Spencer: Jeter isn't Jeter, not yet

LOS ANGELES - Derek Jeter is a thoroughbred forced by circumstances to act like a trotter. It doesn't come naturally, and it's no fun at all.

"It's tough to make a conscious effort not to do anything stupid," the Yankees' captain said Tuesday night in the wake of a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers in front of a vocal sellout numbering 52,447 at Dodger Stadium. "It's difficult, but I try to look at the big picture and do what I'm told. I don't want to do anything stupid."

Jeter was hitless in four at-bats against Zack Greinke and reliever Ronald Belisario. The Jeter of old would have had an infield hit in his final at-bat against Belisario with two down in the eighth, but he kept it in low gear and allowed shortstop Hanley Ramirez to dive, stab his bullet headed for center field, get up, double-clutch and throw him out.

"Your natural reaction is to run as hard as you can," Jeter said. "But you can't."

In just his second game back from the disabled list -- he homered in his first at-bat in Sunday's 6-5 win against the Rays at Yankee Stadium -- Jeter was not ready to test the recovering right quad that was strained and put him on the shelf July 12, one game after he returned from October surgery on his left ankle.

The day is coming, he volunteered, when he will cut loose. He knows his body better than anyone does.

"I'll just do it," he said. "I won't tell them. I feel weird talking about it."

His manager, Joe Girardi, wasn't too crazy about the topic either.

"We've talked to him about it," Girardi said. "He's got to be smart about it. It's not what we're used to seeing, trying to protect his legs. He understands if he wants to play the rest of the year, he has to do that for a while."

Jeter is all about winning, and his team is 55-51 and trying to stay relevant. It is a struggle to support pitchers such as Andy Pettitte -- excellent across seven innings against the torrid Dodgers -- in the way they've been accustomed.

"I wouldn't say it was a bad night," Jeter said, referring to an offense whose five hits included a solo homer by Lyle Overbay. "Greinke threw well. We got those runs but really didn't threaten too much over the course of the game.

"It would be kind of unfair to him to say we didn't have it. We have guys who are capable of swinging the bats."

Alfonso Soriano came aboard courtesy of the Cubs to bring some life to the offense. He followed his four-hit performance on Sunday, including a homer and walk-off single, with a ringing double leading off the fourth, scoring after a wild pitch and Overbay's infield out.

After that, the sum total of the Yankees' offense was a one-out double by Ichiro Suzuki in the seventh inning.

Girardi, acknowledging that these are not your father's or grandfather's Bronx Bombers, spoke to the team's need to win close games. That means executing, doing all the little things, while supporting good pitching with quality defense.

The dynastic Yankees did all of that quite well back when Jeter was young and didn't have to think about muscles and joints that might not respond to total exertion.

"I've been on teams that have won a lot of close games," Jeter said. "There have been a lot of years when we won close games but didn't blow teams out. You've got to be able to win close games at the end of the year anyway."

With Jeter and Mariano Rivera in uniform, active, Pettitte isn't ready to concede to higher American League East powers. The southpaw talked about the "power of belief," how the Yankees need to carry it with them.

"I feel like this team's got a lot of experience," Pettitte said. "Hopefully, we can will this thing to the playoffs. I expect to go. Hopefully, everybody else here feels the same way.

"I know the older guys -- Jeter and Mariano -- what they're made out of, and we expect to get there. I know they're going to continue to push it. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think I could continue to push it. Hopefully, we're going to grind it out and get it done."

Soriano made his Yankees debut in 1999 and became the everyday second baseman in 2001. That was an unforgettable season that ended in extreme disappointment in Arizona in Game 7 of the World Series.

Soriano, Jeter's partner in the heart of that defense, had two tremendous seasons before being dealt to the Rangers in 2004 for Alex Rodriguez. Through two years in Texas, one in Washington and then six-plus years with the Cubs, he continued to whip that big bat around.

Soriano, now an outfielder, is back where it started, looking to create a big finish to 2013.

"Mariano, Andy and Jeter, those were my guys," Soriano said. "It was special to have a chance to play second base with him. Now to come back and have a chance again to play with two Hall of Famers and maybe three, with Andy, it's very exciting.

"The only thing at the end of the day is winning. That's the motivation. That's what they teach you in this organization. Jeter makes a big impact on the lineup and in the field. We're happy he's back healthy. He has to stay healthy. He knows what it takes to be a champion."

Right now, however, this great thoroughbred is wearing a harness he can't wait to shed.

Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees pit Kuroda against Dodgers' Kershaw

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Rivera to be honored on Sept. 22 at Yankee Stadium

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 7/31/2013 11:05 A.M. ET

As so many other teams have done this season, the Yankees will honor all-time saves leader and closer Mariano Rivera at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 22.

Rivera, a 13-time All-Star, will retire at the end of this season after 19 years with New York. As the Yankees have visited ballparks around the country this season, opposing teams have honored the 43-year-old icon in unique ways.

Further details about the ceremony will be announced at a later date. Fans who are interested in purchasing tickets can visit Yankees.com/ExitSandman.

Joey Nowak is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @joeynowak. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Jagielo gets big-city preview in Class A

NEW YORK -- Sitting in the third-base dugout at Staten Island's Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Eric Jagielo knows where he is. Just over the outfield wall, across New York's Upper Bay dotted with freighters, sits Lower Manhattan. Twelve miles north, as the FDR winds, is Yankee Stadium.

Jagielo is so close, but it could take years to get there -- and not just because of the traffic.

"I think it's good exposure for us," Jagielo said recently about beginning his professional career at short-season Class A in the same city he one day hopes will be home. "I think it makes it a little bit of an easier transition for us. You have the ability to go into New York City and kind of experience what that would be like, perhaps, if you do end up making it with the highest club."

That transition began just seven weeks ago, when the Yankees made Jagielo (pronounced ja-guy-lo) their first pick -- the 26th overall -- in the First-Year Player Draft. He's now their No. 5 prospect in MLB.com's new rankings, seemingly on an express train to the Bronx.

"He's a real polished hitter," Staten Island hitting coach Ty Hawkins said. "He's got a real good idea of what he's doing at the plate and doesn't get flustered. He has a good plan of attack. Just a professional hitter, with a professional approach right now."

Jagielo honed that approach at Notre Dame, capping his three-year career with the 2013 Big East Player of the Year Award after hitting .388, slugging .633 and reaching base half the time he came to bat (a .500 on-base percentage on the nose). His career stats make for a nice full MLB season: 626 at-bats (albeit in 167 games), .321 batting average, 201 hits, 47 doubles, 27 home runs, 124 RBIs and 88 walks against 97 strikeouts. Jagielo slugged .532 and reached base at a .420 clip.

But Jagielo's success hasn't all come with a metal bat in a northern college league. Last summer in the Cape Cod League, against some of the best college arms from around the country, he hit .291 in 42 games with a wood bat, finishing second in the summer circuit with 13 home runs and ranking 10th with 29 RBIs.

"He's a little bit further along than the other [hitters] right now, but that's to be expected because he's a college guy from a good program," Hawkins said. "He's a good, smart kid, with ability. Most of the younger kids, that's what they're going to develop into, where he is right now."

As a hitter, Jagielo already has a smooth left-handed stroke that should play well at Yankee Stadium. But his work at the hot corner may be more impressive, because he's only been playing the position for about two years.

"I'm still learning, and that's what I'm enjoying about it," said Jagielo, who played shortstop in high school near Chicago and began his Notre Dame career as a center and left fielder before landing at third base midway through his sophomore year. "I'm trying to soak in all the information from the different coaches and different resources in this organization to get better at that."

One of those resources was Alex Rodriguez, who was rehabbing at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., when Jagielo and the other Draftees were working out there before getting their team assignments.

"I took a lot of advice from him," Jagielo said. "One of our infield coordinators was here a few weeks ago, and he helped me out a lot. But the main one that sticks out is Alex Rodriguez.

"I think one thing that some people don't realize about the position is that it's not just a filler position -- you have to know what you're doing over there in order to be a great defender there. I think that it's all a process, but I'm taking steps in the right direction."

Staten Island manager Justin Pope agrees.

"He's a worker, he's getting better each and every day, which is nice to see," Pope said. "Even though he hasn't played there much, it looks like he has a good feel of how to play the position. Certain hitters come up, he knows when to play in for the bunt, he knows when he can go back and play at a normal depth. He's got a really good feel over there."

As Jagielo continues to get used to manning third and playing day in and day out, he's also becoming acclimated to one other well-known aspect of playing baseball in New York.

"[Playing here] I think it just gives you a taste of what the New York fans are like, too," he said, grinning. "Just because we're the lowest level, some of these fans aren't the easiest on us. You hear some things and you hear some boos and stuff, so I think it's just a good way to kind of see what New York's all about and just kind of experience everything about what this great city brings."

Dan Cichalski is an editorial producer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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MLB Notebook: Jeter, Soriano reunion nets win

In 2002, the Yankees' Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano became the first shortstop-second base combination since 1929 to each tally at least 124 runs scored in a season. That year, with the lineup most often featuring Soriano batting leadoff and Jeter hitting right behind him, the Yankees won 103 games and boasted the best winning percentage in the Majors.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "I once thought that there were no second acts in American lives, but there was certainly to be a second act to New York's boom days." For one day near the end of July, this -- when it comes to baseball -- certainly seemed to be the case.

Soriano went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run and three RBIs, with the last of the three coming on a game-ending single. Jeter went 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run and an intentional walk. Helped in great measure by these two reunited teammates, the Yankees defeated the Rays, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon.

Soriano -- playing in his third game since being acquired by the Yankees -- had his first game-ending hit for New York since June 18, 2003 (also against Tampa Bay). Soriano has 13 career walk-off hits -- tied for the fourth most among active players.

Jeter -- playing in just his second game of the season -- put together his 972nd career multihit game. That total is the fourth most since 1916, behind Pete Rose (1,225), Stan Musial (1,059) and Hank Aaron (1,046).

Soriano and Jeter were two of the three Yankees players with multihit games in the victory, with Ichiro Suzuki going 4-for-4. Suzuki has 50 career games with four-plus hits, tying Rogers Hornsby for the 17th most for any player since 1916.

Before this game, Jeter and Soriano had last homered in the same game as teammates on July 17, 2003.

Fernandez mows 'em down
Making his 20th career appearance, Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez fanned a career-high 13 and issued no walks.

Jose Fernandez is the eighth pitcher since 1916 to have a game with at least 13 K's and no walks, within his first 20 career games.

Pitcher	Date	Game No.	K's
Gary Nolan	June 7, 1967	11	15
Roger Clemens	Aug. 21, 1984	19	15
Jason Bere	Sept. 8, 1993	20	13
Kevin Millwood	April 14, 1998	15	13
Kerry Wood	May 6, 1998	5	20
Stephen Strasburg	June 8, 2010	1	14
Shelby Miller	May 10, 2013	13	13
Jose Fernandez	July 28, 2013	20	13

At 20 years and 362 days old, Fernandez is the fifth-youngest pitcher since 1916 to have a game with at least 13 K's and no walks. Gary Nolan (19 years and 11 days old) is the youngest, followed by Dwight Gooden (19 years and 301 days old and 19 years and 306 days old) and Kerry Wood (20 years and 324 old).

Fernandez now has three games with at least 10 strikeouts. Those three through his first 20 games tie him (and Tony Cingrani, who also had his third such game on Sunday) for the 18th most for any pitcher since 1916. Gooden and Hideo Nomo lead, with eight apiece.

Here and there
• Ubaldo Jimenez (eight innings, two hits) and Vinnie Pestano combined on a two-hit shutout, leading the Indians -- at least on the pitching side -- to a 6-0 win over the Rangers on Sunday. Cleveland tops the Majors with 14 team shutouts. For American League teams in the designated-hitter era, the 14 shutouts through 104 team games place the 2013 Indians in a tie with three other clubs for the most. The 1973 Twins, '75 Angels and 2012 Angels also had 14.

• Playing in his 33rd career game, Wil Myers homered twice for the Rays on Sunday. Before Myers, the earliest a Tampa Bay player had homered twice was in game number 39 -- a feat achieved by Evan Longoria on May 24, 2008. Coincidentally, both Longoria and Myers were the same exact age for these multihomer performances: 22 years and 230 days old.

• Giants starter Tim Lincecum fanned 10 batters in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday, giving him 35 career double-digit strikeout games in 210 appearances. Those 35 through his first 210 place Lincecum in a tie with Bob Feller for the eighth most since 1916. Lincecum's 10 K's give him a seven-year total of 1,454; with the effort, he passed Mark Langston (1,448) and moved into the fifth spot for the most strikeouts for any pitcher through his first seven seasons, since 1893. The top four: Tom Seaver (1,655), Bert Blyleven (1,546), Fergie Jenkins (1,466) and Walter Johnson (1,461).

• In the Rockies' 6-5 victory over the Brewers, Troy Tulowitzki doubled and homered. In baseball history, Tulowitzki is one of 72 players to have at least 800 games at shortstop through their age-28 season. Among this group, and looking at the respective totals through the players' age-28 seasons, Tulowitzki's extra-base hit percentage is the third highest, behind the marks generated by Alex Rodriguez and Ernie Banks.

• Yasiel Puig hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Dodgers a 1-0 victory over the Reds. Among the various notes from this three-hour and 43-minute affair:

Puig's first career walk-off hit also made him the fourth Dodgers player since 1958 to homer in extra-innings to break a scoreless tie and win the game. The full list:

Sept. 27, 2002: Paul Lo Duca solo homer in the 10th
Aug. 13, 2006: Russell Martin solo homer in the 10th
June 1, 2010: Matt Kemp solo homer in the 10th
July 28, 2013: Puig solo homer in the 11th

Before Puig's blast, the last time a Dodgers player hit a walk-off homer to break a 0-0 tie in the 11th inning or later was on May 2, 1955, when Brooklyn's Carl Furillo hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th.

The Dodgers won despite striking out 20 times. They are the 14th team since 1916 (and the second this season) to win a game in which they had at least 20 K's. Dating back to 1916, this is the first occurrence of this reality for the Dodgers.

• The Reds set a team record with 20 strikeouts. Their previous season high was 17, done twice. They also lost those two games. Cincinnati is the only team since 1916 to have three games in one season in which its pitchers tallied at least 17 strikeouts and the club lost.

• Cingrani fanned 11 with one walk and one hit allowed. 

Cingrani is the first Reds pitcher since Johnny Vander Meer on June 6, 1941, to have a game with at least 11 K's and no more than one walk and one hit allowed. In that game in '41, Vander Meer threw a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and one walk against the Phillies.

Cingrani is the 15th left-hander since 1916 to have a game with at least 11 strikeouts, no more than one walk and no more than one hit allowed. Randy Johnson (four games) and Sandy Koufax (two games) are the only two with multiple efforts of this kind. The rest: Cingrani, Vander Meer, Steve Carlton, Bruce Hurst, Clayton Kershaw, Gary Peters, Jonathan Sanchez, Johan Santana and David Wells.

Roger Schlueter is senior researcher for MLB Productions. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Reports: A-Rod suspension could be imminent

TAMPA, Fla. -- It's become increasingly difficult to predict what will happen next in the daily drama surrounding Alex Rodriguez.

Rodriguez finished up his rehab assignment with complaints of a strained left quadriceps, only to say days later that he was ready to play. He sent Dr. Michael Gross on an impromptu media tour to challenge the Yankees' diagnosis, then Gross admitted he's never even met A-Rod. Rodriguez released a statement Thursday saying he didn't want "any more mix-ups" with the Yankees, then called into WFAN radio in New York and said four times that he was "frustrated" with being held back.

Rodriguez has been working out at the Yankees' Minor League complex, hoping to return from his quad injury and get back on the field as soon as possible. Aside from his occasional statements released through a publicist and a few radio interviews, A-Rod has remained silent.

But one thing has become exceedingly clear, based on several published reports this weekend and on Monday: He soon will be disciplined by Major League Baseball.

And Rodriguez's lawyer, David Cornwell, left no doubt Monday afternoon in a radio interview with ESPN New York 98.7 FM: They're not going to accept a suspension.

"All I can tell you is my job is to represent Alex in connection with this inquiry by baseball and to prepare an appeal on behalf of Alex in the event that any discipline is handed down," Cornwell said in an interview with Stephen A. Smith.

"When the time comes, and we haven't gotten there yet, when the time comes and baseball does whatever it is going to do, then I will sit down with Alex and talk to him about the process of the appeal, filing the appeal and going in and presenting our best evidence that we have -- and we think we have good evidence -- to defend his interest, to protect him. That's what I expect to be doing."

The New York Post first reported Sunday that Rodriguez could be suspended this week as part of baseball's investigation into the now-shuttered Biogenesis clinic, a South Florida operation run by Anthony Bosch, who has cooperated with MLB investigators. Last week, Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun accepted a 65-game suspension -- the remainder of the season -- for his reported involvement with Bosch and Biogenesis.

Cornwell told ESPN New York he wouldn't consider that a victory for Rodriguez. Asked by Smith what he would consider a "win" in this case, Cornwell said, "No discipline. ... Obviously. That's easy."

According to the Post, MLB could suspend Rodriguez for the rest of this year and the entirety of the 2014 season. Under baseball's Basic Agreement, first-time offenders who test positive for performing-enhancing drugs are suspended 50 games for a positive test. A second positive test earns a 100-game ban and a third violation results in a lifetime ban.

But those standards might not apply in the case of Rodriguez. The Associated Press reported Monday that MLB could try to suspend Rodriguez under its collective bargaining agreement rather than its drug policy. That would allow MLB to suspend him immediately rather than have the suspension delayed during the appeals process.

The New York Daily News reported that MLB officials believe their evidence against Rodriguez "would warrant lifetime banishment." There has been talk that Braun's quick agreement strengthens Bosch's credibility as it relates to MLB's case against A-Rod, an idea that Cornwell addressed Monday.

"Obviously they believe that he's credible. I have my concerns," said Cornwell, who previously represented Braun, the only Major League player to have a positive drug test overturned. "But what's most important is whether or not arbitrator [Fredric] Horowitz will believe that he's credible. That's something that we will present in the hearing room, not to the media."

Before a suspension is publicly issued, Rodriguez could choose to discuss a plea agreement with MLB, as Braun did. However, Rodriguez told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Thursday that his representatives hadn't had those discussions.

According to the Post, Rodriguez's team "met with MLB officials in the past few days," but not to discuss a settlement. Instead, A-Rod's representatives were just trying to "gain a better understanding of potential penalties."

If MLB is seeking a potential lifetime suspension for Rodriguez, who admitted in 2009 that he took performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Rangers from 2001-03, then a settlement could result in him sitting out until 2015 without pay, according to the Daily News.

In that scenario, Rodriguez's suspension would be effective immediately. If the 38-year-old third baseman -- fifth on the all-time list with 647 career home runs -- is able to play after two major hip surgeries and two full years out of the game, it would also give him a chance to collect the $61 million the Yankees owe him from 2015-17, the remnants of the 10-year, $275 million deal he signed with New York in '07.

For now, it's uncertain when Rodriguez will get back on the field in a Major League game, if he will at all. But if the reports are true, the next chapter in A-Rod's story should be unfolding soon.

"I can't tell you what he's thinking about or what he says as it relates to the investigation, but I can tell you that in my discussions with him, generally, Alex's primary focus right now is playing baseball," Cornwell said. "That's what Alex's primary focus is right now. We'll have a chance to deal with these other issues as they arrive and as they unfold. ... When that time comes, we will. But until then ... the only thing Alex is focused on right now is trying to get back and play baseball."

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees eye more deals with Trade Deadline looming

LOS ANGELES -- If there was any doubt that the Yankees would be active buyers as this Trade Deadline approaches, that evaporated once Alfonso Soriano boarded a red-eye flight to New York, ready to report as a reinforcement for the team's low-octane lineup.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says he never had to switch into active gear as he counted down the days until July 31, since the organization has kept itself busy chasing pieces to help the big league roster since the early days of Spring Training.

Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline presents Cashman and his staff with one more opportunity to add run production or reinforce the pitching staff before waivers come into play, and Cashman said there is no reason to think that his cell phone have ample opportunity to draw a full charge between now and then.

"I don't know if we will be able to [add talent] or not, but ownership's commitment is still the same," Cashman said. "They have a strong desire to reinforce this team and find a way to get in the playoffs, and the season is now shorter."

The Yankees believe that Soriano will help them as they attempt to climb out of fourth place in the American League East and avoid an ending like 2008, the only time in the last 18 seasons that they have not qualified to participate in postseason play.

There was a sense of that on Sunday as Soriano delivered a game-winning hit, one of his four on the afternoon, to lift the Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Rays at Yankee Stadium. They'd love if Soriano can continue to help bring back more of the magic.

"When I see Mariano [Rivera] pitching, and [Derek] Jeter hitting and me, it feels like old times, but the present," Soriano said. "We played together for three years and now, after 10 years, we come back and we are still playing together. It's very good."

Dating back to the spring, when a rash of disabled list assignments first started to impact the outlook of the year, the Yankees have been saying that they would consider it an in-season upgrade if they could just get all of the injured pieces of their roster back.

That plan might have worked fine if key contributors like Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Jeter hadn't picked up a frustrating habit of returning, only to be quickly lost to the disabled list again.

They've turned the lights out on Teixeira, who is done for the season, though Lyle Overbay has proven to be a capable replacement at first base. Jeter came back and homered in Sunday's win, while Granderson is envisioned to lend a needed boost sometime in early August.

Maybe the Yankees will be able to count on Alex Rodriguez at some point; then again, nothing seems certain with his situation. They could deal from an area of strength if they chose to dangle starter Phil Hughes or reliever Joba Chamberlain, but in Hughes' case, they might not want to give up the potential Draft pick compensation attached to his name.

It has also been clear that Cashman has not been shy to make incremental upgrades during this season, whether they've come as waiver claims or promotions from the Minor Leagues, but the surest route to make a splash seems to be just getting their injured players back in the lineup.

"We've been obviously trying to improve our offense to no avail throughout the season," Cashman said. "The available players in the marketplace were the expected players you'd think would be available in the marketplace. We've had to wait.

"Ultimately, trades and reinforcements from the disabled list will put us in a much better position as we move forward and try to find a way to get in the playoffs."

In recent years, the Yankees' July activity has been more geared toward filling small holes and making tweaks for a playoff run, rather than completely overhauling the lineup or pitching staff, though there have been surprises in store.

Last year, the Yankees acquired Ichiro Suzuki from the Mariners on July 23, having him walk across to Safeco Field's visiting clubhouse as their biggest move in a month where they also made a minor July 31 deal for first baseman Casey McGehee.

They were silent at the Deadline in 2011 but made ripples a year earlier, acquiring first baseman Lance Berkman, outfielder Austin Kearns and right-hander Kerry Wood in a flurry of late-season adding that helped bolster their run to the postseason.

There are no guarantees as to what kind of Deadline this will be, but if the Soriano deal is any indication of ownership's willingness to spend, the financial constraints of a $189 million payroll objective for 2014 may not be as great an obstacle as once thought.

Cashman said that he believes players and teams are starting to be more willing to conclude negotiations, and suspects that there may be more offense on the way to the Bronx. For now, they have what he called a "bird in the hand" with Soriano, and that seems to be a good start.

"We've wanted to improve things for some time," Cashman said. "I think all Yankee fans have seen this team -- we're fighting, we've got a lot of guys who are professionals and they're competing their tail off, but on the offensive side we've been limited due to injury, so we have had an interest for quite some time to upgrade when we could."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Prospect Jagielo gets big-city preview in Class A

Third baseman Eric Jagielo hit .299 over his first 19 games with Class A Staten Island. (Dan Cichalski/MLB.com)

NEW YORK -- Sitting in the third-base dugout at Staten Island's Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Eric Jagielo knows where he is. Just over the outfield wall, across New York's Upper Bay dotted with freighters, sits Lower Manhattan. Twelve miles north, as the FDR winds, is Yankee Stadium.

He's so close, but it could take years to get there -- and not just because of the traffic.

"I think it's good exposure for us," Jagielo said recently about beginning his professional career at short-season Class A in the same city he one day hopes will be home. "I think it makes it a little bit of an easier transition for us. You have the ability to go into New York City and kind of experience what that would be like, perhaps, if you do end up making it with the highest club."

That transition began just seven weeks ago, when the Yankees made Jagielo (pronounced ja-guy-lo) their first pick -- the 26th overall -- in the First-Year Player Draft. He's now their No. 5 prospect in MLB.com's new rankings, seemingly on an express train to the Bronx.

"He's a real polished hitter," Staten Island hitting coach Ty Hawkins said. "He's got a real good idea of what he's doing at the plate and doesn't get flustered. He has a good plan of attack. Just a professional hitter, with a professional approach right now."

Jagielo honed that approach at Notre Dame, capping his three-year career with the 2013 Big East Player of the Year Award after hitting .388, slugging .633 and reaching base half the time he came to bat (a .500 on-base percentage on the nose). His career stats make for a nice full MLB season: 626 at-bats (albeit in 167 games), .321 batting average, 201 hits, 47 doubles, 27 home runs, 124 RBIs and 88 walks against 97 strikeouts. He slugged .532 and reached base at a .420 clip.

But his success hasn't all come with a metal bat in a northern college league. Last summer in the Cape Cod League, against some of the best college arms from around the country, he hit .291 in 42 games with a wood bat, finishing second in the summer circuit with 13 home runs and ranking 10th with 29 RBIs.

"He's a little bit further along than the other [hitters] right now, but that's to be expected because he's a college guy from a good program," Hawkins said. "He's a good, smart kid, with ability. Most of the younger kids, that's what they're going to develop into, where he is right now."

As a hitter, Jagielo already has a smooth left-handed stroke that should play well at Yankee Stadium. But his work at the hot corner may be more impressive, because he's only been playing the position for about two years.

"I'm still learning, and that's what I'm enjoying about it," said Jagielo, who played shortstop in high school near Chicago and began his Notre Dame career as a center and left fielder before landing at third base midway through his sophomore year. "I'm trying to soak in all the information from the different coaches and different resources in this organization to get better at that."

One of those resources was Alex Rodriguez, who was rehabbing at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., when Jagielo and the other Draftees were working out there before getting their team assignments.

"I took a lot of advice from him," Jagielo said. "One of our infield coordinators was here a few weeks ago, and he helped me out a lot. But the main one that sticks out is Alex Rodriguez.

"I think one thing that some people don't realize about the position is that it's not just a filler position -- you have to know what you're doing over there in order to be a great defender there. I think that it's all a process, but I'm taking steps in the right direction."

Staten Island manager Justin Pope agrees.

"He's a worker, he's getting better each and every day, which is nice to see," Pope said. "Even though he hasn't played there much, it looks like he has a good feel of how to play the position. Certain hitters come up, he knows when to play in for the bunt, he knows when he can go back and play at a normal depth. He's got a really good feel over there."

As Jagielo continues to get used to manning third and playing day in and day out, he's also becoming acclimated to one other well-known aspect of playing baseball in New York.

"[Playing here] I think it just gives you a taste of what the New York fans are like, too," he said, grinning. "Just because we're the lowest level, some of these fans aren't the easiest on us. You hear some things and you hear some boos and stuff, so I think it's just a good way to kind of see what New York's all about and just kind of experience everything about what this great city brings."

Dan Cichalski is an editorial producer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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MLB Notebook: Jeter, Soriano reunion nets win

In 2002, the Yankees' Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano became the first shortstop-second base combination since 1929 to each tally at least 124 runs scored in a season. That year, with the lineup most often featuring Soriano batting leadoff and Jeter hitting right behind him, the Yankees won 103 games and boasted the best winning percentage in the Majors.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "I once thought that there were no second acts in American lives, but there was certainly to be a second act to New York's boom days." For one day near the end of July, this -- when it comes to baseball -- certainly seemed to be the case.

Soriano went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run and three RBIs, with the last of the three coming on a game-ending single. Jeter went 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run and an intentional walk. Helped in great measure by these two reunited teammates, the Yankees defeated the Rays, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon.

Soriano -- playing in his third game since being acquired by the Yankees -- had his first game-ending hit for New York since June 18, 2003 (also against Tampa Bay). Soriano has 13 career walk-off hits -- tied for the fourth most among active players.

Jeter -- playing in just his second game of the season -- put together his 972nd career multihit game. That total is the fourth most since 1916, behind Pete Rose (1,225), Stan Musial (1,059) and Hank Aaron (1,046).

Soriano and Jeter were two of the three Yankees players with multihit games in the victory, with Ichiro Suzuki going 4-for-4. Suzuki has 50 career games with four-plus hits, tying Rogers Hornsby for the 17th most for any player since 1916.

Before this game, Jeter and Soriano had last homered in the same game as teammates on July 17, 2003.

Fernandez mows 'em down
Making his 20th career appearance, Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez fanned a career-high 13 and issued no walks.

Jose Fernandez is the eighth pitcher since 1916 to have a game with at least 13 K's and no walks, within his first 20 career games.

Pitcher	Date	Game No.	K's
Gary Nolan	June 7, 1967	11	15
Roger Clemens	Aug. 21, 1984	19	15
Jason Bere	Sept. 8, 1993	20	13
Kevin Millwood	April 14, 1998	15	13
Kerry Wood	May 6, 1998	5	20
Stephen Strasburg	June 8, 2010	1	14
Shelby Miller	May 10, 2013	13	13
Jose Fernandez	July 28, 2013	20	13

At 20 years and 362 days old, Fernandez is the fifth-youngest pitcher since 1916 to have a game with at least 13 K's and no walks. Gary Nolan (19 years and 11 days old) is the youngest, followed by Dwight Gooden (19 years and 301 days old and 19 years and 306 days old) and Kerry Wood (20 years and 324 old).

Fernandez now has three games with at least 10 strikeouts. Those three through his first 20 games tie him (and Tony Cingrani, who also had his third such game on Sunday) for the 18th most for any pitcher since 1916. Gooden and Hideo Nomo lead, with eight apiece.

Here and there
• Ubaldo Jimenez (eight innings, two hits) and Vinnie Pestano combined on a two-hit shutout, leading the Indians -- at least on the pitching side -- to a 6-0 win over the Rangers on Sunday. Cleveland tops the Majors with 14 team shutouts. For American League teams in the designated-hitter era, the 14 shutouts through 104 team games place the 2013 Indians in a tie with three other clubs for the most. The 1973 Twins, '75 Angels and 2012 Angels also had 14.

• Playing in his 33rd career game, Wil Myers homered twice for the Rays on Sunday. Before Myers, the earliest a Tampa Bay player had homered twice was in game number 39 -- a feat achieved by Evan Longoria on May 24, 2008. Coincidentally, both Longoria and Myers were the same exact age for these multihomer performances: 22 years and 230 days old.

• Giants starter Tim Lincecum fanned 10 batters in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday, giving him 35 career double-digit strikeout games in 210 appearances. Those 35 through his first 210 place Lincecum in a tie with Bob Feller for the eighth most since 1916. Lincecum's 10 K's give him a seven-year total of 1,454; with the effort, he passed Mark Langston (1,448) and moved into the fifth spot for the most strikeouts for any pitcher through his first seven seasons, since 1893. The top four: Tom Seaver (1,655), Bert Blyleven (1,546), Fergie Jenkins (1,466) and Walter Johnson (1,461).

• In the Rockies' 6-5 victory over the Brewers, Troy Tulowitzki doubled and homered. In baseball history, Tulowitzki is one of 72 players to have at least 800 games at shortstop through their age-28 season. Among this group, and looking at the respective totals through the players' age-28 seasons, Tulowitzki's extra-base hit percentage is the third highest, behind the marks generated by Alex Rodriguez and Ernie Banks.

• Yasiel Puig hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Dodgers a 1-0 victory over the Reds. Among the various notes from this three-hour and 43-minute affair:

Puig's first career walk-off hit also made him the fourth Dodgers player since 1958 to homer in extra-innings to break a scoreless tie and win the game. The full list:

Sept. 27, 2002: Paul Lo Duca solo homer in the 10th
Aug. 13, 2006: Russell Martin solo homer in the 10th
June 1, 2010: Matt Kemp solo homer in the 10th
July 28, 2013: Puig solo homer in the 11th

Before Puig's blast, the last time a Dodgers player hit a walk-off homer to break a 0-0 tie in the 11th inning or later was on May 2, 1955, when Brooklyn's Carl Furillo hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th.

The Dodgers won despite striking out 20 times. They are the 14th team since 1916 (and the second this season) to win a game in which they had at least 20 K's. Dating back to 1916, this is the first occurrence of this reality for the Dodgers.

• The Reds set a team record with 20 strikeouts. Their previous season high was 17, done twice. They also lost those two games. Cincinnati is the only team since 1916 to have three games in one season in which its pitchers tallied at least 17 strikeouts and the club lost.

• Cingrani fanned 11 with one walk and one hit allowed. 

Cingrani is the first Reds pitcher since Johnny Vander Meer on June 6, 1941, to have a game with at least 11 K's and no more than one walk and one hit allowed. In that game in '41, Vander Meer threw a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and one walk against the Phillies.

Cingrani is the 15th left-hander since 1916 to have a game with at least 11 strikeouts, no more than one walk and no more than one hit allowed. Randy Johnson (four games) and Sandy Koufax (two games) are the only two with multiple efforts of this kind. The rest: Cingrani, Vander Meer, Steve Carlton, Bruce Hurst, Clayton Kershaw, Gary Peters, Jonathan Sanchez, Johan Santana and David Wells.

Roger Schlueter is senior researcher for MLB Productions. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Ruppert's Hall of Fame induction long overdue

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- The strange matter of Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert finally being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday is that so many people already thought he was enshrined in the red-brick museum on upper Main Street in this village, population 18,040.

"I confess for the first time, I thought he was already in," said Braves announcer Don Sutton, a 324-win pitcher who is in the Hall and was a member of the 16-man Pre-Integration Committee that voted Ruppert in late last year.

"'Why are we considering this guy? He's already in,'" he told the group.

Sutton wasn't the only member of that austere committee to think so. But Ruppert wasn't in. As one wanders around the room and peeks at the copper plaques of the 303 already hanging in the Hall, Ruppert is not yet among them. He will be on Sunday night, hours after this year's spare induction ceremony, which also includes catcher Deacon White and umpire Hank O'Day.

That's when those three plaques will be hung under a sign honoring the Class of 2013. All of them passed away before the museum opened its doors on June 12, 1939.

Ruppert died on Jan. 13, 1939, almost five months to the day before the Hall opened, thus ending his 24-year run owning and operating the club. Affectionately known as "The Colonel," Ruppert earned that title working his way up the ranks in the National Guard and was later a four-term member of the House of Representatives from New York.

He inherited what later became the Jacob Ruppert Brewing Company from his father and turned it into a thriving business. Dabbling in Florida real estate, he became a beer and land baron. He was already a figure of some major stature before buying the moribund Yankees in 1915.

A native of the city, he turned them into one of the most heralded sports franchises in history, buying them for $480,000 or, given inflation, about $11 million in today's dollars. Consider this: When George Steinbrenner and his multiple partners purchased the Yanks from CBS in 1972, he paid $8.8 million.

The worth of the Yankees now may be incalculable, considering the Dodgers sold last year for $2.15 billion.

Under Ruppert, the Yanks bought Babe Ruth for $100,000 from the Red Sox, signed Lou Gehrig straight out of Columbia University, and purchased the contract of Joe DiMaggio from the Pacific Coast League San Francisco Seals for $25,000 and five players.

When Ruppert bought into the Yankees, they were the sad stepchild of the National League's New York Giants and second tenant to manager John McGraw's great club in the Polo Grounds. After purchasing Ruth on Jan. 3, 1920, the history of the Yanks and Major League Baseball irrevocably changed.

Before that, Ruth largely had been used as a pitcher by the Red Sox, although he had a huge impact in Boston, where they won the World Series in 1915, '16 and '18. After the sale, they wouldn't win another Fall Classic until 2004.

In New York, Ruppert's Yankees turned Ruth into a full-time outfielder, and in 1921, he may have had the most dominant offensive season in MLB history. Ruth led the American League with 59 homers, 171 RBIs and 177 runs scored. He hit .378, but missed the Triple Crown when Detroit's Harry Heilmann led the AL at .394.

The Yanks won their first pennant that season, but lost to the Giants in the World Series and again in 1922.

Tired of playing second rung both economically and artistically to the Giants in upper Manhattan, Ruppert looked across the Harlem River to farmland in the Bronx to build his own baseball palace. He spared no expense, spending $2.4 million to construct Yankee Stadium, tailoring it with a short right-field porch to accommodate Ruth's big left-handed swing.

The Yankees moved to their expansive yard in 1923 and defeated the Giants in that World Series, their first of 27 such victories, a dominance in the sport that has lasted 90 years. By comparison, the Red Sox have won the World Series twice during that span, the New York/San Francisco Giants four times and the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers six.

With Ruth, Ruppert ushered in the era of the homer in MLB and set the Bronx Bombers on their path to manifest destiny. There are 45 players, managers and executives in the Hall of Fame with some sort of Yankees pedigree, but Ruppert is the first Yanks owner.

Different permutations of the Veterans Committee have been slow over time to vote in owners, most of them long after their passing. Charles Comiskey of the White Sox was the first in 1939. He died in 1931, five years before the first Hall vote. The most recent were Barney Dreyfuss of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Walter O'Malley of the Dodgers, who were both inducted in 2008. Dreyfuss died in 1932 and O'Malley in 1979.

Seventy-three years after Ruppert's death, it is about time he got in.

"As a fan, I'm glad to see it," said Jeff Idelson, the Hall's president who was once a top Yankees public relations executive. "He took a franchise that was struggling and built it into a model franchise. It's something that's very deserving and, frankly, long overdue."

Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Sori deal one Yanks couldn't afford to pass up

NEW YORK -- Here's what you need to know about the Yankees' acquisition of Alfonso Soriano: The veteran outfielder was immediately written into Friday's starting lineup against the Rays, batting cleanup and playing left field.

That says something about Soriano, to be sure. But it says at least as much about the state of New York's lineup. In exchange for a pitcher with a 4.25 ERA at Class A Advanced, the Yankees brought in a player who instantly becomes one of the most dangerous threats on their roster.

Soriano has his flaws, and they're not hard to see. He's a limited fielder (though likely better than his reputation), and he makes far too many outs -- he has a .287 on-base percentage this year.

But even so, Soriano is an upgrade for this team, on this day. He'll be replacing players with very similar limitations, but without the advantages he brings. And all it took was Corey Black, a right-hander who projects as a middle reliever, and a fairly modest amount of money.

Soriano will eat into the at-bats of Vernon Wells and perhaps Travis Hafner, and that's nothing but good news for Yanks fans. Those guys also aren't getting on base, but unlike Soriano, they're not hitting for any power to balance it out.

"When you look at our club, it's been a struggle this year to score runs," manager Joe Girardi said. "So I think we're looking for run producers and people who can hit the ball out of the ballpark. Those are some of the things I think the organization is looking for."

The numbers are fairly gruesome. The Yankees entered Friday 12th out of 15 teams in the American League in runs scored, last in slugging percentage and 14th in home runs. They're 14th in the AL in OPS against left-handed pitching and last in OPS by left fielders.

The composite line by Yanks left fielders on the year is a .223 batting average, a .268 OBP and a .330 slugging percentage. Soriano is at .254/.287/.467. That's an upgrade.

"We need a right-handed bat, obviously," said first baseman Mark Teixeira, who is out for the year due to a right wrist injury. "We need that thump. We need to score a few more runs, and he's one of those guys that can beat you with one swing."

It really was a fairly simple equation, in the end, for general manager Brian Cashman. Soriano, though not a perfect player, was a clear and significant upgrade over what the Yankees had in the way of left fielders and right-handed bats. He came at a low cost in talent, and a low cost in salary.

So while Soriano wouldn't make sense at all for some teams, his acquisition was virtually a no-brainer for New York.

"By far, he is the best available bat to date -- one that I could certainly get my hands wrapped around," Cashman said. "We had a bird in the hand, and I know we're going to be better for it."

Cashman also acknowledged, by the way, that Soriano might not be enough. He made it quite clear that he is still seeking additional upgrades to his offense.

But in the short term, Cashman had an opportunity to make his team noticeably better, at minimal cost. He really couldn't afford not to do it.

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Yankees bring Soriano's bat back to Bronx

NEW YORK -- Alfonso Soriano played his 539th game as a member of the Yankees on Oct. 25, 2003, going 2-for-3 at the plate as New York lost the deciding Game 6 of the 2003 World Series to the Marlins. On Friday -- nine years, nine months and two days later -- he played his 540th.

The Yankees acquired the veteran outfielder from the Cubs on Friday for cash considerations and Minor League pitcher Corey Black, reuniting Soriano with the organization with which he began his Major League career.

Soriano hit .254 with 17 home runs, 51 RBIs and 10 stolen bases through 93 games with Chicago this year, and he batted fourth and played left field against the Rays in his Yankees season debut.

Soriano finished his first game back with the Yankees 0-for-5 with an RBI and a run, recording two flyouts, a groundout and two reached by fielder's choice, the second plating New York's final run of the night in a 10-6 loss.

"I'm very happy. This is my house, my home," Soriano said before the game. "So I'm happy that I'm back after 10 years. It's never too late, and I'm happy that I've come back."

The trade had been rumored to be close to done as early as Tuesday, but it took both sides a while to hammer things out. Soriano was scratched from the Cubs' lineup before Thursday's game because the deal was almost complete, but the trade didn't become official until after 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

In the deal, the Cubs agreed to pay $17.7 million of the $24.5 million Soriano is owed on his contract, which runs through the 2014 season. The Yankees will play $6.8 million, $5 million of which will be paid next season. Outfielder Thomas Neal was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Soriano.

"I've talked to [Cubs president of baseball operations] Theo [Epstein] on a number of occasions," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "By far, [Soriano] is the best available bat to date. ... This was one that was a match we could make with the Cubs, and a player who had been here before and loved being here, was very interested in returning, so we've got the bird in the hand, and I know we're going to be better for it."

Soriano's addition gives the Yankees a right-handed power bat they have sorely missed this season. The team hasn't hit a home run from the right side of the plate since infielder Jayson Nix hit one against the Rays on June 25, which is the only right-handed home run New York has hit since May 23.

The Bombers' current 28-game streak without a right-handed home run is the Yankees' longest since 1971, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

"When you look at our club, it's been a struggle this year to score runs," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We're looking for run producers and people who can hit the ball out of the ballpark."

Girardi said he will use the veteran in left field and at designated hitter.

"He's going to a place that is obviously one of the better stadiums, and he's been there before and has performed in that atmosphere before," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Obviously, they've had a lot of injuries, and he's the guy who can fill that void."

Soriano began his career with the Yankees in 1999 and he played for them until 2003, when he was traded to the Rangers in the deal that brought Alex Rodriguez to New York.

The 37-year-old batted .284 over his career with the Yankees, hitting 98 home runs and driving in 270 runs over five years with the club. His best year came 2002, when he hit .300 with 39 home runs, 102 RBIs and 41 stolen bases, and finished third in the American League MVP Award race.

"I'm happy I have the opportunity to come back to New York, where I stated my career," Soriano said. "I'm happy I can try to help the team win and make the playoffs."

Friday was Soriano's first career appearance in the new Yankee Stadium, but he's already comfortable with his surroundings. He played with shortstop Derek Jeter and pitchers Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte during his first stint with the Yankees, and he spent two seasons playing alongside first baseman Mark Teixeira in Texas.

Before the game, he embraced many of his former teammates during batting practice and met some of his new teammates.

Soriano will wear his old number, too. Outfielder Vernon Wells had been wearing No. 12 this season, but he switched his jersey to No. 22 so Soriano can wear the number he's worn every season since 2002.

"I think it's a great addition. He's one of my favorite teammates of all time," Teixeira said. "We had a great time together. He's like Robinson Cano; he's one of those guys that's always happy, loves playing the game. He's an incredible talent. I love the move."

After two years with the Rangers, a year with the Nationals and seven years with the Cubs, Soriano is happy to be back in New York.

"This is my house. I played here to start my career, and I had great moments here with the Yankees," Soriano said. "I was happy when I played here, so I'm happy I came back here."

Josh Vitale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Support no concern as Kuroda baffles Rangers

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Granderson plays five innings in first rehab game

By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 7/26/2013 2:08 A.M. ET

TAMPA -- It took all of three innings Thursday night for another ball to hit Curtis Granderson. Fortunately for Granderson, he was able to appreciate the irony this time.

The Yankees outfielder began the season on the disabled list with a broken right hand after being hit by a pitch in Spring Training. He returned in mid-May to play eight games for the Yankees then got hit by another pitch on May 24, fracturing his left pinkie. So it was only fitting that he was hit in the arm again during his first Minor League rehabilitation game since then, this time by a deflected double-play relay throw while sliding into second base.

Granderson and infielder Jayson Nix each went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored for Class A Advanced Tampa on Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field, where they'll remain through the weekend as they work their way back to the Bronx.

Granderson said his Tampa Yankees teammates told him, "'You've got a magnet on you right now with the ball.'" But the 32-year-old outfielder didn't even suffer a bruise and went on to play five innings in left field. Nix, working his way back from a right hamstring strain, played five innings at third base and said he's scheduled to stay there for seven innings Friday night.

Granderson considered his first game in more than two months to be a step in the right direction. He said his legs felt good while chasing after two doubles hit to the wall, and he started to see pitches better in each of his three plate appearances. His timing at the plate is still a work in progress, but that was to be expected after such a long recovery.

He expects to be back in left for at least five innings Friday, and though he doesn't know exactly when he's set to rejoin the Yankees, he'd prefer it to be "sooner than later."

Granderson admitted he didn't feel completely comfortable at the plate Thursday, though part of that might have had to do with the adjustment to playing under the lights again.

"The first at-bat, the pitcher looked really close to me. Something just didn't seem right. It could've been the night game. It could've been the lights. It could've been the stands, the fans, whatever the case it might have been," Granderson said. "Something was just a little different.

"One thing that both Nixy and I were talking about -- him only for two weeks, but myself for two months -- everything's been at 10 in the morning when the sun's been out. ... In Spring Training, I remember a lot of guys saying stuff that your first night game is always interesting. Sure enough, tonight was one of those. It was a good one, so tomorrow night should be hopefully a little bit better."

While Thursday was Granderson's first game in more than two months, it was the second game of Nix's rehab assignment after playing Wednesday afternoon for the Gulf Coast League Yankees. Nix said he is "a few more days" from returning to the Majors, as he'll likely be re-evaluated after Sunday's game if all goes well.

Nix said his hamstring felt "great" Thursday, with "no pain, no hesitations, being able to run hard [and] not feel anything.

"It's feeling good the last couple weeks," Nix added. "I haven't had any problems, and I've been running hard and it feels good. It feels strong."

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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