SEATTLE (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians activated catcher Austin Hedges from the 7-day injured list prior to Friday night's game against the Seattle Mariners.
Hedges, 32, was placed on the list retroactive to last Thursday after he was struck on the helmet on a backswing by the New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. during a game on Wednesday. It marked the fifth time Hedges — who is hitting .113 with three home runs and three RBIs this year— has been placed on the injured list because of a concussion across 11 MLB seasons.
“They’re all very similar, at least my version of them," Hedges said. "Apparently there’s a handful of different types of brain injuries, and mine have been pretty consistent just at least with the symptoms. So, it was nothing new for me. Luckily this one wasn’t very bad and didn’t take that long to get over it.”
Hedges said his symptoms started to clear up roughly three days removed from the incident. He visited a specialist in Pittsburgh prior to joining the Guardians in Seattle, one which he had worked with during his first stint in Cleveland from 2020 to 2022.
Hedges said he was appreciative of the Guardians not rushing him back to play too quickly.
“We have such an amazing staff, and they’re always looking out for all of us," Hedges said. "But, I felt like we handled everything perfectly and just happy that it was the minimum amount of time.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE - Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges fills in as a relief pitcher and delivers against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long, File)
Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges, left, congratulates Emmanuel Clase, right, at the end of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.
Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.
The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.
Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.
Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.
The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.
New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.
The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.
Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.
Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.
Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
