MLB Player News

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham started his sixth consecutive rehab game at Double-A Birmingham, MLB.com reports. Beckham is no longer feeling any soreness in his oblique and could be nearing the end of his rehab.

"He's been doing good," manager Robin Ventura said of Beckham. "He's getting closer. You want to make sure you get a good five, six in a row where you don't feel anything, so you know, even when they do it, there are no signs. It just happens. Knowing that he's had it before, you want to just nip it."

Yankees rookie infielder Yangervis Solarte launched his career first home run of the season Thursday night against the Rays in Tampa.

Solarte took Tampa Bay closer Grant Balfour deep for a solo home run in the ninth inning. He added a double and a single, falling a triple shy of a cycle. He finished 3 for 5 with one run scored and two RBI in a 10-2 victory. He is batting .373 (19 for 51) with nine RBI through 15 games.

The worst-kept secret in baseball was finally revealed Wednesday when the Mariners officially announced the promotion of Nick Franklin. He will take the spot opened with the placement of Logan Morrison on the 15-day disabled list due to a hamstring injury.

Morrison has struggled to start the season. That could open the door for Franklin to take over a permanent starting spot. He has been torrid to open the year at Triple-A Tacoma.

White Sox second baseman Marcus Semien has not fallen into a deep slump, but he has certainly struggled after a strong start.

Semien has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats to lower his batting average from .250 to .216. He has also fanned 16 times in 56 at-bats, but has shown a bit of the power that marked his minor league career with two doubles and two home runs.

Promising middle infielder Nick Franklin was en route to Arlington to join the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon, a baseball source told MLB.com.

The team had yet to confirm the promotion of Franklin from Triple-A Tacoma, but he even indicated it in a tweet.

Franklin will likely receive playing time in the outfield with shortstop Brad Miller and second baseman Robinson Cano set at his familiar spots.

The Mariners will recall infielder Nick Franklin from Triple-A Tacoma Wednesday, multiple sources told The Seattle Times.

Franklin is likely to replace outfielder Logan Morrison, who could land on the 15-day disabled list because of a hamstring injury. Franklin is off to a torrid start in the minors, batting .395 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 11 games.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was ejected from Sunday's game vs. Houston after he threw his bat following a called third strike to end the bottom of the third inning. Andrus was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts before being thrown out of Sunday's game.

The White Sox announced Sunday second baseman Gordon Beckham (oblique) has been cleared to resume his rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham has been limited to batting practice and fielding ground balls during his rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham, MLB.com reports. He has yet to return to the lineup for the Barons due to pain in his strained left oblique.

"He wasn't in a game. Just being cautious," said Ventura of Beckham, who played on April 3 for the Barons before re-aggravating his injury. "Every time you feel something or it doesn't feel right then that kind of sets him back, so right now he's just taking a couple rounds of BP and taking some ground balls. I think he'll be in, in a few days."

The Royals optioned infielder Johnny Giavotella to Triple-A Omaha Saturday.

Giavotella was brought up after second baseman Omar Infante was hit in the face by a pitch, but with Infante playing Friday after a few days off, Giavotella will be sent back down. He went 1 for 3 and recorded one RBI on a sacrifice fly in his only appearance with the Royals.