Puckett Has a Stroke

Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett had a stroke at his Arizona home Sunday and was taken to a hospital for surgery, the Minnesota Twins announced from their spring training camp in Fort Myers, Fla.

The 44-year-old Puckett, who led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, was taken to a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital.

Ron Shapiro, who was Puckett’s agent, said he had been in contact with Puckett’s family Sunday but would not confirm his whereabouts.

“We’re all praying for his recovery,” Shapiro said.

After the Twins’ exhibition against the Boston Red Sox, team officials said they didn’t immediately have any further information on Puckett’s condition.

“The doctors said that if he has good luck, he’ll be all right. You have to keep the faith,” former manager Tom Kelly said.

Puckett, who broke in with Minnesota in 1984, had a career batting average of .318. Glaucoma forced the Gold Glove center fielder and 10-time All-Star to retire in 1996 after 12 seasons with the Twins when he went blind in one eye.

Puckett is divorced and has two children.

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Second baseman Pokey Reese’s contract was terminated by the Florida Marlins, who said they were disappointed not to receive an explanation regarding his abrupt departure from spring training.

Reese, 32, went home after a workout Wednesday without notifying the Marlins.

They later heard twice from his agent, but not directly from Reese, General Manager Larry Beinfest said.

“I think that the 72 hours that have passed is more than a reasonable amount of time for him to offer some explanation for his unexcused absence,” Beinfest said.

Reese, a two-time Gold Glove winner, spent all of last season on the disabled list with Seattle after shoulder surgery. He signed with Florida in December for $800,000.

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Red Sox left-hander David Wells rescinded his trade request and said Sunday there was a “99.9%” chance he would retire after the upcoming season, his 19th in the majors. Wells told General Manager Theo Epstein about his change of heart Saturday. “I just told him, ‘Listen, plan on me going north, dude.’ I said I want to stay. I said I think it will be fine,” Wells said. “He was all smiles and that was that.”.... Major League Baseball took a major step toward resolving an impasse over a home for the Washington Nationals, signing a lease for a new ballpark. One day before the deadline imposed by the District of Columbia Council, baseball signed the lease approved by the council last month. The lease calls for a ballpark to be built along the Anacostia River, south of the Capitol, with a provision capping the city’s spending at $611 million.