MLB Player News
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Hits first homer of season
Flores went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 14-3 loss to the Phillies.
Flores has gone 6-for-19 (.316) with three RBI, a homer, a double, and a 3:3 BB:K over his last seven contests. It's been more of the same for Flores this year -- he began the year in a utility role, but he's earned a short-side platoon role with LaMonte Wade at first base over the first month of the campaign. The Giants have had good infield health so far, so it's unlikely Flores carves out a much larger role. He's slashing .234/.322/.325 with five extra-base hits, 12 RBI and seven runs scored across 90 plate appearances.
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Kody Clemens 1B | MIN
Phillies' Kody Clemens: Recalled by Philadelphia
The Phillies recalled Clemens from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
The move corresponds with the Phillies placing Trea Turner on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. Clemens was called up to the majors in April while Bryce Harper was on paternity leave. Clemens appeared in one game, going 2-for-4 with a three-home run against the Reds on April 22. He's slashing .247/.327/.419 with five doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI over 104 plate appearances in Triple-A.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Returns to action
Encarnacion-Strand went 0-for-3 in Friday's 3-0 loss to Baltimore.
Encarnacion-Strand missed the last four games with a hand injury. His first full season in the majors has gotten off to a rocky start, as the first baseman is slashing .190/.216/.305 over 111 plate appearances. His strikeout rate is nearly identical to what it was in 2023, but the walk rate is about half of what it was last year and Encarnacion-Strand is in the fifth percentile in chase percentage.
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Jake Cronenworth 1B | SD
Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Goes yard again
Cronenworth went 3-for-5 with a solo homer in Friday's win over Arizona.
Cronenworth smacked a 398-foot home run off Slade Cecconi in the fourth inning to give him his third homer in five games. The Padres first baseman also extended his hit streak to seven games, batting .370 (10-for-27) during that time. Cronenworth has started the season on a tear, slashing .279/.353/.516 with six home runs, 25 RBI and 18 runs scored over 142 plate appearances.
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Joey Gallo LF | CHW
Nationals' Joey Gallo: Cleared for rehab assignment
Gallo (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Fredericksburg on Saturday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
It's a relatively quick turnaround for Gallo, who went on the injured list less than a week ago with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. Because he's missed so little time, Gallo shouldn't need too many rehab games before being activated.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Back in action Friday
Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will start at first base and bat fifth in Friday's game versus the Orioles.
Encarnacion-Strand missed four starts due to lingering left hand soreness following a hit-by-pitch over the weekend, but he's ready to go now. The 24-year-old has slashed a disappointing .196/.222/.314 with a 28.7 percent strikeout rate in 25 contests with the Reds this season.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Marlins' Josh Bell: Clubs fourth homer
Bell went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Rockies.
The first baseman lofted a Peter Lambert curveball over the right-field fence in the third inning, tying the game at 3-3. Bell has struggled out of the gate this season, slashing .185/.273/.306 through 33 contests with four homers, 11 RBI and 16 runs, but the streaky slugger may be heating up -- he went 4-for-12 in the three-game sweep of Colorado.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Likely to return Friday
Encarnacion-Strand (hand) and teammate Tyler Stephenson are expected to return Friday when the Reds host the Orioles, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The Reds' bats went quiet on their 2-4 road trip against the Rangers and Padres, hitting .201 as a team while averaging 10 strikeouts per game on the trip. Of course, Encarnacion-Strand has been struggling this year in both aspects, hitting .196 with a troubling 3:31 BB:K ratio in 108 plate appearances. Perhaps with better health and better weather he will come close to displaying the form he showed in 2023, when he hit .270/.328/.477 in 241 plate appearances at the big-league level.
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LaMonte Wade 1B | CHW
Giants' LaMonte Wade: Hits bench Thursday
Wade is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Wade went 0-for-6 with three walks and an RBI while starting at first base in each of the last three games, but he'll get a day off as the Giants and Red Sox wrap up their series with an afternoon contest. Wilmer Flores will join the San Francisco infield as a replacement for Wade.
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Jake Cronenworth 1B | SD
Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Belts go-ahead grand slam
Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a grand slam during Wednesday's 6-2 win over Cincinnati.
Cronenworth swatted his third career grand slam in the seventh inning off reliever Fernando Cruz, breaking the 2-2 tie and giving the Padres the eventual win. The first baseman has generated a hit in six straight games with five extra-base hits and nine total RBI during that stretch.