Off the wire

BASEBALL Tough time for Tebow

Tim Tebow has gotten off to a rough start in his first game for the New York Mets. The former NFL quarterback struck out twice and grounded into a double play, and he was hit by a pitch and trapped off first base Wednesday in a spring training game against Boston in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Tebow batted eighth as the designated hitter for a split squad of Mets. Tebow looked at strike three his first time up against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello. Tebow had a friendly word for plate umpire Ryan Additon after being called out. Tebow came up next with the bases loaded and bounced into a double play against Noe Ramirez. A run scored on the grounder, but Tebow didn’t get credit for an RBI. The third time up, Tebow was plunked in the right shoulder by a pitch. He was doubled off on a line drive. Tebow, 29, won the 2007 Heisman Trophy at Florida. He signed a minor league contract with the Mets last fall and is in camp this year as an outfielder.

Suit recertified

A suit by minor league baseball players alleging they are being paid less than minimum wage has been recertified as a class action in federal court in San Francisco. The players sued in February, claiming most earn less than $7,500 annually in violation of several laws. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero preliminarily granted class-action status in October 2015 and withdrew the certification last July. After a motion to reconsider, Spero ordered late Tuesday to certify a class that included players who participated since Feb. 7, 2011, in the California League, spring training, extended spring training or instructional leagues and hadn’t signed a major league contract before then. Spero recertified the players who participated in spring training, extended spring training and instructional leagues as a collective under federal law and the California League

players as a class under California state law. In a 69-page order, Spero told the parties to propose a case schedule by April 28 and set a case management conference for May 12. Major League Baseball declined comment. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last year “this is not a dollars-and-cents issue” but “the irrationality of the application of traditional workplace overtime rules to minor league baseball players.”

BASKETBALL Bogut out for season

Cleveland Cavaliers center Andrew Bogut will miss the remainder

of the season, including the playoffs, with a broken leg. Bogut broke his left leg in his debut for Cleveland on Monday night, an injury that occurred after the 7-footer was on the floor for just 58 seconds. The Cavs said Wednesday that Bogut won’t need surgery, but he won’t be back in time to help Cleveland defend its NBA title. Bogut was signed to give Cleveland some frontcourt depth and another playmaker, and his loss will force General Manager David Griffin to find another big man. Also, Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith has been cleared to resume practicing. He’s been out since late December after surgery on a broken right thumb. He’s listed as questionable for Cleveland’s game in Detroit today. Coach Tyronn Lue didn’t attend practice as he’s being treated for a sinus/inner ear issue.

Durant on the mend

Kevin Durant is riding a stationary bike as part of his rehab from an injured left knee and leg and is doing well, yet Golden State Coach Steve Kerr said it will still be about a month before the superstar forward is re- evaluated to determine his status. Durant returned to the Bay Area from the Warriors’ East Coast road trip after getting hurt Feb. 28 in a loss at Washington. He hyperextended his knee early in the 112-108 defeat and later underwent an MRI exam, which revealed a Grade 2 — or moderate — sprain in the knee as well as a bruised tibia. Kerr checked in by text message regularly with Durant, then spoke to him by phone Tuesday once the team returned to Oakland.

Kansas suspends Jackson

Top- ranked Kansas has suspended star freshman Josh Jackson for the Jayhawks’ opening game of the Big 12 Tournament after he backed into a parked car last month and fled the scene. Kansas Coach Bill Self announced the punishment Wednesday. The No. 1 seed Jayhawks will play eighth- seeded TCU in the quarterfinals today. Self said the incident occurred Feb. 2 and that Jackson has “acknowledged his responsibility and handled it himself, but he didn’t tell me about it until Monday.” This isn’t the first time Jackson has been in trouble. He was charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal damage to property last month after he vandalized the car of a female student. That punishment was handled internally and Jackson was not suspended.