Sports briefs
Wild Things sign first baseman
The Washington Wild Things have signed first baseman Jacob Bockelie, who played for the Baseball Brilliance Sox in 2020 during pod play in Washington. Bockelie hit six home runs and drove in 21 runs.
“Bockelie was among the most impressive players in our pod this past season,” said Wild Things president and general manager Tony Buccilli. “We saw a maturity in his offensive game and know he is focused on constant development. I believe he has the ability to be an impact rookie and inflict damage.”
Bockelie played at Pacific Lutheran University from 2015-2019. In 41 games in 2018, he hit .389 with eight eight homers.
In baseball
New York Mets general manager Jared Porter was fired Tuesday after sending graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office.
ESPN reported late Monday night that Porter sent dozens of unanswered texts to the woman, including a picture of “an erect, naked penis.”
About nine hours later, new Mets owner Steve Cohen posted on Twitter that Porter had been fired.
- Left-hander Jon Lester and the Washington Nationals have an agreement in principle in place for a one-year contract, pending the successful completion of a physical exam, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to the Associated Press.
Female official for Super Bowl
Sarah Thomas will cap her sixth NFL season by becoming the first female to officiate the Super Bowl in NFL history.
Thomas, a down judge, is part of the officiating crew announced Tuesday by the NFL.
Referee Carl Cheffers will lead the seven-person crew of on-field game officials for the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Cheffers has been a game official for 21 seasons in the NFL and was promoted to referee in 2008. He has worked 17 playoff games, including the Super Bowl in 2017.
Big Ten reprimands Ferry, fines PSU
The Big Ten Conference reprimanded interim Penn State basketball coach Jim Ferry and fined the university $10,000 for comments Ferry made following a loss to Purdue.
Ferry, named interim coach last fall after Patrick Chambers resigned following an internal investigation into inappropriate conduct, was called out by the conference for his actions after the Nittany Lions lost to the Boilermakers, 80-72.
Referees issued a technical foul on Ferry in the second half. Afterward, he voiced his concerns about the officiating being “a little uneven or inconsistent.”
Hall of Famer Sutton dead at 75
Don Sutton, a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a stalwart of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation spanning an era from Sandy Koufax to Fernando Valenzuela, died Tuesday. He was 75.
The Baseball Hall of Fame said Sutton died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, after a long struggle with cancer. The Atlanta Braves, for whom Sutton was a long-time broadcaster, said he died in his sleep.
Sutton had a career record of 324-256. His final season was 1988.
In golf
Tiger Woods has suffered a setback with his back, disclosing Tuesday that he recently had a fifth back surgery that will keep him from starting the year until after the West Coast Swing on the PGA Tour.