Bubba Starling is finally getting the call to the majors with the Kansas City Royals after being selected fifth overall by the team in the 2011 draft.

The 26-year-old outfielder, a career .244 hitter in eight minor league seasons, is hitting .310 this season in his first full season with Triple-A Omaha, with seven home runs and 38 RBIs in 72 games.

Several established major leaguers were selected after Starling in the 2011 draft, including Anthony Rendon (No. 6), Archie Bradley (No. 7), Francisco Lindor (No. 8), Javier Baez (No. 9) and George Springer (No. 11). Gerrit Cole was the No. 1 overall pick that year and Trevor Bauer went No. 3 overall.

Starling was non-tendered by the Royals last November but re-signed with the organization in December.

The Royals said they will announce a corresponding move on Friday before their game against the Detroit Tigers.

Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz underwent a third surgery earlier this week because of complications from the gunshot wound he suffered last month in the Dominican Republic.

Ortiz's wife, Tiffany, announced the latest surgery in a statement released Thursday by the Red Sox. She did not disclose details about the complications but said Ortiz is "recovering well and in good spirits."

Ortiz, 43, is still recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after being shot on June 9 in Santo Domingo. Doctors in the Dominican Republic removed his gallbladder and part of his intestine before he was flown to Boston in an air ambulance sent by the Red Sox.

Once in Boston, Ortiz underwent a second surgery on June 10. This week's operation was performed by Dr. David King at Massachusetts General.

"We continue to be incredibly appreciative of the kindness and compassion shown to David and to our entire family during this difficult time," Ortiz's wife said in Thursday's statement.

Ortiz led the Red Sox to three World Series championships, was a 10-time All-Star and hit 541 home runs. The Red Sox retired his number, 34, in 2017, and a bridge and a stretch of road outside Fenway Park are named after him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick was suspended two games on Thursday for his collision with Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy in Houston on Sunday.

Lucroy was hospitalized after suffering a concussion and a broken nose in the collision at home plate. Marisnick was called out for colliding with Lucroy.

"After thoroughly reviewing the play from all angles, I have concluded that Jake's actions warrant discipline," Joe Torre, chief baseball officer for the league, said in announcing the suspension. "While I do not believe that Jake intended to injure Jonathan, the contact he initiated in his attempt to score violated Official Baseball Rule 6.01(i), which is designed to protect catchers from precisely this type of collision."

The umpires determined that Marisnick veered out of the baseline and lowered his shoulder to make contact with Lucroy. Marisnick and Lucroy banged heads on the play, and the back of Lucroy's head also struck the infield dirt.

The bases were loaded in the eighth inning with the game tied at 10 when Marisnick attempted to score on a sacrifice fly by George Springer.

Marisnick crashed into Lucroy as the catcher attempted to field the throw, and Lucroy immediately fell on his back. He didn't move for a few seconds before struggling to sit up.

The Angels said Lucroy would see an ear, nose and throat specialist after the All-Star break when his swelling had subsided.

Marisnick was also fined an undisclosed amount.

Marisnick said afterward that it was a ``bad play'' and that he hoped Lucroy was OK. He also posted on his Twitter later that he ``made a split second decision at full speed'' and he felt awful that another player got hurt.

If Marisnick does not appeal, his suspension would begin Thursday night when the Astros play the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A guide to the action in Birmingham, including previews, timetable and live stream info

The New Balance English Schools Championships has been a breeding ground for the top talent for decades and this year the event, taking place at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on Friday and Saturday July 12-13, is again likely to feature several athletes who in the future will go on to compete for Britain at senior level.

Previews

Senior boys

European under-18 Olympic 3000m champion Thomas Keen was set to go for a third consecutive English Schools title but may now focus on the European Athletics Under-20 Championships in Boras.

Lewis Byng is also bound for Boras and competes in the shot in Birmingham, while Rory Leonard, set to run 5000m in Boras, is entered for the 1500m in Birmingham.

Tom Hewson is aiming for a third straight javelin title but is expected to have a tough battle with Max Law, who leads the world under-18 rankings with 68.57m.

Senior girls

After winning England Athletics high jump and triple jump titles last month, Temi Ojora (pictured top) confines herself to the latter. With three athletes over 12.75m this year, the expected close rivalry between her, Eloise Harvey and Jazz Sears could see the championships best of 13.06m fall.

In the hammer, Charlotte Payne could challenge Sophie Hitchon’s championship best of 61.83m.

In the 1500m, Emily Williams, who lies sixth on the world under-18 rankings for 2019 with 4:20.07, is set to be challenged by Molly Canham.

Serena Vincent, who was fourth in the European Under-18 Champs last year, goes in the shot.

Funminiyi Olajide, whose 6.18m PB puts her 10th on the world under-18 rankings this year, heads up the long jump roster.

Inter boys

High jumper Sam Brereton goes for a third consecutive English Schools title following his recent 2.12m PB to win the England junior title.

Remi Jokosenumi, who set the junior boys’ 200m championships best last year, steps up an age group, while Jerel Livingston, who did the same in the long jump, moves up too.

In the 1500m, Ethan Hussey (pictured below) and Kane Elliott, who are second and fourth on the UK all-time under-17 rankings, look set for a close tussle.

Joel Pascal-Menzie is a strong 100m contender with a PB of 10.54. Essex athlete Joe Harding is also set to make an impact after his recent 12.69 for 100m hurdles – a time that puts him No.3 all-time in the UK under-17 age group.

Achie Yeo stands out in the long jump with his UK under-17 rankings lead of 7.45m.

Watch out too for Daniel Joyce at 800m, Kenneth Ikeji in the hammer and Ben East in the javelin.

Inter girls

Georgina Scoot, who set the UK under-15 triple jump best last year at 12.80m, could challenge Jazz Sears’ championships mark.

Pole vaulter Sophie Ashurst’s 3.93m indoor PB matches the championship best in her discipline.

In last year’s event, Jeslyn Agyei-Kyem went to third on the UK all-time under-15 rankings for 300m with 39.20. She could be fighting it out for gold with her older sister Cedelle, who clocked 39.26 as an under-17 last year, as well as Ashley Nemitts.

Look out also for Kaliyah Young in the 200m, Beatrice Wood in the 1500m and shot putter Nana Gyedu.

Junior boys

Donovan Capes leads the shot put rankings and could succeed where his famous grandfather, Geoff Capes, did not, by lifting an English Schools title.

Dante Clarke, who set a UK under-13 best for the long jump last year, is among the favourites for this event, although Alfie Why leads on season’s bests.

Also among the standout entrants are 100m runner Reece Earle and high jumper Luke Ball.

Junior girls

Among those likely to shine in this age group are Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, who has run 11.84 for 100m, while Success Eduan defends her 200m title.

Lia Bonsu, who set a UK best for the 70m hurdles last year, has stepped up well to 75m, where she meets No.1 ranked Mia McIntosh.

Shot putter Lily Carlaw, with her PB of 12.87m, could threaten the championship best, while hammer thrower Lily Murray is another of the favourites.

Look out too for Ella Greenway, who has run 2:08.77 already this summer for 800m.

Timetable

The action gets under way at 9:45 on Friday with the inter boys pole vault and comes to a close with the senior boys 4x100m relay at 17:31 on Saturday.

A PDF of the timetable can be found here.

TV guide

Vinco Sport will be showing a live stream of the action here.

Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for updates and reports.

"Me and my mates realised that there is a Scottish guy playing tennis and it drew me back into the sport more than I had been in years.

"Me and a couple of guys started sending a few emails back and forth, knocking up some images and we had such a laugh..."

That was how Edinburgh-based graphic designer Nial Smith began one of the most unique chronicles of Andy Murray's celebrated career.

Since then his parody poster images have gone public and viral, catching the attention of Murray, his family and the tennis world at large.

Here he talks us through the inspiration behind the images, Grand Slam-by-Grand Slam, finishing up with Wimbledon.

US Open

"I like to hijack each Grand Slam's own national history and heritage. If I can do that and put Andy in it, that is good.

"At the 2016 US Open I did a theme of album covers. Andy shouts so much with his mouth open, that he was a shoo-in for Gene Simmons' role on the front of this Kiss album cover."

"The joke was that it would be unrecognisable if it was any other player apart from Rafael Nadal. He is so notable for pulling his pants out of shorts, you just know it is Rafa."

Australian Open

"The Australian Open was where it took off in a way.

"Mad Muzz - a joke on 1979 film Mad Max - was the first one I put out in public for the 2012 tournament. That did not get much traction, but the following year I put out Crocodile Dunblane.

"Andy said that he enjoyed it and I think he ended up being asked questions about wrestling crocodiles in press conferences.

"We have such a sporting rivalry with the Aussies and they like to have a go back so I think that is why their press have taken it on. It went a bit mad after that, being in all the papers.

"The Australian Open is the hardest in some ways, there are less bands or films to riff on than with the other three Slams.

"I used a cover on computer game Grand Theft Auto, which is internationally known, for one of the tournaments and that did well. If you can nail the wording and the style of the font, that is a key part.

"I have wanted to do one with 1994 film Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Andy in full costume on top of the bus, but I have not quite nailed it yet."

French Open

"There is a bit of change in these, in that I have tended to focus on art.

"Nineteenth century French artist Georges Seurat's Bathers at Asnieres featuring Nadal for the 2016 tournament was a bit of a pun on the fact that Rafa had had to pull out before the third round with a wrist injury. This was him wistfully taking an early bath.

"The way that Novak Djokovic moves is very balletic so he was easy to put into Edgar Degas' Rehearsal of the Scene.

"The Les Muzzerables one for the 2014 French Open initially had Ivan Lendl in it, but I had to change it after Lendl unexpectedly quit as Murray's coach the month before.

"The crowd scenes take more time to do but they are fun because you can play around with the different caricatures of the players and the character names.

"There are lots of little details in there. You can see all the flags have been changed for the relevant ones, including the Scottish flag. The ancient racquets are in there as well. But it is the pun that makes it - Les Muzzables is just a bit daft."

Wimbledon

"This James Bond was a deliberate take on a very British hero just before his first title at Wimbledon in 2013.

"I went back to the 1970s feel of Bond rather than the darker Daniel Craig stuff, with Andy's head on Roger Moore's body and a mish-mash of every baddie in the past.

"In all these posters, I don't know these guys from Adam, but I have created this idea of Andy as the hero, Roger as the cool, too-smooth for school guy, Rafa as the bull, this beast who will not give up and Novak is just the nemesis, the evil genius.

"Zoolander 2, featuring Djokovic's then-coach Boris Becker as evil genius Mugatu, was one I did for the 2016 Wimbledon tournament.

"It did less well hits-wise. Maybe it was just a bit too made, but it was a pretty awful film if I remember rightly which can't have helped!"

"Now Andy is restricted to doubles I have been looking at famous double acts, which has been fun. I did one with him and Feliciano Lopez as Withnail and I for Queen's, while he and Pierre-Hugues Hubert worked well as Sherlock and Holmes ahead of Wimbledon.

"I haven't had a chance yet to do something for him and Serena though.

"There is a bit of a different, downbeat tone now as we don't know what his future holds, he could retire at any moment if he decides it is not working.

"I don't know if I will continue after Andy stops playing but I enjoy the ideas. It is a fun way to spend my time when I am not earning money!"

Watch the quirkier moments from day nine at Wimbledon as Katerina Siniakova gets nutmegged on court and Roger Federer shows off his commentating skills.

WATCH MORE:'Unreal!' Djokovic and Goffin serve up double hot dogs

WATCH MORE: The MurRena run comes to an end - best shots

LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Mexico youth international Efrain Alvarez is "dominating training" at the club and said his advice to lose weight at the end of the season might be one of the reason.

The Sweden legend made headlines last weekend when he heaped praise on the 17-year-old and Ibrahimovic doubled down on the statement on Wednesday, two days out from the Galaxy's California Clasico rematch against San Jose Earthquakes after losing to their rivals on June 29.

"[Alvarez] just needs to get game time because that is what he is missing now," Ibrahimovic told reporters in Los Angeles. "He's training with us, he's dominating in the trainings."

Alvarez made an assist for Ibrahimovic's opener in the Galaxy's 2-0 win over Toronto FC in his first start in MLS and the striker was adamant that the dual U.S.-Mexico national has talents that can't easily be taught.

"He's a player that thinks football and they are the better players because the guys that plays football, they are trained to play football, the guys that thinks football are made to play football, that's a big difference," said Ibrahimovic. "And that's why I've seen in MLS that he is by far the biggest talent from anybody because he thinks football. He has that football in him and it's natural."

Ibrahimovic also had some advice at the end of 2018 that he believes has improved the East Los Angeles native this season.

"[I first trained with him] last year, I didn't say nothing to him, I just said 'You need to lose five kilos before you come back,'" said Ibrahimovic. "That's the only thing. And he came back losing that and he was a totally different player."

Galaxy head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto suggested Wednesday that Alvarez could be in line to keep his starting spot for the game against the Earthquakes on Friday at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Alvarez, who has played for El Tri's U17s, is still eligible for the United States, but recently stated he would like a call-up to Gerardo "Tata" Martino's Mexico squad.

"Who doesn't want to be in the national team?" asked Alvarez. "If one day 'Tata' [Martino] or whoever is there at that time gives me the opportunity, I'll be available and really happy."

The European transfer window is open. Click here to review all the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the latest gossip below.

Top free agents in 2020 | What do Europe's elite need

TOP STORY: United still favourites for Maguire

Progress appears to be slow in the Harry Maguire saga, yet Manchester United remain confident they'll be able to seal his signature for £75 million, according to the Daily Mail.

Leicester are still insistent that their centre-back's transfer value is £85m, while United, with renewed optimism after rivals Manchester City admitted they weren't willing to spend such a high figure, are still hoping to lure the Englishman to Old Trafford for £10m less.

It's thought that Maguire himself would rather move to City so he could play Champions League football this season, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to build his new-look United side around the Foxes defender.

Should Leicester sell Maguire, they've reportedly identified Burnley's James Tarkowski as a replacement for about £40m.

LIVE BLOG:

10.35 BST: Man United striker Romelu Lukaku is not training did not train with the squad on Thursday during the team's pre-season tour of Australia, amid reports of the forward's increasing interest in a move away from Old Trafford.

The striker is keen to move to Inter Milan this summer to link up with Antonio Conte, with the Italian club interested.

Romelu Lukaku not training with the squad today. No word yet about why.

— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) July 11, 2019

10.10 BST: No offers have been made for in-demand Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to Il Messaggero.

The 24-year-old is reportedly wanted by Manchester United and PSG, but no formal bids have been made.

9.43 BST: Aston Villa have announced the signing of England under-21 centre-back Ezri Konsa from Brentford.

"Ezri fits the profile of the type of player we were searching for," head coach Dean Smith said in a statement.

Konsa will link up with his new teammates for the first time when they fly out to the United States today in preparation for the new Premier League season.

#WelcomeEzri pic.twitter.com/WC2W9jMxLs

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 11, 2019

9.15 BST: West Ham have approached Itialian giants Juventus with a season-long loan offer for Gonzalo Higuain, Sky Italy have reported.

The striker spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea and seems to be surplus to the Serie A champions' plans.

West Ham's offer reportedly includes an option to buy, and Juve value the Argentine at around £36m.

The Hammers - who saw Marko Arnautovic depart this week - had been in the market for Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez, but talks seem to have broken down with the La Liga club due to disagreements over payment structures.

08.41 BST: Romelu Lukaku has reiterated his desire to leave Manchester United despite a request from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to stay and fight for his place, sources have told ESPN FC.

08.15 BST: The Sun is reporting that Arsenal are set to step up their interest in Barcelona winger Malcom. The former AS Monaco star has failed to find top form at the Camp Nou and Arsenal have tabled a bid of £31.5m.

PAPER ROUND: Talks on Lukaku's future imminent

And how will United fund the Maguire move? By making good on the rumoured switch to Inter Milan for Romelu Lukaku, which appears to be making headway after the Italian club's sporting director arrived in the U.K. to meet with Red Devils officials, Sky Sports reports.

Piero Ausilio will meet with the club Thursday, and he'll have to show he means business, with Juventus now interested in the Belgian forward as well.

- Premier League fixtures 2019-20 in full
- Who has qualified for Europe from the Premier League?
- When does the transfer window close?

United are reportedly asking for a simple cash deal of £75m, potentially funding their aforementioned signing of Maguire.

Lukaku is currently in preseason training in Australia with the rest of Solskjaer's squad, but it's thought that he wants the negotiations to be completed pronto.

Diego Costa to Everton?

Diego Costa could be set to make a return to the Premier League, but it would be no homecoming, as The Sun reports that the Atletico Madrid forward has his sights set on Everton.

The 30-year-old left England two years ago after falling out with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, returning to the club the Blues had originally bought him from.

Costa's form in La Liga has been patchy at best, scoring only three goals in 20 games last season. Add to that the signings of Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata and it's not hard to see why the Spaniard might be looking elsewhere.

The Toffees are hopeful of having a summer clearout, with Yannick Bolasie, Cenk Tosun, Mo Besic, Oumar Niasse and Kevin Mirallas all thought to be surplus to requirements.

Tap-ins

- Laurent Koscielny's time at Arsenal could be approaching its conclusion, with Bordeaux interested in bringing the Frenchman to Ligue 1, The Mirror reports. Lyon and Rennes are also keeping tabs on the centre-back, but Bordeaux are believed to have offered him a three-year deal.

- As for potential incomings at Emirates Stadium, The Mirror also says that Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is edging closer to joining Unai Emery's side. The Gunners saw a £40m offer rejected, with Palace asking for at least double. Arsenal won't give up the fight, though, as they prepare to make another approach, this time a player plus cash deal, potentially involving Calum Chambers, Carl Jenkinson or Mohamed Elneny.

New Zealand are through ... who will join them from the second World Cup semi-final? It's Australia v England at Edgbaston. Get all your live updates and analyses on ESPNcricinfo's blog (if it doesn't load for you, please refresh your page).