Dominicans Use Defense, Pitching And Power To Push Venezuela To Brink In WBC  —  SAN DIEGO—The Dominican Republic is a team defined by its big bombers, an All-Star-driven juggernaut expected to pummel opponents into submission.  —  On Thursday night, the Dominicans showed they can win …

2017 MLB Mock Draft: The First Ten  —  Predicting the first round of the 2017 draft may prove a fool's errand.  —  Not because the draft is unpredictable and teams have less consensus among the top picks than ever with more looks and more information available, though both of those are true.

Kevin Kiermaier deal is relief for him and safe risk worth taking for Rays  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — For a guy who said he couldn't talk much about the six-year, $53.5 million contract extension he will soon sign, Kevin Kiermaier shared how thankful, humbled and blessed he felt.

Scott Boras rips Blue Jays over handling of Sanchez salary  —  TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays have renewed the 2017 contract of all-star right-hander Aaron Sanchez for the major-league minimum of $535,000, a decision influential agent Scott Boras described as the “harshest treatment any team could provide a player.”

11 biggest questions remaining in spring training  —  MESA, Ariz. - Yes, there are things going on in spring training.  Real things.  The thrill-an-inning WBC and Mets “prospect” Tim Tebow and his stalker (who's ever heard of a stalker for a minor leaguer?) are getting all the attention.

The complicated state of Haitian Dominicans in MLB  —  Arroz con pollo waits on the table at Miguel Sano's duplex condo, not far from Target Field.  Sano's sister is visiting from the Dominican Republic, and her husband has made the Twins slugger's favorite dish — mounds of it, enough to feed a baseball team.

Yankees' Greg Bird homers off Clay Buchholz to continue hot streak … TAMPA, Fla. — Chris Carter was supposed to start Wednesday night at first base but was a late scratch because of an illness.  Greg Bird, scheduled to have the night off, was pressed into duty and homered in his first at-bat.

Indians outfielder goes 1-for-3 with double, three RBIs in debut  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have done their best to simulate a game environment for Michael Brantley throughout the left fielder's comeback this spring.  On Wednesday afternoon, Jason Kipnis helped out …

Salvador Perez's knee OK but elbow is hurt; says he'll be ready for Royals opener  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  There was a twist in the Salvador Perez injury story.  —  Four days after freak play during a World Baseball Classic game in Jalisco, Mexico, left Perez gingerly limping from the field …

The Gurus Behind Baseball's Search for the Perfect Swing  —  Independent hitting instructors have helped players such as Justin Turner and Josh Donaldson become feared hitters  —  Doug Latta teaches hitting at a nondescript industrial park in Northridge, Calif., in a facility that consists of just two batting cages.

Tales of Cubs Fans, Extroverts, and 1987 Topps  —  Young Anthony Belker Gets Ready for Cubs Baseball  —  Anthony Bryant Belker was born on November 8th, 2022, five days after the Cubs won their third World Series in six years.  His parents, and thus he too, were at Game Five at Wrigley …