Ohtani attracts attention on 1st day
Shohei Ohtani emerged from the clubhouse and tipped his cap to the swarm of Japanese countrymen capturing his every move, cameras clicking a mile a minute.
He offered that signature smile, something Angels manager Mike Scioscia noticed right away and appreciates as much as his new two-way player’s “extraordinary” baseball talent.
As a few Japanese fans cheered and waved their flag, Ohtani walked to a back field at Tempe (Ariz.) Diablo Stadium and got to work with the rest of the pitchers and catchers on a dreary Day 1 of spring training Wednesday.
Ohtani pretended to throw a ball before hustling to cover first base for a pitcher fielding practice drill — in the rain. He later took some cuts.
Ohtani said it was a shorter day than he’s used to back home.
“Baseball-wise on the field, I’m going to be doing nothing different than what I was doing in Japan,” he said through translator and friend Ippei Mizuhara.
Ohtani’s first bullpen session was scheduled for Thursday, and Scioscia said it would be this weekend or early next week before the lanky right-hander faces live hitters.
Free-agent camp ejection: As teams started spring training workouts across Florida and Arizona, the players’ association had a Kansas City Royals scout escorted out of the union’s opening training session for unsigned free agents.
About 15 players attended the first day of workouts at the union’s camp in Bradenton, Fla. Media members were barred from the IMG Academy. The scout was told he was not welcome but could set up a session with an individual player at the player’s discretion, several people familiar with the situation said. The people spoke on condition of anonymity.
More than 90 players are without agreements among the 166 who exercised free-agency rights in November, the most sluggish market since the final offseason of collusion in 198788.
Francona’s father dies: Former major-leaguer John “Tito” Francona, the father of Cleveland manager Terry Francona, has died. He was 84.
The Indians said the elder Francona died unexpectedly at his home in New Brighton, Penn., on Tuesday night. Francona played outfield and first base in the majors for 15 seasons, six with the Indians.
Briefly: Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge took batting practice for the first time since left shoulder surgery and said he is on track to play on Opening Day. ... Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia won his salaryarbitration case against the team and will get a raise to $6.7 million instead of the club’s $5.85 million offer. Garcia was a first-time All-Star last year, when he was second in the AL batting race and set career bests with a .330 average, 18 homers and 80 RBIs. He made $3 million . ... Former Giants catcher Chris Stewart, 35, agreed to $575,000, one-year contract with Atlanta. He hit .183 in 51 games with Pittsburgh last season . ... Closer Bud Norris and St. Louis finalized a $3 million, one-year deal.