Sports briefs
Wild Things
sign pitcher
The Wild Things signed their first player of the offseason by adding Josh LaPiana to the pitching staff. The lefthander is a Chartiers Valley High School graduate who began his college career at Akron and played the last three springs for Utah.
LaPiana is getting ready to pitch in Australia’s winter league.
A three-sport athlete at Chartiers Valley, LaPiana helped the Colts to two section championships in baseball, was a two-year starting quarterback in football and was a member of CV’s basketball team before his senior year.
He was teammates with current Wild Things pitcher James Meeker at Akron before the school dropped its baseball program. LaPiana transferred to Utah and helped the Utes to their first Pac-12 championship in 2016. He pitched 224.2 innings at Utah.
“We highly value Josh’s experience competing in a league like the Pac-12. He has a resume full of pitching meaningful games versus the elite college programs and facing some of the best hitters in the country,” said assistant general manager Tony Buccilli.
“Josh is very excited to return to Western Pennsylvania to begin his professional baseball career for his hometown Minor League team. The Pittsburgh baseball community has already expressed reassurance that we are signing not only a pro-ready player but also a pro-ready worker.”
In baseball
The Arizona Diamondbacks are switching from natural grass to an artificial surface in time for the 2019 season.
Team president Derrick Hall said the “state-of-art” synthetic grass will be better for players. He also says it will enhance the fan experience because the roof of Chase Field won’t have to be open during the day before night games. That will allow for cooler conditions throughout the day in the ballpark.
- New York Yankees star shortstop Didi Gregorius needs Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after injuring it during the AL Division Series, and there’s no telling when he’ll be able to play again.
General manager Brian Cashman said Gregorius will be out “until sometime next summer.” Cashman said the team will have a better idea about his return after surgery, which hasn’t yet been scheduled.
The announcement led to immediate speculation the team might make a big move to fill the void – pursuit of All-Star infielder and free agent-to-be Manny Machado, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- World Series champion Joe Girardi was interviewed Friday by the Texas Rangers in their search for a new manager.
Girardi, the former New York Yankees and Florida Marlins manager, was the first person with big league managerial experience interviewed by the Rangers as they look to replace manager Jeff Banister, who was fired by the Rangers in September. Banister is a former Pittsburgh Pirates coach.