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Mariners Activate George Kirby For Season Debut

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Mariners Activate George Kirby For Season Debut

The Mariners announced Thursday that right-hander George Kirby has been reinstated from the injured list. He’ll make his 2025 debut today against the Astros. Righty Troy Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma last night to open a spot on the roster for Kirby’s return.

The first-place Mariners have surged to a 28-20 record this season despite not getting a single pitch from arguably their best starter. The 27-year-old Kirby has been out all season after the Mariners opted for a cautious approach when Kirby was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation during spring training.

A first-round pick back in 2019 (No. 20 overall), Kirby quickly became one of the Mariners’ top pitching prospects and was soon regarded as one of the top prospects in the entire sport. He breezed through the minors and could very well have debuted even sooner were it not for the canceled 2020 minor league season.

Kirby broke through to the majors in 2022 and hasn’t looked back. He pitched 130 innings over the life of 26 starts in his rookie season and turned in a 3.39 ERA with a 24.5% strikeout rate and 4.1% walk rate. Few pitchers can sustain a walk rate that low, but Kirby has actually improved upon that mark in subsequent seasons. He was touted as having the best command of perhaps any top pitching prospect in the sport prior to his debut, and he now has a legitimate claim to the best command of any pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Since his 2022 debut, no starting pitcher has a lower walk rate than Kirby’s 3.1% mark. Only one qualified reliever in that time has a better walk rate (Chris Martin, at 2.8%). You’d have to drop the threshold to a minimum of 20 innings pitched (total) since 2022 to find a second pitcher with a lower walk rate than Kirby.

Kirby’s pinpoint command is all the more deadly when one considers that he’s not the archetypal soft-tossing, finesse pitcher typically associated with this type of precision. He’s averaged 95.8 mph on his four-seamer in his career and sat 96.1 mph with the pitch from 2023-24.

Kirby was an All-Star in 2023 and finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting that season. He’s started 89 big league games for the Mariners since his debut and touts a 3.43 ERA, 23.3% strikeout rate and 43.4% ground-ball rate to go along with that pristine walk rate. Those strikeout and grounder rates are only a bit better than average, but a pitcher who averages less than a walk per start doesn’t need to pile up strikeouts or ground-balls at league-leading rates to be among the most effective pitchers in the sport.

The Mariners are getting Kirby back at an ideal time. Rotation-mates Logan Gilbert (flexor strain) and Bryce Miller (elbow inflammation) are both on the 15-day injured list at the moment. Seattle is also set to square off against the second-place Astros for a four-game series. Houston has been a league-average team against right-handed pitching this season, and the ’Stros are currently without their top left-handed bat: designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (though he has uncharacteristically struggled versus righties this season). The only left-handed hitters on Houston’s roster are switch-hitting catcher Victor Caratini and backup catcher Cesar Salazar. Kirby held right-handed hitters to an awful .234/.257/.360 slash in 2024.

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Chanticleers Continue Academic Excellence in Fall 2025

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CONWAY — Coastal Carolina Athletics continued its strong academic performance during the Fall 2025 semester, the department announced.

The Chanticleers posted a 3.37 departmental GPA for the fall semester, marking the department’s 23rd consecutive semester with a GPA above 3.0. Overall, 18 of 19 teams earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

“The academic success of our student-athletes during the Fall 2025 semester reflects their commitment to excellence in the classroom and the strong support structure we have in place at Coastal Carolina,” said Chance Miller, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation. “With 23 consecutive semesters above a 3.0 departmental GPA and multiple programs achieving record-setting results, this performance is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, and academic support staff in developing well-rounded individuals prepared for success beyond athletics.”

A total of 360 student-athletes earned Chauncey’s Honor Roll recognition by posting a semester GPA of 3.0 or better, while 90 student-athletes were named Elite Chants with perfect 4.0 GPAs. Additionally, 146 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors, an increase of 10 from Spring 2025, and 78 student-athletes were named to the President’s List, three more than the previous semester.

Several programs achieved historic academic milestones during the fall semester. Men’s basketball recorded its highest GPA on record with a 3.51, while men’s cross country posted a program-best 3.59, the highest GPA among all men’s teams. Men’s golf earned its highest GPA outside of the Spring 2020 COVID semester with a 3.55.

On the women’s side, women’s basketball earned its highest GPA on record with a 3.40. Indoor track and field (3.66), women’s track and field (3.67), and softball (3.85) each posted program-best GPAs, while lacrosse recorded its second-highest GPA on record at 3.65. Women’s tennis led all women’s teams with a 3.89 GPA, the highest women’s team GPA this semester.


A DEEPER DIVE

  • 146 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors.
  • 78 student-athletes earned President’s List recognition.
  • 360 student-athletes earned Chauncey’s Honor Roll recognition (3.0+ semester GPA).
  • 90 student-athletes were named Elite Chants (4.0 semester GPA).
  • 23 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA above 3.0.
  • 18 of 19 teams earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Men’s cross country posted the highest men’s team GPA (3.59).
  • Women’s tennis earned the highest women’s team GPA (3.89).



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Four From Women’s Volleyball Named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team

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Springfield, Mass. – December 18, 2025 – Four student-athletes from the Springfield College women’s volleyball program were recently named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for their efforts on the field and in the classroom.

This year’s Springfield College women’s volleyball recipients included Ahunna James (Plainville, Mass.)Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.)Alexa Bonato (Orange, Conn.) and Olivia Nealy (Athens, Ga.). This marks the second straight year that James has earned the award, while Colosimo, Bonato and Nealy are all first-time recipients.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher, compete in 90-percent of the team’s games played OR start in at least 66-percent of the team’s games over the course of the season.

Colosimo, an occupational therapy major with a 3.57 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as a junior and recorded 927 total assists (8.83 per set) to go along with 81 kills, 57 aces, 41 blocks and 249 digs. She was named the Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament Team at the season opening Joel B. Dearing ’79 Volleyball Classic after recording over 100 assists, 13 kills, nine digs, and six blocks over three matches and became the ninth student-athlete in Springfield women’s volleyball history to eclipse 2,000 career assists. Colosimo was also recognized with New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-League Second Team honors, a spot on the AVCA All-Region I Team and was named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.

James, a public health major with a 3.72 grade point average, started in 30 matches as a junior, recorded 217 kills (2.13 per set) and hit .206 on the season. James also tallied 31 aces, 72 blocks and 235 digs (2.30 per set). Bonato, a public health major with a 3.89 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as a sophomore and registered 150 kills on the year. Bonato also notched 17 aces, 94 digs and 29 blocks to wrap up her second season on the court with the Pride.

Nealy, a physical therapy major with a 3.70 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as Springfield’s libero during her junior season. Nealy registered 377 digs (3.59 per set) and 66 assists as well as four aces on the year to guide the Pride defensively.

Under the direction of head coach Moira Long Springfield went 23-8 this season and once again earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. This marked the third straight season, Springfield was represented in the national tournament among the 64 best teams in the country.

Sign up for free today to receive the latest news about your favorite Springfield College Athletics program directly to your email here. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events





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Watch Wisconsin volleyball vs Kentucky in Final Four tonight; time, TV

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Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 2:03 p.m. CT



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Aggie Volleyball Signs Gianna Bogan Ahead of 2026 Season

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DAVIS, Calif. — As UC Davis volleyball prepares for their first season in the Mountain West Conference, head coach Dan Conners has signed his first recruit for the new season, with Gianna Bogan joining the Aggies in the 2026 winter quarter.

“We are very excited about Gianna joining the program. She has excellent ball control skills and a fast arm.” Said Coach Conners.  

“Most importantly, she embodies the cultural characteristics that fit Aggie Volleyball with a hardworking, resilient, and team-first attitude.  We anticipate that Gianna will take advantage of the opportunity to have an immediate impact.”

A 6’0 outside hitter for Rocklin High School, Bogan had a decorated career for the Thunder, collecting over 1,000 career kills during her junior season while being named a First-Team All-Sierra Foothill League player as a sophomore, junior, and senior.

As a senior, Bogan also served as the on-court leader for a team that became the first public school in the California San Joaquin Section to make a run at the CIF volleyball open state final, the high school state championship of volleyball. She was also given the “Pursuing Victory With Honor” award at the competition, which recognizes student-athletes for exceptional sportsmanship, ethics, and character. 

Her 326 kills also led Bogan to be named to the Optimist All-Star Game, an annual Sacramento area charity event, where she was named MVP of the volleyball competition. 

By joining the team in January, Bogan will have the opportunity to practice with the Aggies ahead of the rest of the 2026 signing class, which will be announced in the spring.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/. 

 



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Kentucky volleyball game time today, Wisconsin vs UK Final 4 channel

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Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 1:07 p.m. ET



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Johansson Earns Big Ten Weekly Honors – University of Nebraska

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Nebraska’s track and field’s Axelina Johansson earned Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, announced by the conference office on Wednesday. After her record setting performance, Johansson also earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week. 

With a mark of 19.72m (64-8 ½), the senior from Hok, Sweden set a Husker school record, Swedish record and NCAA indoor record in the shot put en route to winning the event title at the Husker Holiday Open. Johansson is the first Husker to win Big Ten weekly honors since Henry Zimmerman won Field Athlete of the Week on Feb. 26, 2025. 

Nebraska is back in action on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Graduate Classic at the Devaney Center Indoor Track.

 



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