MLB Player News

Mariners rookie second baseman Nick Franklin continues to feel soreness in his right knee after fouling a bunt off his leg Friday in Cincinnati, MLB.com reports. That said, Franklin is playing through the issue and hit a first-inning homer Sunday in a Seattle win.

"Compared to yesterday, it's doing a lot better," Franklin said before batting practice on Monday prior to the series opener with the Red Sox. "I know it's not going to injure me more, therefore if I'm going to run, I might as well run it. As long as I know it's not going to injure me more, I'll play on it."

Franklin continues to be a catalyst for the Mariners. He's hit .302 with two homers and eight RBI over his last 13 games entering Monday. He has six homers and 18 RBI over his first 31 major league games.

Mariners shortstop Nick Franklin says he still feels the pain from his bruised right knee but will play through the pain, the Everett Herald reports. Franklin homered in his first at-bat Sunday, so he can apparently still produce despite the injury.

Franklin says he expects the pain to subside in the next few days, so hopefully he can avoid needing a rest day.

Mariners infielder Nick Franklin appeared to have no issues with his bruised knee Sunday against the Reds. Franklin homered in the first inning off starter Bronson Arroyo for a solo blast, his sixth of the year. 

Franklin went 1 for 4 in the game with two strikeouts and is batting .287 on the season for Seattle. He's homered in two of his last three games and has three RBI over that span. 

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin returned to the starting lineup Sunday at Cincinnati, The Seattle Times reports. Franklin did not start Saturday due to a bruised knee. 

Franklin did receive an at-bat during Saturday's game, however. He struck out in his only plate appearance. 

Mariners infielder Nick Franklin didn't start Saturday in Cincinnati due to a bruised knee, ESPN reports. Franklin fouled a ball off his knee Friday and is day to day. 

The 22-year-old, who is batting .290, has gone 5 for 19 (.263) to begin July with a homer and two RBI. 

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham made his first big-league appearance at shortstop Friday night against the Rays.

Beckham took over shortstop for Alexei Ramirez in the seventh inning. He singled in a run in the ninth inning and finished 2 for 4 with a run scored in an 8-3 defeat. He is hitting .328 with one homer and 10 RBI in 125 at-bats.

The Rangers dropped shortstop Elvis Andrus to eighth in the batting order Thursday, the first time he's batted in the bottom third of the order in more than three years.

"I just want to give him a little break and take a little pressure off him," manager Ron Washington told the Dallas Morning News Thursday. "He might be trying too hard. He’s pulling the ball a lot. Hopefully, he can relax and get back to being Elvis and doing what he does."

Andrus has hit .193/.259/.207 in his last 150 at-bats.

"I’m for sure not at my best right now," Andrus said Thursday. "There is just a little thing in my swing. I’m not seeing the ball really well right now. I’m usually the guy who lets the ball travel really deep. I know what I’m doing wrong."

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham has been enjoying a resurgence at the plate this season, and he finally added his first home run of the season Wednesday against the Orioles. Beckham went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in a 4-2 loss.

Beckham is hitting .331 with a .784 OPS, and he has driven in nine runs in 118 at-bats.  

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham had three singles and one RBI Tuesday against the Orioles. It was his second three-hit game in his last five appearances.

Beckham has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He's batting .400 (12 for 30) with three runs, three doubles and five RBI in that span. Beckham's batting average has jumped from .298 to .325 in his last eight games.

Royals manager Ned Yost has made it apparent he's going to give Johnny Giavotella a fair shot to emerge as the team's regular second baseman. But he stressed it's up to Giavotella to earn his spot in the lineup.

"I want to give him a real look but, in order to have a real look, you've got to hit," Yost said Sunday, per MLB.com. "He's always hit in the minor leagues, so that always gives you a reason to believe."