Intentional walks to go pitchless

There won’t be any wild pitches on intentional walks this season.

The Players Association agreed to Major League Baseball’s proposal to have intentional walks without pitches this year.

While the union resisted

BASEBALL

many of MLB’s proposed innovations, such as raising the bottom of the strike zone, installing pitch clocks and limiting trips to the mound, players are accepting the intentional walk change.

“There are details, as part of that discussion, that are still being worked through, however,” union head Tony Clark said yesterday.

There were 932 intentional walks last year, including 600 in the National League, where batters are walked to bring the pitcher’s slot to the plate. Agreement with the union is required for playing rules changes unless MLB gives one year advance notice, in which case it can unilaterally make alterations.

Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed hope Tuesday that ongoing talks would lead to an agreement on other changes. However, he also said clubs would reserve the right to act unilaterally, consistent with the rule-change provision of the sport’s labor contract.

Hamilton hurting

Josh Hamilton left the Texas Rangers’ spring training camp to have his reconstructed left knee examined after he experienced pain.

The 2010 AL MVP, at spring training with a minor league contract, felt discomfort in the knee during the Rangers’ first full-squad spring training workout on Tuesday. The 35-year-old had season-ending surgery last June. Hamilton has had 10 knee operations, and has not played in the major leagues since 2015 when he hit .253 with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 50 games. . . .

The Miami Marlins held Ichiro Suzuki out of workouts following an outfield collision during what officials termed a “communications drill.”

Ichiro was kneed in the quadriceps by outfielder Brandon Barnes, sending the 43-year-old Ichiro tumbling to the ground.

Ichiro is expected to be the Marlins fourth outfielder this season, behind Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. ...

San Francisco Giants reliever Will Smith has been shut down with elbow inflammation in his pitching arm. The lateinning left-handed setup man is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Pirates IF on trial

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang appeared in a Seoul, Korea court as judges began hearing arguments in a trial over charges that the baseball star fled the scene after slamming a car into a guardrail while driving under the influence of alcohol.

It’s unclear how long the trial will take or when Kang will join the Pirates for the new season.

Kang hit 21 home runs with 62 RBI in 108 games in 2016, his second season in the majors.