MLB

6/4 7:20 AM -- Tucupita Marcano has been banned from Major League Baseball for life, officials announced Tuesday.

The league released a statement on the decision ... saying it was determined Marcano placed 387 baseball bets, including 231 related to MLB, in 2022 and 2023 -- totaling more than $150,000 on the sport.

The league added Marcano bet on the Pirates 25 times while he was a member of the organization -- although he did not play in any of the games due to his season-ending injury.

Josh Gibson is now officially Major League Baseball's all-time batting average leader ... and Albert Pujols couldn't be happier about it -- telling TMZ Sports the MLB's decision to integrate Gibson's Negro Leagues numbers into its record book is "a great thing for baseball."

Rob Manfred's org. made the decision to absorb the legend's stats -- as well as everyone else's who played in the Negro Leagues from 1920-1948 -- on Wednesday ... and Pujols praised the move when we got him out at LAX a day later.

He told us it was the "perfect time" for Manfred and co. to recognize the greats -- saying it showed big respect for those who performed during that era.

Jorge Lopez is expressing some deep regret after the New York Mets decided to part ways with him on Thursday ... issuing an apology for his actions on the field -- and further clarifying his postgame comments.

"First and foremost, I apologize to my teammates, coaches, fans, and front office," Lopez said in a statement. "I feel that I let them down yesterday, both on and off the field."

As we previously reported, Lopez was ejected from Wednesday's game after arguing over a check swing call ... and proceeded to throw his glove into the stands.

1:35 PM PT -- Mets manager Carlos Mendoza addressed the decision to designate Lopez for assignment ... saying the team has standards and his actions would not be tolerated.

9:48 AM PT -- Lopez is clearing the air on his comments ... saying he was really calling himself out, not his teammates.

"Who ever hear me I said teammate and what I said on the situation I been the worst teammate thanks media for make it worse," he wrote on Instagram.

A bad outing for Mets reliever Jorge Lopez got worse and worse as the night went on ... 'cause not only did he throw his glove into the stands after getting ejected, he also unloaded on his team in a post-game interview -- and now, he's losing his spot on the roster.

The whole meltdown started shortly after Lopez gave up a two-run home run to Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani amid the Mets' late-game collapse ... when he started arguing over a checked swing call during the next at-bat.

Lopez got in a heated argument with the third-base ump over the ruling ... which resulted in him getting booted from the contest.

Darryl Strawberry's back to feeling 100 percent --- and he couldn't be happier about it ... revealing to TMZ Sports this week he nearly died from the heart attack he suffered in March.

The Mets legend opened up to us about his medical scare while out in NYC ... and he said things got so bad with his heart at the time of the emergency, doctors couldn't believe he survived.

"My heart was pumping at 40 percent," said Strawberry, who described the heart attack as a "massive" one. "So, there was a lot going on. There was not a lot of blood flowing through my heart at that particular time."

The woman rumored to be expecting a child with Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis is actually welcoming a baby with MLB player Joey Gallo, TMZ Sports has learned.

The erroneous reports were made over the weekend ... with several irresponsible NFL social media accounts assuming Hayden Hopkins -- who was spotted alongside the team owner at a game in 2022 -- was pregnant with his first kid.

We got down to the bottom of things ... and as it turns out, there is still a sports connection to Hopkins' future baby -- just not what was previously indicated.

Shohei Ohtani is putting his historic contract to good use -- the Dodgers superstar just snagged a ritzy mansion in Los Angeles for $7.85 million ... a place formerly owned by comedian Adam Carolla.

Details on the deal were released this week ... with the L.A. Times reporting the Japanese two-way athlete is the buyer of the La Cañada Flintridge digs.

The pad -- built in 2013 -- is perfect for a guy like Ohtani. It's a three-story, five-bedroom, six and 1/2-bathroom home that comes with a decked-out kitchen, private movie theater, basketball court and gym ... as well as a pool and spa.

Corey Seager's late-game home run Tuesday night proved costly for at least one Phillies fan ... who straight up lost an entire plate of nachos because of it!

Here's the deal ... the Texas Rangers superstar was trying to claw his team back from down 3-1 against the Phils in the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park -- when he launched a ball deep into right field.

As it came crashing down toward the stands, initially, it looked like it ricocheted off some railing ... leaving him with merely a double.

5/20 -- 8:02 AM PT -- Authorities have released Austin Maddox's mugshot ... and he appears a bit beaten up, with red marks on his face, and what looks like a partially swollen eye.

Former MLB third-round pick Austin Maddox was arrested during an anti-child predator sting in Florida last month ... and now, the ex-Red Sox pitcher is facing several felony charges.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released the results of its five-day "Operation Valiant Knights" bust on Monday ... claiming 27 men believed they were communicating with underage girls online -- but in reality, they were speaking to detectives.

Cameron Brink's meet-and-greet with Hollywood's biggest names continues ... 'cause fresh off her run-in with Kim Kardashian, the L.A. Sparks star hung out with Shohei Ohtani at the Dodgers game!!

The 2024 No. 2 overall pick and her fellow rookie teammate, No. 4 pick Rickea Jackson, were VIP guests at Los Angeles' home matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday ... throwing out the first pitch and shouting the traditional "It's time for Dodger baseball" rally cry before the game.

Brink got some one-on-one time with the biggest name in baseball as well ... and when they met up, Ohtani couldn't help but acknowledge how they were on eye level.

Forget the first inning, Jimmy Rollins says Shohei Ohtani should focus on the ninth innings when he fully recovers from Tommy John surgery ... telling TMZ Sports he believes the Dodgers star's future on the mound is as a closer.

The 29-year-old, of course, has been a starter and a designated hitter throughout the majority of his historic, two-way career ... but after having his second major elbow procedure this past offseason, Rollins told us he thinks Ohtani should have a very limited pitching future going forward.

Specifically, the former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop says he would like to see Ohtani bat at the dish and then be used out of the bullpen once healthy ... in an effort to preserve his golden arm.

The jersey worn during one of the most memorable no-hitters in Major League Baseball is hitting the auction block -- Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott's game-used AND autographed threads from his iconic 1993 outing.

Abbott -- who was born without a right hand -- threw the five-walk no-no in a home contest against Cleveland on September 4, 1993 ... leading New York to a 4-0 victory and solidifying his place in the history books and inspiring millions in the process.

31 years later, the top Abbott donned for the game is up for grabs via Grey Flannel Auctions ... with a starting bid of $5,000.

Shohei Ohtani fans are shelling out a ton of dough to get their hands on a super-rare version of the MLB superstar's first Dodgers bobblehead ... with folks dropping more than a thousand bucks for the giveaway.

40,000 fans were gifted the highly-coveted promotion ahead of Los Angeles' home matchup against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium on Thursday ... with 1,700 bobbles coming in a special road uniform colorway.

A handful of spectators who got their hands on the limited edition handout quickly headed to reseller sites to cash in on their luck ... and based on a quick search, it's working out in their favor.

According to eBay, there have been several sales already ... some reaching as high as $1,500.

Even the regular home uniform colorway is attracting a lot of interest ... with those selling for hundreds.

It's a silver lining for Dodgers fans willing to part ways with the mini Ohtanis ... 'cause the home team stunk up the place in the 7-2 loss.

The man of the night went 0-2 with a walk and a strikeout in the contest.

Sean Burroughs -- the ninth-overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft -- has suddenly passed away, it was announced on Friday. He was just 43 years old.

The former third baseman was coaching his son's Little League game in California on Thursday when he suffered cardiac arrest.

Burroughs was a standout for the Long Beach Little League World Series teams in 1992-93 ... becoming the first American-born pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters as he led his teammates to two titles.

The 45-year-old man who stole and destroyed a Jackie Robinson statue in Kansas pled guilty on Thursday to multiple charges, including theft, and is now facing over 19 years behind bars!

Remember, the large Jackie statue was stolen on January 25 from a youth baseball park in Wichita, KS ... only to be found burned and destroyed days later at a nearby park.

Multiple people were captured on surveillance video taking the statue, but only one person, Ricky Alderete, has been arrested and charged.

Shohei Ohtani's ex-translator and best friend, Ippei Mizuhara, will plead guilty to multiple federal charges -- after admitting to taking nearly $17 million from the Dodgers superstar -- and now faces up to 3+ decades in prison!

On Wednesday, The United States Justice Department announced that 39-year-old Mizuhara would soon face the music after agreeing to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of filing a false tax return for the extensive, multi-year fraud.

"The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive,” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said of Ippei's actions.