Murray’s Breakout Continues With Field of Dreams Homer

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UNITED STATES – BJ Murray Jr. continues to make his case in the Chicago Cubs organization, and his latest highlight came on one of baseball’s most iconic stages.

The Bahamian infielder hit his 13th home run of the 2026 season for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in their 6-3 win over St. Paul at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.

Murray is now batting .296 with 13 home runs, 59 RBI, nine stolen bases and a .901 OPS this season.

His numbers have put him among the International League’s top offensive performers. Earlier this season, he led the league in batting average and was tied for the league lead in hits, while also ranking third in on-base percentage and extra-base hits.

MLB Pipeline currently ranks Murray number 25 in the Cubs organization, adding another layer to what has been an impressive 2026 campaign.

UB Mingoes MBB

Jay Philippe is moving to the university level, having been named the new head coach of the University of The Bahamas men’s basketball team.

Philippe brings a championship pedigree to the Mingoes, having built a successful programme at Sunland Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama.

He led the Stingrays to their first Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic title in 2020, then guided them to back-to-back titles in 2023, with Philippe named Coach of the Tournament after the second championship.

Philippe’s own basketball journey started as a player at Sunland. He went on to play collegiately at Virginia Intermont and Webber International University, where he was a point guard and two-time NAIA Division II Scholar-Athlete.

He later earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, with a minor in sports management, and an MBA.

Now, after years of developing young players and winning at the high school level, Philippe gets his chance to build the Mingoes into a force at the university level.

NBA

Three Bahamian NBA stars will get their first taste of preseason action with their new teams in October.

VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers are scheduled to open their preseason on October 8 against the Brooklyn Nets, with Philadelphia also set to face Boston twice.

Buddy Hield and the Atlanta Hawks are expected to begin their preseason campaign on October 5 at home against the Memphis Grizzlies, followed by games against San Antonio, Indiana, Oklahoma City and Dallas.

And Deandre Ayton and the Washington Wizards will open October 8 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Three Bahamians. Three NBA teams. And a new season ready to begin.