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Minor-leaguers hurt in car crash

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 19, 2002

FORT MYERS -- Two Twins minor-leaguers on their way to spring training were seriously injured in a one-car crash early Monday in Tennessee, the team said.

Josh Johnson, a catcher in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League last season, and Jeff Randazzo, a left-handed pitcher for Class A Quad City, were in the intensive-care unit of Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.

The accident, in which the car rolled over, occurred around 2 a.m.

Randazzo, 20, suffered several injuries, including a fractured sternum and a collapsed lung, which was repaired in surgery.

Johnson, 19, was driving. No alcohol was involved and both were wearing seat belts, said Lanning Tucker, a trainer for the GCL Twins, who was relaying information that the hospital provided.

The extent of Johnson's injuries wasn't known, but Tucker said they were less serious than Randazzo's.

Raines, 43, signs minor-league deal with Marlins

Raines

VIERA -- Seven-time All-Star Tim Raines, hoping to play his 23rd season in the major leagues, signed a minor-league deal with the Marlins and was invited to spring training.

Raines, 42, came back from a shoulder injury last season and batted .303 with one home run and nine RBIs in 51 games for Montreal and Baltimore.

"He did a terrific job coming off the bench in a pinch-hit role," said Florida general manager Larry Beinfest, who was with Montreal last year. "He's a great guy to have in the clubhouse and a veteran presence."

Also, closer Antonio Alfonseca missed the start of spring training because he's being sued in the Dominican Republic by a woman who claims he touched her inappropriately, said the pitcher's agent, Juan Iglesias. Iglesias said Alfonseca told him no criminal charges were filed. The pitcher refused to settle the suit because he said her claim was untrue, Iglesias said.

And new manager Jeff Torborg missed a spring training workout to have skin cancer surgery. He had a growth in his right sideburn removed and is expected to be back with the team today.

BRAVES: Rafael Furcal returned to the team healthier -- and considerably older -- than the last time it saw him. Back on the field for the first time since he injured his left shoulder in June and needed surgery, Furcal took batting and fielding practice days after the team learned that the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year is 23 years old, not 21 as he had claimed.

RED SOX: Nomar Garciaparra reported to spring training two days early and said his right wrist, which sidelined him most of last season, felt fine. ... John Henry appeared at camp and said personnel moves, including one that might involve general manager Dan Duquette, won't be made until his purchase of the team is complete. That is expected to happen around March1. Henry signed autographs and chatted with fans; perhaps his only faux pas was the bus he arrived on. It had "Florida Marlins" written on the outside; he sold that team two days earlier to former Montreal owner Jeffrey Loria. "I was like, "Oh, my God, the Marlins are here, too?' " Garciaparra said.

ROCKIES: Pitcher Dennys Reyes went to arbitration with the team that acquired him from Cincinnati in December. Reyes asked for a raise from $625,000 to $900,000; Colorado offered $700,000.

YANKEES: David Wells threw off the mound for the second time in three days, the latest sign that he has recovered from back surgery last summer. "I'm pleased with what I'm seeing," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said. "Right now, everything is going smoothly. He felt good at the end, and we'll go from there." The 12-minute session was Wells' second time on the mound since July.

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