MLB Player News

Snead (shoulder) fired 1.2 scoreless innings for the Athletics' Arizona Complex League team Saturday against the AZL Reds, allowing no hits and one walk while recording a strikeout.

The left-hander redeemed himself after surrendering three runs over two-thirds of an inning during his first rehab appearance Tuesday. Snead may be set to move up affiliates following Saturday's encouraging outing, but he still looks to be trending toward a late-June regular-season debut at the earliest.

Tarnok (shoulder) fired two scoreless innings for the Athletics' Arizona Complex League team against the AZL Cubs on Friday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording two strikeouts.

The caliber of competition aside, it was certainly a strong long-awaited start to Tarnok's rehab assignment. The right-hander, acquired via a three-team trade this offseason, had been sidelined since early March with his right shoulder strain. Tarnok figures to have plenty more rehab outings ahead of him at different affiliates for the next several weeks before being deemed ready to make his Athletics debut.

Speier (2-1) recorded the win over the Angels on Saturday, retiring the only batter he faced on a strikeout to close out the fifth inning.

What might seem like an easy win on the surface actually took some doing from Speier. The southpaw worked through an eight-pitch encounter with Shohei Ohtani that saw the two-way star work the count to 3-2 before fouling off a pair of sinkers and finally go down looking, leaving men stranded on second and third in the process. Speier has proven a highly effective addition to the Mariners bullpen, now posting eight consecutive scoreless appearances and generating an impressive 20:2 K:BB to go along with a 2.38 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and seven holds across 22.2 innings.

Munoz was credited with his third hold in a win over the Angels on Saturday, firing 1.1 scoreless innings during which he recorded three strikeouts.

The fireballing right-hander was making his second appearance since being activated from an extended stay on the injured list due to a deltoid strain. As was the case with his return appearance Tuesday, Munoz did not disappoint, getting his four outs on an efficient 15 pitches while pounding 11 in for strikes. Manager Scott Servais took the opportunity to get both Munoz and fellow high-leverage asset Paul Sewald some work in the non-save scenario -- the latter worked the ninth inning. However, the order of their late-inning usage could conceivably be flipped in any given game moving forward considering how effective Munoz already looks despite his long layoff.

Long recorded his first save in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Brewers, firing a perfect 10th inning.

Long breezed through his one frame on 15 pitches, 10 which he threw for strikes. The southpaw and first-year Athletic has mostly been a bright spot for manager Mark Kotsay, and he's now allowed just one run over seven innings covering his last four appearances while also recording a hold in addition to Saturday's save.

Fujinami (3-6) got the extra-inning win against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing a walk and recording a strikeout during a scoreless ninth inning.

The frequently embattled right-hander got through his one frame on an efficient 15 pitches, nine of which found the strike zone. Outings like Saturday's are quietly becoming more of the norm for Fujinami, who may finally be finding his stride against MLB hitters following a successful career in Japan. The towering 29-year-old has now allowed one or no earned runs in five of the last six appearances, a six-inning span during which his 4.50 ERA represents a monumental improvement over the 12.69 figure he went into that stretch with. He's also notably been called upon in higher-leverage scenarios in each of his last two outings and responded by allowing one unearned run on a hit and three walks over 2.2 scoreless frames.

Chicago recalled Banks from Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Banks was recalled after the White Sox placed Liam Hendriks on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. Banks has been effective at the major-league level with a career 3.10 ERA in 61 innings over 39 appearances, and he'll likely be a multi-inning middle relief option for the White Sox while he's with the club.

Chicago placed Hendriks on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right elbow inflammation, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hendricks will miss at least two weeks while he recovers from the injury, although elbow injuries to pitchers often require a longer stay on the IL than that minimum amount of time. The right-hander has registered a 5.40 ERA with one save over five appearances since returning to the White Sox after completing treatment for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Tanner Banks was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to replace Hendriks on the 26-man active roster, but it's likely that Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly see most of the save chances for the White Sox while Hendriks is on the IL.

Toronto optioned Francis to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

Francis provided 2.2 innings of relief in Saturday's loss to the Twins, and since he likely wouldn't be available for the next few days, the Blue Jays recalled a fresh arm in Thomas Hatch from Buffalo to take his place on the roster. The 27-year-old Francis should settle back into a spot in the Buffalo rotation upon returning to the minors.

Toronto recalled Hatch from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

Hatch will provide a fresh arm for the Toronto bullpen. The 28-year-old has made two scoreless appearances for the Blue Jays in 2023 with a 3:1 K:BB over 1.1 innings of work. Bowden Francis was optioned back to Durham in the corresponding transaction.