Baseball

A professional baseball team in Pennsylvania has cut outfielder Danry Vasquez after a 2016 video surfaced showing him beating the hell out of his girlfriend IN A STADIUM.

Vasquez was arrested for domestic violence in Texas back in August 2016 -- and despite the fact officials had the video showing him backhanding the woman in the face and continuing to beat her while dragging her down a stairwell ... he basically got off with a slap on the wrist.

FYI, at the time of the incident, Vasquez was playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks -- the AA minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros. The team released him days after the incident.

Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez tells TMZ Sports the victim did NOT want to cooperate with prosecutors and wanted the case dropped.

Prosecutors WANTED to press but felt it was an uphill battle with the victim not wanting to press charges. Ultimately, Vasquez was ordered to complete anger management courses ... and that's basically it.

Gonzalez says Vasquez has now completed the terms of his probation and the case was formally dismissed on March 6.

"At that point, probation checked with us, and he had done everything we asked him to do so I was forced to dismiss the case," Gonzalez told KRIS 6 News.

Vasquez went on to sign a contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. They have now released Vasquez in the wake of the video being released ... saying, "Upon being made aware of the nature of the incident, the Barnstormers made a prompt decision to cut ties with the 24-year old."

Manager Ross Peeples added, "There is no choice but to sever the relationship. Neither I, nor the Barnstormers' organization as a whole, can condone or associate with that behavior."

Jose Altuve INSISTS he wasn't angrily staring through Donald Trump's soul at the White House on Monday -- he just has resting angry face.

The photo of Altuve went viral ... showing the Houston Astros star with the ultimate mean mug while standing behind Trump during the ceremony to honor the World Series champs.

But on Tuesday, Altuve spoke with reporters and insisted he was NOT trying to disrespect the President.

"The president was talking ... what do you want me to do?" Altuve said.

"I was just standing there listening. It was an honor to be there. If I didn't want to go, I just wouldn't go."

"I'm behind the president ... probably one of the most important guys in the world. I can't be laughing or doing stupid things while he's talking. I need to listen."

Who needs Tom Brady ... when you got Justin Verlander!!

Donald Trump just gushed about his friendship with a World Series champ during the Houston Astros visit to the White House ... while also dropping some humble brags about himself (duh).

"So, I know Justin. Justin's a friend of mine," Trump said while noting they play golf together.

"I'm a pretty long hitter," Trump bragged ... "[but] this guy, he is a monster!"

"And he said he's a -2 or a -3 handicap, but believe me, he's much better than that. He's about a +2 or +3. but we love playing and it was really great."

Trump also had some words for Jose Altuve ("you're taller than I thought!") and World Series MVP George Springer before reminding everyone he also played in high school!

He also assured the team the country's doing "fantastically well" under his leadership.

Justin Verlander and his Houston Astros teammates arrived in D.C. to visit President Trump at the White House ... just weeks after Trump and the Golden State Warriors turned each other down.

TMZ Sports just spotted Jose Altuve, Dallas Keuchel and World Series MVP George Springer -- along with a bunch of other players -- walking up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave ... with the trophy being carried in right behind!

Visiting the White House has become a polarizing issue with pro athletes. Tom Brady skipped the White House last year after a falling out with President Trump.

Just a few weeks ago, several members of the Philadelphia Eagles -- including Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins -- said they would NOT visit the White House to celebrate the Super Bowl because they don't agree with Trump's politics.

Of course, the Warriors spoke out strongly against Trump and decided as a team to boycott Trump's White House. Trump rescinded their invite as well.

You think the Kardashians would suit up and play softball against normies? Hell no -- the team they faced was Tito Jackson's family!!!!

That's right ... Kim, Kourtney, Kris and the rest of the Calabasas Peaches faced off against "Tito's Team" -- led by team captain Tito Jackson, his sons T.J., Taryll and Taj and the rest of their families.

The best part ... Tito ditched the traditional baseball cap for a bowler hat because #fashion.

So, who won the big game? Our sources tell us the Jackson family emerged victorious ... shocking for a couple of reasons. First, it's the Kardashians' show, and also because the Kardashians reached out to 14-time MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez for coaching help!

The Kansas City Royals held a seminar to educate players about the dangers of watching pornography -- and XXX legend Lisa Ann has a SERIOUS problem with it.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore first spoke out against porn last year -- saying it's connected to domestic abuse -- and brought in an org called "Fight the New Drug" to "educate" young players.

But, Lisa Ann -- who's starred in classics like "Who's Nailin' Paylin?" and "Doctor MILF" -- says the workshop is completely misguided and wrong.

Esteban Loaiza -- accused of possessing over 40 lbs. of coke -- was sprung from county jail in San Diego ... but he ain't goin' home, 'cause the ex-MLB star was moved to a federal jail.

Loaiza -- a 2x MLB All-Star who played 14 seasons in the big leagues -- has been behind bars at San Diego County Jail since being arrested February 9 on multiple felony drug charges.

After consulting with federal prosecutors, the San Diego D.A.'s office tells us they decided to drop all charges against the former White Sox pitcher, so he could instead be charged federally.

Yesterday, U.S. prosecutors charged Loaiza with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute ... and he was transported to Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego -- a federal facility primarily used to hold inmates awaiting trial.

MCC currently holds about 900 inmates -- male and female -- of all security levels.

Kendall Jenner stepped up to the plate and took a few big swings at family softball practice ... and it looks like she made some solid contact. Kourtney, too.

Kendall doesn't exactly look like Roy Hobbs out on the field, but she does look like she had a blast taking BP and fielding grounders while playing around with her sisters at a ballpark in Canoga Park.

Cameras were rolling on Jenner and the Kardashian gals, so there's a good chance we'll get to see just how much power Kendall's got. We're guessing at least out-of-the-infield.

No sign of Kendall's rumored BF Blake Griffin, but the 2 have been seen a lot less together since he was traded to Detroit at the end of January ... and since his baby mama sued him.

Here's NY Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton making you feel inferior ... showing off his insane, jacked physique in a topless photo shoot.

You're welcome.

Stanton flexed out for Men's Health magazine (on stands now) -- which included the shirtless pics as part of an article about Giancarlo's recovery from that insane 2014 at-bat where he took a fastball to the face.

Giancarlo opened up about the hospitalization, how he couldn't eat regularly for a month and how pitchers tried to exploit his post-traumatic stress from the incident after he returned.

"For two years, pitchers would throw up and in to scare me," Stanton said ... "Just to get me thinking about that. I was aware of it. But in terms of messing with me as a hitter, it never did."

Crazy, right?

But, not as crazy as the dude's Adonis-like bod.

Ricky Williams is taking the high road with the college coach who refused to recruit players from Colorado due to weed laws ... praising the guy for sticking up for his beliefs.

Yeah, that's right. Ricky Williams -- the self-proclaimed "high guy" -- is defending an anti-weed college baseball coach.

ICYMI -- Mike Jeffcoat WAS the coach at Texas Wesleyan University until an email he wrote to a recruit bashing marijuana laws in Colorado went viral. He was fired shortly thereafter.

MLB prospect Bubba Derby -- who heroically used his body as a human shield during the Las Vegas massacre -- has reported to Brewers spring training with a "58 Strong" glove to honor the people who were killed in the shooting.

The 23-year-old pitcher was in the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on Oct. 1 when a deranged man opened fire on the crowd from the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Derby threw his body over two women in the crowd to shield them from the bullets -- and then stayed with the girls until they were reunited with their friends.

We reached out to Derby who tells us he's dedicating the 2018 season -- and every season -- to the 58 people who lost their lives in the shooting ... "They will never be forgotten."

Derby says he plans to use the "58 Strong" glove for the entire 2018 season.

Derek Jeter is vowing to use his experience playing after the 9/11 attacks to help Florida fans cope with the massacre that left 17 people dead in the Parkland school shooting.

Jeter was in Ft. Lauderdale at a Chamber of Commerce meeting when Evan Golden -- a TV producer who graduated from Stoneman Douglas in '99 -- asked for advice on handling the tragedy.

Jeter and the Yankees -- and the sport of baseball -- are credited with playing a big part in returning a sense of normalcy to life following the 2001 attack.

"Sports has that great ability to bring people together. The fan base in New York really rallied around us on September 11th," Jeter says.

"Those horrific events that happened last week, nothing will change that. We can learn from it. Hopefully over time we find something to cheer for."

When an audience member yelled out, "Hopefully the Marlins will do it here" ... Jeter's response?

Wanna own a home with its own baseball field, indoor basketball court, full gym ... and a private fishing pond?!!?

Good news -- Cal Ripken Jr. is putting his incredible Maryland home on the auction block ... which means it could all be yours if you've got roughly $10 million to spend!

Ripken initially put the 24-acre estate on the market for $12.5 mil back in 2016 -- but the price was just too damn high ... so Cal chopped the asking price down to $9.75 mil back in April 2017.

Still, no takers -- but Cal's motivated to sell ... so he's bringing the home to auction with no reserve on May 12.

Here are the highlights ... the home is roughly 22,000 square feet and has 6 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a home theater, 10-person spa, private hiking trails, pool and a kitchen that can fit 100 people!

Feb 21. 9:06 AM PT -- The San Francisco Giants released a statement saying Cepeda was hospitalized due to a "cardiac incident" ... and is in critical condition.

7:45 AM PT -- Cepeda "suffered a severe blow to the skull" after falling in the parking lot of his gym on Monday ... Orlando's family friend, Minor League Dodgers coach Paco Figueroa, told Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, 80, was rushed to a Bay Area hospital on Monday night ... according to an SF Giants team official who spoke with one of Cepeda's family members.

The official had no information on Cepeda's current condition or the reason he was hospitalized.

Orlando's last public appearance was at AT&T Park in January ... when he joined Willie McCovey and other former Giants teammates for Mac's 80th birthday party.

Cepeda is one of the greatest players in Giants history, making 7 All-Star teams (6 with SF) and winning NL MVP in 1967 with the Cardinals. He also played for the Braves, A's, Red Sox and Royals.

He became the 2nd Puerto Rican player to make the Hall in '99, joining Roberto Clemente.

Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda has a pretty clear New Year's resolution: scaring the living hell outta his translator!!

Since the calendar hit 2018, Kenta's been on a tear messing with his language bro, Will, in the most hilarious ways possible.

On Thursday, the Japanese star punk'd him with a jump scare (again) ... but his best work had to be the classic water bottle coin trick (c'mon, bro ... that one was obvious).

Will's being a great sport through it all ... probably 'cause he's plotting a mistranslating scheme for when the season starts up again.

Ex-MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza was dealing $500,000 in cocaine from a home located steps away from a preschool ... and was using "sophisticated" devices to hide it, cops say.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Dept. is now releasing details about Loaiza's Feb. 9 arrest -- saying he was busted during a drug-smuggling sting by the Border Crime Suppression Team.

Loaiza was initially stopped by police during a traffic stop for a minor traffic violation -- but a search of his car led to the discovery of a "sophisticated aftermarket compartment used to conceal contraband."

Cops then got a warrant to search a home that Loaiza had been renting since early February -- located "steps away from an area preschool" -- and found roughly 20 kilograms of suspected cocaine.

Estimated street value -- $500,000.

Loaiza was booked into San Diego County Jail for 3 felonies -- Possession of Cocaine Over 20 Kilograms, Possession of Cocaine for Sale, and Transportation of Cocaine.