The Padres today at Petco Park will hold a memorial service for former GM Kevin Towers, with "dozens of baseball executives and evaluators expected to attend" to honor Towers, who was "incredibly likable and fun, and a person of great integrity" (ESPN.com, 2/25).
New Padres 1B Eric Hosmer has "taken out a full-page thank you ad" in today's edition of the K.C. STAR (KANSASCITY.com, 2/24).
The NFL on Friday said that "more than 100,000 fans have already registered for the ticket lottery" for the '18 Draft at AT&T Stadium. The 100,000 figure is approximately an 11% bump in sign-ups "compared with the first three days in advance" of the '17 Draft in Philadelphia (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/25).
The Devils last night retired Patrik Elias' No. 26 jersey. Elias spoke at the ceremony that saw his jersey "raised to the rafters to join the quartet of predecessors" (N.Y. POST, 2/25).
The NHL Rangers tonight will retire Jean Ratelle’s No. 19 jersey "33 years after he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame." Ratelle will be the "ninth Ranger to have his number retired" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/25).
Angels P/DH Shohei Ohtani made his Spring Training debut yesterday, and "nearly 100 media members" attended his postgame press conference in a tent beyond the right-field wall (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).
The Yankees hired Alex Rodriguez as a "special advisor." He will keep his role as an analyst on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" and Fox' postseason coverage (NORTHJERSEY.com, 2/25).
