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Sports at a glance: No. 1 selection signs contract

CHICAGO — Roch Cholowsky agreed to a contract with the Chicago White Sox that includes a record-breaking $10.35 million signing bonus after he was the No. 1 overall pick in last weekend’s amateur draft. A person familiar with the contract confirmed the agreement to the AP because it hadn’t been announced by the team. The slot value for the top pick this year was $11,350,600. Cholowsky’s bonus tops the previous mark of $9.25 million for the amateur draft that belonged to Reds pitcher Chase Burns and Rockies prospect Charlie Condon, two of the top three selections in ...

Lionel Messi vs. Jude Bellingham could be the big story

ATLANTA — It’s England vs. Argentina in the World Cup semifinals. It’s also Lionel Messi vs. Jude Bellingham. The battle of the two No. 10s could be pivotal to deciding today’s match in Atlanta. “We know how good Messi is,” England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said of the Argentina ...

Skenes, stars stay hopeful about avoiding MLB strike

PHILADELPHIA — Paul Skenes, Juan Soto and Bryce Harper are among baseball’s All-Stars who say players will never agree to a salary cap but maintain there’s plenty of time to avoid a conflict that could shorten the 2027 season. “Both sides kind of have their line that they’re not ...

Something has to give in France-Spain World Cup semifinal soccer match

ARLINGTON, Texas — Kylian Mbappé and France haven’t trailed at all at this year’s World Cup. Neither has Spain with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and clutch goal-scoring substitute Mikel Merino. Only one of those teams can make it to the final. France and Spain are both playing at ...

Dominant NASCAR weekend boosts Ryan Blaney

HAMPTON, Ga. — His thick moustache wasn’t the only feature that made Ryan Blaney look like Richard Petty in a dominant performance at EchoPark Speedway. Blaney drove like NASCAR’s King while ruling the Cup Series race from qualifying through every stage in a weather-delayed victory ...

Spieth returning to scene of success

SOUTHPORT, England — Jordan Spieth was four days shy of turning 24 when he delivered pure magic in the final hour at Royal Birkdale to win the British Open for the third leg of the Grand Slam. It was among the most astonishing finishes in a major championship. Perhaps even more astonishing? ...