MLB

Shohei Ohtani’s first World Series homer ball is up for grabs … and it’s expected to bring in a monster payday!

SCP Auctions tells TMZ Sports the historic baseball -- crushed by Ohtani in the 7th inning of Game 1 of the 2025 World Series -- could fetch $250,000 or more when bidding wraps Sunday.

The two-run shot came at Rogers Centre in Toronto … where a lucky fan ended up with the ball after it bounced off another spectator’s hands and dropped right to him in the outfield crowd.

Barry Bonds pulled back the curtain on one of the wildest near-misses in baseball history ... revealing he was on the verge of joining the New York Yankees before a high-pressure call from George Steinbrenner sent the whole thing off the rails.

The home run king shared the story during Wednesday's Opening Night matchup between the Yankees and San Francisco Giants … when Bonds joined the Netflix broadcast and decided to finally share how close he came to heading to the Bronx.

“George isn’t here anymore, so I can tell the truth, right?” Bonds said, before explaining how Steinbrenner personally reached out during his 1992 free agency.

At the time, Bonds was already one of the biggest stars in the game, coming off two MVP seasons with the Pirates -- and the Yankees were ready to make him the highest-paid player in baseball.

But the offer came with a major condition: Bonds said he had to agree to the deal by 2 PM that same day -- and that didn’t sit well with him.

Frank Thomas donned a White Sox uniform for 16 seasons, but now he's taking his former team to court ... TMZ Sports has learned the Hall of Famer filed a lawsuit against the club, insisting they're using his name to sell merch without permission!

Thomas filed suit last week in Illinois, and he's targeting not just the White Sox, but Nike and Fanatics, too ... and the beef is over the Sox "City Connect 2.0" jersey, which the team announced in April 2025.

In the complaint, Thomas claims his name and number 35 were featured on some of the uni tops that were put up for sale, despite never getting consent, according to Thomas.

The Big Hurt says the White Sox -- and the retailers -- likely raked in huge profits, while he says he received "no compensation" for the use of "Thomas" and his iconic number 35.

The Boston Red Sox are getting in on the "Heated Rivalry" craze ... 'cause the team is hosting a night celebrating the book that inspired the hit TV show!!

Boston shared the news in a release on Thursday, promising fans it will bring "the passion and electric chemistry of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov's story into a setting that knows a thing or two about unforgettable rivalries."

"Join us and Harlequin in the city where Ilya rules the ice for a summer night that's anything but ordinary."

Opening Day is next week, but baseball fans better start making room in their stomachs now ... 'cause TMZ Sports got an inside look at menus from several teams across MLB -- and they'll have a root-root-rooting for the home team!!

The Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Marlins, Nationals, Orioles, Rays and White Sox revealed some of the specialty menu items from Levy Restaurants that will be available when the first pitch is thrown.

For those in the DMV hoping to catch a Nationals game, the DC Monument Chicken Tower has it all. Inspired by the Washington Monument ... it comes with grilled chicken, smoked bacon, mixed greens, creamy chipotle ranch and gruyère cheese on a soft pretzel bun.

Venezuela is on top of the baseball world after toppling Team USA in the finals of the World Baseball Classic ... and the players and fans were loving every second of it -- celebrating from the moment they scored the final out!

Fans were going wild in Alfredo Sadel Square, located in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela ... where they were throwing drinks and jumping for joy after Daniel Palencia struck Roman Anthony out to win the country's first-ever title in the tournament.

While supporters were partying in Venezuela, back stateside, Venezuelan fans were living it up inside LoanDepot Park in Miami. The stadium concourse was filled with fans chanting and using noisemakers -- a celebration that lingered in the area for an hour.

USA baseball is looking to channel a little Olympic magic ahead of the World Baseball Classic final against Venezuela ... as the team pulled up to the ballpark rocking game-worn sweaters from the gold medal-winning men's hockey team!

Each member of the squad got to rep a different player as they made their way to the crucial matchup ... and it was all thanks to Fanatics.

The captain of Team USA baseball, Aaron Judge, was handed the jersey of Auston Matthews -- who captained the men's hockey team during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Other players spotted in the Red, White and Blue included Mason Miller, David Bednar, Logan Webb and Bryce Harper.

Pete Crow-Armstrong made it clear he called dibs on "his boy" Jack Hughes ... adding they wanted to show how the men's hockey team winning it all has inspired them during their WBC run.

Team Japan is set to take the field on Saturday against Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic in Miami ... and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his teammate -- L.A. Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi -- gave folks at the park an up-close look at their arms!!

TMZ Sports obtained footage of the duo hitting a nearby park not long after they landed in the 305 earlier this week ... which shows them working on their mechanics as they get set not only for more WBC action -- but also for the upcoming MLB season.

Luckily for the two, they seemed to avoid drawing any crowd as they did their thing -- perhaps the parkgoers were oblivious to the star power in their presence.

Team USA can send a thank-you card to Vinnie Pasquantino -- because the slugger basically rescued their World Baseball Classic hopes Wednesday night … while playing for Italy.

The Kansas City Royals first baseman put together a historic performance in Houston ... blasting three home runs in Italy’s 9-1 win over Mexico, the first three-homer game in WBC history.

And the craziest part? That explosion saved Team USA from elimination.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa is walking back a costly comment after mistakenly saying the Americans had already clinched a spot in the next round -- hours before a stunning 8-6 loss to Italy put the squad’s World Baseball Classic hopes in serious jeopardy.

DeRosa made the remark during an appearance Tuesday morning on MLB Network's "Hot Stove," where he suggested the U.S. had already punched its ticket to the quarterfinals. He even hinted the game against Italy would be used to give some regulars a breather.

But the math wasn’t right.

A year after Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar served an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy ... he's staring down the barrel of yet another ban after reportedly testing positive for a PED once again.

Jeff Passan was the first to report the news, saying the 33-year-old is the sixth player to receive a season-long punishment since the league increased the penalty for second-time offenders.

It is unclear what Profar was popped for. He was suspended in 2025 for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone made during pregnancy that can raise testosterone production, but it'll be a costly suspension for the 11-year veteran.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is officially off the market … but don’t expect the Yankees star to be knee-deep in seating charts and floral arrangements.

TMZ Sports caught up with Jazz and his fiancée, Ahnalys Santiago, earlier this month in West Hollywood and asked the happy couple how they're doing post-engagement … and when it comes to wedding planning, the MLB slugger made it clear he’s taking a backseat.

“He’s barely a part of it, but it’s coming along, though,” she teased.

Jazz didn’t argue.

“I’m letting her do it. That’s her wedding,” he quipped -- before Ahnalys quickly corrected him: “It’s ours.”

Chisholm popped the question to Ahnalys, a singer and influencer better known as Ahna Mac, on Christmas under the Northern Lights in Finland. And they said (almost) married life has not changed much -- at least not between them.

This Major League Baseball season will be different than any in the league's 120+ year history, 'cause a computer will, in part, call balls and strikes ... but is it a good thing?!

That's the question we posed to longtime MLB umpire Jim Joyce, who worked 30 seasons in the Big Leagues, including three World Series, and was widely regarded as one of the best umps in the game.

"As with any new technology, there has to be a sounding out system," Joyce told TMZ Sports ... "I hope they have done due diligence in that part of it."

The Padres are down a pitcher … and this one’s a real pain in the rear.

San Diego knuckleballer Matt Waldron is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a hemorrhoid-related infection -- yes, we’re talking about that area -- and he’s been stuck in the hospital the past few days because of it.

“[Matt] had to have surgery to drain it and make it better,” Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters Wednesday.

Well … to help with his recovery, a rep from Dude Wipes tells TMZ Sports they would be happy to send Waldron some of their fragrance-free, flushable hemorrhoid wipes, medicated with witch hazel for soothing relief.

Bill Mazeroski -- Pittsburgh Pirates legend and Baseball Hall of Famer -- has died at the age of 89.

The Pirates issued a statement announcing his death on Saturday morning, saying, "It is with a heavy heart that we relay the news of the passing of legendary Pirates and National Baseball Hall of Famer, Bill Mazeroski."

The team continues to add ... "Maz was a 7-time All-Star who hit the greatest home run in baseball history. He was a beloved member of the Pirates family and he will be deeply missed."

Mazeroski devoted his entire 17-year MLB career to the Pittsburgh Pirates, signing with the team at just 17 in 1954. After spending two years in the minors, he was called up to the big leagues midway through the 1956 season.

Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes are taking relationship goals to a whole 'nother level -- 'cause the ex-LSU gymnast says she trusts her MLB boyfriend completely -- even when he's throwing fastballs in her direction!!

We caught up with the social media sensation out at the Fanatics Super Bowl party last weekend ... and had to ask about her experience getting in the batter's box for some practice with the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher.

While Dunne admitted it was scary -- considering Skenes can hurl up to 102 freakin' MPH -- she claims she was confident enough in her man's accuracy that she wasn't in harm's way ... despite the fact he threw his fastest pitch of the day against her.