MLB roundup: Ichiro walks away from car accident
Off-the-field incidents created scary situations for two players.
New York Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki walked away from a car accident Saturday without any injuries despite saying his SUV was "totaled."
The accident happened near the New York Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa. Ichiro was driving his Land Rover less than three miles away from Steinbrenner Field after Saturday's game when police said a woman attempted to cut him off while making a left turn. Ichiro's car collided with the woman's vehicle, which then hit another car. However, no injuries were reported.
Ichiro wasn't expected to play in the Yankees' game at Fort Myers against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, but should be available to play against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the family of Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Brayan Villarreal was shaken, but unharmed after a robbery and kidnapping attempt in Villarreal's native Venezuela.
The incident occurred on Friday in San Diego, Valencia, about 110 miles from Caracas. According to Villarreal's agent, Hector Gomez, the incident ended in gunfire between police and the assailants.
---St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal has experienced a setback in his recovery from a torn elbow ligament and is discontinuing baseball activities while the team determines the next steps.
The pain in Furcal's right elbow has persisted around the ligament and from a bone spur in the joint, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Possible treatment options include surgery or rest. Surgery might put Furcal out for the season.
---After the Los Angeles Angels renewed slugger Mike Trout's contract for just $20,000 above the major-league minimum, the 2012 American League Rookie of the Year refused to complain.
"I mean, my time will come," Trout said before a team meeting, according to multiple reports. "I just have to keep putting out numbers and concentrating on one thing, and that's getting to the postseason."
Trout's base salary will be $510,000 in 2012. A day earlier, Trout's agent, Craig Landis, said the contract was not fair and fell "far short" of expectations.
---Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza will begin the season on the disabled list after feeling tightness in his side during rehab work in spring training.
Garza, once considered a long-shot candidate for the opening-day start, was coming back from a side injury after sitting out 10 days when he felt the tightness while throwing in camp, Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Sunday.
Jeff Samardzija will be the Cubs' opening-day starter, Sveum announced.
---Washington Nationals pitcher Christian Garcia has a partially torn tendon in his right forearm and has been advised to refrain from throwing for a while, the Washington Post reported.
He began experiencing pain in his throwing arm last weekend. At the time, he was told to rest the arm for two weeks. After the latest diagnosis, that rest period has been extended indefinitely.
