AROUND THE HORN
Area connections:
Several area players are set to contribute as action gets underway in Major League Baseball and Triple-A.
Hampton native Jake Cave broke camp as one of four outfielders for the Colorado Rockies after Philadelphia traded him for cash March 24. The 31-year-old former Hampton Christian Academy and Kecoughtan High star has spent plenty of time on the MLB/Triple-A shuttle.
Poquoson native Chase Pinder, who had been in the minors with St. Louis since his Clemson days, signed a minor league deal in November with the San Francisco Giants and earned a spot with Triple-A Sacramento.
Former Lafayette High standout Andre Lipcius, who made his MLB debut last year with Detroit, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 4 and is playing with their Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate.
Grassfield High graduate Justice Bigbie has climbed the Tigers’ ladder and is with Triple-A Toledo.
Pitcher Hunter Gregory, from Hickory High and ODU, is with Toronto’s Triple-A team, the Vancouver Canadians.
Among the area natives entrenched on their clubs are two Dodgers who grew up in Virginia Beach. Pitcher Daniel Hudson, a former Princess Anne High and Old Dominion star, is bouncing back from injury. Chris Taylor, from Cox High, is back as a threat in a loaded Los Angeles lineup.
Former Nansemond River High standout Brandon Lowe is back at second base for Tampa Bay.
Rays: All-Star SS Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave through June 1 under an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association while the investigation continues into an alleged relationship with a minor. Administrative leave isn’t disciplinary under the sport’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, and a player continues to be paid. Franco, who has a $2 million salary this year, has remained in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there investigate and he did not report to spring training. MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican investigation is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline. Originally accused of commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering — charges that carry up to 30 years, 10 years and 20 years of prison, respectively — Franco stands accused instead of sexual and psychological abuse. He hadn’t been formally accused, but if found guilty on the new charge, he could face two to five years in prison. He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021.
Yankees: Reigning AL Cy Young Award Gerrit Cole was placed on the 60-day IL with right elbow inflammation. The earliest he can pitch in the major leagues is May 27 . ... Juan Soto threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning of his Yankees debut after starting New York’s comeback from a four-run deficit in a season-opening 5-4 win over the host Astros. Oswaldo Cabrera homered and Aaron Judge doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh as the Yankees went ahead. Mauricio Dubón and Yordan Alvarez singled off Clay Holmes to give the Astros two on with one out in the ninth. Kyle Tucker lined a single to right and Soto, an All-Star acquired from the Padres in a December trade, made a one-hop throw slightly up the third-base line. Catcher Jose Trevino made a sweep tag and caught Dubón’s left arm just before the runner’s finger touched the plate. Clay Holmes then earned a save.
Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani reached three times in his home debut for the Dodgers as they beat the Cardinals 7-1. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman homered in the third, and Tyler Glasnow pitched six innings of two-hit ball for the Dodgers, who opened the season last week with a 1-1 record against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea.