Atlanta Braves left-handed relief pitcher Andrew McKirahan will likely be out the entire season after another elbow injury.
McKirahan was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The team made the announcement Saturday before an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
McKirahan was injured Wednesday early in his spring training debut against the Baltimore Orioles. He is getting a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. McKirahan also had Tommy John surgery in 2012.
McKirahan missed half of last season due to a performance-enhancing drugs ban. He did appear in 27 games with a 5.93 ERA.
—New York Mets relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia, who became the first player to be permanently suspended for failing three tests for performance-enhancing substances, claims Major League Baseball was out to get him.
Mejia, 26, told The New York Times that he was a victim of a witch hunt with his lifetime ban by the league and faulted the players’ union for not finding grounds to appeal. In February, Mejia tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid — his third positive PED test in less than one year, which under league rules calls for a permanent ban.
Mejia, in a Thursday interview with the Times speaking through an interpreter, said he was only guilty of the first offense. Mejia said the second positive test wasn’t accurate and, after its results were announced, MLB officials pressured him to share information about his doping connections.
—New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is in the process of becoming an American.
According to the New York Post, the process for seeking United States citizenship began last year for Chapman, who will start the season after the completion of a 30-game suspension handed to him by commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.
Chapman admitted Wednesday that he exercised “bad judgment” for using a handgun in an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend on Oct. 30.