TAMPA, Fla. — Rachel Balkovec has vivid memories of the dark, lonely and challenging chapters in her historic journey to the Tampa Tarpons manager’s office.

Three years ago, she went to Amsterdam to work for the first time as an apprentice hitting coach with the Netherlands national baseball and softball teams while earning a master’s ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Melkman has made his last delivery.

Melky Cabrera, the 37-year-old outfielder who played five seasons for the Yankees in the late-2000s, announced his official retirement on Friday. Cabrera had not played in the big leagues since 2019 with the Pirates, but he did sign a contract with the Mets in 2020 and was part of the team’...Read more

NEW YORK — While reflecting on his career, which earned him a number retirement from the Mets and a congratulatory press conference on Wednesday, Keith Hernandez also came face-to-face with his own mortality.

Specifically, when the topic shifted to his chances of making the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the 68-year-old Hernandez said that ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Rays bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez died by suicide, the Tarrant County (Texas) Medical Examiner’s office said Thursday.

Ramirez, 28, was found Monday in a field by a creek bed near his family’s Fort Worth home, authorities said.

Ramirez’s family shared this statement via the Rays:

“The loss of our son has been the most ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The city of Anaheim and the owner of the Angels had discussed the future of the Angel Stadium property for half a year. On Aug. 23, 2019, the Anaheim City Council was advised the Angels wished to buy the land, rather than lease it. On Sept. 24, 2019, the council agreed to negotiate a sale of the property.

Those meetings took ...Read more

Rachel Balkovec is getting used to being first.

Eight years ago, she was the first woman to work as a full-time strength and conditioning coach in baseball’s minor or major leagues.

Two years ago, she was the first woman to be hired to work as a hitting coach anywhere in professional baseball.

And this year, she will be the first woman to ...Read more

NEW YORK — Everything coming from the Mets this offseason seems to be sending a clear message: things are going to be different now.

Whether it’s fitting the roster with a former Cy Young winner and multiple All-Stars, bringing in an establishment-type manager or adding a new general manager to work under Steve Cohen’s still fresh ...Read more

NEW YORK — Last summer, managing in the Futures Game, LaTroy Hawkins was blown away by Rachel Balkovec’s resume. Looking for coaches for the annual event, the former big league reliever thought she was beyond qualified for a hitting coach job and it was well past time for a woman to be a part of the game that showcases minor leaguers during ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Expecting a perfunctory meeting about logistics for Cooperstown, Jim Kaat joined a Twins video call on Dec. 20. He was shocked to find Twins royalty waiting for him.

Rod Carew, Bert Blyleven, Joe Mauer, Tom Kelly, Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek — the six living Twins whose numbers have been retired by the team — congratulated ...Read more

CHICAGO — One of the most pivotal free-agent signings by a Chicago franchise is closing the book on his career.

Former Cubs left-hander Jon Lester announced his retirement Wednesday via ESPN after 16 big league seasons that featured 200 wins and three World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox and Cubs. Lester, 38, spent the 2021 season with...Read more

CHICAGO — Now that Jon Lester has called it quits on his 16-year career, the Chicago Cubs need to pick a good day in 2022 to retire his No. 34, assuming there is a season.

The organization already has retired five numbers: No. 14 (Ernie Banks), No. 26 (Billy Williams), No. 10 (Ron Santo), No. 23 (Ryne Sandberg) and No. 31 (Fergie Jenkins and ...Read more

NEW YORK — It’s been 25 years since the Mets put Keith Hernandez into their Hall of Fame. Now, they are putting his jersey number into their history books, too.

Hernandez’s No. 17 will be retired by the Mets on July 9, before a game against the Marlins at Citi Field, the team announced on Tuesday.

Hernandez spent seven years with the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — In the aftermath of pitching the Orioles’ first complete game no-hitter in more than 50 years, left-hander John Means expressed gratitude that the feat came on the road, given that Kyle Lewis’ eighth-inning drive was caught at the left-field wall of the Seattle Mariners’ T-Mobile Park instead of sailing over the fence for a ...Read more

Whether it’s full on reconstructive surgery or just some touch ups around the edges, Major League Baseball could look a lot different the next time we see it.

For starters, an Opening Day in May or June would have a much different vibe than the traditional late-March start date. While the weather across the country would be much more ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Lockout-related questions linger across Major League Baseball for players like Padres pitcher Craig Stammen, along with near-constant tinkering to Plans A, B … and Z.

Will spring training start on time? Will the season be delayed? How do you handle workouts without input from the manager, coaches or trainers as the Collective ...Read more

NEW YORK — For years, national baseball fans have complained that Sunday Night Baseball features the Yankees too often.

Now, the league’s premier nationally televised broadcast will also sound more like a Yankees game.

ESPN announced on Friday that David Cone will be part of a revamped Sunday Night Baseball booth starting in 2022. Cone, ...Read more

CHICAGO — Only a handful of people knew what awaited full-time employees of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, who were summoned just after Christmas to the restaurant in the left field corner of Principal Park.

Michael Gartner, the Iowa Cubs’ majority owner since 1999, planned a staff meeting on Dec. 28, which coincided with the closing date of the ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Garth Brooks is heading to Petco Park on March 5 for a concert at the downtown ballpark, where several more hits are expected in two hours than Brooks produced over two months in a 1999 spring training appearance with the Padres.

A single 23 years ago against the Chicago White Sox wasn't among the country music superstar's ...Read more

NEW YORK — On Thursday morning, former Mets acting general manager Zack Scott was found not guilty of driving while intoxicated (DWI). He was also found not guilty of driving while ability impaired by alcohol (DWAI), a lesser charge.

Scott was arrested on Aug. 31 in White Plains after a party at Mets owner Steve Cohen’s mansion in ...Read more