Max Meyer Marlins

Max Meyer Gets Marlins Promotion

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The Miami Marlins made fans, and perhaps more importantly, one of their top prospects very happy on Thursday night. The team posted a video of Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp manager Daren Brown relaying the news to Max Meyer that he’d received the call to pitch at the MLB level with the Marlins.

 

Meyer recently worked his way back from a ulnar nerve irritation injury before getting this well-desvered call. He will reportedly make the start for the Marlins on Saturday at home versus the Philadelphia Phillies, a team Miami’s chasing the in the Wild Card race.

Marlins (Finally) Call Up Max Meyer

The Marlins find themselves three games back of the final NL Wild Card spot after splitting a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. Miami (43-45) continues to deal with injuries and ineffectiveness among their pitchers outside of Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez, which only added to many Marlins fans clamoring for Meyer’s call. The timing here coincides with a pivotal three-game series with the Phillies before the All-Star break.

Max Meyer finally getting the call from the Marlins puts one of baseball’s top pitching prospects on display. MLB Pipeline lists Meyer as Miami’s No. 2 prospect, behind only 19-year-old phenom Eury Perez. He’s MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 prospect overall.

With Triple-A Jacksonville, Meyer dominated competition for stretches of the season. His first six starts the season, prior to the issues surrounding his injury, saw Meyer post a 1.72 ERA over 31.1 innings pitched. He allowed just six earned runs over those six starts, registering 39 strikeouts along the way. Meyer handled Atlanta Braves slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. during that stretch.

It’s clear that the ulnar nerve irritation, which eventually landed him on the IL, affected his next two starts. Meyer adjusted his approach and mechanics to deal with the discomfort, ultimately to disappointing results. But after a month to heal and recuperate, Meyer found his form once again with Jacksonville.

During his rehab stint in Jupiter, Meyer told MLB.com: “I’ll get my shot, and I’ll be up there for a long time.”

In the four starts before this Marlins promotion, Max Meyer looked ready. He went 18.1 innings with 21 strikeouts and just four earned runs (1.96 ERA). Opponents managed a meager .119 batting average against in those starts.

Meyer’s Path to the Majors

The Marlins selected Max Meyer with the third overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Minnesota. He was the first pitcher off the draft board and started his time in Miami’s system with Double-A Pensacola in 2021. (There was no minor league season in 2020.)

With the Blue Wahoos, Meyer earned the Double-A South Most Outstanding Pitcher award. He did so following a season where he registered a 2.41 ERA and 113 strikeouts over 101 innings.

In 2022, Meyer made 12 starts for Triple-A Jacksonville, posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 65 strikeouts over 58 innings. He averaged 10.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings, registering a 28.4 percent strikeout rate along the way. He induced ground balls at a 50 percent rate this season, and kept his walk rate to just 8.3 percent.

In his 35 minor league starts, Meyer pitched to a 2.77 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, recording 199 strikeouts in those games.

Meyer sports a repertoire of three pitches, including a dominant, wipe-out slider many scouts called the single best pitch in the 2020 draft. His fastball velocity sits in the mid-to-upper-90s and has touched triple digits. This third pitch is a changeup, which the organization wanted to see him develop ahead of his promotion.

There’s been some talk of Meyer ultimately being a bullpen arm, but the Marlins maintain they view him as a rotation piece.

“I see Max as a starting pitcher,” Marlins amateur scouting director DJ Svihlik said on Wednesday. “We knew when we selected Max, there was that reliever-starter conversation. Any starter of that caliber with that kind of two-pitch combination can go into the back of a bullpen.”

Svihlik did note: “I see Max as a playoff starter.”

A spot on Miami’s 40-man roster opened recently when the Baltimore Orioles claimed reliever Louis Head off waivers. The Marlins need to add Meyer to the 40-man prior to his scheduled start on Saturday.

More on Marlins Prospects

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Guide to Live Betting on the NFL

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NFL games are fast and furious, which make them ideal for live betting, especially when live bets are so easy to place. In fact, when it comes to betting, many see NFL games as perfect candidates for a wager. 

 

On its website, the NFL, reporting figures from the American Gaming Association, informed visitors in 2021 that more than 45 million Americans had said they planned to bet on NFL games this year. There are many different types of bets these punters lay down, however, we are here today for a rather engaging type of bet.

Below is a look at some of the different live bets you can place on the NFL, plus a discussion of tactics you can use for more successful live betting.

 

The different types of live bets you can make

 

Live betting offers a range of advantages, the main one being that you can follow the action and place the right bet at the right time. If you’re on the ball, you can also wager on a certain income before the sportsbook has time to change the odds. Here are some of the live bets you can make:

Money line

A money line bet is a straightforward bet on who you think will win the game. As the game goes on, you’ll see the money line change. The advantage of this type of bet is that you can place more than one bet as the game twists and turns. 

 

Point spreads

The point spread is the advantage or disadvantage the sportsbooks give to the opposing teams and the number is based on the margin of their victory or defeat within a specific timeframe. One of the advantages of point spread betting is that you’re betting against the spread, rather than on a straight winner, and it’s easier for an underdog to come through for you. You can also win more money because of this.

 

Second half

The second half line bet is an excellent way to mitigate risk. Suppose you’ve already laid your wager on the favourite, but now the underdog looks like it’s going to fight its way back and reduce the difference between the two teams. Your second half bet could be on the underdog, guaranteeing that one of your bets will win. 

 

Totals

This is a straightforward bet. You’re simply betting on whether the total number of points will reach a certain number or not, or fall short of it. Totals betting is a popular type of bet and keeps you in suspense until the end. The advantage of a totals bet is that you can bet on anything that’s countable, providing you with lots of flexibility in what you can bet on.

 

Parlays

You don’t have to bet on just one live game, however. If there’s more than one game being played, you can live bet on several at once, all as part of the same bet. If one bet fails, however, you lose the whole bet. It’s a risky type of bet but will pay handsomely if it comes off.

 

Tips for live betting on the NFL

Naturally, when you place a live bet, you want to win (or maybe you’re just in it for the excitement!). Here are some tips for live betting on the NFL:

 

Watch the game

This may sound elementary, but it needs to be said. You can’t tell if a team is mounting a comeback and make a live wager if you’re not actually following the game as it happens. If you can’t follow the game, place your bet before it starts.

 

Decide upon your strategy

One of the most important things you can do is determine your strategy before the game. Decide which bets you’re going to focus on. The common ones are the money line, the point spread and the totals. If you focus on multiple aspects of the game, it will be harder for you to spot the signs or events that will help you to gain an advantage when you place your bet. 

 

Know the team’s best quarters

Before the game, research into the teams’ games and see if you can identify a quarter in which they consistently seem to perform better in some way. This is useful knowledge you can use to your advantage when making a bet.

The NFL presents some amazing opportunities for live betting, and players can mix things up by betting on different aspects rather than just straight outcomes if they wish. Following the tips above will also help you to bet more successfully. Why not give them a try and see how they work for you?

5 Fun Facts About The Breeders’ Cup

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The Breeders’ Cup is without a doubt one of the most popular and famous events in all of horse racing. Sure, the Triple Crown is pretty big, but it doesn’t even touch on the infamy of the Breeders’ Cup. 

 

There have been so many horses and jockeys who have performed amazingly at this event, and we anticipate even more in the future as we start to consider 2022 breeders’ cup top picks. 

 

But, there is much to the history of the Breeders’ Cup, and much to know. So, before hooves hit the track, let’s indulge you. Saddle up and ride through these fun facts!

 

Our Fun Facts

 

Here are 5 fun facts about this incredible race that will have you galloping to place your next bet.

 

#1. It’s Always Been Held In The U.S., Except Once

 

The Breeders’ Cup has always been a U.S. event, although there was one year this is untrue for. It has only ever been held outside of the United States on one occasion since its inception. 

 

Back in 1996, the Breeders’ Cup was run in Canada, at the Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario. 

 

#2. The U.S. Has The Most Winners.

 

While horses come from all corners of the globe to compete in this race, the U.S. has seen the most winners. The U.S. is the homeland of a majority of Breeders’ Cup champions, having nearly 300 winners overall. 

 

Just behind the U.S. is Ireland, Great Britain, and then France, Argentina, Germany, Canada, and Japan. 

 

When we consider the places best known for horse racing, these countries are no surprise, but we should be proud of having the most winners! 

 

#3. Only One Horse Won The Classic 2 Times

 

Of the entire Breeders’ Cup the most elite race is the final, which is the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It is a grade 1 race that is for only thoroughbreds of 3 years plus. The horses need to run a distance of one and a quarter miles on a dirt track. 

 

There is only one horse that has won the Classic two times, named Tiznow. He won in 2000 and 2001. Tiznow was a legend, winning 8/15 of his starts and taking home nearly $6.5 million in winnings. 

 

Of course there have been other big wins for this horse, such as the Affirmed Handicap. But, this was probably his greatest.

 

#4. Santa Anita Has Held It The Most

 

The Breeders’ Cup is not a stationary event, it moves and is held in different locations. Of all the popular locations, it has been held in Santa Anita park the most. 

 

Santa Anita park is in Arcadia, in the state of California, and has held the Breeders’ Cup 10 times, which is more than any other track has. 

 

Churchill Downs has the second most with 9 Breeders’ Cup races. 

 

Belmont Park has also held this race, although it is better known for the Triple Crown. 

 

#5. The Biggest Winning Jockey

 

All jockeys are great but Mike Smith kind of takes the cake. He is one of the most famous jockeys in the world at this time. He has over 5,600 wins overall and has won 26 Breeders’ Cup Classic races. 

 

This is more than any other jockey, and also more than any horse. 

 

He has also won the Triple Crown in 2018 on Justify, and make himself known as the oldest jockey to ever win this race, he was 52 when he completed this feat. He is followed closely behind in this by Velazquez, Bailey, and Dettori. 

Victor Oladipo: The Secret Weapon Among Heat Speculation

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As the 2021 trade deadline passed by, the Heat pretty much labeled Victor Oladipo as the potential X-factor down the stretch of the season. The Heat made that move to put them over the top heading into the post-season, but that experiment only lasted 4 games before he went down with injury.

Consequently, he had a similar label this past year with his return date looming late in the season. The potential X-factor to put this Heat team over the top before their late run. He had some ups and downs, but ultimately came up big in his 8 regular season games and 15 playoff games.

But now we find ourselves in round 3, and could he still be that X-factor piece once again?

I believe even moreso.

In terms of on-court fit, it wasn’t the cleanest the entire playoff run. A bit of taking turns from lineups including Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler, while the Herro-Dipo bench insertion took some time getting used to.

When the three-point shot was falling, which wasn’t too often in the post-season for the entire Heat squad, it changed the dynamic of their half-court offense. We know what he can do as an attacker, and the isolation/shot creation flashes is what makes me think so highly of this re-signing.

But it isn’t just about his own skill and development, it’s about his role with the team that’s around him. And yet, that got me thinking, depending on every scenario out there for this Heat off-season, he plays a valuable role in each.

First off, when eyeing the big fish Kevin Durant, who is currently number one on the Miami Heat’s agenda, there are certainly many different packages being thrown around. A Tyler Herro headliner would be a tough sell for a player of that caliber, but if you throw the farm in a trial run to keep Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo intact with Durant coming in, that wouldn’t leave much else left on the roster.

At that point, it’s pretty much the least of your worries, but it would also hypothetically mean Victor Oladipo is still on the squad as the team’s 4th best player. He’d play the starting two-guard next to that big 3, in a pretty ideal role with much more versatility on the offensive end.

Since Oladipo can’t be traded until halfway through this upcoming season, many of these big off-season trades mean they still have that weapon locked into their current plan.

Moving onto the second bullet point on the Heat’s checklist, there lies Donovan Mitchell. Reports currently flying around that the Jazz are now fielding some offers for the young guard, while it’s well known that Mitchell would like to play in Miami if he were to leave Utah.

So, a deal would most likely look something like Herro, Robinson, young assets, and a whole lot of picks. As Herro would be on his way out, it’s important to note that Oladipo was on the sideline closely monitoring Herro’s 6th man of the year season, which parallels perfectly with the Dipo conversation.

“Hey Vic, we now want you to fully play the Herro role.” With Mitchell slotting into the starting lineup at that point, it would give Dipo the full reigns of the bench unit to run things the young crew of Vincent, Strus, Martin, etc. (Side note: I know many would be worried about starting back-court defense with Mitchell, but man that’s some defense off the bench.)

Flowing into the last option, it’s actually pretty similar to the Mitchell stuff. Let’s just say the other trade names don’t materialize and stay put for now, we now turn to internal developments.

In my eyes, Tyler Herro is the starting shooting guard of the Heat if he’s still on the team by training camp, but that’s not to say Victor Oladipo won’t put up a fight for that spot. Yes, the contract Miami gave him was his best option, but there’s an idea that he will be able to compete for big time roles such as a starting position.

Once again, I do believe it would go to Herro in that scenario, meaning Dipo can consequently have the 6th man reigns of full offensive control, which is solid in theory.

Scanning the Miami Heat’s current roster, one thing sticks out majorly: the team’s guard room is crowded. Too crowded.

Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Victor Oladipo, and potential summer league guys at the bottom of the roster like Marcus Garrett or Jamaree Bouyea on a two-way.

You may be saying, “Well it’s the same guard room as last year,” but that was only the case late in the season. To begin the year, Oladipo wasn’t healthy, Vincent and Strus types weren’t fully trusted, and Robinson was the comfortable starter.

Things change, and I expect things to change yet again. Just speculating, but that list of guards is a clear signal to me that something is coming in some capacity.

And whatever that may be, Oladipo will have a clear-cut role instead of the jumbled up confusion from this past season. Dipo will be meeting with Coach Spo after Summer League to talk about things like this, and that might just make all the difference in whatever direction the team elects to go.

 

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Miami Hurricanes land four-star LB Raul Aguirre, add to loaded class

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The Miami Hurricanes had a big Tuesday as they were able to land a commitment from 2023 four-star linebacker Raul Aguirre.

Aguirre  is the ninth overall linebacker in the 2023 class, and the ninth overall player in his class from the state of Georgia per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He had a variety of offers on the table, some from the best programs in the country. He had offers from Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Arkansas in addition to Miami.

Aguirre measures in at six-foot-two, 220 pounds. He was recruited to the program by Charlie Strong.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

He will be able to bring sure tackling and good instincts to the Miami defense. As soon as the football is snapped, he is immediately able to identify the ball carrier and make a play. This allows plays to be stopped before they even develop.

One of Aguirre’s best strengths is run defense. In red zone situations, he can fill gaps quickly and stop running backs from gaining extra yards.

Overall, Miami is getting a hard-hitter and a player that is quick. He is not a one-dimensional player and that’s exactly what you need in today’s game. He is a good fit for the game of football today. Linebackers now have to be fast and quick in addition to hard-hitters, Aguirre has all of those traits.

This has been a very strong month for the Miami Hurricanes in terms of recruiting. Miami now has the seventh overall class in the country per the 247Sports Team Rankings. They have been able to do a good job of getting impact recruits on both sides of the football.

Miami has landed four recruits in the month of July, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them nab at least one more. The momentum in recruiting is strong right now, and the program has done a good job capitalizing on it.

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Five-star edge defender Jayden Wayne commits

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The good news continues on the recruiting trail continued for the Miami Hurricanes. They landed five-star edge defender Jayden Wayne on Saturday.

Wayne is the fifth overall edge defender in the 2023 class, and the 10th overall player in his class from the state of Florida the 247Sports Rankings. He has a numerical ranking of 95.

He was recruited to Miami by co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Rod Wright. Defensive line coach Joe Salave’a was the secondary recruiter.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

Wayne will bring a massive boost to the Miami Hurricanes edge-rushing presence. He measures in at six-foot-four, 270 pounds already. He is extremely quick, and is a nightmare for offensive lines to guard. His speed burst is something that is the most noticeable when looking at his highlights. As soon as the ball is snapped, it’s like he is shot out of a cannon. He immediately uses that quickness to wrap up the quarterback.

The edge rusher position is one that has become a stand-alone position. Nowadays, elite programs have a dominant edge rusher. With how offensive- minded the game of football is today, it’s a necessity. Miami wants to take the next step. They got a player that can help them do that.

Edge rusher has been a priority for the Miami Hurricanes. We saw them rectify the problem for this year with a couple of transfers, and a promising recruit in Cyrus Moss. Wayne’s commitment takes it to a whole other level. This is a player that can be a staple of the defense for years to come.

Furthermore, this speaks to the recruiting job that the coaching staff has been able to do. They identified a weakness, and they have filled it. Not only have they filled it, they have landed an impact player.

Miami now has the ninth overall recruiting class in the country per the 247Sports Team Rankings. Wayne gives Miami their third five-star commitment in the class.

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5 Takeaways from the Marlins Series Split vs. Angels

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The Miami Marlins (39-41) had their six-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Angels (38-45) came to play for a cross-league series.

Miami split the two game series, winning Game 1 by a score of 2-1 and losing Game 2 by a score of 5-2. 

The stars were showcased during those two games as a couple of perennial all-stars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, came to town to play against the fish. 

The seats at LoanDepot Park were filled up which was a surprise for a midweek series. But also, how could you not watch these once in a lifetime players in person? There were many Japanese fans that showed out to the park to not only watch Ohtani, but also because the Marlins were celebrating Japanese Heritage Night during Tuesday’s game. 

Although the Marlins didn’t get the series sweep, it was still a very entertaining couple of games to watch from both sides.

Here are five takeaways from the series.

 

Sandy paints another masterpiece

Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara had another one of his lights out performances.

Alcantara took the mound in the first game of the two-game series and he knew that this wasn’t going to be particularly easy. 

Although Alcantara was facing an Angels offense that suffered the most strikeouts per game in the MLB at 9.66, he still had to get through Trout and Ohtani. 

Of course for Alcantara, that was not a problem. 

Alcantara ended up having arguably his best outing of his career where he pitched through eight innings, gave up just two hits, and struck out 10. Out of those 10 strikeouts, two were to Trout. Ohtani didn’t have a hit as well against Alcantara. 

If you’re fooling those two talents even during the third time through the order, then that’s when you know there’s something special. 

Alcanatra continues to make his case for the National League Cy Young Award and he is pretty much the favorite at this point in time if he keeps putting up these incredible numbers. 

 

Garrett Cooper is slowly becoming one of baseball’s best hitters

Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper is the definition of consistent. 

Game after game, Cooper has been big for Miami when they needed that big hit or a ball in play.

And the numbers show that he’s been getting better and better as the season progresses. Cooper’s batting average has increased to an incredible .311 which ranks as the 12th-highest in baseball. His on-base percentage of .377 puts him ninth in the National League. 

Although Cooper didn’t have a great two games, only producing one hit, he did come up clutch when the Marlins needed him. 

In the bottom of the third inning during Game 1, Cooper hit a 3-2 pitch just over the left field wall for a home run that gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead. 

During the first inning of Game 2, Cooper hit a sacrifice fly that also gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead. 

It just goes to show that when the Marlins need him, Cooper produces the big hit. 

 

Marlins shutdown Trout

Miami didn’t let Trout get hot during his short stay in Miami. 

The three-time MVP was just 1-for-7 and struck out four times during the two-game series. 

It’s definitely odd to see a player of that caliber struggle that much over those couple of games. It’s like he couldn’t see the ball well at LoanDepot Park, but he did say the same exact thing in Houston during their last series where he struggled to hit the ball as well. 

Maybe it has nothing to do with Miami’s pitchers and has more to do with himself. Miami’s lucky that they got scheduled to play the Angels during a time where Trout is cold because if he was playing like his usual self, I don’t see how the Marlins split the series. 

I’m not discrediting the Marlins pitching staff by any means, but seeing a player like Trout have those struggles at the plate makes you wonder how much of a factor is his mental approach as opposed to the pitcher he’s going up against. 

 

There’s no answers when facing Ohtani

The Marlins offense looked clueless against Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani. I mean CLUELESS.

The only time the batters really got to Ohtani was in the first inning where they racked up a couple of hits and ended the inning with a 1-0 lead.

At that point, many were probably thinking that the offense had a plan against Ohtani and maybe they could get him out of the game before six innings.

Well, the opposite of that ended up happening. 

Ohtani pitched seven innings and struck out 10 batters while allowing just two hits and no earned runs. During that span, Ohtani managed to retire 15 straight Marlins hitters. 

I mean, Ohtani’s tough for a hitter to figure out. He’s got five pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, cutter, and splitter. 

The splitter is his strikeout pitch and is arguably one of the best in baseball. Hitters are batting just .115 against that pitch and it doesn’t help that Ohtani also throws a 100 mph fastball. Having those two combined, along with the curveball and slider, makes it tough for any hitter to have success against this generational talent. 

“He never seems to get rattled”, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about Ohtani. “Pretty impressive tonight seeing him for the first time.”

 

The winning streak comes to an end 

Miami’s winning streak has sadly come to a close. 

Their six-game winning streak started back when they won against St. Louis, the Washington Nationals for four games, and the Angels during the first game of this series. 

Although their winning streak came to an end, there’s still a ton of positive things that came out of it. 

First, Miami has gained some serious ground in the race for that final Wild Card spot. The Marlins are now just three games back of that spot which is crazy because last week, all people were thinking was to trade our players and start fresh for the next season. 

Will the Marlins actually become buyers at the trade deadline? It’s something that Marlins fans aren’t very used to seeing. 

After the winning streak came to an end, Miami is just two games back of .500. A record they haven’t seen since April. 

But, if the Marlins want to make it to the postseason, they’ll have to start beating teams that are above .500. Because that’s where the real test is at. And they definitely can’t afford losing a series against a poor team. 

Miami’s up for a big test as they head to New York against the Mets (51-31) for a four-game series from Thursday through Sunday. 

 

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Miami Heat Summer League Preview: Who’s got a Shot?

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“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is the famous saying about Sin City. But when we’re talking about Summer League basketball, what happens in Vegas can determine whether or not you have an NBA job next season. Myself and Tony Schwartz will be in the desert to cover the Heat during the Vegas Summer League so stay tuned for more updates this weekend. Here’s a quick look at the Heat’s roster heading into Vegas: 

 

Tier 1: Guaranteed Roster Spots: 

Nikola Jovic – After a slow start, Jovic shined in the Heat’s win over the Warriors on Tuesday. As expected for the 19 year old rookie, the game seemed to fast for him at times. His 25 point (5/7 3PT) and 9 rebound explosion showed the promise that Miami drafted him for. It’s just one game though, so continuing to show growth in Vegas where the competition level will rise is important momentum heading into his first season in Miami. For more on Jovic, check out Brady Hawk’s film breakdown. 

Haywood Highsmith – Highsmith had a solid showing at the California Classic – averaging 10.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.0 APG and 1.7 SPG. Most importantly, he showed the shooting ability that should keep him on the roster (41.7% on 4 attempts from behind the arc). While I’ve listed him on the “guaranteed” tier, Highsmith’s contract becomes fully guaranteed on July 15th so keep an eye on that date to see if any of the prospects below (or on another team) might impress enough to steal his roster spot. 

Omer Yurtseven – One of the stars of last summer’s team, Omer has yet to appear as he competes with the Turkish National Team. He is expected to be in Las Vegas but may not actually appear in any of the games. If he does suit up, it would provide the Heat an offensive hub and rebounding threat that does not exist on the rest of the roster. Players returning to summer league for the second year usually stand out – so best case scenario is Omer appears to “not belong” in this setting. 

 

Tier 2: Two-Way Contracts: 

Mychal Mulder – After a disappointing California Classic, Mulder will likely need to show shooting progression to maintain his two-way spot. He had the “green light” from Malik Allen to fire from behind the arc, averaging nearly 8 three-point attempts per game. But to be labeled as a “shooter” and only connect on 21.7% over three games is not promising. I believe he will shoot better in Vegas, but at 28 years old, what is his upside beyond shooting? 

Javonte Smart – Smart also was not overly impressive in the California Classic. In the first two games, Smart averaged 12.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 1.5 SPG. While he finished 5th overall in scoring during the showcase, his 27.3% field goal percentage and 21.4% three point percentage leaves plenty to be desired. The Heat’s offense did not break 70 points in either of

Smart’s two games, and without him Tuesday, the offense was much more efficient, powered by Allman Jr. and Bouyea at point guard. 

 

Tier 3: Emerging Prospects To Watch 

Kyle Allman, Jr. – After three games in California, you could argue Allman has been as good as anyone not on a guaranteed contract. With a few good games in Vegas, he could be the favorite to push into the two-way conversation. After going undrafted and spending three seasons overseas, the soon-to-be 25 year old Allman brings a mature game at point guard. His athleticism brings rim pressure that is scarce on the current Heat roster. He averaged a team-best 6 assists per game in California, highlighted by a 10 assist game against the Warriors on Tuesday. While creating for others, he also contributed 9.0 PPG and shot 35.7% on nearly 5 three point attempts per game. 

Jamaree Bouyea – I spoke about Bouyea in my Draft Preview article and he fit the description in the California Classic. Like Allman, they have downhill ability to get into the paint with their athleticism. Bouyea 6-7 wingspan has been on display with craft finishes and as an active defender. Bouyea finished the three game showcase with 13 points and 6 assists against the Warriors. While his shooting leaves plenty to be desired, his all-around point guard skills have emerged as someone who could compete with Smart and Allman Jr. for a two-way roster spot. 

Orlando Robinson – While Allman Jr. and Bouyea have shined at the guard position, Robinson has emerged as the Heat’s best interior player – averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds in California. At 6-11, 244 lbs, with a 7-4 wingspan, his measurables stand out. He’s more Kelly Olynyk than a traditional center, displaying promising passing and perimeter shooting abilities in college. He isn’t an elite athlete like Bryson Williams, but his skill level is much higher. If Omer returns to play in Vegas, it will diminish his minutes significantly but he should still have an opportunity to show his potential to stick around with the Heat on an exhibit 10 or two-way contract. 

Bryson Williams – While I don’t necessarily think Bryson is someone who will steal a two-way spot, I think he’s a strong possibility for an exhibit 10 contract. Physically, Bryson might be the most imposing athlete Miami has outside of Bam Adebayo. At 6-9, 237 lbs, with shoulders that barely fit inside of a standard door frame, he has drawn comparisons to a young Udonis Haslem 

by David Thorpe on the True Hoop podcast. His stats didn’t jump off the page in the California Classic, only 3.5 PPG and 1.5 RPG, but he seemed to display the grit Miami loves. As a developmental prospect, I’d personally love to see him stick around in Sioux Falls this season. 

Marcus Garrett – Last summer, his game-changing defensive abilities earned him a two-way spot on the Heat’s roster until he was replaced after midseason wrist surgery. Garrett is still recovering and his availability in Vegas is still in question. If he suits up, he would immediately be impactful on defense. The question will be whether he’s grown on offense over the past year to compliment his strengths. The Heat obviously saw something in him last summer, so he’s someone to keep an eye on regardless if he’s able to play this week.

 

Tier 4: Sioux Falls or Bust 

Jamal Cain – Only appearing in one game (8 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL) in California, the sample size on Cain is limited. Greg Sylvander reported that Miami had interest in him pre-draft, so he is someone who we should keep tabs on. The athletic scorer will have to show more in Vegas in order to push himself into the conversation of making the real roster. 

Jalen Adaway – Only averaging eight minutes in his two games in California, Adaway has a pretty limited statistical profile. However, his athleticism guarding full court, attacking the glass, and seemingly playing harder than everyone else on the floor could be something to watch in Vegas. He’ll need more minutes in order to make a significant impact and make the roster, but he could be someone to store in Sioux Falls and develop. 

Bryce Hamilton – Another player who has had limited opportunities so far, but Hamilton was solid on Tuesday with 9 points and 7 rebounds. He led the Mountain West in scoring last season, so if he can capitalize in his minutes in Vegas, he could be someone to monitor for Sioux Falls this season. 

Aaron Wheeler – Did not appear during the California Classic.

 

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Inter Miami CF

How Will Inter Miami Line Up With Alejandro Pozuelo?

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Inter Miami has made some noise in the summer transfer window.

According to various reports, 30-year-old attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo will be heading to South Florida in a trade from Toronto FC for $150,000 in allocation money.

What comes as a massive addition to the squad at a critical moment in the playoff race, Inter Miami will have an MVP-caliber player at their disposal. Not only does Pozuelo bring MLS experience, but he also is the progressive passer that Miami’s midfield has been searching for since the club’s inception.

With a potential midfield partnership alongside Jean Mota and Gregore, suddenly, Miami’s playoff hopes are looking a little more likely.

Let’s see how the Herons will line up with the Spaniard.

How Will He Fit In?

Phil Neville lines up Inter Miami in a traditional 4-3-3. While this system normally doesn’t require an out and out number ’10,’ with Inter Miami, at least one central midfielder pushes up into the forward line to work in the half spaces:

Bryce Duke has been the go-to player for Neville in this position. The 21-year-old has steadily shown his quality and playmaking ability as Miami’s main creative presence through the middle.

When Pozuelo dons the pink and black, he will – presumably, take the place of Duke in the midfield three. Playing just in front of the more defensive duo of Mota and Gregore, the Spaniard will have the freedom to roam and combine with the front three of Miami’s attacking trident.

According to FBref, Pozuelo is in the 94th percentile of progressive passes per 90 with 7.05 and also in the 95th percentile of passes into the final third with 5.38.

With players like Ariel Lassiter, Robert Taylor, Indiana Vassilev, and Emerson Rodriguez on the wings, Pozuelo’s slick passing and ball retention will be key to Miami’s offensively expansive, yet defensively disciplined style.

Being able to hit players running the channels on the touchline with his vision and ball skills, will give the South Florida club even more potency on counters:

This season, Miami has oftentimes relinquished the ball in favor of defensive compactness. Though Neville has spoken about wanting to keep more possession, they haven’t quite found a way to be able to do that consistently.

Pozuelo is adept at controlling the rhythm of the game and will look to retain possession instead of forcing a pass or shot that may not be on:
Inter Miami has scored the third least goals in all of MLS. For a team looking to kick that habit, there couldn’t have been a better player to bring into the club than Alejandro Pozuelo. He’s a no-risk, high-reward signing, and gives Miami some much-needed offensive firepower as they sit on the playoff bubble.

Bravo, Chris Henderson.

Miami Hurricanes: Francis Mauigoa commitment is a game-changer

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It has been an incredible week for the Miami Hurricanes in terms of recruiting, and that continued on Monday afternoon. With many celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks, Miami created some fireworks of their own. They landed 2023 offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

Mauigoa is the top offensive tackle in the 2023 class, and the third overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports composite rankings. He had several offers on the table, including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and USC. However, he elected to choose Miami.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

Measuring in at six-foot-five, 330 pounds, he will be able to bring a physical presence to the offensive line. He is absolutely intimidating for opposing defensive lineman, and he has everything that Miami is looking for at the position.

As soon as the ball is snapped, Mauigoa is able to extend his hands and quickly get the advantage on his man. He is able to finish his blocks, and create lanes for a running back. His ability to finish blocks is particularly helpful for an east-west running back that can bounce to the outside. He stays engaged in the play until it is completely over. Not only does he stay engaged,

This is the type of lineman that the Miami Hurricanes have been looking for. This coaching staff wants physical lineman in the program. Working with offensive line coach Alex Mirabal should help Mauigoa. Mauigoa fits the exact profile that the program has been looking for in a lineman recruit.

Mauigoa is a game-changing recruit for the program, and it puts them firmly inside the top 10. They now have the eighth overall recruiting class in the country per the 247Sports Team Rankings. Miami is now entering the territory that sees them among the elite in all of college football in terms of recruiting for 2023.

Obviously, we want to see the results on the field. However, the 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class is showing a ton of promise. It’s been a wild couple of weeks for the Hurricanes in terms of recruiting. We shall see if there are more surprises along the way.

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