The Trump Administration cancels an agreement reached in the previous December between Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation that allows Cuban players to join organized baseball through a formal transfer process, as is the case with South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The current administration objects to the fact that transfer fees are being paid to the Federation; however, the agreement’s demise is likely to lead to a return of danger-fraught defections as the only path for Cuban players to reach the U.S.

2019 – Gary Sanchez hits three homers and drives in six runs to lead the Yankees to a 15 – 3 beatdown of the Orioles. He has a chance at a fourth homer in the 9th, but flies out to left field against IF Hanser Alberto, pitching mop-up relief. At 5-4, the Yankees are now above .500 for the first time this season.

2019 – Jorge Polanco hits the first cycle of the season, but the Twins still lose to the Phillies, 10 – 4. Rhys Hoskins drives in 4 runs as the red-hot Phils, who are averaging over 8 runs per game so far, take an early 5 – 0 lead against Jake Odorizzi and cruise from there in spite of Polanco’s heroics. Nick Pivetta is the winner.

2019 – Jacob deGrom, last year’s Cy Young Award winner is back at it. He strikes out 14 Marlins in 7 innings and also hits a homer to lead the Mets to a 6 – 4 win. It is deGrom’s 26th consecutive quality start, dating back to 2018, matching the major league record set by Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in 1967-1968.

2019 – Returning to Washington, DC for the first time since signing a record free agent contract with the Phillies this spring, Bryce Harper is welcomed with a very loud chorus of boos before each of his at-bats. He has the last laugh, however, as he collects 3 hits, including a massive 458-foot two-run homer off Jeremy Hellickson in the 8th, to lead the Phils to an 8 – 2 win over the Nationals.