The Upper Deck

Welcome to The Upper Deck, Baseball America’s daily look at the biggest stories around the game and some lighter fare. If you have videos, GIFs, photos or stories you want us to know about and feature in this space, hit me up on Twitter at @vincelara or email me here.

When benches clear in baseball, it’s rare punches get thrown. But when Hunter Strickland drilled Bryce Harper in the hip with a 98-mph fastball, it touched off a brawl Monday.

In fairness, the two have history; This was the first time Strickland and Harper faced each other since the 2014 NL Division Series, when Harper hit two long homers off the Giants righthander.

SWIMMING UPSTREAM

The loss of Mike Trout for as much as two months because of a thumb injury brought the appropriate reaction on Twitter.

TROUT UPDATE: Mike Trout will have surgery on Wednesday to repair UCL in his left thumb. Typical timetable for return is 6 to 8 weeks.

— Angels (@Angels) May 30, 2017

@Angels pic.twitter.com/zAkX2266u3

— Jeremy Scheuch (@jeremyscheuch) May 30, 2017

DANCE THE DAY AWAY

The NCAA Tournament 64-team field was unveiled at noon ET Monday to various reactions. But it’s unlikely any team topped Oklahoma’s excitement.

Hyped🔥 pic.twitter.com/2PQVG0vzp0

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) May 29, 2017

Although St. John’s finding out at 30,000 feet is pretty cool.

When you find out you’re heading to regionals at 30,000 feet! #SJUBase @NCAACWS pic.twitter.com/93EfkqZCoq

— St. John’s Baseball (@StJohnsBaseball) May 29, 2017

FLIPPIN’ OUT

Yoan Moncada is the No. 2 prospect in baseball, but his little boy Robinson looks like he’s got a future in the game as well, judging from how he handles a bat.

Tee-ball dad and #1 @WhiteSox prospect @ymoncada19 reacts to his son’s bat flipping skills. #MoncadaMondays pic.twitter.com/sXxnORz2JL

— CSN Chicago (@CSNChicago) May 29, 2017

PUMPING GAS

Nate Pearson, the No. 32 player on our Top 200 MLB Draft Prospects, hit 101 mph Monday in a bullpen session.

LOMO GETS IT

Rays first baseman Logan Morrison did a nice thing before a game against the Rangers in Arlington.

Logan Morrison brought a young fan onto the field to warm up with him (📹: r/baseball) pic.twitter.com/E1H90G8Gs8

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 30, 2017

PAT ON THE BACK

Memorial Day was also Selection Monday in college baseball and BA’s college crew was not in holiday mode. We had our final Top 25 ranking until after the College World Series; Teddy Cahill nailing 63 of the 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament field, and John Manuel’s story on Davidson’s first NCAA berth

OFF TOPIC

Hall of Fame sportswriter, author and longtime Sports Illustrated contributor Frank Deford died Sunday in Key West, Fla. He was 78. SI has a rememberance and a gallery of classic Deford photos.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods was arrested early Monday for DUI, but said alcohol was not invovled.

Some copy editor has been waiting patiently their whole career for this exact Tiger Woods moment, so they could write this headline… pic.twitter.com/U1rAtYPswz

— Name cannot be blank (@Burgerboxx) May 30, 2017