rincon, Author at WeTeachSports

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026

Former Vikings All-Pro safety Browner dies at 65

Mar 29, 2026, 01:35 PM ET

Joey Browner, the first defensive back selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round and a member of the team’s Ring of Honor, died Saturday at the age of 65, the team announced Sunday.

The Vikings did not disclose Browner’s cause of death.

Minnesota selected Browner with the 19th pick in the 1983 NFL draft out of USC. He and Harrison Smith are the only safeties ever picked by the Vikings in the first round.

Browner was selected as a first-team All-Pro three times and to six consecutive Pro Bowls in

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March 29, 2026March 29, 2026

Dominic Smith Delivers Emotional Grand Slam in Braves’ Win Over Royals

Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith’s mother died less than two weeks ago. He said the team has picked him up the last few weeks, and he returned the favor Saturday night.

Smith became the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He finished off the Braves’ six-run ninth inning in a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.

“It’s just amazing,” said Smith, who was one of the last players to make the Braves’ opening day roster. “Played against the Braves for a long time, and being on the other side a lot of these endings kind of hurt, so to be on the right side of it this time was so fun.”

Dominic Smith crushes walk-off GRAND SLAM as Braves defeat Royals, 6–2

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Dominic Smith crushed a walk-off grand slam as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Kansas City Royals, 6–2.

Smith told reporters after the game the Braves had been very supportive during spring training when his mother was ill. She was diagnosed with cancer in September and almost died at the start of camp. Smith said he left the team for a little over a week when she had a “scare,” and returned because he was fighting for a job. He was not with her in California when she passed away.

“This team is just so awesome,” Smith said. “I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day. They’re asking about her, asking about her well-being, my well-being, and that’s all they really cared about. They didn’t care about baseball.”

Smith was able to show his thanks in the ninth inning off Royals closer Carlos Estevez, who led MLB in saves last season with 42. The Braves erased a 2-0 deficit on RBI singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Harris II and had the bases loaded with one out. On a 3-2 pitch, after calling timeout to gather himself, Smith lifted a fly ball into the right field seats that sent the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.

Smith said he felt his mom’s presence in the celebration, and he looking forward to the Braves road trip to Anaheim next week where he will be able to see family and “say his goodbyes.”

“I got choked up a bunch of times, and it’s, you know, I’m trying to hold back tears now,” he said. “I feel her every day. I miss her dearly. It’s not a moment I don’t think about her. And like I said, I’m just so thankful because this team knows what I’m going through. So they really, you know, picked me up the last few weeks.”

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026

7 Calls Overturned by ABS as Aaron Judge, Yankees Sweep Giants

Aaron Judge homered for a second straight day to nearly the same left-field spot, Ben Rice hit a two-run double in the third inning, and the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Saturday for a three-game sweep.

San Francisco matched a franchise record dating to 1909 by going 20 straight innings without a run to start the season before Matt Chapman’s RBI single in the third finally got the Giants — and new manager Tony Vitello — on the scoreboard in 2026.

Meanwhile, Aaron Boone won his 700th game as the Yankees’ manager.

Seven automated ball-strike challenges of calls by plate umpire Chad Whitson were all overturned — four by San Francisco, three by New York.

Judge connected with two outs in the fifth, a 383-foot drive that ricocheted off the roof of an ambulance parked in the tunnel just inside the foul pole.

Aaron Judge crushes solo home run, extending Yankees’ lead over Giants

Rice put New York ahead in the third against right-hander Tyler Mahle (0-1), done after four innings in his San Francisco debut.

Jake Bird (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief and David Bednar finished for his second save after surrendering two straight singles to start the inning before getting Patrick Bailey to ground into a game-ending double play.

The Giants were shut out by New York 7-0 and 3-0 with only four hits over their initial two games — the first time that had happened in baseball history to start a season.

Jung Hoo Lee began the third with a double to right off Will Warren. Chapman followed with an RBI single, and the crowd cheered as many fans jumped to their feet in obvious relief.

Vitello, hired from the University of Tennessee despite no professional playing or coaching experience, became the ninth manager in baseball history to be shut out in each of his first two games with a team, and seventh to do so in his first two games overall, according to Sportradar.

The 20 consecutive scoreless innings matched the previous franchise mark from 1909, when the Giants were scoreless for 13 innings in their opener and the first seven in Game 2.

Up next

After Sunday’s off day in this quirky opening-week schedule, LHP Ryan Weathers pitches the series opener at Seattle for the Yankees. The Giants hadn’t announced a starter for their series opener Monday at San Diego.

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March 28, 2026March 28, 2026

Rangers Scratch Jacob deGrom From Start Against Phillies With Sore Neck

The Texas Rangers scratched two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom from his scheduled start Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies because of neck stiffness.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said he expected deGrom to start Tuesday or Wednesday on the road against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rangers gave left-hander Jacob Latz the start.

Latz failed to win a spot in the rotation out of spring training. He’s pitched mostly out of the bullpen in parts of four seasons with the Rangers.

deGrom’s final two years with the New York Mets were plagued by injury before he left in free agency after the 2022 season. He then had Tommy John surgery after only six starts in his Rangers debut in 2023, the season of their only World Series title. They won each of his starts that all came before the end of April that year.

The $185 million, five-year deal deGrom signed with Texas included a conditional sixth-year club option worth at least $20 million and up to $37 million for 2028 that has been triggered because of the time missed injured.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 28, 2026March 28, 2026

A Trumpet, Debut Save and 8th-Inning Swing: Dodgers’ New Faces Make Noise Early

The two biggest offseason acquisitions by the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are paying dividends already.

Edwin Diaz earned his first save in his debut and outfielder Kyle Tucker singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Diaz trotted out in the ninth to the sounds of trumpeter Tatiana Tate, who tooted from the stands next to the left field bullpen. Wearing Diaz’s No. 3 jersey, she played Timmy Trumpet’s “Narcos,” the closer’s entrance song that electrified New York Mets fans before the Dodgers lured the fan favorite away on a $69 million, three-year deal.

“It’s really cool because it’s another way to keep the fans involved in the game until the ninth inning because they’re all going to be waiting for that,” infielder Miguel Rojas said. “Having Sugar in the ninth is always going to be special.”

However, fans may be hearing a recorded version of Diaz’s music next time. Tate, who has played with Stevie Wonder and Doechii, isn’t expected to be a regular presence during the season.

Díaz struck out two and walked one. He converted 28 of 31 save chances for the Mets last season.

“I always get a little bit nervous when I come into the game, but at the end of the day I was excited, too,” Diaz said. “I come in a one-run game, [which] was really big for me. I want to set it down the second day of the season, help this team to win, get the save and keep going.”

The Dodgers won back-to-back World Series championships without a true closer, although at times it was a rocky road. The last pitcher to fill that role was Kenley Jansen, who twice led the National League in saves during his spell in Los Angeles.

Now, Diaz provides dependability, a track record and a level of trust at the back of the bullpen.

“It’s going to be a lot on Sugar because he’s going to have to be under a lot of pressure,” Rojas said, “but he’s done it before. He’s the right guy for the task.”

Manager Dave Roberts initially didn’t think the Dodgers had a chance to land Diaz in free agency after the right-hander opted out of the final two years and $38 million of his contract with the Mets.

Roberts got off a 45-minute video call with Diaz and front office executives, and told his wife, “We’re going to get him.”

“It was selling ourselves and talking about how much we valued him and the culture of the team and the ownership and how we’ll do anything to win,” Roberts recalled. “He talked to his wife and convinced her moving West was a good decision.”

Another factor that played in the Dodgers’ favor, Roberts believes, is that Diaz’s younger brother, Alexis, had joined the Dodgers last May as a reliever. He is currently in the Texas Rangers organization.

“Calling him up from the minors and us treating him like a superstar, I think that kind of helped make that decision and comfort going forward,” Roberts said.

The attraction for Diaz was simple: “A lot of good players here. Everyone stays healthy, this team has a chance to win a three-peat,” he said.

Tucker went 1-for-3 with the game-winning single and a stolen base. In his debut on Thursday, the right fielder notched his first hit and first RBI in an 8-2 comeback victory. He signed a $240 million, four-year deal to leave the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m excited for them to have the opportunity to play in this environment and feel part of the family,” Rojas said. “I’m pretty sure they’re looking closely at how fun it’s been.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 28, 2026March 28, 2026

MLB on FOX’s Saturday Slate Preview: Yankees-Giants, Twins-Orioles, Royals-Braves

We are now underway with the 2026 MLB season. It’s still too early to see how teams are shaping up, but the first Saturday of the campaign always feels a bit special.

We’re answering the big questions ahead of Saturday’s MLB on FOX slate, including the Yankees eyeing a sweep of a Giants team that still hasn’t scored a run:

1. Did the Yanks do enough to get on top of the AL East? What could be the determining factor?

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Thosar: The Yankees are running back almost an identical roster as the one they ended with last year because they’re relying on rising stars to take steps forward, and the rotation has the chance to be the best in baseball this season, particularly after Gerrit Cole returns from Tommy John rehab sometime around May. Catcher/first baseman Ben Rice has elite offensive metrics, second baseman Jazz Chisholm is motivated to have a super successful walk year, and catcher Austin Wells is due to breakout at the plate. If things go right, then the offense is built to go as far as Aaron Judge takes them, and the Yankees have done enough to win the AL East. Of course, it’s not that simple, either.

Their three determining factors are health, wins against division rivals, and sharpening their fundamentals. The Yankees performed poorly against the Blue Jays and Red Sox in last year’s regular season, with Toronto winning the season series (8-5) and Boston dominating (9-4) in head-to-head matchups. Those results cost the Yankees the division title last year. This season, they have to prove they can step up against the top AL East teams from beginning to end. As much as the Bronx Bombers want to make a deep postseason run and go back to the World Series, they also have to play just as hard and keep up their intensity in the long 162-game schedule.

The familiar June swoons and lapses in concentration have led to fielding errors and a complete absence of fundamentals in recent years. Too often, simple mistakes have been at the heart of frustrating and avoidable losses, to the point where opponents are just waiting for the Yankees to slip up. This year’s team needs to be dialed in every step of the way.

2. The Giants are an intriguing team for their manager move in Tony Vitello. What’s the upside here?

Thosar: Vitello’s jump from college coach to MLB manager is unprecedented, but the allure and hype around his hire will quickly wear off if the Giants don’t win consistently. Already, Vitello has made some questionable comments about his perspective on wins and losses that have made fans wonder if he’s ready for the big leagues. So he’s facing a ton of pressure to win games, all while staying true to the core beliefs and coaching tactics that led to a .772 winning percentage as the University of Tennessee head baseball coach.

For the Giants, Vitello’s upside is his ability to think outside the box and bring a new culture and edge into the organization. He’s known to bring a fiery and emotional coaching style that could certainly help inject energy into a Giants team that sometimes falls flat. If Vitello can help establish a clearer identity based on grittiness and aggression, that will actually matter over the course of the long season. Vitello is also known to be an excellent communicator, which should help younger players develop and lead to faster buy-in throughout the clubhouse.

In the end, though, the new Giants skipper will have to learn in-game tactics on the fly and quickly adapt to data-heavy processes in MLB without getting overwhelmed by it all. It goes without saying that Vitello has a lot on his plate in his rookie managerial season. But if he can avoid burnout and lead a team that overperforms expectations through energy and a fearless style of play, then this hire might just work out exactly how Buster Posey expected it to.

3. Similarly to the Yankees, the Orioles are in a crowded AL East. How legit could the O’s be this season?

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Kavner: I think they’re a real threat. I don’t expect them to win the division, but I do expect them to get one of the final wild-card spots and get back to the playoffs. The Orioles weren’t messing around this winter coming off last year’s embarrassing last-place finish, finally spending to put established talents around their young core. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward give them more power. Shane Baz increases the ceiling of the rotation, and the signing of Chris Bassitt (and re-signing of Zach Eflin) lift the floor. Ryan Helsley gives them the closer they’ve missed since Felix Bautista went down. The early-season injuries to Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg hurt, but when healthy, this could be one of the best lineups in baseball and help make up for any concerns with the pitching staff.

As of Friday afternoon, FanGraphs had them as the clear No. 4 team in the division (12.3% chance to win the AL East) but with a nearly 50% chance to make the playoffs. I expect the difference between the first and fourth place teams in this division will be only a handful of games, and though they’ll all beat up on each other throughout the year, I think four teams make it into the postseason from the AL East. The division is that good.

4. We have a bunch of guys who showed out during the WBC. Who is poised for a standout MLB season?

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Kavner: It goes without saying that Bobby Witt Jr. will have a standout season, so I’ll take a different player from both clubs (who were teammates for WBC champions Venezuela) and go with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Maikel Garcia. I know, I know, SCORCHING HOT take here that Acuña will be good. But another year removed from the latest ACL tear, this could be the year we see Acuña looking closer to his 2023 MVP form.

Now, I’m not predicting another 40-70 season on two surgically-repaired knees, but he can still scoot. Acuña’s sprint speed last year wasn’t far off from 2023, and though he only stole nine bases last season, he was also only caught once and was clearly being careful in his first year back from the knee injury. This winter, he hit four homers and stole 11 bases in 16 games in the Venezuelan Winter League. He hit another two homers and stole another two bases at the World Baseball Classic. Another 40-40 season in which he re-establishes his place among the game’s elite could be within reach. And behind Shohei Ohtani, Acuña is as good a guess as any to win another MVP trophy.

García’s breakout All-Star season last year in Kansas City might’ve flown under the radar for those outside the midwest, but he put his name on the international map at the WBC. In a tournament that featured many of the game’s superstars, it was the 26-year-old Royals third baseman who took home MVP honors. Bobby Witt Jr. is the team’s star, but with Garcia’s keen eye at the plate, strong bat-to-ball skills and pristine defense at the hot corner, I expect a strong follow-up as the team’s co-star.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Phillies Infielder Alec Bohm Sues Parents, Accuses Them of Misusing His Money

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has sued his parents for millions of dollars, accusing them of siphoning large amounts of his money into financial accounts they managed for him and then using some of the cash to pay their own expenses.

Bohm’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday in a Philadelphia court, comes after he began to review his personal and financial affairs in recent months, and said that his parents refused to give him access to the accounts or provide him with the information he sought about them.

They sought to “freeze” him out of four accounts — established as limited liability companies — and he now believes they “converted a sizeable amount” of his money from those accounts “to their own use,” the lawsuit said.

By the time he sought the information, his parents had already transferred millions of dollars from his personal accounts to the accounts they controlled, the lawsuit said.

Bohm’s parents, Daniel and Lisa Bohm, denied doing anything wrong and, through their lawyer, said they are “deeply saddened by the allegations” and will aggressively defend themselves. Alec Bohm has had full access to the accounts and his parents are paying his expenses on their personal credit cards, their lawyer, Robert Eckard, said in a statement.

“Mr. and Mrs. Bohm love their son very much and have always acted in his best interests, both personally and professionally, and still do so to this day,” Eckard said.

After Thursday’s 2026 season opening game, Bohm declined comment to reporters, saying, “I’m not going to address any personal matters right now.”

Both parties say the first of the accounts was opened in 2019. His parents told him that they assigned themselves a 10% stake, strictly for administration purposes, and that Bohm was the “true” owner of all the LLC’s assets, Bohm’s lawsuit said.

The accounts had various purposes, such as investing in securities or buying real estate. Bohm’s lawsuit also said they used money from The Alec Bohm Foundation to pay their expenses.

Bohm’s lawsuit asks his parents to pay at least $3 million in damages, hand over control of the accounts and hire an accountant to track every dollar they transferred from Bohm’s personal accounts to the accounts they controlled.

Bohm, 29, has a $10.2 million contract with the Phillies for the 2026 baseball season. The lawsuit said his parents live in a recreational vehicle and travel the country.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Cubs World Series Champion, Braves Star Jason Heyward Announces MLB Retirement

Jason Heyward, who launched his 16-year major-league career with the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and won a World Series title with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, announced his retirement on Friday.

Heyward played in 34 games with the San Diego Padres in 2025, hitting .176.

For his career, Heyward hit .255 with 186 home runs with six teams. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The outfielder won five Gold Gloves, including four straight seasons from 2014 through 2017.

Heyward, whose nickname is “J Hey,” played his first five seasons with the Braves and set career highs with 27 homers and 82 RBIs for Atlanta in 2012. He was drafted by the Braves in 2007 from Henry County High School in suburban Atlanta.

Heyward played for the Cubs for seven seasons, from 2016 through 2022. He said he plans to focus on his Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, a youth development program based in Chicago.

“I wanted to reach this moment and know without a doubt that it was time to walk away, and I do,” Heyward said in a statement. “No second-guessing, no looking back, just gratitude.”

Heyward said playing 16 years in the major leagues “gave me everything, and now I get to give some of that back. Through the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, I get to mentor the next generation, keep my hands in the game, and make sure kids in my community have the opportunities and the space to dream the same way I did.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

MLB Automated Ball-Strike System Sees 61% Success Rate in Opening Games

Terry Francona had every reason not be a fan of the Automated Ball-Strike System, after the Cincinnati Reds‘ 3-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

However, the longtime manager was taking the long view after game one of 162.

Francona saw a walk by Eugenio Suarez on a full count overturned to a strikeout in the fourth inning while Connor Phillips‘ ninth-inning strikeout of Boston’s Roman Anthony — also on a full count — overturned to a walk.

“I think our pitchers are going to have to get used to thinking the inning might be over, and it’s not,” Francona said. “It’s almost like when a guy comes out and you say, ‘Hey, way to go. Can you get one more?’ So you’re going to have to stay dialed in.”

Teams had a 61.3% success rate on challenges, going 19 of 31 through the first 12 games of the regular season.

Using Hawk-Eye technology, 12 cameras measure whether a pitch crosses the strike zone with accuracy of about one-sixth of an inch.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora was pleased after they were 2 of 3 on challenges. Even though there was one challenge he wished one of his hitters would have made.

Trevor Story was up with two outs and runners on first and second in the fifth inning. Story was caught looking on a fastball by Andrew Abbott that looked to be a ball.

“You just have to make sure. There was one early where Trevor is in that situation again, he’d probably challenge,” Cora said. “We thought the pitch was up. We don’t mind him challenging there because it changes the whole thing, right? We were talking about it. It’s a different ballgame now.”

The Red Sox did have a successful challenge in the bottom of the inning when Garrett Crochet’s cutter just got the lower half of the strike zone against Suárez. Instead of Suárez drawing a walk, catcher Carlos Narvaez’s challenge resulted in the third out of the inning.

“He made a really good pitch right there. I thought it stayed down and it was a ball, but with the new ABS, good for him,” Suárez said.

[More MLB: A Three-Peat In Sight But Dodgers Aren’t Thinking October … Yet]

Anthony’s challenge paid off. Instead of the third out of the inning and a strikeout, it was overturned to a walk and put runners at first and second. Story and Jarren Duran followed with RBI singles to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.

“I knew it was a ball. I was pretty confident,” Anthony said. “It turned the game around in a sense. It was good to turn that around, get on base and score there. I trust my instincts and discipline at the plate. I’ve had many in the past, up, down, in and out. That was a good example. Probably not even close. Just kind of knew it there.”

Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz became the first batter to have a ball four overturned to strike three during the third inning against the Mets. New York catcher Francisco Alvarez challenged and it showed the pitch caught the inside corner. The Mets were 2 for 3 on their challenges.

Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox both went 3 for 4 on their challenges, while Tampa Bay was 2 for 2.

Phillies reliever Zach Pop failed his team’s first challenge in the eighth inning against Texas’ Brandon Nimmo. Pop challenged James Hoye’s ball four call but it was confirmed on replay and Nimmo walked.

Manager Rob Thomson didn’t mind the challenge.

“I was good with it. It was a 10th of an inch off. That pitch decided an at-bat late in the game, we’ve got the lead. On the defensive side you want to use that challenge,” he said.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Bills bring back Hamlin on one-year contract

Mar 27, 2026, 11:39 AM ETOpen Extended Reactions

The Buffalo Bills have re-signed safety Damar Hamlin to a one-year contract after his 2025 season was cut short by injury, the team announced Friday.

Hamlin, 28, played in only five games last year after he suffered a pectoral injury in practice that required surgery and ultimately ended his season in October. He returns to a Bills safeties room that has added C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone in free agency this offseason.

A 2021 sixth-round pick, Hamlin began his career as a Bills backup and special teams player. He had opportunities to start

Link to Original Article - on ESPN