MLB Player News

White Sox manager Robin Ventura told MLB.com Saturday that second baseman Gordon Beckham could return "in the next week, if not sooner."

"It's up to him, really -- we'll welcome him any time," Ventura said. "It's just, when's the right time, does he feel he's ready to come up and ready to play? .. I let him know that I'm ready for him whenever he thinks he's ready."

Beckham is hitting .343 (11 for 32) with two doubles and four RBI in his rehab assignment. He has played just seven games with the White Sox this season.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 1 for 5 with a run, RBI and his ninth stolen base Friday against the Angels.

Altuve has at least one hit in seven of his last eight games, but he's watched his average steadily decline after a hot start to the season. He takes a .300/.341/.390 line into June.

Amazingly, Danny Espinosa is still rostered in 38 percent of leagues, to which I can only ask: Why?

As if attempting to play through a torn rotator cuff wasn't destructive enough to his batting average, he's back from a week off to rest his aching wrist. And why does it ache? There's a piece of bone floating around in there. Ouch.

For some injuries, "rub some dirt on it, kid" just doesn't apply, and I'm afraid Espinosa might be toughing it out to his own detriment. The shoulder and wrist are usually what make or break a swing, and neither is right for him -- a hitter who was destined to hit .240 even if completely healthy.

I'm not expecting much from the Nationals second baseman the rest of the way, and neither should you.

Hey, this Nick Franklin guy was a pretty big prospect, and he's getting a chance to play every day for the Mariners. Blah, blah, blah. Better add him. Blah, blah.

By now, I think we all know where I stand on top prospects who get the call. They're always worth a shot in Fantasy, provided what you're dropping is similar to what's already on the waiver wire. Franklin is no exception.

But he's not my favorite of the midseason call-ups. His power was spotty throughout his minor-league career, even in the more hitter-friendly leagues, and it's not like his four homers in 142 at-bats at Triple-A Tacoma earned him the promotion.

So I wouldn't read too much into his two homers Thursday. They're encouraging, sure, but keep in mind Nolan Arenado, whose minor-league career was similarly hit-or-miss, hit three home runs in his first seven major-league games only to hit .190 with one homer over his next 23.

The White Sox have not set an exact date for second baseman Gordon Beckham's return from the disabled list, but the Chicago Sun-Times reports he could be back next Thursday.

Beckham began rehabbing Thursday, at Triple-A Charlotte. 

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and two runs for Triple-A Charlotte in the first game back in the lineup after experiencing wrist soreness. He hadn't played since May 23.

Beckham is scheduled to return June 7 to the White, MLB.com reports.

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.  

Padres infielder Logan Forsythe went 0 for 2 in the first game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tuscon Wednesday. He has yet to play with the Padres this season after being placed on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis during spring training.

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went 1 for 4 with one run and three strikeouts in his return to the lineup Wednesday. He missed a total of five games with a wrist injury, choosing to play through it rather than take a stint on the disabled list.

Espinosa has hit just .166 in 145 at-bats this season.