MLB Player News

Polanco (hamstring) has been hitting in the cage, taking groundballs and is in the midst of a running progression, Twins trainer Nick Paparesta told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Polanco will advance to running the bases next week and then potentially begin a rehab assignment. Polanco missed two weeks in late May with a left hamstring strain and made it less than 10 days before injuring the same muscle. Expect the Twins to take their time with Polanco's recovery as a result.

Ibanez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's win over the Rangers.

Ibanez's fifth home run of the season in the third inning ended up being all the Tigers would need in the 7-2 win. The utility man continues to see regular playing time as he moves across the diamond. He started in right field Monday and has also seen time in left as well as every infield position except for shortstop. Ibanez is hitting .328 with three home runs and an 18.5 percent strikeout rate in 20 games this month while moving into a regular role, but he could start playing less against righties once Akil Baddoo (quad) and Riley Greene (lower leg) return from the injured list.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.