Votto, Reds resume with unsettled feelings as workouts start

CINCINNATI (AP) — Hitters in bright red shirts slapped batting-practice pitches to all parts of the recently mowed field. A mash-up of disco, rap and Motown reverberated through empty Great American Ball Park for background music. Looked and sounded like baseball, all right. Felt very different in many...

Fulmer back on mound during Tigers' 1st workout at Comerica

DETROIT (AP) — Baseball's return to Comerica Park meant Michael Fulmer was back on the mound in Detroit. It had certainly been a while for the right-hander, who had Tommy John surgery and missed the whole 2019 season. “The closer I got to being officially done with rehab, the more and more and more...

31 MLB players, 7 staff test positive for COVID-19, or 1.2%

NEW YORK (AP) — Thirty-one Major League Baseball players and seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19 during intake for the resumption of training, a rate of 1.2%. MLB and the players' association announced the results Friday as teams resumed workouts for the first time since the coronavirus...

MLB has 38 positive COVID-19 tests as training resumes; 31 players and 7 staff among 19 teams

Braves' Hamels says shoulder feels strong after long layoff

ATLANTA (AP) — For baseball's short season, Cole Hamels says short starts will work just fine. The Atlanta Braves' new veteran left-hander just wants to make sure he posts quality innings, no matter how few they may be. Hamels said Friday he is feeling strong as the Braves opened their summer training for...

The Latest: AP source: Virus forces Heat to close facility

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ A person with knowledge of the situation says that the Miami Heat have closed their training facility after a second player tested positive for coronavirus. The Heat will have players at the arena over the coming days to satisfy...

Rays lefty Snell puts comments behind, gets back to work

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays ace Blake Snell reported for work, after all. The 27-year-old Snell made headlines in May when he said he opposed the idea of players taking further pay reductions to start the season during a pandemic — that it was not worth the health risk. But he said...

Confessions of a baseball purist

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — EDITOR’S NOTE: Tony Siegle started his big league career as a scoreboard operator at the Astrodome in 1965. He went on to work in the baseball operations departments for Milwaukee, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, the Angels, San Francisco, Colorado and...

AL MVP Trout still doesn't feel comfortable about this year

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout rounded third base wearing a white N-95 mask Friday morning as he participated in the Los Angeles Angels first workout of summer camp. The reigning American League MVP is taking every necessary precaution as he ponders whether he will be the lineup when the season begins...

Chisox pitcher Kopech misses camp start with personal matter

The Chicago White Sox plan to give Michael Kopech whatever he needs to deal with a personal matter. In the meantime, they have plenty of intriguing arms for their summer camp. Kopech was excused from team activities Friday, and general manager Rick Hahn said he doesn’t have a timeline for the return of one...