Jeremy Giambi admits steroid use

Former major leaguer Jeremy Giambi admitted he used steroids, the Kansas City (Mo.) Star reported Sunday.

“It’s something I did,” Giambi told the newspaper. “I apologize. I made a mistake. I moved on. I kind of want it in the past.”

Giambi, the younger brother of Yankees star Jason Giambi, signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. While he did not specifically say his brother used steroids, Jeremy Giambi noted a news conference his brother had last month in New York during which he apologized profusely, but did not say why he was apologizing.

“If you don’t know what he’s apologizing for,” Jeremy Giambi said, “you must’ve been in a coma for two years.”

Jeremy Giambi declined to be specific about his steroid use. He told the newspaper he wants to come clean about steroids and hopes others will do the same.

“They’re not good for you,” the younger Giambi said. “I think we need to reach out and let teenagers know they’re not good for your body and not good for your health.”

Jeremy Giambi played outfield for the Spokane Indians in 1996, broke into the majors in 1998 with Kansas City, then played with his brother in Oakland from 2000-01.

Jason Giambi impresses Torre

Yankees manager Joe Torre has been so impressed by Jason Giambi this spring that he no longer has any concerns about the slugger being in the regular-season lineup.

Giambi’s 2004 season was a mess, his power sapped by an intestinal parasite and benign pituitary tumor, among other ailments

“With three weeks to go, he’s farther along than I thought he’d be,” Torre said before the Yankees played Houston. “To me it’s evident by his baseball work. He’s great as far as his at-bats.”

Gooden charged with battery

Dwight Gooden was arrested early Sunday for allegedly punching his ex-wife in the face, police said.

The former All-Star pitcher was charged with domestic violence battery and was being held without bond at Hillsborough County Jail in Tampa, Fla. It wasn’t immediately known if he had an attorney.

Jail officials said Gooden, a special assistant for the New York Yankees, was scheduled to make his first court appearance this morning.

Nationals sell 50,000 tickets

The Washington Nationals sold more than 50,000 tickets during the first six hours of individual game sales on Saturday.

The team said 87 percent of the purchases were made online.