MLB Player News
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Aiming to return June 9
Athletics general manager David Forst said Tuesday that the target date for Kurtz's (hip) return is June 9 for the start of their series against the Angels, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Kurtz is not expected to resume running until Saturday as he recovers from a strained left hip flexor, so it's a surprise that he might be ready to be activated early next week. The Athletics have moved Tyler Soderstrom from left field back to first base to account for Kurtz's absence.
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Abraham Toro 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Abraham Toro: Shifts to third base
Toro started at third base and went 1-for-4 in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Angels.
Toro, who had been the regular starter at first base, shifted to third base while Romy Gonzalez, fresh off the injured list, started at first. Toro is batting .306 with an .822 OPS over 19 games since his contract was selected from Triple-A Worcester. The two could share the position going forward after Red Sox manager Alex Cora scrapped a plan to give Kristian Campbell starts there.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Shines in return to lineup
Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI during Monday's 7-6 loss to the Angels.
Out since May 7 with a quad injury, Gonzalez showed just what the Red Sox have been missing in the last month, coming through with a big two-run double in the fifth that pulled Boston within a run and brought his RBI total to eight on the year. The 28-year-old picked up right where he left off after his good start to the season, now slashing .316/.365/.439 in 63 plate appearances.
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LaMonte Wade RF | LAA
Giants' LaMonte Wade: Labeled day-to-day
X-rays on Wade's hand returned negative after he left Monday's game against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Wade was struck by a pitch on the right hand in the second inning, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury. The club is considering him day-to-day until further notice.
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LaMonte Wade RF | LAA
Giants' LaMonte Wade: Exits after HBP
Wade left Monday's game against the Padres after being struck by a pitch on his right hand during the bottom of the second inning, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Wade is presumably headed for further evaluation after departing Monday's clash. Casey Schmitt entered the game in his place to play first base.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Continuing rehab assignment
Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that Encarnacion-Strand (back) will remain on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville to begin the week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports. "When he went down [with lower back inflammation], he wasn't swinging great," Francona said of Encarnacion-Strand. "Then you lose some time. You try to use [the rehab assignment] to your advantage."
Francona's comments suggest that Encarnacion-Strand isn't dealing with any physical setbacks since kicking off his rehab assignment May 22. Instead, the Reds want the 25-year-old to stockpile some more at-bats in the minors to get his timing back at the plate after he had struggled to begin the season before getting hurt and then being out of action for more than a month. Between stops in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Louisville during his rehab assignment, Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .355/.412/.742 with seven extra-base hits and a 2:8 BB:K over 34 plate appearances. The Reds could revisit adding Encarnacion-Strand back to the active roster following Thursday's off day.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Activated from injured list
The Red Sox activated Gonzalez (quad) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Gonzalez needed only two rehab games with Triple-A Worcester in order to convince the Red Sox he was ready to go. The utility player will be thrown back into the first-base mix for Boston, likely sharing the position with Abraham Toro.
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Jac Caglianone 1B | KC
Royals' Jac Caglianone: Added to major-league roster
The Royals selected Caglianone's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Caglianone's promotion is official and he will make his major-league debut Tuesday in St. Louis. The 22-year-old earned a call-up after slashing .322/.389/.593 with 15 home runs and two stolen bases over 50 games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Omaha. Caglianone is expected to see most of his playing time in right field for the Royals, but he can also handle first base.