Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Zack Wheeler , the Phillies co-ace, who became the star the Mets hoped for once he signed with their National League rivals at the other end of the New Jersey Turnpike. I was at Citizens Bank Park August 8th of 2021 , to watch him shut out his former teammates on one hit -- an afternoon capped by congratulations from his catcher JT Realmuto.  

Yordan Alvarez , the Astros rising star slugger.  His electric left-handed swing not only anchors the middle of Houston's lineup, but puts the Cuban expat in the conversation for who might break Aaron Judge's AL home run record sometime in the next few years. An All Star for the first time in 2022, while finishing third for league MVP, Alvarez also authored a baseball first: during the Astros' 2022 postseason run, he homered in the sixth inning or later when his team was trailing to give them the lead. 

Xzavion Curry , the Guardians top minor league pitching prospect, whose 2022 journey began in Akron before being promoted to Triple-A Columbus and was capped with a couple of late-season appearances in Cleveland.  The Georgia Tech product certainly impressed when I saw him with the Rubber Ducks last May 17th in Binghamton.  He struck out 10 in 5-2/3 innings while holding a lineup that included top Mets prospects Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty to two runs, six hits and a walk. With the Guardians sticking to a tight budget, the success of homegrown, low-cost talent such Curry is a key for the defending AL Central champs to remain contenders.

Willie Stargell , the Pirates Hall of Fame slugger and emotional leader of the 1979 "We Are Family" champions.  The seven-time All Star, a hero at both Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium, also owns a New York milestone: he belted the first home run (in the first game ever played) at Shea Stadium on April 17th, 1964 -- where that July, he appeared in his first All Star Game. On the other side of Pennsylvania, he also authored the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history, a moonshot that reached the 600 section of the park's upper deck. His 48 home runs in 1971 are the most by a lefthanded Pirate (fellow Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner is the only Pittsburgh player to launch more in one year -- with 54 and 51 in 1949 and '47, respectively).  All told, his ticket to Cooperstown packed 475 roundtrippers and a reputation as one of the game's best liked players. Stargell's statue, just outside PNC Park's left field gate, pays forever tribute to "Pops....

Vladimir Guerrero Junior, who could one day rival Ken Griffey Junior as baseball’s best-ever second generation star. I’m expecting a big season from Toronto’s slugging 1st baseman.  

Ubaldo Jimenez , who spent a dozen years pitching in the majors; first and most successfully with the Rockies, highlighted by a 2010 no-hitter against the Braves, then two-and-a-half seasons with Cleveland; finally with the Orioles. Part of the challenge of compiling this A to Z series was finding a match for every letter of the alphabet; U was tough, as so few players have that as the first letter of their first name.  Luckily, I caught a Jimenez start against the Yankees in 2012 -- he's facing Mark Teixeira in this image. Unless a player goes into coaching or broadcasting, you tend to lose track of them after they call it a career.  Searching online for a "closing thought," I found this very cool story about Jimenez earning his college degree to fulfill a promise made to his mother before he signed his first professional contract.  It's clear regardless of whether he ever resurfaces in baseball, he's set himself up for personal success.  

Travis Blankenhorn , one of the "four-A" players I saw this summer at Syracuse.  A versatile player who, over eight minor league seasons, hasn't impressed enough to stick in the majors, he got into 91 games this season for the Mets top farm club.  Splitting his time between 2nd base and the outfield, the lefty batter popped 15 home runs; but he spent just a day in the majors during 2022 -- DH-ing in the opening game of the Mets July 22nd doubleheader against the Padres. (Left:) He connects on a walk-off hit to win the first half of Syracuse's June 8th twinbill with Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Moments later, he's mobbed by teammates. Pure joy, channeling the "little boy" attitude of Hall of Famer Roy Campanella. Even if Blankenhorn isn't targeted for stardom, or even a season-long roster spot, it's worth a tip of the cap to someone on the other side of age 25 who keeps plugging away, holding onto his baseball dream.  

  Stephen Strasburg , the "worst case scenario" for teams offering long-term contracts to pitchers over age 30.  After leading the Nationals to their 2019 championship -- winning both his starts in the World Series and three others in the NL playoffs -- he reupped with Washington for another seven years at an annual average of $35 million, he's made eight starts (totaling 31 innings) over the past three seasons, winning just once. For every Max Scherzer, who ages like fine wine, or Justin Verlander, who resumed his place among baseball's best after two lost years, Strasburg appears to have become a lost cause.  And 2023 doesn't seem to offer much encouragement.  Several weeks ago, manager Dave Martinez would only say that onetime ace continues to rehab after surgery for  Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

  Reggie Jackson , a/k/a Mister October, whose 292 home runs were the most by any American League player of the 1970s. The Philadelphia native loved making headlines -- chasing Roger Maris' record in 1969, leading the A's to five division titles and three consecutive World Series titles and finding more fame when he joined the Yankees in 1977 where earned World Series MVP honors his first season -- capped by an iconic three-home run game in the clincher. The Yanks made the playoffs four times in his five years there. Though he spent just five seasons in pinstripes, the Yankees retired his #44.  Along with catcher Thurman Munson, he symbolized a turbulent, but productive time as the Yankees, playing in the refurbished Stadium, restored the franchise's aura.  Famous  feuds with Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner dominated the tabloid backpages; The Boss often mentioned that seeing Reggie leave was his biggest mistake as owner. In recent years, he's been seen less in ...

  Jorge Posada and Aaron Altherr get you into the "swing" of the new year.