Francisco Lindor is off to a smashing start for a change, and he picked up right where he left off against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and pitcher CC Sabathia are among 14 new candidates on the Hall of Fame ballot, joining 14 holdovers led by reliever Billy Wagner.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Ozzie Smith have agreed to manage or coach in a May 25 tribute to he Negro Leagues All-Star Game at the Hall of Fame’s Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York.

The most accomplished player to have spent time with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers is Max Scherzer.

Despite an offseason that figures to be different than any since baseball’s last labor stoppage in 1994-95, the general manger meetings went on as planned in Southern California.

All players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear No. 42 on Thursday to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, marking the anniversary of the date the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer made his Major League Baseball debut and broke the sport’s color barrier in 1947.