2014 – In a trade of minor leaguers with excellent bloodlines, the Angels send 1B Matt Scioscia, son of manager Mike Scioscia, to the Cubs in return for OF Trevor Gretzky, son of all-time hockey great Wayne Gretzky. In spite of their athletic lineage, neither player is considered to be much of a prospect, however.
2014 – A Cactus League game between the Reds and Royals is abruptly stopped in the 6th inning when Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Salvador Perez. Chapman is taken off the field on a stretcher, with fractures above his eye and in his nose, as well as multiple lacerations. The two managers then elect not to continue play, with the blessing of home plate umpire Chris Guccione.
The 2014 Recinto de la Fama balloting results are announced. Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 National League Cy Young Award winner, leads the voting by a significant margin. Joining him in winning induction are Daniel Fernández (the Mexican League career leader with 1,837 runs), Ricardo Sáenz (the Mexican League double leader with 496 for his career) and Cuauhtémoc Rodríguez (an executive whose teams won eight titles).
Jose Quintana of the White Sox is glad that Cactus League stats do not count after a truly dreadful start against the Athletics: all nine batters he faces reach base, and they all eventually come in to score, before he gets removed, having allowed 7 hits and 2 walks, retiring none. The hits include a long homer by Jed Lowrie and a triple by Sam Fuld. No starter has ever allowed 9 runs without retiring a batter in a major league game, although Hank Borowy managed the dubious feat in a relief outing with the Tigers in 1951.
The Yankees visit Panama City in tribute to retired closer Mariano Rivera, who is honored before the game. However, the Marlins steal the show as Brad Hand and three relievers combine on a 5 – 0 no-hitter.
2014 – The Braves sign P Ervin Santana, one of the last free agents remaining on the market, to a one-year contract for $14.1 million. Injuries this week to two of the team’s projected starters, Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen, prompt Atlanta to open its wallet and also give up a draft choice to add the experienced hurler.
2014 – Dr. Frank Jobe, the pioneer surgeon who performed the first ligament replacement surgery on pitcher Tommy John in 1974 and then popularized the technique that has saved hundred of pitchers’ careers, dies in Santa Monica, CA at age 88. He had been a medical adviser to the Los Angeles Dodgers for 50 years, continuing even after his retirement from regular practice in 2008.
2014 – The Dodgers’ newest Cuban signee, 2B Alex Guerrero, makes his presence felt with a grand slam in a 10 – 3 win over the Reds in a Cactus League contest.
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