Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Michael Soroka (40) hands the game ball to manager Pedro Grifol during a pitching change in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP) Abbie Parr/AP Photos MINNEAPOLIS — 0-for-the road trip. With the Twins' 6-3 come-from-behind victory Thursday afternoon, the Sox completed a seven-game road trip, dropping their franchise record worst record to start a season to 3-22. The four-game sweep sent the Sox home with an 0-7 trip through Philadelphia and Minnesota and a 1-13 record on the road ..read more

Alex Vlasic signed a six-year contract with the Blackhawks. Michael Reaves/Getty Images The Wilmette kid is staying in Chicago for six more years. The Blackhawks signed defenseman Alex Vlasic, the local product coming off a splendid first full NHL season, to a six-year contract Thursday with a $4.6 million salary-cap hit. “Alex made enormous strides this year and proved he is a legitimate top-four defenseman in the NHL,” Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “In his first full season in the NHL, Alex established himself as an important piece of our young core, and we’r ..read more

A wood carving of bluegills by Don Dubin, who will have carvings through Saturday at the North American Vintage Decoy & Sporting Collectibles Show. Mike Pehanich Riverside Fishing Club's Fishing Tackle & Outdoors Swap Meet is 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27, at the Berwyn Moose Lodge. Admission is $5 to one of the Chicago area's biggest swap meets with, as billed, "58 tables of amazing tackle. Well over 10,000 lures & fishing components on the floor. Crappie, Bass, Muskie, Salmon, Perch & Walleye custom-made lures, hand-crafted baits a lot of items you can’t find in sto ..read more

Jared Verse had nine sacks each of the last two seasons to complete his climb from FCS red-shirt to possible top-10 pick. Michael Conroy/AP The Sun-Times’ Bears experts pick whom they think the team will take with the No. 9 pick in Thursday night’s draft: MARK POTASH: Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze For better and worse, general manager Ryan Poles has made wide receiver a priority for his developing quarterback — trading for Chase Claypool and DJ Moore to help Justin Fields, and trading for Keenan Allen to help a rookie quarterback in 2024. Unless the Bears have a chance to get Notr ..read more

Griffin Jax of the Minnesota Twins steps on first base for an out against Andrew Benintendi of the White Sox in the ninth inning at Target Field on April 24, 2024 in Minneapolis. David Berding/Getty Images MINNEAPOLIS — Whether he’s batting at the top or in the middle of the White Sox’ lineup, Andrew Benintendi has stuck out in the midst of the team’s overall struggles this season. Benintendi, in the second year of the largest contract in franchise history — $75 million for five seasons — is last on the roster at minus-1.1 wins above replacement. His range and arm in the outfield have be ..read more

Korey Lee of the White Sox hits a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the third inning at Target Field on April 24, 2024 in Minneapolis. (Getty Images) David Berding/Getty MINNEAPOLIS – White Sox hitting coach Marcus Thames managed a smile. He even seemed upbeat. You have to give him credit for that, considering the Sox’ 3-20 record entering their game against the Twins, a franchise record to start the season. And knowing the offense is dragging that mark down more than anything. “Everybody always asks me ‘How are you? How are you?’ ’’ Thames said before the White Sox tried stop ..read more

Rendering of the proposed new Bears stadium. Chicago Bears The public finally got a good look Wednesday at the Chicago Bears $4.7 billion lakefront stadium plan. But the big reveal showed something far deeper than pretty renderings, impressive architectural animation and an optimistic financial projections. With Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration standing with the Bears, it is clear the city is willing to put private interests ahead of public benefit and cheer-on this ill-conceived and expensive effort to build a gargantuan domed stadium on Chicago's lakefront. It makes you won ..read more

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks waits as San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in San Diego. Denis Poroy/AP Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks crossed the outfield grass Wednesday afternoon toward the Wrigley Field bullpen, with a yellow connection ball tucked under his arm. The training tool is something he uses to correct his arm path. And though he landed on the injured list with what the Cubs called a strained lower back this week, he’s still working to correct t ..read more

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (center), Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (left) and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (right) are not quite sold on the new Bears stadium proposal. Blue Room Stream Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren’s glitzy new lakefront stadium proposal was met with a resounding no by the state’s top Democrats on Wednesday. At least for now. Noticeably absent from the Bears unveiling, Gov. J.B. Pritzker echoed previous public statements and again brushed aside the latest proposal — which includes more than $2 billion in private funds from the Bears but still requi ..read more

The Sky’s no. 7 overall pick, Angel Reese and No. 13 overall pick Brynna Maxwell were introduced to the media Wednesday at the team’s practice facility in Deerfield. Paul Beaty/For the Sun-Times Angel Reese made her descent from the heavens — the luxuries of playing for 2023 NCAA champion LSU — into her new reality: playing for a WNBA championship-winning franchise. However, the tinsel that comes with a title at the pro level is a lot different than in college — at least, it is in Chicago. Prior to her introduction, Reese shared her candid thoughts on being ready to start back at square ..read more