MLB Player News
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Jose Rodriguez 2B | PHI
White Sox's Jose Rodriguez: Sent back to Double-A
The White Sox optioned Rodriguez to Double-A Birmingham on Monday.
Rodriguez appeared in only one game -- and did not draw a plate appearance -- during his week-long stay on Chicago's major-league roster. The 22-year-old infielder now returns to the Double-A level, where he has posted a .702 OPS with nine homers and nine steals in 44 games this season.
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Adam Frazier 2B | LAA
Orioles' Adam Frazier: Idle versus lefty
Frazier is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Though he's taking a seat Monday with a southpaw (Brandon Williamson) on the bump for Cincinnati, the lefty-hitting Frazier could soon find himself at risk of losing out on playing time versus right-handed pitching, too. The Orioles called up one of their top prospects in Jordan Westburg from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, and he's likely to get a look as a full-time player. Westburg has the ability to play three infield spots as well both corner-outfield spots, so he could end up spelling a number of different players rather than being a direct replacement for Frazier in the everyday lineup.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Promotion official
The Orioles selected Westburg's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.
Confirming what had been reported Sunday, Westburg will join the Orioles ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Reds for what will be his MLB debut. The 24-year-old's promotion comes after he posted a .939 OPS with seven stolen bases in 301 plate appearances in the International League while making starts at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and right field. The Orioles may not commit to Westburg being a full-time player at any one position, but he should be in store for a near-everyday role in any case while moving about multiple different spots in the infield or outfield.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Orioles' Joey Ortiz: Optioned to Norfolk
The Orioles optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Ortiz holds a .943 OPS in Triple-A, but he's been unable to get going in the majors this season. He'll look to right the ship again in the minors, and Jordan Westburg will come up from Norfolk in a corresponding move to replace Ortiz on the active roster.
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Marcus Semien 2B | NYM
Rangers' Marcus Semien: Breaking out of slump
Semien went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees.
Semien showed signs this weekend that he's busting out of a recent slump. The second baseman produced a combined five hits Saturday and Sunday after enduring a 10-for-67 stretch over the previous 15 games.
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Tony Kemp 2B | MIN
Athletics' Tony Kemp: Knocks third homer Sunday
Kemp went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday.
Kemp's sixth-inning homer to right field ended up being the only thing standing between the Athletics and a shutout. The veteran infielder has now reached safely in 11 straight games, a stretch where he's sporting a .355 average, 1.054 OPS, 12.8 percent walk rate and tiny 5.1 percent strikeout rate.
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Cavan Biggio RF | HOU
Blue Jays' Cavan Biggio: Smashes seventh long ball
Biggio went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 12-1 victory over the Athletics.
Biggio plated Vladimir Guerrero and Matt Chapman on a three-run blast off Yacksel Rios in the eighth inning to notch his third homer over his last nine games. Sunday's contest was also Biggio's second straight multi-hit game. During that nine-game stretch, Biggio has gone 8-for-22 (.363) with eight RBI and six runs scored.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Call-up coming Monday
Westburg will be called up by the Orioles ahead of Monday's game against the Reds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Westburg was productive over 91 games at Triple-A Norfolk last year, and he was on a tear with the Triple-A club to begin the 2023 campaign. Over 67 games, he slashed .295/.372/.567 with 18 homers, 57 runs, 54 RBI and seven stolen bases, and he'll be rewarded with his first big-league call-up. The 24-year-old is among the top prospects in baseball and has seen playing time at five different positions in the minors this year, so he's positioned to have immediate playing time at the major-league level.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Managing heel soreness
Altuve will likely be unavailable Sunday against the Dodgers due to a sore heel, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Altuve isn't in the lineup for Sunday night's matchup, and manager Dusty Baker will try to avoid using him off the bench. Altuve sustained his injury hitting the base on a bunt single Saturday, and if he doesn't play Sunday, he'll have an additional day to rest before the Astros' series opener against the Cardinals on Tuesday.
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Luis Rengifo 2B | MIL
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Sitting again Sunday
Rengifo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Colorado, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
The 26-year-old made nine straight starts before being held out of the lineup Saturday, and he's now on the bench for a second straight contest. The Angels have recently brought in veterans Eduardo Escobar and Mike Moustakas via trade while also promoting David Fletcher, which will likely cut into Rengifo's playing time give his .590 OPS this year.