If Your Birthday is April 3rd...

...you share it with Jay Bruce, whose 14 big league seasons included time with both New York teams and both Ohio clubs, as well as the Mariners and Phillies.  Power was his calling card -- he slugged 319 homers, including five seasons with 30 or more and another with 29. 

Hayden Senger waited eight years to finally reach the majors.  The Mets 24th round draft choice in 2018 suited up for Kingsport, Columbia, Brooklyn, Binghamton and Syracuse before making his MLB debut in 2025.  Injuries to and then a bout of subpar play by Francisco Alvarez led to Senger appearing in 33 games for the Mets.  This year, he's back in Syracuse, insurance against Alvarez or backup Luis Torrens missing time.

(Below:) And we remember the late Wally Moon.  The 1954 NL Rookie of the Year with the Cardinals was traded to the Dodgers five years later, collecting three World Series rings during his time in L.A.  1959 was his standout season -- as the lefty hitter mastered the art of opposite field hitting, leading the league in triples with 11 and batting .302.  I snapped this photo when he appeared at the Dodgers 50th anniversary in L.A. celebration.



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