MLB Player News

The Twins announced Wednesday they purchased the contract of outfielder/first baseman Chris Colabello from Triple-A Rochester. Colabello played at first base, left field, right field and DH for Rochester.

His slash line through 46 games is .358/.417/.659/1.076. He also had 12 home runs, 17 doubles and 39 RBI. Colabello played seven years of independent baseball before joining the Twins' organization in 2012.

"He's been hitting it, absolutely hitting it out there," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll see what he's got (Wednesday against the Braves). A left-hander on the mound (Atlanta's Paul Maholm), a good time for a right-hander to be out there. That's what we brought him up here for, to be a right-handed bat. Go get 'em."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard did not seem at all slowed Tuesday by soreness in his left knee that cost him the previous two games. Howard had just his fourth multi-RBI game in the month of May, to lead the Phillies to an easy, 7-3, win.

Howard went 3 for 5 with three runs driven in, before being replaced for a pinch hitter after his third single in the eighth inning.  

The cortisone injection Howard had in the knee appears to have helped, and he should be able to play through any lingering issue. He is batting .256 on the season, with 25 RBI. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, after missing the team's previous two games with left knee soreness.

Howard had a cortisone injection in the knee and hopes that he will be able to play through any lingering issues moving forward. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard rejoined the starting lineup Tuesday at Miami after missing two games with a knee injury. Howard enters play Tuesday mired in a 4-for-34 slump in his last nine games (eight starts).

"I guess if I blow out we’ll worry about that then," Howard said, per The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. expressed optimism Tuesday first baseman Ryan Howard isn't dealing with a major knee injury, despite it being the same leg he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.

"I think we have to be concerned any time our guys have any issues, but I don’t think it’s something that is so daunting that we’re panicking about it," Amaro told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "It’s something we have to be aware of and make sure he does his proper rehab to address it and make sure he’s OK. If there is a meniscus issue, it is repairable and there are some things he can do that can help alleviate some of the stuff he had."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was unavailable for Monday's game against the Marlins after having a cortisone injection in his left knee Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Howard is said to be day to day, though they are hopeful he'll be able to avoid the disabled list.

Howard underwent an MRI Monday and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said Howard had symptoms in his knee for a few weeks. Howard said the knee began bothering him more recently.

There is some speculation that his knee injury and the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series could be related.

“That’s the million dollar question right there,” Sheridan said. “For me, it’s like the old song: the foot bone is connected to the knee bone … to me the closed chain of the ankle relate to the knee, relate to the hip. They all play apart. So that’s a reasonable question. Whether that’s what’s happened, we don’t know.”

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was named National League Player of the Week Monday, MLB.com reports. He hit a major league-best .583 last week. 

The 29-year-old Votto also led the NL with a .655 on-base percentage and tied for second in hits with 14. He was third in total bases with 22. He homered twice and drove in five runs. 

"Joey is going to have those streaks because he demands perfection and has been working hard to get to this point," Reds manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. "When he's right, Joey Votto is one of the best there is."

It turns out Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard didn't get a scheduled day off Sunday as expected. Howard was kept out of the lineup against the Reds because of a knee injury and is unlikely to play Monday at Miami, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Phillies announced Howard will undergo a precautionary MRI on his left knee Monday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Reds for just the fifth time in 44 games. Michael Young drew the start at first base.

Howard entered play Sunday in a 4-for-34 slump (.118) in his last nine games. He has a double and two RBI in that stretch.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo ended a nine-game homerless drought Saturday in an 8-2 win over the Mets.  

Rizzo went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the fifth inning. He added a run scored and didn't strike out for the ninth game in a row.

 Rizzo is batting .282, including .369 in May.