MLB Player News

The Blue Jays designated Walker for assignment Sunday.

The lefty reliever will give up his spot on the 40-man roster to catcher Ali Sanchez, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday. Walker made three appearances out of the Toronto bullpen earlier this season but has otherwise spent the entire campaign at Buffalo, where he's compiled a 7.20 ERA, 2.10 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB across 10 innings.

The Blue Jays selected Sanchez's contract from Triple-A Buffalo, and he'll start behind the plate and bat eighth Sunday against the Rays.

The 28-year-old inked a minor-league deal with Toronto in December and will now join the big club with Tyler Heineman (concussion) going on the 7-day injured list. Sanchez had a .401 OPS in 96 plate appearances with the Marlins last season. He'll likely see infrequent playing time for the Blue Jays since Alejandro Kirk is locked is as the team's No. 1 backstop.

The Blue Jays placed Heineman on the 7-day injured list Sunday due to a concussion.

Heineman took a couple foul balls off his catcher's mask during Thursday's game against the Padres and reported concussion symptoms Saturday, so he's now in the concussion protocol. Ali Sanchez was added to the big-league roster to serve as Toronto's backup backstop while Heineman is out.

Hummel signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Before opting out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees a few days earlier, Hummel had seen action in 10 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, slashing .258/.415/.290 with no home runs and a stolen base over 41 plate appearances. The switch-hitting Hummel will immediately head to the big leagues with his new organization and could emerge as a short-side platoon player for the Orioles at either designated hitter on in a corner outfield spot.

Kjerstad is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Injuries are beginning to mount in the Baltimore outfield with Ramon Laureano (ankle) and Tyler O'Neill (shoulder) joining Colton Cowser (thumb) on the injured list, which has afforded Kjerstad a longer leash in the everyday lineup. However, despite starting each of the last five games, he's recorded just three hits in 20 at-bats to bring his batting average down to .202 on the season. He'll get Sunday off to clear his head while Jorge Mateo spells him in left field.

The Rangers designated Pillar for assignment Sunday.

The veteran outfielder is being jettisoned from the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster to create room for Alejandro Osuna, who was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday with Joc Pederson (hand) heading to the injured list. Pillar earned a spot on the Rangers' Opening Day roster and saw action in 20 games, producing a .209/.209/.256 slash line in 43 plate appearances.

Mountcastle is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Mountcastle looks to be getting a rest day after starting six of the Orioles' last seven games, including the second leg of Saturday's doubleheader. Emmanuel Rivera will fill in at first base for Mountcastle, who is slashing .266/.286/.342 with no home runs so far in May.

Abreu will start in right field and bat third in Sunday's series finale against the Orioles.

This will be Abreu's second consecutive appearance batting third after being elevated there for the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader in place of Alex Bregman (quadriceps). Abreu was held out of Saturday's nightcap while Rob Refsnyder batted third against a lefty, an arrangement that will likely continue while Bregman is sidelined. Hitting behind the sizzling Rafael Devers (1.347 OPS over the last 16 games) can only enhance the fantasy value of each outfielder.

The Rangers selected Osuna's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

With Joc Pederson (hand) landing on the injured list, the Rangers will bring aboard another left-handed hitter in Osuna. After a standout showing in the Cactus League this spring, the 22-year-old has continued to excel between stops at Double-A Frisco and Round Rock this season, slashing a collective .279/.386/.416 with two home runs and nine stolen bases over 184 plate appearances. While he could serve as the primary replacement for Pederson against right-handed pitching, the Rangers may prefer to cycle a number of players at the designated-hitter spot and instead use Osuna primarily in the outfield. He has experience at all three outfield spots but has played only center and left field in 2025.

Walls (groin) will start at shortstop and bat seventh Sunday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls sat out the previous three games due to groin soreness but is back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale. The 28-year-old has a .501 OPS through 45 games this season and is in the midst of a 2-for-25 slump.