MLB

12:52 PM ET MIAMI — In 2021, Randy Arozarena put on a green Mexico jersey, logged into his Instagram account and delivered a video message he hoped would be heard by the country’s president. He wanted to be made a citizen and expedite the process as quickly as possible so he could represent Mexico in

11:55 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Major League Baseball is making slight changes to its new pitch clock rules but will not alter the most significant portions of the mandates that have shaved 25 minutes off game times

10:58 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — The dream matchup happened. Ninth inning. Two outs. One-run game. The best player on the planet, Shohei Ohtani, on the mound for Japan. His teammate and good friend, Mike Trout,

5:00 PM ET Weeks of exciting international baseball has all come down to this: USA vs. Japan. Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout. The final game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic is here, and the tournament’s two most dominant teams will be squaring off tonight in what should be an electrifying showdown. While the United

12:20 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — Truly understanding what the World Baseball Classic means took a little while for Team USA, which at its first workout March 7 realized it was far less a team than

12:00 AM ET What’s at stake Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic final between the United States and Japan at Miami’s LoanDepot Park? Oh, just global baseball bragging rights for at least the next three years. It’s the matchup that most baseball fans have been not-so-secretly hoping for throughout the tournament — and it’s

7:00 AM ET Eric GomezMexico writer Three of the four World Baseball Classic semifinalists this year are among the most decorated baseball powers in the world. Sunday night, the U.S., the defending champions, defeated Cuba, who finished third in the inaugural event. Japan, the tournament favorite, has won two titles and never missed the championship

7:00 AM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Roki Sasaki is 21 years old, and in the eyes of some talent evaluators, he is already in the discussion for the title of best pitcher in the world. Yes, right there

10:43 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” MIAMI — The best No. 9 hitter in the world helped send Team USA to the World Baseball Classic finals. One day after his go-ahead grand slam saved its tournament, Trea Turner

8:24 PM ET MIAMI — Cuban jerseys, caps and flags decorated the concourse directly outside of loanDepot Park on Sunday afternoon, moments before Team Cuba would begin its World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States. That was within the gates. Directly outside of them, dozens of protesters gathered in front of about 15

1:00 PM ET Houston Astros star Jose Altuve suffered a fractured right thumb in Saturday’s World Baseball Classic game and will need surgery, general manager Dana Brown announced on Sunday. There is no timetable for his return, according to Brown. Editor’s Picks 1 Related Altuve exited Team Venezuela’s loss to Team USA in the fifth

11:08 PM ET MIAMI — Trea Turner didn’t jog his way to first base. He hopped. Pranced. Flexed. Roared. With his team trailing by two in the eighth inning of its World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela, the Philadelphia Phillies‘ shortstop and Team USA catalyst unleashed a prodigious grand slam, providing the two-run lead

8:54 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Union head Tony Clark claims Major League Baseball’s rules changes would have gone more smoothly during spring training if player thoughts had been incorporated. Clark added that the changes could have a different effect on the games once the regular season begins and the “lights come on.” MLB

7:58 PM ET Associated Press The Seattle Mariners will be without utility infielder Dylan Moore to start the regular season due to an oblique strain. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Moore had an MRI that revealed a Grade 1 strain of his left oblique, the team said Friday. Moore is expected to be shut down for

10:31 PM ET MIAMI — They had rallied all the way back, erasing an early four-run deficit, but if Mexico was to advance to its first World Baseball Classic semifinal and eliminate a star-studded Puerto Rico team, another big play needed to be made. Randy Arozarena, of course, delivered it. Clinging to a one-run lead

8:24 PM ET MIAMI — Mexico’s manager, Benji Gil, said he doesn’t believe his team should be playing until Saturday. Its quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico in this year’s World Baseball Classic is instead taking place on Friday night, which meant a tough turnaround for a team that was navigating the pool-play portion of the

7:00 AM ET The opening round of the 2023 World Baseball Classic had no shortage of surprises and excitement. The Dominican Republic’s dream team is done. A Czech electrician named Ondrej Satoria struck out Shohei Ohtani and later gifted the Japanese superstar a team jersey signed by the entire Czech Republic team. Duque Hebbert, a

2:05 PM ET Major League Baseball informed teams and players Thursday afternoon that its efforts to crack down on pitchers’ use of illegal substances will be enhanced in 2023, according to industry sources briefed on the contents of a league memo. The enhanced examinations, approved by the league’s on-field committee, will entail more detailed inspections