MLB

Associated Press Feb 28, 2024, 04:30 PM ET Open Extended Reactions SURPRISE, Ariz. — Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out three batters over two scoreless innings in his exhibition debut Wednesday, giving a glimpse into why the Los Angeles Dodgers believe the Japanese right-hander can become a big league ace. Yamamoto opened by striking out Texas Rangers

ESPN News Services Feb 28, 2024, 09:00 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Sonny Gray will be the first St. Louis Cardinals pitcher since Kyle Lohse in 2008 to make his debut for the team with a start on Opening Day. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced Tuesday that Gray would get the nod March 28 on

Associated Press Feb 28, 2024, 05:32 PM ET Open Extended Reactions PHOENIX — Hector Ortiz, who spent the past 18 years as a manager and coach in the Texas Rangers organization, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 54. The Rangers said Ortiz died at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, not far

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 28, 2024, 06:10 PM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions MESA, Ariz. — At some point in a long offseason, Cody Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, understood they might have to pivot from their desire for a long-term

Associated Press Feb 27, 2024, 04:48 PM ET Open Extended Reactions GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani needed just three exhibition at-bats to show what a $700 million man can do for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese star hit a two-run homer in his first game wearing Dodger blue on Tuesday, working a full count

Associated Press Feb 27, 2024, 06:27 PM ET Open Extended Reactions FORT MYERS, Fla. — Byron Buxton patrolled center field for the Minnesota Twins for the first time in 554 days. Healthy after two consecutive seasons ended with knee surgeries, the 2022 All-Star made his spring training debut at bat and, most importantly, in the

Field Level Media Feb 27, 2024, 03:04 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Detroit Tigers starter Casey Mize appeared in a major league game Tuesday for the first time in 22 months following his recovery from Tommy John and back surgeries. Mize, who was the first pick of the 2018 MLB draft, threw 1⅔ innings, giving

Associated Press Feb 27, 2024, 08:27 PM ET Open Extended Reactions It was a mixed bag for Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in his first start of spring training. Manoah hit three batters and threw just 17 of 38 pitches for strikes while working 1 2/3 innings of four-run ball during Tuesday’s 6-4 loss

Field Level Media Feb 27, 2024, 12:47 PM ET Toronto Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson has left spring training to tend to his 4-year-old son, Toby, who was hit by a car and airlifted to a hospital on Sunday in Clearwater, Florida. Blue Jays manager John Schneider made the announcement about the boy’s injury at

Jeff Passan, ESPNFeb 27, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Open Extended Reactions SURPRISE, Arizona — During the first week of spring training, Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux returned to the team’s clubhouse after watching a live batting