KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms on a major league contract Thursday with right-hander Luke Hochevar, the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Hochevar will sign the contract on Saturday and will be placed on the Royals' 40-man roster. Hochevar becomes the second player in Royals' history to sign a major league contract out of the draft. The other was Bo Jackson in 1986, a Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn and the first overall pick by Tampa Bay in the National Football League draft.
Hochevar is only the fourth No. 1 overall pick in the past 20 years to sign a major league contract, joining Alex Rodriguez (1993), Pat Burrell (1998) and Delmon Young (2003).
The Los Angeles Dodgers took Hochevar with the 40th overall pick in the 2005 draft, but he rejected a $2.98 million bonus and re-entered the draft. He then started four games for the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association, going 1-1 with a 2.38 earned run average and striking out 34 in 22 2/3 innings.
The 22-year-old Hochevar went to Tennessee, where he was 15-3 with a 2.26 ERA as a junior and led the Vols to the 2005 College World Series. His 15 victories tied the school record for a season. He also established a Tennessee record with 154 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .204 average. He threw three complete games, including a one-hitter at Auburn. Full story
Bonds HR ball sells at auction
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds' 715th home run ball fetched a winning auction bid of $220,100, much better than experts predicted for the shot that moved the troubled Giants slugger past Babe Ruth for second place on the career list.
A spokesman for Internet auction site eBay said the winning bidder was from California, but the identity wasn't immediately revealed.
The ball was sold by Andrew Morbitzer, who was waiting in line for beer and peanuts May 28 when Bonds hit the home run.
"For standing in line waiting for a beer and something to eat -- you can't be unhappy with an amount like that," Morbitzer said.
For several moments, the ball appeared to be beyond anyone's reach. It sat lodged on an elevated platform in center field, then trickled off the roof. Morbitzer caught the ball with one hand.
Varitek undergoes knee surgery
BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek had arthroscopic knee surgery and was expected to begin rehabilitation immediately, though there was no timetable given for when Boston's captain could return.
Team medical director Dr. Thomas Gill, who performed the surgery for torn cartilage in Varitek's left knee, indicated that it went as planned. Varitek originally hurt his knee when Angels catcher Mike Napoli slid into him while blocking the plate on Saturday. On Monday, Varitek was rounding second on Coco Crisp's second-inning single when things got worse.
He left the game in the third inning and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.
Doug Mirabelli is expected to start most of Boston's games in his absence. The Red Sox called up Ken Huckaby from Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday as a backup.
Gardenhire misses fourth straight game
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire missed his fourth straight game, hospitalized in Minnesota because of flu-like symptoms while his team played Kansas City.
Gardenhire, who had severe stomach cramps, received fluids for dehydration at a hospital in St. Paul. He is tentatively scheduled to rejoin the Twins on Friday night in Kansas City.
Third base coach Scott Ullger is filling in as manager in Gardenhire's absence.
