MLB Player News

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham played made three plate appearances as the designated hitter for Double-A Birmingham Thursday, in his first rehab appearance as he recovers from a strained oblique.

Beckham was hitless in three at-bats, with one strikeout before being replaced. He will likely continue to progress toward playing in the field before a decision is made on bringing him back from the disabled list. 

White Sox infielder Marcus Semien made his first hit of the season count Thursday, as he followed up a pair of hitless outings with his first home run against the Twins.

Semien went just 1 for 4, but he scored and drove in a run twice, once on his home run and once following a walk. Semien also struck out twice, as the White Sox went on to lose, 10-9.

Semien is now just 1 for 14 to open the season, with five strikeouts and only one walk.  

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham will begin his minor-league rehab assignment at Double-A Birmingham Thursday, as he continues to recover from a strained oblique.

Beckham is eligible to return from the disabled list Saturday, but there is no sign that he will be brought back so quickly. The team has stressed that he won't be back until he is 100-percent healed. 

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa will start at second Thursday against the Mets.

Anthony Rendon has started the first two games for the club, but manager Matt Williams has been adamant that Espinosa will see time in the starting lineup. He'll hit seventh against Zack Wheeler.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve enjoyed a successfull debut Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with one run, two RBI and one stolen base out of the No. 3 spot in the batting order as the Astros defeated the Yankees, 6-2.

The diminutive Altuve is an odd fit on the surface for the key lineup spot, but he made it work for one game at least, helping lead the team to a 6-0 lead after two innings. He's topped 30 stolen bases in each of the last two seasons but has just 14 home runs in 1,423 major-league at-bats heading into 2014.

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa is still drawing interest from "a lot of teams," but the Nationals aren't expected to trade him, MLB.com reports.

Epinosa could potentially man second base in 2015, with Anthony Rendon moving to third base and Ryan Zimmerman shifting to first base. He made the 25-man roster as a bench player this season. Espinosa is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2013 season in which he hit .158/.193/.272 in 158 at-bats at the major-league level.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said second baseman Gordon Beckham (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment this week, but the team is going to make sure not to rush Beckham back before he's healthy, per MLB.com.

"Obliques aren't something to be trifled with," said Hahn of Beckham, who is eligible to return on Satrurday. "Until he's 100 percent ready to go without restriction, we're not going to bring him back."

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa will play regularly, according to CSN.

Manager Matt Williams said Espinosa and Anthony Rendon both players will "get ample opportunity to play." Rendon is set to start Monday, but Espinosa could work his way into the starting lineup sooner than expected. 

The White Sox announced Sunday they have placed infielders Gordon Beckham (strained left oblique) and Jeff Keppinger (right shoulder surgery) on the 15-day disabled list. Both moves were retroactive to March 21.

Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte won a spot on the team's 25-man roster.

Solarte beat out Eduardo Nunez for the role. Solarte impressed during camp, hitting .429 in 42 at-bats. He has yet to make his major-league debut.