In Pittsburgh, Kevin Gorman noted Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang was "denied a work visa to return to the U.S. after his conviction earlier this month for DUI." It was his "third DUI-related offense in South Korea and followed an investigation into allegations of sexual assault last summer in Chicago." Yet the Pirates "continue to support Kang when they should be severing ties." Gorman: "You also have to wonder how tone-deaf the Pirates have become to these issues involving Kang, considering they continued to promote and honor his bobblehead day [last season] despite fan and public backlash" (TRIBLIVE.com, 3/26).
PACK YOUR BAGS: Braves President of Baseball Operations John Hart said that the team's Spring Training plan is to "move to North Port," just north of Ft. Myers and Port Charlotte, by '19. Hart said the team will "stay at Disney World for one more season." He said negotiations with North Port are “close to a conclusion.” In Boston, Nick Cafardo noted the Braves upon moving will have to "make long trips to travel" to areas such as West Palm Peach, which has four teams, Port St. Lucie, Clearwater/Dunedin and Ft. Myers (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/26).
SENSORY OVERLOAD? In St. Paul, Mike Berardino noted besides "tracking every plate appearance and inning pitched for those in big-league camp -- including games on back fields against minor-leaguers -- the Twins’ training and conditioning staff has expanded on a fatigue-charting system it instituted early last season." But with tech and athletic apparel companies "increasingly finding ways to embed tracking sensors in watches, workout shoes and clothing," could a day be coming when baseball teams "will track total steps taken for their players on a traditionally informal spring workout day in Florida or Arizona?" (TWINCITIES.com, 3/25).
