Just over half the ball/strike challenges were successful on the first day of spring training games Friday as Major League Baseball prepared for the first regular-season use of the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.

The Texas Rangers pitched five more behind starter Nathan Eovaldi in the spring training opener. He’s how each fared.

Last season, six former Texas baseball players appeared in a MLB game. Those incumbent big leaguers and a few others will be looking to make an impression during spring training this year.

Pete Alonso homered in his spring training debut for the Baltimore Orioles, providing the only runs in a 2-0 exhibition victory over the New York Yankees on Friday.

Carson Whisenhunt threw a live batting practice recently and it create quite the buzz during San Francisco Giants spring training.

Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh were promoted Friday to replace Mark Carlson and Phil Cuzzi, who are retiring. Carlson will become an umpire supervisor.