Sports briefs 11/10
Baseball
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the American League Rookie of the Year award Monday night after a stellar all-around season that sets him up to be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade.
McGonigle – who played most of the season at just 21 years old – had a .278 batting average and .806 OPS with 18 homers, 72 RBI, 28 doubles and 12 stolen bases while splitting time between third base and shortstop. He’s the first Tigers player to win the award since pitcher Michael Fulmer in 2016 and the first Tigers infielder since Lou Whitaker in 1978.
Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart won the NL Rookie of the Year award after hitting 32 home runs and driving in 112 runs.
College football
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key fired four assistant coaches on Monday, two days after the Yellow Jackets’ fourth consecutive loss left the team in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference and assured of its first losing season since 2022.
Key expressed his frustrations following an ugly 44-17 home loss to Louisville on Saturday that left Georgia Tech at 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the ACC.
Following the loss, Key said he was unhappy with “The way we coach. The way we play. It’s embarrassing. It’s a joke. Starts with me.”
On Monday, Key announced widespread changes to his staff. Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jason Semore, offensive line coach Allen Mogridge, outside linebackers/defensive ends coach Kyle Pope and wide receivers coach Jafar Williams were fired.
Defensive backs coach Vinnie Sunseri will take over defensive play-calling duties.
College basketball
No. 15 Kansas will be without Melvin Council Jr. for the Champions Classic against Kentucky, and perhaps the remainder of the Jayhawks’ nonconference schedule, after the veteran guard broke a bone in his right foot during practice on Monday.
Coach Bill Self announced the injury a little more than 24 hours before the Jayhawks face the No. 24 Wildcats in Chicago.
“Melvin broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot during Monday’s practice and will have surgery in the next couple of days,” Self said in a statement. “We expect a full recovery and we’re hopeful he will return around the start of the conference season.”
• UCLA climbed into the top 10 in the first regular-season AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll of the season while Florida remained No. 1 and the top four were unchanged.
The Gators, who began the season with wins over then-No. 14 Miami and Jacksonville, earned six more first place-votes and had 53 of the 60 from a national media panel. Duke earned the other seven first-place votes, Illinois held down No. 3 in the poll, and UConn was fourth after winning an NCAA championship game rematch with then-No. 16 Michigan on Friday night.
Next up for the Gators is a rivalry game against Florida State.
Michigan State rounded out the top five, taking the place of Arizona, which lost its opener to the Bruins a week ago.
Virginia moved up three spots to sixth after a trio of wins last week, including a victory over then-No. 12 Arkansas. Texas and Houston were next, then UCLA and Louisville, which moved up one spot to round out the top 10.
Tennessee fell three spots to No. 11 after beating Wofford in its only game last week. Arizona dropped seven spots to No. 12.
Soccer
Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons.
The Inter Miami forward scored a league-high 26 goals this season. He also notched 17 assists and led the league with 43 goal contributions.
Messi edged out FC Dallas striker Petar Musa (22 goals) and Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge (21 goals) to take home the award just months after winning the Silver Boot at the 2026 World Cup while leading Argentina to the final.
Messi became the sixth two-time MLS Golden Boot winner, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips, Chris Wondolowski, Jeff Cunningham, Taylor Twellman and Preki.