2016 ranking of all 30 farm systems  —  To kick off my look this week at the best prospects in the minor leagues, I've ranked all 30 MLB farm systems from top to bottom, considering only the players who are currently in the systems and have not yet exhausted their rookie year of eligibility.

13-year-old Ocoee boy dies after accidental shooting linked to hoverboard  —  Lavardo Fisher was playing video games when he was accidentally shot by his cousin.  The 18-year-old shooter was on a hoverboard and lost his balance, causing the gun to fire.  (Video by FOX35) … Privacy Policy

Recent hernia surgery to limit Astros' Evan Gattis this spring  —  One of the Astros' big bats won't be taking hacks when the Astros hold their first full workout on Feb. 23.  —  Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis recently underwent surgery to repair a hernia, the Chronicle has learned …

Giants Avoid Arbitration With Brandon Belt  —  The Giants have avoided arbitration with first baseman Brandon Belt by agreeing to a one-year deal, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets.  He'll receive $6.2MM, Jon Heyman tweets.  —  The sides had seemed headed for a hearing.

The rarest pitch in baseball … You might think the rarest pitch in the game is the knuckleball — only two pitchers regularly throw it right now.  But there is a pitch that only Brad Ziegler throws often.  —  Ziegler throws a changeup — out of a submarine arm slot.

Braves To Sign Carlos Torres  —  Reliever Carlos Torres has agreed to a deal with the Braves, reports Jim Seimas of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, who adds that he chose Atlanta over the Yankees and Dodgers (Twitter link).  Bill Shanks of FOX Sports Radio and the Macon Telegram tweets that it's …

Developing The baseballr Package For R  —  When this package is finished, it will hopefully be a mighty tool for baseball researchers and analysts.  —  Introduction  —  Late in 2015 I wrote a piece here at The Hardball Times that walked through some of my favorite R packages for gathering and analyzing baseball data.

Ozzie Guillen to manage in Venezuela next winter  —  CARACAS, Venezuela — Ozzie Guillen, who led the White Sox to the 2005 World Series title, was hired Wednesday to manage the La Guaira Sharks of the Venezuelan Winter League next offseason.  —  The 52-year-old, who was born in Ocumare del Tuy …

Ex-MLB commissioner Bud Selig to teach at Arizona State's law school  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Former baseball commissioner Bud Selig will teach sports law and business at Arizona State's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.  —  The university said Tuesday that Selig, 81, had been appointed …

Orioles Nearing Three-Year Deal With Yovani Gallardo  —  5:07pm: ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that “if and when” the deal between the Orioles and Gallardo is finalized, he'll be guaranteed $40-45MM over three years.  —  10:40am: There's momentum toward a deal, but some “tweaks” …

Phillies Acquire Taylor Featherston  —  The Phillies have acquired infielder Taylor Featherston from the Angels in exchange for cash or a player to be named later, Philadelphia has announced.  He was recently designated for assignment by Los Angeles to clear roster space for the claim of lefty Christian Friedrich.

Why so serious?  Eli Manning explains his ‘Super Bowl face’  —  (Feb. 9, 2016) - While everyone else celebrated around him, Eli Manning stood stone-faced as big brother Peyton and the Denver Broncos scored a late touchdown in Super Bowl 50.  —  So why didn't Eli give high fives and cheer like most of the people around him?