MLB Player News

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham is expected to be activated from the disabled list this weekend, MLB.com reports.

Beckham began the season on the disabled list due to a strained oblique, but it appears likely he'll make his season debut in this weekend's series against the Mariners. He's coming off a season in which he hit .267/.322/.372 with five home runs, 24 RBI and five stolen bases in 371 at-bats.

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa collected a season-high three hits Sunday against the Cardinals, raising his season average to .313. It also came a day after he hit his first home run.

Espinosa is off to a promising start a season after being demoted to the minors.

"I’m happy for him, because I’ve been that guy," manager Matt Williams said, per The Washington Post. "So I know the dedication that it takes to work back and be the player he wants to be. And so far, he’s been really good. His approach is good, his intensity is good, his attitude’s fantastic, and he loves to play. So I’m happy for him."

Espinosa has moved his way into the starting lineup due to Ryan Zimmerman's thumb injury forcing Williams to play second baseman Anthony Rendon at third base.

"I’m just trying to help the team and do my part," Espinosa said. "We’re missing a couple key guys in our lineup. I’m just stepping in and trying to do my part so we can be successful this season and hopefully make a playoff run. When you play every day, obviously your timing is a lot better. When you’re facing 96 every single guy out of their ‘pen, if you’re getting one at-bat, it looks like 106. You can’t really slow it down. But more at-bats does help your timing."

White Sox second baseman Marcus Semien came up big at the plate Sunday afternoon, cranking out four hits, including a bases-loaded triple in his team's 16-2 victory over the Rangers.

Semien also singled in the third, eighth and ninth innings, respectively. He finished 4 for 6 with two runs and four RBI. He is hitting .222 with just two homers and nine RBI in 81 at-bats.

Mariners infielder Nick Franklin started at shortstop Sunday against the Marlins.

Brad Miller is not in the lineup, so Franklin will get a shot at short. He's slated to hit seventh against Kevin Slowey.

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.