MLB Player News

Taylor is slashing .253/.421/.440 with three home runs and nine steals in 27 games for High-A Bowling Green.

The Rays' first-round pick in last year's draft, Taylor has been at least 40 percent better than the average hitter in each league he has played in thus far. He has shown a very patient approach, with a 26.4 percent strikeout rate and a 23.1 percent walk rate. Taylor has an excellent batted-ball profile, with a 23.7 percent groundball rate, 7.1 percent infield-flyball rate, 21.3 percent Oppo% and a 36.1 percent hard-hit rate. In other words, he's hitting the ball hard and in the air with great frequency. Taylor has started 16 games at shortstop and 11 games at third base, and he should be able to move around the diamond as needed.

De La Cruz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Arizona.

For the first time all season, De La Cruz will exit the starting nine for what looks to be a routine maintenance day before the Reds continue their road trip Thursday in Los Angeles. Santiago Espinal will step in at shortstop in place of De La Cruz, who has slowed down a bit at the plate of late with two hits and six strikeouts in 14 at-bats over his last three games.

Abrams is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The lefty-hitting Abrams started in both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader and the White Sox are bringing a lefty (Garrett Crochet) to the hill for Wednesday's series finale, so Nationals manager Dave Martinez likely decided that Abrams could benefit from a game off. With Abrams out of the lineup for the first time since April 8, lightly used Rule 5 pick Nasim Nunez will pick up a rare start at shortstop.

Johnson is hitting .172 with a .390 OBP, one home run and four steals in 31 games for High-A Greensboro.

Johnson was touted by some evaluators as the best prep hitter since Joe Mauer or Ken Griffey Jr. when he was drafted fourth overall in 2022, so it's a bit jarring to see his career average sitting at .227. His career OBP is .409, and that's the area of his game he has leaned into thus far, as he is swinging less than 45 percent of the time and making contact less than 65 percent of the time. Once his luck on balls in play (.242 BABIP) stabilizes, his season line should look a bit better, but it's certainly been a disappointing return trip to the Sally League for Johnson, who turns 20 in June.

Henderson will start at shortstop and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

It's the first time this season that Henderson has batted anywhere other than leadoff. The 22-year-old's production has slowed in May (.649 OPS), so Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is electing to shake things up a bit. Toronto is starting left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on Wednesday, and the left-handed-hitting Henderson has actually been much better versus southpaws (1.008 OPS) this season.

Martinez (knee) has started in both of Triple-A Buffalo's last two games Sunday and Tuesday, going 1-for-7 with a home run and two walks between those contests.

Martinez was lifted in Friday's 12-7 win over Worcester when he was hit in the right knee by a pitch in the eighth inning, but after getting Saturday off, the 22-year-old looks to be healthy again. He's posted a .909 OPS through 154 plate appearances with Buffalo this season and should have a chance at making his MLB debut later on in 2024.

Tovar went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Padres.

Tovar doubled to lead off a five-run sixth for the Rockies and then homered to kick off the seventh. He continued his recent hot streak at the plate and now has at least a hit in eight straight games, slashing .343/.361/.686 with two homers, five RBI and five runs scored over that span. The 31.1 strikeout rate is a bit alarming, but Tovar continues to hit toward the top of the lineup and is still making solid contact with a .275 average over 180 plate appearances thus far.

Gonzalez went 1-for-1 with an RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rays.

Gonzalez, who entered as a pinch runner for Dominic Smith in the 10th inning, stayed in the game to play first base, then delivered the game-winning run in the 12th with a single just inside the line in right field. The utility infielder has been a serviceable piece for manager Alex Cora, who has deployed him at shortstop and first base, positions where Boston's regulars have suffered significant injuries. Gonzalez has hit safely in six of eight games, going 6-for-19 (.316) with two steals, one RBI and two runs scored.

Perdomo (knee) has started to take live at-bats, hit in the cages and field ground balls, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Perdomo, who's putting in five-to-seven hours per day while rehabbing at Salt River Fields, expressed optimism that he'll return by the end of the month. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo is not ready to put a timeline on the shortstop's return, but acknowledged Perdomo looks good executing the work he's currently doing. Next up, per the manager, is getting spikes on Perdomo's feet and having him run, cut, make turns and the agility to start and stop.

Alexander started at second base and went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Reds.

Alexander filled in for a resting Ketel Marte and plated both Arizona runs with a two-out single in the third inning. Those were his first RBI in 13 contests. His playing time has been spotty, as the Diamondbacks are intent on Kevin Newman as the primary shortstop while Geraldo Perdomo (knee) works his way back.