MLB Player News
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Brendan Donovan 2B | SEA
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Limited to DH work
Donovan is dealing with an arm injury that is limiting him to designated hitter duties Friday against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
He is in the midst of a throwing program, and the hope is that he can return to the field soon, but Donovan hasn't seen any defensive duties since late June. The arm issue hasn't seemed to affect him at the plate, as he's batting .400 (10-for-25) with a homer in July.
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Michael Stefanic 2B | TOR
Angels' Michael Stefanic: Recalled from Triple-A
Stefanic was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday and is starting at second base and batting ninth against the Astros.
With Anthony Rendon (shin), Brandon Drury (shoulder) and David Fletcher out of the picture in the short term, Stefanic could get steady work. The 27-year-old hit .349 with more walks than strikeouts and two home runs in 300 plate appearances this season in the Pacific Coast League. He can play second base and third base.
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Luisangel Acuna 2B | CHW
Rangers' Luisangel Acuna: Streaking at Double-A
Acuna has a 13-game hitting streak going at Double-A Frisco and is hitting .411 with one home run, four steals and seven strikeouts over that stretch.
An undersized yet dynamic athlete, Acuna has seen most of his time at shortstop this season while also getting starts at second base and center field. He is slashing .315/.371/.447 with six home runs, 34 steals (on 37 attempts) and a 19.2 percent strikeout rate for the RoughRiders. Given how set the Rangers seem up the middle, Acuna could be trade bait at the deadline, which might be why he hasn't been promoted to Triple-A yet.
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Jahmai Jones 2B | DET
Brewers' Jahmai Jones: Sent down to Triple-A
Jones was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Monday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Jones fared well during his week with the big club, but he wasn't playing much and will now return to the minors. The Brewers will announce a corresponding move prior to the start of the second half.
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Tony Kemp 2B | MIN
Athletics' Tony Kemp: Productive in narrow loss
Kemp went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a walk in a loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.
The veteran found his way back atop the order and hit safely for the seventh time in the last nine games. Kemp's steal, his fourth over that span, also brought him to within two of tying the career-best 11 he swiped a year ago. While he enters the All-Star break with his batting average just under the Mendoza Line at .197, the 31-year-old will begin the second half trending in the right direction after producing a .306/.375/.458 slash line with a double, two triples, two home runs and seven RBI across the 82 plate appearances covering his last 21 games.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Notches three hits in win
Massey went 3-for-4 with a two-RBI triple in Sunday's win over the Guardians.
Massey recorded his first three-hit game of the season and the second of his career. He helped give the Royals some breathing room with a two-run triple in the sixth to put them up 4-1 and head into the All-Star break on a high note. Prior to Sunday's outing, Massey had gone just 1-for-12 in four games since coming off the injured list and is now slashing .220/.277/.320 with 11 extra-base hits, 22 RBI, 15 runs and a 14:62 BB:K in 220 plate appearances.
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Edouard Julien 2B | COL
Twins' Edouard Julien: Smacks homer in loss
Julien went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI double in Sunday's 15-2 loss to the Orioles.
Julien accounted for half of the Twins' hits and all of their run production. The second baseman has three homers and two doubles over his last five games. He's at a respectable .271/.349/.504 slash line with seven homers, 13 RBI, 19 runs scored, 10 doubles and a stolen base through 153 plate appearances. Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is likely out another week, so Julien should maintain a strong-side platoon role at second base early in the second half.
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Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Optioned amid slump
Vargas was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
The Dodgers' top prospect entering the season, Vargas is slashing .146/.273/.293 with two home runs and one steal in 29 games since June 1. His 21 percent strikeout rate and 13 percent walk rate are right in line with expectations, but he has been a bit unlucky on balls in play this season (.224 BABIP) and could maybe use a mental reset. Chris Taylor (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list after the All-Star break.