitchers on the mound...Finished the season with 23 home runs and 46 doubles, becoming the eighth player in franchise history to have 20-or-more homers and 40-or-more doubles in a season...Named Tigers Player of the Month in May, August and September… hit .356/.391/.577 with 14 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 12 RBI in 26 games in May, .283/.339/.443 with 16 runs scored, five doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI in 26 games in August and .350/.409/.590 with 15 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 16 RBI over 27 games in September...Recorded nine multi-hit contests in a 13-game stretch from May 20-June 2, hitting .439/.448/.684 with eight runs scored, eight doubles, two home runs and eight RBI...Belted a pair of home runs on June 16 at Chicago (AL) for the fourth multi-homer game of his career...Hit the fourth grand slam of his career on July 1 at Toronto...Notched the first five-hit game of his career and tallied five RBI for the sixth time in his career on August 13 vs. Chicago (AL)...Earned American League Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career for the week ending August 19…hit .393/.485/.714 with eight runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI in seven games
2017
Established career highs in games played (157), runs scored (73), hits (167), doubles (36), triples (10), home runs (26) and RBI (101) in 2017 ... Led the American League with 10 triples, becoming the first Tiger to lead the American League in triples since Austin Jackson in 2012...also was the first Tigers third baseman with 10-or-more triples in a season since Ossie Vitt had 12 triples in 1916 ... Ranked tied for sixth in the American League with 72 extra-base hits, while he was tied for ninth with 101 RBI and tied for 10th with 301 total bases ... Became the sixth Tiger since 1913 and the first since Al Kaline in 1956 to have 10-or-more triples, 25-or-more homers and 100-or-more RBI in a season ... Finished the season with 101 RBI, becoming the 10th player in Tigers history to have a 100-RBI season at age 25-or-younger (last, Miguel Cabrera in 2008) ... Named the Tigers nominee for the 2017 Hank Aaron Award ... Hit the first Opening Day home run of his Major League career on April 4 at Chicago (AL) ... Recorded at least one RBI in a career-high four straight games from May 5-9 ... Notched his first career two triple game on April 19 at Tampa Bay...became the first Tigers player to have two triples in a game since Austin Jackson on August 5, 2012 vs. Cleveland ... Hit the 100th double of his Major League career on May 31 at Kansas City…at 25 years, 88 days old, became the ninth-quickest player (by age) in franchise history to reach 100 doubles ... Tied a career high with three walks on June 2 vs. Chicago (AL) (other: July 31, 2014 vs. Chicago (AL)) ... Belted a pair of home runs on July 18 at Kansas City, marking his second career multi-homer game (last, August 19, 2015 at Chicago (NL))...also added a triple, becoming the fifth Tiger since 1913 with four hits, including a triple and two home runs, in a game (last, Dmitri Young, May 6, 2003 at Baltimore) ... recorded his fourth career four-hit game (last, April 8, 2016 vs. New York (AL)) ... Tied a single-game career high with five RBI on August 9 vs. Pittsburgh (last, July 18, 2017 at Kansas City) ... Hit his first career inside-the-park home run on August 22 vs. New York (AL)…was the first inside-the-park homer by a Tiger since James McCann on April 29, 2015 at Minnesota and the first at Comerica Park since Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain on September 8, 2014 ... Made his first career start in right field on September 8 at Toronto...had 20 starts in right field during the season ... Recorded his sixth game of the season with four-or-more RBI on September 17 vs. Chicago (AL)... finished the season tied for the American League lead with six four-RBI games ... Posted a career-long, 17-game hitting streak from September 3-20...hit .418 (28x67) with seven runs scored, nine doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI during the streak ... Named the Tigers Player of the Month for September after hitting .368 (42x114) with 10 runs scored, 11 doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI...tied for the American League lead with 42 hits, while he was tied for second with 11 doubles, third with a .368 batting average, tied for third with 25 RBI, sixth with a .649 slugging percentage and seventh with a 1.030 OPS.
2016
Established career highs with 54 runs scored and 18 home runs in 2016 as he completed his third full season with the Tigers...Posted the third four-hit game of his career on April 8 vs. New York (AL) (last, August 19, 2015 at Chicago (NL))... Recorded the 100th run scored of his major league career on April 16 at Houston... Named the Tigers Player of the Month for April after hitting .363 (29x80) with 10 runs scored, five doubles, one triple, three home runs and 14 RBI during the month - led the AL with a .363 batting average in April, while he was tied for fifth with 29 hits... Hit his 16th home run of the season on July 6 at Cleveland, establishing a new single-season career high…also drove in five runs in the game, tying his career high (last, August 19, 2015 at Chicago (NL))... Hit safely in 12 of 13 games from June 25-July 9 -- batted .360 (18x50) with eight runs scored, three doubles, one triple, four home runs and 11 RBI during the stretch... Sidelined from August 7-September 27 with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal of his left hand... Posted a .315 (93x295) batting average vs. righthanded pitchers, while he hit .207 (24x116) with lefties on the mound... Hit .285 (53x186) at Comerica Park...batted .284 (64x225) on the road...Batted .302 (99x328) with 45 runs scored, 19 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 51 RBI prior to the All-Star break... hit .217 (18x83) with nine runs scored, six doubles, one triple, one home run and seven RBI after the All-Star break.
2015
Completed his second full season with the Tigers in 2015, establishing career highs in games played (154), at-bats (549), hits (140), doubles (33), triples (6), home runs (15) and RBI (73). Recorded a career-high, nine-game hitting streak from April 12-21, batting .379 (11 ofr 29) with three doubles and two RBI -- also hit safely in nine straight games from June 30-July 8, hitting .378 (14 for 37) with six runs scored, one double, two home runs and 10 RBIs during the streak. Turned in the first four-hit game of his career on July 6 at Seattle -- also had four hits on August 19 at Chicago Cubs. Homered in back-to-back games for the first time in his career on July 6-7 -- also homered in consecutive games July 21-22 and July 25-26. Hit the first grand slam of his major league career on July 22 vs. Seattle -- also hit a grand slam on August 19 at Chicago Cubs...finished tied for second in the American League with two grand slams. Finished the month of July with 20 RBI, which ranked tied for seventh in the American League. Recorded the first multi-home run game of his career on August 19 at Chicago Cubs -- also added two doubles in the game, becoming the first Tiger to have four extra-base hits in a game since Ivan Rodriguez on April 5, 2006 at Kansas City...drove in a career-high five RBI in the game. Hit .305 (29 for 95) with nine runs scored, 12 doubles and nine RBI during the month of September -- his 12 doubles ranked tied for second in the American League. Batted .351 (40 for 114) against lefthanded pitchers, which ranked fourth in the AL...hit .230 (100 for 435) with righthanded pitchers on the mound. • Recorded a .266 (73x274) batting average at Comerica Park...hit .244 (67 for 275) on the road. Ranked fifth in the American League with a .342 (39 for 114) batting average with runners in scoring position. Hit .243 (74 for 304) with 20 runs scored, 13 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 38 RBI before the All-Star break...hit .269 (66 for 245) with 22 runs scored, 20 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 35 RBI following the All-Star break Ranked second among all American League rookies with 138 hits, 31 doubles, and 66 RBI as he appeared in 148 games in his first full season
2014
Ranked second among all American League rookies with 138 hits, 31 doubles, and 66 RBI as he appeared in 148 games in his first full season at the major league level with the Tigers in 2014...Finished the season ranked 10th among all Tigers players during their rookie season with 31 doubles, while he was 16th with 66th RBI...Selected to the Baseball America All-rookie team following the season...On the Tigers opening Day roster for the first time in his career...Recorded his first career RBI on April 4 versus Baltimore with a double in the second inning...Connected for his first major league home run on April 9 at Dodger stadium off Josh Beckett with a three-run home run in the third inning...Established a career-high with three hits on May 21 at Cleveland -- equaled the high on June 5 versus Toronto, June 6 versus Boston, June 7 versus Boston, June 14 versus Minnesota, July 8 versus Los Angeles Dodgers, August 10 at Toronto, and September 1 at Cleveland...Became just the fifth Tigers rookie since at least 1914 to connect for three consecutive three-hit games, doing so from June 5-7 at Comerica Park...Batted .337 (33x98) with 12 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 10 RBI in 26 games during June...Established a career-high with four RBI on July 30 versus Chicago White Sox...Established a career-high eight-game hitting streak August 22-29 -- batted .333 (11x33) with four runs scored, two doubles, one triple, and seven RBI during the streak...matched the streak from August 30-September 6 -- batted .303 (10x33) with three runs scored and two doubles during the stretch...Batted .266 (105x394) against righthanded pitchers...hit .237 (33x139) with lefties on the mound...Posted a .284 (76x268) batting average at home...batted .234 (62x265) on the road...Batted .262 (79x302) with 29 runs scored, 20 doubles, one triple, six home runs and 34 rBI in 84 games prior to the break...hit .255 (59x231) with 21 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 32 rBI in 62 games following the break.
2013
Spent the majority of the 2013 season at Triple A Toledo -- led the International League with 81 runs scored, while he was tied for first with 37 doubles, second with 147 hits and fourth with 76 RBI...Named the best batting prospect in the International League by Baseball America...Batted .361 (39x108) with nine doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI in 28 games during June...Selected to the International League All-Star team...Had his contract purchased from Toledo prior to the game on September 1 versus Cleveland -- made his major league debut the same day...Collected his first career major league hit on September 7 at Kansas City, an infield single...Appeared in 11 games with the Tigers in September, batting .278 (5x18).
2012
Combined to hit .320 (172x537) with 32 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs and 57 RBI in 134 games with Single A
Lakeland and Double A Erie during the 2012 season -- third among all minor league players with 172 hits.
... Earned a spot on the U.S. Team for the Futures Game held at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium prior to Major League
Baseball's All-Star Game -- selected the Most Valuable Player following the game after collecting three hits, including
a home run, and three RBI.
... Tabbed the best batting prospect in the Eastern League and Florida State League by Baseball America.
... Assigned to Lakeland to begin the season -- hit safely in each of his first 10 games of the season April 5-15, batting
.410 (16x39) with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
... Collected a season-high four hits on April 27 versus Dunedin -- matched the high with four hits on May 22 at Brevard
County...collected four hits with Erie on July 29 versus Richmond to equal the season best.
... Compiled an 18-game hitting streak April 29-May 17, batting .431 (31x72) with four doubles, two triples, a home run
and 12 RBI.
... Tabbed the Florida State League Player of the Week for April 30-May 6 after hitting .464 (13x28) with two doubles, a
home run and seven RBI in seven games during the week ... Garnered TOPPS Florida State League Player of the Month and Tigers Minor League Player of the Month honors for
May after batting .418 (46x110) with eight doubles, a triple, two home runs and 16 RBI in 29 games during the month.
... Had his contract transferred from Lakeland to Erie for the remainder of the season on June 5.
... Posted a 13-game hitting streak June 27-July 13, batting .345 (19x55).
... Named the top prospect and best hitter for average and rated as posessing the best strike-zone discipline in the Tigers
organization, the fourth-best prospect in the Eastern League and fifth-best prospect in the Florida State League
following the season by Baseball America.
... Saw action in 24 games with Mesa in the Arizona Fall League, batting .242 (24x99) with six doubles, a triple and 11
RBI -- named the eighth-best prospect in the league by Baseball America.
2011
Tabbed the Tigers Minor League Player of the Year after finishing fifth in the Midwest League with a .312 batting
average with Single A West Michigan during the 2011 season...named West Michigan's Player of the Year...Selected to the Midwest League's post-season all-star squad...Topped the Midwest League with 158 hits, while he tied for the lead with 135 games played, tied for second with 36
doubles and finished third with 507 at-bats...Compiled a season-best 10-game hitting streak May 18-27, batting .368 (14x38) with five doubles and six RBI...Garnered Tigers Minor League Player of the Month honors for June after hitting .375 (36x96) with eight doubles, two
home runs and 20 RBI in 24 games -- second in the Midwest League with a .375 batting average during the month...Belted a season-high two home runs on July 9 versus Bowling Green...Hit .397 (54x136) with runners in scoring position...Named the second-best prospect, the best hitter for average and best power hitter in the Tigers organization and the
fourth-best prospect in the Midwest League following the season by Baseball America.
2010
Made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Tigers after being selected by Detroit in the first round (44th
overall pick) in the June 2010 draft...Tabbed the third-best pure hitter in the draft by Baseball America...Named the second-best prospect, best hitter for average and best power hitter and rated as possessing the best infield
arm in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.