QB Wilson intrigued with Yankees camp
Russell Wilson’s head knows football was the right choice. Baseball still has his heart.
A 2014 Super Bowl champion quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks, the 29-year-old began a week of workouts Monday with the New York Yankees.
“Is this just a stunt?” he said. “I think that if you really know me, baseball’s been a part of my blood. It’s been a part of who I am and where I’ve come from and what I’ve done. When you see me make plays on the football field, a lot of that’s a direct correlation to baseball.”
Wilson hit six homers in 39 swings as part of a batting practice group that included Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the top sluggers in the major leagues last season, plus Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird.
“There’s an aroma around here that I’ve got to figure out, and I can’t wait to learn more about it and use that for my football career,” he said.
Wearing pink sunglasses for batting practice, Wilson fell short of the fence in his first 17 swings with a 33½inch, 31-ounce personalized black Louisville Slugger. He then hit three in his next four tries, cleared the leftfield walkway and clanked his final drive off the center-field batter’s eye screen.
Free agents: A group will play two exhibition games this week against a Japanese amateur team.
The Major League Baseball Players Association announced the games against JR East will take place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The games will be open to media and scouts but not the public.
More than four dozen players remain unsigned among the 166 who exercised their right to become free agents last November. The players’ association opened a training camp for free agents at the IMG Academy two weeks ago.
Mariners: Ace Felix Hernandez was hit in his pitching arm by a line drive and forced to leave his spring training debut. He was struck on the upper right forearm by a liner from Victor Caratini of the Cubs.
The Mariners said Hernandez would be examined at the team complex in Peoria, Ariz., to see if X-rays or more tests would be needed.
Giants: Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda has made significant progress from a heart problem that left him in critical condition last week.
His family said Monday the 80-year-old former slugger is “showing major signs of improvement.”
Angels: Two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani hit a sharp RBI single up the middle and also walked twice in his first spring training start as a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels.
Batting second Monday, the 23-year-old fell behind 0-2 against San Diego Padres right-hander Jordan Lyles before drawing four straight balls in the first inning.
The lefty-hitting phenom walked again in the third against Buddy Bauman. Ohtani then hit the first pitch he saw from Michael Mariot for a single in the fifth in his last time up.
Sunday’s Games Monday’s Games
Warriors 125, (at) Knicks 111: Klay Thompson scored 26 points and Stephen Curry had 14 of his 21 in the third quarter as Golden State improved to 3-0 since the All-Star break. Kevin Durant added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors; Emmanuel Mudiay scored 23 for the Knicks.
(At) Raptors 123, Pistons 94: DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry each scored 20 points, Serge Ibaka had 19 and the Eastern Conference leaders got their seventh win in eight games. Andre Drummond had 18 points and 18 rebounds but Detroit lost its fourth consecutive meeting with Toronto.
Lakers 123, (at) Hawks 104: Brandon Ingram had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Julius Randle added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Los Angeles had nine players in double figures to win its third straight. Taurean Prince had 24 points and Dennis Schroder added 20 in Atlanta’s fourth straight loss.
(At) Celtics 109, Grizzlies 98: Kyrie Irving scored 25 points in three quarters of work as Boston also improved to 3-0 since the All-Star Break. JaMychal Green had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Memphis, which has lost 10 straight and 10 consecutive on the road.
(At) Nets 104, Bulls 87: Alan Crabbe scored 21 points, and Jarrett Allen and DeMarre Carroll each added 18 points as Brooklyn snapped an eight-game losing streak. Kris Dunn had 23 for Chicago, which lost its fourth straight and 13th of 16 overall.
(At) Thunder 112, Magic 105: Paul George, who scored just five points on 1-for-14 shooting in a blowout loss to Golden State on Saturday, made 9 of 20 shots for 26 points against Orlando. Evan Fournier and Johnathon Simmons each scored 19 points for Orlando, which lost its sixth straight. Suns at Pelicans: Late
Pacers at Mavericks: Late
Rockets at Jazz: Late
Timberwolves at Kings: Late