The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers from San Francisco on Friday.

The 24-year-old Luciano hit .214 (99-for-462) with 21 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, 66 RBI, 85 walks and 76 runs scored in 125 games while spending the entire 2025 season with Triple-A Sacramento. His 23 home runs ranked fifth in the Pacific Coast League, while his 85 walks were the second-most in the league. Luciano’s 23 home runs last season were also the second-most among all Giants farmhands, while his 85 walks paced San Francisco’s minor league system.

Luciano was ranked by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline as the No. 2 prospect​ in the 2018 international signing class.

Former SEC commish dies

Roy Kramer, who as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference helped transform the league into a national power while reshaping the entire sport of college football, has died. He was 96.

The SEC announced his death. Kramer served as SEC commissioner from 1990 through 2002. He was the first to imagine a conference title game, which divided a newly expanded 12-team league into divisions and pitted the two champs in a winner-take-all affair that generated millions in TV revenue.

That led to his greatest contribution to the sport with the Bowl Championship Series that paved the way for the current playoff system.

Crowded top of leaderboard

NASSAU, Bahamas — There’s another five-way tie for the lead in the Bahamas at the Hero World Challenge.

This one doesn’t include Scottie Scheffler, although the world’s No. 1 player is only one back. U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun converted two of three eagle chances for a 68. Cameron Young shot 30 on the back nine for a 64.

They were tied at the top with Wyndham Clark, Akshay Bhatia and Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama. Scheffler had the lead late until taking a double bogey on the 16th hole and posting a 69. Nine of the 20 players are separated by two shots.

Elsewhere in golf:

– Rory McIlroy has made the weekend at the Australian Open after shooting a 3-under 68 to finish inside the 36-hole cut line. McIlroy, who was 2-under on the tournament, was seven strokes behind leaders Daniel Rodriques (64) and Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson (66), who had 9-under totals of 133. The leading pair were one shot clear of third-place Min Woo Lee, who shot 65 Friday.

Cardinals shut down Murray

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will miss the remainder of the season because of a foot injury that’s kept him out of the lineup since Week 6.

Coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters the decision before Friday’s practice. It’s been a hugely disappointing season for both the Cardinals and Murray, who started the season with high expectations, but now have a 3-9 record and are eliminated from the playoff race.

The Cardinals host the Rams on Sunday. Veteran Jacoby Brissett will make his eighth straight start in Murray’s place. Kedon Slovis is now the backup.

Elsewhere in NFL:

– Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start Sunday at Minnesota after missing three games with a dislocated left elbow. Daniels, the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, got hurt in the final minutes of Washington’s 38-14 home loss against Seattle on Nov. 2.

– Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch tore his left Achilles tendon against the Dallas Cowboys, according to a person familiar with the situation. Tests revealed the significant injury on Friday, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the results were not announced. Branch was hurt late in Detroit’s 44-30 win over Dallas on Thursday night.

– New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields will be sidelined against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday due to knee soreness. Rookie Brady Cook will back up starter Tyrod Taylor. Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal in March, was benched. Taylor is set to start his third game in a row.