Associated Press Feb 22, 2025, 08:09 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DUNEDIN, Fla. — Changing one ball to a strike can completely alter an inning. Saturday was proof of that, when the New York Yankees used the automated ball-strike system to turn a strikeout into a walk, then went on to score three runs in
MLB
Field Level Media Feb 21, 2025, 04:39 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Reds manager Terry Francona plans to opt out of elective participation in the automated ball-strike challenge trial during spring training but is willing to let Cincinnati’s minor league players accustomed to the procedure use the system. ABS allows pitchers, hitters and catchers an
Associated Press Feb 22, 2025, 02:11 PM ET Open Extended Reactions PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Juan Soto homered in his first spring training at-bat for his new team, hitting a solo shot to left-center field in the first inning for the New York Mets against the Houston Astros on Saturday. Soto signed a record
Open Extended Reactions For nearly a half-century, the New York Yankees‘ facial-hair policy kept the visages of some of the world’s most famous baseball players whisker-free. Over the past week, with a nudge from a new player and the advice of an All-Star cast, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner changed the face of the Yankees. Literally.
Jorge CastilloFeb 21, 2025, 05:10 PM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024. Open Extended Reactions TAMPA, Fla. — New
Alden GonzalezFeb 21, 2025, 08:00 AM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016. Open Extended Reactions GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sometime around mid-August last year, Mookie Betts convened with the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ coaches. He had taken stock
Jesse RogersFeb 20, 2025, 07:59 PM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet became the first player to challenge a ball/strike call in a major league game when he asked for a review of a fastball to
Associated Press Feb 20, 2025, 05:16 PM ET Open Extended Reactions GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was hit in the head by a line drive on Thursday during the team’s spring training against the Chicago Cubs, but was able to walk off the field. The scary moment happened in the third
Jorge CastilloFeb 20, 2025, 11:26 AM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024. Open Extended Reactions TAMPA, Fla. — The
Buster OlneyFeb 18, 2025, 11:50 AM ET Close Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com Analyst/reporter ESPN television Author of “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty” Open Extended Reactions Hurricane Milton wrecked the Tampa Bay Rays’ ballpark last fall, leaving them without a stadium. For this season, they will play their home games in the Yankees’ spring
Associated Press Feb 19, 2025, 04:32 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DUNEDIN, Fla. — His spot at the top of the batting order no longer secure and his statistics trending downward, George Springer has plenty to prove as he enters the penultimate season of his six-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager John Schneider
ESPN News Services Feb 19, 2025, 10:05 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Rafael Devers turned the hot corner into hot-topic material before Alex Bregman had time to back out of a perceived territorial dispute with the Boston Red Sox. Devers emphatically stated Monday he believes third base is his position in response to whether he
Jesse RogersFeb 18, 2025, 10:27 AM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs are in agreement with free agent corner infielder Justin Turner on a one-year, $6 million contract, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The deal is pending a
Alden GonzalezFeb 18, 2025, 08:58 PM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016. Open Extended Reactions PHOENIX, Ariz. — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday called payroll disparity a principal concern throughout the industry but
Open Extended Reactions DUNEDIN, Fla. — First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays failed to come to terms on a contract extension by his Monday night deadline, paving the way for the 25-year-old star to hit free agency in November. “They have their numbers; I have my numbers,” Guerrero said Tuesday. Guerrero,
ESPN News Services Feb 17, 2025, 03:38 PM ET Open Extended Reactions TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge wasn’t that surprised by Juan Soto‘s decision to sign with the crosstown New York Mets but disagreed with his former teammate about which team is in a better spot to compete for championships. Soto passed on a competitive
Open Extended Reactions Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and the Diamondbacks are in agreement on a four-year, $45 million contract extension that includes a club option for 2030, sources told ESPN on Monday, locking up the All-Star to a deal that deepens Arizona’s already strong core. The contract starts in the 2026 season and keeps the 25-year-old
Alden GonzalezFeb 17, 2025, 11:28 AM ET Close ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016. Open Extended Reactions TEMPE, Ariz. — Mike Trout arrived at spring training on Sunday and took part in a meeting with the Los Angeles