MLB Player News
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Trenton Brooks DH | SD
Padres' Trenton Brooks: Receives call to majors
The Padres selected Brooks' contract from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.
Brooks logged 29 plate appearances in the majors with the Giants in 2024, but he was outrighted off the 40-man roster last July and elected free agency before catching on with the Padres on a minor-league deal. The 29-year-old has been a mainstay in the lineup at El Paso this season and will earn a look with the big club after slashing .313/.415/.585 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI over 265 plate appearances. Brooks isn't included in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, but he could be an option for the Padres in left field or at first base and designated hitter against right-handed pitching while Jackson Merrill (concussion) and Jason Heyward (oblique) are on the injured list.
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Out of Sunday's lineup
Walker is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Walker's troubles at the plate have continued in June with a .678 OPS through 12 games, and he'll sit Sunday after starting the previous 14 contests. Victor Caratini will take over at first base for the series finale versus Minnesota.
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Tyler Soderstrom C | ATH
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Receiving rare day off
Soderstrom is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
The 23-year-old will take a seat for the first time since May 4 while the Athletics hand JJ Bleday a start in left field. Though he's been limited to two home runs through his first 13 games in June, Soderstrom has demonstrated a patient approach at the plate, drawing 10 walks while striking out just nine times.
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Keston Hiura 2B | LAD
Rockies' Keston Hiura: Remains in limited role
Hiura is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Hiura has produced a weak .222/.333/.278 slash line in 21 plate appearances since being promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque on May 31. He'll be on the bench for the third time in the Rockies' last four matchups with right-handed starting pitchers and looks like he'll have to settle for a part-time role for the time being.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Heading to bench Sunday
Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Goldschmidt will receive Sunday off after a run of 16 consecutive starts, during which he posted a .194/.275/.339 slash line with three doubles and two homers. Ben Rice will step in at first base for the Yankees while Aaron Judge rests his legs as the designated hitter.
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Dominic Smith 1B | ATL
Giants' Dominic Smith: Doubles in loss
Smith went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the Dodgers.
Smith doubled to right field during the fifth inning and added a walk in the ninth before coming around to score. The 30-year-old has now logged at least one hit in four straight games, slashing .571/.625/.929 with four runs scored, three RBI, two doubles and a home run across 16 plate appearances during that span. The first baseman has provided an offensive boost since signing with the Giants on June 4, slashing .364/.395/.545 with seven RBI, four runs scored, three doubles, a homer and a stolen base across 38 plate appearances.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Taking seat Sunday
Steer is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Steer started the previous four games but will head to the bench Sunday. He has a .233/.267/.326 slash line and 33.3 percent strikeout rate through 12 contests in June. Christian Encarnacion-Strand will shift to first base while Connor Joe receives a start in left field.
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Casey Schmitt SS | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Lifts another grand slam
Schmitt went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the Dodgers.
They all count the same in the box score, but Schmitt's slam Saturday was off position player Enrique Hernandez in the ninth inning. It took Schmitt 154 major-league games to get his first career grand slam, which he hit Friday before repeating the feat Saturday. He's up to three homers, 14 RBI, six runs scored, three doubles and no stolen bases while slashing .232/.329/.406 over 80 plate appearances. All three of his homers have been over his last five games as he's taken on an increased role with Matt Chapman (hand) on the IL.
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Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Homers in win
Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.
Contreras padded the Cardinals' lead to 8-4 with a 397-foot home run in the ninth inning. The 33-year-old has been scorching in June, hitting safely in 11 of 13 games while tallying eight extra-base hits, 14 RBI and nine runs scored. For the year, he's slashing .255/.340/.422 with nine homers, 44 RBI, 34 runs scored and two steals across 286 plate appearances.
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Tim Elko 1B | CHW
White Sox's Tim Elko: Sent down to minors
The White Sox optioned Elko to Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday.
Elko had been working as Chicago's primary first baseman prior to the demotion and slugged four homers with eight RBI and a stolen base over 18 games, though he posted a mediocre .601 OPS and 38.1 percent strikeout rate. His spot on the 26-man roster has been taken by Ryan Noda, who was called up from Charlotte in a corresponding move and could take over as Chicago's top option at first base.