Cespedes to give up golf in effort to remain healthy

Yoenis Cespedes has decided to limit his longest drives to the ballpark this season as the New York Mets slugger has informed the team, in an effort to remain healthy, he no longer will play golf, a source confirmed Thursday.

Cespedes’ passion for golf is well-documented, but his troublesome injury history in the past two years apparently has convinced him he’s better off focusing his free time on fitness rather than lowering his handicap.

The New York Post was the first to report Cespedes would put away his clubs for the sake of the Mets.

In a Newsday interview in 2016, after Cespedes signed his first deal with the Mets, he professed that golf actually improved his hitting. “For me, it helps me with my baseball swing,” Cespedes said then. “With golf, I have to keep my hands on the inside and you have to keep your eye on the ball. It’s exactly what I need to do when I’m playing baseball.”

Rays

Tampa Bay top prospect Brent Honeywell left the mound in a live batting practice session with what the team diagnosed as a right forearm strain. The 22-yearold right-hander got hurt Thursday while facing major league batters for the first time this spring.

Orioles

Pitcher Chris Tillman and Baltimore finalized a $3 million, one-year contract that allows him to earn an additional $7 million in performance bonuses.