Solomon Bates

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Last week, Solomon Bates came out publicly as gay in an Instagram post (see below). His announcement came after his release by the San Francisco Giants. Just two days later, he signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association of Professional Baseball

Bates, a 25-year old pitcher from California, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2018 out of the University of Southern California. He was assigned to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the short season Norwest League in 2018 and then began the 2019 season with the class A August GreenJackets before moving to the San Jose Giants, San Francisco’s high-A affiliate at the time.

After a mid-2019 injury and the 2020 shutdown of the minor leagues (due to Covid-19) slowed his progression, Bates was assigned to the Giants’ new high-A affiliate, the Eugene Emeralds, for the 2021 season and promoted to the double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2022. After another stint on the Injured List and a rehab assignment with the Arizona Complex League, Bates returned to the Squirrels on June 28, 2022. In 23 games with Richmond this year, Bates had a 4-1 record with a 4.02 ERA. Nonetheless, the Giants released him on August 9.

Bates initially came out to his teammates in 2019. According to Sports Illustrated, Bates is the second minor leaguer to come out as gay. David Denson announced he was gay to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel while playing for the Helena Brewers.

Good luck in Sioux City, Solomon! Keep on breaking barriers!

Best of the Week: 8/7/2022 – 8/13/2022

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The return of Soto and Bell to Nats Park:

Soto and Bell’s Last Game As Nats

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Last Monday – the day before this year’s trade deadline – I went to the Nats game to see Max Scherzer pitch. Scherzer had been traded to the Dodgers last year at the trade deadline and was now with the Mets. It was nice having a start pitcher on the Nats, if just for awhile (Strasburg notwithstanding, who seems to be hurt more than he’s been healthy). Although the Nats had threatened to trade Juan Soto, and seemed to be actively shopping both Soto and Josh Bell, I was in denial. I was more focused on Scherzer last Monday, not even thinking that it could be Soto’s (and Bell’s) last day.

Nonetheless, I captured a few of the highlights of their last game with the Nationals before being traded to the San Diego Padres:

Juan Soto and Josh Bell pre-game.
Bell holds Pete Alonso on first; Soto greets the Met’s Wayne Kirby (and gives him a post-prostate cancer surgery hug) at first.

Soto touches home plate after his solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Vin Scully, Part 2

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[Note: There were so many tributes to Vin Scully over the past few days, that my original post from Thursday was too large. I’ve split it into two parts for easier viewing.]

More tributes to Vin Scully:

Vin Scully, Part 1

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[Note: There were so many tributes to Vin Scully over the past few days, that my original post from Thursday was too large. I’ve split it into two parts for easier viewing.]

As you probably know by now, Vin Scully, legendary baseball broadcaster, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94. There is very little I can add to the great tributes that have already been written about him. All I can do is share a small sample of the many condolences and memories posted by the sports world and others:

Best of the Week: 7/31/2022 – 8/6/2022

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Another upsetting trade deadline week for Os and Nats fans, but at least this happened: