Aug 9, 2019 4 min read

WVU player charged

A West Virginia University football player has been charged with reckless driving and fleeing from police.

News outlets report Thursday that WVU tight end Jovani Haskins is facing three misdemeanors following the July 28 incident.

Campus police say an officer chased a white Audi after seeing the car speeding and almost crash into another vehicle. The pursuit continued until the Audi parked in a student housing lot with the driver taking off on foot.

The car’s registration was cross-referenced with school records and was linked to the 21-year-old Haskins. Authorities found Haskins’ student identification card inside the car.

He was arraigned last week and paid a $2,500 bond. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.

WVU football coach Neal Brown says they’ll handle the situation in accordance with school policy.

Tigers release Harrison

The Detroit Tigers have released second baseman Josh Harrison after reinstating him from the injured list.

The team announced the move Friday. The Tigers also released right-hander Sandy Baez to make room for right-hander Edwin Jackson. Detroit announced Thursday night that it was going to purchase Jackson’s contract from Triple-A Toledo before Friday night’s game against Kansas City.

Harrison signed a one-year deal with the Tigers for 2019, but he hit just .176 in 136 at-bats. He’s had to deal with shoulder and hamstring problems and hasn’t played in a major league game since May 27.

Harrison spent his first eight major league seasons with Pittsburgh. He hit .250 with eight home runs and 37 RBI last year.

Pitt loses DL

Pittsburgh junior defensive lineman Rashad Weaver’s season is over.

The school announced Friday that Weaver will miss all of 2019 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during practice Thursday. Weaver led the Panthers with 6½ sacks, 14 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries in 2018 while helping Pitt win the ACC’s Coastal Division title.

Coach Pat Narduzzi said the school will explore getting a medical redshirt for Weaver.

“We’re going to miss Rashad dearly,” Narduzzi said. “I feel bad for him. It’s not easy to sit with the doctor and hear that news come out. And then to go break it to (him), it’s one of the ugliest days you can really have.”

Twins lose slugger

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday because of a ruptured tendon in his left wrist, but the team is optimistic about his eventual return.

Cruz was injured on a swing Thursday night in a 7-5 loss to Cleveland that cut Minnesota’s American League Central lead to a single game. Tests revealed a rupture of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon, but Cruz reported feeling no pain in the wrist when he arrived at Target Field on Friday.

“I can grab the bat,” Cruz said. “It feels good. Monday, I’m going to go to New York and see a specialist. We’ve got to go from there. But it looks as if it’ll be good in 10 days.”

Cruz has been a major piece in the Twins’ resurgence this season, hitting .294 with 32 home runs and 76 RBIs while being a steadying influence on the team’s younger players. He leads the majors with 16 home runs since the All-Star break.

It turns out, the team got a bit of good news about the injury from a former player. Justin Morneau, the former MVP first baseman and currently a team broadcaster, said he had the injury in 2012 and played the rest of the season.