MLB Player News

Hamilton went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Rays.

Although Hamilton got a hold of a Zack Littell fastball for a long ball in the third inning, the 335-foot solo shot wouldn't have left the yard in any other MLB ballpark, per Statcast. Wednesday still marked the first homer of the year for Hamilton, who's off to a miserable start at the plate while slashing .083/.120/.208 with two RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases over 24 at-bats (10 games).

Giolito (hamstring) struck out four and gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks over two innings during his rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Portland.

Due to poor weather being in the forecast at Triple-A Worcester, Giolito moved down a level for his third rehab start after making his previous two appearances with Boston's top affiliate. The drop in competition didn't make things any easier for Giolito, who struggled to command his arsenal and spotted just 34 of his 60 pitches for strikes. The right-hander has hovered between 51 and 64 pitches in each of his three rehab starts and has yet to pitch on less than five days' rest, so he could stay in the minors for another outing or two to push up his pitch count and shake off some more rust. Giolito was placed on the injured list after suffering a low-grade left hamstring strain in mid-March, but he also missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow.

Bello (shoulder) struck out seven and allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Wednesday in his rehab start with Double-A Portland on Wednesday. He also hit a batter and was charged with a pitch-clock violation.

Bello got off to a rocky start in his fourth minor-league rehab appearance in allowing a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, but he settled down a bit over the following three-plus innings and concluded his night with three straight strikeouts. He spotted 51 of his 71 pitches for strikes and flashed a fastball that hovered in the 94 to 96 mile-per-hour range, roughly in line with his average velocity from the 2024 season (95.7 mph). According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said earlier in the week that Wednesday's outing would likely be Bello's last on the farm, so the right-hander appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list early next week. With the Red Sox having confirmed their starters through Monday, Bello tentatively lines up to make his 2025 debut Tuesday at home versus the Mariners.

Munoz earned the save Wednesday against the Reds after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.

Munoz was called in for the ninth frame to protect a two-run lead, and he needed 19 pitches (of which 13 were strikes) to close things out. It was Munoz's seventh save of the season, which leads the American League and is second-most in the majors behind Robert Suarez (eight). Munoz has converted on all of his save opportunities this season and has not yielded a run with a 12:4 K:BB across nine innings.

Raleigh went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.

Raleigh saw his streak of home runs end at three games Tuesday, but he didn't lose a beat in Wednesday's win. He took the first pitch he saw from Nick Martinez deep to center field for a 412-foot homer in the fifth inning, and Raleigh logged the Mariners' fifth and final run in the seventh frame with another solo shot off Taylor Rogers. Raleigh is up to seven home runs on the year, which is tied with Aaron Judge for second-most in the majors behind Tyler Soderstrom (eight).

Holliday went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Guardians.

Holliday provided all the offense Baltimore would need with a second-inning grand slam off Gavin Williams. It's the second grand slam of the 21-year-old Holliday's career and his second home run this season. Holliday, who had been stuck in a 0-for-17 slump in the five games prior to Wednesday, is now batting .216 with a .623 OPS, eight RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base through his first 52 plate appearances this season.

Bubic didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Yankees after allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

The left-hander escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but an Anthony Volpe double in the third inning brought in a pair of runs to get the Yankees on the board. Although he gave up another run in the fourth, Bubic limited the damage by getting Jazz Chisholm to fly out with the bases juiced once again. Bubic is on the rise to begin 2025, boasting a 1.88 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB through four starts (24 innings), and he'll have a prime opportunity to enhance his numbers in his next scheduled start next week at home against Colorado.

Schmidt didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Royals after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out two.

Given that the right-hander missed the first couple of weeks of the regular season with shoulder fatigue, it was encouraging to see him be able to throw 73 pitches in his first start for the Yankees this year. Salvador Perez drove in a run on a single in the first inning, and the Royals plated two more in the fifth. Just one of Schmidt's hits allowed went for extra bases, however, and he'll search for more length when he takes the hill in his next scheduled start in Cleveland early next week.

Williams (1-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

Williams pitched better than his final line would indicate, though he was hurt by the home-run ball -- he'd give up a grand slam to Jackson Holiday in the second inning before Ramon Laureano added a solo shot in the seventh. It's the first loss of the season for the 25-year-old Williams, who'll carry a 4.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB into his next start, tentatively scheduled as a tough home matchup with the Yankees.

Newcomb didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rays after allowing four hits and two walks in 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Despite falling one out shy of nabbing the potential win, Newcomb scattered four singles and didn't allow a single runner to reach third base during his time on the bump. Through 17.1 innings (four starts) this season, the journeyman southpaw holds a solid 3.63 ERA and 19:9 K:BB but a concerning 1.90 WHIP. Newcomb will be looking to work into the fifth inning for the first time this year in his next time out, currently slated for next week at home against the Mariners.