MLB Player News

Colorado optioned Kauffmann to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Kauffmann threw 43 pitches over four innings of long relief Monday versus the Nationals and wasn't going to be available for the next few days. Riley Pint has been brought up to fill the bullpen vacancy for Colorado.

Sale (shoulder) could be ready to begin a rehab assignment next week, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Sale will throw an up-and-down bullpen session Thursday at Triple-A Worcester and, assuming that goes well, could be cleared to start pitching in rehab games next. McCaffrey notes that the Red Sox are considering bringing Sale back from the injured list early and having him build up his stamina while in the majors. Sale is eligible for activation Aug. 1, but it seems as if he would need at least a few more days than that. He's been out since early June with a stress reaction in his left scapula.

Painter is undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Tuesday in Los Angeles, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It was already announced last week that Painter would require the reconstructive elbow procedure. Given the timing here, it's likely that the talented young right-hander won't pitch in a live game again until late 2024 or even early 2025. There had been talk of him making his MLB debut with the Phillies around the beginning of the 2023 campaign, before his elbow began barking during spring training.

Freeland (shoulder) threw a simulated game Tuesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Freeland tossed around 25 pitches from the mound and also did a bit of fielding work as he prepares for a possible return to the Rockies' rotation this weekend against the Athletics. The left-hander has been sidelined since before the All-Star break due to a dislocated right (non-throwing) shoulder.

Sanchez (shoulder) completed a 19-pitch bullpen session Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

While the side session represents a step forward after Sanchez had been limited to playing catch off flat ground heading into the All-Star break, the 24-year-old right-hander still doesn't appear especially close to pitching in a game. Sanchez has endured a slow buildup since undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in October, which came after he had surgery in July 2021 to repair a capsule tear in the same shoulder. He'll likely continue to throw side sessions for a few more weeks before he advances to facing hitters in live batting practice or simulated games.

High-A West Michigan activated Jobe (back) from its 7-day injured list Saturday and assigned him to Single-A Lakeland.

Lakeland is likely just a temporary stop for Jobe, who had been conducting his rehab assignment in the Florida State League after opening the season on the IL while he recovered from lumbar spine inflammation. Jobe has been sharp over his six appearances at Lakeland, covering 16 innings while posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB. He'll likely be cleared to make his 2023 debut at West Michigan in the coming weeks.

High-A West Michigan reinstated Kohlhepp (elbow) from its 7-day injured list Saturday and assigned him to Single-A Lakeland.

Kohlhepp had already been on a rehab assignment in the Florida State League, but he looks set to stick around in Lakeland for the foreseeable future before perhaps climbing back up to West Michigan if his performance warrants a bump up the minor-league ladder. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last April and didn't make his professional debut until June 22, when he began his assignment at Lakeland. Through seven appearances thus far, Kohlhepp has yet to allow a run and owns an 11:7 K:BB over 8.1 innings.

Battenfield (shoulder) covered 5.1 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Columbus, striking out two while allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks.

The appearance with Columbus marked the fourth of Battenfield's rehab assignment, which began at Double-A Akron before he moved up to the Guardians' top affiliate last week. He's turned in an acceptable 4.15 ERA but a poor 13:10 K:BB in 17.1 innings through those four outings, but the Guardians could still view him as their preferred No. 5 starter over Xzavion Curry, who recently moved out of the bullpen to make a pair of three-inning spot starts. After stretching out to 86 pitches Sunday, Battenfield could be activated from the 60-day injured list to take the hill when the Guardians next require a fifth starter Friday versus the White Sox.

Urquidy (shoulder) tossed three innings in his most recent rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land, striking out two while allowing two earned runs on four hits and one walk.

Urquidy spotted 29 of his 45 pitches for strikes in the second outing of his rehab assignment as he gets stretched back out again after having been sidelined since the beginning of May with right shoulder inflammation. The 28-year-old will shift his rehab to Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday for his third rehab start, and he'll most likely require an additional outing after that before returning from the 60-day injured list. Brandon Bielak would seem to be most at risk of losing his spot in the Houston rotation once Urquidy is deemed ready to go.

Kelly (calf) will be activated off the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday against the Cardinals, MLB.com reports.

Kelly was placed on the IL on June 27 after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lower right leg. He's since been able to two simulated games at the Diamondbacks' spring complex and most recently built up to 75 pitches. Kelly should be in store for close to a normal workload as he steps back into the rotation Tuesday and will be looking to halt the Diamondbacks' five-game losing streak.