Baseball News

San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui's status for Japan in the World Baseball Classic could be in doubt after the left-hander ended a batting practice session early due to left groin tightness.

Pete Alonso said he was "happy to break the seal" on his stint in Baltimore by homering over the left-center-field fence in his spring training debut Friday.

Gerrit Cole reached 96.9 mph in his first session against hitters since the New York Yankees ace had Tommy John elbow surgery last March.

Minnesota right-hander Pablo Lopez will have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery, expected once the Twins discovered their ace's torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh were promoted Friday to replace two retiring umps. Jen Pawol, MLB's first woman ump, will work spring training for the third straight year.

Munetaka Murakami was a late arrival for his first spring training game with the Chicago White Sox.