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Rays To Acquire Forrest Whitley

The Astros announced that they have traded right-hander Forrest Whitley to the Rays in exchange for cash considerations. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com first reported that Whitley was going to the Rays while Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported the cash return. The Rays’ 40-man roster count climbs from 38 to 39. Since Whitley is out of […]

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Rays To Acquire Forrest Whitley

The Astros announced that they have traded right-hander Forrest Whitley to the Rays in exchange for cash considerations. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com first reported that Whitley was going to the Rays while Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported the cash return. The Rays’ 40-man roster count climbs from 38 to 39. Since Whitley is out of options, they will need to open an active roster spot once he reports to the team.

Whitley, 27, is a complete wild card at this point. Selected 17th overall in the 2016 draft, he put up huge numbers in the lower minor league levels as a teenager, working around a 50-game drug suspension going into 2018. His performance vaulted him towards the top of prospect lists. Going into 2019, Baseball America ranked him #5 overall and the top pitcher on the list.

He has hit a number of speed bumps since then, largely due to injuries. Shoulder problems seemed to hamper him in 2019, as he finished that year with a combined 7.99 earned run average across various minor league levels. The minor leagues were canceled by the pandemic in 2020. He required Tommy John surgery in March of 2021, wiping out that season and most of the following year. He got back on the mound in 2022 but showed plenty of rust, posting a 6.53 ERA over his 40 minor league innings. In 2023, a lat strain limited him to 30 minor league innings with a 5.70 ERA.

The Astros added Whitley to their 40-man roster in November of 2020, to protect him from being exposed in the Rule 5 draft. He used up three options in those 2021-23 seasons. The Astros were granted a fourth option for 2024 but the clock was ticking, so they moved him to the bullpen.

He showed some promise in that role last year. He logged 34 innings at the Triple-A level with a 2.12 ERA. His 11.6% walk rate was high but he struck out 31.5% of batters faced and got grounders at a 55% clip. He also made his major league debut, logging 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

He came into 2025 out of options and started the season on the injured list, this time due to a bone bruise in his left knee. He was reinstated from the IL on April 19th but went back on the shelf on April 27th due to a left knee sprain. He was reinstated in late May but didn’t last long before the Astros decided to give up and designated him for assignment. Around those IL stints, he has thrown 7 1/3 innings this year with ten earned runs allowed. He struck out eight opponents but gave out six walks, hit another batter and threw a wild pitch.

Whitley’s future is anyone’s guess at this point. The talent that made him the top prospect in baseball may be in there somewhere. He still averages in the upper 90s with his fastballs. But he’s now out of options and has proved so little. His major league track record consists of just 10 2/3 innings, which haven’t been especially impressive. He was good in the minors last year but has otherwise been hurt and/or ineffective.

The Rays have a strong reputation when it comes to developing pitchers, so it’s a good landing spot for him. However, they are also a contender, currently holding one of the three American League Wild Card spots. Since Whitley is out of options, he will have to produce some results in order to stick on the roster. If he does, the Rays can cheaply retain him for years to come. He came into 2025 with just six days of major league service time, meaning he can’t get to arbitration until after 2027 and isn’t slated for free agency until after the 2030 season. But as mentioned, those will be moot points if he can’t right the ship.

Photo courtesy of Erik Williams, Imagn Images

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Saint Lucia’s U-21 Beach Volleyball Stars Set for World Championship Qualifiers in Punta Cana

Photo via MYS A formidable quartet of young beach volleyball athletes is flying the Saint Lucian flag high this week as they head to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to compete in the NORCECA Under-21 Beach Volleyball World Championship Qualifiers from July 3 to 7, 2025. Representing the island are two elite teams: […]

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Photo via MYS

A formidable quartet of young beach volleyball athletes is flying the Saint Lucian flag high this week as they head to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to compete in the NORCECA Under-21 Beach Volleyball World Championship Qualifiers from July 3 to 7, 2025.

Representing the island are two elite teams:

  • Men’s Team: Rio Victor and Peter Emmanuel
  • Women’s Team: Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip
  • Head Coach: Terry Verdant

These athletes have earned their place on the sand through exceptional performances at recent regional tournaments.

In June, Gaspard and Phillip captured the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-21 Beach Championship title in commanding fashion. They overcame Antigua and Barbuda’s duo, Jaya Carr and Jassania Joseph, in a thrilling two-set final, winning 21-11, 23-21. Their performance was marked by precision, poise, and impressive court chemistry, earning them the admiration of the Caribbean volleyball community.

On the men’s side, Victor and Emmanuel showcased fierce determination and athleticism. The pair secured silver medals after a competitive showdown against Dominica’s Bill Frederick and Mervin Mingo in the ECVA final. Though they fell in straight sets (21-17, 21-15), the Saint Lucian duo demonstrated strength and skill that signal great potential on the international circuit.

As they prepare to face off against some of the region’s best, the Saint Lucian delegation carries not just hopes for qualification—but also the pride of a nation rallying behind their rising stars.



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2025 All-County Girls’ Outdoor Track & Field | Sports

Girls’ Co-Athletes of the Year Leanna Rogers & Haille Dry, North East, Seniors Both Rogers and Dry captured their first-ever state titles as members of the Indians and won multiple championship meets in their respective disciplines throughout the spring. Rogers captured her Class 2A title in the 1,600-meter run (5:09.76) and added a third-place finish […]

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Girls’ Co-Athletes of the Year

Leanna Rogers & Haille Dry, North East, Seniors

Girls’ Coach of the Year

Jill McKay, Rising Sun

Emma Bare, Rising Sun, Sophomore

Sarah Beck, Bohemia Manor, Sophomore

Aria Besong, North East, Sophomore

Katie Callaghan, Rising Sun, Senior

Isabella Chavis, Rising Sun, Senior

Madi Cleary, Rising Sun, Senior

Jillian Gallano, Perryville, Senior

Mikayla Horst, Rising Sun, Sophomore

Adelyn Huber, Rising Sun, Freshman

Ayva Jacobs, Perryville, Sophomore

Skylar Pizzulli, Bohemia Manor, Senior

Colbie Rondone, Perryville, Junior

Kylie Schoff, Bohemia Manor, Freshman

Maya Stoneking, Elkton, Senior

Honorable Mentions



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Ocean View High student to study at top-ranked STEM college, Santa Ana launches AI Compass to guide classroom use, and more – OCDE Newsroom

Zack Wojtaszek, a senior at Ocean View High School, participates in a signing day event on May 16. He was one of seven student-athletes from Ocean View to officially commit to collegiate athletics. (Photo courtesy of the Huntington Beach Union High School District) Zack Wojtaszek, a recent graduate of Ocean View High School, is headed […]

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Zack Wojtaszek, a senior at Ocean View High School, participates in a signing day event on May 16, 2025. He was one of seven student-athletes from Ocean View to officially commit to collegiate athletics.
Zack Wojtaszek, a senior at Ocean View High School, participates in a signing day event on May 16. He was one of seven student-athletes from Ocean View to officially commit to collegiate athletics. (Photo courtesy of the Huntington Beach Union High School District)

Zack Wojtaszek, a recent graduate of Ocean View High School, is headed to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate engineering school, where he plans to study mechanical engineering and compete in both football and track and field.

Wojtaszek credits the Huntington Beach Union High School District campus’ engineering pathway and academic environment as key factors in preparing him for the next step.

“Engineering is a big thing in my family, so I just wanted to follow those roots,” he shared with Adam Kunin, a reporting intern for OC Sports Zone.

Graduating with a 4.2 GPA, Wojtaszek followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both engineers. His decision to attend Rose-Hulman, ranked No. 1 in undergraduate engineering by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years, was also influenced by strong connections with the college’s coaching staff.

According to his coach, Wojtaszek was on the field for every offensive play during all 10 games of his senior football season. He also competed in shot put and discus for the track and field team, setting personal bests at the Empire League prelims and finals.

“Zack found a great way to balance himself between academics and athletics,” said Daniel Hernandez, Ocean View High School football coach. “He was a leader who showed by example.”

Wojtaszek is one of four Ocean View football seniors who will continue playing at the collegiate level.

Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:

  • A new analysis from the Center on Reinventing Public Education highlights how early adopter districts like Santa Ana Unified are using artificial intelligence to advance equity goals, support student learning and prepare historically underserved students for an AI-driven future.
Dave Long speaks at the 2019 Safe Schools Conference
  • The National Safe Schools Conference, formerly the Safe Schools Conference, will bring together more than 500 educators, law enforcement officials and community leaders from over 20 states July 9-11 to exchange strategies for creating safer, more supportive school environments.
  • In response to ongoing federal immigration raids, students, staff and volunteers in Garden Grove Unified are organizing grassroots food drives to support families afraid to leave their homes.
  • About 1 in 3 California K-12 students began school without fluency in English, and two Orange County districts — Santa Ana and Garden Grove — rank among the top 10 in the state for total English learner enrollment, according to 2024-25 data.
  • Los Angeles Unified stands to lose more than $110 million for English learners, after-school programs and teacher support after the Trump administration withheld federal education funds, prompting district leaders to warn of impacts on vulnerable student populations and call for immediate release of the money.
Jay Seidel, director of the Fullerton College Drone Technology Department, leads a lesson inside the Fullerton College Drone Lab. Through an expanded partnership, Brea Olinda High School students will gain access to college-level instruction and the opportunity to earn drone piloting certificates beginning in fall 2025.
  • The Trump administration has frozen $811 million in federal grant funding for California schools, affecting programs that support English learners, migrant education, teacher training, and after-school and summer programs, prompting districts to reassess budgets and consider action.
  • California identified more than 230,000 homeless students in 2024-25, a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year, with advocates attributing the rise to improved identification efforts while warning that upcoming federal funding cuts could threaten essential support services.

This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroomsubscribing for emailed updates and following us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.





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Sierra Leone Kicks Off the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign in Africa

On 16th June, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign and the King’s Baton Relay arrived in Africa, making their first stop in Sierra Leone. The impact of plastic pollution in Sierra Leone is stark: only around 5.5% of the 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced annually is properly recycled. Recently, a net installed by Engineers […]

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On 16th June, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign and the King’s Baton Relay arrived in Africa, making their first stop in Sierra Leone. The impact of plastic pollution in Sierra Leone is stark: only around 5.5% of the 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced annually is properly recycled. Recently, a net installed by Engineers Without Borders, intended to prevent natural debris from flowing from a river into the sea, collapsed under the sheer weight of discarded plastic items it inadvertently caught. As a result of the issue’s visibility, the country has fostered a strong culture of volunteering for community clean-ups, alongside an admirable understanding among businesses, government institutions, and civil society groups that urgent action is needed. This ingrained experience of grassroots activity led to a highly successful leg of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.

Aberdeen Beach in Freetown was the site of the primary clean-up, lasting three hours. An impressive 441 volunteers from the Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone, the National Tourist Board, National Sports Associations, Salone Beach Volleyball, Freetown City Council, and the Africell Impact Foundation removed a staggering 40,000 pieces of plastic, preventing them from entering Commonwealth waters. A second clean-up took place the following day at Chelmingo Lorry Park, where powerful speeches highlighted the detrimental impact of plastic pollution on water quality, national health, and its negative effects on farmers’ yields and food availability. Finally, a clean-up took place at the Bankasoka Hydro site, a critical power source for Port Loko City and surrounding communities.

The Africell Impact Foundation proved a vital partner in the programme, hosting an event at the Africell Sports Zone focused on raising awareness about plastic pollution. Kippy Debs, Director of the Foundation, delivered a powerful speech, stating: “Sierra Leone is at a crossroads – one that determines the health of our beaches, oceans, and future generations… plastic waste has become an insidious threat, suffocating marine life, polluting our shores, and eroding the natural beauty we are so proud of.” Debs emphasised that the nation’s beaches are not merely recreational spaces, but critical ecosystems supporting biodiversity, local livelihoods, and tourism. With millions of tonnes of plastic entering oceans globally each year, she declared that the focus must shift from mere awareness to action.

A Nomoli figure, whose likeness is incorporated into the baton design.

A Nomoli figure, whose likeness is incorporated into the baton design.

The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign is travelling to every Commonwealth Country and Overseas Territory as an integral part of the King’s Baton Relay. Each country hosts sporting and cultural activities alongside a beach clean-up during its week of action. Sierra Leone excelled in promoting its rich culture during its time in the spotlight. A baton parade swept through Freetown on the 16th, attended by 200 athletes and 80 dignitaries. On the 17th, another procession in the Village of Mamoi led by the Village Headman celebrated some of Sierra Leone’s traditions and peoples, such as the Nomoli figure, representing ancestral guardianship, and the iconic Sowei mask, which symbolises feminine beauty, transformation, and wisdom, unique in Africa for being worn exclusively by women.

The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.

The campaign will combine education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce pollution across the Commonwealth.

For the action component of the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society has partnered with Commonwealth Sport to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign as a core component of The King’s Baton Relay. This newly envisioned King’s Baton Relay will focus on sustainability and environmentalism and was launched by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025, beginning a 500-day journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.

Journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory, this partnership will bring together young people, athletes, conservation groups, and the local community for a week of activities, including a plastic clean-up.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.



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Tulane Track and Field Announces Hiring of Stephen Sousa as Assistant Coach

The Tulane Green Wave have lured away Stephen Sousa to serve as the track and field team’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He joins the Green Wave after three seasons as an assistant at Jacksonville State. The Green Wave announced the hiring via release. More News: Tulane Football Continues Investing in Facilities With New Premium […]

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The Tulane Green Wave have lured away Stephen Sousa to serve as the track and field team’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

He joins the Green Wave after three seasons as an assistant at Jacksonville State. The Green Wave announced the hiring via release.

More News: Tulane Football Continues Investing in Facilities With New Premium Stadium Seating

“We are thrilled to add Coach Sousa to our Green Wave track and field staff,” Tulane track and field coach Adrian Myers said. “Stephen comes to us having always proven himself as a top-flight coach at every stop. The amount of phone calls I received in support of his candidacy for this position was telling of the belief others in the industry have in him.”

Sousa brings both assistant coach and head-coaching experience to the Green Wave. Before he arrived at JSU, he spent time at two Division II track programs.

More News: Former Tulane Star Pitcher Called Up To Triple-A by Baltimore Orioles

At Lenoir-Rhyne, he was an assistant to guided athletes in multis, hurdles, throws, and high jump event groups for nearly three seasons. He was also directed to develop and implement strength and conditioning programs for the throws and multi-event groups.

He helped the Bears to multiple Top 25 team national rankings and guided the heptathlon and pentathlon teams to Top 10 rankings in the nation.

Sousa got his head-coaching experience at Wingate, where he coached the sprints, jumps, hurdles, multis and throws in his one season with the program. He coached a hurdler to a No. 2 ranking in NCAA Division II in the 60-meter hurdles.

More News: Tulane Football Reveals Top Player Ratings for EA College Football Game

He also launched the cross country and track and field programs at William Peace University in 2019, where he coached the athletic department’s first athlete to make the NCAA championships in any sport.

He began his career at Queens University of Charlotte.

Before he coached, he competed at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he qualified for three NCAA championships and earned two NCAA all-America honors in the decathlon and the heptathlon. He also set the school record in both the heptathlon and the javelin.

He joined a track and field program that just had two athletes selected all-America at the NCAA men’s track and field championships in June.

For more Tulane news, head over to Tulane Green Wave On SI.



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Improve your club’s future planning at latest workshop 

Volleyball England is running a fully-funded online Future Planning workshop, in conjunction with Buddle.    Volleyball England is running a fully-funded online Future Planning workshop, in conjunction with Buddle.  It examines the impact of rising costs on clubs, offering insights into how others are adapting and accessing support.  The workshop provides a practical approach to […]

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Volleyball England is running a fully-funded online Future Planning workshop, in conjunction with Buddle. 

 

Volleyball England is running a fully-funded online Future Planning workshop, in conjunction with Buddle. 

It examines the impact of rising costs on clubs, offering insights into how others are adapting and accessing support. 

The workshop provides a practical approach to effective planning, helping clubs define their goals and create a clear strategy for growth. 

Through reflection and discussion, learners will assess their current position, consider how a business plan approach can support future objectives, and access useful resources to strengthen their strategy.  

By the end of this session, you should be able to: 

When is the workshop and how do I book?

The workshop will take place on Thursday 24th July 2025 between 6.30pm and 7.30pm (with an optional extra 30 minutes for questions after this). 

There are a maximum of 15 spots, which will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
Kindly complete the booking form linked here to confirm your attendance. 

Delegates must be a minimum of at least 16 years of age, be able to communicate effectively in English and be representing or part of a Volleyball England-affiliated club.

 



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