March 2025

There were 1,679 posts published in March 2025 (this is page 53 of 168).

Austin Wells homers twice, Carlos Rodon solid in final spring start as Yankees beat Tigers

Austin Wells continued his hot hitting and Carlos Rodon was solid in his final spring start as the Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, in Lakeland.

Here are the takeaways…

-Earlier in the day, Dominic Smith opted out of his contract with the Yankees and was removed from the lineup. Barring any last-minute changes, the Yankees are content with the lefties they have in the lineup/bench and it was proven right early in this one.

Wells led off the game smashing a 3-2 fastball over the right field wall. But the left-handed catcher wasn’t done. After hitting a single in his third at-bat, Wells came up in the seventh and finished his night smoking a three-run bomb that had an exit velocity of 104.3 mph and went 383 feet.

Wells has hit five spring training home runs and finished 3-for-4 while driving in all four Yankees runs. It’s easy to see Wells leading off for the Yankees against right-handed pitchers the way he’s been swinging the bat.

Ben Rice, the other power-hitting lefty, was also very impressive smacking two doubles to go 2-for-4. Rice’s place on the roster isn’t confirmed, but he’s now hitting .278 with an OPS of .943 this spring. It’ll be hard not to include him with Giancarlo Stanton likely landing on the IL to start the season.

-Speaking of hitters trying to make the team. With Smith opting out, Pablo Reyes is a potential right-handed fit for the Yankees’ bench. Unfortunately, he went 0-for-3 on Friday but is still hitting .297 with a .831 OPS this spring.

Other notable batters include Trent Grisham who finished 0-for-3 with a walk, Oswaldo Cabrera who went 0-for-4 and Oswald Peraza who was hitless in his three at-bats while striking out twice.

-Rodon had his final tune-up before starting Opening Day and he was good. The southpaw worked around trouble a bit, but when he needed an out he got one with his fastball, which topped out around 96 mph, and slider combination to the tune of five strikeouts. Rodon left after 4.1 innings (77 pitches/45 strikes) of scoreless ball, allowing three hits and three walks.

–Yoendry Gomez is looking to earn a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen and he was very effective, allowing just one walk and striking out two batters in 2.1 innings of work.

Highlights

What’s next

The Yankees return home to Tampa to host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.

Pitcher Julio UrĂ­as suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy

NEW YORK — Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio UrĂ­as was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players’ association.

UrĂ­as had pleaded no contest last May to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. The penalty was the second for UrĂ­as under the policy following a 20-game suspension in 2019. MLB said he will be reinstated from the restricted list on July 17 and as a free agent can sign with any team.

A 28-year-old left-hander, UrĂ­as has not pitched since Sept. 1, 2023. He was arrested two days later outside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where he had attended a Major League Soccer game on Sept. 3 involving Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. The Department of Public Safety said it was contacted by someone, whose name was not publicly identified, regarding a physical altercation between a man and a woman.

UrĂ­as initially was given a felony charge of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and he was placed on administrative leave by MLB that Sept. 6.

Urías pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery the following May 1 as four other misdemeanor charges were dropped. Los Angeles City Attorney’s office spokesman Ivor Pine said Urías was placed on 36 months of summary probation and ordered to complete 30 days of community labor. Urías must also complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling course, pay a domestic violence fund fee, not possess any weapons, not use any force or violence, pay restitution to the victim and abide by a protective order.

“Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Urías violated our policy and that discipline is appropriate,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Friday.

MLB said UrĂ­as agreed to be evaluated by the joint policy board established by MLB and the players’ association and to comply with any of its recommendations.

UrĂ­as’ agent, Scott Boras, said the pitcher was not making any statement.

UrĂ­as became a free agent after the 2023 World Series when his $4.7 million, one-year contract expired.

Urías was also arrested in May 2019 on suspicion of domestic battery. While he was suspended by MLB, he wasn’t prosecuted by the LA city attorney on the condition he complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program.

Over eight major league seasons, all with the Dodgers, UrĂ­as is 60-25 with a 3.11 ERA. He led the National League with a 2.16 ERA in 2022 and was a member of the team that won the 2020 World Series, going 4-0 with a save and a 1.17 ERA in six postseason appearances.

UrĂ­as became the first player suspended under the domestic violence policy since New York Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero on July 5, 2023. Cordero missed the final 73 games of the season, spent last season with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League and has signed with Mexico’s Toros de Tijuana for this season.

Others penalized under the domestic violence policy include Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and pitcher Domingo Germán, Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, Toronto pitcher Roberto Osuna, Colorado shortstop José Reyes and Atlanta outfielder Hector Olivera.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco remains on the restricted list and hasn’t played since Aug. 12, 2023, but has not been disciplined by MLB.

Padres’ Yu Darvish to start season on injured list with elbow inflammation

PEORIA, Ariz. — San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will start the season on the injured list because of inflammation in his right elbow, manager Mike Shildt said Friday.

Shildt said there is no timetable for Darvish’s return but the team is confident Darvish will be back in the rotation following rest and a ramp-up period.

Darvish made a pair of spring training starts but was shut down after the second, a four-inning, 54-pitch outing against Kansas City on March 13. The Padres decided to have him back off his throwing program after he played catch a couple times.

Kyle Hart, Stephen Kolek and Randy Vasquez are candidates to fill Darvish’s spot in the rotation behind Michael King, Dylan Cease and Nick Pivetta.

Darvish is 110-88 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 major league seasons after pitching for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s Pacific League from 2005-11. The 38-year-old had Tommy John surgery on March 17, 2015, and returned to a major league mound on May 28, 2016.

He had back, neck and elbow problems last season and was on the restricted list for personal reasons from early July to late August. He won three of four starts in September and was 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series

Darvish came to the major leagues in 2012 after agreeing to a $56 million, six-year contract with the Texas Rangers. He was traded to the Dodgers in July 2017, became a free agent after the World Series and signed a $126 million, six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. Darvish was dealt to San Diego after the 2020 season and in February 2023 agreed to a contract with the Padres that added an additional $90 million in guaranteed money for a total of $108 million over six year.

His 2023 season ended in late August because of a bone spur in his right elbow.

Mets Opening Day starter Clay Holmes looking forward to ‘attacking’ season from Day 1

When the Mets signed Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract during the offseason it was with the idea that he could potentially translate from the reliever he had been for basically his entire career into a starting pitcher.

So that’s what both sides sought to do in spring training.

Regardless of what New York saw in Holmes that suggested he could make the jump into the starting rotation, what the right-hander has done for the Mets throughout camp has probably shocked even them to a degree. That’s because Holmes has been nothing short of brilliant in his first endeavor at becoming a starter since 2018 when he made four starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates in his debut season.

The 31-year-old’s mastery was on full display once again on Friday afternoon in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in what was his final tune-up of the spring before taking the ball on Opening Day. In 5.1 innings, his longest outing so far, Holmes allowed no runs on two hits, and three walks and struck out eight on 88 pitches (53 strikes).

It marked the culmination of New York’s plan to stretch out the big right-hander this spring which began with three perfect innings in the Mets’ spring opener against the Houston Astros on Feb. 22.

“It doesn’t feel like things are really ending for me, I feel like it’s just another part of the process,” Holmes said. “But I feel like the plan we had in place from the get-go was right on track and we wanted to get to 90 pitches by the end of spring and we’re here.

“I think it’s just a testament to having some very thoughtful and intentional plans going into this and it’s nice to kind of see it come to fruition and being in such a good spot right now. Really just having a good foundation set for the season and looking forward to keep building on this.”

With Sean Manaea getting injured at the start of spring training and Kodai Senga coming off an injury-plagued season, Holmes made what could have been a difficult decision easy for the Mets with his performances on the mound, forcing manager Carlos Mendoza‘s hand to name him the Game 1 starter.

And while making him a starter was certainly part of New York’s plan, naming him the team’s Opening Day starter was a pleasant surprise, especially for Holmes who didn’t necessarily have any intentions of transitioning from a reliever to a starting pitcher in the big leagues.

“I’m excited, I mean Opening Day is a special day,” he said. “It’s a long offseason and this is a day you’re kind of working towards and for it to be here it feels special. And to be able to have the Mets uniform on and really compete and be on the field with the guys in this locker room is gonna be special.

“You can see there’s a lot of people in here that really care and that have worked really hard to put themselves in position to be the best player they can and the best team we can and we know the opportunity we have in front of us and we’re looking forward to attacking it from day one.”

There will surely be a learning curve at some point in the season or a few bumps along the way, but Holmes has done everything the Mets have asked of him and has handled it with aplomb.

Even on Friday, Holmes discussed how different it feels to pitch five-plus innings rather than the one or two innings he was accustomed to. “Six ups just feels long, it feels like you’re pitching forever out there,” he said with a chuckle.

He added, “I think that’s just a mental thing.”

In five Grapefruit League starts the right-hander finished with a 0.93 ERA (0.78 WHIP) to go along with 23 strikeouts in 19.1 innings, consistently dominating hitters and pitching like the ace on the team.

“It’s not something I was necessarily striving for, but it just kind of organically came about,” Holmes said about his journey to becoming a starter. And I think for me I’m a learner, I’m curious, I’m always thinking and sometimes life takes an uncertain route and you just roll with it. I think it’s meant to be.

Even though it’s not something Holmes necessarily sought after, getting a taste of being a front-line starter has him as eager as he’s ever been in his career to continue to improve.

“I’m excited, I think I’m in a great spot and I haven’t been this excited just to attack a season, attack the next day in a while so I think it’s kind of just giving me something to look forward to and I think it’s gonna be a fun year ahead,” he said.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Are $99 Right Now

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You can think of the Galaxy Buds series as Android’s version of the AirPods. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 are the open-ear version of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, both of which came out last summer. Right now, you can get the Galaxy Buds 3 for $99.99 (originally $179.99) directly from the Samsung website when choosing “no” under the Samsung trade-in credit. This is the lowest price these earbuds have been since their recent release, according to price-tracking tools.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3
Compatibility Android: Galaxy Wearable app, iOS: Bluetooth, Battery: 24H/30H (ANC off), Water: IP57

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3


$99.99
at Samsung
$179.99
Save $80.00

The Galaxy Buds 3 are feature-heavy. They have ear-detection sensors, so they automatically pause and resume as you take them on and off. They have 360 audio, which is an immersive sound feature that is similar to a surround-sound effect. The IP57 rating means they can handle sustained streams of water well. If you have a Samsung phone, you’ll get automatic pairing and switching from Samsung devices, but the coolest feature is the Galaxy AI-based translation, which can translate spoken words between two parties or videos from your phone.

Open earbuds are great for people who don’t like sticking buds inside their ears and/or like to be aware of their surroundings even when listening to their media. The tradeoff is weaker bass and more sound bleeding. However, the audio quality on them are still impressive, and the ANC on them performs surprisingly well for ANC earbuds, according to PCMag’s review.

For under $100, these are a great value for Android or Apple users, but if you’re a Samsung user, you get a much better user experience and bang for your buck. But if you want better ANC and don’t mind an in-ear design, get the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for $209.99 (originally $249.99).

Stephen A. Smith: ‘I might have been wrong’ about Bronny James’ NBA readiness

Lakers guard Bronny James shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance defends Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. James had 17 points and five assists in 30 minutes, all career highs, causing ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith to reconsider his position on the rookie’s NBA readiness. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Stephen A. Smith isn’t quite ready to admit he was wrong about Bronny James.

But the ESPN personality did lay the groundwork for such an admission on “First Take” the morning after the son and teammate of Lakers superstar LeBron James played his best NBA game.

Two weeks earlier, after Smith was confronted by an angry LeBron over comments about his son, Smith had taken to the same airwaves to assert that he wasn’t being disrespectful in saying he felt Bronny belonged in the G League as a rookie.

On Friday, however, Smith told viewers, “I might have been wrong.”

Read more:Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronting him was ‘weak’: ‘I was talking about you,’ not Bronny

That acknowledgment came after Bronny stepped up in the absence of several teammates — including his father, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith — Thursday against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The result might have been a blowout loss for the Lakers, but Bronny had a breakthrough performance. His 17 points and five assists in 30 minutes were all career highs, and his three rebounds tied his NBA best.

“I was very impressed,” Smith said. “I was very impressed because I saw an elevation in his level of confidence and poise. It was like it didn’t really faze him. He didn’t look as nervous as he had looked in previous appearances on the basketball court. He looked like somebody that belonged. …

“There were some moves that he put out on the court — ball-handling skills, getting to the basket, finishing at the basket, pulling up for jumpers, hitting a three, 17 points, seven-of-10 shooting from the field — I was impressed.”

He added: “And if that kind of stuff continues, then indeed he’ll be in the league as a bona fide player sooner than later. One game doesn’t make that determination. You need to do more than that. But I wanted to make sure I emphasized that point.”

Smith was sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena for the Lakers-Knicks game March 6 when LeBron approached him during a timeout and angrily addressed him. Smith said the next day that LeBron had come up to him “to confront me about making sure I mind what I say about his son.”

Read more:Bronny James credits focus on his game for career-best 17 points during loss to Bucks

On Friday, Smith reiterated what he has said numerous times since the incident, that he never disrespected Bronny.

“But I did believe that he belonged in the G League to get himself honed for the NBA level,” Smith said. “What may have been wrong about that is that evidently being around JJ Redick and that staff and being around Pops and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers — combined with the G League, going back and forth — may be doing wonders for him sooner than we anticipated. Because I liked what I saw last night.

“And I’m gonna keep the same energy. When he plays well, we gonna give him props. When he doesn’t play well, we’re going to say so. That’s what happens with covering the league. Maybe his Pops didn’t tell him that, but I’m gonna tell him that. Congrats on a good performance last night. I hope it continues. I believe it will.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.