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4th overall pick Langford’s $8 million signing bonus largest ever for Texas Rangers draftee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Fourth overall draft pick Wyatt Langford, the catcher-turned-college outfielder who hit 47 homers at Florida the past two seasons, signed a contract Tuesday with an $8 million bonus that is the largest ever for a player drafted by the Texas Rangers. “We think he’s the perfect fit for what we’re building here,” Rangers general manager Chris Young said. “Who he is as a person, his winning pedigree and certainly the talent as a player.”After appearing in only four games as a pinch-hitter as a college freshman, Langford become a starting outfielder for Florida. He hit .355 while tying the school record with 26 homers as a sophomore in 2022, and this year hit .373 with 21 homers as the Gators advanced to the championship round of the College World Series. “Obviously going through my freshman year, I really didn’t have any expectations. … I just want to play on the college stage first,” Langford said. “Probably about halfway through my sophomore year, when I ...

Rookie coach Zach Arnett will keep physicality and tenacity at Mississippi State

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Zach Arnett is not only the lone rookie among the Southeastern Conference’s 14 coaches, he’s also the youngest at 36 along with being the first of Hispanic descent in the league’s history. He’s been around the league long enough to know Tuesday that he broke the standard set by his former boss and predecessor at Mississippi State. Arnett not only wore a tie to talk to reporters, he also used a lot more than the seven words Mike Leach used in his opening remarks a year ago at SEC media days.“I’ve already said too much, and that combined with wearing a tie, I’m sure I’ve disappointed him a little bit here today,” Arnett said. “In recognition of his tremendous impact and influence not only on the game of football but on myself, I’m going to do my best to keep this short and sweet.”Arnett was named head coach in December soon after Leach died unexpectedly from a heart condition. He then coached the Bulldogs to a bowl victory over Illinois ...

Braves executives say it’s business as usual following spinoff from Liberty Media

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves executives say business will continue as usual under a new ownership structure following a spinoff from Liberty Media.Perhaps most notable is fans will be able to purchase stock in the newly created Atlanta Braves Holdings Inc. and become owners of the team.Plans for the spinoff were announced last year and made final in a vote by Liberty stockholders, led by chairman John Malone, on Monday. Braves chairman Terry McGuirk and president Derek Schiller will continue their lead roles in the team and The Battery Atlanta, the mixed-use development adjacent to Truist Park that includes business, a hotel, restaurants, a concert venue and other properties. “So no surprises here, no changes really,” McGuirk said Tuesday. “The purpose here today is we absolutely want to tell you that it’s business as usual. There are no changes to how we operate. I am still the control person of the team.”The mantra of business as usual also was relayed by general manager Alex Ant...

Top overall draft pick Paul Skenes gets record $9.2 million signing bonus from Pirates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Right-hander Paul Skenes, taken by Pittsburgh with the first pick in this month’s amateur draft, agreed Tuesday to a contract that includes a $9.2 million signing bonus.The amount is the highest for a drafted player, topping the $8,416,300 Detroit agreed to with first baseman Spencer Torkelson, the top pick in 2021.Skenes helped LSU to this year’s NCAA title after transferring from Air Force. He was selected Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series after going 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 19 starts with 209 strikeouts in 122 2/3. innings.“It was a pretty easy decision, with the organization and the people that are here,” Skenes said. “I was very comfortable wanting to come here. It was overall, a very easy offer, in my opinion, to take.”Skenes’ first step as a professional player will be to report to the Pirates’ spring training complex in Bradenton, Florida. The Pirates will then decide when and where Skenes will make his debut.Gene...

Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus and the surrounding area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli airstrikes hit the area of Damascus early Wednesday, Syrian state media reported.Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported that Syria’s air defenses had shot down “most of” the missiles. It said in a statement, citing military sources, that two soldiers were injured and there were “some material losses” from the airstrikes.Israeli authorities did not comment immediately.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition-linked war monitor, said the strikes marked the 20th time Israel has struck targets in Syria this year. The observatory said the strikes had hit military sites and warehouses of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, an ally of the Syrian government, causing the outbreak of a fire.Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment next door, has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-controlled parts of neighboring Syria in recent years, but it rarely acknowledges them.The lasted reported Israeli airstrikes i...

As temperatures soar in Colorado, it's important to take care of your vehicle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (KDVR) -- Technicians at Next Auto Care in Highlands Ranch said they are seeing the impact of the hot weather on some of the vehicles coming into their shop.Lead Technician Travis Sickler said one SUV had a coolant leak and overheated. Now the vehicle needs a new engine. If you had one week in Colorado, where would you go? As the temperatures climb, he said it's important to keep up with maintenance, check for leaks, and make sure you have plenty of coolant and oil.But that's not all. "Heat can do a lot of things to a car. It can be something as simple as the air pressure in your tires changing. I've seen vehicles get hot enough where wiring get real flimsy, so to speak, and can actually cause problems," Sickler said.Sometimes drivers don't see it coming.General Manager Chris Oatman said his wife actually had a problem driving home from camping."Overheated," he said. "She broke down on County Line with three kids in the car and a boat attached."If you get a ...

Boulder man accused of possessing, distributing child sexual abuse material

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Boulder man was arrested on July 13 after a task force discovered child sexual abuse material on his devices, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said in a release.Jonathan Philip Harris, 39, is facing one count of sexual exploitation of a child - distribution and three counts of sexual exploitation of a child - possession of images. Castle Rock 18-year-old charged for alleged terrorist ties A search warrant was executed on May 2 after an investigation discovered the material. The Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab found it was downloaded to a device connected to the IP address associated with Harris' residence in the 4400 block of Broadway Street. Several devices were seized in the search and "multiple files were found in violation of sexual exploitation of a child." Harris has since been released on a $1,000 cash bond. In addition to the Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab, the task force involved in the investigation consists of BCSO investigators, the Lo...

‘They belong to us’: Several owners of stolen birds in SW Miami-Dade offering rewards for their safe return

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

Six beloved birds in Southwest Miami-Dade are missing after a bird thief carelessly stuffed them into a bag and took off running.The business’ camera footage captured the incident— just one in a string of crimes that Miami-Dade Police believe may be connected. “One of our workers was like ‘The birds are stolen, the birds are stolen.’ I was like ‘What?'” said Javier Almedo of Galloway Farm Nursery on 7790 Southwest 87th Avenue.The business reviewed surveillance video from July 6th that caught a man hopping the fence and then heading for two Amazon parrots.“Sticks his hand in and grabs him,” said Almedo, indicating what he saw on the footage. The bird bandit then ran away with the parrots, Jamie and Paco. Riki and Pepe are two other birds that have also gone missing.“We took the cage away because my wife and my kids were heartbroken,” said Eduardo Muñoz, owner of stolen birds. The Harlequin Macaw and Umbrella Cockatoo were ta...

Trump’s pretrial hearing in classified documents case ends with no immediate decision on trial date

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and ERIC TUCKER (Associated Press)FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Lawyers for former President Donald Trump and prosecutors sparred in court Tuesday over when his landmark criminal trial concerning the mishandling of classified documents should begin, but the judge put off an immediate decision. Judge Aileen Cannon said she would issue a written order after the nearly two-hour hearing in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida, where lawyers for Trump pressed for an indefinite delay of a trial date. Trump’s lawyers say they need more time to prepare for what they describe as a complex case with a huge amount of evidence to review. They also argue the former president can’t get a fair trial ahead of the 2024 election, in which he is seeking to reclaim the White House. Prosecutors have proposed that the trial begin in December, saying the case is not complex and there’s no need for a lengthy delay. Prosecutor David Harbach told the judge that Trum...

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says list of critics meant to protect city workers, not intimidate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:49 GMT

Mayor Michelle Wu said she was not seeking to intimidate the people included on the list of critics she provided to the Boston Police Department.Rather, the list was made after “threats” and “explicit violence” committed by the included critics reached a tipping point at last year’s Dorchester Day Parade, and the city was forced to implement an entirely new safety plan for future public events, Wu told reporters on Tuesday.“This is really a matter of safety and having to protect the city workers who unfortunately like my family for over a year have been subject to situations that have crossed the line,” Wu said at an unrelated City Hall event.Wu dismissed the notions that her list was similar to the so-called enemies lists compiled by former President Richard Nixon with a laugh, stating, “I certainly wasn’t around then and have no sense that there’s any relevancy.”“The people who were on this list, that was in preparation for safety — safety prep for a parade,” Wu said. “The reality...