How much golf can MLB players squeeze into spring training?Jessica Marksbury
When Oakland Athletics DH Brent Rooker starts the MLB spring training season in Scottsdale, Ariz., the 31-year-old two-time All-Star can look forward to competition both on the field and off.
As the Subpar guest this week, Rooker told hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz that he was just coming off a sweet round of 75 — but still got blitzed by his teammate, second baseman Jeff McNeil, who posted a 68.
“I was 3 under through five,” Rooker said, noting that he has never fired a round under par before. “I got nervous early.”
Just how often do MLB players have the chance to play golf during spring training? According to Rooker, quite a bit! He explained the details of how it all works.
“The goal normally is like between 45 and 50 at-bats,” he said of his spring training schedule. “I think there’s like 30 games, so that’s probably 18 or 19 games to get those 45 to 50 at-bats somewhere around there.
“Once you’re established and you kind of know your role and you know what you need and you know your routine and what you need to be prepared for the season, it kind of dictates itself a little bit better,” Rooker continued. “Once you’re kind of set and established, you know what you’re doing, it’s just kind of all about getting prepared for the season.”
Rooker said that the A’s organization doesn’t require game attendance during spring training when a player isn’t scheduled to play, and even if you do have to attend, you can leave after the fifth inning, which opens up ample afternoon time for a round.
“I’ve played five times since being out here, so not daily, every other day so far, probably, which, I mean, I hope to keep that pace up,” Rooker said. “Obviously, I’m by myself right now, my wife and kids come out sporadically in spring training, so when they’re here, no golf unfortunately. But when they’re not here, I try to take advantage of whatever afternoons I can.”
For more from Rooker, including his favorite course and his favorite PGA pro to follow, check out the full episode below.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 28: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds will venture over to Surprise, Arizona for Saturday’s Cactus League action, the Kansas City Royals playing host for the day. The Royals will be starting veteran left-hander Kris Bubic, and perhaps with that in mind manager Terry Francona has rolled out a starting lineup featuring a lone left-handed hitter (TJ Friedl) to start the day.
Hat-tip to Redleg Nation’s Doug Gray for relaying the travel roster for the day, one that features red-hot regulars Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, and Sal Stewart in the heart of the lineup.
Fellow lefty Nick Lodolo will start for Cincinnati on the day, doing so now with a potential Opening Day start in his crosshairs with fellow starter Hunter Greene sidelined indefinitely with elbow stiffness. As things look at the moment, Greene will almost certainly not be ready to go on Day One, leaving the likes of Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, and Brady Singer the most obvious candidates to get the honor.
In Lodolo’s first (and only, so far) start of Cactus League play, he fired a pair of scoreless IP with 4 K, nary a walk, and a pair of scattered hits, though that did come against the lowly Chicago White Sox. On Saturday, he’ll get the chance to show even more against a more potent Royals club even though their star, Bobby Witt, Jr., is away with Team USA playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Old friends Jonathan India, Brandon Drury, and Kevin Newman are in the starting lineup today for the Royals.
First pitch is set for the usual 3:05 PM ET, though there is once again no televised feed. Reds radio will be there for your ears, however, on 1360 WSAI.
Mar 6, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) hits during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Cade Povich #37 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches live during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 12, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the oddities of spring training is when you get a split squad and two different sets of Orioles are playing at once. That’s what’s happening here on Saturday, with one set of Orioles staying in Sarasota to play some Twins, and another set of Orioles traveling to the Braves spring home to play a game there.
Tough luck if you want to watch on TV or streaming. Although this game was initially listed for a MASN broadcast, it isn’t now. I don’t know why they changed their plans. The Sarasota game is Orioles radio only. If you have access to the Braves feed on MLB.tv, you can watch the road guys in action. That game has a Braves radio feed as well.
Home Orioles starting lineup
Heston Kjerstad – RF
Adley Rutschman – C
Pete Alonso – 1B
Taylor Ward – DH
Blaze Alexander – CF
Coby Mayo – 3B
Leody Taveras – RF
Thairo Estrada – 2B
Wehiwa Aloy – SS
Cade Povich is the starting pitcher for the home Orioles today.
It is not worth getting worked up too much about spring training lineups and this is doubly true on a split squad day where the team is required to send a minimum number of MLB players along on its road game. Still, there are a couple of interesting things.
One, Alexander playing center field. It seems like “maybe this fast middle-infielder can handle center field” is one of those perpetual thoughts that is seldom tried. Remember how often we heard it about Jorge Mateo, for instance. He started a total of 14 games in center field for the Orioles. It wasn’t an ongoing thing. We’ll see if Alexander playing there becomes a thing or if it’s just a weird one-off for this split squad day.
Two, Aloy is in the starting lineup. It’s not typical to see a player who isn’t even a non-roster invite make a start – Aloy’s appearances are “borrowed from minor league camp.” Easier to make it work on a split squad day, especially when the expected starting shortstop, Gunnar Henderson, is away with Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, not that Team USA’s manager seems to have the savvy to recognize Henderson as a starting lineup-caliber player there.
Road Orioles starting lineup
Dylan Beavers – CF
Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
Samuel Basallo – C
Bryan Ramos – 3B
Reed Trimble – RF
Weston Wilson – LF
Sam Huff – DH
Willy Vasquez – 2B
José Barrero – SS
Luis De León is the starting pitcher for the road team. It’s too bad there’s not a local broadcast for one of the team’s top pitching prospects in action. On the other hand, there’s not much to see with the rest of this.
Probably it means nothing, but I do have a slight eyebrow raised at Colton Cowser not being in either of these starting lineups. If he doesn’t play tomorrow either, that might be a thing to keep an eye on.
I follow Orioles news very closely and I could not tell you one thing about Willy Vasquez or José Barrero.
I don’t know whether Vance Honeycutt is available for either of these teams to try to continue his perfect and homer-heavy sporadic spring at-bat streak.
FORMER CUBS IN ATHLETICS CAMP: Mark Leiter Jr., Brooks Kriske.
CUBS IN THE WBC: Alex Bregman, 0-for-1 with four walks and a HBP. Pete Crow-Armstrong, 0-for-2, one walk. Miguel Amaya, 0-for-3. Seiya Suzuki, 3-for-7, two home runs, two walks, four RBI, four runs. Daniel Palencia: 1 IP, two strikeouts. Javier Assad, 3 IP, 0.00 ERA, two strikeouts.
Here are today’s particulars.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Gavin Hollowell, Riley Martin, Jack Neely, Jeff Brigham and Connor Schultz.
Mason Barnett will start for the A’s. Other A’s pitchers scheduled today: Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner and Matt Krook. The A’s are a split squad today.
No TV today. There will be a radio broadcast on The Score.
Please visit our SB Nation A’s site Athletics Nation. If you do go there to interact with A’s fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Kyle Leahy will have another opportunity to prove to the St. Louis Cardinals that he has what it takes to be a starter as he’ll be on the mound to do battle with the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium. According to MLB.com, Kodai Senga will make the Spring Training start for the Mets. The Cardinals have Masyn Winn leading off again for some reason while JJ Wetherholt is in the cleanup spot.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 07: Seiya Suzuki #51 of Team Japan celebrates hitting a two run home run in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 7, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The WBC got wild yesterday and earlier today with eight games. I’ll try to get you as caught up as I can. There were some good performances from Cubs players as well.
Right fielder Yoelkis Guilbert and third baseman Yoán Moncada both homered as Cuba slipped past Panama, 3-1.
Guardians pitcher Logan Allen, whose mother is Panamanian, started for Panama. Guilbert, who plays in the Cuban League and winter ball in Mexico, hit a solo home run off him with two outs in the second inning. In the third, Moncada connected for a home run off of Allen with a man on to make it 3-0 Cuba.
Meanwhile, Panama couldn’t do much off of six Cuban pitchers. They managed to get one run when former Braves infielder Johan Camargo singled home Cardinals minor leaguer Leonardo Bernel. But that was all the offense they could manage.
Catcher Miguel Amaya started for Panama and went 0 for 3 before he was pulled for a pinch-hitter. Christian Bethancourt, who is back with the Cubs these days, was 0 for 1.
Once starter José Quintana left the game, Puerto Rico had no problem putting away Colombia, 5-0.
Quintana was magnificent for Colombia. He allowed only one baserunner over three innings, a leadoff walk in the third. But thanks to a 4-6-3 double play, Quintana faced the minimum over his three innings.
But former Mets and Angels minor leaguer Adrián Almeida came on to pitch the fourth and he retired Puerto Rico in order in that inning. But then he came out for the fifth and got rocked for five runs. After A’s teammates Carlos Cortes and Darell Hernaiz both singled to start the inning, an error by Colombian third baseman Gio Urshela allowed one run to score and opened up the five-run inning. Eddie Rosario and Martin Maldonado had RBI singles, Willi Castro hit an RBI double and Heliot Ramos had a sacrifice fly.
Colombia managed just five singles, three of them by outfielder Harold Ramírez who was 3 for 4.
Team Mexico scored three runs in the eighth inning and four in the top of the ninth to turn a tight contest into an 8-2 blowout.
Javier Assad got the start for Mexico and he shut down the British batters for 3.2 scoreless innings. Assad allowed two hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Mexico struck first in the top of the second with a solo home run by Braves infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. The blast came off of Great Britain starter and Red Sox minor leaguer Jack Anderson.
Mexico then pushed across four more runs in the top of the ninth. Great Britain got a consolation run in the bottom of the inning on a double by Trayce Thompson.
Cubs minor leaguer BJ Murray Jr. was 1 for 3 with a walk for Great Britain.
The US tacked on another run in the third inning when Cal Raleigh walked with the bases loaded.
It looked like the rout was on when the US scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for one run, then Brice Turang emptied the bases with this three-run double [VIDEO]
But Michael Wacha let the Brazilians back in the game when he allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Former Astros minor leaguer Victo Masai hit a two-run home run. [VIDEO] which was the key hit of the inning.
But Brazil ran out of pitchers who could throw a strike and Team USA scored seven runs on three singles and five walks in the top of the ninth.
Brazil’s pitching staff clearly struggled to find the plate as they walked 17 (!!) US batters and hit two of them.
Alex Bregman was 0 for 1 with four walks and one hit by pitch. He scored twice and had one RBI.
Pete Crow-Armstrong took over center field after Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch (purely precautionary, we were told) and was 0 for 2 with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth.
Jan Novák, who had two years in rookie ball with the Orioles over a decade ago, got the start against Chinese Taipei and got rocked for two runs in the first and four in the second.
After Fairchild’s home run, the game was pretty much over as Czechia could only manage four hits. A’s minor leaguer Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, Diamondbacks minor leaguer Yu-Min Lin and former Diamondbacks farmhand Kai-Wei Lin combined on the shutout, which ended after seven innings because of the mercy rule.
Korea jumped out to an early lead over the favored hosts, but in the end Japan had too much talent and prevailed 8-6.
Korea jumped all over Samurai Japan starter Yusei Kikuchi, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Jung Ho Lee hit an RBI single, followed by a two-run double by LG Twins first baseman Bo Gyeong Moon [VIDEO].
Shohei Ohtani (who else?) brought Japan level with a solo home run in the third. But Japan wasn’t done. After Softbank outfielder Kensuke Kondoh struck out, Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida went back-to-back to give Japan a 5-3 lead.
But Japan proved to be too much for Korea and scored three more times in the seventh. Suzuki walked with the bases loaded and then Yoshida hit a two-run single.
Korea tried to rally off of Softbank Hawks reliever Yuki Matsumoto in the top of the eighth. Jung Hoo Lee led off the inning with a double and would come around to score on a two-out single by the NC Dino’s Ju Won Kim. Matsumoto then loaded the bases, but Hyeseong Kim struck out with the go-ahead run on first to end th threat.
Venezuela scored four runs in the fifth inning and had little trouble in their first game against the Netherlands.
Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the bottom of the first inning with a double off of Netherlands starter Antwone Kelly, who pitched for the Pirates Double-A affiliate in Altoona last year. Acuña scored two batters later on a single by Luis Arraez.
Nicaragua gave the powerhouse Dominicans an early scare, but eventually won going away thanks to home runs by Junior Caminero, Julio Rodríguez and Oneil Cruz.
Dominican starter Christopher Sánchez struggled, giving up one run in the top of the first inning and two in the second. Blue Jays minor league outfielder Ismael Munguia had one RBI single of Sánchez in the first. Brewers Triple-A shortstop Freddy Zamora had an RBI double in the second and Chase Dawson of the indy ball Schaumburg Boomers had an RBI single. [VIDEO]
However, the Dominicans scored twice in the bottom of the first with an RBI double by Ketel Marte and an RBI groundout by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. So it was 3-2 Nicaragua until the bottom of the third inning, when Rodríguez singled home Juan Soto.
Julio Rodríguez made it 6-3 with a solo home run in the seventh. Then the Dominicans exploded for six runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by this monster 450-foot three-run home run by Oneil Cruz. [VIDEO]
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 07: Christian Vazquez #8 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates with Manuel Margot #13 and Max Kepler #26 after hitting a walk-off home run against the Houston Astros on July 7, 2024 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Houston brings back a member of it’s 2022 World Series Champion team to back up Yainer Diaz.
The Houston Astros finally addressed their backup catcher situation today, bringing back catcher Christian Vazquez on a minor league deal.
Vazquez was a member of the Astros’ 2022 World Championship team, acquired at the deadline to boost catcher production down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Vazquez has always had an excellent defensive reputation, and still grades as an above average defensive catcher. It’s his offense that has fallen since 2022, but that may not be the Astros’ primary decision for making this move.
While Vazquez had always been a decent to solid hitter for the Red Sox, his limited playing time after being acquired by the Astros in a deadline deal that sent Enmanuel Valdez and Wilyer Abreu to Boston had a notable impact on his offensive production.
Vazquez arrived in Houston batting .282 with a .759 OPS. However, he would find himself on the bench more often than not and his production dropped. He would bat .250 with a .585 OPS in 104 AB for the Astros in the second half of 2022.
Vazquez, who has a career .262 AVG and .700 OPS as a member of the Red Sox, would never approach his Boston numbers again. After leaving Houston following the 2022 season, he has played the last 3 seasons in Minnesota, where the bat has been invisible.
2023: .223 AVG .598 OPS
2024: .221 AVG .575 OPS
2025: .189 AVG .545 OPS
Those numbers are actually slightly worse than Martin Maldonado’s numbers with Houston from 2021-2023, when his offense became a major concern as his defense began to slide. Maldonado, to his credit, could hit double digit HRs, twice in that span hitting 15 HR in a single season. Vazquez has 16 HR over the last 3 years combined.
It would seem, however, that Vazquez is being brought back more for his defense, leadership, and ability to help develop young pitchers. Vazquez has a reputation for tremendous preparation work, keen awareness and a very high baseball IQ.
Houston has a lot of young and new pitchers on it’s staff, and Vazquez could be a boon to those players in their development and success.
Vazquez did have some key moments in the Astros 2022 Championship run, including catching the first combined no-hitter (and second ever no-hitter) in World Series history in Game 4 of the 2022 Series.
He also delivered a two-run single in Game 3 of the ALCS leading the Astros to a 5-0 victory over the Yankees.
Vazquez is currently playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, and will join the Astros afterwards.
Vazquez should be considered the favorite to start the season on the main roster as the backup to Yainer Diaz based on his experience alone. Houston has not been shy about it’s reservations regarding Cesar Salazar’s inexperience and ability to perform at the major league level. Despite not yet having joined the team, Vazquez’ leadership and experience will likely be the deciding factors.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 1: Andrew Painter #76 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning of the spring training baseball game at BayCare Ballpark on March 1, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 05: A general view of the 2026 World Baseball Classic logo on display during the 2026 World Baseball Classic workout day at loanDepot park on Thursday, March 5, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The 2026 World Baseball Classic officially kicked off earlier this week, and several Yankees are involved, most notably Aaron Judge. The Yankee captain is also captaining Team USA, while other Yankees around the tournament include Jazz Chihsolm Jr., Austin Wells, David Bednar, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan Yarbrough, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, and Amed Rosario.
However, seeing the coaching staffs of the teams at the WBC is often an exercise in remembering some guys. The tournament often brings out some of the biggest stars in their respective countries’ histories to take the reins and lead the current-day players, and that often also filters down to all of the coaching roles. With that in mind, let’s dig into the coaching staffs and remember the Yankees, great or not, who you may see in the background on your television in the coming weeks.
We’ll start off with Team USA, who has quite a number of former Yankees around the coaching staff. The most famous, and most beloved, of them is none other than Andy Pettitte. The Yankee hero will be the pitching coach for the U.S., a role he also filled at the last edition in 2023.
The team has two listed hitting coaches, one of which is ill-fated former Yankees’ interim hitting coach Sean Casey. The other is a former 2017 player in Matt Holliday. Also around will be Brian McCann, who is simply listed as “assistant coach,” but I assume he’ll be working with the catchers in some way. Another Yankee connection is that prospect George Lombard Jr.’s dad — George Sr., you could guess — is Team USA’s first base coach.
For Team Canada, mid-2000s relief workhorse Paul Quantrill will also serve as pitching coach, but former Yankee catcher Russell Martin will be manning the first base coaching box as well.
If you watched the opening game between Australia and Chinese Taipei earlier this week, you might have noticed a couple familiar, but slightly older, faces. The bullpen coaches for each respective team were former Yankees Graeme Lloyd and Chien-Ming Wang.
There are no former Yankees’ players on the Dominican Republic’s coaching staff, but Robinson Canó‘s dad, José, who famously was the pitcher for Robbie when he won the Home Run Derby in 2011, will be the DR’s bullpen coach.
Jazz will see some a familiar face in Team Great Britain’s dugout as current Yankee coach Tanner Swanson will serve as bench coach. Former Yankee hitting coach Dillon Lawson will also be their hitting coach.
Another team that will have a current Yankee coach is Israel, where bench coach Brad Ausmus will manage the WBC team.
Kevin Youkilis will be his bench coach, but the less said about his Yankee tenure, the better.
Team Italy’s roster probably won’t win the tournament, but it is probably my favorite, as seemingly any MLBer with an Italian last name could get on the team. The man who played a big role in putting together than team is none other than Francisco Cervelli, who is the manager, having previously played for the team in past editions.
He’s not even the only former Yankee catcher on the coaching staff either. None other than Jorge Posada is one of the team’s hitting coaches, while the hirsute Sal Fasano is the bullpen coach. To round things out, Dave Righetti is the pitching coach, and 1979 backstop Jerry is on the staff as well.
Yet another former Yankee who will manage their country is Andruw Jones. The soon-to-be Hall of Famer will skipper the Netherlands, including former Yankee player Didi Gregorius.
Obviously, the most interesting action in the WBC will be on the field. However, if you’re ever looking up at your tv wondering “Hey, is that…” it might be!
Future White Sox relief ace Dave Danforth was born on this day, 136 years ago. | (photo by: HUM Images/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
1890 Pioneering reliever and spitballer Dave Danforth was born, in Granger, Texas.
A relative rarity as a college-educated (Baylor University) player in the 1910s, Danforth was signed by the A’s in 1911, and while bouncing back and forth between Philadelphia and minor-league Baltimore, Danforth completed a dentistry degree at the University of Maryland.
After two years as a non-practicing dentist/Louisville Colonels minor league hurler in 1914-15, the White Sox signed Danforth for the 1916 season. He made a legendary mark in the bullpen in Chicago’s storied 1917 season: The southpaw led the AL with 50 appearances and all of the majors with 26 finishes and nine saves (he also started nine games, one of them a complete-game shutout). All that added to a value of 3.3 WAR, which still ranks tied for 13th-best in franchise annals.
Oddly though, that was the only one of his four White Sox seasons yielding positive WAR. Manager Kid Gleason hoped to move Danforth into the starting rotation in 1919, but he was crushed for five earned runs in the first inning of his season debut and was shelled in long relief his next game out; he saw only 13 games from there, and no action after July.
The White Sox apparently released Danforth after his -2.9 WAR season in 1919. He made it back to the majors with the Browns, stitching together a strong final four MLB seasons in more of a swingman role, earning 9.3 WAR with St. Louis.
Nicknamed Dauntless Dave for his ability to manage arm pain, Danforth returned to the minors to pitch in seven more seasons, to age 42. After ending his baseball career, Dr. Danforth practiced dentistry in Baltimore until retirement.
1903 Future White Sox coach and manager Kid Gleason was involved in the first intraleague (American-National) league trade ever, after the 1902 peace treaty is struck. Second baseman Gleason went from the Detroit Tigers to New York Giants, in exchange for second baseman-manager Heinie Smith. New York flipped Gleason to Philadelphia, where he was a regular for four more years, until the age of 40.
Gleason coached for the Phillies upon retirement, then had two stints with the White Sox (1912-14, 1916-17). He managed the club from 1919-23, having the unfortunate timing of being a rookie manager overseeing the Black Sox scandal.
Coincidentally, 21 years after this trade and just five after the Black Sox scandal, the manager of the Cincinnati Reds club that upended the White Sox in 1919, Pat Moran, died from Bright’s disease, at the age of 48 and while still Cincinnati’s active manager.
1953 The White Sox brought back pitcher Earl Harrist for a second tour on the South Side, and it turned out to be significantly less successful than his first.
Harrist had a mildly-successful season back in 1947, pitching to a 3.56 ERA (103 ERA+), going 3-8 but earning five saves. He was traded to Washington during the 1948 season.
After then moving to the Yankees and Browns organizations, the White Sox bought Harrist from St. Louis with the intent of using him late in games (he’d matched his 1947 career high of five saves with the Browns in 1952). However, Harrist was simply awful this time around with the White Sox, ballooning to a 7.56 ERA in just seven appearances before the club cut him loose on May 23.
Detroit grabbed him and gave Harrist another eight games, but despite laboring until 1958 in the minors, the righty would never see the major leagues again.
1959 Bill Veeck and his partners (including Hall-of-Famer Hank Greenberg), officially announced they had bought the White Sox. Veeckowned 54% of the team, with Chuck Comiskey retaining his 46%.
At the introductory press conference, Veeckjokingly told the media that “you can have 54% of the coffee!”
It was remarkable timing for the new owners, who steered the White Sox to their first AL pennant in 40 years, finishing 94-60-2.
2011 The Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the White Sox in their old spring training ballpark (Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson), with the proceeds benefiting a fund in memory of Christina Taylor Green, the granddaughter of baseball executive Dallas Green. Christina was one of six murdered in a shooting spree on January 8, at a town hall meeting with U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords at a supermarket near Tucson.
The young Green, born on Sept. 11, 2001, was a Little League player (following the footsteps of her minor league pitcher father and ex-MLB pitcher grandpa) and a student leader. She was at the Giffords gathering to observe government in action.
The result of the game hardly mattered, but the White Sox won, 12-1, with Edwin Jackson earning the decision.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Aaron Judge #99 of the United States celebrates after hitting a two run home run during the first inning against Brazil during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game between the United States and Brazil at Daikin Park on March 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Kevin Ginkel Eyeing Health, Another Postseason Kevin Ginkel’s 2025 season was ruined by injuries. Now, the Arizona reliever is back and looking to improve upon his 2025 results and help lead Arizona to a return to October baseball.
Diamondbacks, Carroll Give Injury Update Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll took three at-bats off live pitching at Salt River Fields on Friday, March 6, his first time hitting at game-like intensity since undergoing surgery last month for a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Struggling Drake Gets Nod Versus Giants Left-handed starter, Kohl Drake, will try to get his spring on track after a rough start to training. The lefty will be starting against the Giants this afternoon.
Judge, Team USA Plate 15 in Rout of Brazil This wasn’t even David and Goliath. This was more like David’s charismatic little sibling who didn’t even know what a slingshot was. It did not go well for Brazil.
Skubal, Tigers Have Had No Contract Talks The Tigers and Tarik Skubal have not entered into any sort of contract negotiations since the team and player exchanged arbitration numbers. Skubal insists that no conversations will happen during the season, paving the way for his exit from the Motor City this coming winter.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Detroit Tigers looking to grab a win.
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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Kevin Cash of the Boston Red Sox poses during photo day at the Red Sox spring training complex on February 24, 2008 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by: Nick Laham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A legendary legacy.
First pitch against the Boston Red Sox is at 1:05 at JetBlue Park and the Rays will be providing TV and radio coverage.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) works in the bullpen during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Mike Tauchman – RF
Jorge Polanco – DH
Bo Bichette – 3B
Brett Baty – 1B
Luis Torrens – C
Ronny Mauricio – SS
Jose Rojas – LF
Cristian Pache – CF
Jackson Cluff – 2B
Kodai Senga – RHP
Cardinals lineup
Masyn Winn – SS
Alec Burleson – 1B
Ivan Herrera – DH
Nolan Gorman – 3B
JJ Wetherholt – 2B
Pedro Pages – C
Joshua Baez – RF
Victor Scott – CF
Miguel Ugueto – LF
Kyle Leahy – RHP
Broadcast Info
First pitch: 1:05 PM EST TV: Cardinals – Matrix Midwest, Cardinals.TV Radio: Cardinals – KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, Cardinals Radio Network
