JUPITER, Fla. -- Speaking directly about the topic for the first time since gambling-related tweets appeared on his Twitter account last week, Miami pitcher Jarred Cosart denied ever betting on baseball.
"I never have, never will bet on baseball," Cosart said Wednesday.
Tweets that appeared on Cosart's account discussed gambling advice received from a gambling expert. They did not appear to involve baseball bets.
Cosart briefly addressed the situation last week, stating he was cooperating with Major League Baseball's investigation.
"Still following the MLB protocol. Hoping that everything gets done by opening day," Cosart said.
MLB spokesman Michael Teevan said the investigation is ongoing.
Cosart deleted his Twitter account last week. Several accounts popped up afterward on the social media site claiming to be Cosart's new account, but Cosart said last week he has nothing to do with those accounts.
MLB rules prohibit players and other employees from betting on baseball games. A player who bets on a game not involving his team faces a one-year suspension, and a player who bets on or against his own team faces a lifetime ban. The commissioner, at his discretion, can discipline a player for placing other types of bets with an illegal bookmaker.
In his final spring training start, Cosart allowed 1 hit and walked 3 in 6 scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over Washington on Wednesday. The Marlins said on Twitter after the game that Cosart will be their fifth starter, putting on on track to pitch against Tampa Bay on April 11.
TWINS
Minor league coach dies
ATLANTA -- Riccardo Ingram, a longtime minor league coach in the Minnesota Twins organization and a former football and baseball star at Georgia Tech, died Tuesday night at the age of 48 following his second battle with brain cancer.
Ingram is a member of Georgia Tech's Sports Hall of Fame. He was the first Georgia Tech player to be named the Atlantic Coast Conference's male athlete of the year.
He was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference defensive back in 1986 before leading the Yellow Jackets to the 1987 ACC baseball championship.
He began his long career as a minor league coach following brief stints in the majors with Detroit in 1994 and the Twins in 1995.
Ingram was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and returned to coaching following six weeks of radiation therapy. The cancer returned in 2014.
"It's very sad news," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said in a statement. "He was a good member of this organization for about 17 years. He's been all over the map with us in the minor leagues and was a player. He's one of those guys where it would be very difficult for me to find somebody who had a bad thing to say about Riccardo Ingram."
A moment of silence was held for Ingram before Wednesday's Twins-Red Sox spring training game in Fort Myers, Fla.
Washington Nationals outfielder Denard Span, who began his career in the Twins organization, used his Twitter account to pay tribute to Ingram.
"Just got some sad news. Nobody would know who Denard Span was if it weren't for the help of Ricardo Ingram. One of the best men in baseball," Span said.
"I've known him for a long time," said Minnesota Manager Paul Molitor. "We were blessed that we were able to have him for these past five or six years with him after he was diagnosed. It's not easy. I don't know his family very well, but I know about his family. I was thinking about them quite a bit today. He's a husband and a father. And he was around us for 18 years as an instructor."
Ingram is survived by his wife, Allison, and their two children -- Kacey and Kristen.
ROCKIES
Pitcher's son improving
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Colorado Rockies reliever John Axford's 2-year-old son is improving following a rattlesnake bite.
Jameson Axford remained hospitalized for an eighth consecutive day, but Axford said Wednesday that his son was able to sleep through the night as he deals with pain. Doctors have saved his right foot, but there is fear one of his toes may need to be amputated.
"It's looking better," Axford said. "We're going by doctors' orders. They know more than we do. We're going to trust them to heal him the best way possible."
Axford said his son was bitten twice last week in the yard of the house his family is renting in Scottsdale for spring training. It happened the same day Axford made his last Cactus League appearance.
Jameson needed extensive, painful treatment because of the large amount of venom found.
Axford returned to the team Tuesday to play catch. He's set to pitch in Colorado's final exhibition game Saturday.
"If he meets the requirements before we break here -- pitching Saturday is one of them -- we don't see any reason why he couldn't break with us," Manager Walt Weiss said.
Axford signed a one-year, $2.6 million free-agent deal with Colorado in the offseason after playing for Cleveland and Pittsburgh last season.
Axford saved an NL-high 46 games for Milwaukee in 2011.
ODDS & ENDS
Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The Red Sox said Dr. James Andrews will operate today in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Vazquez had been expected to do much of the catching for the Red Sox this season. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list on Monday, when the Red Sox acquired Sandy Leon from the Washington Nationals. Vazquez hit .240 with 9 doubles, 1 home run and 20 RBI in 55 games for Boston last season. … Right-hander Dustin McGowan has been released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are now paying $43.8 million for 2015 to cover the costs of players no longer with the team. McGowan will receive $124,795 in termination pay because of Wednesday’s decision rather than his $507,500 salary, the big league minimum. He would have earned a $1 million bonus for one day of major league service. McGowan, 32, was 5-3 with a 4.17 ERA in 8 starts and 43 relief appearances for Toronto last year. … The Atlanta Braves have claimed left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan off waivers from the Miami Marlins. The move comes after the Braves released veteran left-hander James Russell in a surprise move last week. The 25-year-old McKirahan was claimed by the Marlins as a Rule 5 pick from the Chicago Cubs in December. He must remain on the Braves’ 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Cubs.
Sports on 04/02/2015