MLB Player News
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Mets' Pete Alonso: Clobbers ninth homer of season
Alonso went 2-for-4 with one homer, four RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 9-4 victory over San Francisco.
Alonso leads the league in long balls with nine through Thursday's games. The star first baseman is also slashing .286/.375/.649, and is tied for fourth in MLB with 19 RBI. While there is plenty of time for the two-time Home Run Derby champion to cool off, it's worth noting that he's well on pace to surpass his career-high mark of 53 homers.
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C.J. Cron 1B | BOS
Rockies' C.J. Cron: Goes deep in win
Cron went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run in a 5-0 win against the Phillies on Thursday.
Cron gave the Rockies all the offense they ended up needing with his two-run shot to left field in the first inning. The homer was just his second across his past 15 games after he began the campaign with three long balls over his first three contests. Cron has gone deep at least 25 times in each of his past four full seasons, and with five so far in 2023, he appears primed to reach that total again.
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Brandon Dixon 1B | SD
Padres' Brandon Dixon: Optioned to Triple-A
Dixon was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.
With Fernando Tatis returning from suspension Thursday, Dixon has now been optioned twice in the last four days. The 31-year-old utility man is slashing .300/.464/.600 in 28 minor-league plate appearances, and he could bounce around between levels throughout the season.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Reds' Joey Votto: No timetable for second rehab
Reds manager David Bell said Thursday that there is no set date for Votto (shoulder/biceps) to resume a rehab assignment, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Votto was pulled off his rehab stint Saturday after batting just .184/.289/.316 with 21 strikeouts through 45 plate appearances at Triple-A Louisville. He's currently working out in Cincinnati as he tries to recapture some semblance of timing at the dish. The 39-year-old underwent surgery last August to repair tears in his left rotator cuff and left biceps muscle.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Returns to lineup Thursday
Steer (knee/quadriceps) is back in the lineup Thursday against the Pirates.
Steer missed three games because of right knee and quad soreness, but he's all set to return to action as the Reds' starting third baseman and No. 3 hitter Thursday night versus the Pirates and right-hander Roansy Contreras. The 25-year-old has slashed .320/.424/.520 with two homers and one steal in 15 games this season.
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Matt Mervis 1B | WAS
Cubs' Matt Mervis: Nothing left to prove at Triple-A
Mervis is slashing .267/.426/.533 with three home runs and more walks (13) than strikeouts (11) through 61 plate appearances with Triple-A Iowa.
Mervis, who just turned 25, had a 152 wRC+ in 57 games at Triple-A last year, so it would have been disappointing if he'd not gotten off to a great start in 2023. Nonetheless, his 21.3 percent walk rate is pretty eye opening -- he had a 10.4 percent walk rate in 240 plate appearances for Iowa last year. Trey Mancini (-0.7 fWAR), Eric Hosmer (-0.1 fWAR) and Edwin Rios (-0.2 fWAR) have all been below replacement-level players so far this season, so Mervis could get a look sooner than later.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Takes part in running work
Steer (knee/quadricep) said he ran sprints at 100 percent speed prior to Wednesday's 8-0 loss to the Rays, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Steer went unused for the third game in a row due to the sore right knee, but his ability to run at full speed without incident suggests he should be back in the lineup before long. For his part, Steer said he expects to return to the starting nine for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh, but manager David Bell hasn't confirmed as much.
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Drew Ellis 1B | PHI
Phillies' Drew Ellis: Links up with Philadelphia
Ellis signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Sunday.
The 27-year-old infielder will be moving on to the third organization of his career after stints with Arizona and Seattle. Ellis saw 35 games' worth of big-league action between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, slashing .141/.270/.212 over 100 career plate appearances in the majors. Expect him to report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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C.J. Cron 1B | BOS
Rockies' C.J. Cron: On bench Wednesday
Cron is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Cron looks to be getting some maintenance for the day game after a night game after he manned first base in each of Colorado's last eight contests. Mike Moustakas will spell Cron at the position and bat fifth in the series finale.
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Brewers' Rowdy Tellez: Takes seat Wednesday
Tellez is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Mariners.
The lefty-hitting Tellez will take a seat while Seattle brings southpaw Marco Gonzales to the hill. Luke Voit will hit sixth and play first base in the series finale.