MLB Player News

Mariners rookie Nick Franklin followed up his first hit Wednesday in a loss to the Padres with two home runs in a win Thursday.

"I enjoyed every minute of it," Franklin told MLB.com of his first career hit. "But at the same time, we lost the game. … Honestly, to me, it's just a date to remember. A hit is a hit. I'd rather it be helping the team rather than just a base hit. I'll look back on it as being awesome to get it, but there are better things to be doing besides just getting on base."

Franklin did much more to help the winning cause Thursday, going 2 for 4 with two solo home runs in the Mariners' 7-1 win. 

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham will resume his minor-league rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A Charlotte, according to MLB.com, a day earlier than previously reported. Beckham has been sidelined for a week due to soreness in his left hand.  

The Rangers will bat Elvis Andrus leadoff on a regular basis with Ian Kinsler on the disabled list and missing even more time, FOX Sports reports. 

Andrus is batting .271 on the year. He recently had a 5 for 5 game and has hit in five of his last six contests. He's also stolen 13 bases with 33 runs scored. 

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham is expected to resume his minor-league rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Charlotte, MLB.com reports.

Beckham, recovering from an injured hand, began his rehab assignment last Thursday. He felt soreness in the hand and was forced to back off, but he appears ready to go. If he doesn't reaggravate the injury, he should return in early June.

Mariners manager Eric Wedge said prospect Nick Franklin will get his first major-league start Tuesday against the Padres, MLB.com reports. 

Franklin will start at second base and bat seventh. Franklin was called up Monday and walked in his only plate appearance against the Padres.

Franklin began the season as the No. 47 prospect in the majors, according to MLB.com. He had a .324 average and .472 slugging percentage with four homers and seven steals over 39 games at Triple-A Tacoma. 

On Monday, the Mariners promoted prospect Nick Franklin from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Dustin Ackley at second base, which can only be an improvement for Fantasy owners. Of course, by the time the Mariners made the switch, most had already given up on Ackley, his ownership rate dropping to about 40 percent.

So then, how many owners will actually benefit form this move?

Franklin is a legit prospect, but at age 22, he's hardly a finished product. His numbers at Tacoma, while impressive in terms of contact rate and plate discipline, were lacking in other areas. Four home runs in 142 at-bats are just par for the course in the heavy-hitting Pacific Coast League and especially disappointing for a player whose home run totals were lacking each of the last two seasons.

Naturally, if you need a shortstop or second baseman -- and many teams do -- Franklin is well worth your while, but if not, I'm thinking he's unlikely to perform well enough to establish much trade value. I'm expecting more along the lines of a Neil Walker than an Ian Kinsler.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham will resume his minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Charlotte after he was shut down due to discomfort in his left wrist, MLB.com reports.

Beckham has been sidelined since April 9. He was hitting .316/.333/.316 in 19 at-bats before landing on the disabled list.

The Mariners called up infield prospect Nick Franklin, the Tacoma News Tribune reports Monday. 

Franklin was tearing it up with Triple-A Tacoma as he's hit .324 with a .472 slugging percentage with four homers and seven stolen bases over 39 games. He's likely to play as the Mariners wouldn't promote a top prospect to sit on the bench. 

Franklin began the 2013 season as the No. 47 prospect in the majors, according to MLB.com. 

Rangers manager Ron Washington said he plans to give shortstop Elvis Andrus a breather Sunday against the Mariners after watching the shortstop commit his third error in a week Saturday. Rookie Jurickson Profar will start in Andrus' absence.

"When he starts making errors like that, he’s tired," Washington said, per The Dallas Morning News.

Washington added he plans to rest Andrus during one game of Monday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks. Aside from his defensive lapses, Andrus is mired in a 3-for-23 slump (.130) since a five-hit game May 18. Washington said a few games off should "refresh" the struggling shortstop. 

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham, who is on the disabled list with a wrist injury, has been feeling soreness when hitting and will be taken out of the lineup for a day or two, MLB.com reports.

Earlier this week, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Beckham could return this weekend, but that's a long shot with the second baseman experiencing soreness. Provided the soreness isn't a major setback, Beckham could return next week.