Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

March 5 (The Sports Xchange) - Prior to the exhibition game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, both teams hosted a touching tribute to Jim Fregosi, who managed the 1993 National League champion Phillies and worked for the last 13 years as an assistant to Atlanta's general manager. Fregosi died on Feb. 14 at age 71 after suffering a stroke. The late Fregosi's wife, Joni Fregosi, was escorted onto the field with the rest of her family in tow. The couple's son, Robby Fregosi, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. In his 18-year playing career, Fregosi was a six-time All-Star with the Angels, hitting .265 in 18 seasons with the Angels, Rangers, Mets and Pirates and won a Gold Glove at shortstop in 1967. Following his playing career, Fregosi worked as a manager for the Angels (1978-1981), White Sox (1986-88), Phillies (1991-1996) and Blue Jays (1999-2000). - - Kansas City Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow that is expected to sideline him for at least two months. Hochevar suffered the injury on Monday while pitching to the last batter he faced in a two-inning stint against the Chicago White Sox in a spring training game. Tests on Tuesday confirmed the sprain. Hochevar made 58 relief appearances last year for the Royals and posted a 5-2 record with a 1.92 ERA and two saves. - - The Texas Rangers signed free-agent left-hander Joe Saunders to a guaranteed major league contract worth a minimum of $500,000. If Saunders makes the opening-day roster, the salary escalates to $1.5 million The contract includes additional performance bonuses.