Former Major Leaguer Hensley Meulens has two World Series championship rings from the San Francisco Giants, where he’s the hitting coach, and now he has the world watching him for the exploits of his unique temporary gig: head honcho of honkbal.

The Brewers and Carlos Gomez agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season that covers his first three years of free agency.

If you are among the millions who are again shattering usage records with the MLB.com At Bat 13 app, the World Baseball Classic app is a natural companion. Just ask the many fans from Tokyo to Miami who are using it to absorb every moment of the tournament.

Jake Peavy was vocal about his disappointment at times during his Wednesday outing against Minor Leaguers, but he said afterward that he was OK with the game, where he practiced slide steps.

Next week’s World Baseball Classic semifinals and final will be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco (live on MLB Network and ESPN Deportes), the home of the Giants, who wear orange and black. One of the teams competing will be the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which wears orange and black.

Braves starter Kris Medlen left Wednesday’s game against the Marlins after being hit in the right arm by a line drive. It was the second time in the game that Medlen was hit by a batted ball.

Saying the Cubs will be better this year is not a revelation, but the North Siders made several offseason moves, especially for pitching, that should help them take positive steps in Year II of their rebuilding process.

Albert Pujols’ recovery from offseason knee surgery cleared another, albeit small, hurdle on Wednesday: He ran for himself.

After first declining an offer to join the Dutch team, MLB.com top prospect Jurickson Profar is heading to the World Baseball Classic after all.

David Wright’s heroics for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic have TV announcers calling the Mets All-Star “Captain America.” What Wright is doing in the tournament is movie-star worthy.

Team USA manager Joe Torre knew he needed someone in the short term that an All-Star quality pitching staff would respond well to. He turned to Maddux, a 355-game winner and a certain Hall of Famer next year when his name appears on the ballot for the first time.

Johan Santana broke his silence on Tuesday to proclaim harmony with the Mets, saying he is “on the same page” with the team as he continues to overcome his left shoulder weakness.

David Wright already appears primed for the regular season, batting .438 with one home run and a 1.276 OPS over his first four World Baseball Classic games. Back in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Wright’s teammates have taken note.

Nick Markakis, who has a small herniated disk, will be sidelined at least another seven to 10 days and remains optimistic that he will be ready when the regular season starts next month.

There understandably are skeptics following Roy Halladay’s performance vs. the Tigers on Tuesday, but pitching coach Rich Dubee isn’t one of them.

Miguel Cabrera’s first game swing since the World Baseball Classic was good for a home run to left field, part of back-to-back homers with Torii Hunter, as the Tigers rolled to an 11-0 win over Florida Southern College in their annual Spring Training exhibition.

Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the clubhouse and the starting lineup for the Indians on Wednesday, following Venezuela’s exit from the World Baseball Classic.