Sammy Sosa returned to the Cubs’ spring training complex for the first time in over 20 years, amazed by the team’s upgraded facilities. “This building looks like Disney World,” Sosa said with a hearty laugh. “My goodness. Incredible. Beautiful. We didn’t have that when we played.” Wearing a Cubs uniform for the first time since 2004, Sosa joined as a guest instructor, working with hitters after recently mending ties with the organization.

Bryce Harper expected to be fine after he was hit on his right arm by a fastball moving at 92 mph on Wednesday afternoon at TD Ballpark. His team confirmed that his right triceps is bruised and there was nothing serious, it didn’t even need X-rays. “Fine, I think,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after a 9-6 victory over the Blue Jays. “The trainer’s report — we’ll check him tomorrow — but it’s a contusion in the triceps area. We’re not overly concerned at all.” Blue Jays young left-hander Richard Lovelady was the one who threw a first-pitch inside fastball to Harper in the sixth inning and six pitches later, he hit him. “I can’t speak for the kid, but maybe he was a little nervous,” Thomson said. “It’s Bryce Harper.”

In a late at-bat during Tuesday’s Cactus League game, 18-year-old Padres prospect Leodalis De Vries showed why San Diego is so excited about his potential. Ranked No. 18 among MLB prospects, Leodalis De Vries worked a full count before driving an opposite-field double against the Angels. His performance was nothing short of brilliant, showcasing his patience and control at the plate. “I feel like that’s a good representation of who I am as a ballplayer,” De Vries said. “The team needed me, so I had to get on base.”

After missing several days battling a with the flu, Fernando Tatis Jr. is back with the Padres on Wednesday and he wasted no time making up for his absence. In his first live batting practice session, Tatis crushed a towering home run off new teammate Nick Pivetta, showing he’s back in form. After taking full batting practice, Tatis received three live at-bats against Pivetta. He struck out in each of the first two before crushing a homer to center field.

During early Spring Training interviews, Tomoyuki Sugano listened to questions in English and waited for his interpreter to translate. But after his first Grapefruit League start with the Orioles, that wasn’t necessary for a follow-up. The three-time Central League MVP and former Yomiuri Giants star, Tomoyoki Sugano is prepared to take on MLB hitters for the first time, proving it with his spring debut.

Nathan MacKinnon scored a double and an assist for the Colorado Avalanche in a dominant 5-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils at Ball Arena on Wednesday. Martin Necas tallied three assists, while Artturi Lehkonen, Casey Mittelstadt, and Logan O’Connor each found the net for the Avalanche (34-24-2), snapping a two-game skid since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Cale Makar added two assists, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 shots. “We need points, we know that, but it’s nice to win. I think even more than winning, it’s nice to play the right way,” Blackwood said. “I think we played kind of almost to a T the game plan that we set out to play at the start of the game. So, I give these guys a lot of credit. They were fed the game plan, they went out and executed it hard all night long, and it was fun to watch.”

Conor Garland scored his second goal of the game in overtime, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. Garland sealed the victory with a wrist shot from the left face-off dot during 4-on-4 play, just after a Kings power play ended. “There was a little bit of a spot where I felt like I could hit it and got fortunate,” Garland said. “Big one, and we needed it.”

Jeff Schenn is proud of his sons, Brayden and Luke, for making NHL history. The Schenn sons who grew up playing hockey have come a long way and are now Stanley Cup champions and respected NHL players. They’ve made history this season as the first brothers to each play 1,000 NHL games in the same year. Luke already reached the milestone on Oct. 17 playing for the Nashville Predators, and Brayden will break his own record on Feb. 27 with the St. Louis Blues. Reaching this milestone adds their names to a small group of brothers who have hit 1,000 games, including the Sedins and Staals. Though they never played on the same NHL team during the course of their career, they have always supported and pushed each other to be better. Their Father Jeff is super proud of his children and how much they have achieved in their long careers in hockey.

The 2025 NHL Stadium Series between the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets is expected to draw out the second largest crowd of over 90,000 fans in NHL history. NHL president of content and events, Steve Mayer shared the projection on Wednesday, with the game set to take place at Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. “This is an iconic place,” Mayer said. “I’ve watched some incredible sporting events take place in this building, and it’s special to be here and for us to actually look at what will be the second-largest crowd in the history of these outdoor games, and to know that even though it started many years ago, we’re still going strong, and we’re bringing a game to Columbus for the first time. It’s kind of unbelievable that we haven’t been here.”