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Since 1887, Rawlings has set a standard of producing high quality, top of the line sports equipment. Rawlings is trusted by athletes at each level, from Little League to Major League, and is undoubtedly “The Mark of a Pro®”. Throughout generations, Rawlings has built a legacy that revolves around innovation, tradition and authenticity, and the 2025 USSSA Rawlings Icon bat represents exactly what athletes have come to expect from the most well-known brand in baseball.

Designed for elite USSSA athletes, the Rawlings Icon was named as the Bat Bros’ “Youth Bat of the Year” and has a dedicated following given its dominance on the field. Featuring “In/Tense” carbon composite material, “Tuned Balance Performance”, “Zero Loss Collar Technology” and many other high-tech features, the USSSA Rawlings Icon is engineered to give young athletes the perfect combination of balanced power, speed and durability.

Engineered with “In/Tense” carbon composite construction, the Rawlings Icon maximizes barrel size, stiffness and trampoline. Incorporating this highly responsive technology increases the overall size and pop of the sweet spot, creating a forgiving yet consistently powerful hitting surface.

Further, the Icon features “Tuned Balance” performance, yielding the ideal swing weight. Tuned Balance performance optimizes barrel control enabling athletes to have a powerful swing without compromising their bat speed. Additionally, the Icon’s “Zero Loss Collar Technology” strengthens the connection joint and eliminates negative, hand-rattling feedback at contact. The reinforced joint between the handle and barrel allows for the perfect amount of flex, while absorbing vibrations from impact.

Not only is this bat a top pick for performance, but it also ranks high in comfort and style. The 2025 Rawlings Icon is marked by bold, eye-catching graphics featuring a white camo pattern, highlighted with gold and black accents. The bat is equipped with “RevGrip”, a premium handle grip that provides unmatched cushion and tack, which enhances comfort in all elements.

Whether you’re a contact or power hitter, the USSSA Rawlings Icon is engineered to do it all. Designed with the balance of power, innovation, style and comfort, the 2025 Rawlings Icon is built to bring out the best of your swing. “Be Iconic” with the USSSA Icon bat from Rawlings and discover its game-changing power for yourself!

This is a sponsored post from Sports Reference.

Baseball fans are no strangers to the excitement and unpredictability that come with the offseason. Every winter, teams reshuffle their rosters, making trades, signing free agents, and seeking that one player who could put them over the top in the coming season. This MLB offseason has been no exception, with high-profile moves shaking up the landscape of the sport. Amidst this flurry of activity, all baseball fans should start studying now to make sure they’re locked-in for Opening Day and the 2025 season’s daily Immaculate Grid.

What Is Immaculate Grid?

Immaculate Grid is a daily trivia game powered by Sports Reference that challenges players to fill a 3×3 grid with players who meet specific criteria, like sharing a team or achieving a specific statistical feat. Each square on the grid requires the player to recall a particular player from the past or present who fits the parameters, such as players who have played for two teams or hit a certain number of home runs. The game gives players a list of prompts, and they must select the correct player to fill each box. The goal is to complete the grid with as few incorrect guesses as possible.

For baseball fans, Immaculate Grid serves as a great way to flex one’s knowledge of the game, combining fun with an opportunity to refresh one’s memory about past and present MLB players. It’s a game that offers an endless variety of challenges, thanks to the dynamic nature of MLB rosters and the continuous changes that happen each offseason.

Challenge your friends and compete for the lowest “rarity score”.

A “rarity score” is calculated as the sum of the percentages for each cell you get correct plus 100 for each empty cell.

How to Play:

• You have nine guesses to fill out the grid.
• Each guess, whether correct or incorrect, counts as a guess.
• There is a new grid every day at 6:00am ET.
• A player cannot be used twice.
• Players may be active or inactive.
• For team and team cell: player must have played at least one game (in the regular season or postseason) for both teams.

Offseason Moves and the Challenge of Immaculate Grid

Aside from fans challenging their baseball obsessed peers during the winter months, the offseason allows the hardcore fans to get ahead for the 2025 season of Immaculate Grid.

Here are a few of the key moves resulting in player’s changing teams. Once they play one game, they’re eligible to be an answer on the Immaculate Grid!

Key MLB Offseason Moves:

1. Juan Soto to the New York Mets
2. Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Kyle Tucker traded to the Chicago Cubs
4. Garrett Crochet traded to the Boston Red Sox
5. Blake Snell to the Los Angeles Dodgers
6. Max Fried to the New York Yankees
7. Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants
8. Christian Walker to the Houston Astros
9. Devin Williams traded to the New York Yankees
10. Cody Bellinger traded to the New York Yankees
11. Clay Holmes to the New York Mets
12. Yusei Kikuchi to the Los Angeles Angels
13. Justin Verlander to the San Francisco Giants
14. Brady Singer traded from the Kansas City Royals for Jonathan India of the Cincinnati Reds
15. Walker Buehler to the Boston Red Sox
16. Jesus Luzardo traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
17. Josh Naylor traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
18. Paul Goldschmidt to the New York Yankees
19. Anthony Santander to the Toronto Blue Jays
20. Luis Severino signs with the Oakland A’s

Still More Moves to Come:

Opening Day is still over two months away and pitchers and catchers don’t report for several weeks, which means there will still be lots of MLB offseason activity and players potentially signing with a new team.

Will Alex Bregman land in Toronto or reunite with his former manager AJ Hinch in Detroit?

Do the Mets bring back Pete Alonso on a short-term deal?

Does Jack Flaherty’s willingness to sign a short-term contract increase the teams interested?

Immaculate Grid is the perfect game for baseball fans, offering both entertainment and a valuable way to stay up-to-date on player movements. As the MLB offseason continues to evolve, the game remains an engaging and rewarding challenge.

With key offseason trades and signings shaking up team rosters, fans can sharpen their knowledge while having fun. So, whether you’re a die-hard fan who follows every trade or a casual viewer who’s just getting back into the swing of things, Immaculate Grid is the perfect companion for keeping track of the game during the offseason.

Also be sure to visit ImmaculateGrid.com for puzzles on other sports too like NBA, WNBA, NHL, NFL, and soccer!

The following is a sponsored post from Finlete.

For as long as anyone can remember, sports fans have sought to grow closer to the games, teams, and players they so passionately support, investing everything from their time to their emotions to their money. From Duke University students camping out in tents to get prime seats, to baseball fans buying up rookie card stacks, to football fans purchasing real stakes in Real Madrid CF and the Green Bay Packers. Of course the internet and smartphones changed the game, with fantasy sports’ popularity exploding about 20 years ago and sports betting exploding over the last 10 years.

Today, how we spend money on sports continues to rapidly evolve, including the ability to invest in athletes’ careers in exchange for a piece of their future earnings. It’s a corner of the sports world that’s starting to make some serious noise and sports investment platform Finlete is a key player.

In 2024, Finlete bookended the year by giving fans the opportunity to invest in the careers of MLB prospects Echedry Vargas and Leonardo Bernal.

Vargas, ranked #16 in the Miami Marlins system (source MLB.com), is a Dominican middle infielder who boasts an aggressive approach and an impressive power-speed combo that ultimately made him a key piece in Miami’s return for Jake Burger this winter. Bernal, the most recent athlete to join Finlete, plies his trade behind the dish as the #9 prospect in St. Louis’ system (source MLB.com) with a keen eye, strong arm, and lots of loud contact.

For potential investors who may lean more mainstream, 3-time AL All-Star Emmanuel Clase became the first Major Leaguer to sign with Finlete in the middle of his historic season and give his legion of fans a shot to join his journey financially. As far as big name investing goes, it doesn’t get much bigger than a certified Cy Young candidate in the prime of his career.

With a growing slate of professional athletes set to be announced in 2025, Finlete is evolving quickly and building upon the foundation set by some pioneers in the sports investment world.

Fantex, which operated from 2012-2016 and allowed fans to buy and sell securities tied to athletes’ contracts, is a great example of being ahead of your time. Fans were able to invest in the careers of Vernon Davis, Alshon Jeffery, and other NFL players, but this was before the tidal waves of crowdfunding and alternative investments rolled in.

Since then, investing in athletes’ careers has been dominated by private hedge funds such as Big League Advance (BLA) and X10 – the former founded by an ex-MLB player and the latter founded by ex-Fantex execs. Not everyone is eligible to invest in a hedge fund and even those who qualify may not have access. It’s exclusive and restrictive. That’s where new companies like Finlete come in, applying lessons learned from Fantex while democratizing access to the kind of investing BLA and X10 have been doing over the last 5-10 years.

For example, BLA successfully signed several future MLB All-Stars including Elly De La Cruz, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the early days of their professional baseball careers, well before they became household names.

The model is simple: Pay prospects an upfront payment in exchange for a percentage of their potential future MLB earnings.

For the athlete, it’s cash now for cash later. It’s giving up a small piece of their potential upside in exchange for more security now. And it’s risk-free in the sense that it’s not a loan, the athlete only owes the investor money if they make it to the big leagues and even then it’s only a small percentage of their MLB salary. The cash up front also helps increase their chances of making it pro.

Elly De La Cruz is a prototypical example. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 for $65,000, a fairly small account considering these signing bonuses range from $10,000 to over $9 million. The additional funds from BLA allowed him to supplement that signing bonus and his meager Minor League Baseball (MiLB) salary, which helped him cover basic expenses, finance his training, support his family, and better prepare himself for the grind of the long seasons ahead. The funds often also mean the player can focus on baseball year-round instead of needing to work another job in the offseason.

On the other side of the deal, BLA received a percentage of Elly’s potential future MLB salary. Whereas the player risks losing some upside by having to give up a piece of their earnings if they make it in the big leagues, the investor – BLA in this case – risks loss of capital, as it’s an investment, not a loan, and there’s no guarantee MiLB players will make it to or stick around at the MLB level.

Finlete believes athletes signing these deals with hedge funds is a missed opportunity though. By signing with Finlete instead, athletes can let people from all walks of life be the investors and in so doing build a strong following of extremely dedicated fans. By linking athletes and fans financially, Finlete is taking fan engagement to the next level, as the fans the athletes garner through Finlete will remain fans of theirs for their entire careers, regardless of what team they play for.

While having disposable income always makes investing easier, acquiring a financial stake in a real athlete’s career is exceedingly accessible for the general public. Finlete investors, for example, are able to invest for as little as $300. Bonus shares on the platform are also available for investments of $1,000 or more.

This is a lot like the fractional investment opportunities that have taken shape in other industries. Want to invest in art? Try Masterworks. Real estate? Go with Fundrise or Happy Nest. Tech startups? Look at Wefunder or Republic. The common denominator is that it’s easier than ever to invest in whatever piques your interest. The question now is – what comes next?

For those who choose Finlete, the answer is more. More athletes, more experiences, more perks, more ways to engage with athletes, and ultimately more opportunities to combine a love of the game with real investing. The future of sports investment is here and it’s an exciting outlook for 2025.

The following is a sponsored post from Finlete.

As anyone who watched the Cleveland Guardians this past season can attest to, entrusting the ninth inning to a lights-out closer like Emmanuel Clase is about as good as it gets. For the Guardians, it’s a competitive edge that few other teams can match. For fans, it’s a reason to rise from your seat. For Clase, it further solidifies his surging trajectory as one of the best closers of all-time – a fact that leaves him well-positioned to become one of the highest paid relievers in the game.

Finlete, a new sports investment platform, has partnered with Clase to offer fans the chance to invest in his career and get a piece of his MLB salary in exchange. Investors will receive their first dividend in the middle of the 2025 MLB season.

Clase represents the second athlete and first active Major Leaguer to sign a future earnings contract with Finlete, following Marlins prospect Echedry Vargas earlier this year. The company expects to launch several more athletes in 2025. Fans can currently get in on the ground floor of this exciting, SEC-compliant platform.

You may be asking yourself, what’s in it for Emmanuel? Well, the answers are clear. For starters, Finlete is raising capital for Clase, which he can spend on his family, offseason training, and his own investment goals. He also benefits from Finlete by forging a connection with a rapidly growing community of fan-investors who are first and foremost fans of his, regardless of what team he plays for. Those who invest have every incentive to support his career from both an emotional and financial standpoint every step of the way. Game in, game out. Season in, season out. Through Finlete, Clase is building a devoted fanbase of uniquely invested supporters.

Let’s look back at the major milestones notched by Clase during the 2024 MLB season:

• 3-time AL Reliever of the Month
• 3rd straight All-Star appearance
• 3rd straight year leading AL in Saves
• 2nd All-MLB 1st Team honors
• 2nd Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award
• 1st reliever to finish top 3 in Cy Young voting since 2008
• 5th lowest single-season ERA in MLB history (0.61)
• Became Cleveland’s all-time Saves leader (157)
• Set a Cleveland record for Saves in a season (47)
• Converted 34 Saves in a row

All in all, it was a banner season for the 26-year old, and one of the most dominating ever recorded in MLB history.

Now let’s talk finances. Currently, Clase is locked into a team-friendly contract extension with Cleveland that he signed in 2022. Over the remainder of the contract, he’s set to receive base salaries of:

• 2024: $2.9 million
• 2025: $4.9 million
• 2026: $6.4 million
• 2027: $10 million (club option)
• 2028: $10 million (club option)

The contract also includes the following clauses:

• 2027 club option includes a $2M buyout
• 2028 club option includes a $1M buyout
• Cy Young Award Bonus Structure
  • 1st Place: $250K
  • 2nd or 3rd Place: $150K
  • 4th or 5th Place: $75K
• Mariano Rivera or Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award: $100K
• All-Star: $100K
• ALCS MVP: $50K
• World Series MVP: $100K
• $500,000 for 200 innings pitched or 200 appearances from 2022-2026
• Trade Assignment Bonus: $1M

Thanks to his excellence at the back end of the Cleveland bullpen, it should come as no surprise that Clase has earned nearly every major possible incentive in his contract.

Given that he’s now entering the prime of his career age-wise, barring health issues or a sudden drop in effectiveness, he should be in a strong position to become one of the highest-paid relief pitchers when he reaches free agency in 2029 (assuming his 2027 and 2028 club options are picked up).

Those who invest in Clase’s career through Finlete will get a piece of his earnings for the rest of his career. That starts with the $30+ million he currently has left on his contract and gets even more exciting once he reaches free agency. The greater his success on the field between now and then, the greater the size of his next contract will likely be, and the greater the potential return for investors.

The minimum investment is under $400 and Finlete is currently offering up to 25% bonus shares when you invest today. Additionally, investors are eligible to receive exclusive bonus perks such as a baseball or baseball card signed by Clase and a special baseball trip package during the upcoming MLB season.

The world of sports investing is changing rapidly, that much is clear. The line between fan and investor is blurring, and Finlete is at the forefront of it all. This is your chance to join a superstar athlete on their journey in a meaningful and potentially lucrative way. See the game from a totally new perspective and own a tangible piece of the action.

Welcome to the future. Welcome to Finlete. To learn more about this new sports investment platform, visit finlete.com today.

Monday Night Hockey Broadcasts EXCLUSIVELY on Amazon Prime!

With hockey season in full swing, there’s no better way to experience the thrill of the game than with Amazon Prime’s exclusive Monday Night Hockey broadcasts. If you’re a fan of fast-paced action, nail-biting moments, and electrifying goals, you won’t want to miss what Prime has lined up this season.

Sign up here to ensure you don’t miss out.

Premier Matchups:

Throughout the remainder of 2024, Prime Video will showcase a lineup of games that are not only crucial for playoff standings but also highlight fierce rivalries and thrilling storylines.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the standout matchups you can look forward to:

• Monday, December 16, 2024: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers: Another chance to see the high-flying Oilers as they face the Panthers in what could be a high-
  scoring affair.
• Monday, December 23, 2024: San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks: The Sharks and Canucks will battle for crucial points as the holiday season heats up. Expect
  intensity and skilled play from both sides.
• Monday, December 30, 2024: Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets: As the calendar year ends, this matchup could have significant implications for both teams’
  playoff aspirations.

Exclusive Features for Prime Members

In addition to the thrilling matchups, Amazon Prime offers features that enhance your viewing experience. Prime members can enjoy:

• Multiple Camera Angles: Choose your perspective with various camera views, giving you control over how you watch the game.
• Real-Time Stats and Insights: Stay informed with up-to-the-minute statistics and expert commentary that bring context to the action on the ice.
• Post-Game Analysis: Dive deeper into the game with post-match breakdowns and highlights that analyze the key moments and decisions.

Join the Community:

Watching hockey through Amazon Prime isn’t just about the games; it’s about being part of a community of passionate fans. Engage with fellow viewers through the platform’s social media channels, where you can share your thoughts, predictions, and reactions during and after games. Join discussions, participate in polls, and celebrate your team’s victories alongside others who share your enthusiasm.

Sign Up and Tune In:

If you’re not already a Prime member, there’s no better time to join. With a wealth of content beyond hockey—including movies, TV shows, music, and more—you’ll find endless entertainment options at your fingertips. Plus, with Prime’s fast shipping and exclusive deals, you’ll enjoy numerous perks that make membership worthwhile.

So grab your snacks, settle in on your couch, and get ready to cheer for your team. This hockey season, let Amazon Prime be your go-to destination for all the action on the ice. Join the community, enjoy the games, and make Monday nights the highlight of your week!

Click here to get signed up NOW!

This is a sponsored post from Amazon Prime.

This is a sponsored post from Rawlings.

In case you missed it last week, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., announced the finalists for the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award®, honoring the best individual fielding performances at each position in the American League® and National League®.

The winners will be unveiled during a one-hour, special-edition “Baseball Tonight” broadcast on ESPN Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Background:

While the award originated in 1957, Rawlings first began highlighting the top-three defenders at each position as finalists in 2011. This season, the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals lead the AL with four finalists each, and the Arizona Diamondbacks top the NL with five finalists.

“The announcement of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists each year creates so much excitement for our brand and the sport of baseball, not to mention for the talented athletes that are selected as the top defenders at their respective positions,” said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer of Rawlings. “We look forward to recognizing the winners of the highly coveted Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in a few weeks, but until then, we’ll enjoy the banter amongst fans as to who is most deserving at each position.”

 

How Finalists Are Selected:

To determine the winners of the 18 defensive position Awards, each team’s manager and up to six coaches on his staff vote from a pool of qualified players in their League and cannot vote for players from their own team. In 2013, Rawlings added the SABR Defensive Index™ (SDI) to the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process, which comprises approximately 25 percent of the overall selection total, with the managers’ and coaches’ votes continuing to carry the majority.

To identify the utility Award winners, Rawlings collaborated with SABR to create a specialized defensive formula separate from the traditional selection process for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award position winners. Utilizing the SABR formula and additional defensive statistics, Rawlings will select one utility winner from each League.

2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalists – American League

Pitcher

• Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
• Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
• Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels

Catcher

• Freddy Fermin, Kansas City Royals
• Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
• Jake Rogers, Detroit Tigers

First Base

• Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles
• Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers
• Carlos Santana, Minnesota Twins

Second Base

• Nicky Lopez, Chicago White Sox
• Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
• Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians

Third Base

• Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
• José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
• Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

Shortstop

• Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
• Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
• Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians

Left Field

• Alex Verdugo, New York Yankees
• Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles
• Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

Center Field

• Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
• Jake Meyers, Houston Astros
• Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

Right Field

• Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox
• Juan Soto, New York Yankees
• Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels

Utility

• Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros
• Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
• Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners

2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalists – National League

Pitcher

• Luis Severino, New York Mets
• Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
• Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

Catcher

• Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
• Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

First Base

• Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
• Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
• Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks

Second Base

• Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
• Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies

Third Base

• Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
• Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
• Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

Shortstop

• Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
• Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs
• Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies

Left Field

• Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona Diamondbacks
• Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies

Center Field

• Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
• Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies
• Blake Perkins, Milwaukee Brewers

Right Field

• Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers
• Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants

Utility

• Kiké Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
• Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates

The 2024 finalists include seven former Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners in the American League and ten former winners in the National League.

Following the Rawlings Gold Glove Award televised announcement special on ESPN, Sunday, Nov. 3, fans can vote for their favorite defensive player in each league to determine who will be named the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™ winners. A combination of the national fan vote and the SDI will determine who takes home the honor.

Voting for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award presented by SABR will begin online at www.Rawlings.com on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 9:30 p.m. ET and will remain open until Thursday, Nov. 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled at the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony in New York City, on Friday, Nov. 8.

About the Rawlings Gold Glove Award®
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® is a registered trademark owned by Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. The award is correctly identified as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The name should not be shortened, abbreviated, or otherwise misused. Proper identification of this service mark using the registration symbol and the Rawlings name is important to protect the integrity of the program and perpetuate this worthy tradition. For more information, please visit www.Rawlings.com.

About Rawlings®
Established in 1887, Rawlings is an innovative leading global brand and manufacturer of premium baseball and softball equipment, including gloves, balls, and protective headwear. Rawlings’ unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings.
Rawlings is the official glove, baseball, helmet and faceguard, and base of Major League Baseball, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball and the official baseball and softball of the NCAA and NAIA, and the official softball of the NJCAA. For more information, please visit www.Rawlings.com.