MLB Player News
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Joey Meneses DH | NYM
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Going on paternity leave
The Nationals will place Meneses on the paternity list Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Meneses will miss at least one and as many as three games to be with his wife as she gives birth to the couple's child. Utility man Jake Alu will be called up from Triple-A Rochester to take Meneses' spot on the 26-man active roster.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Idle versus lefty
Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
He'll remain on the bench for the fourth game in a row, with each of the lefty-hitting Vogelbach's absences coming against left-handed pitching. Vogelbach has held a strong-side platoon role at designated hitter for most of the season, but he could face a threat for work against right-handed pitching with the Mets bringing aboard power-hitting corner infielder Mark Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
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Luken Baker DH | ARI
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Leads Triple-A in home runs
Baker, 26, leads all Triple-A hitters with 14 home runs and has a .302/.436/.669 slash line in 39 games for Memphis.
The rule for players like Baker who will provide zero or negative defensive value is that they need to hit a lot at every level on their path to the majors, and Baker failed in that respect last year at Triple-A, slashing .228/.288/.394 in 124 games. However, he's been so good this season that he can't be completely written off as a Quadruple-A hitter. His 40 percent hard-hit rate and 11.6 percent soft-hit rate are excellent marks, and his 0.80 BB/K is the best ratio of his career. Even so, Baker is stuck behind Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Gorman, Juan Yepez and Alec Burleson on the organizational depth chart at first base and designated hitter for now.
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Mark Vientos DH | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Officially recalled from minors
The Mets recalled Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
Vientos earned the promotion by putting together a 1.104 OPS with 13 home runs across 166 plate appearances at Syracuse. He might initially only start against lefties but could certainly play his way into an everyday role. Vientos is included in the starting nine against a lefty (Josh Fleming) in Wednesday's game against the Rays, manning third base and batting eighth while the lefty-hitting Brett Baty takes a seat.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: On base four times Tuesday
Rooker went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, two walks and two runs in an extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Rooker generated some impressive small-ball production as part of Oakland's 12-hit outburst. The 28-year-old has been an indisputable bright spot in a frequently sputtering Athletics offense, with Tuesday's busy night pushing his season slash line to an elite .304/.418/.624 across 153 plate appearances.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Sitting out Wednesday
Martinez is not in the starting lineup against the Twins on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Martinez will take a seat against right-hander Sonny Gray and Minnesota on Wednesday. Jason Heyward will hit fifth while lining up as the designated hitter.
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Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM
Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Cleared for light activities
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Choi (Achilles) has resumed light baseball activities, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Choi is about four weeks into an estimated eight-week recovery timetable until he's cleared to take part in full baseball activities, but he's able to do a little light hitting and throwing now. He may not be ready for game action until late June or early July while he works his way back from a left Achilles injury.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Red Sox's Justin Turner: Clubs fourth homer
Turner went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Mariners.
The veteran infielder took Luis Castillo deep in the first inning to give Boston an early 3-0 lead. Turner is enjoying a solid May, slashing .288/.356/.481 through 14 games with two of his four homers and seven of his 16 RBI on the year.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Drives in two, scores once
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Cubs.
Alvarez tallied RBI knocks in the fourth and seventh innings, bringing his total on the season to 39. He's in the midst of a 13-game hitting streak, during which he's hit .354 with three homers, 12 RBI and eight runs scored. Overall, Alvarez has maintained an impressive .298/.400/.573 line across 155 plate appearances.
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Mark Vientos DH | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Hits way to majors
The Mets plan to recall Vientos from Triple-A Syracuse prior to Wednesday's game against the Rays, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
New York is hoping the 23-year-old can provide a lift to a sputtering lineup, as Vientos had been one of the top performers in the International League this season with a 1.104 OPS, 11.9 percent walk rate and 20.5 percent strikeout rate over 166 plate appearances. The slugger could initially serve as a short-side platoon option at third base or designated hitter, though it wouldn't be surprising if he eventually eclipsed Daniel Vogelbach as the Mets' preferred option at DH. Vogelbach has drawn walks at a prolific rate (16.8 percent) this season but is offering little power production (.119 ISO), an element the Mets could desperately use in their lineup.