MLB notes:
Slain students honored as games begin.
Spring training got off to a solemn start as MLB teams wore hats to honor Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were fatally shot last week.
Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald and his two sons were guests of the Houston Astros for their spring opener against the Washington Nationals. Members of the school’s baseball and softball teams were guests of the Miami Marlins and mingled on the field with players, coaches and CEO Derek Jeter.
Teams had the option of wearing the caps, which are black with “SD” in block letters, during the games or only during warm-ups. Both the Astros and Nationals wore them during Friday’s games.
MLB ordered more than 2,500 of the caps from New Era, league spokesman Steven Arrocho said. Many teams will have players sign them, and they will be auctioned to benefit the victims and families affected by the shooting.
Fitz-Gerald said it was a “relief ” to get back to the sport he loves and to stop thinking, at least for a moment, about the tragedy that befell his school. Fourteen students and three teachers were killed, and more than a dozen others were wounded. A former student is in custody on 17 counts of murder.
“You can’t put it into words,” Fitz-Gerald said, fighting back tears. “I think it’s great what Major League Baseball is doing to show support for our community and our school. It’s been a rough week and just being out here ... (gives me) a sense of freedom.” Liriano, Tigers agree: Detroit agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with left-hander Francisco Liriano.
Liriano, 34, was 6-7 with a 4.62 ERA in 18 starts last season with Toronto and 20 relief appearances with World Series champion Houston, which acquired him at the July 31 trade deadline. He is 102-99 in a 12-year big-league career. Cactus League highlights: The Reds beat the Indians 6-4, with Sal Romano starting and giving up a second-inning home run to former A’s first baseman Yonder Alonso in his debut after signing as a free agent with the Indians . ... Corbin Burnes worked a scoreless fourth inning, striking out two, to earn the win in a Brewers split-squad’s 2-1 win over the Cubs. Christian Yelich, obtained in a trade with the Marlins, singled and struck out twice in his debut . ... C.C. Lee gave up three earned runs in an inning of relief but still came away with the win in a Dodgers split-squad’s 13-5 win over the White Sox. Justin Turner, Kiké Hernandez, Matt Kemp and Logan Forsythe each homered for L.A . ... Ariel Miranda started the opener and got the win after two innings of work as the Mariners beat the Padres 3-2. Dee Gordon, acquired by Seattle from the Marlins in December, made his debut in center field and doubled in the first inning. Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., the 19-year-old son of a former major-league third baseman, belted a solo home run to right field in his second at-bat. Grapefruit League highlights: Scott Van Slyke homered twice and drove in five runs for the Marlins in a 6-4 win over the Cardinals . ... Mike Hauschild struck out three over the final two innings to give the Astros a 3-2 win over the Nationals. Max Stassi homered off Jaron Long for Houston . ... Aaron Boone was a winner in his debut as a manager at any level as his New York Yankees beat the Tigers 3-1. Lefty Ryan Carpenter, signed to compete for the fifthstarter spot, got the start for the Tigers, giving up a hit and issuing an eight-pitch walk to Giancarlo Stanton in two innings of work . ... Zach Wheeler started and worked an inning in the Mets’ opener, a 6-2 win over the Braves, striking out two and giving up a hit after new manager Mickey Callaway told reporters he would treat the right-hander as a starter. Briefly: Three-time All-Star first baseman Matt Carpenter has been sidelined with back tightness and the Cardinals are unsure when he will make his Grapefruit League debut . ... Orioles third baseman Jaime Estrada and Angels pitcher Andrew Vinson were suspended without pay for the first 50 games of the season under baseball’s minor-league drug program.