Jeff Passan

Full episode: Junior Caminero on the folly of max contracts, why he’s getting involved in the labor fight, what it’s like to be traded, playing baseball in Australia and so much more. This is his first long interview in English, too. Impressive all-around. youtube.com/watch?v=S0-tT5…

News: MLB has support from owners to allow big leaguers to participate in the Olympics for the first time, but disagreements with the MLBPA have jeopardized the players' involvement in the 2028 LA Games, sources told ESPN. All the details, free at ESPN: espn.com/mlb/story/_/id…

Jordan Walker homered on his final six swings to win the 2026 Home Run Derby, a tremendous come-from-behind win that saw him beat hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber in front of a raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd. The format worked. The drama was tremendous. A very good Derby.

passan is a moron

The Home Run Derby finals are set: Kyle Schwarber vs. Jordan Walker.

On July 2, the Boston Red Sox were in last in the AL East, had the fourth-worst record in the league and were 6.5 games back of the final wild card spot with six teams to leap. Today, the Red Sox are a half-game behind Minnesota and Seattle for that final wild card spot.

The Chicago White Sox are choosing UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft, sources tell ESPN.

The Pirates, meanwhile, plan to play Jacob Gonzalez at shortstop, filling in for Konnor Griffin, who is out with a torn tendon in his thumb. Gonzalez OPS'd nearly 1.100 in AAA and has more than held his own against big league pitching. Eisert joins a Pirates pen in need of help.

The acquisition of the 34th pick pushes the White Sox's draft bonus pool to nearly $20.5 million. Chicago, tied for first in the AL Central, will have the No. 1 overall selection in the draft, which starts at 1:30 p.m. ET. They've still yet to decide who they plan to select.

Trade news: The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox for the 34th pick in tomorrow's draft and left-handed reliever Jaden Woods, sources tell ESPN. Deal is done.

Shohei Ohtani has spent the last month treating a sore left knee. It cost him his pitching start today, and it will keep him out of the All-Star Game next week. … espn.com/mlb/story/_/id…

The Red Sox are in the air! Just left Chicago. Finally.

@GoonersDream @MarinoMLB stop gooning and learn ball

@JeffPassan @MarinoMLB Bro I don’t even know what position he plays how about you include that.

BREAKING: Rookie standout JJ Wetherholt and the St. Louis Cardinals are in agreement on a long-term contract extension that will buy out multiple years of free agency, sources tell ESPN. Wetherholt, 23, has been tremendous and is the latest rookie to land a nine-figure contract.

NEWS: The Twins, in the thick of the playoff race and looking to beef up their bullpen, are acquiring RH Tommy Nance from the Blue Jays, sources tell me and @JeffPassan.

Free at ESPN: With 25 days until the trade deadline, a look at the best target for every contending team -- plus a deal that each contender dreams of making. espn.com/mlb/story/_/id…

Longtime pitching coach Phil Regan, whose career in baseball spanned seven decades, died today, his attorney, Matt Blit, told ESPN. Regan was 89. He managed the Baltimore Orioles for one year and served as pitching coach with the Mariners, Cubs, Indians and Mets, among others.

Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander will retire at the end of the 2026 season.

MLB's max-contract proposal would affect Junior Caminero as much as any player. So I asked him about it, and we got into a discussion about labor, the place of Latin American players in it, what salary caps do to players like LeBron James and why at 23 he wants to be involved.

Looks like an All-Star to me.

Junior Caminero told a catcher not to call a fastball again or he'd hit a home run. The catcher called a fastball. Caminero hit a home run. And then he flipped his bat more than 40 feet in the air. The full story behind the "I can't believe it" home run.