Ex-Dodger Puig signs in KBO

Yasiel Puig, who spent six major league seasons with the Dodgers, signed a one-year, $1-million contract with Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization.

Puig, 31, hasn’t played in the majors since 2019, when he played 100 games for the Cincinnati Reds and 49 for the Cleveland Indians before becoming a free agent.

Clint Hurdle, who managed the Colorado Rockies to the 2007 World Series, is returning as a special assistant to general manager Bill Schmidt.

The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors canceled their practices in precautionary moves, citing the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Later, the Raptors announced team President Masai Ujiri had tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolating at home.

The Arizona Coyotes paid their overdue taxes and other bills, a day after receiving word the city of Glendale was going to lock the team out of Gila River Arena if all debts to the city and the management company for the arena were not paid by Dec. 20 . ... The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Kurtis Gabriel from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Chad Krys.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was selected the Associated Press college football player of the year and won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback.

Young, a Pasadena native who played at Los Angeles Cathedral and Santa Ana Mater Dei highs, received 42 of 53 first-place votes from AP top 25 voters and 137 points to easily finish ahead of Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (four first-place votes, 67 points). Elsewhere, USC wide receiver Drake London was named a secondteam Walter Camp All-American.

The UCLA women’s volleyball team was swept out of the NCAA tournament in the round of 16 by No. 4 Wisconsin, falling, 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 . ... Cal State L.A. (17-2-3) advanced to the NCAA Division II men’s soccer championship game, defeating Nova Southeastern (Fla.) 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in a semifinal in Colorado Springs. Goalkeeper Alvaro Unanua made three consecutive saves in the shootout to buoy Cal State L.A. after the Golden Eagles failed on their first two penalties. Cal State L.A. will face Charleston (W.V.) in Saturday’s 2 p.m. PST title game in a rematch of the 2019 title game.

Brazilian soccer great Pele, 81, said he would remain in a hospital in Sao Paulo for a few days to undergo new exams on his colon tumor.

Two-time major champion Amelie Mauresmo was appointed tournament director of the French Open, becoming the first woman in the position.