MLB Player News

Toro isn't in the Athletics' lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Royals.

Toro will sit down for Tuesday's series opener after going 2-for-14 during Oakland's previous series against the Twins. Tyler Nevin, who was just promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas, will take over at third base and bat seventh.

Triple-A Norfolk placed Hunt on its 7-day injured list Tuesday with a left groin strain, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Hunt will now be sidelined for at least a week while nursing the groin issue. The catcher has produced a .192 average with three home runs, six RBI and six runs scored over 52 at-bats in 13 contests with Norfolk since being traded to the Orioles organization from the Mariners on May 22.

Melendez isn't in the Royals' lineup for Tuesday's game versus Oakland.

The A's will send Hogan Harris to the mound to begin Tuesday's contest, so the left-handed bat of Melendez will remain on the bench to begin the game. Garrett Hampson will fill the opening in left field while batting eighth.

The Athletics outrighted Brown to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Brown has started nearly every game for the A's this season, but he will be jettisoned off the 40-man roster and sent back to Triple-A after putting up just a .557 OPS through 195 plate appearances. The 31-year-old outfielder will remain within the organization, but his bat will presumably need to come alive in the minors for him to have any chance at returning to Oakland later this year. Lawrence Butler was recalled from Las Vegas in a corresponding move.

The Astros recalled Hernandez from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.

The right-hander was optioned to Sugar Land on Sunday but will quickly rejoin the Astros as Justin Verlander (neck) heads to the injured list. Hernandez has pitched well in his brief MLB action this season with one earned run allowed and five strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Bubic (elbow) made his most recent rehab start Friday with Triple-A Omaha, working four innings while striking out three and allowing two runs on four hits and three walks.

The outing was Bubic's fourth with Omaha and the 10th overall of his rehab assignment, which has now been extended another 10 days on two occasions after he exhausted his initial 30-day rehab window. His second 10-day extension period will come to an end June 26, at which point the Royals are likely to activate Bubic from the 60-day injured list. Kansas City doesn't seem to have a spot available in its rotation for Bubic at the moment, so he'll presumably be optioned to Omaha once activated. Bubic has posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB in 16.2 innings through his first four starts with Omaha.

The Athletics selected Nevin's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Nevin has slashed .296/.365/.667 at Triple-A since being DFA'd toward the end of May, and his resurgence in the minors has now allowed him to reclaim a spot on the A's. The 27-year-old has experience at the corner infield and corner outfield positions, and his versatility could allow him to start on a somewhat regular basis. J.D. Davis was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Alvarez is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the White Sox, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Alvarez will get a breather after he went 2-for-9 with two RBI and two strikeouts over the team's three-game series with the Tigers prior to Monday's off day. Yainer Diaz will slot in at designated hitter while Victor Caratini enters the lineup at catcher and bats seventh versus Chicago.

The Athletics recalled Butler from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Butler was sent to the minors in mid-May after slashing .179/.281/.274 through 121 major-league plate appearances. He has since improved while in Las Vegas, posting a .767 OPS over 27 games. Seth Brown was outrighted to Triple-A in a corresponding move, opening the door for Butler to receive regular playing time in Oakland's outfield.

Renfroe (toe) resumed playing light catch last Wednesday and was spotted taking some swings on the field last weekend, MLB.com reports.

Renfroe was placed on the 10-day injured list June 11 with a bone bruise and stress reaction in his left big toe, but he's already starting to take some small steps forward in his recovery. Shortly after Renfroe was placed on the IL, the Royals estimated that the 32-year-old outfielder would be out for 2-to-3 weeks. He'll thus have a chance to make it back from the shelf before the end of June.