major league baseball

major league baseball

News & notes

Royals: The toxicology report on Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura won’t be released to the public following his death last month in a car crash in his native Dominican Republic. Tessie Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the Dominican attorney general’s office, said the toxicology report is not a public document, The Kansas City Star reported Thursday. The findings only will be released to Ventura’s family and attorneys. Ventura was 25 on Jan. 22 when he died on a highway leading to the town of Juan Adrian, about 40 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Santo Domingo. The right-hander pitched his entire career for the Royals, going 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA. The toxicology results are an important piece in determining whether the Royals are obligated to pay the remainder of Ventura’s contract, which is valued at $20.25 million. Royals officials initially said they were told toxicology results for Ventura would be completed in about three weeks. Fox Sports’ reported last month that Ventura’s contract with the Royals included a provision that could void payment for failure to perform because of injury or death from driving while intoxicated. If the Royals are required to pay the remainder of the contract, they would be insured for a portion of that amount.

Rangers: Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre reported to spring training Friday with a strained left calf muscle that will sideline him about three weeks and keep him out of the opening round of the World Baseball Classic. The 37-year-old Beltre, getting ready for his 20th major league season, said he injured the muscle working out at his home in California on Tuesday. He was planning to play for the Dominican Republic in the world classic, and could join the team after the first round if it advances. Beltre, winner of five Gold Gloves and a four-time All-Star, said his main concern is being ready for opening day but that he wants to play for his country. The Rangers signed catcher A.J. Jimenez to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. He was released by Toronto on Monday.

Nationals: No less an authority on hitting than last season’s runner-up for NL MVP thinks Tim Tebow has some ability with a bat — he just needs more work. Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy said Friday at spring training that he recently spent some time working on batting with Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback who now is pursuing a baseball career. Tebow is expected to be in minor league camp with the New York Mets next month. Murphy said he and Tebow live about 15 houses apart in Jacksonville but had never met. “He’s quite an impressive person,” Murphy said. And as for his assessment of Tebow’s skills with a bat in hand, based on their hitting session at a Jacksonville high school? “I think that the power is real. What he needs is at-bats.”

Dodgers: Adrian Gonzalez is taking a two-week break from hitting to heal tendinitis in the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman’s right elbow. Gonzalez still hopes to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic next month, he said Friday after reporting to camp. Gonzalez said he pursued his usual varied offseason workout program, including weightlifting and boxing exercises. It left him with a case of tennis elbow, or inflammation on the outside of the elbow after forearm tendons are overused. “I don’t play tennis,” Gonzalez said with a laugh. The hitting break is purely a precaution, and Gonzalez said the injury isn’t thought to be serious by the Dodgers. He initially felt the pain in December, but kept working out until the brink of spring training. “There’s no pain when I’m just doing normal things, but I just feel it when I squeeze something — the bat or the glove,” said Gonzalez, who throws with his left hand. “I’d say it’s about 90 percent [healthy], but you want to get that last 10 percent.” The 34-year-old Gonzalez is already five days into his two-week hitting break, but he will test the elbow before getting back in the cage. He is running and doing core-building exercises in the meantime.

Associated Press