MLB Player News

Motter (concussion) took grounders Tuesday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

The team believes he's progressing as well as possible. He's eligible to return from the disabled list July 6 and seems on track to do so, though recovery times from concussions can be hard to predict.

Torres' absence Tuesday against the Braves is due to a stiff hip flexor, Brendan Kuty of NJ.com reports.

Torres apparently suffered the injury Monday night. The seriousness of the injury is not yet clear, though the Yankees have a day off Thursday, so they could elect to sit Torres on Wednesday as well in order to give him three days to heal.

Barreto was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.

Barreto has hit just .212 but has three homers in 18 games at the major-league level this season. He'll make way for the return of Matt Chapman (hand) from the disabled list.

Torres is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Braves.

Torres is 9-for-23 over his last six games, part of an impressive rookie campaign in which he's hit .296/.353/.560 with 15 homers in 61 games. Neil Walker will get the start at second base in his absence.

Polanco was reinstated from his 80-game suspension Monday.

Polanco has been out all year after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The Twins will hope he can get back to the form he showed in the second half of last season, when he hit .293 with 10 homers and seven steals.

Semien went 2-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Indians on Sunday while also getting picked off first base. He's now hitting .368 (7-for-19) with an RBI, a walk and three runs over the last five games.

Semien's average has only gone up a modest six points overall to .251, but the more important aspect of his recent surge is that he may be rounding back into form after hitting just .182 over the first 21 games of June. The shortstop has actually coaxed his strikeout rate down to a career-low 19.5 percent this season, but he's also making hard contact at almost two percentage points lower than last season (28.8 percent, as compared to 2017's 30.3 percent). Coupled with a drop in flyball rate from 42.1 percent to 36.1 percent, Semien is producing only modest power numbers thus far (seven home runs over 375 plate appearances).

Joseph was outrighted to Double-A Bowie on Sunday after going unclaimed off waivers, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

As expected, the other 29 teams had limited interest in acquiring Joseph through trade or the waiver wire after the Orioles designated him for assignment last week. Though he didn't make much of an impression while appearing in four games with the Orioles, Joseph has been magnificent with Bowie this season, logging a .947 OPS across 286 plate appearances. That production isn't quite as impressive after accounting for the fact that the 29-year-old is well above the median age for the Eastern League.

Chavis (suspension) will make his 2018 debut with short-season Lowell on Monday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Chavis will be back in action after serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing substance. Expect to see him back at the Double-A level in the near future after getting some reps in with Lowell.

Torres went 1-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run Sunday against the Red Sox.

Torres recorded only one hit but made it count by launching a three-run home run off David Price in the first inning. It was his 15th home run of the season and first since June 19, his longest drought since waiting 12 games to record his first major-league home run after being called up April 22. That's an indication of just how well he's played, as is his .552 slugging percentage through 212 at-bats this season.

Chavis (suspension) is able to return to action Monday and will report to short-season Lowell, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Chavis is expected to be activated after serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing substance. He slashed .250/.310/.492 with 14 homers and 39 RBI through 67 games for the Sea Dogs in 2017 and, after this stint at the lower level, he should return to them later this season after getting back in game shape.