BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar took the mound in a game again. That was more than enough on Saturday.Farquhar's spring training appearance for the New York Yankees was his first game since the 32-year-old reliever collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout on April 20 because of a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage. The right-hander got one out and was charged with five runs in an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates."I felt great out there," Farquhar said. "I was happy to be back on the mound. Obviously, the results weren't great but I call it a good day. I felt like a baseball player, again."Farquhar allowed three hits and walked two while throwing 19 pitches in the fourth inning. He is in camp with the Yankees on a minor league deal."The fact that he's on the mound and gotten to this point is pretty awesome," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I found myself a little more emotional than I even thought. Even though it didn't go great, I think he really appreciated how special... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — After spending his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, Michael Brantley likened joining the Houston Astros to going to a new high school.Those first day butterflies quickly dissipated, and the outfielder is fitting in famously with his new teammates. He has already moved into a leadership role on this veteran team."One of the best things about this locker room is when I came in, everybody was willing to help and make me feel comfortable and talk," he said. "You come in every morning, you look around and everybody's smiling and playing cards, and it's just a great atmosphere all-around that they created."The free agent outfielder signed a $32 million, two-year contract with Houston in December after spending his first 10 seasons with the Indians.Manager AJ Hinch has admired Brantley and is just as impressed after seeing him up close for the past couple of weeks."He fits in perfectly," Hinch said. "He could walk in all 30 clubhouses and immediately garner... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — On the morning of his spring debut Saturday, Alex Bregman woke up early because of a nightmare about being hit by a pitch.Hours later, as Houston's third baseman prepared to take the field against the New York Mets following his recovering from surgery on his right elbow, he was still thinking about his dream. He asked a teammate to borrow a guard to cover his other elbow.The move proved fortuitous: On his third and final plate appearance, Bregman was plunked by Jeurys Familia on the protected elbow. Infield prospect Alex De Goti, who provided the guard, became Bregman's hero."De Goti saved my life today or else I would have been on the shelf for a minute with the other elbow," Bregman said laughing.Bregman was limited early this spring after having arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in January. He said after the game that both elbows were OK, but that the surgically-repaired one felt better than the other, which was bruised from the pitch."I'm fine," he... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The biggest play from the Phillies' spring training game Thursday: great communication behind the home dugout.Philadelphia fans with an eye on their smartphones cried out when reports emerged that Bryce Harper had agreed to a deal with the Phillies, breaking the news to manager Gabe Kapler and his players during a 5-5 split-squad tie with the Orioles. Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year deal with the club, the largest contract in baseball history. Harper's agent, Scott Boras, said the deal was agreed to shortly before noon, subject to a successful physical."If the reports are true, it's a huge moment for our baseball team," Kapler said. "Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper. I think he would be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning."A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the $325 million, 13-year agreement outfielder Giancarlo... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The biggest play from the Phillies' spring training game Thursday: great communication behind the home dugout.Philadelphia fans with an eye on their smartphones cried out when reports emerged that Bryce Harper had agreed to a deal with the Phillies, breaking the news to manager Gabe Kapler and his players during a 5-5 split-squad tie with the Orioles. Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year deal with the club, the largest contract in baseball history. Harper's agent, Scott Boras, said the deal was agreed to shortly before noon, subject to a successful physical."If the reports are true, it's a huge moment for our baseball team," Kapler said. "Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper. I think he would be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning."A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the $325 million, 13-year agreement outfielder Giancarlo... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jose Altuve struck out three times in his second game since offseason knee surgery and will return to second base for the Houston Astros on Saturday.Altuve had surgery just after last season ended to repair a broken right kneecap and had two plate appearances in his spring training debut on Monday. Despite Altuve's 0-for-3 afternoon, Astros manager AJ Hinch was encouraged by Altuve's performance in Houston's 7-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday."He wasn't too far off," Hinch said. "It's very rare for him to swing and miss on the strike threes. But he's in a really good place physically and even timing-wise, right on time."The 2017 American League MVP and six-time All-Star will play the field for the first time this year when the Astros visit the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie."I have no concerns with him, it's just a matter of repetition," Hinch said. "It's the first time post-surgery but I'm not apprehensive about putting him out there ... based on how... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Marwin Gonzalez was Houston's do-everything utility player for the last few years.Replacing him is probably going to be a team effort.Gonzalez signed a $21 million, two-year deal with Minnesota on Monday, making official what the Astros seemed to know all offseason: they're going to need new depth around the diamond. Gonzalez played every position except pitcher and catcher during his seven seasons with Houston.The player most likely to mimic Gonzalez is 2016 All-Star Aledmys Diaz, who was acquired from Toronto in November. Houston is also hoping first baseman Yuli Gurriel can bounce around the infield a bit more."I want to see Diaz play all four infield positions and potentially two outfield positions on the corner," manager AJ Hinch said. "We may not have enough time to do that as much as we want. As fun as it sounds, that's lot to ask out of one guy, but I would like to move him around a little bit."Diaz has experience at most of those positions. The 28-year-old... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston AstrosManager: AJ Hinch (fifth season).2018: 103-59, first place, lost to Boston in ALCS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/18.He's Here: OF Michael Brantley, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Wade Miley, INF Aledmys Diaz.He's Outta Here: INF-OF Marwin Gonzalez, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Charlie Morton, DH Evan Gattis, LHP Tony Sipp, C Brian McCann, C Martin Maldonado.Going campin': The Astros won a franchise-record 103 games last season and reached the ALCS. But mounting injuries and inconsistent play led to their elimination by Boston in five games and kept them from repeating as champions after winning their first World Series title in 2017. Houston returns aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, who are both coming off great... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for the AL Rookie of the Year award along with two New York Yankees infielders.The Baseball Writers' Association of America revealed the finalists for its major awards Monday night. The winners will be announced next week.Ohtani figures to be in a tight race with Yankees infielders Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres after a historic first season with the Los Angeles Angels. The two-way Japanese sensation was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA as a starting pitcher before an elbow injury forced him off the mound. He finished out the season exclusively as a designated hitter, hitting .285 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs.Ohtani is the first player ever to hit 15 home runs and strike out 50 batters in a season, and he joined Babe Ruth as the only players ever to hit 15 homers and pitch 50 innings. He had Tommy John surgery after the season and is not expected to pitch in 2019.Andujar hit 47 doubles, tied for the second-most by a rookie in major league history, while... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for the AL Rookie of the Year award along with two New York Yankees infielders.The Baseball Writers' Association of America revealed the finalists for its major awards Monday night. The winners will be announced next week.Ohtani figures to be in a tight race with Yankees infielders Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres after a historic first season with the Los Angeles Angels. The two-way Japanese sensation was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA as a starting pitcher before an elbow injury forced him off the mound. He finished out the season exclusively as a designated hitter, hitting .285 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs.Ohtani is the first player ever to hit 15 home runs and strike out 50 batters in a season, and he joined Babe Ruth as the only players ever to hit 15 homers and pitch 50 innings. He had Tommy John surgery after the season and is not expected to pitch in 2019.Andujar hit 47 doubles, tied for the second-most by a rookie in major league history, while... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Christian Yelich made it to the World Series, just not the way he hoped.The Milwaukee Brewers star accepted the Hank Aaron Award as the outstanding offensive player in the National League before Game 3 between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Boston slugger J.D. Martinez was the AL recipient.Yelich and the Brewers were one win shy of reaching their first World Series since 1982, but lost to the Dodgers in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series. Yelich said he isn't over the disappointment yet, but he's tried to move on."To be that close is definitely disappointing, but like I said earlier, use that as motivation throughout the offseason and into next season," Yelich said. "It was a great learning experience for us as a team and I think it's going to help us going forward."Yelich and Martinez each won the award despite being in their first seasons with their respective clubs. Yelich, acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins, led the NL with a .326... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Christian Yelich made it to the World Series, just not in the manner he had hoped.The Milwaukee Brewers slugger accepted the Hank Aaron Award prior to Game 3 between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Boston's J.D. Martinez was the American League recipient of the award.Yelich and the Brewers were one game shy of getting to their first World Series since 1982 as they lost to the Dodgers in seven games in the National League Championship Series. Yelich said that he isn't over the disappointment yet, but that he has tried to move on."To be that close is definitely disappointing, but like I said earlier, use that as motivation throughout the offseason and into next season," Yelich said. "It was a great learning experience for us as a team and I think it's going to help us going forward."Yelich and Martinez won the award despite being in their first seasons with their respective clubs. Yelich, who was acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins, led the NL with a... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had surgery on his right knee, one day after Houston was eliminated by Boston in the AL Championship Series.Altuve was the AL MVP in 2017, when he hit a major league-leading .346 with 24 homers and 81 RBIs as the Astros won their first World Series title.He was on the disabled list for the first time this year, missing 21 games while sidelined from July 28 to Aug. 21. Altuve hit .316 with 13 homers and 61 RBIs and manager AJ Hinch said the six-time All-Star was playing pretty much on one leg during the postseason.Altuve batted .250 with two RBIs in the five-game loss to the Red Sox, who will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.Houston announced the operation on Saturday and did not say where it took place Friday. The Astros said he is expected to be ready for spring training.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros entered the AL Championship Series aching.Jose Altuve was playing on just one good knee, Carlos Correa's back was never right and Lance McCullers was pitching through an injury that will likely require surgery.Now the Astros are hurting even worse, done after losing four straight to the Red Sox to end their bid to repeat as champions."The heart of this team really (is) unparalleled," said ace Justin Verlander, whose big season helped the Astros go deep in the playoffs. "We had guys playing through so much. I'm not going to name anyone specifically, but I think you could see some of it on the field and how hard guys were grinding trying to help us win."It was a disappointing end for the Astros to a stellar year in which they won a franchise-record 103 games to capture the AL West for a second straight season. The Astros had no trouble in the division series, sweeping the Cleveland Indians to set up a meeting with the 108-win Red Sox.The Astros won Game 1,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Correa has been moved from seventh to fourth in the Houston Astros' batting order for Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.Astros manager AJ Hinch made the switch for his team's must-win game Thursday night after Correa had three hits and drove in two runs in Game 4. It was the first multi-hit game this postseason for Correa, the shortstop who has struggled with back problems for months."At the end of the day he's a middle-of-the-order bat. I've been wanting to get him back in the middle of the order," Hinch said. "Why not now? There may be no tomorrow, literally."Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland, who injured his right hamstring in Game 2 of the AL Division Series, gets his first start in the ALCS.Alex Bregman was still in the leadoff spot for Houston and Jose Altuve was the designated hitter for the third game in a row because of his bruised right knee."He's playing on one leg. If this was the regular season there's no way he could play,"... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was sure he'd hit a tying home run for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series. He thought it was a double, at least, when he watched the ball ricochet back onto the field.Then, he saw the signal: He was out, and couldn't believe it.Altuve's potential homer was wiped away when umpire Joe West ruled that fans reaching for the ball interfered with Boston right fielder Mookie Betts attempting to make a leaping catch.Now Houston's chances to repeat as World Series champions are nearly out of reach after an 8-6 loss Wednesday night that put the Red Sox ahead 3-1 in the best-of-seven matchup."I normally don't get mad at the umpire's call. That one, I was a little upset," Altuve said. "All of a sudden, it wasn't even a double, it was an out. Two runs the game ended up ... that make me a little bit more upset."Denied Altuve's two-run drive in the first inning, the Astros wound up falling two runs short."That's just a tough call right now," said Houston's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer in the first inning for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series after fans reaching for the ball interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt to make a leaping catch.Now Houston's chances to repeat as World Series champion are nearly out of reach.The Astros recovered from that early gut punch to take the lead — including homers by George Springer and Tony Kemp well over that same right field wall. But Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the second night in a row for the Boston Red Sox in an 8-6 victory Wednesday, putting them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.Houston has lost three in a row since winning the series opener 7-2 at Fenway Park on Saturday night.Justin Verlander, 6-1 in eight postseason games for Houston, including a win in Game 1 of this ALCS, starts Thursday night with the season on the line.After Boston scored twice in the first inning for the second night in a row, it appeared the Astros might have... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer in the first inning for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series after fans reaching for the ball interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt to make a leaping catch.Now Houston's chances to repeat as World Series champion are nearly out of reach.The Astros recovered from that early gut punch to take the lead — including homers by George Springer and Tony Kemp well over that same right field wall. But Jackie Bradley Jr. homered for the second night in a row for the Boston Red Sox in an 8-6 victory Wednesday, putting them up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.Houston has lost three in a row since winning the series opener 7-2 at Fenway Park on Saturday night.Justin Verlander, 6-1 in eight postseason games for Houston, including a win in Game 1 of this ALCS, starts Thursday night with the season on the line.After Boston scored twice in the first inning for the second night in a row, it appeared the Astros might have... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was denied a potential two-run homer for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series when umpires ruled at least one fan interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt at a leaping catch above the right-field wall Wednesday night.Crew chief Joe West, working the right-field line at Minute Maid Park, signaled fan interference after the Boston Red Sox outfielder was unable to make the grab and the ball ricocheted back onto the field.The call stood after a replay review that lasted 3 minutes, 13 seconds. Altuve was ruled out and teammate George Springer was sent back to first base.A fan wearing an orange Astros jersey, who identified himself as Troy Caldwell, insisted he wasn't reaching out over the yellow line atop the 7-foot-high fence when the ball hit his hand."That ball was gone no matter what," said Caldwell, a lifelong Astros fan from Houston who now lives in Atlanta.While Betts didn't say anything to the fans, Caldwell said he immediately started getting... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve has been denied a potential two-run homer for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series when umpires ruled at least one fan interfered with Mookie Betts' attempt at a leaping catch above the right-field fence.Crew chief Joe West, working the right-field line Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, signaled fan interference after the Boston Red Sox outfielder was unable to make the grab and the ball ricocheted back onto the field.The call stood after a replay review that lasted 3 minutes, 13 seconds. Altuve was ruled out and teammate George Springer was sent back to first base.A home run by Altuve would have tied the score at 2 in the first inning. Boston leads 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.Betts jumped and it appeared that fans reaching for the ball made contact with his glove as he extended it above the wall . The ball then glanced off the side of Betts' glove and touched fans reaching to catch it.Boston took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run single by Rafael Devers.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports