Cleveland Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the team was unaware of inappropriate behavior toward women by former pitching coach Mickey Callaway while he was with the club.

Antonetti said he became "distraught" and "disturbed'' in learning of allegations against Callaway that were reported on Monday night by The Athletic.

Five women who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity said Callaway, who was with Cleveland from 2010 to 2017 and served as the pitching coach for his last five seasons, sent uninvited and sometimes unanswered messages to them via email, text or social media.

He asked one to send nude photos in return, according to the report.

Antonetti said he didn't know anything about Callaway's behavior until the report came out. He reiterated a previous statement by the team condemning any sexual harassment.

"I want to be really clear,'' Antonetti said. "The behaviors described in that article have no absolutely no place in any work place and certainly not in our organization. When I read them I was disturbed. I was distraught and saddened to read them. It's my responsibility as a leader in this organization to re-double our efforts to make sure we have a safe and inclusive environment.

"We know we have a lot of work to do to create that safe, inclusive environment that we want to continue to build, but I am committed to making sure that happens.''

Callaway, who left Cleveland to manage the New York Mets for two seasons, was suspended Tuesday by the Los Angeles Angels as their pitching coach.

He has initially denied wrongdoing, a source told ESPN on Tuesday, which prevents the Angels from firing him without the just cause that could be procured from an investigation. MLB and the Angels are hoping to wrap up that investigation relatively soon, perhaps before the start of spring training, the source said.

Callaway wrote to The Athletic that "any relationship in which I was engaged has been consensual, and my conduct was in no way intended to be disrespectful to any women involved,'' the report said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Brad Sweet wasn’t the big winner during Wednesday’s DIRTcar Nationals sprint car kickoff at Volusia Speedway Park, but he did get his season started on the right foot.

Sweet posted a third-place finish during the 25-lap All Star Circuit of Champions main event that headlined the night, battling with eventual winner Logan Schuchart and runner-up Donny Schatz most of the way.

The Grass Valley, Calif., native admitted after the race that he wasn’t happy with a few of the decisions he made on the fly, but that his team is where he hoped it would be to start the year.

“We had a good race car for sure. Lapped traffic just didn’t work out quite how we needed it to; I didn’t time my moves right,” Sweet explained. “They were changing lanes and I was thinking they were going in different directions. I just have to do a little bit better job. When you have the lead against Donny and then give it up, that’s obviously not how you’re going to win races. I was able to pace him pretty well and ran him back down, but I just wasn’t good enough off the cushion to make something happen like Logan did.

“We have to get our side just a little better. We were close, but not right where we needed to be,” Sweet added. “I thought I found the middle or the bottom a couple of times in the race, but I still wasn’t maintaining the speed I needed to keep up with Donny. Just have to keep improving.”

Sweet is chasing his third straight World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship this year, but he’s also after his record-tying third DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator title at Volusia.

The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 is the defending Big Gator champion and Sweet believes he’s got a good shot at taking home another of the reptilian trophies by the end of the week.

“I think this is the type of race track they’re going to get pretty much all week, so we’re definitely going to have to improve our car just a little bit, but we’re really close,” Sweet said. “I’m happy with our first night out with the car. It did everything we wanted it to, and I can’t thank all our NAPA Auto Parts guys enough for all the effort they put in to making this all happen for us.

“We’ll keep plugging away. There are four more nights to get back to victory lane here.”

The temperature at TPC Scottsdale had just crept into the 50s when Rory McIlroy teed off at 8 a.m. local time in Round 1 of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. It was a chilly reception in more ways than one for the world No. 6 in his tournament debut.

McIlroy knocked his opening tee shot on the par-4 10th, 348 yards into the left native area. His second shot finished in a front, greenside bunker.

McIlroy then went bunker to bunker, left his fourth shot short of the green and took two more swipes for a double-bogey 6.

McIlroy followed that with a bogey at the par-4 11th and was 3 over through two holes.

"It was obviously cold this morning. I was really surprised how far my tee shot went on [No.] 10 to get into the desert there. It was like a 340 [yard] run-out. I had no idea I could hit 340 in that temperature," McIlroy said. "And then from there, didn't really have shot, hit it into the front bunker and then I just made a mess of it from there, thinned the bunker shot into the next bunker and didn't get that one up-and-down. And then on the next [hole], hit it behind a couple of trees and had to chip out and hit a really good wedge shot in and just missed the putt."

No sooner had he played his way toward the bottom of the board, he began his climb back up:

• Birdie at the par-5 13th
• Birdie at the par-5 15th
• Birdie at the par-3 16th
• Birdie at the par-4 second
• Birdie at the par-5 third

That, however, was the end of his scoring. McIlroy parred five of his final six holes, dropping a shot at the par-4 eighth. The tally: 1-under 70, seven off the lead.

"Yeah, it was a good battle back. Being 3 over through two isn't ideal, especially on this golf course where you sort of need to make birdies," McIlroy said.

"I wish I didn't drop that shot coming in on the eighth hole, but shooting under par after the start wasn't too bad."

Andy Murray has travelled to Italy and will make his return in qualifying for an ATP Challenger tournament.

Otherwise, they have to self-isolate for two weeks.

Britain's Murray had already entered the second of two Challenger tournaments, which begins in the small northern Italian city on 15 February.

But, with places in the main draw for next week's tournament already assigned, the former world number one will have to go through qualifying.

When Murray last played on the Challenger Tour in Mallorca in August 2019, it was his first appearance on the lower circuit for 14 years.

He reached the third round in a tournament staged during the first week of the US Open.

In Biella next week he will once again find himself playing on the Challenger Tour as a Grand Slam gets under way elsewhere.

But, after a positive Covid test ruled Murray out of the Australian Open, he is desperate for matches.

The Scot was able to play only seven official matches in 2020 because of a lingering pelvic injury, and the five-month suspension of the tours caused by the pandemic.

Murray suffered no ill-effects from Covid, and has been back in full training for nearly two weeks.

His schedule after Biella may depend on how many matches he plays in Italy, but he could return to the ATP Tour in Montpellier on 22 February.

He would not have to spend a week in self-isolation, which is now expected in France, if he travels from another European Union country.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Matt DiBenedetto’s eyes may be on a second NASCAR Cup Series season with Wood Brothers Racing, but he wants to branch out into other motorsports disciplines as well.

Part of that planned diversity effort involves racing a dirt midget during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., something that DiBenedetto said has said for some time is “on the bucket list.”

That box may get checked off as soon as next January for DiBenedetto, who told reporters during his Daytona 500 Media Week availability Monday that his goal is to enter the 36th edition of the Chili Bowl.

“I’m working on it pretty much as we speak,” said DiBenedetto of trying to nail down a Chili Bowl ride. “I’ve been in conversations already about maybe running a couple of (midget) races that work out with our schedule this year, so that I can get maybe two races under my belt or something like that, just to get a little seat time in a midget. Knowing that our schedule is becoming more diverse, it’s making me look into different things because our schedule has seven road courses on it and we have a dirt race now.

“I’m looking at it like, ‘Oh, man. I think I need to start exploring different opportunities to continue to hone my skills.’ I always want to be the best I can possibly be at what I’m doing, so I’m gonna try to get a couple of races in,” DiBenedetto continued. “There might be more info on that pretty soon, hopefully. I’m working on it. I don’t know the details yet, but I’m looking to work on that and hopefully get a couple races in and then run the Chili Bowl. I’ve always wanted to.”

A number of NASCAR drivers have competed at the Chili Bowl in recent years, including reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott, three-time event winner Christopher Bell, two-time defending Chili Bowl victor Kyle Larson, incoming Cup rookie Chase Briscoe and Xfinity Series drivers Landon Cassill and Ryan Ellis.

One of the catalysts for DiBenedetto’s planned foray into grassroots dirt racing was the addition of a dirt race for the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, but the 29-year-old began his racing career in dirt karting and has always wanted to return to his roots if the situation was right.

“I grew up dirt racing. Larson has told me to do it and work on it, so I’m like, ‘All right, now I think is the time. We have a dirt race on the schedule; I need to get this right because I want to keep honing my skills and get better at everything,’” DiBenedetto noted. “Then we’ve got a lot of road courses on the schedule, so I’m looking at ways to try and get more track time on road courses in different kinds of cars, as well … things like that.

“All in all, it’s pretty exciting that the schedule is becoming so cool and diverse, and it opens up opportunities for guys like me to do some different things that are pretty cool and different.”

Aside from his Chili Bowl aspirations, DiBenedetto is chasing his first Cup Series victory this season, as well as the milestone 100th victory for Wood Brothers Racing.

DiBenedetto is looking to build on a season that saw him earn three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, as well as finish a career-high 13th in points in his sixth full season of Cup Series competition.

However, he’s also auditioning for a job next season, knowing that Austin Cindric will replace him behind the wheel of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang when the 2022 Daytona 500 rolls around.

It’s a process DiBenedetto has been through multiple times, meaning he’s used to the uncertainty that comes with not having an extended contract.

“My whole career has had an expiration date. I’ve thought it was over 1,000 times, so it don’t even phase me. I’m pretty mentally tough at this point,” he noted. “There haven’t been any talks. I haven’t even thought about 2022, just because my whole focus is on 2021 and driving the No. 21 car. … It’s ’21, so that’s been 100 percent my focus, just knowing that all we need to do is go out there and kick ass and perform and the future will take care of itself.

“I haven’t had any talks with anybody moving forward, but I’m still under contract with the Wood Brothers and with Team Penske as well. I think it will all just play out later in the season when it comes to July or August — somewhere in that area.”

DiBenedetto will hit the track for the 63rd Daytona 500, the season-opening race for the NASCAR Cup Series, on Feb. 14 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

The 36th Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals are scheduled for Jan. 10-15, 2022.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Toni Breidinger will compete in a limited schedule of ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events for Young’s Motorsports this season, beginning with the Feb. 13 ARCA season opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Breidinger, a native of Hillsborough, Calif., will make her first ARCA Menards Series start since 2018 where she competed in three races.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to continue the next steps of my racing career with Young’s Motorsports,” said Breidinger.

“It’s going to be a busy year of competition in ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but I feel like the program that we have assembled at Young’s Motorsports will be influential in completing our goals and setting the path for the future.”
When Breidinger makes her Truck Series debut in 2021, she will become the first Arabic-American female driver to participate in any NASCAR national series.

“Daytona is going to be the biggest race of my career, but I’m ready for it,” added Breidinger who participated in the open ARCA test with Young’s Motorsports at Daytona last month. “It’s going to be a competitive race, but I know that the Young’s Motorsports team will prepare me a fast race car and we can contend for a top-10 finish. That is our goal, a top-10 finish.”

A USAC regional winner, Breidinger shifted her attention from dirt to asphalt and most recently finished fourth in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series in 2020 with DLP Motorsports.

“We are thrilled to add Toni Breidinger to our Young’s Motorsports portfolio in 2021,” said Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young. “She is not only motivated but determined to make her season a successful one. We know that she can go to Daytona next week and be competitive and contend to become the first ARCA Menards Series national series female winner.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Perry Patino will compete in seven races for the newly founded BJ McLeod Motorsports with Travis Braden short-track racing program this year.

The schedule will consist of select events in the Southern Super Series and CARS Super Late Model Tour.

“This season is shaping up to be so exciting,” Patino aid. “From early in my career racing late models at my home track, Montgomery Motor Speedway, I’ve always wanted to move up into super late models and eventually NASCAR. I grew up watching guys like Bubba Pollard, Casey Roderick and Travis Braden on the super late scene.  Now, I not only get my shot at racing with them and proving my ability, but I’ve got Travis as my crew chief, B.J. and Jessica as experienced team leaders and mentors, and a beautiful new Fury car underneath me.”

Patino spent his early childhood watching his father race at their home track before climbing behind the wheel himself at age 11.  He adapted to each division quickly and climbed the ladder from buzz cars, to street stocks, and then late model sportsmen before eventually making his way to pro late models in 2019. He would finish the 2019 season with five wins in seven late model sportsman starts, while gaining valuable seat time in pro late models at Montgomery and Five Flags Speedway.

While he has yet to score his first super late model victory, Perry has already picked up his first fast-qualifier award and racked up an impressive sum of laps led. With the support of Bobby and Roger Reuse (AIR Racing/Wciparts.com) and their race team in the past, Patino has been able to attend marquee races including: the Masters of the Pros at Memphis Int’l Raceway, the Short Track Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway and the Snowball Derby.

Braden, who will serve as crew chief and driver development coach for Patino, has praised the ambition and focus of the young driver as they have worked side-by-side in preparing for the 2021 season.

“I’m really excited to kick our organization’s debut season off with Perry behind the wheel,” said Braden. “The kid has blown me away with his desire to learn about his race car and progress his abilities behind the wheel. From day one, he’s worked with me in the shop and asked a lot of great questions,” he added. “That’s the mentality that I want to see. He is shortening his learning curve by paying attention to important details before we even hit the track.”

The young driver will also enter the 2021 season with valuable support and leadership from NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series team owner and driver, B.J. McLeod.

“Perry will be such a valuable asset to our program,” said McLeod. “On and off the track he has the desire to improve and that’s what we are looking for with our program, someone who is willing to fight their way up the racing ladder, the way I did it, the way Travis did it.”

The first event for Patino will be the CARS Tour and Southern Super Series co-sanctioned 150-lap race at Greenville Pickens Speedway on April 10.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Drivers battling for glory at NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series tracks across the United States and Canada now have something else to race for.

NASCAR officials announced Thursday during the annual NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series promoters meeting that the sanctioning body is re-introducing regional championships to its weekly racing format.

Champions will be crowned in four regions: Southeast, Northeast, Midwest and West.

Each Division I regional champion will receive a $15,000 prize for their achievement, with a total of $35,000 being paid out to the top-10 drivers in each region. Drivers racing in Divisions II-V will compete for regional championship recognition.

A driver’s 14 best finishes within their respective regions will count towards regional championships.

Tracks that are part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series include North Carolina’s historic Hickory Motor Speedway, California’s Irwindale Speedway and Pennsylvania’s Grandview Speedway, among many others. Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., the home track of 10-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner Clint Bowyer, also recently returned to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series previously crowned regional champions from 1982 to ’04. Among the drivers to earn regional titles during that time period were Bowyer, Ted Christopher, David Rogers and Philip Morris, as well as NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans and Hall of Fame nominees Larry Phillips and Sam Ard.

NASCAR will also continue to crown track champions, U.S. state and Canadian province champions, in addition to the overall NASCAR Weekly Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion. The national champion will earn a $25,000.

Drivers do not need to be a regional champion in order to qualify to race for the overall NASCAR Weekly Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship; a driver’s best 18 finishes, regardless of region, will count towards the overall Division I national championship.

Drivers in Divisions II-V will see their 14 best finishes counted towards their respective national championships.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Blue Jackets placed goaltender Elvis Merzlikins on injured reserve after he was injured during practice.

The move came hours before Merzlikins was scheduled to start Thursday night's game against the Dallas Stars. Joonas Korpisalo likely will start in his place.

The Blue Jackets said Merzlikins, who has been rotating games with Korpisalo, suffered an unspecified upper-body injury in practice Wednesday. He is day-to-day.

Matiss Kivlenieks was moved to the roster as a second goaltender from the club's taxi squad, and Cam Johnson was recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League to take Kivlenieks' spot on the taxi squad.

Merzlikins has posted a 2-2-1 record with a 2.76 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in six games this season.

After three consecutive missed cuts, Brooks Koepka is in early contention at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Koepka shot 3-under 68 in the opening round at TPC Scottsdale. He’s five shots off the current lead, held by Matthew NeSmith (63).

Koepka, who has dropped to world No. 13, was 4 under through his first seven holes on Thursday, before dropping a shot at the 351-yard, par-4 17^th. Koepka hit his tee shot near the front of the green at No. 17, his eighth hole of the day, but knocked his second shot over the green and into the water.

Koepka recovered with a birdie at the par-4 first, but an errant drive and a three-putt led to a double bogey at the par-4 second. He played his final seven holes in 1 under for his lowest round in his last 11 played.

“I putted a little better, made a few changes in that. It's working. I'm hitting it really well. Just hit it terrible on [No.] 2 and I ended up in the worst place possible,” Koepka said.

“On 17, the ball probably had a little water on it, so it didn't have any spin, any check-up on it, but that happens. But you've got to avoid the three-putt and the double [on No. 2].”

Koepka is coming off a stretch of three consecutive missed cuts, the first time he’s accomplished that dubious feat. The streak coincides with his separation from coach Claude Harmon III, with whom he split after November’s Masters.

Asked on Thursday if he’s working with anyone, Koepka responded: “Nobody.”

“I bounce ideas off Pete [Cowan]. I bounce ideas off Butch [Harmon]. I've said that before. It's not really much,” Koepka said. “I don't need that much coaching. Me and Claude, we only worked on a few things. Pretty much still working on those things. It's not like anything has changed.”