MLB Player News
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Sal Stewart 1B | CIN
Reds' Sal Stewart: Moving to Triple-A
The Reds are promoting Stewart to Triple-A Louisville, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Stewart will move one step closer to the majors after shining in Double-A ball, posting a .306/.377.473 slash line with 10 homers, 44 RBI, 51 runs and 13 stolen bases over 80 games. The 21-year-old also continued to show an excellent eye at the plate with a 15.5 percent strikeout rate. If Stewart continues to hit well with Louisville, he could get his first call-up to the majors later this season.
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Tony Blanco 1B | PIT
Pirates' Tony Blanco: Beginning rehab assignment
Blanco (leg) began a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Pirates on Saturday, Anthony Murphy of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Blanco has been sidelined all season with a leg injury, but he should be nearing a return to Single-A Bradenton. He has excellent power potential but will need to display the ability to make more consistent contact to eventually make an impact in the majors.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Demoted to minors
The Reds optioned Encarnacion-Strand to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Encarnacion-Strand has seen his playing time dwindle over the past several days, and Jake Fraley's (shoulder) return from the IL will now leave the former without a spot on the active roster. The 25-year-old Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .208/.234/.377 across 137 plate appearances this season.
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Getting rest Saturday
Busch isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.
Busch went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a walk in Friday's loss, putting an end to what had been a six-game hitting streak. He'll get a chance to refresh Saturday while Justin Turner starts at first base, batting eighth.
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Dominic Smith 1B | ATL
Giants' Dominic Smith: Homers in Friday's win
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-7 win over the Dodgers.
Smith's solo shot in the fifth inning sparked a five-run rally for the Giants. This was his second homer with the team and the first at home. He's struggled with consistency at the plate lately, going just 3-for-21 (.143) over eight games in July so far. He's at a .244/.322/.385 slash line through 90 plate appearances this season while working in a timeshare with Wilmer Flores at first base.
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Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Hits 12th homer
Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during Thursday's 8-1 win over the Nationals.
Contreras took Jackson Rutledge deep in the seventh inning for a solo home run, bringing his season total up to 12 round trippers. The outing continued a solid stretch of play at the plate, as Contreras is 12-for-47 (.255) with seven runs scored and a 4:8 BB:K in his last 11 games. He's slashing .254/.343/.430 in 2025.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Keeps raking with solo shot
Steer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 6-0 win over Miami.
Steer crushed his 11th homer of the season and his second of the month of July. Additionally, the 27-year-old first baseman has registered at least one hit in 16 of his last 20 outings. During that span, Steer is hitting a torrid .361 with six long balls, five doubles, 16 RBI and two stolen bases covering 72 at-bats.
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Nate Lowe 1B | CIN
Nationals' Nathaniel Lowe: Pops 14th homer
Lowe went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Cardinals.
His first-inning long ball off Andre Pallante got the ball rolling on an 8-2 rout. Lowe snapped a 13-game homer drought with the blast, but he's been productive over the last few weeks, slashing .263/.318/.537 over his last 20 contests with five of his 14 home runs on the season and 17 of his 61 RBI.