MLB Player News
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Launches homer No. 38
Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Red Sox on Saturday.
Ohtani began the game with a bang, smoking a 414-foot homer off star hurler Garrett Crochet in the first inning. That was the only time the two-way star managed to put the ball in play, however, as he struck out in his remaining three at-bats. Ohtani has been boom-or-bust of late -- he's homered six times over his past seven games but has also struck out 14 times during that stretch. That's been a season-long trend for the slugger -- he ranks second in MLB with 38 long balls but is also tied for sixth with 124 punchouts.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Belts seventh homer
Stanton went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 9-4 loss to the Phillies.
The game was already out of reach for the Yankees when Stanton took Daniel Robert deep in the seventh inning. The 35-year-old slugger has gone yard in three of his last four games, giving him seven homers and 20 RBI through 28 contests since recovering from elbow issues and making his 2025 debut in mid-June. Per Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com, manager Aaron Boone indicated after Saturday's contest that Stanton may see time in the outfield in August, as Aaron Judge (elbow) will need to DH when he returns from the IL. Until Judge gets healthy, however, Stanton is likely to remain New York's primary designated hitter.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Returning Sunday
The Rangers will activate Pederson (hand) from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Pederson made two starts at first base prior to fracturing his hand in late May and made another start at first base during his rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco this week, but the Rangers intend to use him as a full-time designated hitter once he's activated. The 33-year-old slugger, who went 2-for-6 with a walk and a run scored during his two-game rehab assignment, had posted a .507 OPS through 145 plate appearances with the Rangers prior to landing on the shelf.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Getting rare start Saturday
Ozuna is starting at DH and batting seventh Saturday against the Rangers.
This will be just the second start of the second half for Ozuna, and his first since Sunday. The veteran slugger is having a down year with a .751 OPS through 94 contests, and he's consequently lost his everyday role. Atlanta has been keeping the bats of backstops Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy in the lineup together by using one at DH in most games.
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Mickey Gasper C | MIN
Twins' Mickey Gasper: Joining Twins
The Twins recalled Gasper from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.
Gasper will join the big-league roster to provide Minnesota with depth behind the plate while Ryan Jeffers is on paternity leave. The 29-year-old Gasper owns just a .488 OPS through 39 plate appearances in the majors this season, so Christian Vazquez will likely take over as the Twins' main backstop.
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Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Two-homer day includes 1,000th hit
Schwarber went 3-for-5 with a walk, two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees.
The veteran slugger recorded his 1,000th career hit in the fifth inning when he took Will Warren deep for a two-run shot, and Schwarber kept piling on by launching another two-run homer off Ian Hamilton in the eighth. Schwarber is having a monster July, slashing .274/.361/.781 over 18 games with 11 home runs and 25 RBI, and he sits four long balls shy of his third career 40-HR campaign.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Kicks off rehab assignment
Pederson (hand) is two games into a rehab assignment and has gone 2-for-6 with one walk and a run scored for Double-A Frisco.
Pederson kicked off the assignment Thursday as the designated hitter and followed up at first base Friday. Per MLB.com, Pederson is on track to return for the Rangers' next road trip, which begins Monday against the Angels.
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Cody Freeman 2B | TEX
Rangers' Cody Freeman: Optioned to Triple-A
The Rangers optioned Freeman to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, Matthew Postins of SI.com reports.
Sam Haggerty (ankle) is back from the 10-day IL, so Freeman will return to the minors. Freeman made his MLB debut earlier this month and appeared in four games with Texas, slashing .143/.143/.286 with one RBI, two runs scored and a 0:2 BB:K across seven plate appearances.
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Pavin Smith DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: In line for first base
Smith (oblique) could become the primary starter at first base after the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor to the Mariners on Thursday, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.
Smith first needs to get over his oblique injury. He recently began taking dry swings, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to rejoin Arizona. Rather than seeing an everyday role, he may work on the strong side of a platoon upon his return -- he has just 17 at-bats against lefties in 2025. While Smith remains sidelined, Tristin English will likely see most of the action at first base.
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Jahmai Jones DH | DET
Tigers' Jahmai Jones: Goes deep against lefty
Jones went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays.
As has been the case all season, Jones did some damage when facing a lefty, this time taking Toronto starter Eric Lauer deep in the first inning. Jones rarely plays against righties, but he's become a force against southpaws with a .921 OPS and four home runs in 51 at-bats. The 27-year-old has bounced between the minors and majors during his career, though his platoon success this year should allow him to stick around in Detroit as a reserve outfielder.