One of the most electric moments in baseball over the last decade didn’t happen in October. It didn’t come under the weight of a 162-game grind, or for the prize of a Commissioner’s Trophy. It came in March, with two countries stopping time, holding their breath, as Shohei Ohtani toed the rubber 60 feet and … Read more
Padres reliever Yuki Matsui’s will not pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic and the left-hander’s status for San Diego’s season opener in a month also is unclear because of a left groin strain. Matsui was still throwing off flat ground Thursday, a week after cutting short a batting practice session because of the … Read more
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai threw a 10-pitch scoreless inning and was struck by a comebacker in his spring training debut for the Houston Astros on Thursday against the New York Mets. Imai allowed a leadoff single to Marcus Semien, whose sharp hit ricocheted off the pitcher’s lower right leg and went into foul territory. Imai … Read more
CC Sabathia’s No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since … Read more
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to make only one start for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, regardless of how far Team USA advances. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner wants to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day mostly with the Tigers. “The reason … Read more
Puerto Rico enters the 2026 World Baseball Classic as perennial contenders that demand immense respect. They’ve appeared in all five previous editions of the tournament and advanced past the group stage each time. They’ve reached the championships twice, a mark of their global impact and incredible talent depth. This year, their sky-high expectations haven’t changed … Read more
Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, has died at the age of 89. Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said: … Read more
Pete Alonso homered in his spring training debut for the Baltimore Orioles, providing the only runs in a 2-0 exhibition victory over the New York Yankees on Friday. In his third plate appearance in a big league uniform other than the New York Mets, Alonso pulled a first-pitch curveball over the fence in left-center field … Read more
Gerrit Cole reached 96.9 mph in his first session against hitters since the New York Yankees ace underwent Tommy John elbow surgery last March. The right-hander threw about 20 pitches of batting practice Friday, facing Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Jasson Dominguez at the Yankees’ spring training facility. He threw his first bullpen session a … Read more
No more yelling about an egregious strike-three call or a ball four that touched the zone. Or at least, not as often. The start of spring training games this weekend also marks the beginning of the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system that will be introduced to Major League Baseball for the first time in 2026. … Read more