HOUSTON -- A quick glance at Team Brazil’s roster provides pretty standard information about the players -- bats/throws, height/weight, date of birth, hometown and school attended, where applicable. With no disrespect to Joseph Contreras, his line reads a little bit like … a misprint.

HOUSTON – An All-Star lineup of Major League sluggers and a deep, sturdy pitching rotation gave Team USA sky-high expectations entering the World Baseball Classic. They delivered in their first game, though the process wasn’t as easy as some might have expected. Team USA beat Team Brazil, 15-5, in a

HOUSTON -- Team Mexico would like to shake off any memories of what happened the last time it played in the World Baseball Classic, if not erase them completely. On Friday, Mexico took one very big necessary first step toward creating a new narrative, topping Great Britain, 8-2, in game

HOUSTON – Even on a team loaded with star power, there’s always one player who will inevitably wear the “rookie” label and go through the necessary initiation process before he’s truly invited to sit at the big kids’ table. In the case of Team USA, that player is 21-year-old Roman

Earlier this year, the musical group Jonas Brothers, partnering with Mastercard, released a new single and video dedicated to the fight against cancer. As Stand Up to Cancer ambassadors, Jonas Brothers helped elevate awareness of the cause with “I Can’t Lose,” honoring everyone affected by the disease and celebrating the

Who are the best players born on each day of the year? We have a list for every day on the calendar. Here’s a subjective ranking of the top five for Sept. 24: 1) Rafael Palmeiro (1964) Long before the finger-wag seen 'round the world, Palmeiro, a four-time All-Star and

Though we’re still a couple weeks away from the start of the postseason, it’s never too early to start talking about the topic that captures our attention every winter: free agency. In this roundtable, MLB.com examines the possibilities for Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, who will enter free agency for

When you're a right-handed pitcher from Texas, and you throw hard, and you have been tabbed as "The Next Big Thing," the comparisons are inevitable. Nolan Ryan. Roger Clemens. Kerry Wood? Wood was still a fresh-faced kid starring at Grand Prairie High School when the comparisons to Ryan and Clemens

HOUSTON -- One question that arose heading into the Astros’ 3-2 loss to the Padres on Sunday was, which early-season version of Framber Valdez will show up? In a March and April that has been a series of extremes for the left-hander -- either extremely good, or extremely ineffective --

A version of this story was originally published in April 2020.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – When players reported to Spring Training more than a month ago, Astros manager Joe Espada was very direct with his messaging to outfield prospect Zach Dezenzo: You have a chance to make this club. Final decisions are looming, and it’s not quite time to make

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Framber Valdez-Sandy Alcantara pitching matchup, though still just a Spring Training game, met expectations on Saturday afternoon at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. The aces of their respective pitching staffs, the two essentially breezed through their planned four-inning starts during the Marlins-Astros game

LAKELAND, Fla. -- This is right around the time of spring when the topic of who will be named Opening Day starter bubbles up around camps. For some teams who have an established ace, the answer as to who gets the ball that day is obvious. For others who might

Although Spring Training is just now getting started and Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is still more than a month away, plenty of baseball is being played this weekend throughout the country, including at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla. It’s officially college baseball season, and as

Each year, the Winter Meetings bring the entire baseball industry to one city -- practically under one roof -- with much of the attention focused on the Major League clubs and what they might have cooking as they shape their rosters for the coming season. But there is so much

DALLAS -- Willie Mays’ legacy was celebrated heavily in 2024, and in 2025, Major League Baseball will continue to honor his life by focusing on the very field where he started his baseball journey. Since 2012, MLB has held a charity auction at the Winter Meetings that raises funds for

HOUSTON -- For much of the past decade, the Astros have dedicated a segment of their offseason to raising funds for New Hope Housing, which combats homelessness by providing housing and support services for those in need. The Astros Foundation’s Diamond Dreams Gala has raised millions since its first one

A longstanding staple of Major League Baseball’s jewel events is the Stand Up To Cancer moment, when play stops at the end of the fifth inning and the focus shifts to a topic that most would agree is bigger than the game. It’s nearly impossible to find someone who has

Alyson Footer, moderator/editor: We’re all still basking in the glow of Shohei Ohtani’s mind-boggling performance in Miami on Thursday that had everyone buzzing. Most headlines contain some form of the phrase “Best game ever?” or “Best game ever!” So let’s discuss: Ohtani’s game -- which, to review, resulted in him

We don’t need to wait for the offseason to arrive to start talking about what is sure to be the hottest topic of the winter: Which team will land superstar slugger and impending free agent Juan Soto? MLB.com gathered for a roundtable to discuss the possibilities: Alyson Footer, editor/moderator: One

Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente will be posthumously honored at the 37th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on Sept. 5, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation announced on Thursday. Clemente, who played 18 seasons for the Pirates and dedicated much of his life to humanitarian and philanthropic work, is the first posthumous honoree

A long-standing baseball tradition reappeared at the end of the fifth inning of the All-Star Game on Tuesday when play stopped in commemoration of a singular, poignant moment. The Stand Up to Cancer moment has been a staple of Major League Baseball’s signature events since 2009. It brings the entire

HOUSTON -- Most of the focus lately has been on the rash of injuries plaguing the Astros pitching staff, but Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to the Cardinals could be attributed more to what’s happening in the short term on the offensive side.

HOUSTON -- Astros starting pitchers José Urquidy and Cristian Javier will each undergo right elbow surgery and will miss the rest of the 2024 season, general manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday. Urquidy’s surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, while Javier will undergo surgery on Thursday. The club is not yet categorizing

HOUSTON -- The Astros still have plenty of uncertainty surrounding their pitching, but their 8-5 win over the Cardinals on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park did provide this reminder: good things can happen when the lineup comes together. Injuries have overcome the pitching staff -- the latest blow arriving