Mlb

Scott Boeck USA TODAY Published 2:32 PM EDT May 21, 2019 One of the top amateur baseball prospects is making a unique career decision, foregoing his chance to be selected in this June's Major League Baseball draft to play overseas.   Right-handed pitcher Carter Stewart, who was the No. 8 overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 draft, agreed to sign with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, according to The Athletic. Terms of the deal are unknown, but it is likely to be more than he was asking from the Braves.  After failing to reach an agreement with the Braves in 2018 over concerns about a wrist injury, Stewart enrolled at Eastern Florida State Junior College, which made him eligible for this year’s draft. Instead, his decision to play in Japan will make his path to MLB a bit more difficult.  If he were eligible for 2019 draft, it's likely he would have been drafted in the first round … [Read more...] about MLB draft: Carter Stewart opts for Japan instead of 2019 draft

Bob Nightengale USA TODAY Published 3:39 PM EDT May 2, 2019 PHOENIX — They walked slowly out of the New York Yankees clubhouse down the corridor, took a left into a private family room, and were escorted into a bathroom. This is where Major League Baseball’s drug testers took several players Wednesday morning before their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, customary practice for a sport trying to avoid another steroids scandal. The trouble is that the drug testing police, trying to keep the sport as pure as possible, are hauling in the wrong guys. The ones who needed to be drug-tested are those five-ounce baseballs. In interviews this past month with everyone from pitchers to scouts to umpires to team officials, they informed USA TODAY Sports that today’s baseball may be juiced more than anyone’s body during the height of baseball’s ugly steroids era. “Come on, just tell us,’’ Boston Red Sox veteran starter David Price … [Read more...] about Is MLB’s ball juiced: Pitchers want the truth

Bob Nightengale USA TODAY Published 4:46 PM EDT Apr 23, 2019 MESA, Ariz. — Addison Russell, the old man on the diamond, walks off the field, plops into a golf cart, wipes the perspiration off his forehead and smiles weakly. Russell’s teammates with the Chicago Cubs left town a month ago. So did nearly all of the fans, except for two sitting in the bleachers over the weekend. Otherwise Russell is surrounded by a bunch of kids wearing Cubs’ uniforms, playing in the Arizona Rookie League, most of whom have yet to put a razor to their face. “There’s no one here with any facial hair,’’ Russell, 25, says. “I feel like, ‘Wow, I finally fit in now.’ “This brings you back to your roots, and reminds you why you played this game in the first place. It’s also the reminder that this is not where I’m supposed to be at in my life.’’ Russell knows he’s … [Read more...] about Addison Russell: With MLB suspension ending, reality sets in for Cubs shortstop

Paul Myerberg USA TODAY Published 10:02 AM EDT Apr 18, 2019 A high school baseball player in Ohio has done what no one in Major League Baseball history has done before: hit for the home run cycle. Taken alone, that Perrysburg High School junior Luke Borer hit four homers in a 22-14 win on Monday night puts him in elite company, tying him for the second-most in a single game in the state's high school history. But it's in the home runs themselves where Borer stands out. He hit a solo homer in his first at-bat, added a three-run shot in his second and a two-run blast in his fourth at-bat. In his fifth at-bat, Borer hit a grand slam. In his sixth and last appearance, Borer popped out with the bases loaded, according to The Toledo Blade. Borer hadn't hit a home run in his high school career heading into the game — so he was due, it seems. PITCHER ON UNWRITTEN RULES: MLB players couldn't survive other sports "I still can’t believe I even hit one," said Borer, … [Read more...] about Baseball: High schooler does something no MLB player has done with HRs

Michelle R. Martinelli For The Win Published 9:59 AM EDT Apr 17, 2019 Houston Astros pitcher Collin McHugh earned the win Tuesday night against the Oakland A's, but his real winning moment was not throwing the ball, but instead avoiding the line drive that shot back at him and threatened to destroy his face. Luckily, McHugh appears to have exceptional reflexes. Or maybe he entered "The Matrix." Either way, this dodge was wild. In Oakland for the first of a two-game series against the A's, Kendrys Morales lined a 90-mile per hour hit straight back at McHugh on the mound. Rather than getting drilled in the head, McHugh smoothly bent backward and avoided any real contact as the ball slid right under his chin. Amazingly, it only grazed McHugh's finger, per MLB.com, and Astos shortstop Carlos Correa fielded the ball and turned a double play. Naturally, baseball had 'The Matrix' jokes because of course. McHugh said he's seen "The Matrix" before, but that's not where his … [Read more...] about MLB: Astros pitcher dodges line drive with wild ‘Matrix’ move