Baseball

Retirement is opening new chapters for former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher T.J. House -- one of only a handful of openly gay ex-MLB players -- as he just got married to his longtime partner!!

The 34-year-old lefty tied the knot with Ryan Neitzel on Friday in New Orleans ... during a lavish outdoor wedding that came with all the bells and whistles.

The nuptials -- and the ensuing party -- featured a cigar roller, a tarot card reader and even a parade through the streets with a jazz band! There were also glow sticks ... and, yes, a ton of dancing.

The Boston Red Sox are mourning the loss of longtime executive Larry Lucchino on Tuesday ... with the team announcing the former CEO and president passed away at age 78.

After serving the same roles for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, Lucchino -- a former Princeton basketball player -- joined the Red Sox organization in 2001 ... and was tasked with putting together a squad that would end the franchise's World Series drought.

Not only did he succeed in 2004, breaking the 86-year curse, he also led the Sox to two more championships in 2007 and 2013. Lucchino was the chairman of the Worchester Red Sox, the team's AAA affiliate as well.

Unos fans de los Gigant y los Padres protagonizaron una violenta pelea a puñetazos y todo fue capturado en video.

Échale un vistazo a las imágenes. Se puede ver al menos a cuatro hombres involucrados en el altercado, algunos pelean en el suelo mientras otros se mantienen en pie.

En un momento, durante la pelea y la confusión, un puñetazo noqueó a un fan que llevaba una camiseta número 44 de San Diego.

Several men attending the Giants vs. Padres game at Petco Park on Saturday evening got into a violent fistfight in a concourse ... and the wild scene was all captured on video.

Check out the footage, you can see at least four men were involved in the altercation ... with two tussling on the floor -- while the other two were slugging one another while upright.

At one point during the standing skirmish, a punch appeared to land so flush on the man in a No. 44 San Diego jersey, it knocked him to the ground.

Los Gigantes de San Francisco destruyeron a los Padres de San Diego la noche del viernes en Petco Park, pero todo el drama real estaba sucediendo en las gradas entre un par de fans enojados y violentos.

Mientras los equipos estaban jugando en San Diego, alguien sacó un teléfono y comenzó a grabar a una mujer en una camiseta de los Padres discutiendo con dos chicos con camisetas de los Gigantes entre la multitud.

Echa un vistazo a este loco video publicado en X, la mujer se paró frente a los dos tipos y comenzó a apuntarlos antes de decirles: "¡F*** you!".

The San Francisco Giants destroyed the San Diego Padres on the field Friday night at Petco Park ... but all the real drama was happening in the stands between a couple of their angry and violent fans.

As the teams were playing in SD, someone pulled out a phone and started recording a woman in a Padres jersey arguing with two guys in Giants shirts standing in the crowd.

Check out this crazy video posted to X ...  the woman got right up in the grills of the two dudes and started pointing at them before telling them, "F*** you!"

The Minnesota Twins' AAA affiliate is standing firm on its decision to name its live pig mascot "OzemPig" ... this after a number of fans squealed in opposition.

The St. Paul Saints -- known for their tomfoolery on gamedays -- traditionally employ young pigs to help out with delivering game balls to umpires ... and host an annual contest to come up with a silly moniker for each animal (past winners include Ham Solo, Notorious P.I.G., etc.).

This year's winner beat out candidates like Porky Blinders and Sloppenheimer ... but once the name was announced, some folks felt it flirted with fat-shaming, considering it's a nod to the popular weight loss drug.

It's MLB Opening Day -- and this year, ya better bring a ticket, glove AND an appetite to the ballpark ... 'cause several teams are offering some massive dishes for fans to enjoy!!

Some of the most popular, of course, include spins on the classic hot dog.

The Texas Rangers unveiled a footlong one that will come with two burger patties, a bunch of chili and cheese, Tostitos chips and a whole lot more.

10:00 AM PT -- Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are adamant they were not the reason for the failed deal, releasing a statement through their spokesperson on Thursday afternoon that read, "We have fulfilled our obligations, have all necessary funding and are fully committed to closing our purchase of the team as soon as the NBA completes its process."

"Glen Taylor's statement," the two continued, "is an unfortunate case of seller's remorse that is short sighted and disruptive to the team and the fans during a historic winning season."

Alex Rodriguez won't be the majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx after all ... the orgs' owner just announced the former MLB star's bid to buy the teams has fallen through.

Glen Taylor, the current honcho of the NBA and WNBA squads, announced the news in a statement on Thursday morning ... explaining Rodriguez and former Walmart CEO Marc Lore's effort to become new majority owners collapsed after the two missed a key deadline this week.

"Under terms of the purchase agreement," Taylor said in the statement, "the closing was required to occur within 90 days following the exercise notice issued by Lore and Rodriguez. That 90-day period expired on March 27, 2024."

"Under certain circumstances, the buyer could have been entitled to a limited extension. However, those circumstances did not occur."

Rodriguez and Lore had previously bought 40 percent of the teams in prior sales. The most recent agreement between the two and Taylor was set to give them an additional 40 percent of the franchises.

Taylor said despite the failed pact, he'll still work with Lore and Rodriguez to "ensure our teams have the necessary resources to compete at the highest levels on and off the court."

As for going forward, Taylor doesn't appear to have plans of re-entering into talks with the two about a purchase ... saying, "The Timberwolves and Lynx are no longer for sale."

The Wolves currently have one of the best teams in the NBA, holding a 50-22 record. The Lynx -- who've won four WNBA titles -- are slated to begin their season this summer.

Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts tells TMZ Sports despite all of the recent drama surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter ... L.A. is absolutely locked in on the 2024 season.

Betts made it clear to us while out at a charity appearance at a Raising Cane's in Alhambra, Calif. that the Ippei Mizuhara gambling scandal is just not a distraction.

"No, no, no, no," the shortstop said. "We're just focused on business. Taking care of business and that's all we keep first."

Before Mookie Betts steps up to the dish for the Dodgers for their home opener, he was out serving dishes at Raising Cane's ... doling out a bunch of chicken and fries to a grip of fans who turned out to support him.

The shortstop worked a shift at the fast food chain's location in Alhambra, Calif. some 24 hours before L.A. takes on the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium in order to raise some funds for his foundation ... and hundreds flocked to the eatery to get a glimpse of the baseball star.

Mookie was in great spirits as he worked the cash register ... handing out tendies and Texas Toast with a big smile on his face.

Betts also signed autographs for those who ordered from him -- before he addressed the massive crowd that showed up.

The 31-year-old thanked everybody -- and then he received a $100,000 donation from Cane's for his charity.

Amid all of the festivities, Betts spoke with TMZ Sports about getting behind the counter ... saying he was sure his many times as a drive-thru customer would translate to the other side of the window.

Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez is currently resting in a hospital -- this after he broke his eye socket in a scary moment during an exhibition game Monday night.

Gonzalez was at the plate in the middle of NY's tilt against the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in Mexico City when he got pitched inside -- and foul tipped the ball right into his face.

Video from the game's broadcast shows the 26-year-old crumpled in pain immediately ... as trainers raced out to the field to tend to him.

Shohei Ohtani just broke his silence on the gambling scandal surrounding his former interpreter -- and the Dodgers star was adamant he never placed any sports bets.

The 29-year-old addressed the media on Monday afternoon for the first time since Ippei Mizuhara was fired for allegedly using some of the baseball player's funds to gamble with an illegal bookmaker.

Ohtani told reporters through his new translator, Will Ireton, that he had no idea what was going on with the situation up until a team meeting following the Dodgers' first game of the season last week in Korea.

A baseball fan was super bummed he didn't receive an Adolis Garcia signed baseball ... but what he got was so much better, courtesy of the MLB superstar, Fanatics, and Michael Rubin!

It all started earlier this month when a fan named Sean Deitrick went on X to express displeasure about not receiving a baseball signed by Garcia, which he previously ordered from apparel giant, Fanatics (Garcia's signing was delayed, thus no ball).

Deitrick's mood ... "So, so bummed."

The tweet got enough attention that it made its way to the screen of Rubin, Fanatics founder ... and the management team.

A few weeks later, Sean provided an update, writing, "[Fanatics] was really nice and tried to help me get another ball, but I told them I already had one and figured that was that."

Cue the big surprise.

"Then, today, they surprised me with a DM from [Adolis Garcia]," he wrote on X, before saying, "I'm going to Opening Day!!! 🙏🙏🙏"

Sure enough, Fanatics reached out ... and was going to get the fan a signed ball, but he'd already found Garcia's John Hancock elsewhere. Rather than stopping there, Rubin and Fanatics wanted to do something special for the guy.

They reached out to the 31-year-old, 2x All-Star ... who then recorded a message for Deitrick, and sent it to him via direct message on social media.

"Hi Sean, Fanatics told me you're a big fan, and I can't wait to see you at the home opener at Arlington Stadium!"

Tom Brady has some competition for best athlete in the family ... 'cause his college softball star niece just launched her 62 home run of her career, good enough to rank her third in UCLA history ... and TB12 is hyped!

The NFL G.O.A.T. gave his niece Maya Brady -- a senior shortstop at UCLA -- a shoutout on Instagram after she smashed two home runs during the 14th-ranked Bruins game against Washington on Sunday.

Maya didn't only lead her Bruins to a 6-0 win over the 8th ranked Husky's, but her two bombs moved her into third place on the all-time home run list at the university, and Uncle Tommy's proud!

"Sorry peeps it just runs in the family," Brady wrote on Sunday. "LFG @mayabrady!"

Of course, Tom's no stranger to records ... but neither is Maya. She was the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Batting Champion with a .456 average.

Maya, BTW, is the eldest daughter of Tom's older sister, and the softball star has said she views her unc as more of a "father figure."

The 22-year-old also strives to do her best to represent the Brady name.

"It’s just good pressure," Maya told The Athletic. "I love bearing the last name. I’m just really proud of it."

3/22 -- 3:18 PM PT -- MLB just announced it has officially launched its probe into the matter ... saying, "Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhari from the news media."

"Earlier today, our DOI began their formal process investigating the matter."

MLB is doing its due diligence with Shohei Ohtani ... with sources telling TMZ Sports that league officials are gathering information to determine if the face of baseball was involved in the gambling scandal surrounding his translator.

Ohtani's inteprator and best friend Ippei Mizuhara has given conflicting stories on Shohei's involvement ... first saying the Dodgers superstar was well aware of his huge gambling debts, and loaned him millions of dollars to get out of the hole. He later backtracked, saying the Japanese two-way athlete had no idea.

As for Ohtani, his attorney claims he's been the victim of a "massive theft."

Now, MLB's trying to figure out what the hell is going on -- not necessarily because they believe Shohei did anything wrong -- but because gambling is an existential threat to any pro sport.

Look no further than Pete Rose ... who despite his exploits on the diamond, was banned for life in 1989 after he admitted to wagering on games -- although no one has accused Ohtani of betting on baseball, or any other sport for that matter.

It's worth noting, it sounds like Ohtani -- who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason -- has nothing to hide.

We're told his team alerted authorities to the "theft" ... and the feds are currently investigating.

No one connected to the probe has been arrested.

The Dodgers are 1-1 on the season, and their newly signed star is off to a solid start, despite the scandal ... collecting 3 hits and 2 RBIs in 10 plate appearances on the season.