Sports News – Page 874 – Worldwide Sports News

February 20, 2026

Jaylen Brown rejects Beverly Hills' apology after cops shut down his private All-Star Weekend event

Jaylen Brown holds the ball away from Anthony Edwards while going up for a shot under the basket — Jaylen Brown, left, is defended by Anthony Edwards during the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is not satisfied with an apology he received from the city of Beverly Hills on Thursday, days after police shut down an event he was hosting in the city's Trousdale Estates neighborhood.

The apology was not for shutting down the event. Instead, it was for including what the city called "inaccurate information" in its initial statement about the event.

Brown told ESPN's Andscape he is considering legal action against the city after it "embarrassed my brand and my team" and then continued "to tell untruths in [its] apology statement."

The promotional event for Brown's performance brand, 741, was held last weekend at the home of Oakley founder Jim Jannard on the eve of the NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome. It was scheduled to include a panel discussion featuring National Basketball Players Assn. president Andre Iguodala followed by an after-party with around 200 invited guests.

In an X post after his event was stopped, Brown wrote, “300k down the drain.” On Thursday, in response to the city's statement, Brown wrote on X: "You targeted me and my @741Performance event based on biased information then you give a half a— apology after the damage is already done."

The Times reached out to the city of Beverly Hills on Friday for a response to Brown's comments concerning the incident, including his mention of possible legal action. A representative referred The Times to the statement released the previous day.

The city's first statement, issued Sunday, said that "an event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address" and "organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur."

On Thursday, the city issued a second release saying that upon further internal review it had determined that "no permit application was submitted nor denied for the event and the residence does not have any prior related violations on record."

The release included a statement from city manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey, who apologized for the inaccurate information but asserted that the city still had reason to shut down the event.

“The City’s previous statement about the weekend event at the Trousdale home was inaccurate, and on behalf of the City, I would like to apologize to Jaylen Brown and the Jannard family,” Hunt-Coffey said.

“The City has a responsibility to its residents and neighborhoods to ensure adherence to established regulations for events held at private residences. These are designed to support the safety and welfare of neighbors and attendees. City staff observed circumstances that are believed to be City code violations and for that reason alone, the event was ended.”

Brown was far from satisfied with the apology.

"The city has now stated the event was shut down because officials believed codes were being violated," he said in a statement released by Jalen Brown Enterprises Inc. "A private gathering cannot lawfully be terminated based on assumption alone, particularly when no official ever entered the residence to observe conditions or verify any alleged violation.

My response to @BeverlyHillsPD pic.twitter.com/cFmIMRJuTu
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) February 20, 2026

"This was a private, invitation-only gathering at a private home among friends and partners, not a public or commercial event requiring a permit. ... No proof of any alleged violation was ever produced to the homeowner, our team, or legal counsel. Without observation, documentation or confirmed violations, enforcement action based on belief alone raises serious due-process concerns.

"Jalen Brown Enterprises Inc. supports lawful compliance and cooperative engagement with municipalities wherever we operate. However, this private residential gathering was interrupted without substantiated cause, resulting in significant financial and reputational harm."

"We remain open to a constructive resolution with the city of Beverly Hills."

Brown had more to say on the matter after the Celtics' 121-110 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night in San Francisco.

"This is All-Star Weekend at 7 p.m. I just wanted to enjoy myself. And I feel like that got taken away, and I got embarrassed to some degree," said Brown, who was named an All-Star starter for the first time this year. He added, "I feel like that apology, you know, even in the statement they put out, they included some stuff that wasn't true, even in an apology. So I don't think that apology was acceptable.

"I lost a lot of money ... and then people were making assumptions, like we didn't go through the proper protocols. So that's just all around a bad look, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm extremely offended. My team is offended still. I'm not sure what the conclusion is going to be. All I know is that, that was some bulls—."

Brown said he heard about the city's most recent statement on his way to the game and that it fueled his third triple-double of the season (23 points, 15 rebounds, 13 assists).

"I wasn't even thinking about the game," said Brown, who will be back in Los Angeles when the Celtics play the Lakers on Sunday. "I was pissed. I was still pissed."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

February 20, 2026

Prospect Checkup: Senators Call Up Carter Yakemchuk And Three Others From Belleville

With some key members of the Ottawa Senators still away from the team for the Olympics, four top players from the Belleville Senators were recalled to help pick up the slack at Thursday’s practice.

Carter Yakemchuk, Tyler Boucher, Oskar Pettersson, and Arthur Kaliyev got the call, which made for better numbers and a smoother practice. But it also gave the organization a chance to check on their development as prospects.

For the players, it’s an encouraging sign to get a call like this because it means you’re a player of interest, which not every American Hockey League player can say.

But of the four players who filled in on Thursday, Yakemchuk is easily the best bet to play NHL games this season, though a lot will depend on what the Senators look like after the trade deadline.

The 20-year-old AHL rookie, generally a man of few words, described the practice as long and hard, but “super cool.”

“I think it's been a good year,” Yakemchuk told the media. “Obviously, the message is trying to keep getting better. You know you want to play here one day, so you just take it day-by-day and try to get better.”

Thomas Chabot might one day be Yakemchuk’s D partner and mentor and he likes what he sees.

“Seeing him up here is always fun, and you know it's only a matter of time before he’ll be up here,” Chabot said. “He’s so talented and the way he handles the puck and moves, he’s elite at it. So, it's fun. Obviously, it's more fun playing games, but still, practices are still fun to kind of come up and measure yourself up with the pace of practices.”

Yakemchuk is Belleville’s top point getter on the blue line with 25 points in 39 games. But it's hard to ignore a team-worst minus 28, 11 notches worse than any other player on the team.

Head coach Travis Green says the club remains high on Yakemchuk as a prospect, but the organization doesn’t want to rush him. They want him to have an impact when he arrives, not just trying to keep up.

“He's a young prospect that we obviously have a lot of hopes for,” Green told the media. “We want him to be the best that he can be and yet also want to make sure we do right by him to make sure that when he does get his opportunity that he's ready for it.”

Is he ready right now? That's up for debate. Sometimes players are better in the NHL than they are in the AHL. But the timing of Yakemchuk's NHL debut is also tied to what happens at the deadline, not to mention where the Senators are in the standings.

They certainly can’t afford many mistakes, and in the heat of a playoff chase, throwing a young player out there right now is like asking a first-time student driver to merge onto the Queensway.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

February 20, 2026

Guruzeta’s late penalty double lifts Athletic Bilbao past Elche in a thriller

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — A second half double from Gorka Guruzeta gave Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 win over Elche in an action-packed La Liga encounter on Friday.

It was a third consecutive league win for the Basque club and the first time it has put together three straight league wins since August.

It was also the second time in three games that Guruzeta has scored a brace, following his double in the 4-2 win over Levante on Feb. 8.

His first at San Mames Stadium was a fine finish to convert a low cross from Yuri Berchiche and his second came from the penalty spot after a controversial award in the 89th minute.

In between, André Silva converted a penalty for Elche after being forced to retake his spot kick due to a double touch.

“Little by little things are starting to go our way,” said Guruzeta, who missed the only other penalty he took for Athletic.

It was another agonizing reverse for Elche, which has gone eight games without a win. The result left it in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

February 20, 2026

Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat game prediction

Feb 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) and forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) defend Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks will be taking on the Miami Heat tonight at State Farm Arena. The Hawks are currently 27-30 after a recent win over the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-107.

Atlanta is the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference while Miami is in eighth place. The Heat haven’t played a game since February 11th, when they beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 123-111. With the All-Star Break, the Heat may be rusty since it’s their first game back while it’s the Hawks’ second.

Game Prediction

The Hawks have made some moves recently, including the trade of Kristaps Porzingis and others. But they’ve been able to maintain their offensive prowess with players like forward Jalen Johnson, who’s averaged 23.5, 10.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game as part of being named to the All-Star team.

Miami has won two out of their last four games as they continue to make a playoff push. Heat guard Norman Powell has been quite the addition to the team since leaving the Clippers, averaging 23 points per game for the Heat. Star center Bam Adebayo has been able to put up 18.4 points and 9.9 rebounds, leading the team on the boards. This will be the third matchup between the two this season, with them tying at 1-1, but the Hawks won their last game against the Heat in early February.

The Hawks will win against the Heat tonight, 110-104 in a close game.

For more sports content, be sure to follow me on X(Twitter) and Instagram @BJT_ERA

February 20, 2026

US defeats Slovakia 6-2 in men's hockey to set up Olympic gold medal matchup with Canada

MILAN (AP) — US defeats Slovakia 6-2 in men's hockey to set up Olympic gold medal matchup with Canada.

February 20, 2026

Cavs vs. Hornets open gamethread

Dec 22, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles in the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off an impressive win against the Brooklyn Nets. We’ll see if they can keep that going as they take on a surging Charlotte Hornets squad.

I’ll be in the comments throughout the game sharing my thoughts. Come talk with me and the rest of your fellow Cavs fans there.

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February 20, 2026

Yankees Mailbag: Stanton’s longevity and bullpen targets

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 18: New York Yankees Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) warms up during the spring training workout on February 18, 2026 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

ReadingYankee asks:I am starting to worry about the production of Stanton. He is aging and proved less effective in the postseason last year, although it would be foolish to expect his 2024 production again. He has another year or two, and he has not been trusted in the outfield more than a game or two in the last couple seasons. At what point do the Yankees pull the plug on an oft-injured, DH-only type player? And when that happens, what will be their plan for the DH spot?

Much like the offense at large, I’m willing to give some grace to Giancarlo Stanton’s performance in the postseason because of the heater he was on in the regular season, especially given the strong performances he’s shown in nearly every other October run. The team isn’t going to cut bait on one of the veterans of this clubhouse while he still has some juice left in his bat, and his absences aren’t that big of a hit because they free up space for the rest of the team to cycle through quasi-rest days as a DH. Between getting their superstar Aaron Judge some half-days, flexing Ben Rice’s spot in the lineup around, and working in playing time for Jasson Domínguez should he be on the major league roster, there’s plenty of options to fill the gap.

The concern going forward, however, is just how much mileage is actually left on those legs. Stanton’s been a notorious slow-returner from his injuries (which makes the run he put on in 2025 even more incredible), so if he has a season where he’s a frequent flier on the IL instead of going through one big injury, that could spell disaster for his productivity. There’s also the concern that Stanton’s good year was a product of how little he actually had to play, and while there’s a running assumption that he’s going to miss time in every season going forward the goal is to still field the best team possible — if Stanton is gassed from the rigors of a 162-game season by the end of it all, he may not find himself penciled in when the chips are down.

jmack1775 asks:Why did we get Goldy to platoon with Rice when Rice should be an everyday player and learn to be at least passable against lefties? And if the plan is for Rice to catch a significant amount of games and Goldy to fill in at 1b, isn’t Rice’s value diminished at catcher?

Paul Goldschmidt’s place on the team this year is more of a mentor figure for Rice to learn the position, as the Yankees likely see him as their everyday first baseman of the future. He’ll get the lion’s share of starts at the position, and then for the games where Goldschmidt takes over against lefties that frees Rice up to see time behind the plate and still get in the lineup for the experience (and hopefully, improvement). It shouldn’t be a significant amount of games where Rice is catching, since J.C. Escarra is still the backup catcher and Rice will be going in as the defined starter at first as opposed to bouncing around looking for playing time. Was it the ideal fit? No, and the Yankees outright acknowledged this when Aaron Boone discussed the signing, but there are ways that it can work out quite well for New York.

Shoducky asks:What would it take to pry Mason Miller away from the Friars? Would a package of Dominguez and Gil do it?

Trade packages are generally a tricky thing to speculate on considering the strengths of one system aren’t going to be the same as another, and organizations have internal scouting on prospects that differ from the outside publications — that being said, the Padres traded the No. 3 prospect in baseball at the time to acquire Miller as the headliner of a four-player package at last year’s deadline. The Yankees don’t have a prospect anywhere close to that ranking on any board, and even considering that the cost would be lowered with one less year of control on Miller’s contract it’d be a tough pitch for the Padres to listen in on. New York has also shied away from the flashier bullpen additions as of late, both in terms of free agent deals and in trades, with their deal for David Bednar being an exception that still only cost the team their eighth-best prospect. If they wanted to change direction on that they certainly could, but that’s likely a discussion for the summer when there’s a clearer field of targets to acquire.

February 20, 2026

Wizards vs. Pacers discussion

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on February 19, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards play the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. tonight at Capital One Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.

February 20, 2026

Amiri scores again but Mainz draws with Hamburg

MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Nadiem Amiri scored his seventh goal in seven games for Mainz while a deflected second half goal from Hamburg's Fabio Vieira ensured they drew 1-1 in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Mainz was looking to get back to winning ways after a 4-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund last week . It took the lead through Amiri’s crisp volley three minutes before halftime.

However, 19 minutes into the second period Vieira’s free kick took a nick off the Mainz wall, giving goalkeeper Daniel Batz no chance.

The point helped Mainz climb one place to 13th.

Hamburg was unbeaten in six games and sat in ninth.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

February 20, 2026

Twins ace Pablo Lopez undergoing Tommy John surgery, out for 2026 season

Minnesota Twins' Pablo López works from the mound against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning of a baseball game, Sept. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis.

Pablo Lopez will miss the 2026 season.

The Twins right-hander is set to undergo Tommy John Surgery next week after it was discovered that he had a torn ulnar collateral ligament earlier this week.

Lopez, who turns 30 next month, had felt something in his elbow during a bullpen session on Monday.

The injury also takes Lopez out of the World Baseball Classic, during which he was set to take the mound for Venezuela.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez throws during a spring training baseball workout in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. AP

The typical recovery timeline for Tommy John is roughly 12-to-18 months, meaning Lopez could be back on a big league mound by early next season.

It’s the second time in Lopez’s professional career that he will undergo Tommy John, having previously done the surgery in 2014 while he was in the Mariners’ organization.

Lopez has been Minnesota’s starter in each of their last three Opening Days since being traded over by the Marlins before the 2023 season.

In three seasons with the Twins, Lopez has posted a 3.68 ERA across 78 starts.

During his debut season with the team in 2023, Lopez had the best season of his career, making his first and only All-Star team and finishing 7th in the AL Cy Young voting with a 3.66 ERA across 194 innings.

Last season, Lopez dominated with a 2.74 ERA, although he was limited to just 14 starts with a shoulder and forearm strain.

After finishing 70-92 last season, Twins management cleaned house this offseason.

Shortly after the regular season’s end, Minnesota fired manager Rocco Baldelli after seven seasons at the helm, later replacing him with Derek Shelton.

Late last month, with spring training just weeks away, the Twins and president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey “mutually” agreed to split ways.

The team announced general manager Jeremy Zoll would continue “leading” the baseball department after Falvey’s departure.

February 20, 2026

Greenwood misses a penalty as Marseille loses to Brest

BREST, France (AP) — Habib Beye’s reign as Marseille coach got off to a losing start as Ligue 1's top goal-scorer Mason Greenwood missed a penalty in Brest’s 2-0 win on Friday.

Beye replaced Roberto De Zerbi last week after a miserable run that saw Marseille exit the Champions League and lose to archrival Paris Saint-Germain 5-0.

But the former Newcastle and Aston Villa defender could not stop the rot that threatens Marseille's hopes of a European spot next year.

Two first-half headers from Ludovic Ajorque put Brest in the driving seat and he could have had a third had a fierce shot not rattled the bar.

Marseille came into the match more in the second half but Greenwood missed a golden chance to pull it back into the game seven minutes from time.

He was brought down by Daouda Guindo but his spot kick was well saved by Brest goalkeeper Gregoire Coudertt.

The result left Marseille winless in four Ligue 1 games and in fourth place, five points behind Lyon, which has a game in hand against Strasbourg on Sunday.

Brest climbed one place to 11th.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

February 20, 2026

Judge denies Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar's injunction bid to remain eligible

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar’s bid for an injunction that would have enabled him to continue playing for the Volunteers this fall was denied on Friday by a Knox County Chancery Court judge.

Aguilar was arguing that he should be allowed a fourth year of playing Divisional I football rather than having the years he spent in junior college count against his eligibility. Chancellor Christopher D. Heagerty instead dissolved the temporary restraining order he had granted in the case on Feb. 4 and denied Aguilar’s request for an injunction.

Aguilar played at Diablo Valley (California) Community College from 2021-22 before transferring to Appalachian State, where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Aguilar then transferred to Tennessee and completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this past season.

He also redshirted at City College of San Francisco in 2019 before the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although Aguilar has been invited to next week’s NFL draft scouting combine, he had filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to return to Tennessee to play one more season.

Heagerty said the factors Tennessee courts consider before deciding to grant a temporary injunction are the threat to irreparable harm to the plaintiff if an injunction isn’t granted, the balance between this harm and any injury that granting the injunction would inflict on the defendant, the probability the plaintiff would succeed on the case’s merits and the public interest.

Heagerty noted that Aguilar’s lawyers pointed out the quarterback could lose $2 million to $3 million in name, image and likeness opportunities by not playing. But the judge also pointed out that granting an injunction “could cause sweeping implications and cause significant ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the eligibility rules of the NCAA.”

While Aguilar’s lawyers said an injunction would apply only to their client, Heagerty believed granting an injunction “could impact much broader issues and have a much more far-reaching effect than the plaintiff suggests.”

Heagerty also said the evidence before the court at this time indicated Aguilar “has a low likelihood to succeed on the merits of his claim.”

“The NCAA is thankful for the judge’s decision today, which demonstrates the court’s consideration of eligibility standards and protecting access to the collegiate experience for current and future student-athletes," the NCAA said in a statement. "We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against attempts to circumvent foundational policies and hinder fair competition to all student-athletes. The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes and will continue to work with Congress to provide stability for all college athletes.”

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February 20, 2026

Nets vs Thunder Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The All-Star break wasn’t long enough for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell all start the second half on the injured list.

Although OKC is a massive 18-point favorite on Friday, February 20, there’s plenty of value in the Brooklyn Nets keeping it close in the first half.

My Nets vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks break down why there are too many points for OKC to cover with so many key players sidelined tonight.

Nets vs Thunder prediction

Nets vs Thunder best bet: Nets +10.5 first half (-110)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are just 2-3 SU and 2-2-1 ATS in the five games without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dropping to 18th in net rating over that span.

Missing the reigning MVP is one thing, but with Jalen Williams also out, this is a different challenge.

Make no mistake, the Brooklyn Nets aren’t a strong team, but given who’s out for OKC, it could take a quarter or two for them to get going.

There are just too many points here, so I’ll take the Nets to keep it close in the first half.

Nets vs Thunder same-game parlay

Nets forward Danny Wolf has eclipsed 1.5 threes in each of his last four games and grabbed more than 5.5 rebounds in six of his last seven.

Nets vs Thunder SGP

Nets +10.5 1H
Danny Wolf Over 1.5 threes
Danny Wolf Over 5.5 rebounds

Nets vs Thunder odds

Spread: Nets +18 (-110) | Thunder -18 (-110)
Moneyline: Nets +900 | Thunder -1600
Over/Under: Over 212.5 (-110) | Under 212.5 (-110)

Nets vs Thunder betting trend to know

Oklahoma City has only hit the 1H moneyline in seven of its last 14 home games (-27.50 Units / -42% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Thunder.

How to watch Nets vs Thunder

Location	Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date	Friday, February 20, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	YES, FDSN Oklahoma

Nets vs Thunder latest injuries

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February 20, 2026

Berardi at the double as Sassuolo deepen Verona's relegation woes

SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Sassuolo scored twice in the five minutes before halftime to pave the way to a 3-0 victory that deepened Verona's already considerable relegation woes in Serie A on Friday.

Verona was without a win in 11 league games and in last place, equal on points with Pisa.

Both clubs were nine points from safety, and Pisa faces a crunch match on Monday against Fiorentina, the team six points above them both in the third relegation spot.

Andrea Pinamonti got Sassuolo’s opener with a deflected strike then four minutes later Domenico Berardi added a second. Although the Verona goalkeeper stopped his penalty kick, Berardi was quickest to the follow up and buried the rebound.

Berardi completed the scoring 17 minutes into the second half when he finished off a rapid counterattack.

Completing Verona’s misery, Al Musrati was sent off for a second bookable offense five minutes from time.

The result extended Sassuolo's recent good run; it has taken 12 points from its last 15. It jumped two places to eighth.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

February 20, 2026

Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez pitches three scoreless in spring opener loss to Orioles

Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

The Yankees’ first Grapefruit League game is in the books. For those hoping for some offense, that was always going to be a tough ask for a lineup that had just four major leaguers, especially when they’ve all been subbed out by the middle of the sixth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled in the first, but they managed just two more singles in the final 8.1 innings of the game, Orioles pitchers tallying 13 strikeouts on the afternoon. By far, the bright spot of the game was the performance of top pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez, who pitched three scoreless innings after earning the start in the spring training opener. Pete Alonso crushed a two-run bomb in the sixth to account for all of the scoring in this game as the Yankees drop the spring opener to the Orioles, 2-0.

The Orioles had their ace Trevor Rogers on the mound coming off 18 impressive starts in 2025 when he posted a 1.81 ERA. His velocity was already at mid-season form, but that didn’t prevent Chisholm from logging the first hit in all of spring training, the second baseman dumping a two-out single to right on a 1-1 slider at the bottom of the zone.

first base hit of Spring belongs to @j_chisholm3 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hmXswcjfGK
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 20, 2026

In the bottom half, we got our first look at the Yankees’ top overall pitching prospect, Elmer Rodríguez. The 22-year-old righty was named Baseball America’s Yankees Minor League Player of the Year in 2025 after posting a 2.58 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A and the second-most strikeouts in the minors (176). He looked impressively sharp in his first taste of pitching against major league hitters, getting Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso to roll over a pair of soft grounders before striking out the Orioles’ top overall prospect Samual Basallo on an elevated heater, Rodríguez’s sinker touching as high as 97 in the first.

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Rodríguez had his first brush with traffic on the bases in the second and passed that test as well. Baltimore had runners on the corners following a Tyler O’Neill leadoff single and Adley Rutschman one-out single, but Rodríguez worked himself out of the jam by getting Heston Kjerstad to bounce into the inning-ending double play on a perfectly located 1-2 changeup on the corner low and away. We also got our first ABS challenge earlier in the frame, Rodríguez having a strike two call confirmed after Colton Cowser challenged.

Rogers departed after two innings, replaced by reliever Keegan Akin, while Rodríguez was allowed to pitch the third. The Orioles started to barrel up the baseball the second time the top of the order faced Rodríguez, Henderson lining a two-out single to center and Alonso clubbing what looked like a sure-thing RBI double into the gap in left center, but non-roster invitee and former minor league Gold Glove winner Kenedy Corona made a fabulous diving catch to save a run and end the inning for the first web gem of spring.

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Despite the harder hit balls to end his outing, Rodríguez was nothing short of impressive in his spring debut. His sinker had decent velocity, averaging 94, while the changeup and slider look like his go-to weapons to induce whiffs. Overall, he posted a very good 29-percent called-strike-plus-whiff rate and an even better 70-percent groundball rate. Most notably, Rodríguez exhibited sharp command of four different pitches, able to find the edges of the zone with the sinker, cutter, changeup, and slider. He departed after three scoreless innings having allowed three hits and no walks with one strikeout on 42 total pitches.

Jake Bird was the first reliever out of the bullpen for the Yankees, and he maneuvered around an O’Neill one-out single by inducing the inning-ending double play from Cowser. Austin Wells unsuccessfully challenged a pair of called balls that weren’t particularly close in the fourth and fifth innings, meaning the Yankees were out of challenges for the rest of the game. New York subbed out all their starters shortly thereafter, but not before Alonso provided the only offense of the contest, a booming two-run blast to left off a hanging first-pitch curveball from career minor-leaguer Bradley Hanner.

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The Yankees offense went hitless for a six-inning stretch, their two other singles coming from substitutes Jackson Castillo in the seventh and Jonathan Ornelas in the ninth. Outside of Hanner in the sixth, you have to admire the job done by the Yankees pitchers, Rodríguez, Bird, Kervin Castro, Carson Coleman, and Dylan Coleman combining to toss seven scoreless frames. I also reckon there will be more excitement on offense as more lineup regulars are worked into spring games.

The Yankees return to Tampa to host the Tigers in the spring home opener at George M. Streinbrenner Field. Aaron Judge is penciled in to right field, while Rodríguez’s fellow top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange draws the start against Keider Montero. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm ET with the broadcast moving to YES.

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