Las Vegas gets an early look at Athletics
From staff and wire reports
The Oakland Athletics return to Las Vegas this weekend for exhibition games against Milwaukee, their first appearance since announcing the relocation to what the team envisions as its future home city.
The games at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the franchise’s Triple-a Aviators, feature an A’s team planning a new regular-season ballpark on the Strip it hopes will open in 2028. The Nevada Legislature last June enacted $380 million in funding for a $1.5 billion stadium, and baseball owners unanimously approved the relocation in November.
Close to a sellout crowd is expected in the 10,000seat capacity ballpark for the Saturday afternoon game, but breezy temperatures that will drop into the 50s could depress attendance Friday night.
Las Vegas has hosted spring training games since at least 1983, and the A’s played their first six regular-season games in 1996 at Cashman Field because of renovations at the Oakland Coliseum.
Ohtani makes things happen with his legs
On base in each of his three plate appearances Wednesday (two singles and a walk), Shohei Ohtani made things happen with his legs.
In the first inning of the Dodgers’ Cactus League game, Ohtani tagged up from first base on a sacrifice fly by Freddie Freeman. In the second, he stole second base, allowing Andy Pages to score from third base when the return throw was late.
There is an expectation that Ohtani might run the bases more aggressively this year without having to save himself for pitching. He might be the fastest player on the Dodgers’ roster.
Freeman will bat behind him and said Ohtani asked if there were times Freeman wouldn’t want him to go (keeping the right side of the infield open for the lefthanded Freeman).
“I’ll take every time. Every time he goes, I’ll take the pitch,” Freeman said. “He asked me if there were any counts or anything (when he wouldn’t want Ohtani to run), I said, ‘No, go for it.’ I want him in scoring position. I hope he steals 100.”
— Bill Plunkett
Red Sox and Bello agree on six-year deal
The Boston Red Sox are making a major long-term investment in their top returning pitcher, agreeing on a $55 million, six-year contract with right-hander Brayan Bello, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the deal.