BASEBALL: Nationals signing Valley View grad Max Kranick

Following a strong spring training, Kranick made the Mets’ Opening Day roster last season.

Royal Black

Another Valley View graduate, Mason Black, is back in the majors. The Kansas City Royals brought him up from Triple-A Omaha and have been using him out of the bullpen.

Black has not allowed a run in four appearances, giving up seven hits, walking two and striking out five in 4.2 innings. His first game with the Royals was April 19 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He gave up three hits and one walk in 1.2 scoreless innings, but recorded strikeouts of Ryan McMahon and Ben Rice. On April 25, he closed out a 12-1 Royals win over the Los Angeles Angels, allowing two hits and striking out two in the ninth inning. His last outing was Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to the Athletics. He pitched the ninth inning, giving up one hit.

Selected in the third round of the 2021 draft by the San Francisco Giants, Black made his major league debut May 6, 2024, in Philadelphia against the Phillies. He has a MLB career record of 1-5 with a 5.80 ERA, 17 walks and 41 strikeouts in 45 innings in 14 games (eight starts). He was acquired by the Royals from San Francisco in a trade for right-handed pitcher Logan Martin in Nov. 11.

Before his call-up, Black appeared in seven games with Omaha and was 2 for 2 in save opportunities with one hold, a 3.86 ERA, six strikeouts and five walks in 11.2 innings.

Captain Cesarini

Ryan Cesarini is off to a hot start with the Lake County Captains, High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The outfielder and Valley View grad has hit safely in 14 of his 16 games and is batting .286 (18 for 63) with four home runs, six runs, 12 RBIs and three stolen bases.

On Thursday against the Beloit Sky Carp, his three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning put Lake County in front, 4-2. The Captains wound up winning, 5-2. On Friday, he homered again as his solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning capped a 7-2 Lake County victory.

Retzbach rebound

It has been a slow start to the season for Adam Retzbach with the Chesapeake BaySox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. However, the Lakeland graduate showed signs of turning it around this week.

Against the Erie Seawolves on Wednesday, he had a two-run double in the top of the fourth inning and a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to help the BaySox win, 11-3. Then Thursday, he had a double in a 7-3 loss.

Retzbach is batting .154 (10 for 65) in 20 games with three doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs, 14 runs and 14 walks.

Ailing Wall

North Pocono grad Cory Wall started the season with the Rome Emperors, High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. He appeared in two games and threw three scoreless and hitless innings with one walk and four strikeouts.

Wall was placed on the 7-day injured list April 14. The next day, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list.