Mets announce Rojas as their new 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 AllStar 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.
Golf
KORDA SHOOTS 66, TAKES 2-SHOT LEAD IN BOCA RATON >> Jessica Korda shot a 6-under 66 in high wind to take the first-round lead in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, the tour’s first full-field event of the season and first official event in Boca Raton in more than 30 years.
Korda birdied her final two holes, finishing with a 25-foot putt on the par-4 ninth at Boca Rio Golf Club. The 26-year-old Florida player had eight birdies — converting on all four par-5 holes — and two bogeys. PIETERS SHOOTS 67, LEADS BY 1 AT DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC >> Thomas Pieters birdied four of his first six holes and overcame a mid-round blip to take the lead on Day 1 of the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour on Thursday.
The Belgian player dropped three shots combined on the 10th and 11th holes of his first round, but recovered with three straight birdies to shoot 5-under 67 for a one-stroke lead over David Lipsky.
The 84th-ranked Pieters is chasing his first win since August, and only second victory in 3½ years.
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.
NASCAR
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 and uses both the road course and the oval. He was being challenged by reigning IMSA series champion Juan Pablo Montoya in an Acura for Team Penske, but Montoya’s shot at catching him ended when Taylor crashed with a little less than two minutes remaining in qualifying.