Mets make it official, hire Rojas as team’s manager
The Mets made it official, hiring Luis Rojas as their manager to replace Carlos Beltrán.
New York announced the move Thursday, a week after Beltrán departed without managing a game. Rojas, who had been the Mets quality control coach, was given a multiyear contract.
“I will work tirelessly to help this team win,” Rojas said in a statement. “I believe this team and coaching staff can do special things, and I look forward to working together with everyone to reach our goals.”
Rojas became New York’s fourth manager in the past 2 ½ years — and third in four months. He is to be introduced Friday at a Citi Field news conference.
MARINERS EXPECT MITCH HANIGER TO MISS START OF SEASON >> This was already going to be a year where the Seattle Mariners would be relying heavily on young players and some of their top prospects right from the beginning of the season.
Now the Mariners expect to be without one of their few veterans — likely for the first month.
Outfielder Mitch Haniger is expected to miss the start of the regular season and likely needs to undergo core muscle surgery, general manager Jerry Dipoto said.
Haniger suffered the injury during one of his offseason workouts earlier this week. Dipoto said the latest setback is tied to Haniger’s injury issues from last season.
NBA
REMATCH! JAMES, ANTETOKOUNMPO ARE ALL-STAR CAPTAINS AGAIN >> It’ll be an All-Star rematch: Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will be the captains for the NBA All-Star Game, just as they were last season. They earned the captaincies by being the top overall votegetters from the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively.
The other starters for the Feb. 16 game in Chicago: Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, Luka
Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, James Harden of the Houston Rockets, Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, Kemba Walker of the Boston Celtics and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. WILLIAMSON’S EXCEPTIONAL DEBUT PROVIDES PELICANS HOPE >> Zion Williamson’s sublime 17-point surge in a span of barely more than three minutes could very well become part of New Orleans’ pro sports lore — even if the final score won’t.
For the Pelicans, a narrow loss to a well-coached, savvy San Antonio Spurs team carried far less weight than the burgeoning form of a young superstar in the making.
“The way he came out was very poised,” veteran Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday said of Williamson.
Williamson’s final statistical line was 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go with seven rebounds and three assists in 18:08 on the court.
NFL
PATRIOTS ROOKIE ARRESTED AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR SPEEDING >> New England cornerback Joejuan Williams faces charges after being stopped by a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper for speeding on Interstate 40 on Jan. 17.
The trooper stopped Williams, the 45th pick overall in the 2019 NFL draft, at 9:37 p.m near mile marker 333 in Cumberland County. Williams, 22, was arrested for speeding along with possession of a controlled substance, possession of legend drugs without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to information from the THP.
Williams reportedly posted a $37,500 bond and was released Jan. 18 from the Cumberland County Jail with a hearing set for Feb. 21.
College athletics
NCAA TO ALLOW POTENTIAL OLYMPIANS TO RECEIVE MORE BENEFITS >> The NCAA will now permit elite athletes to be paid for training expenses by the U.S. Olympic Committee and other national governing bodies.
The Division I Council adopted the legislation Wednesday at the NCAA convention and it is effective immediately.
Under the new legislation, athletes designated elite by the USOC or other organizations such as USA Swimming or USA Track and Field can have travel expenses paid for parents, coaches or trainers. The new rules also will allow potential Olympians to spend more time working with their college coaches without breaking NCAA rules regarding practice limits.
Horse racing
OMAHA BEACH, SPUN TO RUN SCRATCHED FROM PEGASUS WORLD CUP >> The Pegasus World Cup Invitational took two major hits Thursday, with the top choices for the race being scratched over health concerns.
Heavily favored Omaha Beach was scratched because of concerns over swelling in his right hind leg, and that means his career is now over since Saturday was going to be his final race before retiring to stud. Spun to Run, the second favorite after the postposition draw earlier this week, was pulled out after his connections noticed he was warm and dealing with some soreness.
Motor sports
MAZDA TEAM JOEST WINS 2ND CONSECUTIVE ROLEX 24 POLE >> Mazda Team Joest won the pole for the Rolex 24 at Daytona in a session shortened when Ricky Taylor crashed his Team Penske in qualifying.
Oliver Jarvis piloted the Mazda DPi to the top starting spot in the twiceround-the-clock endurance race that begins Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.