MLB Player News

High-A Cedar Rapids placed Doncon on the 7-day injured list April 12 with an undisclosed injury.

The 21-year-old corner infielder hit .063 with one home run and a 44.4 percent strikeout rate in five games before landing on the shelf. Doncon hit .254 with 11 home runs, six steals and a 21.9 percent strikeout rate last year while splitting the year between Single-A and High-A.

Single-A Fort Myers activated Pena (undisclosed) from the 7-day injured list May 6.

The undersized second baseman missed a little over two weeks with the undisclosed injury and has hit .417 with one double, one strikeout and one caught stealing in four games since getting activated. On the season, Pena is hitting .308 with one home run, two steals, a 7.0 percent strikeout rate and a 2.3 percent walk rate in 43 plate appearances. Pena has hit 52.8 percent of balls on the ground and 45.9 percent to the opposite field, which is a recipe for a high batting average and minimal power.

The Athletics promoted Jump from High-A Lansing to Double-A Midland on Tuesday.

Jump underwent Tommy John surgery in college and was selected with the 73rd pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft. The six-foot southpaw gets good run on his mid-90s fastball and has two strong breaking balls in his slider and curveball. Jump logged a 2.32 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 45:5 K:BB in 31 innings across six appearances for Lansing.

Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed that Alvarez (hand) will not be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Tuesday, Matt Thomas of SportsTalk 790 in Houston reports.

Espada did say that he expected Alvarez back soon, and indications are that it will likely be for the start of the team's series in Texas against the Rangers on Thursday. Alvarez is coming back from a right hand muscle strain and resumed hitting in the batting cage Monday.

DeBarge did not suffer a serious injury after getting hit by a pitch in the wrist and should be able to return this week, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. He hasn't played for High-A Cedar Rapids since suffering the injury Thursday.

DeBarge is having a potential breakout season at High-A by hitting .279/.409/.468 with four home runs and 16 stolen bases in 28 games. Hopefully this injury won't be a significant setback.

Eisert will be deployed as the White Sox's opening pitcher in front of bulk reliever Jonathan Cannon in Tuesday's game against the Reds, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.

The White Sox haven't used an opener since an April 29 loss to the Brewers, but manager Will Venable may want the left-handed Eisert to begin the game on the mound since the Reds typically have the left-handed-hitting TJ Friedl serve as their leadoff hitter. Eisert is unlikely to work more than one or two innings before turning the game over to Cannon, who previously followed an opener in that April 26 contest against the Athletics and ended up covering a season-high 7.2 innings.

The White Sox will deploy Cannon as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Brandon Eisert in Tuesday's game against the Reds, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.

Cannon has started in seven of his eight appearances on the season, but he'll enter Tuesday's contest out of the bullpen once Eisert exits the contest after likely working the first inning or two. Though he doesn't make many bats miss, Cannon has performed well over his last five outings, going 2-2 with a 3.30 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 30 innings.

Lavender (elbow) is scheduled to throw his first true bullpen session of the season Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Working his way back from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his left elbow last May, Lavender said he had felt "unreal" during his recent throwing sessions before he completed what he described as a "short" bullpen session last weekend. The southpaw is now in line to throw a more traditional side session Tuesday, and he'll likely steadily increase the volume and intensity of his throwing in the weeks to come. Lavender will eventually advance to facing hitters in live batting practice and simulated games before heading out on an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The Rule 5 selection could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list and make his MLB debut with the Rays at some point in June or July.

Kelly (glute) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, MLB.com reports.

Kelly was placed on the 15-day injured list April 11 due to a left gluteal strain, but he had resumed playing catch in recent weeks and had hoped to begin throwing off a mound last Wednesday. The Rays haven't confirmed if Kelly was in fact able to start throwing bullpen sessions, but the right-handed reliever still seemingly has a chance at being ready to return from the IL before the end of the month. Prior to being shut down with the injury, Kelly struck out two batters and gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks in five innings over his five relief appearances.

Taylor will make some appearances out of the bullpen for Double-A Birmingham as means to manage his workload, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox still plan to develop Taylor as a starting pitcher, but they will be careful with his workload after he missed all of 2023 following Tommy John surgery and most of 2024 with a lat injury. Taylor has made six starts with Birmingham this season, posting a 1.56 ERA and 19:10 K:BB over 17.1 frames.