Before MLB’s newest trophy was offered up as the prize in a competition between the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, it had to pass through the hands of Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder.

The custom Fender Telecaster guitar, named the Vedder Cup, is said to have been played by its namesake for “about an hour” before it was shipped off to T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Read more: in March, when the longtime rivalry became official.

“We can’t wait to see this rivalry series grow and look forward to battling the Mariners for the Vedder Cup,” Padres Chief Executive Erik Greupner added.

The rivalry, such as it is, arose from forces both real and manufactured, apparently. Vedder has strong ties to both cities, having grown up in San Diego, then moved to Seattle to start Pearl Jam with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament — hence, the “Vedder” Cup.

Also, upon the introduction of interleague play in the late ’90s, MLB looked for “natural” rivalries between teams like the Padres and Mariners. This year, the league canonized the rivalry, which is said to have begun as geographic, given both teams’ West Coast homes, Reuters reports.

Read more:‘Power’ actor Alix Lapri arrested on suspicion of cruelty to children

The two teams have met almost annually since 1997. In the informal all-time series, Seattle currently leads 68-63. Additionally, they share a training complex in Peoria, Ariz.

Some fans are still left with questions as to why the competition has turned official, with one claiming on Reddit that “padres and mariners fans literally give no s— about each other.”

Still, they conceded it is “likely the most meaningless and yet kinda fun thing in MLB.”

The trophy was in the spotlight Monday when the teams met for the fourth time this season. The Mariners notched a 9-6 victory over the Padres, taking the season series after three previous wins in San Diego. The Padres beat the Mariners Tuesday, 7-6, and the final game is Wednesday, but the contest has already been decided. Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ switch-hitting, homer-hammering catcher, known as “Big Dumper,” hoisted and played the trophy in celebration Monday night.

Read more:Sting sued by former the Police bandmates over ‘Every Breath You Take’ royalties

The name and logo for the cup were first shown off in March, but its final design wasn’t finished until the weeks leading up to the fixture.

“Typically on a custom build like this it will take us six months or so to source the wood, get everything mapped out ready to go and take our time to vet the process, apply the graphics, do some test runs,” Chase Paul, director of product development for Fender, told the Seattle Times. “On this we just kind of headed into it in parallel with testing and the production version at the same time, and kind of getting it ready to go.”

In all, it took Fender eight or nine weeks to get the work done, which Paul called a “really incredible effort by the team in the shop.”

Naturally, Vedder doesn’t want the trophy guitar to sit on a shelf for the next year while it’s in the Mariners’ possession. According to Webb, “He wants it to be played.”

Read more:If Taylor Swift broke Ticketmaster, why does DOJ’s Live Nation lawsuit invoke a little déjà vu?

“That’s his attitude with everything. It’s a living, breathing instrument. It sounds great,” he added.

As an added bonus to fans, the league announced it would give away limited-edition Vedder Cup hats during the last 2025 game between the two on Wednesday.

To no surprise, the exclusive ticket package that included the hats has sold out.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

As the 2025 MLB season reaches its final month, there has been plenty of talk about the race for MVP in each league. But one contest that has become more interesting as the season has gone along is the race for Rookie of the Year. Defined by their young age and their speed in getting to the big leagues, there’s plenty of superstar potential in the group.

There’s also a lot of depth in the 2025 rookie class. Marlins catcher Agustín Ramirez, Astros outfielder Cam Smith, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins and others have begun to make names for themselves this season. 

But a few rookies have been a cut above and are now the leading candidates to take home some hardware in their first big-league season. Let’s take a look.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

No rookie has impacted his team’s postseason chances as much as Red Sox breakout sensation Roman Anthony. Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect coming into the season, had high expectations at the age of 21. But once the Red Sox moved on from Rafael Devers, they wasted no time pivoting to their superstar of the future. After debuting June 9, the rookie outfielder slowly got acclimated to his new life in the big leagues, but as he has found his footing, his production has skyrocketed.

Since July 18, Anthony has a robust .306/.420/.492 slash line with four homers. As Boston’s new leadoff hitter, he has thrived while setting the table for the Red Sox’s lineup.

The biggest thing that has stood out in Anthony’s rookie season is his command of the strike zone. Not many players in baseball ever flirt with a .400 on-base percentage, yet the rookie outfielder is doing just that in his first year, showing that his command of the zone is advanced beyond his years. It’s one of the things that has made him a perfect fit for manager Alex Cora atop of the lineup.

Anthony has a chance to be a superstar in this sport, which is one of the reasons the Red Sox gave him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension. If Boston makes a run in the postseason, Anthony will likely be a major reason behind its success.

Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs

It has been a tale of two seasons for Cubs right-hander Cade Horton. Chicago’s hard-throwing rookie had his fair share of ups and downs after arriving in the big leagues in May. But once he had a chance to catch his breath at the All-Star break, Horton returned to the Cubs’ rotation as a different pitcher.

Over the past two months, particularly in August, he has pitched his way into being the front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Horton has been the best starter in baseball in the second half, with his 0.49 ERA the lowest in the game in that span. He has allowed very few baserunners in the second half, with a .784 WHIP, and even when runners have reached, they’ve rarely scored, as Horton has left 97.9% of them on base, which also leads MLB.

The pitch that has helped the Cubs’ rookie thrive lately has been his four-seam fastball, which has a .136 batting average against in August. Horton having full command of his fastball allows his sweeper, which has also been good (.150 BAA), to be even more effective.

Starting pitching has been the biggest question for the Cubs in 2025, but so far in the second half, they’ve answered that. Along the way, Horton has put himself in the conversation for NL Rookie of the Year, and he might very well be the Cubs’ best starting pitcher once the postseason arrives.

Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves

Of all the players in baseball who have been talked about as candidates for Rookie of the Year, few had less hype around them coming into this season than Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. He made Atlanta’s roster out of spring training only because of an injury to Sean Murphy. But once the season began, he quickly showed that he was more than capable of being an every-day option behind the plate.

Baldwin’s best attribute has always been his bat, which helped him move quickly through Atlanta’s farm system. And as a catcher who can swing it, Baldwin’s offensive prowess has allowed him to stand out in the big leagues. Atlanta’s catcher ranks second among all rookies in RBI, fourth in OPS and fourth in home runs.

Murphy was supposed to get the lion’s share of time behind the plate for the Braves in 2025. But Baldwin’s arrival and production in the veteran’s absence forced Atlanta to find a permanent place for the 2022 third-rounder, and now he looks to be the Braves’ catcher of the present and future.

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

It’s not often that a player becomes his team’s best hitter less than a year after being drafted, but that’s exactly what Nick Kurtz has done. After flying through the Athletics’ farm system, the 2024 first-round draft pick made his way onto the big-league roster in April and burst onto the scene. Kurtz really made his presence known with a four-homer game against the Houston Astros in July, but even before then, the A’s first baseman was slugging his way into the Rookie of the Year race.

Kurtz’s power stands out, with his homers routinely going a country mile. But even as a young player, he has shown an aptitude for hitting at a high level. Since the All-Star break, Kurtz has a ridiculous .390/.500/.764 slash line with 10 homers, and his 1.264 OPS is an MLB-best over that stretch. Kurtz is also leading rookies in almost every offensive category this season, including OPS, homers, RBI, runs scored, walks and slugging percentage.

The A’s as a whole have disappointed this season, but in a year of strong rookie performances, Kurtz has easily been baseball’s best. And he has shown he’ll be a force in the middle of the A’s lineup for years to come.

As the 2025 MLB season reaches its final month, there has been plenty of talk about the race for MVP in each league. But one contest that has become more interesting as the season has gone along is the race for Rookie of the Year. Defined by their young age and their speed in getting to the big leagues, there’s plenty of superstar potential in the group.

There’s also a lot of depth in the 2025 rookie class. Marlins catcher Agustín Ramirez, Astros outfielder Cam Smith, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins and others have begun to make names for themselves this season. 

But a few rookies have been a cut above and are now the leading candidates to take home some hardware in their first big-league season. Let’s take a look.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

No rookie has impacted his team’s postseason chances as much as Red Sox breakout sensation Roman Anthony. Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect coming into the season, had high expectations at the age of 21. But once the Red Sox moved on from Rafael Devers, they wasted no time pivoting to their superstar of the future. After debuting June 9, the rookie outfielder slowly got acclimated to his new life in the big leagues, but as he has found his footing, his production has skyrocketed.

Since July 18, Anthony has a robust .306/.420/.492 slash line with four homers. As Boston’s new leadoff hitter, he has thrived while setting the table for the Red Sox’s lineup.

The biggest thing that has stood out in Anthony’s rookie season is his command of the strike zone. Not many players in baseball ever flirt with a .400 on-base percentage, yet the rookie outfielder is doing just that in his first year, showing that his command of the zone is advanced beyond his years. It’s one of the things that has made him a perfect fit for manager Alex Cora atop of the lineup.

Anthony has a chance to be a superstar in this sport, which is one of the reasons the Red Sox gave him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension. If Boston makes a run in the postseason, Anthony will likely be a major reason behind its success.

Cade Horton, RHP, Chicago Cubs

It has been a tale of two seasons for Cubs right-hander Cade Horton. Chicago’s hard-throwing rookie had his fair share of ups and downs after arriving in the big leagues in May. But once he had a chance to catch his breath at the All-Star break, Horton returned to the Cubs’ rotation as a different pitcher.

Over the past two months, particularly in August, he has pitched his way into being the front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Horton has been the best starter in baseball in the second half, with his 0.49 ERA the lowest in the game in that span. He has allowed very few baserunners in the second half, with a .784 WHIP, and even when runners have reached, they’ve rarely scored, as Horton has left 97.9% of them on base, which also leads MLB.

The pitch that has helped the Cubs’ rookie thrive lately has been his four-seam fastball, which has a .136 batting average against in August. Horton having full command of his fastball allows his sweeper, which has also been good (.150 BAA), to be even more effective.

Starting pitching has been the biggest question for the Cubs in 2025, but so far in the second half, they’ve answered that. Along the way, Horton has put himself in the conversation for NL Rookie of the Year, and he might very well be the Cubs’ best starting pitcher once the postseason arrives.

Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves

Of all the players in baseball who have been talked about as candidates for Rookie of the Year, few had less hype around them coming into this season than Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. He made Atlanta’s roster out of spring training only because of an injury to Sean Murphy. But once the season began, he quickly showed that he was more than capable of being an every-day option behind the plate.

Baldwin’s best attribute has always been his bat, which helped him move quickly through Atlanta’s farm system. And as a catcher who can swing it, Baldwin’s offensive prowess has allowed him to stand out in the big leagues. Atlanta’s catcher ranks second among all rookies in RBI, fourth in OPS and fourth in home runs.

Murphy was supposed to get the lion’s share of time behind the plate for the Braves in 2025. But Baldwin’s arrival and production in the veteran’s absence forced Atlanta to find a permanent place for the 2022 third-rounder, and now he looks to be the Braves’ catcher of the present and future.

Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

It’s not often that a player becomes his team’s best hitter less than a year after being drafted, but that’s exactly what Nick Kurtz has done. After flying through the Athletics’ farm system, the 2024 first-round draft pick made his way onto the big-league roster in April and burst onto the scene. Kurtz really made his presence known with a four-homer game against the Houston Astros in July, but even before then, the A’s first baseman was slugging his way into the Rookie of the Year race.

Kurtz’s power stands out, with his homers routinely going a country mile. But even as a young player, he has shown an aptitude for hitting at a high level. Since the All-Star break, Kurtz has a ridiculous .390/.500/.764 slash line with 10 homers, and his 1.264 OPS is an MLB-best over that stretch. Kurtz is also leading rookies in almost every offensive category this season, including OPS, homers, RBI, runs scored, walks and slugging percentage.

The A’s as a whole have disappointed this season, but in a year of strong rookie performances, Kurtz has easily been baseball’s best. And he has shown he’ll be a force in the middle of the A’s lineup for years to come.

After blowing three of his past four save opportunities, Milwaukee Brewers All-Star closer Trevor Megill landed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday. The team announced that he has a flexor strain in his right arm, and his designation is retroactive to Monday.

The Brewers currently boast a 6.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and their 83 wins are at least five more than that of every other team in the majors.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

But as they try to close out the division and the top spot in the NL playoff field, the Brewers will have to endure a stretch without one of the best closers in baseball. Even with his recent struggles, Megill is tied for third in MLB with 30 saves this season.

Megill’s 99.2 mph average fastball velocity is in the 98th percentile of major-league pitchers, according to MLB.com, which also charted his 30.7% strikeout rate in the 91st percentile. 

The 31-year-old righty has registered a 2.54 ERA this season while recording 58 Ks and issuing 17 walks. He’s the cherry on top of a strong and deep Brewers bullpen that has helped them post a blistering 44-15 record since June 19.

That said, Megill hasn’t had his best stuff of late, and his injury explains his sudden drop-off in reliability this month. In his past four appearances, he allowed four runs, three of them earned, and seven hits. He last took the mound on Sunday, when he tied a season high with 34 pitches in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. In the process, Megill conceded a leadoff double, a one-out single and a two-out single that drove in the tying and winning runs.

Although Megill has notched just one save in his past four chances, the Brewers have lost only one of those outings.

This Milwaukee team is resilient. Its latest hurdle will be Megill’s absence as the calendar turns to September.

After blowing three of his past four save opportunities, Milwaukee Brewers All-Star closer Trevor Megill landed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday. The team announced that he has a flexor strain in his right arm, and his designation is retroactive to Monday.

The Brewers currently boast a 6.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, and their 83 wins are at least five more than that of every other team in the majors.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

But as they try to close out the division and the top spot in the NL playoff field, the Brewers will have to endure a stretch without one of the best closers in baseball. Even with his recent struggles, Megill is tied for third in MLB with 30 saves this season.

Megill’s 99.2 mph average fastball velocity is in the 98th percentile of major-league pitchers, according to MLB.com, which also charted his 30.7% strikeout rate in the 91st percentile. 

The 31-year-old righty has registered a 2.54 ERA this season while recording 58 Ks and issuing 17 walks. He’s the cherry on top of a strong and deep Brewers bullpen that has helped them post a blistering 44-15 record since June 19.

That said, Megill hasn’t had his best stuff of late, and his injury explains his sudden drop-off in reliability this month. In his past four appearances, he allowed four runs, three of them earned, and seven hits. He last took the mound on Sunday, when he tied a season high with 34 pitches in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. In the process, Megill conceded a leadoff double, a one-out single and a two-out single that drove in the tying and winning runs.

Although Megill has notched just one save in his past four chances, the Brewers have lost only one of those outings.

This Milwaukee team is resilient. Its latest hurdle will be Megill’s absence as the calendar turns to September.