Nelson Cruz
Dominican Republic's Juan Francisco (34) strikes out during a baseball game against the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Olympic baseball a cross between Double-A and Old-Timers Day

By Ronald Blum Aug. 06, 2021 05:51 AM EDT

South Korea's Euilee Lee wipes his face during a semi-final baseball game against the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Alvarez a summer-winter medalist, US reaches baseball final

By Ronald Blum Aug. 05, 2021 11:33 AM EDT

Rays prospect Shane Baz to start for US vs Japan at Olympics

Aug. 01, 2021 09:53 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Tampa Bay prospect Shane Baz will make his Olympics debut Monday night, starting for the United States against Japan. ...

A basket of baseball is pictured before a baseball game between Israel and the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Ryan: Olympic SSK baseball vastly superior to Rawling models

By Ronald Blum Jul. 30, 2021 12:55 PM EDT

Team United States celebrate their win against Israel after a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. The United States won 8-1. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
US prospects, released players beat Israel 8-1 in Olympics

By Ronald Blum Jul. 30, 2021 02:00 AM EDT

Minnesota Twins' Miguel Sano reacts after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Hernandez's homer in 10th gives Indians 5-3 win over Twins

Brian Dulik May. 22, 2021 08:21 PM EDT

Oakland Athletics second baseman Vimael Machin catches a fly out hit by Minnesota Twins' Willians Astudillo during the fifth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Luzardo follows Manaea's stellar start, A's beat Twins twice

By Janie Mccauley Apr. 20, 2021 09:03 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kenta Maeda throws to the Boston Red Sox during the third inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Eovaldi, Red Sox beat Twins 3-2, run winning streak to 8

By Brian Hall Apr. 14, 2021 05:16 PM EDT

Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers (11) high fives teammate Boston Red Sox Hunter Renfroe (10) after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Minneapolis. Boston won 4-2. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Devers, Bosox win snowy 7th in row; Twins hold silent moment

By Brian Hall Apr. 13, 2021 06:49 PM EDT

Seattle Mariners pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (18) stands on the mound during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Haniger, Mariners win 4-3 as Twins' trouble in 10th persists

By Dave Campbell Apr. 10, 2021 05:42 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins' Mitch Garver runs the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Homers, happy: Twins welcome fans back with 10-2 win vs. M's

By Dave Campbell Apr. 08, 2021 08:07 PM EDT

Detroit Tigers' Akil Baddoo, right, is greeted by first base coach Ramon Santiago after hitting a walk-off single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Woo hoo! Baddoo hits again, Tigers rookie tops Twins in 10th

By Noah Trister Apr. 06, 2021 05:29 PM EDT

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto bats during a baseball workout at Nationals Park, Monday, April 5, 2021, in Washington. The Nationals are scheduled to play the Braves on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
LEADING OFF: Nats set to start short-handed vs Braves

By The Associated Press Apr. 06, 2021 03:22 AM EDT

CORRECTS FIRST NAME TO MIKE-Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, left, and manager Dave Martinez, watch the team during a baseball workout at Nationals Park, Monday, April 5, 2021, in Washington. The Nationals are scheduled to play the Braves on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
LEADING OFF: Nats set to start short-handed vs Braves

By The Associated Press Apr. 05, 2021 08:19 PM EDT

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout celebrates after scoring on a double hit by Justin Upton during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Diamondbacks' Gallen has sore forearm, might miss opener

By The Associated Press Mar. 22, 2021 08:30 PM EDT

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona wears a face covering as he drives around on a golf cart during a spring training baseball practice Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
American League Central Preview Capsules

By The Associated Press Mar. 18, 2021 07:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Twins' Nelson Cruz, center, smiles in the dugout after the Twins clinched the AL Central championship with the Chicago White Sox's loss during the tenth inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Twins are bringing back designated hitter Nelson Cruz on a one-year, $13 million contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The agreement was reached late Tuesday and confirmed Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending completion of a physical exam.(AP Photo/Craig Lassig, File)
AP source: Twins reach 1-year, $13M deal with DH Nelson Cruz

By Dave Campbell Feb. 03, 2021 11:20 AM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2020, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a grand slam to center field during the fourth inning of the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals in Atlanta. Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, Nov. 12, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed “please don’t take me.” (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Freeman among trio of Braves on All-MLB first team

By Mike Fitzpatrick Dec. 10, 2020 12:30 AM EST

FILE - Cincinnati Reds' Trevor Bauer throws in the third inning during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cincinnati, in this Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, file photo. Bauer is a free agent. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)
Bauer, LeMahieu, Springer top list of available free agents

By Noah Trister Dec. 04, 2020 04:00 PM EST

File-This Sept. 26, 2020, file photo shows Miami Marlins' Jon Berti stealing second base as New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu waits for the throw during the third inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. Houston Astros outfielder George Springer, LeMahieu, and Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto were among just six free agents who received $18.9 million qualifying offers on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, from their former teams. Three right-handed pitchers also received the offers, Cincinnati’s Trevor Bauer, the New York Mets’ Marcus Stroman, and San Francisco's Kevin Gausman. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin, File)
Stroman, Gausman take $18.9M; Springer, LeMahieu reject

By Ronald Blum Nov. 11, 2020 05:55 PM EST