All articles tagged with #debut
Defector’s Ray Ratto hails Tugboat Wilkinson’s MLB debut for the Giants—a two-inning, 25-pitch, 1-0 win outing. Wilkinson, the second player to be nicknamed “Tugboat” (after Thurman Munson), delivers a nostalgic, unpolished flair and, despite limited action, earns calls for more opportunities in a game that felt built for more of him.
New St. Louis Cardinal Joshua Baez homered in each of his first three plate appearances against the Cubs, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs as the Cardinals won 8-4. His 449-foot leadoff shot on the first pitch and two more HRs made his debut one of the most explosive in MLB history, a feat that puts him on the early pages of the career-homer list and drew a packed support crowd in Chicago.
Boston-born Joshua Báez homered in each of his first three MLB at-bats for the St. Louis Cardinals, including a 449-foot leadoff shot, becoming the first player to homer three times in his first three major-league at-bats after a call-up from Triple-A Memphis.
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol will promote top prospect Joshua Báez from Triple-A Memphis to the majors for Saturday’s game vs. the Cubs, likely giving him an everyday outfield role. Báez has 34 homers, 90 RBIs and 21 steals in 461 Triple-A plate appearances this season, while slashing .256/.328/.573, though he carries swing-and-miss concerns that fantasy managers may tolerate for his power/speed upside.
Manchester United drew 1-1 with PSG after Amad won the ball to set up Bryan Mbeumo for United’s equaliser following an early PSG lead from Ibrahim Mbaye’s cross to Ayden Heaven. On his debut, Youri Tielemans earned 7.5, while Andrey Santos impressed most with a 9 as United’s midfield bossed proceedings; Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire also delivered strong showings. Tom Heaton started and left injured, with Dermot Mee coming on, and the second half produced chances but no winner.
Youri Tielemans’ 26-minute cameo on his Manchester United debut against Paris Saint-Germain suggested he can add composure, creativity and leadership to United’s midfield, linking well with Bruno Fernandes and easing pressure as the club move forward with his five-year deal; Marcus Rashford is set to rejoin the squad for the Ireland training camp.
Kevin Gausman dazzled in his Cubs debut, pitching seven innings of two‑run ball on 96 pitches with 4 strikeouts; the Cubs built a lead that held as Pedro Ramirez homered in the eighth and Jacob Webb locked down a 6-4 win over Kansas City, extending Chicago’s win streak to five.
Alexa Bliss returns to SmackDown with Lilly as Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill are involved in the segment, interrupted by Michin & B-Fab; NXT alum Tatum Paxley makes her main-roster debut with a top-rope splash, sparking talk of a possible new alliance as Bliss, Flair and Paxley celebrate in the ring.
Jessie Rosas, 23, gets a UFC debut on short notice at UFC Vegas 120 to face Miles Johns, after an 8-1 record with three straight wins. As Raul Rosas Jr.’s older brother, he welcomes the association but is determined to prove himself and build his own legacy, with family in his corner and hopes of sharing a card with Raul on future events like Noche UFC or UFC 331 in Los Angeles.
George Lombard Jr. made his Yankees debut at shortstop against the Cardinals, delivering a solo homer and a sharp defensive double play while his parents watched in the Bronx, marking a touching, productive night for a highly anticipated rookie amid a tight playoff race.
Tarik Skubal delivered six innings with six strikeouts in his Dodgers debut after being traded from Detroit, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks as LA lost 5-1 to the Cubs. He was pulled after 85 pitches, and a sixth-inning misplay helped spark the Cubs’ two-run frame. Skubal also addressed the trade chatter, saying any team could acquire him and defending the Dodgers’ winning culture.
Ariana Grande released her eighth full-length, Petal, on July 31, and it quickly topped the US iTunes Top Albums chart, marking one of only two top-10 debuts for that period; the album’s 12 tracks appear across editions, boosting multiple songs on the iTunes listings and signaling a strong early performance that could influence next week’s rankings.
Curtis Mead debuted for the Red Sox as the No. 2 hitter and at second base in a 4-2 win over Oakland, but his night ended in the fourth inning after being hit on the left hand by a fastball. He was the Red Sox’s first addition ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
RJ Harris made a splash in his UFC debut by stopping Alvin Hines with a right uppercut at 1:40 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 281 in Oklahoma City, extending his unbeaten record to 6-0 with five finishes. Hines, in his second UFC appearance, dropped to 0-2 in the promotion. Harris celebrated the win emotionally and revealed his wife is expecting their first child.
Leon Shahbazyan, Edmen Shahbazyan’s brother, made his UFC welterweight debut at UFC Vegas 119 but was knocked out in 23 seconds by Levan Chokheli, prompting fan backlash over his UFC-caliber and the UFC’s signing decision; the piece notes rough starts can turn around for some fighters.