MLB Player News

Harper was activated Tuesday from the 10-day injured list.

As anticipated, Harper will make his 2023 debut as the Phillies' designated hitter Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, less than six months after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow. It's an incredibly swift return from that procedure and Harper might need regular days off out of the gate, but his return is worth celebrating and arrives as excellent news for fantasy managers who got him at a value this spring. The 30-year-old slugger has delivered a .940 OPS across his first four seasons with Philadelphia while averaging 36 home runs, 105 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 108 runs scored for every 162 games played.

Ruf (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Ruf landed on the 10-day IL last week due to inflammation in his right wrist, and he appears to be in line for close to a minimum stay. The 36-year-old veteran is slashing .261/.370/.348 in 27 plate appearances since being selected to the major-league squad in the middle of April.

Jimenez (leg) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.

Jimenez was bothered by leg soreness during Sunday's game, but he's evidently feeling OK following Monday's off day. He's in the designated hitter spot and batting cleanup versus Joe Ryan.

Blackmon is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Brewers.

Kris Bryant will take a turn in the designated hitter role and bat second in the Rockies' series opener versus Milwaukee. Jurickson Profar, Brenton Doyle and Randal Grichuk are starting across the outfield.

Ohtani is absent from the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game in St. Louis.

It's a rare day off for the two-way superstar. Ohtani is slated to serve as the starting pitcher Wednesday and presumably will be in the lineup at designated hitter, as well.

Ford sports a .337/.439/.730 slash line with 16 extra-base hits and 39 RBI across 107 plate appearances over 24 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

The 30-year-old has struggled with big-league arms after an encouraging initial 50-game cup of coffee with the Yankees back in 2019, when he posted a .259 average and .909 OPS across 163 plate appearances. However, Ford has been a terror with the Rainiers during his stints with them over the last two seasons, and his aforementioned impressive 2023 numbers are accompanied by a 14.0 percent walk rate and minuscule 11.2 percent strikeout rate. Ford's age and the fact he's been almost exclusively limited to playing first base and filling the designated hitter role throughout his long professional career dampens his overall prospects, but he could potentially get another crack at the majors at some point this season if he continues his current offensive tear down on the farm.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Astros.

Pederson's first home run since April 3 gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the third. He continues to periodically sit out versus lefties and missed a two-week stretch due to a wrist injury, but his .255/.354/.509 slash line through 17 games is encouraging. During his first season with San Francisco last year, Pederson slashed .274/.353/.521 with 23 homers and 70 RBI across 134 games.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed that Harper (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Thomson said that he wanted to give Harper off for Monday's series opener in Los Angeles because of a hectic schedule that included a doctor's appointment, but the two-time National League MVP will be ready to make his season debut 160 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The Phillies could give Harper a day off or two in his first couple weeks back in action since he didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment and is returning from surgery sooner than anticipated, but he should otherwise be a mainstay in the lineup at designated hitter beginning with Tuesday's contest. Harper began working out at first base a few weeks ago and could eventually be an option at that position, but playing the outfield is most likely off the table for him in 2023.

Martinez (back) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list during the Dodgers' upcoming weekend series against the Padres, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Martinez is eligible to come off the 10-day IL beginning Friday in San Diego, but skipper Dave Roberts noted Monday that he expects the slugger to need at least a few extra days before being activated. If all goes well over the next week, Martinez could be ready to return to the starting lineup for the team's series against the Brewers, which is scheduled to begin May 8.

Carpenter is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth for the Padres in Monday's game against the Reds, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Carpenter has been swinging a hot bat, going 8-for-17 with two home runs and 10 RBI over his last seven contests. It's been a pretty strict platoon between Carpenter and Nelson Cruz at DH for the Padres, with Carpenter also seeing the occasional start at first base.