MLB Player News

Kirk went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and one run scored in Friday's win over the Yankees.

Kirk returned from a two-month absence Friday and made an immediate contribution with an RBI double during the first inning before delivering another run-scoring knock in the fifth. The 27-year-old has now played in six games this season and is batting .261 (6-for-23) with two doubles, a homer, four RBI and three runs.

Langeliers went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-4 win over the Rockies.

Langeliers is batting just .235 (12-for-51) over his last 11 games, but he has five homers in that span. The catcher's blast Friday opened the scoring in the fifth inning. He's hitting .281 with an .883 OPS, 18 homers, 36 RBI, 45 runs scored, 14 doubles and a stolen base across 63 contests this season. Langeliers leads the Athletics in homers and is now tied for first with Colorado's Hunter Goodman for long balls by catchers this season.

D'Arnaud (foot) is no longer wearing a walking boot, and he played catch on the field Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's a notable step for d'Arnaud, who landed on the 10-day injured list May 8 due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The veteran backstop has since been transferred to the 60-day IL, so he isn't eligible to return until early July. With Sebastian Rivero currently sidelined due t a left hamate fracture, Logan Porter is working as the backup catcher behind Logan O'Hoppe.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Friday that Teel (knee/hamstring) will embark on a rehab assignment soon and is working toward returning from the 60-day injured list in the next few days, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Levine relays that Teel's hamstring strain has fully healed, and the catcher's right knee strain is close to full recovery. Teel will go on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues in the coming days, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to make his 2026 regular-season debut by late June. His return would mean less reps available for both Edgar Quero and Drew Romo.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that the team will wait until after the weekend series against the Blue Jays before deciding whether Wells (head) will be activated off the 10-day injured list or embark on a rehab assignment, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Wells landed on the 10-day IL this past Saturday due to cervical headaches and was cleared for baseball activities Wednesday. How he progresses in his recovery will determine whether he'll be activated from the IL ahead of Tuesday's home series opener against the White Sox. J.C. Escarra and Ali Sanchez will both continue to see increased reps behind home plate for as long as Wells is sidelined.

Rodriguez (hip) is starting behind the plate and batting seventh Friday against the Marlins.

The 26-year-old exited Wednesday's game against the Dodgers due to left hip discomfort but is ready to rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Marlins. Since going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer June 2, Rodriguez has just one hit in 16 at-bats over his past seven contests.

Atlanta released Handley on Friday.

Handley was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on May 21 and was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he played in five games over the past couple weeks. The journeyman catcher has a .324/.415/.382 slash line in 41 plate appearances in the minor leagues this season.

The Blue Jays designated Heineman for assignment Friday.

Alejandro Kirk (thumb) is back from the injured list, and the Blue Jays have elected to keep Brandon Valenzuela around as his backup rather than Heineman. Heineman is hitting only .154/.205/.205 this season and could clear waivers, though if that happens he would have the ability to elect free agency.

The Blue Jays activated Kirk (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Friday.

A broken left thumb sent Kirk to the injured list just five games into the season, but he's ready to rejoin the Blue Jays after fully recovering from surgery to repair the fracture. The 27-year-old went 3-for-18 with a homer and a double during his six-game rehab assignment and should immediately reclaim the starting job behind the plate for Toronto. Brandon Valenzuela will fill the backup job with Tyler Heineman being designated for assignment as part of Friday's transactions.

Gasper will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Friday's contest versus the Rangers.

Regular leadoff man Jarren Duran has been moved down to the No. 5 spot in the Boston lineup. Gasper is making his sixth straight start, but he's just 2-for-19 at the dish in the first five of those contests.