Former Pirates 1st-round pick Mark Appel finally reaches majors with PhilliesVideo
SAN DIEGO — Mark Appel is a big league ballplayer nine years after he was selected No. 1 overall in the amateur draft and 10 years after the Pittsburgh Pirates picked him in the first round. Appel was promoted by the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-hander, who turns 31 on July...
Emotional Freddie Freeman given ovation, World Series ring in return to AtlantaVideo
ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman expected to be emotional during his anticipated return to Atlanta. He wasn’t prepared for the flood of feelings — and tears — that came before his first game back as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. A rush of them forced him...
Aaron Judge, Yankees agree to $19 million deal, avoid hearingVideo
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees avoided an arbitration hearing Friday by agreeing to a $19 million, one-year contract, a deal that leaves the slugger on track to become a free agent after the World Series. Unable to agree to a long-term deal in talks that...
First Call: Contract terms reported for new Steeler Larry Ogunjobi; update on Deshaun Watson situation in Cleveland
Friday’s “First Call” looks at Larry Ogunjobi’s contract. We honor the passing of an NFL Hall of Famer. Jameson Taillon may be losing a little mojo in New York. And we have the latest news on the Deshaun Watson front in Cleveland. Learning about Larry’s money Terms of Larry Ogunjobi’s...
First Call: Dan Marino honors Tony Siragusa; Andrew McCutchen’s big night; Pirates position player’s outing on the mound
Thursday’s “First Call” shares memories of former Pitt Panther Tony Siragusa. A Pirates position player has an interesting experience on the mound. Andrew McCutchen has a big night in Milwaukee. And we check in on a few former Pirates who had up-and-down starts with their new teams. Brutal day in...
MLB standardizing procedures for rubbing baseballs, removal from humidorsVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is standardizing procedures for rubbing baseballs and their removal from humidors in an effort to establish more consistency amid complaints about slickness that followed the crackdown on sticky substances. MLB has been working on standards over the course of the season in response to...
First Call: Rashard Mendenhall insists he shouldn’t be blamed for Super Bowl fumble; stats behind Jack Suwinski’s big day
A former Pittsburgh Steeler is opening himself up for criticism. An ex-NFL linebacker has an odd opinion about Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Monday’s Major League Baseball schedule could be tough for some MLB hitters. And a few deep-dive stats made Jack Suwinski’s big day at PNC Park even more...
Norwin grad JJ Matijevic homers for 1st MLB hit
JJ Matijevic’s first major-league hit was a home run. Because of course it was. The Houston Astros rookie power hitter, called up for the second time this season, launched a solo homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park on Sunday night in Houston for his...
Brewers DFA two-time All-Star OF Lorenzo CainVideo
CINCINNATI — On the same date that he reached 10 years of major-league service, the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday designated for assignment two-time All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain. Cain, 36, hit .179 with one home run and nine RBIs over 43 games this season. “It just got to a point where...
Angels’ Anthony Rendon to have wrist surgery, miss rest of seasonVideo
SEATTLE — Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon will undergo surgery for a right wrist injury and miss the rest of the season, the team announced Friday. Rendon aggravated a previous injury to the wrist during Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and has not played since. Rendon...
Norwin alum JJ Matijevic recalled to majors with Houston Astros
Things are looking up again for JJ Matijevic. The power hitter was promoted to the Houston Astros for the second time this season from Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros’ No. 30-ranked prospect out of Norwin has hit 12 home runs and driven in 35 runs this season. The first baseman...
Orioles CEO insists team won’t leave Baltimore
BALTIMORE — Orioles CEO John Angelos said Monday the team will remain in Baltimore — and that he and his parents have never contemplated otherwise. Angelos’ comments — released by the team — came days after he was sued by his brother Lou Angelos. Lou claimed in last week’s lawsuit...
Mic’d up during ESPN Sunday night MLB games draws rave reviews
MLB has taken its fair share of criticism for changes trying to get younger fans interested in the game, but there has been one this season that has generated rave reviews. MLB expanded letting players being mic’d up and interviewed during games after doing it on a limited basis from...
First Call: Steelers praise (and omissions) in all-time defensive player list; Ravens may add pass rusher; Gerrit Cole gets rocked
Friday’s “First Call” raises some Pittsburgh Steelers-related questions about an all-time NFL list. The Baltimore Ravens may be adding a familiar name. Celebrating Dave Parker’s birthday. And Gerrit Cole has a rough night for the Yankees. Someone missing? Earlier this week, CBS Sports.com posted a ranking of the top-10 NFL...
Voting starts for MLB All-Stars, starters announced July 8Video
NEW YORK — Fan balloting began Wednesday for the All-Star Game, which takes place July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. A person can submit up to five votes per 24 hours during the first phase of voting, which runs through 2 p.m. on June 30. The leading vote-getter...
Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg to make season debut Thursday
MIAMI — Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. The 33-year-old has been sidelined for most of the past two seasons. He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last summer and has not pitched since June 1, 2021. A...
Angels fire manager Joe Maddon amid 12-game losing streakVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels fired manager Joe Maddon on Tuesday with the team mired in a 12-game losing streak. Third base coach Phil Nevin will be the interim manager when the Angels (27-29) host Boston on Tuesday night. The 68-year-old Maddon went 130-148 with the Angels, who...
Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes says Jim Kaat didn’t need to apologize for commentVideo
NEW YORK — Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes said Minnesota Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat reached out and apologized after referring to New York’s breakout pitching star as “Nestor the Molester” during a broadcast Thursday night. “Jim Kaat has spent an entire lifetime in this game we love,” Cortes tweeted Friday. “He...
Joe Girardi fired by Phillies, replaced by Rob Thomson
PHILADELPHIA — Joe Girardi was fired by the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday after his team’s terrible start, becoming the first major league manager to lose his job this season. Philadelphia said bench coach Rob Thomson will become interim manager for the rest of the season. Expected to contend for an...
Yankees’ Jameson Taillon takes perfect game into 8th inning
NEW YORK — Jameson Taillon retired Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the seventh inning and sensed perfection might be possible. When that crumbled an inning later, he wasn’t as bummed about blowing a shot at history as he was about giving up the game’s first run. “I was pretty...
Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat uses offensive nickname for Yankees pitcherVideo
DETROIT — Minnesota Twins broadcaster Jim Kaat referred to New York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes as “Nestor the Molestor” during a broadcast Thursday, the second offensive remark in the past year by the 83-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher while calling a game. As Minnesota’s Chris Archer struck out Detroit star...
Mark Appel was once a can’t-miss prospect. 9 years later, the Phillies could finally make him a major leaguer
ALLENTOWN — Mark Appel knows people think he’s crazy. The right-handed pitcher was the first overall pick of a draft that produced Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Kris Bryant. That draft was nine years ago. Judge is a three-time All-Star. Bellinger was the 2019 National League MVP. Bryant helped bring...
First Call: Cameron Heyward’s quote on Aaron Donald comps; Steelers work out pass rushers; Diamondbacks next for hot Pirates
We’ve got a headline-catching quote from Pittsburgh Steelers star Cameron Heyward regarding Penn Hills native Aaron Donald. The Steelers are trying to fill a defensive void. We mix in some soccer talk about Team USA. And we get a scouting report on the Pirates’ next opponent after sweeping the Dodgers....
First Call: Ex-Steelers RB looking for work; red-hot Starling Marte part of viral video moment
Wednesday’s “First Call” checks in on an ex-Steeler who needs a new place to play. A former Pitt Panther has his eyes on the NBA. Starling Marte is on fire with the New York Mets. And a free agent some Steelers fans wanted is heading down south. On the open...
Roger Clemens’ son called up by Tigers for possible MLB debut
DETROIT — Kody Clemens, the 26-year-old son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, was brought up by the Detroit Tigers on Monday for a possible major-league debut. Roger Clemens planned to be at Comerica Park on Tuesday, when his son could make his debut. “He’s scrambling and trying...
