MLB Player News
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Mark Vientos 1B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Goes yard twice for Binghamton
Vientos went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday.
The 21-year-old has been producing a lot of souvenirs lately, slugging eight of his 20 homers on the season over the last 18 games while slashing .273/.347/.682. Vientos remains on track for a potential 2022 big-league debut, particularly if he adapts well to a flexible defensive role -- he's played 10 games each at first base and in left field this season for Binghamton in addition to his regular work at the hot corner.
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Kyle Lewis DH | ARI
Mariners' Kyle Lewis: Projected for late-August return
Lewis (knee) is projected to return from the injured list in late August, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Lewis has been sidelined since June 1, but the team has remained optimistic that he would be able to return at some point this season. It appears that remains a realistic possibility, as Lewis has recently begun hitting in the batting cage and should continue to progress in his rehab.
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Mark Canha LF | TEX
Athletics' Mark Canha: Getting on at prolific clip
Canha went into Thursday night's game against the Angels having posted a .455 on-base percentage in the 44 plate appearances encompassing the 10 contests since his July 17 return from the injured list.
The veteran has been an especially savvy hitter the last few seasons, but Canha is seemingly taking his craft to a new level of late. His latest busy night on the basepaths heading into Thursday came the night prior, when he went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two walks, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Padres. Canha reached safely in all 10 contests during the sample as well, pushing his season OBP to to an elite .385.
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Miguel Cabrera DH | DET
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: Goes yard twice
Cabrera went 3-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs and a walk Thursday against the Orioles.
The veteran slugger certainly responded well to Wednesday's day off, coming back Thursday with his first multi-homer performance since May. Cabrera took Alexander Wells deep in the fifth inning and did the same off Adam Plutko in the seventh for his nine and 10th long balls of the year. After being held without a homer over his first 18 games in July, Cabrera has gone yard three times in his last three contests during a 6-for-11 stretch at the plate. He's hitting .247 in 326 plate appearances overall this season with a .679 OPS that would be a career low.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Dealing with back spasms
Harper was removed from Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals with back spasms, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
It's not believed to be a serious issue, as Harper expects to be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Leaves with apparent injury
Harper exited the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Nationals in the bottom of the third inning with an apparent injury, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Harper started both ends of the twin bill, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances on the day (one double, three walks) before departing when his second turn through the batting order came up in Game 2. According to Lauber, Harper appeared to be hurting when he made an error in the outfield in the top of the third, so the Phillies opted to pull him from the contest to further evaluate him. Expect the team to provide an update on Harper's condition later Thursday or shortly before Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Brewers' Daniel Vogelbach: Starting rehab assignment Friday
Vogelbach (hamstring) will report to Triple-A Nashville to begin a rehab assignment Friday.
Vogelbach has been on the shelf for just over a month with the strained left hamstring, so the Brewers will likely keep him on the rehab assignment at least through the weekend while he works to get his timing back at the plate following the layoff. Before sustaining the injury, Vogelbach had been serving as Milwaukee's primary starting first baseman against right-handed pitching, but the recent trade acquisitions of Rowdy Tellez and Eduardo Escobar could put his role in flux. Vogelbach and Tellez in particular appear to be redundant as lefty-hitting power bats who can only play first base, so expect one of the two to lose his spot on the active roster once Vogelbach is reinstated. Tellez is the likelier candidate of the two to be sent out, given that he still has a minor-league option remaining.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: May not play outfield after all
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that the plan to play Stanton in the outfield against Miami this weekend is complicated by the recent addition of Joey Gallo, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.
Stanton was originally expected to return to the field during New York's recent series at Boston, but that never came to fruition. Boone subsequently indicated that the slugger would play the outfield in his return to Miami -- where he began his professional career -- though the manager's comments Thursday make that scenario murky. Boone didn't completely rule out Stanton, Gallo and Aaron Judge forming a towering outfield trio in Miami, however, adding, "Giancarlo is physically prepared and ready for that," per Marly Rivera of ESPN.com.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Twins' Brent Rooker: Slugs another homer in loss
Rooker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two walks and an additional run Wednesday in the Twins' 17-14 loss to the Tigers.
The home run was Rooker's third in four games and one of seven on the day for Minnesota. With a 1.271 OPS in six starts for Minnesota since his July 23 call-up, Rooker looks secure in an everyday role at either designated hitter or in the corner outfield.