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Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez is not eligible to play for Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic due to his ongoing suspension for marijuana use, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.

Baez, 33, tested positive for the substance on March 12, 2023. The three-time All-Star received a two-year ban from World Baseball Softball Confederation events that began on April 26, 2024, and therefore it lasts until April 26, 2026.

The 2026 WBC runs from March 5-17.

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Major League Baseball has permitted marijuana use since the 2020 season, therefore Baez will not face any discipline from the league or the Tigers.

Baez was an All-Star last season when he batted .257 with 12 homers and 57 RBIs in 126 games.

--Field Level Media

It sounds like theLos Angeles Lakersmay have caught a break with Luka Dončić and his latest injury.

The NBA's leading scorersuffered a hamstring injuryon Thursday, Feb. 5 that forced him out of the team's 119-115 victory over thePhiladelphia 76ers.

The injury happened during the second quarter, with 3:30 left to play. Philadelphia threw a double team at Dončić, which prompted him to turn the ball over on a bad pass. Immediately after the turnover, Dončić appeared to favor the back of his left leg and went straight to the locker room.

Dončić did not have a notable limp, but broadcast cameras caught him expressing visible frustration as he went into the locker room.

Dončić did not come out onto the floor with his teammates at the start of the second half, and the Lakers ruled him out with left leg soreness.

Here's everything you need to know about Luka Dončić's injury.

See which NBA players are on the move at trade deadline

Luka Dončić injury update

On Friday, Feb. 6, ESPN reportedthat there's initial optimism that Dončić's hamstring injury is not a significant one, though he's expected to be doubtful to play in Los Angeles' game Saturday, Feb. 7 against the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers are not required to submit an official injury report until later Friday evening, so an official designation will be available then.

"Too early to say if it's an injury," Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters Thursday after the game. "(Dončić) had a sore hamstring."

Luka Dončić stats

Dončić is averaging 32.8 points per game, which leads all NBA players, adding 8.6 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game. Dončić has appeared in 42 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Luka Dončić injury update: Latest on Lakers star's hamstring

Ryo Hisatsune chipped in for birdie in surprising fashion to cap a back-nine hot streak and overtake Japanese countryman Hideki Matsuyama for the second-round lead at the WM Phoenix Open on Friday in Arizona.

Hisatsune is 11 under for the week after his stellar 8-under-par 63. The 23-year-old is searching for his first win on the PGA Tour.

Hisatsune went birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie at TPC Scottsdale's 13th through 17th holes, including an 8-footer for eagle at the par-5 15th and a 7 1/2-foot birdie putt at the "Stadium Hole," the par-3 16th. The latter tied him with Matsuyama, who was in the clubhouse at 10 under after a 64.

On the short par-4 17th, Hisatsune attempted to drive the green but ended up in the adjacent water hazard. After a penalty drop, he faced about 29 feet to the pin, and his chip tracked straight to the cup for the go-ahead birdie.

"It was very lucky, especially like little bit pulled. Really nice tee shot but I kind of a little bit into the water," Hisatsune said. "Yeah, some more reset and then I going to make some chip-in."

Now the youngster will play in the third round's final group with Matsuyama, who was the first male golfer from Japan to win a major when he claimed the 2021 Masters.

"Yeah, yeah. Absolutely dream to play (with Matsuyama)," Hisatsune said. "Especially in the Phoenix, yeah."

Matsuyama started his second round on the back nine and made his move early with six consecutive birdies at Nos. 13-18. At the Stadium Hole, he drained a putt from nearly 30 feet.

"It's always exciting to finish 15, take a couple deep breaths, and, boy, you feel it when you walk through that tunnel out onto the 16 tee," Matsuyama, the champion at Phoenix in 2016 and 2017, said through a translator.

"Then when I hole out there at 16 it's kind of a relief, 'Oh, I did it.'"

First-round leader Chris Gotterup settled for a 71 and is tied for third with Pierceson Coody (68) at 8 under. Si Woo Kim of South Korea had the round of the day, a 9-under 62 that vaulted him to 7 under, where he's tied for fifth with Akshay Bhatia (67), Sahith Theegala (65) and Englishmen John Parry (65) and Matt Fitzpatrick (70).

Kim actually bogeyed his opening hole, the par-4 10th, to put himself behind the 8-ball at 3 over for the tournament. He had eight birdies plus an eagle putt the rest of the way.

"I had a great start season first three (events), so it helps me little nerve going, and then helps makes comfortable maybe rest of the season," Kim said. "I think it was too much comfortable (Thursday) and helps me little fire going. And today I make bogey first hole so that makes me (think) like, whatever, just trying to good golf, and it worked."

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was in danger of missing the cut after a surprising round of 73 on Thursday. He responded with a bogey-free, 6-under 65 in his second round to climb to 4 under par.

"Struck it much better today," Scheffler said. "Yeah, felt a bit lost out there at times (Thursday), so today felt a lot better. Felt more in control of my game."

The round was suspended due to darkness late Friday afternoon, and the cut line sits at 1 under par. Notable names to miss the cut include Brooks Koepka (2 over) in his second start back on the PGA Tour, along with Billy Horschel (3 over), Jordan Spieth (3 over), Tony Finau (3 over) and Brian Harman (5 over).

Just three players were still on the course when the horn sounded, and each of them can make the cut with a solid finish: Japan's Keita Nakajima is 3 under and countryman Kensei Hirata is 1 under with one hole to finish, and South Korea's S.T. Lee is even par with two holes to go. They will resume Saturday morning.

--Field Level Media

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — It's been a week since "Today" show hostSavannah Guthrie's mother disappeared from her home in Arizona in what authorities say was a kidnapping.

Investigators have been examining ransom notes and looking for evidence but have not named a suspect. On Friday, officers returned to 84-year-oldNancy Guthrie's home near Tucson and to the surrounding neighborhood to continuetheir search.

Here's what to know about the case:

The disappearance

Family members told officials theylast saw Guthrieat 9:48 p.m. on Jan. 31 when they dropped her off at home after they ate dinner and played games together. The next day, family learned she didn't attend church. They reported her missing after they went to check on her.

Guthrie has a pacemaker and needs daily medication. Her family and authorities are worried her health could be deteriorating by the day.

Collecting evidence

Authorities think Guthrie wastaken against her willfrom her home in an upscale neighborhood that sits on hilly, desert terrain. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie's front porch matched hers, the county sheriff has said.

Investigators found her doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday and that software data recorded movement at the home minutes later. But investigators haven't been able to recover the footage because Guthrie didn't have an active subscription to the service.

Pima County Sheriff ChrisNanos told The Associated Pressin an interview that investigators have not given up on trying to access those images.

"I wish technology was as easy as we believe it is, that here's a picture, here's your bad guy. But it's not," Nanos told the AP on Friday. "There are pieces of information that come to us from these tech groups that say 'This is what we have and we can't get anymore.'"

The president of the Catalina Foothills Association, a neighborhood group, thanked residents in a letter for being willing to speak with law enforcement, share camera images and allow their properties to be searched.

Ransom notes

At least three media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes, which they handed over to investigators. Authorities made an arrest after one ransom note turned out to be fake, the sheriff said.

It's unclear if all of the notes were identical. Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix, said details included a demand for money with a Thursday evening deadline and a second deadline for Monday if the first one wasn't met. At least one note mentioned a floodlight at Guthrie's home and an Apple watch, Janke said.

Investigators said they are taking the notes seriously.

On Friday, KOLD-TV in Tucson said it received a new message, via email, tied to the Guthrie case. The station said it couldn't disclose its contents. The FBI said it was aware of a new message and was reviewing its authenticity.

Family appeals

Concern about Guthrie's condition is growing because authorities say she needs daily medicine that's vital to her health. She has a pacemaker, high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff's dispatcher audio onbroadcastify.com.

Guthrie's children recordedtwo separate video messagesto their mother's abductor and posted them publicly on social media.

Savannah Guthriefilmed a sometimes emotional messageon Wednesday asking the kidnapper for proof their mother was alive. She noted that technology today allows for theeasy manipulation of voices and imagesand the family needed to know "without a doubt" that she is alive and in the abductor's hands.

Police have not said that they have received any deepfake images of Nancy Guthrie.

Savannah Guthrie described her mother as a "kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light" and said she was funny, spunky and clever.

"Talk to her and you'll see," she said.

She spoke some words directly to her mom, saying she and her siblings wouldn't rest until they're all together again.

Trump's involvement

The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information about Guthrie's whereabouts.

The White House said President Donald Trump called and spoke with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday. He posted on social media that he was directing federal authorities to help where they can.

On Friday night, he told reporters flying with him to his Florida estate on Air Force One that the investigation was going "very well" and investigators had some strong clues.

Famous kidnappings

The kidnapping is the latest abduction toattract the American public's attention.

Other notorious kidnappings in U.S. history have included the son of singer Frank Sinatra, the granddaughter of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and the 9-year-old girl for whom the AMBER Alert was named.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Attorneys for the federal government have until next Thursday to reach an agreement with human rights lawyers who are seeking to ensure the right to counsel for people detained at anImmigration and Customs Enforcementfacility in Minnesota, a judge said Friday.

Immigration Enforcement Ruses Minnesota

Advocates said people held at the facility on the edge of Minneapolis who face possible deportation are denied adequate access to lawyers, including in-person meetings. Attorney Jeffrey Dubner said detainees are allowed to make phone calls, but ICE personnel are typically nearby.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel told Justice Department attorney Christina Parascandola that there seemed to be a "very wide factual disconnect" between what the human rights lawyers allege and the government's claims of adequate access at what ICE depicts as only a temporary holding facility.

Parascandola said people detained at the facility have access to counsel and unmonitored phone calls at any time and for as long as they need. She conceded she had never been there.

Brasel called her argument "a tough sell," noting there was far more evidence in the case record to back up the plaintiffs' claims than the government's assurances.

"The gap here is so enormous I don't know how you're going to close it," the judge said.

Rather than ruling on the spot, Brasel told both sides to keep meeting with a retired judge who's mediating and who has helped narrow some of the gaps already. She noted at the start of the hearing that both sides agreed that "some degree of reasonable access" to legal counsel is constitutionally necessary but that they differed on the details of what that should look like.

If the sides don't reach at least a partial agreement by 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, the judge said she'll issue her order then. She didn't specify which way she'd rule.

A member of Congress decries conditions at detention center

The facility is part of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, which is a center of ICE operations and has been the scene of frequent protests.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison, of Minnesota, said in a statement Friday that conditions at the detention center continue to be poor. The physician said she learned in her visit Thursday night that the facility has no protocols in place to prevent the spread of measles to Minnesota from Texas. At least two cases were reported at a major ICE detention center in Texas this week.

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Some Minnesota detaineesincluding families with childrenhave been sent to the Texas facility, and some have returned to Minnesota after courts intervened, including5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramosand his father.

"It's abundantly clear that Whipple is not at all equipped to handle what the Trump Administration is doing with their cruel and chaotic 'Operation Metro Surge,'" Morrison said in a statement. "I am stunned by the inability or unwillingness of the federal agents to answer some of the most basic questions about their operations and protocols."

Even though afederal judge ruled Mondaythat members of Congress have the right to make unannounced visits to ICE facilities, Morrison said in a statement that agents attempted to deny her entry for nearly a half-hour and demanded that she leave before eventually letting her in.

On herfirst attemptlast month, Morrison and fellow Minnesota Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig were turned away.

After she was able to enter the facility last weekend, Morrison said no real medical care was being offered to people held there.

Craig and Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said they were turned away despite the court order when they tried to visit the facility overnight.

"We have heard countless reports that detainees are being held in unlivable conditions at Whipple," the two representatives said in a statement. "We have every reason to believe that this administration is once again lying through their teeth and trying to hide what we all know to be true -- that they are ignoring due process and treating immigrants as political pawns, not people."

Man charged with fel ony for wrecking anti-ICE sculpture

A supporter of the immigration crackdown who posted a video on social media of himself kicking down an anti-ICE sculpture outside the Minnesota state Capitol in St. Paul was released from jail Friday after being charged with a felony count of damage to property.

Lt. Mike Lee, a spokesperson for the Minnesota State Patrol, said Capitol Security observed Jake Lang, 30, of Lake Worth, Florida, damaging the display Thursday afternoon. He was arrested a short distance away. The ice sculpture spelled out "Prosecute ICE."

At his first court appearance, Lang was released pending trial but ordered to stay at least three blocks away from the Capitol. Court records don't list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Lang wasdrowned out by a large crowdlast month when he attempted to hold a small rally in Minneapolis in support of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping intervention on behalf of Jan. 6 defendants last year.

A federal judge ruled Friday to temporarily block the Trump administration from suspending federal disbursements for the Gateway Tunnel Project.

Construction on the project was expected to end Friday night without court intervention. Judge Jeannette Vargas has also asked for both parties to submit additional information on the issue within the next few days.

The tunnel is being constructed under the Hudson River to connect New York and New Jersey. The pause in building would have resulted in the immediate loss of nearly 1,000 jobs,according to a press release from the project, and an extended pause could put about 11,000 construction jobs at risk.

The administrationhalted fundingfor the $16 billion project when the government shut down last fall. But despite the shutdown ending in November and government funding packages passing this week, the administration has not released the funds.

The administration asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the Dulles International Airport in Washington and Penn Station in New Yorkto be named after President Donald Trumpin exchange for releasing the funds needed to build the tunnel, multiple sources told NBC News Thursday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement said the judge's ruling "affirmed" that the Trump administration's funding freeze "is likely to be found unlawful."

"This ruling is a victory for the thousands of union workers who will build Gateway and the hundreds of thousands of riders who rely on it every day," Hochul said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called the ruling a "victory for workers and commuters in New York and New Jersey," adding that the funding freeze "threatened to derail a project our entire region depends on."

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The $16.1 billion project includes a new railway tunnel under the Hudson River that would link New York and New Jersey. The administration's freeze came after the project already underwent years of delays and other problems. It was revitalized in 2024 after President Joe Biden's administration said it would provide an additional $6.9 billion in funding.

"Suspending the funding for this monumental project based on the President's desire to punish political rivals violates the Administrative Procedure Act many times over. In this Complaint, Plaintiffs New Jersey and New York ask the Court to stay, vacate, declare unlawful, and enjoin the September 30 decision to suspend federal funding for the Project," the states said in their complaint.

The states alleged that the funding has been halted "because President Trump is engaged in political retribution."

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also celebrated the ruling, writing in a statement that "President Trump's arbitrary and politically motivated decision to freeze this funding is plainly illegal."

Jennifer Davenport, acting attorney general of New Jersey, said in her own statement that halting construction would "cause grave harm to New Jersey and New York."

"The Trump Administration must drop this campaign of political retribution immediately and must allow work on this vital infrastructure project to continue," Davenport said.

White House budget director Russell Vought said at the time of the funding freeze that he was stopping funding for infrastructure projects to "ensure" it wasn't used "on unconstitutional DEI principles."

Both New Jersey and New Yorkhave suedto force the administration to release the funds, which had already been appropriated.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will consider making changes to the voting panel and process of choosing Hall of Famers following a year whenBill Belichick's omissionfromthe 2026 classgenerated outrage.

Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in an interview Thursday night after the five-player class was announced that there are several possible tweaks that could be made, adding that those changes aren't specific to Belichick's perceived snub.

But Porter seemed less inclined to alter a recent rule change that grouped coaches and contributors with old-time players that played a role in Belichick missing out despite winning a record six Super Bowls as a head coach.

Porter said that the Hall plans to return to in-person voting and discussion for the 50-member committee after moving to a virtual meeting room following the COVID pandemic. He also said the vote will likely happen closer to the annual reveal at NFL Honors to reduce the chances of leaks and said the Hall would consider releasing vote totals and individual ballots in the future but won't do it for this year's class.

Porter said the Hall will also look at replacing any voters who might have violated the rules either by publicly discussing the off-record debate about the candidates or by not voting for the "most deserving" candidates in each category.

"I'm not here to tell them who the most deserving is," Porter said. "If the Hall was to tell who the most deserving is, we wouldn't need them to vote. We understand that. We just want the rules followed."

Voter Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Starwrote a columnexplaining his reasoning for choosing seniors players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood instead of Belichick even though he believed Belichick shouldn't have had to wait for induction.

"In the end, though, I felt more compelled by what I perceive to be last chances and looming lost causes within the system as we have it — a system I hope the Hall will see fit to change now," Gregorian wrote.

But Porter said picking seniors players over a coach because the players might not be guaranteed another chance as a finalist was not allowed.

"That's not an option," Porter said. "You have to pick the most deserving. Those are the instructions that were read four times."

Some voters have expressed frustration over rule changes put in place last year that have grouped players in the seniors category who have been retired for at least 25 years, along with coaches and contributors. The new rules also made it harder for anyone to reach the 80% threshold.

In this year's vote, Belichick andNew England Patriots owner Robert Kraftwere grouped with the three seniors players. Instead of an up-or-down vote on each candidate, voters got to choose three of the five with the leading vote-getter and anyone else above 80% getting into the Hall. Craig was the only one of the five to get in this year after Sterling Sharpe was the lone one last year with coach Mike Holmgren not getting enough support.

This is the third straight year no coach got the honor, leading to calls from some people — including voters — to separate coaches and contributors from the seniors.

Porter didn't seem inclined to change that process, saying that for more than 50 years coaches and contributors were grouped with players before changes about 10 years ago.

"The question is, what changed?" Porter asked. "What was it that the selectors could do that for the 50-some years but now can't. They could get the right person in that didn't require a category. I don't know. We'll find it out. We'll talk to a lot of people. .. But there's a responsibility there. The responsibility is to pick the most deserving. They got down to where that number was. So my question is, is everybody picking the most deserving."

This was also the second straight year with fewer than five modern-era candidates getting in after a rule change. Instead of an up-or-down vote on five players, seven made it to the final stage with voters allowed to pick five. The top three and anyone else above 80% gets into the Hall.

Last year, only three players reached that threshold and there were four this year: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Willie Anderson, Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda fell short and will automatically be in the final 15 next year.

After 12 straight years of at least seven people getting inducted, there have been only four and five the past two years.

"The number got really high," Porter said.

Porter said he hopes shortening the time between the vote and announcement — it was more than three weeks this year — will reduce leaks but he still wants enough time for the tradition of Hall of Famers delivering the news in person to the new class in what is known as "The Knock."

He is open to changes overall but doesn't see the need for an overhaul of the process.

"We'll do some tweaks and we'll take a look," he said. "We're going to do what's best for the Hall of Fame. My job is to protect the integrity of the Hall, protect the integrity of the process."

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/NFL