MLB Player News

Pop (hamstring) restarted a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pop had to be pulled off his initial rehab assignment earlier this month following a setback with his right hamstring, but he returned to game action over the weekend and is slated for another appearance with Buffalo on Wednesday. The reliever might be ready for activation after that if he can avoid another setback.

The Pirates designated Villalobos for assignment Monday.

Villalobos will cede his spot on the 40-man roster to catcher/outfielder Henry Davis, whom the Pirates called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. After being claimed off waivers from the Marlins in April, Villalobos pitched exclusively with Indianapolis, generating a 4.15 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 16 relief appearances.

Barnes (hip) has resumed playing catch, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Barnes has been out nearly all month with a left hip impingement but is slowly easing back into a throwing program. He'll likely need a rehab appearance or two before returning from the 15-day injured list.

Padilla was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Padilla was knocked around in his lone appearance in the majors last month. He'll provide the White Sox with a fresh arm as they have a bullpen game Monday.

The Blue Jays optioned Francis to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

Toronto will swap Francis out of its bullpen for a fresher arm in Trent Thornton, who was called up from Buffalo in a corresponding move. Francis had most recently covered 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Saturday against the Rangers, striking out two while allowing four baserunners. As he returns to the minors, Francis will likely get stretched back out for starting duty.

The Blue Jays recalled Thornton from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

He'll join the big club for the first time this season after he had previously been optioned to Triple-A late in spring training. Over 23.2 innings out of the Buffalo bullpen, Thornton pitched to a 3.04 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 22:14 K:BB. He'll presumably be limited to lower-leverage spots in relief while he's up with the big club.

The Mets selected Hartwig's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Hartwig has collected a 4.21 ERA and 35:15 K:BB over 25.2 innings this season at Syracuse. The 25-year-old will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game. Hartwig is taking the roster spot vacated by John Curtiss.

Curtiss was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Cardinals.

Curtiss will head back to Syracuse after being called up June 10, appearing in two games, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four batters over 4.2 innings during his latest stint with New York. The 31-year-old has now produced a 4.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 11 punchouts over 17.2 frames in 13 appearances with the Mets in 2023. Replacing Curtiss on the active roster is Grant Hartwig, a right-handed reliever who had his contract selected from Triple-A on Monday.

Banks will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Rangers, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

During stops in the majors and minors this season, Banks has made 11 appearances spanning between two and three innings, and while he shouldn't be expected to work deep enough into Monday's contest to qualify for a win, he'll likely offer more length than the typical opener. Once Banks exits the contest, the White Sox could turn to Jesse Scholtens to cover multiple innings behind him.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Monday that Naughton (forearm) will undergo surgery June 26, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Marmol didn't specify whether Naughton would require Tommy John surgery or another kind of arm procedure, but the southpaw looks set to miss extended time in any case. Naughton has been on the shelf since April 8 with a strained left forearm and experienced a setback just three pitches into his first rehab appearance at Triple-A Memphis earlier this month.