Morning Hustle : Your Daily Sports Fix
“Honouring hustle and heart.”
Good morning. Connor McDavid hit another milestone that reminds us we’re watching greatness in real time. Spencer Miles made the Blue Jays’ opening day roster after one of baseball’s unlikeliest paths. And in the NHL, Montreal found a timely boost while Ottawa’s playoff hopes ended. Let’s dive in.
🏆 Top Story:
After Surgeries and Setbacks, Spencer Miles Makes Blue Jays’ Opening Day Roster
Some baseball stories are built in spring training box scores. Others are built in hospital rooms, rehab sessions, and long stretches of uncertainty.
Spencer Miles made the Toronto Blue Jays’ opening day roster on Wednesday as a Rule 5 pick from the Giants, despite pitching just 14.2 professional innings in his career. The 25-year-old is set to make his major league debut Friday night after a path shaped by surgeries, setbacks, and long odds.
Miles arrived at Missouri as a 150-pound walk-on who could not crack 90 mph. By the time he left, he had added 40 pounds and 10 mph to his fastball, enough for the Giants to draft him in the fourth round in 2022.
Then came the setbacks.
A back issue that had first required surgery in high school resurfaced after he was drafted, costing him all of 2023. When he returned in 2024, a flexor strain eventually led to Tommy John surgery after only five rookie-ball appearances.
“I have two surgeries and no innings to show for it,” Miles said. “It’s a little surreal.”
Miles throws 98 mph and features three distinct fastball shapes, along with a hard, high-spin curveball that stood out this spring. At the Arizona Fall League, he struck out 32 percent of hitters and walked only one, helping put him on Toronto’s radar before the Rule 5 draft.
That Rule 5 status raised the stakes all spring. Miles needed to earn a roster spot or be offered back to San Francisco. After a rough start to camp, he delivered a perfect inning in his final outing, then waited through two more sleepless days for a decision.
On Wednesday, manager John Schneider finally gave him the news: Miles had made the team.
Friday at Rogers Centre, a pitcher who has never appeared above A-ball will make his major league debut. That unlikely path has carried him all the way to opening night.
⚡ Quick Hits
Iowa Continues March Madness Fairytale
Alvaro Folgueiras converted a critical three-point play and ninth-seeded Iowa beat Nebraska 77-71 in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday night. Bennett Stirtz scored 20 points and Folgueiras had 16 for the Hawkeyes (24-12), who knocked off top-seeded Florida in the second round on Folgueiras’ three-pointer in the closing seconds. Iowa’s unpredictable NCAA Tournament run continues under first-year coach Ben McCollum.
Aryna Sabalenka to Face Coco Gauff in Miami Open Final
Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 in the Miami Open semi-final Thursday night, setting up a final showdown with Coco Gauff. Gauff demolished Karolína Muchová 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final. Sabalenka stands one win away from winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same year for the first time in her career. “She’s a fighter,” Sabalenka said of Gauff. “I think it’s going to be a great battle.”
Jannik Sinner Dominates Path to Miami Semi-Finals
Jannik Sinner rolled into the Miami Open semi-finals with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Frances Tiafoe on Thursday. Sinner broke Novak Djokovic’s 2016 record for most consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 events earlier in the tournament. While many of the world’s top players have fallen in Miami, Sinner has remained in control as he chases the Sunshine Double after his Indian Wells title.
Roy Hodgson Returns to Management at 78
Roy Hodgson made a sensational return to management at age 78 with Bristol City after the Championship club sacked Gerhard Struber. Hodgson, who has been out of work since leaving Crystal Palace in February 2024, will take charge for the remaining seven games of the season. He last managed a second-tier club back in 1982.
Ilia Malinin Leads World Championships After Olympic Disappointment
Figure skater Ilia Malinin bounced back from his disastrous Winter Olympics performance by leading after the short program at the world championships on Thursday. The 21-year-old defending two-time world champion gave fans what they expected at O2 Arena in Prague.
Tom Brady Explored NFL Return But League Said No
Tom Brady says he explored returning to the NFL as a player but the league “don’t like that idea very much.” A league spokesperson said Brady, who turns 49 in August, would need to divest his stake in the Las Vegas Raiders if he wanted to play. Brady’s last NFL game came in January 2023. “I’m very happily retired,” Brady said.
Ireland and Wales Suffer World Cup Playoff Heartbreak
The Republic of Ireland lost to the Czech Republic in a penalty shootout after leading 2-0 after 23 minutes in their World Cup playoff semi-final Thursday in Prague. Wales also suffered shootout agony, losing 4-2 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina after Edin Dzeko’s late equalizer. Brennan Johnson spooned over his penalty and Neco Williams saw his shot saved.
Phillies’ Alec Bohm Sues Parents for Millions
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm sued his parents for millions of dollars, accusing them of siphoning money from financial accounts they managed for him and using some to pay their own expenses. The 29-year-old’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Philadelphia, came after his parents refused to give him access to the accounts or provide information about them. Daniel and Lisa Bohm deny any wrongdoing.
IOC Performs Dramatic U-Turn on Transgender Rules
The International Olympic Committee has executed one of the most dramatic policy reversals by a major sports governing body in recent memory. Just four and a half years ago, the IOC celebrated transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard’s Olympic appearance and declared that transgender women “should not be deemed to have an unfair or disproportionate competitive advantage.” Now, under new president Kirsty Coventry, the organization has torn up that guidance entirely, a sharp 180-degree shift that reflects a markedly different political and sporting climate.
🍁 North of the Border
Canadian hockey delivered milestone assists, playoff heartbreak, and timely breakthroughs on Thursday night.
Connor McDavid Reaches 800 Assists, Oilers Beat Golden Knights in OT
Connor McDavid reached 800 career assists and scored a goal in Edmonton’s 4-3 overtime win over Vegas on Thursday night, becoming the third-fastest player to reach that milestone.
McDavid got there in 785 games, behind only Wayne Gretzky (527 games) and Mario Lemieux (661). That’s it. That’s the list of players who got to 800 assists faster than Connor McDavid.
Evan Bouchard scored the overtime winner at 3:10, his 20th goal of the season. McDavid has 121 points this season and has scored four goals in three games. Matt Savoie, a 22-year-old rookie, scored his fourth point over six games since joining the top line.
The Oilers extended their Pacific Division cushion over Vegas to two points and are trending in the right direction at exactly the right time.
Canadiens’ Zachary Bolduc Ends 31-Game Goal Drought
Zachary Bolduc had his best game of the season Thursday night, setting up the opening goal and scoring the winner in Montreal’s 2-1 victory over Columbus.
The 23-year-old had gone 31 games without a goal since December 23 before finally breaking through. “It feels good,” Bolduc said. “It’s been up and down through the year and now I feel very comfortable on the ice and in the system.”
Bolduc arrived in Montreal under pressure to produce right away. A Quebec-born scorer with early NHL success in St. Louis, he scored in each of his first three games with the Canadiens before going quiet for 31 games.
In recent weeks, Bolduc has looked more decisive and far less hesitant. He was in the right place at the right time to feed defenseman Jayden Struble his first goal of the season. Then he potted the winner.
“I think when you play simple, you stop second-guessing yourself,” said Jake Evans. “He’s just making the right plays.”
On a rare night when the Canadiens’ top line missed the score sheet, unlikely sources of offence came through. That’s crucial with 11 games to go in a playoff chase bound to come down to the wire.
Senators Drop Out of Playoff Contention After Shootout Loss
The Ottawa Senators lost 4-3 in a shootout to Pittsburgh on Thursday night, officially dropping out of playoff contention.
Ben Kindel scored the shootout winner for the Penguins. After the game, goalie Linus Ullmark voiced his criticism of shootouts deciding games.
“I’ve always hated shootouts,” Ullmark said. “I’ve been a big advocate of playing 10 minutes instead. And if there’s no winner, you just go one point each. Guys have been battling for 65 minutes, really hard, long season. I think there’s a better way of deciding who’s going to be the winner.”
One bright spot: Tim Stutzle picked up his 400th point and became the youngest player in franchise history to reach the milestone.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby left after 38 seconds in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Blue Jays Return Home to Confront Game 7 Memories
The Toronto Blue Jays returned to Rogers Centre this week, 146 days after their extra-innings loss to the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.
Every person who was a member of the Blue Jays last fall carries some form of heartbreak. The winter gave players time to process the loss, but returning to Toronto reopened that wound ahead of Friday’s opener.
“It feels like we never left, to be honest,” said Kevin Gausman. “It feels like we’re getting ready for Game 8. Obviously, there’s no Game 8, but yeah, it was kind of a nostalgic feeling.”
Manager John Schneider was asked if the memories still impact his sleep. “Yeah, unfortunately,” he responded. “Let’s get to 7:07 p.m. tomorrow.”
A banner-raising ceremony will celebrate the 2025 American League champions before Friday’s game against the Athletics. Once Gausman throws the first pitch, the focus can finally shift to 2026.
“I’m not thinking of the post-season last year anymore,” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said. “I mean, obviously it was great. But right now I’m really focused on this season, starting tomorrow.”
💪 Hustle & Heart Highlight
Spencer Miles’ path to the majors was anything but straightforward. After a long stretch of setbacks, injuries, and uncertainty, he is headed to the big leagues with the Blue Jays.
What stands out is not just the destination, but the persistence it took to get there. His story is a reminder that some careers do not rise in a straight line. They survive detours, doubt, and long periods when nothing is guaranteed.
That kind of perseverance is worth honoring.
👊 Sign-Off
Connor McDavid joined Gretzky and Lemieux as the only players to reach 800 assists that fast. A 23-year-old Canadien ended a 31-game goal drought at exactly the right time. And in Toronto, opening day will feature one of the most unlikely debuts in baseball.
This is what sports gives us. The milestones that remind us we’re watching greatness. The breakthroughs that come after months of struggle. The dreams that survive when logic says they shouldn’t.
Go make your Friday count.
— The Daily Hustle Crew
What to Watch Today: The Blue Jays open their season at Rogers Centre against the Athletics at 7:07 p.m. ET. Sabalenka faces Gauff in the Miami Open final. Iowa continues their March Madness run.
