Lou Brock overcomes leg amputation to throw out ceremonial pitch

Six months after his left leg was amputated below the knee, Hall of Famer Lou Brock threw out the ceremonial first pitch Monday before the St. Louis Cardinals’ home opener against Milwaukee.

The 76-year-old missed spring training for the first time in two decades with the Cardinals organization and targeted the opener as a return.

“I thought I could participate in the parade, but then they asked if I could throw out the first pitch, and that’s a challenge,” Brock said. “I’m like whoa!”

Brock’s leg was amputated because of an infection caused by complications from diabetes. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 15 years ago.

Wearing a prosthesis, Brock threw a strike to Cardinals catching great Ted Simmons, a former teammate.

“Somebody said – I don’t know who it was – they said, `Finally Lou, after all these years, you hit the cutoff man,’” Brock said.

Brock was surrounded by his wife, Jackie, who wore an eye-catching gold outfit, and the rest of the Cardinals Hall of Famers, who dressed in their trademark red jackets.

Brock stole a National League-record 938 bases, including 118 in 1974. He had 3,023 hits, becoming a star after a celebrated trade from the Chicago Cubs in 1964 for pitcher Ernie Broglio.

Brock said he had to almost learn how to throw a ball all over again while wearing a prosthesis. He said balance was the biggest thing.

His fellow Hall of Famers made the day special from the start.

“We met in the lobby of the clubhouse and walking in, they all seemed to have gotten together and made sure they threw a big cheer when I walked in the door,” Brock said. “That was special.”

Bob Gibson, in particular, had some advice.

“He did say, `Flip your wrist and I don’t want to see you using your body and falling down,“’ Brock said. “I said: `That’s why you’re here. You’re supposed to pick me up.“’

Seeing Brock throwing out the pitch encouraged his family.

“To see him do that just put me at the top of the mountain,” Jackie Brock said. “So it’s just real evidence how he has progressed, and we’re looking forward to what’s next.”

Detroit Tigers fan catches 5 foul balls in 8 innings

For most people, catching a foul ball at a major league game would be the thrill of a lifetime. On Monday, Bill Dugan almost got bored by the whole thing.

In a performance that captivated a Comerica Park crowd that wasn’t much enjoying the Detroit Tigers’ 7-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dugan caught five foul balls in the first eight innings. Dugan, who gave all five to nearby kids, was sitting behind home plate, in an area normally used for fans in wheelchairs.

With a small crowd on a chilly afternoon, he took advantage of the extra space to catch three pop-ups – all on the fly – and snare two ricochets off the facing of the press box.

The 39-year-old said he’s caught more than 200 balls in his years as a Tigers fan, both in batting practice and games, but five was his record for a game.

“I got four once in 2002 in a game against Seattle,” he said. “I actually have six today, but I got one of them in batting practice.”

By the time he had gotten four in the first two innings, he was a local celebrity. He did interviews with the media and posed for selfies with fans but still paid enough attention to grab the fifth in the eighth inning.

He still has one goal left, though: “I’ve never caught a home-run ball.”

Directions to Dodger Stadium: Take Vin Scully Avenue

On their way to Dodger Stadium for the team’s home opener, fans can now take Vin Scully Avenue into the main gate.

The city of Los Angeles renamed a section of roadway from Sunset Boulevard to Stadium Way in honor of the 88-year-old Hall of Fame announcer Monday.

Signs replacing the old name of Elysian Avenue were already posted when Scully appeared in front of a few hundred fans to accept the honor. He drew cheers when opening with his familiar greeting of “Hi everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon to all of you.”

Scully is set to broadcast the final home opener of his 67-year career on Tuesday, when the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks. He plans to retire at season’s end after having called games since the team’s early days in Brooklyn.

Scoring and long ball back during 1st week of MLB season

The long ball is back.

Teams averaged 1.14 home runs per game through the first week of the season, according to STATS LLC. That is up nearly 26 percent from last year’s average through the first eight days and the most since 1.20 in 2006.

“It is a little surprising, particularly early in April, the runs that are being scored,” Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said Monday.

Teams averaged 4.43 runs per game. That marked a 6 percent increase through the same period last season and the highest opening-week average since 2011.

Miami’s Dee Gordon, the reigning N.L. batting champion, points to Colorado rookie Trevor Story, who hit a record seven home runs in his first six games, and San Diego’s Matt Kemp, whose 10 RBIs were two behind Story’s major league-leading total.

“Trevor Story and Matt Kemp have been holding it down for us. So, we appreciate them guys,” Gordon said, before adding there is most of the season to be played. “You could be hitting .800 now and hit .220 at the end of the year.”

Scoring remains down significantly from the height of the Steroids Era. The average during the first full week peaked in 2000 at 5.34 runs per team each game.

Still, it’s far above the recent low of 4.05 two years ago.

“We are dealing with a small sample,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “With that caveat, my preliminary thought is that we are seeing part of a natural cycle in the game.”

The big league batting average of .248 was up seven percentage points from last year and the highest during the first full week since 2013.

“I don’t think we’re far enough into it to see a real trend,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “But things have a way of correcting themselves in our game – like the shifts and all the other stuff. Usually offenses adjust, and the defense and pitchers make another adjustment. It’s a constant game of adjustments.”

The increased batting average came despite another big jump in defensive shifts. There were 1,089 through Sunday, according to Baseball Info Solutions, up nearly 57 percent from 694 through the opening week last year. There were just 484 during a similar period in 2014 and 212 in 2013.

“You don’t remember the ones that you take away,” Atlanta catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. “It always seems like you remember the ones that you give up, where you’re shifting on a guy in the hole, and the guy hits a ball where the shortstop has been standing for 150 years.”

After declining for much of a 15-year stretch that coincided with the start of drug testing, more low strikes being called and an increase in defensive shifts, offense started rebounding during the second half of last season. The average number of runs per team each game climbed 9 percent in the second half, from 4.1 to 4.46, and home runs increased nearly 16 percent, from .95 to 1.1.

“I think there’s just an influx of new young players that are in the league as well as some guys that have been around that now have a little bit more experience,” Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “You’re starting to see a little changing of the guard of what was there before to what’s there now, and some of those guys are power hitters.”

Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich knows trends can change over the course of a six-month season.

“You never know, there could be three no-hitters next week and you’ll be asking me different questions,” he said.

Jose Reyes’ domestic abuse charge gets dropped

A Hawaii judge has approved dismissing a domestic abuse charge against Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes.

Deputy Maui Prosecuting Attorney Kerry Glen said Monday that the judge signed off on the move but will give prosecutors about two years to refile charges if Reyes’ wife cooperates.

Glen says it’s impossible to move forward with prosecution without cooperation from Reyes’ wife, who refuses to speak with prosecutors.

The former New York Mets shortstop was arrested Oct. 31 at the Wailea Four Seasons Resort.

Reyes was released after posting $1,000. The bail will be returned now that the charge is dismissed.

Reyes can still ask the judge to dismiss the case outright, taking away prosecutors’ ability to refile charges. So far, defense attorney David Sereno hasn’t filed a motion requesting that.

Cubs place Schwarber on 60-day DL, acquire Soto from Indians

The Chicago Cubs have transferred slugger Kyle Schwarber to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day DL because of a season-ending knee injury. They also acquired left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto from the Cleveland Indians for cash.

The Cubs announced the moves before Monday’s home opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

Schwarber tore ligaments in his left knee and severely sprained an ankle in an outfield collision with Dexter Fowler at Arizona last week. As a rookie last season, he hit 16 home runs and drove in 43 runs in 69 games.

Soto debuted with Cleveland last season and threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings over six relief appearances. The Cubs optioned him to Triple-A Iowa.

Oakland left-hander Doubront to have Tommy John surgery

Oakland left-hander Felix Doubront will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament, a blow to the Athletics’ already thin rotation.

Doubront was examined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati on Monday. Surgery to reconstruct his ulnar collateral ligament was scheduled for Beacon Orthopedics in Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Projected to be Oakland’s fifth starter, the 28-year-old was injured during his final spring training appearance on April 2, when he left after one inning complaining of elbow soreness.

Doubront went 3-3 with a 5.50 ERA in 16 games with Oakland and Toronto last year.

A’s manager Bob Melvin said that Eric Surkamp will remain Oakland’s No. 5 starter for now.

Yanks to extend spring lease through 2046 in $40M renovation

The Yankees have agreed to extend the lease for their spring training home at Steinbrenner Field through 2046 as part of an agreement that calls for a renovation expected to cost more than $40 million.

The team moved their spring training camp to Tampa, Florida, from Fort Lauderdale in 1996.

New York says the deal announced Monday must be approved by the Transportation Security Administration board of directors, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the Hillsborough Community College board of directors and the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

The Yankees say the renovation will be funded equally by Hillsborough County through its tourist development tax, Florida’ spring training program and the team.

The renovation, projected for completion next March, would include new outfield concourses that provide a 360-degree view of the field and additional shaded and gathering areas. There also would be work at the team’s nearby minor league complex.