MLB Player News
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Back from IL, starting Wednesday
Belt (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and will start Wednesday and bat third in the Blue Jays' series finale with the Marlins, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Belt is back in the lineup after missing the minimum 10 days while on the IL with a hamstring injury. The 35-year-old has produced a .296 average with two home runs, four doubles, four RBI and four runs scored over eight games in June. In order to open a roster spot for Belt, Spencer Horwitz was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Sent back to minors
The Blue Jays optioned Horwitz to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
With Brandon Belt (hamstring) returning from the injured list Wednesday, the Blue Jays had no room on the 26-man active roster for Horwitz. During his five-day stint in the big leagues, Horwitz started at designated hitter in three games and went 2-for-8 with two walks and a run.
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Eloy Jimenez DH | TOR
White Sox's Eloy Jimenez: Showing off pop
Jimenez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Tuesday against the Rangers.
Jimenez helped the White Sox jump out to an early lead by blasting a two-run homer in the first inning. It was his ninth long ball of the season, and third in seven games since he returned from a calf injury. Jimenez has struggled to stay on the field while dealing with an array of injuries in the first three months of the season, but he is showing off plenty of pop and now has a .204 ISO across 180 plate appearances on the campaign.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Bursts out of slump
Buxton went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's loss to Boston.
Buxton swatted his 11th homer of the campaign, taking Corey Kluber yard in the eighth inning to plate Edouard Julien for MInnesota's first runs of the game. The multi-hit outing was Buxton's first since May 23 and also broke a 10-game cold snap where he went 1-for-34 (0.29) with 17 strikeouts. Though Buxton has been hampered by a knee and ribs injury throughout 2023, Tuesday's contest may be a signal of better things to come from the talented 29-year-old.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Not nearing return to outfield
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli acknowledged Tuesday that Buxton (knee) is still unable to play the outfield, Patrick Borzi of MinnPost.com reports.
Buxton still has limitations related to his September 2022 right knee surgery and will continue to get his playing time out of the DH role, possibly for the remainder of the 2023 season. Baldelli told reporters that the condition of the knee hasn't worsened but also hasn't improved. Buxton, 29, is 1-for-34 (.029) with 17 strikeouts over his last 10 games and his season OPS has fallen to .715.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Runs and hits Tuesday
Belt (hamstring) ran the bases Tuesday without issue, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Belt also hit off a high-velocity pitching machine and drew a positive review from Blue Jays manager John Schneider. He could be activated from the injured list as early as Wednesday, though that move might be delayed until Friday with Thursday being a scheduled team off day. Belt has been on the shelf since June 13, retroactive to June 10, because of a left hamstring strain.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Another start at DH
Horwitz is starting at designated hitter and batting eighth in Tuesday's contest in Miami.
Horwitz didn't start the first game after his promotion on Friday, but he's subsequently been in the lineup for each of the last three contests. It appears that he could carve out a regular DH role against right-handers while Brandon Belt (hamstring) is sidelined. Horwitz has reached base four times and driven in one run in his first eight major-league plate appearances.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Not playing outfield just yet
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast that Stanton will serve as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Mariners.
Boone indicated over the weekend that Stanton could be ready to play right field as soon as Tuesday, but the skipper has opted to hold off for at least one more day. It does sound like Stanton being an option for the outfield is imminent, though, which would free up the Yanks to use others in the DH spot.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Light workout Monday
Alvarez (oblique) went through some stretching Monday during pregame activities, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Though Alvarez didn't look to be going through an especially strenuous workout, it amounted to his first known physical activity since he was placed on the injured list June 9 with a strained right oblique. Alvarez isn't expected to resume baseball activities for at least another couple weeks and will need an additional week or more before he's ready for game action.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Red Sox's Justin Turner: Gets rest Monday
Turner is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Twins, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Turner will get a breather after he went 5-for-14 with two homers, two doubles, seven RBI and four runs scored while starting all three games of the team's series with the Yankees, including both contests Sunday. The 38-year-old has been on a tear in June, batting .318 with four home runs, 16 RBI, 11 runs and a stolen base over 66 at-bats in 16 games during the month. Masataka Yoshida will take over at designated hitter while Jarren Duran starts in left field and bats leadoff in the series opener with Minnesota on Monday.