Man, what a fun week in the world of sports.
At times it took my breath away. Well, that may be because of the raging wildfire smoke smacking my asthmatic lungs. Maybe I should stop listening to “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple.
Anyway, I have three thoughts after everything that transpired in the sports world this week.
Hart gives us a reason to celebrate
I came to Minnesota with boxes I wanted to check off. And after Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial softball won their state title last month I thought I was ready to add to the list.
Then something really cool happened last weekend. Mankato East’s Carson Hart was drafted in the 13th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2026 MLB Draft.
I didn’t have “cover an athlete be drafted into the MLB” onto my list. At the same time, I’m smiling and not complaining, adding it to the list and checking it off in one swoop.
This couldn’t have happened to a better player or human being, by the way.
He finished his career with a .349 batting average, an OPS of 1.052, 68 walks to 36 strikeouts, a school record 75 stolen bases and exactly 0 errors in center field. Plus the section title and state championship game appearance in 2025 doesn’t hurt the resume either.
Now he faces the ultimate decision — go pro, or play in college at Creighton?
When I was Hart’s age I couldn’t decide if I wanted a chicken quesadilla or a crunchwrap supreme from Taco Bell. There’s no way I could make that type of life-changing decision.
Yet, I never earned the right to make that decision. But he did. Whatever he decides and whatever side of the hill you’re on, I hope you can take a moment to appreciate what he has done and is about to do in the game of baseball.
Home run derby a hit
OK, pun 100% intended with that subheadline there. But man, the MLB got it right with the new format they rolled out for this year’s home run derby.
Growing up watching the derby I was in awe of what Josh Hamilton did in 2008. I was also left completely embarrassed and humiliated after Brandon Inge, a Detroit Tigers legend growing up, didn’t hit a single home run when he competed in 2009.
The derby has changed over time. This year the MLB opted to not use a number of outs or a certain amount of time, instead they had competitors take 20 swings in the first round and 15 in the remaining two rounds.
Holy smokes was that the best decision the MLB has made in a while.
Finally, we as fans were able to sit back and admire each home run, something we couldn’t do with the timed rounds concept. Rounds didn’t drag on to crazy lengths like with the number of outs.
No, this year’s derby was an absolute blast. Simple, fun, memorable.
Do I share the frustration of most fans knowing that the derby was streamed exclusively on Netflix and not broadcasted on ESPN? Yes, 100%, both ESPN and MLB fumbled that so badly.
But this year’s home run derby was the one where MLB finally got a win. It’s a win that will be shortly celebrated with the impending CBA mess that’s creeping closer and closer, but a win nonetheless.
WHY hasn’t Hughes signed yet?
The biggest story of the NHL off-season has been Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requesting a trade. Then there’s the second biggest story of the off-season in Quinn Hughes signing an extension with the Minnesota Wild.
Hughes is down to the final year of his six year, $47.1 million dollar deal he signed with Vancouver, the team that traded him to Minnesota last year, back in 2021. The Wild sacrificed a plethora of young prospects and draft capital to add him in hopes of taking the next step.
But what if I told you that the Larkin storyline and Hughes storylines are intertwined?
Hughes and Larkin have the same agent in Pat Brisson. Larkin, who possesses a no-trade clause, gave the Red Wings a list of three teams he’d accept a trade to — Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild.
Florida opted to spend any free trade piece to acquire Brady Tkachuk, pairing him with his older brother Matthew. Vegas has little to no trade pieces, or salary cap room. Honestly, they’re kind of a mess on that aspect. So, Larkin left Detroit with one realistic trade partner in Minnesota, the team that has Hughes, who has described Larkin as an older brother.
What if Hughes re-signing in Minnesota is contingent on Minnesota’s ability to acquire Larkin?
The Wild have lacked a true No. 1 center for as long as my memory can recall (no offense to Mikko Koivu). Larkin can provide that, as well as most likely be the final piece to Hughes staying in Minnesota instead of bolting to play with his brothers Jack and Luke in New Jersey in 2027.
Is this proven? No, not at all.
But is it a coincidence that neither of these two dominoes, who have a tight relationship as Gold medal winners, have fallen yet? I think not.
Mitch Vosburg is a multi-time award-winning sports writer and photographer who proudly serves as sports editor for The Free Press. He can be reached at mvosburg@mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on X (@realmitchvburg) and on Instagram (@themantheycallmitch).