Baseball

Jose Fernandez and a passenger killed in his fatal boat crash were both drugged before the incident as part of a robbery scheme ... this according to a lawyer for the ex-MLB star's estate.

Attorney Ralph Fernandez has filed new documents in the wrongful death case brought against the Miami Marlins pitcher -- claiming he was carrying $15,000 in cash in a backpack on the night of the incident ... which made him a target for thieves.

Fernandez claims he and Eduardo Rivero were "unwitting recipients of a spiked drink or a mickey of sorts" in a plot to disorient them and steal the money.

Fernandez, Rivero and Emilio Macias were killed in Sept. 2016 when Jose's boat crashed while traveling at an extremely high speed. Investigators say Fernandez's body tested positive for cocaine and booze.

The families of Rivero and Macias filed a civil suit against Fernandez's estate each seeking $2 million.

But, Jose's attorney claims investigators found NO evidence of drug paraphernalia or drug residue at the crash scene ... supporting his theory that the player was drugged without his knowledge.

Fernandez also claims the investigative body handling the crash refused to consider the possibility Jose was not driving the boat. For the record, the boat was owned by Jose.

Justin Verlander won the World Series ... Kate Upton is winning at life -- if you use giant diamonds to keep score.

The Houston Astros pitcher let his supermodel wife rock his brand new World Series ring -- on the same hand as her massive engagement ring ... and it's a kind of photo that would make Drew Brees blush.

The World Series ring -- which Verlander got on Tuesday -- is 10.40 carats with 214 diamonds, 16 natural blue sapphires and 9 natural orange sapphires.

The ring has 11 custom diamonds that make up the "H" on the top of the piece -- one for every playoff victory ... and 101 diamonds overall on the top (one for every regular season win).

There are 56 diamonds which surround the "H" -- representing each season the Astros played until the first franchise title.

The engagement ring is reportedly 8 carats and worth $1.5 million.

Good Lord.

New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton has no problem hitting them out of the ballpark, and same goes for his choice of homes.

The former Miami Marlins right fielder was renting this $8 million crib in the Hollywood Hills during the offseason. He's from L.A. and was training in town.

The 3-bedroom, 4-bath contemporary home boasts panoramic views of L.A. There's a wine cellar, massage room, sauna, and pool with a sitting area and fireplace built in the middle of it, but the coolest thing about the pad is the interior lighting and suede-lined closet. It was also once Sammy Davis Jr.'s home.

Giancarlo Stanton had a MONSTER Yankees debut -- SMASHING 2 home runs -- and TMZ Sports talked to NYY's legendary radio announcer, John Sterling ... about his polarizing Stanton HR call.

Sterling -- who's announced every Yankees game since 1989 (almost 5,000 in a row) -- is known for his over the top home run calls. One's like ...

"An A-Bomb! From A-Rod!" (Alex Rodriguez)

"He's Judge and jury, and this is judgment day!" (Aaron Judge)

So, when the ball left Stanton's bat ... and John belted out "Giancarlo, non si può stoparlo! It is a Stantonian home run" ... there was mixed reaction.

Why Italian? What's it even mean?

Damian Lillard's half brother is hospitalized after being shot multiple times in Oregon last night ... and cops believe he was the victim of a targeted attack.

Cops in Clackamas County say Jahrell Lillard, 20, was gunned down by 2 men in a parking lot around 9 PM last night. According to witnesses, 5 to 10 shots were fired. Officials believe JL was the victim of a targeted attack.

After he was hit, Lillard was able to escape ... and run into a Macy's Home Store before police say he collapsed just inside the store entrance.

The shooters fled the scene.

Lillard was transported to a local hospital. His condition is unknown.

Tim Tebow's doing all the right things to make it to the Bigs, but he's still got a looong way to go -- so says Brian Jordan, a guy who used to pull double-duty for MLB and NFL!!

We got the former Major League All-Star (and Pro Bowl alternate) at Opening Day for the Braves ... and even though Tebow just got sent down to Double A by the Mets, Brian told us he's damn impressed with the QB's accomplishments thus far.

"He's progressing along and getting better ... he still has a couple of holes and he's working hard to fill 'em," Jordan told TMZ Sports.

That said, BJ told us not to expect any Tebow sightings at Citi Field for a while 'cause he "still needs a lot of time down in the Minor Leagues."

But don't feel down, Timmy -- Brian also said he's pullin' for ya 100% ... and if we were you, we'd give this 2-sport legend a dial!

NBA star Manu Ginobili says there are lots of reasons he's still ballin' in his 40s ... but the BIG one is something he shares with Tom Brady -- the ol' ball and chain!

We got Manu out in D.C. ... and asked if his wifey, Marianela, has his back like Gisele does Brady. FYI, Gisele recently revealed she's A-OK with Tom playing football for as long as he wants ... as long as it makes him happy.

Turns out, Mrs. Ginobili doesn't just sign off on her man logging more game-time -- she's what's kept him sharp through his 16 YEARS on the Spurs.

"She's always very helpful and extended my career," Ginobili told TMZ Sports in D.C.

Sorry, Gisele -- Marianela's overtaken you in our WAGs rankings (yeah, we do that).

Dennis Scott ain't gonna let his love for BBB change his mind on LiAngelo Ball's NBA chances ... telling TMZ Sports not even the worst teams in the league would be interested in signing him.

We spoke with D.S. -- the 4th overall pick to the Magic in 1990 -- about Gelo, and he says the middle Ball son isn't even a top 100 talent ... which is a problem, considering only 60 dudes will get their names called in June.

Scott says scouts know Gelo is playing against "C-level talent" in Lithuania, so his 72-point game didn't really impress him that much.

Former NBA point guard Sebastian Telfair has been ordered to stay away from his estranged wife for 3 YEARS ... after an alleged violent incident earlier this year.

In court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, Telfair is ordered to have absolutely no contact with his wife, Samantha -- that means no phone calls, texts, or emails.

Samantha claimed Sebastian showed up to her home in Irvine, CA on January 12 and went nuclear on the doorbell when he realized she wasn't home.

She claims Sebastian started kicking the front door ... before eventually smashing her car windshield.

After the incident, the court granted Samantha a temporary restraining order ... but her lawyers asked the court for something more permanent.

A judge in L.A. County granted that request earlier this week ... and now Telfair must steer clear of Samantha.

Imagine having a fantasy baseball draft party with all your bros ... and then the pizza delivery guy turns out to be a World Series champ!!

That's exactly what happened when Chicago Cubs superstar Kris Bryant surprised 3 different groups of guys the other day, going undercover as the owner and operator of Kristio's Pizza & Wings!!

FYI -- this is the 3rd year Kris has teamed up with Red Bull to prank unsuspecting fans. This time around, Kris talked himself up as each group held their draft, waiting for his name to be called.

Albert Belle exposed himself to 2 minors and 2 adults before getting arrested on Saturday in Arizona, according to cops ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Belle, 51, was arrested after cops got a call around 9:20 PM reporting a man had exposed himself to a group of people at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Club stadium -- where a game had been played.

It's unclear if the alleged incident occurred inside or outside the stadium.

When cops arrived, they say they located Belle in a vehicle ... attempting to leave the soccer stadium parking lot.

After investigating, Salt River PD determined there was enough probable cause to arrest Belle -- and another adult male.

Belle's charges include 3 counts of indecent exposure and DUI.

Ex-Cleveland Indians star Albert Belle was arrested for indecent exposure and DUI in Arizona on Saturday.

Belle -- a 5-time All-Star during his 12-year MLB career -- was arrested in Scottsdale and booked into Maricopa County Jail.

The ex-slugger was arrested for 2 counts of indecent exposure and 2 DUI counts.

The 51-year-old is listed as 6'2", 270 lbs in the jail database.

This isn't the first time Belle -- who was one of the most feared hitters in the game -- has been in trouble with the law.

He spent time in jail back in '06 after pleading guilty to stalking his ex-girlfriend.

Was Donald Trump REALLY a baller athlete growing up ... or was it all just a bunch of fake news??

TMZ Sports spoke with Donald's younger bro, Robert, about POTUS' skills on the field ... and he admits that while he's a good athlete himself, Donald's got him beat.

FYI -- Trump has boasted about his athletic career in the past, claiming to have been the best high school baseball player in the state of New York back in the day. His football teammates have also raved about his talent on the field.

Robert backs it all up ... saying Donald is "a great sportsman" and while they never went head-to-head on the field, it was fun to ball out together growing up.

Real-life MLB studs are bringing Smalls, Benny the Jet and all the 'Sandlot' stars back to life ... and it's freakin' AMAZING.

FYI, the classic baseball flick -- set in the 1960's -- is approaching its 25th anniversary ... so, the Milwaukee Brewers took a few hours outta Spring Training to reenact their favorite scene.

All the guys were pretty great -- but ya gotta give it up to whoever was in charge of casting.

Stephen Vogt (Ham), Eric Sogard (Squints) and Brett Phillips (Smalls) REALLY look like the kids grown up ... and the Brew Crew also nailed it with their version of "The Beast."

Not all the actual 'Sandlot' stars are doing so hot, but maybe this video will remind 'em of the better days.

Angels star Shohei Ohtani could be leading a baseball revolution -- so says MLB postseason legend David Eckstein.

We spoke to the '06 World Series MVP after he paid a visit to Halos spring training ... and he told us Ohtani -- the team's huge offseason signing who can pitch, play outfield and DH -- is the real deal.

But the more interesting takeaway -- Eckstein told us Ohtani's just the beginning of a new wave of super-athletes who can play both ways!!

"If you start looking at more of the lower levels, and especially now going into college, you see that's where the game's going. And he might be the first," Eckstein said.

Eck knows all about trailblazing -- the 5'6'' shortstop paved the way for Jose Altuve and all the other small ballers of today!

Danry Vasquez did stay engaged to his girlfriend for months after the August 2016 beating -- but eventually they broke up and he has since married a new woman.

Vasquez posted a photo with his beating victim in Oct. 2016 showing the two smiling together and described her as "the person who is always with me in the good and the not so good!"

But now we're told they broke up after that -- and Vasquez began dating a new woman.

With regard to the beating victim ... we spoke with Danry's attorney who tells TMZ Sports, "I recall conversations about the extreme stress he was under and the pressures to perform that he was young. Came to USA at a young age with no parents (accommodating him) and no guidance ... just his dreams. She never excused his behavior just loved him enough to believe they could move forward."

Danry got engaged to a new woman in Nov. 2017 and in an interview with elemergente.com, he explained the situation.

"I am currently married, and not with the girl with whom I had the incident."