Deadspin | MLB roundup: Mourning Angels produce shutout, end Padres’ win streak 
Apr 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels players take a moment of silence to honor former player Garret Anderson before a game against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe homered as the Los Angeles Angels, only hours after announcing the death of franchise icon Garret Anderson, snapped San Diego’s eight-game winning streak with an 8-0 victory on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Angels starter Jose Soriano (5-0) allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out eight, lowering major-league-leading ERA to 0.28.
Nolan Schanuel went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run for Los Angeles, which finished with 13 hits. Adam Frazier had double, a single and two runs, Jo Adell hit a two-run double and Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza also had two hits for the Angels, who won for the third time in four games.
Padres starter Matt Waldron (0-1) gave up six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. San Diego managed a total of three hits of four Angels pitchers.
Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 (10 innings)
Masataka Yoshida knocked a pinch-hit, walk-off single in the 10th inning, leading Boston to a win over visiting Detroit.
Yoshida’s hit through the right side of the infield drove in Jarren Duran, the automatic runner on second base to begin the extra frame. Duran had advanced to third on a wild pitch by Tigers reliever Will Vest (1-3).
After starter Ranger Suarez tossed eight innings of two-hit ball, Red Sox relievers Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock (1-1) each pitched a scoreless frame. Casey Mize tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings for the Tigers, whose six-game winning streak ended.
Reds 2, Twins 1
Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run double and Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to lead Cincinnati to a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Williamson (2-1), a Fairmont, Minn., native, threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed three hits and one run. Suarez had two of Cincinnati’s four hits. Emilio Pagan tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to register his sixth save.
Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (2-2) gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings. Josh Bell went 2-for-4 for the Twins, who only had five hits.
Orioles 6, Guardians 4
Jeremiah Jackson hit a three-run homer off Connor Brogdon as part of a six-run eighth inning, rallying Baltimore past host Cleveland.
Jackson’s fifth home run of the season came with two outs, capping a wild turn of events that saw the Orioles score six times off relievers Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski and Brogdon on two hits, three walks and a hit by pitch. Cleveland had taken a 4-0 lead in the seventh on Daniel Schneemann’s second career grand slam.
Rico Garcia (2-0) was awarded the win for working a clean eighth inning while Ryan Helsley earned his sixth save in six opportunities. Sabrowski (0-1) allowed two runs and recorded two outs.
Braves 9, Phillies 0
Martin Perez tossed six scoreless innings and Austin Riley hit a pair of opposite-field home runs as visiting Atlanta smashed Philadelphia.
After getting designated for assignment and re-signed by the Braves earlier in the week, Perez (1-1) allowed just four hits. Jose Suarez earned a three-inning save. Dominic Smith’s solo shot in the third made it 7-0, and Michael Harris II and Riley tacked on homers in the eighth and ninth.
The Braves have won seven of nine while the Phillies have dropped seven of nine. Philadelphia managed only six hits, including three by Bryce Harper and two by J.T. Realmuto. Taijuan Walker (1-3) was charged with seven runs and seven hits in four frames.
Cubs 12, Mets 4
Moises Ballesteros hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning for host Chicago, which downed free-falling New York.
The Cubs have scored at least 10 runs in each of their last three games, all victories — the longest streak for the club since Sept. 13-15, 2019. The Mets have lost nine straight, a span in which they’ve been outscored 56-16.
Chicago’s Nico Hoerner went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer as he raised his average to .342. Ian Happ also hit a two-run homer, while Ballesteros, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch had two hits apiece. Edward Cabrera (2-0) gave up three runs on eight hits over six innings.
Pirates 5, Rays 1
Bubba Chandler allowed one run over six innings and host Pittsburgh totaled 11 hits to secure a victory over Tampa Bay.
Chandler (1-1) gave up three hits to the Rays, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz hit a two-run homer and Marcell Ozuna, Spencer Horwitz and Brandon Lowe each had three hits. Lowe had two doubles and two RBIs against his former team.
Junior Caminero drove in the Rays’ lone run in the sixth with a game-tying, two-out single. Nick Martinez (0-1) threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits.
Giants 10, Nationals 5
Heliot Ramos hit a three-run homer, Drew Gilbert and Casey Schmitt added solo shots and San Francisco beat host Washington.
Matt Chapman had three hits and drove in three runs for the Giants, who have won two straight. Logan Webb (2-2) went six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. After scoring three or fewer runs in five straight games, the Giants jumped in front with a six-run second inning.
James Wood and Daylen Lile homered and Jose Tena had three hits for the Nationals. Washington’s Zack Littell (0-2) gave up eight runs on 11 hits over four innings.
Yankees 4, Royals 2
Ryan McMahon hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and New York earned a victory over visiting Kansas City.
Ben Rice, who hit a two-run shot in the fourth, kept the inning going with a two-out single, and McMahon snapped a 2-2 tie with his shot off Alex Lange (0-1). New York’s Camilo Doval (1-0) had allowed a tying homer by Vinnie Pasquantino. David Bednar notched his sixth save.
Pasquantino also had an RBI groundout for the Royals, who have lost five straight and eight of 10. Starter Michael Wacha allowed two runs on three hits in six innings.
Brewers 7, Marlins 5 (10 innings)
Garrett Mitchell drove in three, including a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning, as Milwaukee defeated host Miami.
The Brewers, who have won three straight games, scored three times in the 10th against Calvin Faucher (1-2). Abner Uribe (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning. Trevor Megill handled the bottom of the 10th, yielding one run, for his fourth save. Jake Bauers went 3-for-4 and scored three runs.
Brewers starter Coleman Crow (two runs, 5 1/3 innings) made his major league debut, and he took a no-decision despite leaving the game with a lead. Miami’s Otto Lopez hit a two-run homer, a triple and a single. Agustin Ramirez added a game-tying double in the eighth.
Cardinals 9, Astros 4
Nolan Gorman clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give St. Louis plenty of breathing room as it claimed a win at Houston.
Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy (2-2) surrendered three homers but just those three runs. He allowed five hits across five innings. Ivan Herrera homered and drove in three.
Christian Vazquez and Yordano Alvarez went deep for the Astros. Peter Lambert (0-1) gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out eight in five innings.
Dodgers 7, Rockies 1
Max Muncy homered twice and hit an RBI double as Los Angeles defeated Colorado on a chilly night in Denver.
Shohei Ohtani had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fifth-longest run in Dodgers history. Tyler Glasnow (2-0) allowed just two hits and a run in seven strong innings. Will Smith and Freddie Freeman had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has won four in a row.
Mickey Moniak doubled and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who have lost seven of their past eight games. Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1) allowed five runs on nine hits in four innings.
Diamondbacks 6, Blue Jays 3
Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth straight start, and Arizona beat Toronto in Phoenix.
Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-high seven innings. He has one fewer win this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.
Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12. Toronto’s Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings.
White Sox 9, Athletics 2
Munetaka Murakami launched a towering grand slam and Davis Martin tossed seven solid innings to help Chicago trounce the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Murakami and Andrew Benintendi (one RBI) each had three hits and two runs as Chicago matched its highest-scoring output of the season. The White Sox had scored the second-fewest runs in the majors (60) entering the contest. Martin (3-1) gave up one run and three hits in seven innings.
Nick Kurtz and Andy Ibanez drove in runs for the A’s, who lost their second straight game. Aaron Civale (2-1) allowed five runs and 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Rangers 5, Mariners 0
Brandon Nimmo homered leading off the game and six pitchers combined for a six-hitter and Texas improved to 4-0 this season against host Seattle.
Reliever Gavin Collyer (1-0), a rookie right-hander, pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn his first major league victory in just his second appearance. Texas has won four of its last six, while Seattle has lost four in a row.
Nimmo jumped on a 2-0 fastball from Logan Gilbert (1-3) in the first, lining it over the right field fence. Rangers starter Jacob deGrom didn’t allow a run, but an elevated pitch count (88) knocked him out after four innings.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Mourning #Angels #produce #shutout #Padres #win #streak
Apr 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels players take a moment of silence to honor former player Garret Anderson before a game against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe homered as the Los Angeles Angels, only hours after announcing the death of franchise icon Garret Anderson, snapped San Diego’s eight-game winning streak with an 8-0 victory on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Angels starter Jose Soriano (5-0) allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out eight, lowering major-league-leading ERA to 0.28.
Nolan Schanuel went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run for Los Angeles, which finished with 13 hits. Adam Frazier had double, a single and two runs, Jo Adell hit a two-run double and Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza also had two hits for the Angels, who won for the third time in four games.
Padres starter Matt Waldron (0-1) gave up six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. San Diego managed a total of three hits of four Angels pitchers.
Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 (10 innings)
Masataka Yoshida knocked a pinch-hit, walk-off single in the 10th inning, leading Boston to a win over visiting Detroit.
Yoshida’s hit through the right side of the infield drove in Jarren Duran, the automatic runner on second base to begin the extra frame. Duran had advanced to third on a wild pitch by Tigers reliever Will Vest (1-3).
After starter Ranger Suarez tossed eight innings of two-hit ball, Red Sox relievers Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock (1-1) each pitched a scoreless frame. Casey Mize tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings for the Tigers, whose six-game winning streak ended.
Reds 2, Twins 1
Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run double and Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to lead Cincinnati to a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Williamson (2-1), a Fairmont, Minn., native, threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed three hits and one run. Suarez had two of Cincinnati’s four hits. Emilio Pagan tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to register his sixth save.
Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (2-2) gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings. Josh Bell went 2-for-4 for the Twins, who only had five hits.
Orioles 6, Guardians 4
Jeremiah Jackson hit a three-run homer off Connor Brogdon as part of a six-run eighth inning, rallying Baltimore past host Cleveland.
Jackson’s fifth home run of the season came with two outs, capping a wild turn of events that saw the Orioles score six times off relievers Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski and Brogdon on two hits, three walks and a hit by pitch. Cleveland had taken a 4-0 lead in the seventh on Daniel Schneemann’s second career grand slam.
Rico Garcia (2-0) was awarded the win for working a clean eighth inning while Ryan Helsley earned his sixth save in six opportunities. Sabrowski (0-1) allowed two runs and recorded two outs.
Braves 9, Phillies 0
Martin Perez tossed six scoreless innings and Austin Riley hit a pair of opposite-field home runs as visiting Atlanta smashed Philadelphia.
After getting designated for assignment and re-signed by the Braves earlier in the week, Perez (1-1) allowed just four hits. Jose Suarez earned a three-inning save. Dominic Smith’s solo shot in the third made it 7-0, and Michael Harris II and Riley tacked on homers in the eighth and ninth.
The Braves have won seven of nine while the Phillies have dropped seven of nine. Philadelphia managed only six hits, including three by Bryce Harper and two by J.T. Realmuto. Taijuan Walker (1-3) was charged with seven runs and seven hits in four frames.
Cubs 12, Mets 4
Moises Ballesteros hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning for host Chicago, which downed free-falling New York.
The Cubs have scored at least 10 runs in each of their last three games, all victories — the longest streak for the club since Sept. 13-15, 2019. The Mets have lost nine straight, a span in which they’ve been outscored 56-16.
Chicago’s Nico Hoerner went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer as he raised his average to .342. Ian Happ also hit a two-run homer, while Ballesteros, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch had two hits apiece. Edward Cabrera (2-0) gave up three runs on eight hits over six innings.
Pirates 5, Rays 1
Bubba Chandler allowed one run over six innings and host Pittsburgh totaled 11 hits to secure a victory over Tampa Bay.
Chandler (1-1) gave up three hits to the Rays, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz hit a two-run homer and Marcell Ozuna, Spencer Horwitz and Brandon Lowe each had three hits. Lowe had two doubles and two RBIs against his former team.
Junior Caminero drove in the Rays’ lone run in the sixth with a game-tying, two-out single. Nick Martinez (0-1) threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits.
Giants 10, Nationals 5
Heliot Ramos hit a three-run homer, Drew Gilbert and Casey Schmitt added solo shots and San Francisco beat host Washington.
Matt Chapman had three hits and drove in three runs for the Giants, who have won two straight. Logan Webb (2-2) went six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. After scoring three or fewer runs in five straight games, the Giants jumped in front with a six-run second inning.
James Wood and Daylen Lile homered and Jose Tena had three hits for the Nationals. Washington’s Zack Littell (0-2) gave up eight runs on 11 hits over four innings.
Yankees 4, Royals 2
Ryan McMahon hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and New York earned a victory over visiting Kansas City.
Ben Rice, who hit a two-run shot in the fourth, kept the inning going with a two-out single, and McMahon snapped a 2-2 tie with his shot off Alex Lange (0-1). New York’s Camilo Doval (1-0) had allowed a tying homer by Vinnie Pasquantino. David Bednar notched his sixth save.
Pasquantino also had an RBI groundout for the Royals, who have lost five straight and eight of 10. Starter Michael Wacha allowed two runs on three hits in six innings.
Brewers 7, Marlins 5 (10 innings)
Garrett Mitchell drove in three, including a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning, as Milwaukee defeated host Miami.
The Brewers, who have won three straight games, scored three times in the 10th against Calvin Faucher (1-2). Abner Uribe (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning. Trevor Megill handled the bottom of the 10th, yielding one run, for his fourth save. Jake Bauers went 3-for-4 and scored three runs.
Brewers starter Coleman Crow (two runs, 5 1/3 innings) made his major league debut, and he took a no-decision despite leaving the game with a lead. Miami’s Otto Lopez hit a two-run homer, a triple and a single. Agustin Ramirez added a game-tying double in the eighth.
Cardinals 9, Astros 4
Nolan Gorman clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give St. Louis plenty of breathing room as it claimed a win at Houston.
Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy (2-2) surrendered three homers but just those three runs. He allowed five hits across five innings. Ivan Herrera homered and drove in three.
Christian Vazquez and Yordano Alvarez went deep for the Astros. Peter Lambert (0-1) gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out eight in five innings.
Dodgers 7, Rockies 1
Max Muncy homered twice and hit an RBI double as Los Angeles defeated Colorado on a chilly night in Denver.
Shohei Ohtani had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 49 games, the fifth-longest run in Dodgers history. Tyler Glasnow (2-0) allowed just two hits and a run in seven strong innings. Will Smith and Freddie Freeman had two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which has won four in a row.
Mickey Moniak doubled and scored the lone run for the Rockies, who have lost seven of their past eight games. Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1) allowed five runs on nine hits in four innings.
Diamondbacks 6, Blue Jays 3
Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth straight start, and Arizona beat Toronto in Phoenix.
Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-high seven innings. He has one fewer win this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.
Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12. Toronto’s Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings.
White Sox 9, Athletics 2
Munetaka Murakami launched a towering grand slam and Davis Martin tossed seven solid innings to help Chicago trounce the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Murakami and Andrew Benintendi (one RBI) each had three hits and two runs as Chicago matched its highest-scoring output of the season. The White Sox had scored the second-fewest runs in the majors (60) entering the contest. Martin (3-1) gave up one run and three hits in seven innings.
Nick Kurtz and Andy Ibanez drove in runs for the A’s, who lost their second straight game. Aaron Civale (2-1) allowed five runs and 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Rangers 5, Mariners 0
Brandon Nimmo homered leading off the game and six pitchers combined for a six-hitter and Texas improved to 4-0 this season against host Seattle.
Reliever Gavin Collyer (1-0), a rookie right-hander, pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn his first major league victory in just his second appearance. Texas has won four of its last six, while Seattle has lost four in a row.
Nimmo jumped on a 2-0 fastball from Logan Gilbert (1-3) in the first, lining it over the right field fence. Rangers starter Jacob deGrom didn’t allow a run, but an elevated pitch count (88) knocked him out after four innings.
–Field Level Media
![Deadspin | SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday. Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss. “We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this. “We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.” Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal. “I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently. “It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.” Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline. Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts. He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts. –Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama. Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall. The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind. “We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season. –Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind. But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977. As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #SEC #notebook #Missouri #Ahmad #Hardy #cleared #shooting #recovery #timeline #TBD](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/27891314.jpg "Deadspin | SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday. Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss. “We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this. “We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.” Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal. “I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently. “It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.” Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline. Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts. He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts. –Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama. Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall. The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind. “We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season. –Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind. But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977. As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #SEC #notebook #Missouri #Ahmad #Hardy #cleared #shooting #recovery #timeline #TBD")
![Deadspin | SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday. Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss. “We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this. “We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.” Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal. “I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently. “It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.” Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline. Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts. He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts. –Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama. Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall. The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind. “We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season. –Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind. But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977. As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #SEC #notebook #Missouri #Ahmad #Hardy #cleared #shooting #recovery #timeline #TBD](https://i3.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/27891314.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | SEC notebook: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting; recovery timeline TBD Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) reacts to his first down pickup during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared for football activities just over two months after being shot in the upper leg, head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Monday. Hardy was shot while attending an outdoor concert on May 10 in Laurel, Miss. “We anticipate he will make a recovery, but what that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Media Days. “We do not know exactly what the return to play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature to that on this. “We do anticipate this return to play protocol could take anywhere from five-to-eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what the recovery will be — is he the same Ahmad Hardy as he was last year? My anticipation and what I’ve seen and the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.” Drinkwitz said Hardy likely learned an important lesson during the ordeal. “I think there’s a youthfulness feel of invincibility for all of these guys right now from 18 to 22 (years) old, and they’re empowered more now than they’ve ever been before, whether that’s financially or influence,” Drinkwitz said. “I think for Ahmad, there was that moment there where he realized he was mortal, and there could be really bad outcomes if you don’t make the right decisions consistently. “It was an unfortunate accident, incident and it wasn’t something he had any intention, nobody did. When you go to a concert, you don’t expect to be a victim of a random act of violence, especially gun violence. But I’ve been very, very proud of the way he has approached his recovery. This was a great opportunity for Ahmad to learn and for our student-athletes to learn. Also a great reminder there’s no place for gun violence in this world and that we need to do a better job of policing gun violence.” Missouri opens the 2026 season on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia, Mo. That is approximately 6 1/2 weeks into the recovery timeline. Hardy, 20, is a Mississippi native. He began his career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after he led the conference in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13) on 237 attempts. He transferred to Missouri, where he ranked second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season, a mark that broke the Tigers’ single-season record. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and a consensus All-American while scoring 16 TDs and averaging 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts. –Oklahoma not noticing newfound national respect A year ago, there were some valid questions about Brett Venables’ future at Oklahoma. After 6-7 campaigns in two of his first three seasons, the Sooners needed a breakthrough in 2025 for their coach’s sake. They delivered just that, finishing a 10-2 regular season, earning the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff and hosting a first-round game they lost to Alabama. Now, Venables enters Year 5 at Oklahoma on a cooler seat and with higher expectations. Quarterback John Mateer is back and fully recovered from the throwing hand injury that limited him last season. A number of key pieces from the Sooners’ stellar defense are also back this fall. The coach is trying not to give any of that attention much mind. “We focus on things that we can control,” Venables said. “Do you ever use that as a motivation for a guy to maybe humble a guy? Absolutely. But at the end of the day this is a game of performance, this is a game that’s about the work, and this is a game where it’s decided on the field.” His Sooners will get to prove their worth early in the season, playing at Michigan, at Georgia and facing Texas in Dallas in their first five games of the season. –Will Stein brings extreme confidence to Kentucky When it comes to Kentucky, football isn’t the first sport that comes to mind. But with the confidence that first-year coach Will Stein is bringing to the Wildcats, he certainly believes that will change. Stein, who rose to prominence as Oregon’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, takes over a program that has won double-digit games just twice since 1977. As the 36-year-old Louisville native took the podium Monday, he took the opportunity presented by a reporter asking him why he believes he’ll win big in Lexington to demonstrate his strong self-belief. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really (much) else to be said.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #SEC #notebook #Missouri #Ahmad #Hardy #cleared #shooting #recovery #timeline #TBD")
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