Shohei Ohtani figured he’d be careful in his return to the mound after two injury-spoiled seasons. A few batters in, the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation reached back for a little extra — and brought back some of the buzz that surrounded his major league debut three years ago. Ohtani reached 100 mph with his fastball and showed off his signature splitter while striking out five over 1 2/3 innings in the Angels’ 7-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The right-hander allowed a run, three hits and two walks, struggling to command his slider but showcasing the arm strength and stuff that allowed him to dominate in the majors before Tommy John surgery in 2018. “Since this was my first game, I wasn’t planning on letting it go in the beginning, especially early in counts,” Ohtani said via translator. “As the game went on, I felt better and I started throwing harder, but I think that led to me cutting the ball a couple times, so it’s something I have to work on.�... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Chapman lunged to his right for a diving stop on a sharp grounder by Kurt Suzuki, leapt to his feet and fired a one-hopper to first in plenty of time for the out. Chapman returned to his familiar spot at third base for the Oakland Athletics on Friday for the first time in nearly six months, and playing the hot corner again sure felt right for the two-time Platinum Glove winner. The 27-year-old Chapman played in only 37 games during the pandemic-shortened 60-game 2020 season because of a right hip injury that required surgery in September. So it's easy to understand why the slick fielder felt so happy — not to mention reassured — getting back out there and doing his thing with confidence in the A's 7-3 loss to the AL West rival Angels in Mesa, Arizona. “My hip didn't bother me,” he said. "Going to make that play, I didn't really think about anything, just make that play, got up, made the throw. It's nice to kind of test it, see where it's at.” He... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Get ready for another season — hopefully, the last — of the most hapless act in sports. Pitchers trying to pass themselves off as hitters. Pity those like Atlanta phenom Ian Anderson, who's not exactly looking forward to stepping into the batter's box for the first time since the 2019 Double-A season, when he went 0 for 15 with 11 strikeouts. “I think my first at-bat was my hardest hit and it kind of went downhill from that," Anderson recalled. ”I haven’t hit in quite some time. So don’t expect too much.” It didn't have to be this way. Major League Baseball and the players union could have come to a reasonable compromise that allowed the designated hitter in both leagues, as they did during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. But, of course, the two sides managed to botch the talks. Now, the DH isn't expected to come up again until next winter, when it will be part of the knock-down, drag-out brawl over a new labor agreement. For National League pitchers,... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Outfielder Jarrod Dyson returned to the Kansas City Royals, finalizing a $1.5 million, one-year contract on Friday. The 36-year-old, who helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series, can earn $250,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $50,000 each for 350, 400, 450, 500, and 550. Dyson was a 50th-round pick by the Royals in the 2006 amateur draft and played for the Royals from 2010-16. He stole 176 bases, sixth in team history and two behind Frank White. Dyson helped the Royals win the 2014 AL pennant and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth and final game of the 2015 World Series at the New York Mets. He entered in the 12th inning as a pinch-runner following Salvador Pérez's single and scored on Christian Colón's single off Addison Reed for a 3-2 lead in a game the Royals won 7-2. He signed with Seattle for 2018 and Pittsburgh for 2020. The Pirates traded him to the Chicago White Sox last Aug. 28, and Dyson finished the pandemic-shortened season with a .180 average and five RBIs in 61 at-bats. Dyson earned $740,741 in prorated pay from a $2 million salary. Dyson has 256 stolen bases, including a career-high 36 in 2014. The left-handed hitter has a .246 career average with 21 homers and 175 RBIs. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Shohei Ohtani figured he’d be careful in his return to the mound after two injury-spoiled seasons. A few batters in, the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation reached back for a little extra -- and brought back some of the buzz that surrounded his major league debut three years ago. Ohtani reached 100 mph with his fastball and showed off his signature splitter while striking out five over 1 2/3 innings in the Angels’ 7-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The right-hander allowed a run, three hits and two walks, struggling to command his slider but showcasing the arm strength and stuff that allowed him to dominate in the majors before Tommy John surgery in 2018. “Since this was my first game, I wasn’t planning on letting it go in the beginning, especially early in counts,” Ohtani said via translator. “As the game went on, I felt better and I started throwing harder, but I think that led to me cutting the ball a couple times, so it’s something I have to work on.�... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The 144 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources. For players with minor league contracts, terms for major league contract base salaries are in parentheses: AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (3) — Signed Freddy Galvis, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Wade LeBlanc, lhp, to a minor league contract $700,000); signed Matt Harvey, rhp, Kansas City, to a minor league contract ($1 million). BOSTON (4) — Signed Kiké Hernández, of-inf, Los Angeles Dodgers to a $14 million, two-year contract; signed Garrett Richards, rhp, San Diego, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Martin Pérez, lhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Marwin Gonzalez, inf, Minnesota, to a $3 million, one-year contract. CHICAGO (2) — Signed Adam Eaton, of, Washington, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Liam... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson's spring training began with an early setback when he cut his finger. A rookie mistake by a player who hasn't even made his major league debut yet. “I was in charge of dinner that night, and I was making this little corn salsa, and there was a can of beans to put in it," the Detroit infield prospect said. "The Airbnb didn’t have a can opener, and we tried to improvise, and we learned our lesson.” Torkelson reacted with good humor to that mishap, and it hasn't changed his outlook for the season. He started at third base in Friday's 1-1 tie with the New York Yankees — and anything he does in these next few weeks will take on added significance. The Tigers are now well into their rebuilding process, and they have a handful of promising prospects. That includes two of the last three players selected No. 1 overall in the draft — Torkelson and right-hander Casey Mize. If everything goes as planned, those two may be at the center of the next succes... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Domingo Germán pitched two scoreless innings for the New York Yankees in his spring training debut Friday, a week after publicly apologizing for actions that led to his 2019 suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. There was no noticeable reaction from the socially distanced crowd of 2,352 at Steinbrenner Field when Germán took the mound to start against the Detroit Tigers. "I felt welcomed,” Germán said through a translator. Germán struck out four and allowed one hit, a double by Wilson Ramos. The 28-year-old righty walked none. “Exciting to be back on the field, be back with my teammates,” Germán said. ”I felt relaxed, confident.” Germán was 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA for the Yankees when MLB put him on administrative leave while investigating an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend, with whom he has at least one child. Germán missed the final nine games of the regular season and all nine of New York’s... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Early in training camp, Indians slugger Franmil Reyes overheard one of the team's clubhouse attendants who was cleaning baseballs comment that they didn't seem as lively this year. “He was like, ‘Oh my God, these balls are not flying anymore,’” Reyes said. “And in his ear I was like, ‘Let’s see when Franmil hit it, let’s see how far it goes.’” Reyes laughed and broke into a big smile — as big as his swing. In an exhibition game on Wednesday, Reyes turned on a pitch from Arizona's Taylor Widener, shooting the ball skyward through the thin desert air before it struck the bottom of the left-field scoreboard at Goodyear Ballpark. It was one of those shots that travels outside the ballpark, the kind that reaches other clubhouses and players talk about for days. “That was a real good swing,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I don’t care what time of the year it is, that’s a good swing.” Before he ran toward first base, Reyes paused br... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Pitcher Sam Dyson was suspended for the 2021 season by Major League Baseball on Friday under the domestic violence policy of the league and the players' association. The 32-year-old free agent last played in 2019 for San Francisco and Minnesota. MLB began investigating Dyson in 2019 after a woman wrote two lengthy social media posts alleging domestic violence by an unnamed individual. The woman later told The Athletic that Dyson physically abused her. The Athletic reported she provided photos showing bruises on her arms she said were caused by Dyson. She also claimed Dyson physically harmed her cat. “My office has completed its investigation," baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Dyson violated our policy and that discipline is appropriate.” MLB said Dyson will participate in a confidential evaluation and treatment program supervised by its joint policy board. Dyson is 24-2... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Get ready for another season — hopefully, the last — of the most hapless act in sports. Pitchers trying to pass themselves off as hitters. Pity those like Atlanta phenom Ian Anderson, who's not exactly looking forward to stepping into the batter's box for the first time since the 2019 Double-A season, when he went 0-for-15 with 11 strikeouts. “I think my first at-bat was my hardest hit and it kind of went downhill from that," Anderson recalled. ”I haven’t hit in quite some time. So don’t expect too much.” It didn't have to be this way. Major League Baseball and the players union could have come to a reasonable compromise that allowed the designated hitter in both leagues, as they did during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. But, of course, the two sides managed to botch the talks. Now, the DH isn't expected to come up again until next winter, when it will be part of the knock-down, drag-out brawl over a new labor agreement. For National League pitchers,... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Houston Astros are minus eight pitchers because of COVID-19 protocols, but general manager James Click said there were no plans to pause activity at the team’s spring training camp. Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that pitchers Cristian Javier, Pedro Báez, Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes and Hector Velazquez were out. On Thursday, Baker said pitchers Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco and Luis Garcia were sent away from the complex. It was not known whether the eight pitchers had tested positive for the virus or had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive. There was no exact timetable for their return, but they must quarantine for at least a week under Major League Baseball’s health and safety protocols. Earlier this week, the Astros lost starter Framber Valdez when he suffered a broken left finger while fielding a ball in an exhibition game. The Astros aren’t in any danger of running out of pitchers, however. They list 23 pitchers on t... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Boone felt something was wrong. “I guess I was having more episodes this winter of just kind of getting up and feeling real light-headed and almost like at times was going to pass out and just having more days of fatigue on simple matters," the New York Yankees manager said Friday. “So that caused me to want to reach out and just go get checked up.” Boone had open heart surgery on March 26, 2009, while he was a player with the Houston Astros, a procedure to correct a swelling of the aorta. The condition had been first discovered when he was in college. He underwent yearly checkups since and said electrocardiograms this winter came back good, with no change, But when Boone was monitored for several weeks, he was found to have a heart rate as low as 30-39 beats per minute, well below the 60-100 considered normal for adults. So he left the Yankees on Wednesday to have a pacemaker inserted at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Boone was discharged Thur... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Houston Astros are minus eight pitchers because of COVID-19 protocols, but general manager James Click said there were no plans to pause activity at the team’s spring training camp. Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that pitchers Cristian Javier, Pedro Báez, Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes and Hector Velazquez were out. On Thursday, Baker said pitchers Bryan Abreu, Ronel Blanco and Luis Garcia were sent away from the complex. It was not known whether the eight pitchers had tested positive for the virus or had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive. There was no exact timetable for their return, but they must quarantine for at least a week under Major League Baseball’s health and safety protocols. Earlier this week, the Astros lost starter Framber Valdez when he suffered a broken left finger while fielding a ball in an exhibition game. The Astros aren’t in any danger of running out of pitchers, however. They list 23 pitchers on t... [More]

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams says the shoulder soreness that kept the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year from pitching in the playoffs shouldn’t impact his readiness for the start of the season. Williams also doesn’t expect it to hamper his comfort level in throwing the changeup that became one of baseball’s most unhittable pitches last season. “I’ve been throwing my changeup for a month and a half, two months now,” Williams said Friday from the Brewers’ spring-training site in Phoenix. “So it’s in a good spot. I’m not worried about it.” The Brewers are being cautious with Williams as he works his way back. The 26-year-old right-hander says he doesn’t expect to make his Cactus League debut until after the Brewers’ second scheduled off day, which is March 17. Williams noted that he has done three bullpen sessions already and added that “everything’s been going according to plan.” “Everything has gone well,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’re... [More]

Willie Calhoun knew he was comfortable facing left-handed pitchers again after fouling off a curveball in the spring training opener. The Texas Rangers outfielder didn't flinch or bail out of the batter's box. There were no flashbacks to last March, when he remembers waking up in the hospital, but not the exact moment during a spring training game when a fastball hit the left-handed hitter in the face and broke his jaw. “I was like, OK, I actually feel good now,” Calhoun said Thursday. “I think that curveball kind of got me back in there because it looked like it was going to hit me, but I was able to stay through it. ... I hit it on the barrel, it was just foul." After drawing a walk in the first inning Thursday against San Diego's MacKenzie Gore, Calhoun has faced left-handers in all three of his games this spring. He has a single and two walks in four such plate appearances. It was a year ago next Monday that Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías, his former minor league teammate... [More]

After the worst season of his career, Ender Inciarte is eager to show he’s not washed up. The Atlanta Braves outfielder batted just .190 in the pandemic-shortened year and was left off the roster for all three rounds of a postseason run that came up one win short of the World Series. “I was really sad,” Inciarte said. “I'm not going to lie — it was one of the toughest moments I've had to deal with since I've been a professional baseball player.” Even though top prospect Cristian Pache is tabbed as the center fielder of the future, Inciarte is getting a chance to win back his starting job this spring. He’s still just 30 years old, but this is a key season heading into the final year of a five-year, $30.5 million contract that includes a team option for 2022. “In my head, I’m always going to be a starting player,” Inciarte said. “I don’t want to put in my head that I’m a backup player. Once you start thinking like that, you go one step back. I always try to thin... [More]

Oneil Cruz insists he's a shortstop. One problem: genetics. The Dominican Republic native was 6-foot-1 or so 16-year-old when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him. The tools — particularly the power and arm strength — were evident. So was the potential. That potential has only grown over the last half-decade plus. So too, however, has Cruz's frame. The 22-year-old has stretched out to 6 feet, 7 inches during his slow steady rise through Pittsburgh's system after being acquired as part of a trade that sent reliever Tony Watson to Los Angeles. And as much as he'd love to follow in the footsteps of the late Tony Fernandez and play shortstop in the big leagues, his body might not give him the chance. Fernandez, a five-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glover winner during his 17 seasons, dazzled at the position at 6 feet, 2 inches. Cruz blew past that number long ago. “To this day I’m still praying that I stop growing,” Cruz said with a smile on Thursday. It might already be too ... [More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Five months after elbow surgery, Rhys Hoskins was back in the lineup taking big swings. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger was 1 for 3 with an RBI single as a designated hitter in a 15-0 win over the New York Yankees on Thursday. “I felt strong, felt normal,” Hoskins said. “If you’re asking me, there’s no reason why I won’t be ready for opening day, barring something really weird happening.” Hoskins didn’t hesitate to dive back to first base on a pickoff attempt, landing on his surgically repaired left elbow. “It was nice that I reacted like I normally would,” he said. “I hadn’t really done that yet. I was able to get up and say, ‘There’s another check mark.’” Hoskins anticipates playing first base next week but still has plenty of time to be ready for the season opener on April 1. He’s a major part of an offense that tied for fifth in the majors in runs scored last season. Batting mostly out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup, Ho... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will hold its first Lou Gehrig Day on June 2, adding Gehrig to Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente on the short list of players honored throughout the big leagues. Each home team will have “4-ALS” logos in ballparks to mark Gehrig’s No. 4, and all players, managers and coaches will wear a Lou Gehrig Day patch on uniforms and may use red “4-ALS” wristbands. Teams that are off on June 2 will observe Lou Gehrig Day on June 3. MLB said Thursday that the day will focus on finding cures and raising money for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which is known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the legacy of Gehrig and others who died of the progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body. Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty, who lost his mother Gretchen to ALS almost three years ago, said he's thrilled MLB is honoring Gehrig and raising awareness for the disease. “It's something our o... [More]