Farquhar throws with protective cap
Danny Farquhar wore a specially designed protective cap Friday during his first spring-training bullpen session with the Yankees.
He threw 27 pitches in front of Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild, guest instructor Ron Guidry and rehabilitation pitching instructor Greg Pavlick.
Farquhar, 32, who suffered a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm last April 20 with the White Sox, met with doctors and trainers on Monday to design his hat, which includes Kevlar and foam.
“It looks like a hat, it’s just two sizes big and it’s got like a skully protector on the inside,” Farquhar said. “At first when I put it on, it felt a little shallow on my head, like kind of sitting up a little bit. Today it felt like normal baseball hat. It didn’t feel anything crazy, so I’d be curious to see if maybe one day MLB mandates it for all pitchers just for the extra protection.”
♦ Right-hander Luis Severino avoided an arbitration hearing with the Yankees, agreeing to a four-year, $40 million contract.
♦ Roberto Osuna was named the Astros’ closer.
HOCKEY Wolves come up short
Daniel Carr scored for the sixth consecutive game, but the Wolves suffered a 3-2 loss to the Manitoba Moose, who won their eighth home game in a row.
The Wolves (27-17-5-1) held a 1-0 lead after one period, but Manitoba (24-21-3-2) scored twice in the second period and once in the third.
GOLF Holmes leads by 1 at Riviera
J.B. Holmes made a hole-inone on the sixth hole on his way to an 8-under 63 and a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth after one round of the rain-soaked Genesis Open at Riviera in Los Angeles. Spieth played six holes Friday morning to complete his round at 64. Tiger Woods opened with a 70.
♦ Matt Kuchar apologized for what he says were insensitive comments about his caddie at the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico and says he will give him the $50,000 that he requested.
MISCELLANEOUS Greer wins by knockout
Chicago native Joshua Greer Jr. rallied from an early knockdown to stop Giovanni Escaner with an eighth-round knockout in Hinckley, Minnesota.
♦ Illinois coach Lovie Smith named former star receiver Mike Bellamy his running backs coach, according to the Illini Inquirer.
♦ The Broncos notified linebacker Brandon Marshall they don’t plan to pick up his option and he will become an unrestricted free agent on March 13.