MLB Player News

Cronenworth (concussion) has been participating in light baseball activities and is "ramping up," per MLB.com.

Cronenworth was hit on the chin by a fastball during a game April 18. He played out the rest of that contest, but after later experiencing concussion symptoms, he landed on the 7-day IL. While Cronenworth has been able to resume taking light swings and watched a game from the dugout Saturday for the first time since being placed on the injured list, the Padres seem intent on having him take his recovery slowly. He'll likely need a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to return, and at this point, it appears he won't be activated until at least early July.

Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday in a loss to the Angels.

Dalton Rushing swatted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to bring the Dodgers to within two runs, and Ward followed with a solo shot to move his team even closer. However, the Angels scored the final seven runs of the game to turn the outcome into a blowout. Still, Ward extended his recent run of good form -- he's notched an extra-base hit and at least one RBI in each of his past three games. He's not quite an everyday player in the absence of Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring), but given that he's started in left field each of the past three times Los Angeles has faced a right-handed starter, Ward appears to be set for pretty steady playing time for as long as Hernandez remains out of action.

Vientos is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Padres on Sunday.

Vientos will be on the bench for the start of Sunday's game after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 3-2 loss to San Diego. Jared Young will start at first base while Juan Soto serves as the designated hitter.

Vargas is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Nationals on Sunday.

It's the third game in a row in which Vargas will be on the bench for the start of the game. With Pavin Smith serving as the team's DH, Vargas has been losing playing time to rookie LuJames Groover, who is starting at first base and batting eighth in Sunday's series finale.

Bauers isn't in Milwaukee's starting lineup Sunday versus the Rockies.

Bauers reached base eight times (four hits and four walks) and drove in four runs over the first two games of the series, but he'll begin on the bench Sunday with Colorado sending southpaw Kyle Freeland to the mound. Andrew Vaughn is starting at first base in Bauers' stead.

Devers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.

The veteran slugger drew a walk in the third inning and took Caleb Thielbar deep to right-center field in the sixth. Devers has recorded at least one hit in three straight games and is batting .227 with eight runs scored, four RBI and a homer across 49 plate appearances in the last 10 contests. On the season, he's slashing .243/.293/.424 with 32 RBI, 29 runs scored, eight long balls and a 30.4 percent strikeout rate in 276 plate appearances.

Santana (thigh) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Santana started at first base, played five innings and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. He was back at Chase Field to take batting practice with the Diamondbacks on Saturday. It's unclear what role Santana will have once he's ready, as first base and DH are crowded with Pavin Smith, Ildemaro Vargas and LuJames Groover all looking for playing time. That list doesn't include the imminent returns Lourdes Gurriel (hamstring) and Jordan Lawlar (wrist), both of whom may need at-bats at DH.

Vargas (thigh) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter, went 0-for-1, and finished as the designated hitter in a 6-1 loss to Washington.

Vargas, who was removed from Thursday's game with a thigh issue, has come off the bench in the next two contests. He was able to play defense Friday before getting a plate appearance Saturday, indicating he has no limitations and may simply be slipping back into a bench role. The recent activation of Pavin Smith from the injured list and the call-up of prospect LuJames Groover, who started at first base Friday and Saturday, appears to be impacting Vargas' playing time.

Bauers went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, four walks, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.

Bauers didn't get many pitches to hit, but he demonstrated plenty of plate discipline. Remarkably, Saturday marked his second four-walk game in June, the first having come Monday versus the Giants. He has gone 5-for-17 (.294) at the plate with a 10:5 BB:K and two homers over six games this month. Bauers is batting .281 with an .892 OPS, 11 homers, 40 RBI, 37 runs scored, five steals and 12 doubles over 55 games this season. He needs just one more homer to match his career high, one he's reached three previous times (2019, 2023, 2024).

The Mets announced Saturday that Polanco's rehab assignment has been halted due to ankle soreness.

Polanco began a rehab assignment last week and was expected to be nearing a return to the Mets' lineup, but he reported soreness in his ankle Saturday and will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has dealt with Achilles and wrist issues this season, and he's now managing yet another injury. Polanco has been limited to 61 plate appearances across 14 games this season, and he's slashed an underwhelming .179/.246/.286 with one home run and two RBI.