MLB Player News

Ponce de Leon signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Ponce de Leon has spent time on minor-league deals with the Angels and Mariners this year, and he'll have a chance to carve out a role in the Nationals' system now that the All-Star break is over. The right-hander made 16 starts at Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the year and posted a 7.95 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 71.1 innings.

Leone (3-2) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning Thursday, taking the loss versus the Dodgers.

The Giants pulled ahead in the top of the eighth inning, but Leone couldn't protect the one-run advantage. He gave up a double to Gavin Lux and a triple to Trayce Thompson. Jarlin Garcia then gave up a three-run home run, with the decisive run charged to Leone. Between the start of June and the All-Star break, Leone posted a 3.68 ERA in 14.2 innings, but he's now started the second half in shaky form against a tough team. The right-hander has a 3.78 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 36:12 K:BB, two saves, 10 holds and three blown saves through 33.1 innings this year.

Kimbrel earned a save over the Giants on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over one inning.

After the Dodgers took a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Kimbrel was called upon to shut the door. The right-hander allowed a bunt single but was otherwise spotless, closing out the contest on an efficient 12 pitches. KImbrel has bounced back from a rough patch to allow only one run over his past six appearances. During that stretch, he's picked up two wins, two saves and one hold while posting a 7:2 K:BB over 5.2 frames.

White didn't factor in the decision against San Francisco on Thursday despite allowing just one hit and two walks over five-plus scoreless innings. He struck out one batter.

White certainly pitched well enough to earn a win for the first time since mid-May -- in fact, he didn't give up his first hit until the opening batter of the sixth inning. It's doubtful that the right-hander would have been allowed a shot at history even if he had maintained the no-hitter since he had already thrown 78 pitches through five frames, but he was in line for the victory until the Los Angeles bullpen surrendered five runs in the seventh. White isn't certain to stick in the rotation once Andrew Heaney (shoulder) returns to action -- which could happen as soon as next week -- but White has fared well when called upon this season, logging a 3.78 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 50 innings.

Graterol (shoulder) will not return from the injured list when first eligible Tuesday, Jack Harris reports.

Graterol is reportedly pain-free but has not resumed throwing in any capacity since landing on the injured list in mid-June with shoulder inflammation. There is no timetable for his return, though his absence could extend into the middle of August.

Llovera (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Llovera sustained a Grade 2 right flexor strain last week and will be unavailable for at least two months due to the injury. It's not yet known whether the Giants expect him to return for the final few weeks of the regular season, but the team signed Trevor Rosenthal (hamstring) to a one-year contract Thursday.

Atlanta transferred Yates' (elbow) rehab assignment from the rookie-level Florida Complex League to Double-A Mississippi on Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

While he was in the FCL last weekend, Yates made his first appearance at any level since August 2020, as he missed last season and the first half of the 2022 campaign while recovering from March 2021 Tommy John surgery. Though his appearance came mostly against teenaged prospects, Yates was sharp in his FCL outing, striking out two over a scoreless inning. He's expected to make one-inning appearances Friday and Sunday for Mississippi before potentially moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett next week.

Nance was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Andre Fernandez of Herald Sports reports.

Nance will return to the big leagues after he was optioned to Triple-A on July 8. The 31-year-old has produced a 6.14 ERA and 1.68 WHIP with 30 punchouts over 22 innings in 17 appearances with Miami this year. Nance will replace Elieser Hernandez (illness), who was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday.

Hernandez was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Thursday, Andre Fernandez of Herald Sports reports.

Officially, the Marlins announced Hernandez was placed on the injured list with no designation, with the implication being that his absence is COVID-19 related. The right-hander will be replaced in the bullpen by Tommy Nance, who was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Bukauskas (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and reassigned him to the minors.

Arizona hasn't officially announced what affiliate Bukauskas will join, but he'll presumably be sticking around at Triple-A Reno, with whom he made his last rehab appearance Sunday. Though Bukauskas was added back to the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster while lefty Dallas Keuchel was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, the big club doesn't look as though it'll have a spot available in the bullpen for the right-hander for the time being. During his eight-appearance rehab assignment between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and the Triple-A club, Bukaskas struck out nine over eight scoreless frames.