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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Nicholas Baer arrived at Iowa in 2014 as a spindly walk-on who looked as though he might never be more than a practice body.These days, the Hawkeyes dont know what they would do without him.Baers 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season dont reflect how truly valuable he was. Baers versatility and energy off the bench were crucial as the Hawkeyes reached the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. There doesnt appear to be a starting spot for the 6-foot-7 Baer in 2016-17, but coach Fran McCaffery intends to lean on Baer for a boost as much as possible.Hell do a lot of the same things, but hell have an expanded role. Hell play more, McCaffery said Wednesday at the teams annual media day.That Baer blossomed into a Big Ten player in just two years is a testament to his work ethic and feel for the game.Baer posted an impressive resume in high school, earning first-team all-state honors as a senior for Bettendorf (Iowa) while averaging 15.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.5 assists. But Baer was just 185 pounds, and no school outside of Division II Northwest Missouri State offered him a scholarship.McCaffery saw something in Baer that few others did, inviting him to join the Hawkeyes with no promise of a scholarship.Baer redshirted in 2014-15. Last season, Iowa brought in a big freshman class to augment a roster with four senior starters -- leaving Baer almost no shot at playing time. Baer had to force his way into the rotation, which he has done in part by putting on 20 pounds since high school.Its been extremely difficult. Its been a long process for sure, Baer said. I feel stronger than ever, and I have more stamina to sustain that effort thats been successful for me.Baer raised some eyebrows in last seasons opener, hitting a pair of garbage-time 3-pointers in a blowout of Gardner-Webb. A few weeks later, he had eight points off the bench in a win over then-No. 20 Wichita State.Bears breakout moment helped save the Hawkeyes from an embarrassing defeat to instate rival Drake. Iowa was sluggish until Baer came off the bench and scored 13 points with seven rebounds and six blocks to help the Hawkeyes escape 70-64.Baer was a key reserve the rest of the way, scoring 15 points in Iowas blowout loss to eventual national champion Villanova in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.Baers efforts were rewarded by the coaching staff this spring with a scholarship.It just shows what our program is about. He gives everything he has every time hes on the court. He has heart, Iowa forward Ahmad Wagner said.How much Baer will play for the Hawkeyes is up in the air with the season still a month away.Wagner and Dom Uhl figure to be the favorites to start in the frontcourt. Junior college transfer Dale Jones and talented freshman Tyler Cook -- who McCaffery said Wednesday had the highest ceiling of any recruit he has ever landed -- will likely get key minutes as well.But Iowas coaching staff has learned not to underestimate Baer, one of the players they know they dont have to worry about.He makes plays, he makes shots. He rebounds the ball, he defends and he plays both ends. He thinks the game through, McCaffery said. I mean, hes as professional as they come. So hes going to be a very important part of our team for the next three years.---Online: www.collegebasketball.ap.org Nike Air Jordan 5 Retro Uk . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. 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The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Yordano Ventura was not at his best, but good enough to end a personal losing drought.Ventura pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Kendrys Morales hit a grand slam, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 Sunday.As far as stuff-wise and command, it obviously wasnt one of his best games, but his mental toughness was great, Royals catcher Drew Butera said. Thats what we need out of him. Somedays youre not going to have your best stuff. He came out and battled. He didnt get too flustered on the mound and stayed within himself.Ventura (7-9), who was 0-5 in seven starts since a June 17 victory over the Detroit Tigers, limited the Blue Jays to one run and five singles in 6 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out four.The Blue Jays had four hits and two walks in the first four innings, but wound up stranding eight men and went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.I was fighting the whole game, Ventura said with catching coach Pedro Grifol as his interpreter. I didnt feel comfortable with my mechanics early, but the goal was to keep us in the ball game until we could score some runs and we did.Morales third career grand slam and his first since July 30, 2012, while with the Los Angeles Angels came off left-hander Brett Cecil with two out in the eighth to break the game open. Raul Mondesi, Alcides Escobar and Cheslor Cuthbert led off the inning with singles. It appeared Toronto might escape unharmed after Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer struck out, but Morales hit Cecils first pitch out to straight-away center.I went up to the plate with an aggressive mindset and he threw a fastball and I was able to make good hard contact, Morales said through a translator. It was a high fastball, mask high and I was able to catchh it out front.ddddddddddddlue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (8-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. He threw 95 pitches before being replaced by Scott Feldman.Drew Butera and Mondesi delivered run-producing singles in the second. Butera cracked his bat on his hit to bring home Alex Gordon, while Mondesis bunt single scored Paulo Orlando, who logged his fourth straight multi-hit game.Theyre a dynamic team with their speed, Stroman said. They dont have to beat you with homers. Theyre looking to move the ball, move guys. Very fast and they put the ball in play.Escobar homered -- only his second of the season -- to lead off the fifth.Ventura was pulled after walking Darwin Barney and giving up a single to Devon Travis with two out in the seventh. Peter Moylan replaced Ventura and struck out Jose Bautista, but not before a wild pitch allowed Barney to score.Today was a little frustrating, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. Its always tough to play here. Theyre world champs. Theyre that for a reason and they held us in check. We really havent been swinging that good since the beginning of the last homestand. Weve been in kind of a rut, so were due to explode.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: CF Kevin Pillar jammed his left thumb sliding into second base Saturday and not in the lineup as a precaution.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey, who is second in the AL with 12 losses, will start against the Rays in the opener of a six-game homestand. Tampa Bay will start RHP Jake Odorizzi.Royals: After a day off Monday, Edinson Volquez will start Tuesday against the White Sox. Volquez has a 9.82 ERA in losing his past two starts. ' ' '