There are so many factors that can derail a pitcher’s season. Injuries, sloppy defense, bad luck on balls in play, trouble stranding runners, losing feel for a particular pitch — all of these and more can make it tough for even the most talented arms to get the results they are capable of producing. But … Read more
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Now that Red Sox righty Hirokazu Sawamura has adapted to life in the Major Leagues and in the United States, he decided to let his hair down — literally. “I’m planning on cutting it at some point if there’s any Japanese hair stylists [around],” Sawamura joked through his interpreter. The hair … Read more
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — There was an uncommon buzz at Clover Field on Tuesday evening as Jacob deGrom took the mound for the first time in eight months, carrying the weight of a fan base on his shoulders. With each pitch, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Grapefruit League games may not matter much, but … Read more
TEMPE, Ariz. — Right-hander Noah Syndergaard made his Angels spring debut on Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts over three innings in a Minor League game against the D-backs’ High-A affiliate. Syndergaard, who signed a one-year deal worth $21 million in November, threw 50 pitches with 34 going … Read more
JUPITER, Fla. — By the standards of most, Nolan Arenado’s 2021 season — one that saw him win a ninth straight Gold Glove Award and make the All-Star team a sixth time, all while helping the Cardinals reach the playoffs — was a spectacular one . However, by Arenado’s own impossibly high standards, some of … Read more
GLENDALE, Ariz. — During the recruitment of Freddie Freeman, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went through the exercise many times. He played with different lineup combinations. They all looked good to him. They all included Freeman near the top of the order. For the first time since the first baseman signed a six-year, $162 million deal, … Read more
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — It appears that Reds ace Luis Castillo will not be able to take the ball to pitch on Opening Day and possibly not during the first time through the rotation because of a right shoulder issue. “I felt a little bit of soreness in my shoulder once we got into training and … Read more
PHOENIX — There are athletic families, and then there is the veritable Olympic team that is the Turang clan of Corona, Calif. The patriarch, Brian, is a one-time Brewers Draft pick who made it to the Major Leagues as a Mariners utility man in the early 1990s. The matriarch, Carrie, played in the NCAA softball … Read more
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Although camp is freshly underway, the Guardians are already 2 1/2 weeks from Opening Day and have to start thinking about paring their roster down. On Monday, the Guardians began sending some of their big league pitchers to the mound for the first time of Cactus League play — a trend that’s … Read more
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Rays top prospect Shane Baz underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow on Monday, the club announced, and will be shut down from throwing for two to three weeks. Baz came out of his Spring Training bullpen session on Tuesday feeling “outstanding,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said, … Read more