MLB news: New York Mets, Joey Votto and aliens, Kansas City Royals

As the final hours of February start to tick by, let’s take a look at some of the latest MLB news and notes, including Joey Votto having some fun with bold predictions, a New York Mets player with a simple request, and an explanation on the absence of a new member of the Kansas City Royals.

MLB news: Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds has some fun with a bold prediction

When MLB’s social team asked for a bold prediction for the upcoming season, they had no idea that not only would Votto answer the question, but also throw out quite the forecast.

It’s yet another social media pearl from the 39-year-old Votto, who continues to show that it’s possible to have fun while playing the game. Don’t forget last season when Votto spent some time walking around talking to fans and moonlighting as a radio commentator while he was on the injured list.

New York Mets news: Luis Guillorme has a simple request of Pete Alonso

During Monday’s spring training game between the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals, Guillorme smacked a second-inning single to center, bringing Alonso to the plate with two outs. Since it’s early in spring and the 28-year-old Guillorme isn’t exactly known for being quick on the base paths, ESPN microphones caught him trying to manifest an easier way to get around the bases.

Alonso would strike out in his at-bat, but at least Guillorme didn’t have to run, so maybe there was a silver lining to end of the inning in the Mets dugout.

Kansas City Royals news: Aroldis Chapman suffers strange injury

Signed in the offseason to a one-year, $3.75 million deal, Chapman has already made news with the Royals, and it isn’t for what he has done on the mound early in spring training.

Chapman, who turns 35 on Tuesday, has a history of odd injuries, including last season when he landed on the injured list as a member of the New York Yankees with a wound from an infected tattoo.