By: Hubble Smith, Sports Editor

The program lists Memphis Redbirds outfielder Tommy Pham at 6-1 and 175 pounds, measurements most likely recorded during his physical exam when he was drafted in the 16th round by the St. Louis Cardinals from Durango High School in 2006.

The 26-year-old has added substantial bulk since then, judging by his chiseled upper body that looks befitting of a defensive back in football. Let’s go with 205. That’s more like it.

“They encouraged me to gain weight and muscle mass to stay healthy and make me more durable,” Pham said in the corridor outside the visitors’ locker room at Cashman Field.

By: Hubble Smith - Sports Editor

With soccer fans everywhere feeling World Cup fever, the Las Vegas Legends announced Monday the team would join the Major Arena Soccer League and play 10 home games at The Orleans Arena from October through February.

The Major Indoor Soccer League and Professional Arena Soccer League have merged to form one “super league” with 24 teams, Legends owner and coach Meir Cohen said at a press conference held at Las Vegas Indoor Sports Park. The Major Arena Soccer League will be divided into geographic divisions and play 20 regular season games, with each division sending three teams to the playoffs.

By: Hubble Smith, Sports Editor

Chasen Bradford of Henderson made his Triple-A debut Monday for the Las Vegas 51s, pitching the eighth inning in an 11-5 loss to the Colorado Sky Sox at Colorado Springs, Colo. He gave up three runs on three hits and a walk with no strikeouts.

Bradford, 24, was called up from Double-A Binghamton to strengthen a 51s pitching staff that has been picked over by the parent New York Mets and beset with injuries in the first two months of the season.

By: Hubble Smith, Sports Editor

The way Las Vegas product Kris Bryant is tearing up the Double-A Southern League, there’s a good possibility he could make his Major League debut with the parent Chicago Cubs by the end of the season.

Bryant, a 6-5, 215-pound third baseman from Bonanza High School and University of San Diego, was named Southern League Player of the Week on June 2, his second such honor this season. He smashed four home runs during the week and hit over .400 with 12 bombs during the month of May.

By: Hubble Smith, Sports Editor

Former Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola will join the Las Vegas 51s as pitching coach next week after recovering from open-heart surgery in April, the team announced Friday.

Viola, 54, had been hired as the 51s pitching coach to open the season, but underwent surgery on April 2 after a spring-training physical detected an irregularity in his heartbeat. Tom Signore replaced Viola and will become pitching coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York-Penn League when play starts June 13.

Viola, who spent three years as N.Y. Mets Class A pitching coach, will be working with a depleted staff in Las Vegas. The Mets called up Jacob deGrom, Rafael Montero and Vic Black in May. Veteran Diasuke Matsuzaka was called up in April. Noah Syndergaard, who leads the team in wins and strikeouts, was placed on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right forearm.