Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Turns out a few more fans might be able to buy those empty front-row seats at Yankee Stadium.
The New York Yankees slashed prices on more than 40 percent of their front-row seats by up to 50 percent and announced many of those who bought tickets closest to the field for $325-$2,500 will be eligible for additional free seats.
Those initiatives could help pack previously unfilled areas that were an eye sore on television broadcasts during the opening homestand at the ballpark.
The price of first-row season seats in nine sections of the Delta Sky360 Suite one deck up behind home plate was cut from $750 to $550. Among the top non-premium seats in the lower deck, the Yankees announced a buy-three-get-one-free program for new $325-a-seat season tickets in the 15 sections between the bases.
The team cut the price of first-row Legends Suite seats in four sections on the outer half of the dugouts and photo cages from $2,500 to $1,250. According to a count by The Associated Press, 48 seats were affected.
In addition, seats in the first row in the final three sections down each foul line were slashed from $1,000 to $650. That affects 68 seats.
In all, the AP count had the Yankees cutting the price of 116 of 258 front-rows seats, which have been on sale for up to $2,625 for individual games. The team said the reductions will apply to this season only, and ticket buyers can receive either a refund or credit.
n TAMPA, Fla. ó Alex Rodriguez participated in a sliding drill for the first time and got 15 at-bats Tuesday during his initial simulated game since undergoing right hip surgery last month.
The New York Yankees third baseman slid five times on a sliding mat, a key step in his rehab program. He also faced rehabbing pitchers Sergio Mitre (elbow) and Paul Patterson (shoulder).
“A good day. It felt good,” Rodriguez said. “Good to be out there.”
Rodriguez could start playing in extended spring training games this week. The Yankees expect him to rejoin the team by May 15.
ANGELS
LOS ANGELES ó The passenger injured in the car crash that killed Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart had his status upgraded to fair late last week and has been undergoing physical and speech therapy.
Jon Wilhite, of Manhattan Beach, remains in intensive care at the UC Irvine Medical Center but can move and is not paralyzed, hospital spokesman John Murray said.
BRAVES
ATLANTA ó Tom Glavine threw in the outfield for the second straight day, and the Braves left-hander was encouraged.
ROCKIES
DENVER ó For the second time in two months, Brad Hawpe was injured while trying to avoid being tagged out at second on a pickoff play.
Hawpe had a bruise on the back of his neck Tuesday, the result of being hit by San Diego catcher Nick Hundley’s throw down to second in a game the night before.
Hawpe said he’s still stiff and thinks it might be until Friday in San Francisco before he takes the field again.
Phillies
The nutritional supplement manufacturer being sued by J.C. Romero said the suspended Phillies reliever should have done more homework ó including checking the warning label ó before using the product that led to him testing positive for a substance banned by Major League Baseball.