Quick Hitters Daughter of Blue Jays 1B coach dies in Va. tubing accident

RICHMONd, Va. – The 17-yearold daughter of Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Mark Budzinski died in a boating accident in Virginia over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

Julia Budzinski was one of two girls who fell off a tube being pulled behind a boat on the James River in Richmond on saturday, Virginia department of Wildlife Resources spokesperson Paige Pearson said.

as the boat operator returned to get the girls out of the water, the boat hit a wave, causing it to be pushed on top of Budzinski and striking her with the propeller, Pearson said. The boat driver and the operator of another passing boat jumped into the water to try to rescue Budzinski, who was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Pearson said no foul play is suspected and alcohol was not a factor. “It was a terrible accident,” she said.

as news of the accident spread, a vigil was held sunday night at Glen allen High school, where Budzinski was a rising senior and played soccer and other sports.

“It was a very happy, fun last day on earth for her,” her mother, Monica Budzinski, said at the vigil. “she was happy, laughing, having a good time and that’s the way I’m going to remember her.”

Dodgers catcher Barnes gets $7M, 2-year deal through ‘24

lOs aNGeles – Catcher austin Barnes agreed sunday to a $7 million, two-year contract with the los angeles dodgers covering 2023 and ‘24 rather than become a free agent after this year’s World series.

Barnes gets $3.5 million in each of the next two seasons, and the dodgers have a $3.5 million team option for 2025. He can earn up to $500,000 annually in performance bonuses for games: $50,000 each for 65 and 70, $75,000 for 75, $150,000 for 80 and $175,000 for 85.

Barnes said the team approached him a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s good. some security and to be around the dodgers the next two years,” he said. “It’s a great organization. I’ve been a part of some special teams here . ... It’s a great group of guys and I believe in what’s happened in this organization.”

Nats’ Soto says MRI showed no damage to injured left calf

WasHINGTON – Juan soto said an MRI on his left calf showed no damage after he left the Washington Nationals game sunday against the Miami Marlins because of tightness, and he plans to take the situation day by day.

“everything was fine,” soto said. “We gonna be good. They said it’s just a little tight, so just going to take a couple days and see how it goes.”

soto was not in Washington’s lineup Monday, but he pinch hit in the eighth and drew a walk.

The 23-year-old star felt something tighten up behind his left knee and in his calf after making a throw in right field in the top of the third inning sunday. He exited after running the bases and getting involved in a rundown in the bottom of the fourth.

“It didn’t feel that well, so I just take the decision to pull out of the game and make sure everything’s fine before I keep going and make it worse,” soto said. “you don’t want to go out of the game that easy. I want to be out there, I want to give my 100%, so I wanted to try.”