MLB Player News

Jung (wrist) took batting practice on the field Sunday, and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said afterward that the third baseman is close to facing live pitching, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung had been steadily increasing the intensity of his hitting work over the past week before he took another step forward by getting in some swings on the field Sunday. Bochy noted that the 28-year-old "looks good," while adding that "the strength is back" in his wrist. If Jung's wrist responds well once he faces off against higher-velocity pitching, he would likely then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Jung may still have a chance to make it back from the 60-day injured list before the end of the month, though an early August return might be more realistic.

Harris is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Harris had started at third base in all but one of the Athletics' ensuing 14 games following his promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas on July 2, but his time as a regular in the Oakland lineup looks to be over. Abraham Toro (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list and will immediately reclaim starting duties at third base in Sunday's series finale against the Angels while Harris heads to the bench. Harris saw time at the keystone with Las Vegas earlier this season, but he doesn't have a path to playing time at that position either while Zack Gelof is entrenched as the top option.

Urias was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old was initially penciled in at third base, but Gunnar Henderson was a late addition to the lineup after originally being scheduled for a day off. Urias hasn't been reported to be dealing with an injury, as he's likely just the odd man out with Baltimore's All-Star shortstop entering the starting nine.

Chapman went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rockies.

The steal was Chapman's 10th of the year, matching his total from the previous five campaigns combined. He's logged three of those thefts in July despite hitting just .180 (9-for-50) over his first 14 games of the month. The third baseman is slashing .234/.320/.409 with 13 homers, 43 RBI, 65 runs scored and 25 doubles through 96 contests overall.

Toro (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and will start at third base and bat sixth Sunday against the Angels.

Toro landed on the shelf June 21 with a strained hamstring but is ready to rejoin the Athletics after going 5-for-12 with a homer during a four-game rehab assignment. The 27-year-old has a .260/.303/.386 slash line through 73 contests this year and should see regular action at third base for Oakland now that he's healthy.

Arenado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 3-2 loss to Atlanta in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Arenado also went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the nightcap, a 9-5 win for St. Louis. The third baseman continues to hit well in July -- he's batting .310 over 15 contests, though just three of his 18 hits this month have gone for extra bases. Overall, he's at a .270/.323/.386 slash line with nine homers, 41 RBI, 39 runs scored, one stolen base and 14 doubles through 92 games.

Urias went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Rangers.

Urias has been steady in a part-time role in July, going 9-for-21 (.429) with seven walks over nine contests this month. For the season, Urias is slashing .247/.319/.387 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 166 plate appearances. There's typically one spot in the lineup for either Urias or Jorge Mateo on any given day. Both of them are right-handed hitters, so it's unlikely either one carves out a significantly larger role barring an extended hot streak.

LeMahieu is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

The veteran infielder has a .472 OPS through 39 games this season and is hitting .154 with one extra-base hit in 39 at-bats during July. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, manager Aaron Boone wouldn't commit to LeMahieu being back in the lineup in Monday's series finale, perhaps signaling that the 36-year-old's time as an everyday player could be nearing its end.

Toro (hamstring) started and played a full game at third base for Triple-A Las Vegas in its loss to Salt Lake on Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a run.

Toro led off and kept up the hot hitting he'd flashed while putting in three rehab appearances with the ACL Athletics over the All-Star break. The ability of the 27-year-old to both play a full game and hit well versus a higher caliber of competition certainly bodes well for Toro's chances of activation from the IL following his second scheduled game with the Aviators on Sunday.

High-A Hillsboro reinstated Groover (wrist) from its 60-day injured list Friday.

Groover has played in both of Hillsboro's first two games out of the All-Star break, going 2-for-9 with a double and a walk to bring his slash line to .320/.393/.360 through his first seven contests at the High-A level this season. The 22-year-old third baseman had been on the shelf since April 11 with a broken left wrist that required surgery.