Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jul 12
Team Victorino Wins Inaugural MLBx 48-39 as Rachel Garcia Claims MVP
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jul 12

Team Victorino Wins Inaugural MLBx 48-39 as Rachel Garcia Claims MVP

3 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jul 12

Summary

  • Team Victorino captured MLB’s first All-Star 3-on-3 title Sunday in Philadelphia, beating Team Howard 48-39 in the championship of the new four-team MLBx event.
  • Rachel Garcia drove the win, hitting a walk-off homer in the semifinal against Team Andruw Jones and posting a game-high 18 at-bat points in the final to earn MVP honors.
  • Alyssa Brito also stood out for Team Howard, blasting 16 home runs in her first semifinal at-bat and scoring 24 of her team’s 36 points in a win over Team Rollins.
  • Three former Phillies captained teams in the mini-diamond tournament—Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins—while Hall of Fame-bound Andruw Jones led the fourth and drew boos from the Philadelphia crowd.
  • MLB used the debut event to spotlight Athletes Unlimited Softball League players, with Garcia and Brito saying the All-Star Weekend stage helped push women’s softball to a wider audience.

Insights

Is MLB's new 3-on-3 event a genuine boost for women's softball or just a clever marketing ploy?
Could this fast-paced, celebrity-filled format be the future of diamond sports, eclipsing the traditional game?