MLB Player News

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham has been enjoying a resurgence at the plate this season, and he finally added his first home run of the season Wednesday against the Orioles. Beckham went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in a 4-2 loss.

Beckham is hitting .331 with a .784 OPS, and he has driven in nine runs in 118 at-bats.  

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham had three singles and one RBI Tuesday against the Orioles. It was his second three-hit game in his last five appearances.

Beckham has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He's batting .400 (12 for 30) with three runs, three doubles and five RBI in that span. Beckham's batting average has jumped from .298 to .325 in his last eight games.

Royals manager Ned Yost has made it apparent he's going to give Johnny Giavotella a fair shot to emerge as the team's regular second baseman. But he stressed it's up to Giavotella to earn his spot in the lineup.

"I want to give him a real look but, in order to have a real look, you've got to hit," Yost said Sunday, per MLB.com. "He's always hit in the minor leagues, so that always gives you a reason to believe."

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin was back in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs after missing the previous game with a neck injury. Franklin went 1 for 5, but managed to drive in two runs in a 7-6 loss. Franklin started the scoring with an RBI groundout in the third, then drove in another run in the fifth with an RBI single.

Franklin is hitting .295 and finished his first full month with a .296 average in 98 June at-bats. 

The Royals are expected to give Johnny Giavotella a chance to earn the everyday second base gig. He took a step in the right direction Sunday in Minnesota. 

Having just been recalled, Giavotella started Sunday and went 3 for 4 in the 9-8 win. He drove in two runs in his first game of the season for the Royals. He had an infield RBI single in the third inning and an RBI single in the fourth. 

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin returned to the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs after not starting Saturday because of a stiff neck. Franklin came off the bench Saturday and played in the field for a few innings.

Franklin is batting .333 (21 for 63) with two home runs, six doubles, seven runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases in his last 16 games (15 starts).

The Royals recalled infielder Johnny Giavotella from Triple-A Omaha Saturday, after designating outfielder Jeff Francoeur for assignment. 

Giavotella has hit .242 in 359 at-bats for the Royals in 2011 and 2012, but was hitting .289 with an .801 OPS at Triple-A prior to his call-up. 

Mariners infielder Nick Franklin missed Saturday's game against Chicago due to a stiff neck, MLB.com reports. He is day to day. 

Franklin is available, if needed, against the Cubs, according to manager Eric Wedge. The 22-year-old has continued to hit for Seattle. He's 9 for 23 (.391) over his last five games with three RBI. 

Mariners rookie second baseman Nick Franklin had another big performance Saturday against the A's. After driving in three runs Friday on his fourth home run, Franklin drove in three more runs Saturday, including a two-run single in the eighth inning that helped Seattle secure a 7-5 win.

Franklin is hitting .295 since his promotion from the majors in late May, and he's batting .341 (15 for 44) with two home runs, four doubles and 10 RBI in his last 11 games.

"You've seen players like that in the past, they keep playing up to the level and usually they're players of his personality," manager Eric Wedge said, per MLB.com. "Confident, they walk tall, they have the ultimate belief in themselves and their entire game. They see where their career is going before it even happens. I think (Franklin) qualifies for that."

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham is not starting a game for the first time since returning on June 3 from a hamate bone fracture, the Chicago Tribune reports. Beckham is sitting to begin Saturday's game against the Royals. 

The White Sox have off days coming up Monday and Thursday and any soreness Beckham is feeling should be able to subside by then. 

Beckham has gone 11 for 38 (.289) over his last 10 games with three doubles, an RBI and five runs scored.