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Dimitar Berbatov has thrown his weight behind Liverpool's struggling star Florian Wirtz and insisted that the German will emerge as an "unbelievable" player for the Reds. The 22-year-old, who was hailed as one of Europe’s brightest playmakers at Bayer Leverkusen, endured another difficult weekend in the Premier League as he was subbed off late during Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford, extending a run of sub-par performances.

• Wirtz struggling to adapt at Anfield

  Liverpool’s £116 million ($154.4m) summer signing from the Bundesliga is struggling for consistency and form at Merseyside. Wirtz dazzled with two assists in a 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last week, but under the Premier League’s unrelenting spotlight, the midfielder has yet to find his feet. 

  After being crowned English champions in May, expectations were sky-high at Anfield. Their record summer spending spree, which was aimed at securing back-to-back titles, has, however, been followed by an erratic start. Defensive lapses, particularly from set-pieces, have left Arne Slot exasperated. Meanwhile, long-ball counters continue to expose Liverpool’s backline. The usual fluidity has been missing in attack, while injuries to key men like Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong, and Ryan Gravenberch have further shredded Slot’s options, forcing him to constantly reshuffle. To make matters worse, even the talismanic Mohamed Salah has looked short of his lethal edge.

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  Berbatov urges for patience with Wirtz

  Amid the misery and disappointment, Wirtz has become an easy target, especially due to his hefty price tag. However, former Manchester United striker Berbatov, who knows a thing or two about adapting to the Premier League after his own move from Leverkusen to Tottenham in 2006, has firmly voiced his support in favour of the German. 

  Speaking on the podcast, Berbatov said: "I love him. He’s a fantastic player. He will be unbelievable, trust me. Hopefully, he will be patient. Hopefully, he’ll have good people around him, agent, family, whatever. Hopefully, the coach sees his quality like everybody sees him. I’m sure that everybody sees his quality, and they’ll give him that time that he needs to fit into the team. And I guarantee you, he’s going to be a success."

• 'Overcome the fear'

  Berbatov described Wirtz as a rare talent and praised his vision and match-reading capabilities. He even compared the youngster’s stature and style to one of football’s finest maestros Luka Modric, while defending his lean body structure. 

  "The way he sees football, how he looks for the space, how he knows how to position himself, the touches on the ball, the improvisation, the eye for the pass and for the goals," he said. "Of course, someone can argue that his physique is not that great for the Premier League. But then you can easily see the great players of his position, like Modric, also the same build. Modric. F***ing monster. It’s unbelievable. So give him time. I think he’s going to be unbelievable for Liverpool."

  Few players embody football patience like Berbatov, as the Bulgarian reflected on his own struggles, drawing parallels with Wirtz’s current situation. 

  "The same process was happening when I went to Leverkusen," he said. "In the beginning, it didn’t work out quite well. I needed to be patient. In Spurs, again, new environment, again, new people, new language, new everything. Again, the things were taking slowly to happen for me. I was thinking, maybe I need to go back.

  "But when I was thinking like this, then my other, not personality, but my other me, was telling me 'No, no, no, no. You see what happened in Leverkusen. Just be patient. Keep working. You have the quality. You deserve to be here. You wanted something to change. Now you’re here. Now be stubborn. Be patient. Keep working. Not sitting. It’s not going to fall like this on your lap. Work smart or hard. Try to know when, which when, and work. And it will happen'. You basically want to go to your safe place, your safe environment. But you need to have that motivation and that ambition in you as well to overcome the fear. So my ambition was bigger than my fear."

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  Slot searching for a spark

  Slot knows he must reignite belief within a squad that looks a shadow of last season’s champions. They looked sharp early in the campaign, with seven straight wins to open the season. But inconsistency has since crept in, exposing defensive gaps and creative fatigue. With crucial fixtures looming, including Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, Aston Villa in the league, and Real Madrid in the Champions League, Slot will be hoping that Wirtz can rediscover his Bundesliga brilliance. All the fixtures are at home, and this should act as a springboard for the Reds to revive their spiralling season. 

Barcelona are increasingly confident that Raphinha will return to action soon, as the Brazilian winger enters the final phase of his recovery from a hamstring injury. The 28-year-old has been out for six weeks, double the original estimate, but is expected to resume group training this week and could travel for the upcoming clash with Celta Vigo.

• Raphinha nears return as Barceona grow optimistic

  Barca are reportedly growing hopeful of welcoming Raphinha back into the fold after a six-week injury absence. The Brazilian winger, who last featured against Real Oviedo in September, sustained a hamstring injury that was initially expected to sideline him for three weeks. However, setbacks during his recovery prolonged his spell on the sidelines, sparking concern in Catalunya.

  According to , the 27-year-old is now entering the final stages of his rehabilitation and could rejoin full training in the coming days. Though he has not been included in the squad for the Champions League tie against Club Brugge, sources close to the Barcelona dressing room remain optimistic about his progress.

  “He’s in the final stretch of recovery,” a club insider told the Spanish outlet. As per the report, he has shown positive signs, and he might travel to Virgo and whether Raphinha features against Celta Vigo, however, will depend on how he responds in the final training sessions this week.

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  Hamstring injury setback prolongs recovery

  Raphinha’s injury occurred during the 65th minute of the match against Real Oviedo, forcing him off in visible discomfort. Medical tests confirmed a muscle tear in his right thigh, ruling him out for several weeks. The Brazilian began his recovery at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva facility but suffered a minor relapse just before Clasico, which ruled him out of that key fixture.

  During the week leading up to the match against Madrid, Raphinha participated in part of a group session on Wednesday but sat out training the following day. This prompted speculation of another setback, though the latest report quickly dismissed the rumours. “He simply wasn’t feeling ready to push himself,” the report clarified.

  That caution has defined Barcelona’s approach since then, and both the medical staff and head coach Hansi Flick have resisted setting a definitive return date, focusing instead on ensuring the winger is fully fit before returning to action.

• Ancelotti leaves Barca star out of Brazil squad

  Another sign of Barcelona’s conservative approach to Raphinha’s recovery came when Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti decided against including him in the squad for the upcoming international fixtures. The Brazilian Football Federation’s official announcement confirmed that Raphinha would remain in Spain, allowing him to continue his rehabilitation without added pressure.

  This decision is seen as a positive for both club and player, reducing the risk of a premature return. Even if he travels to Vigo, his involvement remains uncertain. Flick and his coaching staff do not want to rush the player back, particularly with crucial fixtures approaching after the international break.

  The winger has been limited to just seven appearances this season, six in La Liga and one in the Champions League, contributing three goals and two assists. His absence has been felt on and off the pitch, with Flick reportedly missing his leadership presence in training.

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  Flick's balancing act as Champions League fixture looms

  While Raphinha’s potential availability for the trip to Vigo offers a boost, Flick faces a delicate decision. The German coach has time and again emphasised the importance of not jeopardising long-term fitness for short-term gain. Even if cleared medically, Raphinha may only feature as a late substitute or remain on the bench as a precaution.

  Flick’s cautious stance stems from the crucial run of fixtures awaiting Barca after the international break, including matches against Athletic Club in La Liga and Chelsea in the Champions League. With injuries to key players already disrupting the rhythm earlier in the season, Flick’s focus remains on squad stability.

  Nevertheless, internally, the club is encouraged by Raphinha’s professionalism during recovery. While, the Barcelona will continue to monitor Raphinha’s condition closely in the days ahead. If all goes according to plan, the winger could make the traveling squad for the Celta Vigo clash, though his chances of playing remain slim. The focus will be on reintegrating him gradually, with a likely full return expected after the international break.

  The Blaugrana currently sit second in La Liga, five points behind leaders Real Madrid, and remain well-positioned in the Champions League despite an early loss to PSG. Flick’s men will face a crucial stretch of fixtures that could define their season. A fully fit Raphinha, capable of adding width, creativity, and leadership, would be a timely boost.

  For now, optimism has returned to Barca, both in terms of results and recovery. After a frustrating six-week layoff, Raphinha’s return could provide the spark the Catalans need heading into a decisive period.

Eddie Howe has insisted he is “100 per cent” committed to Newcastle amid speculation over Ruben Amorim’s future at Manchester United.

The 47-year-old’s name has been mentioned as part of an ongoing debate surrounding Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford, as he was when the England job became available after Gareth Southgate’s exit.

Howe "100 per cent" devoted to Newcastle

However, asked about his commitment to the Magpies, Howe said: “My commitment here is I’m all in. I’m 100 per cent here, I always have been. My family are still here, we’re fighting every day to try to make a success of what we’re doing.

“The season ahead could be a wonderful thing and that’s really what I want to focus on, trying to make a success of the games we have coming up.”

Howe was appointed as Steve Bruce’s replacement in November 2021 a matter of weeks after Amanda Staveley’s consortium completed its buy-out at St James’ Park.

The former Bournemouth boss took over a team fighting a relegation battle, but kept them up in some comfort and, aided by significant investment from its Saudi-backed owners, have kicked on.

Magpies defender Fabian Schar spoke early on in Howe’s reign about what the former Bournemouth boss had brought to Tyneside.

Newcastle are playing in the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and, in March, ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy when Howe guided them to Carabao Cup final glory.

For the second straight night, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance Wednesday to close out the 2024 World Series. But, also for the second straight night, the New York Yankees' offense have an answer.

Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty didn't last long on the bump in Game 5, as he allowed four earned runs on four hits and one walk over 1 1/3 innings. He was relieved of his duties in the second inning, walking off the mound with Los Angeles facing a 4–0 deficit.

Most of the damage arrived in the first inning, as Flaherty served up back-to-back homers to Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. According to Opta STATS, Flaherty is the first starting pitcher in World Series history to allow at least four runs and two homers while lasting less than two innings.

Not ideal.

If Los Angeles can't complete a comeback Wednesday night, they'll turn their attention to Game 6 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers haven't officially announced a probable pitcher for the rest of the series, although it's expected that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 6 and Walker Buehler will toe the rubber in Game 7 if neccessary.

Newcastle United head into another Champions League tie in mid-week off the back of a disappointing result in the Premier League on the road.

Before facing off against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in mid-October, and convincingly putting them to the sword 3-0 in Europe’s illustrious competition, the Toon had come up short away at Brighton and Hove Albion in a 2-1 loss on the South Coast.

Eddie Howe will hope he gets a similar response out of his troops when Athletic Club travel to Tyneside on Wednesday night, as Newcastle’s “passive” afternoon against the Hammers – as journalist Craig Hope put it – resulted in the away side coming away empty-handed from the London Stadium in a 3-1 loss.

Howe will have been left with lots to chew over from that defeat, as he cut a forlorn figure after the match, while Nuno Espirito Santo jumped for joy, as he momentarily stopped the West Ham rot.

The changes Eddie Howe must make vs Athletic Club

The usually mild-mannered Howe blasted his team’s performance as “unrecognisable” of what Newcastle is all about. Indeed, as Toon great Alan Shearer noted post-match, it was a “leggy” performance rather than an energetic one.

Joelinton, again, showed signs of his worrying decline against Nuno’s hosts, as the quiet Brazilian won just three of his seven duels during the 3-1 defeat.

Off the back of such a lifeless showing, both Lucas Paqueta and Freddie Potts dominated proceedings centrally for the East Londoners, as Paqueta scored a long-range bullet to level the match in the first half, while Potts also managed to win one more duel than the below-par number seven, on what was his first league start of the season.

He could be in danger of being dropped for the coming clash with the La Liga outfit; therefore, with Anthony Gordon also at risk of the axe, having lasted just 45 minutes at the London Stadium, before being taken off.

With no goals or assists next to his name in the Premier League this season, it isn’t a shock to see journalist Charlie Bennett state that the ex-Everton winger is “not undroppable”, heading into the St James’ Park clash on Wednesday.

But, as much as it’s slightly contentious whether the likes of Gordon and Joelinton will actually be dropped, it feels a far more pressing matter that this duo must be axed from the starting XI immediately.

Newcastle duo must never play together again

Halloween might well have been done for another year when West Ham and Newcastle locked horns, but the Toon’s defensive performance was still scarily below-par.

Heading into the showdown at the London Stadium, the relegation-threatened hosts had only managed to score a meagre seven Premier League goals all season long.

But, with Howe selecting Emil Krafth and Dan Burn as his two full-back options, the Hammers were in luck going forward, as can be seen by looking at their disastrous performances in greater detail.

Indeed, combined, the makeshift full-back partnership managed to win zero tackles and won just two of their seven duels.

Krafth would, thankfully, be put out of his misery at the half-time interval, but – when he was still on the pitch – he also failed to muster up one single successful dribble to try and turn his faltering team more of a front-foot threat.

Burn lasted the full 90 minutes, though, with the Blyth-born battler also failing to complete a single successful dribble, on top of squandering possession a costly 14 times.

As one analyst put it at the final whistle, both the underperforming number 17 and number 33 are more “centre-back profiles”, with Newcastle becoming “less dynamic” this season as a result of these two options being regularly chosen as limited full-backs.

Howe will pray he can call upon Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall in these problem areas, soon, with Hall back on the substitutes bench against the Hammers, after a lengthy spell out with an injury.

Kieran Trippier could also be available again for the test of Ernesto Valverde’s men on Wednesday night, as Howe now tries to put together a coherent XI, that removes the possibility of Krafth and Burn lining up as a car-crash duo.

Worse than Pope: Howe must drop Newcastle star who lost 100% ground duels

Eddie Howe has a lot of Newcastle United selection decisions to ponder over after his side collapsed to a 3-1 loss away at West Ham United.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 3, 2025

Florian Wirtz has been compared to Luka Modric, with Liverpool's struggling £116m signing being backed to silence his doubters just as the former Real Madrid midfielder did. Wirtz was considered one of the brightest midfield talents in the world at Bayer Leverkusen, but the Germany international has experienced a major dip in form since moving to the Premier League.

• Wirtz's underwhelming start to Anfield journey

  Liverpool spent a whopping £116 million ($154m) to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer transfer window. The talented German midfielder had also attracted interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but he opted to join the Premier League champions.

  Anfield fans were very excited at the time of Wirtz's arrival as they expected fireworks on the pitch from a world-class talent, but the 22-year-old has failed to live up to his potential and has been a disappointment at the start of the 2025-26 campaign. The Germany international has faced fierce criticism in England, but it has not affected the midfielder or his family, as his father Hanz recently told : "My thought from the very beginning was to wait and see how the first ten league games went," he said. "We and Florian are perfectly happy with that. The incredible speed, the back and forth, that was very impressive for the first few games. The distances covered and the speed were significantly greater. The style of play is sometimes enormously different because it doesn't seem as organised, but rather more focused on pace."

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  Wirtz compared to Modric

  Amid all the negative chatter around Wirtz's performances, former Premier League star David Bentley has come to the midfielder's defence while drawing a comparison to Real Madrid and Croatia legend Luka Modric. When Modric initially arrived at Tottenham Hotspur, he was initially panned by critics, however, the Croatian eventually went on to establish himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2018.

  Speaking to , ex-Spurs winger Bentley said: "He is an unbelievable player, so talented, fans and pundits have to stick by him. Yes he’s exactly the same [as Modric]. When Modric came through the door, he was exactly the same in the way he receives the ball, scans, he knows what he is doing. He was an unbelievably technically gifted player, and both can set the tone and tempo of a football match, so you have to stick with him."

• Nagelsmann defends Reds star

  Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has also backed Wirtz during this difficult period of his career. He even aimed a dig at the Liverpool attackers for failing to convert the chances Wirtz has been creating. Speaking to reporters, the Germany boss said: "Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates. They somehow don't like to shoot the ball in. To be honest, the overall situation doesn't make it easy for Flo either. The whole club isn't as stable this year as it was last year. It's much harder to slip into the team now. If you look at the game against [Manchester] City, they were actually the worse team over the 90 minutes. So it's also difficult for Flo to make a big impact. Ultimately, the overall situation is such that he just needs a little more time, which is normal; you see that with other players who move to the Premier League too. 

  "We all know what he's capable of, and it's perfectly normal for a player of his age to go through a bit of a dip in form. We can't expect him to perform at the same level for three years straight. Instead, we all need to support him a little bit so that he can clear his head here, and then maybe Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates. That would be one idea, because he does not create few chances, it's just that… they somehow don't like to shoot the ball in, that's also part of the truth."

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  Wirtz eyes comeback with Germany

  Wirtz has made it into the Germany squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches despite his poor club form. The former Leverkusen star will hope to make the most of the chances he gets during the international break to help Germany secure a World Cup berth and regain his form before returning to Anfield later this month. Germany are scheduled to take on Luxembourg on November 14, before facing Slovakia three days later.

Paul Skenes was a guest on Late NIght with Seth Meyers on Tuesday night. Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher, was there to promote MLB The Show 25 on the day it was announced he was one of the three cover athletes along with Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson.

Meyers made sure to cover a number of topics during the interview, including, but not limited to the 11-year old who recently found Skenes's one-of-one rookie card (which Meyers really wants to see), his stoic meme from when he won rookie of the year, the though process behind his mustache and even his relationship with Livvy Dunne.

Meyers showed the clip of Skenes messing around on gymnastics equipment and he ended up finding out that was actually a rather frustrating experience for the professional athlete. Not because it was embarrassing, but because he couldn't get out of that foam pit.

“The ball pit was genuine frustration," said Skenes. "I was genuinely pissed off. Those things are like ten feet deep. I’m tall, I’m not that tall. I’m just trying to throw the balls out, trying to get out. There’s nothing to grab onto."

Meyers joked that he must have been in there for hours, but Skenes reiterated his exasperation. "I was working up a sweat in the middle of November. It was pretty frustrating.”

So there you have it. Before you consider dating a gymnast keep in mind that they might encourage you to jump in a foam pit and it will be very difficult to get out. No matter how nice your mustache might be.

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign striker Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus for a much lower price than expected.

Particularly last season, much was said about Man United. The club endured what was, in terms of points return and league finish, their worst-ever Premier League campaign. Many of the club’s attacking options, such as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, struggled for form.

This, no doubt, contributed to their business ahead of the 2025/26 season. In what marked their first summer transfer window with Ruben Amorim as manager, the Red Devils signed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in what was a complete renovation of their attack.

The trio have since secured their places in the first team at Old Trafford, helping Man United record three successive Premier League wins for the first time under Amorim’s guidance before the draw at Nottingham Forest.

It would appear, however, that the Red Devils may look to further reinforce their attacking line in the upcoming January window.

Man United show interest in Vlahovic

As per TEAMtalk, Man United could pursue a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this winter. Such a transfer, however, would only be explored if there is first a departure. Zirkzee could leave, having lost his place in the first team due to both new signings and poor form.

Vlahovic, who reportedly earns £375,000 per week in Turin, will become a free agent in July if he does not depart Juve at an earlier date, having been unable to negotiate a contract extension with the club. Were Vlahovic to remain, he would seemingly have to take a pay cut.

Having been called a “superstar” for his ability, Vlahovic would be available for just £17.5 million according to TEAMtalk, in no doubt due to his contract situation. Were Zirkzee to depart permanently, it would presumably provide Man United with the adequate funds to pursue Vlahovic. Even if the Dutchman left only on loan, it would free up a position within their first-team for the 25-year-old.

Given his lack of minutes so far this season, it can be presumed that Zirkzee has fallen down the pecking order. In Vlahovic, Man United would be signing competition for summer signing Sesko which, in turn, could benefit the Slovenian international.

Reportedly, Man United are “informed” of Vlahovic’s situation, but “that does not mean they will necessarily pull the trigger on the move” and whether a transfer materialises remains to be seen.

"Deadly" Man United academy star is another Bruno Fernandes

Nigeria manager Eric Chelle has accused rivals on DR Congo’s coaching staff of “doing voodoo” during a fiery penalty shootout that ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup. With emotions running high towards the end of an encounter that finished 1-1 after extra-time, Chelle has insinuated that Congo turned to dark arts in order to prevail.

• Congo prevail in epic penalty shootout

  Congo ultimately won their shootout with Nigeria 4-3, allowing them to progress to the intercontinental play-offs. The Super Eagles are being left to reflect on what could have been, having also missed out on qualification for the 2022 World Cup.

  Chelle had been hoping to guide them back to the grandest of stages, but suffered heartache in a battle of wills from 12 yards. The Frenchman is, however, not convinced that he came unstuck in a fair contest. He has accused rivals of using witchcraft to help them over the line.

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  Nigeria boss accuses rivals of witchcraft

  Tensions escalated on both benches as Nigeria and Congo worked through their penalties. When Chancel Mbemba converted the winning spot-kick, Chelle rushed towards his opposing coaches. He attempted to confront a rival that had supposedly been insulting towards him.

  Sebastien Desabre, the French coach of the Democratic Republic of Congo, stepped in to restrain his fellow countryman. Former Valenciennes and Lens boss Chelle was still wound up when speaking to reporters at the end of a chaotic shootout.

  He told ESPN: “Throughout the entire penalty shootout, the guy from DR Congo was doing voodoo. Every time, every time, every time… That's why I was a little nervous against him.” Pressed further on what had gone on, Chelle mimed a swinging motion with his right arm and added: “Something like that… I don't know if it was water or something.”

• Will Chelle by sacked? Nigeria coach responds to criticism

  Chelle was appointed as Nigeria’s national team coach in January 2025. He has failed to lead them to another major tournament. Instead, DR Congo head into the play-offs, where they will be joined by New Caledonia, Bolivia, an Asian nation, and two from the CONCACAF zone – with two qualification spots up for grabs. DR Congo are looking to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country was called Zaire.

  It is a case of back to the drawing board for Nigeria, with captain William Troost-Ekong claiming that they can build towards a brighter future. He said: ‘We are devastated. I am proud of the boys, they gave everything, not just today, but over the past 10 months. There are plenty of positives to take away. The future of this team is promising… but today is a very difficult day.”

  Obvious questions have been asked of whether Chelle remains the right option to take the Super Eagles forward. He is, however, adamant that he is the best man for the job. Responding to inevitable sack speculation, he said: “I think you'd have to talk to the NFF and the commissioner because, actually, I did well. I worked and I will work. I tried to be at my best. We gave our best. The players, the coaching officials and everyone. So, if anything happens, I won't be the first.”

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  Osimhen injured? Nigeria's cause hampered by knock

  Nigeria’s cause against Congo was hampered by the early withdrawal of talismanic striker Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray frontman is often looked to for moments of inspiration when leading the line for the Super Eagles.

  He has 31 international goals to his name through 43 appearances, but will not be gracing the 2026 World Cup. The prolific 26-year-old had to be taken off at half-time against Congolese opposition. It is reported that he was nursing a hamstring injury that left him in no fit position to continue.

The Kansas City Royals suffered a big scare on Wednesday afternoon. In a spring training contest with the Seattle Mariners, superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got drilled by a 96-mph fastball on the arm. Witt was in clear pain after the HBP and left the game, telling manager Matt Quatraro that he initially lost feeling in his fingers but that it was beginning to return.

The team took Witt out anyway so he could go get precautionary X-rays. Here's the play:

A few hours later Witt and the Royals offered relief in the form of a positive injury update. KC announced Witt's X-rays were negative and he had not suffered a fracture. Witt followed that up with a social media message containing two emojis— the thumbs up and the prayer hands.

A big break for the reigning MLB batting champion.