ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels released outfielder Mickey Moniak on Tuesday.

Moniak hit .219 with 14 homers and 49 RBI last season for the Angels, who acquired the former No. 1 overall pick from Philadelphia in August 2022 in a trade for pitcher Noah Syndergaard. In 2 1/2 seasons with Los Angeles, Moniak batted .242 with 100 RBI and a .709 OPS.

Moniak was expected to share the Angels’ starting job in center field this season with Jo Adell, making his release a surprising development two days before the start of the regular season.

Moniak’s release appears to open a roster spot for Matthew Lugo, the 23-year-old outfielder acquired from Boston at last year’s trade deadline in a deal for reliever Luis García. Lugo has never played in the majors.

Los Angeles also will have an open spot on its 40-man roster that could be used for infielder Tim Anderson, the two-time All-Star and former AL batting champion.

The Angels open the season Thursday on the road against the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles has the majors’ longest active streaks of nine straight losing seasons and 10 straight non-playoff seasons.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed Monday that the Buckeyes national championship football team will visit the White House on April 14.

Ohio State’s visit comes two days after it wraps up spring football practices.

“It’s an honor to be invited,” Day said. “I remember growing up and watching the national championship teams go to the White House. I always looked at that, like, ‘Man, what an honor that would be.’ So, it’s part of the celebration of our team. I’m looking forward to getting that all planned out.”

The Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta to win their first national championship since 2014.

Ohio State will be the second championship team to visit the White House since President Donald Trump returned in January. The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers made their trip on Feb. 3 before facing the Washington Capitals.

Vice President JD Vance is an Ohio State graduate.

Trump has attended many sporting events since taking office. On Saturday, he went to the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia for the second time in three years.

He also was the first sitting president to view the Super Bowl in New Orleans, and he attended the Daytona 500 for the second time since 2020.

The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House on April 28.

Day originally said April 12 would be a spring showcase instead of a traditional spring game. On Monday, he reversed on those plans when asked what the format would be for that practice.

“I just think we need to save a little bit of wiggle room in case we take injuries,” Day said. “It’s important that we start the season fast. And I think that the first step is playing the spring game. If we’re down some linemen, we have to adjust and figure that out from there.”

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Quarterback Cam Ward believes he has “solidified” himself as the top overall pick in next month’s NFL draft, he said Monday after Miami‘s pro day.

The Heisman Trophy finalist worked out in front of more than 90 NFL team staffers, including a full contingent from the Tennessee Titans, who own the No. 1 pick. At one point during his workout, Ward completed a pass and was seen speaking to Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker after the play.

The gist of his message: I’ll see you next month.

“[I told them] ‘I’m solidifying it today,'” Ward said. “They finally got to see me throw in person. That should be all they need to see. But at the end of the day … I’m going to be happy whatever team I go to. I’m just trying to play football.”

Ward set multiple school records in his lone season with the Hurricanes in 2024, including the single-season records for passing yards, completions, passing touchdowns and completion percentage. In his final collegiate game, he became the all-time FCS and FBS combined leader in passing touchdowns with 158.

The former zero-star recruit out of West Columbia (Texas) enrolled at Incarnate Word in 2020 and threw for 6,908 yards and 71 touchdowns in just 19 games over two seasons. He transferred to Washington State before the 2022 season, and threw for another 6,966 yards and 48 touchdowns with 16 interceptions in two seasons before transferring again to Miami.

Ward said he believed he could be the top pick in the NFL draft while at Incarnate Word, but knew he had to prove it beyond the FCS level — hence, his transfers to Washington State and Miami.

“I think all I needed was a chance to play in a quarterback-driven system,” he said. “[Former Incarnate Word] coach [Eric] Morris gave me the opportunity and I just think I always carry myself that type of way. But then also it comes to a level you have to play at. A lot of people won’t take a No. 1 overall player from the FCS … it comes from the Power 5 level.

“So, I just think every year I’ve gotten better and it ultimately led to me being in consideration.”

The Titans drafted former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis in the second round in 2023, but he has completed just 61% of his passes over two seasons for 3,899 yards and 21 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. Levis was benched in favor of Mason Rudolph late in the 2024 season as the Titans struggled to a league-worst 3-14 record.

Though Ward insisted he would be happy to play for any team, he was excited about possibly working with Titans coach Brian Callahan, who spent five seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals‘ offensive coordinator.

“I think Coach Callahan’s one of the best head coaches out there. The things he did with Joe Burrow when he first got into the league made him be real successful,” Ward said. “I just think the playbooks match up not only for there, but Cleveland and New York. A lot of those three teams did the same things that we did in Miami. So I think it’ll be plug and play.”

The 2025 NFL draft will be held April 24-26 in Green Bay.