MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith 2B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Two hits, two RBI in win
Smith went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the White Sox.
Smith singled in one run then got another home on a sacrifice fly. With news that third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) is set to begin a rehab assignment Friday, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Rangers will soon have to find a home for Smith's bat. The most logical move is to have Smith become the team's primary designated hitter. Texas designated hitters are last in the league in batting average (.197), slugging percentage (.310) and OPS (.573).
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Resuming rehab assignment Friday
Jung (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Frisco, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Jung had previously played in four rehab games with Triple-A Round Rock from June 16 through 20, only to be pulled off the minor-league assignment when he experienced renewed soreness in his surgically repaired wrist. Just over a month later, Jung is ready for game action again after he was able to make quick progress through his hitting progression over the past week. He'll presumably remain on his rehab assignment at least through the weekend before the Rangers assess whether he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list. Jung should eventually settle back in as the Rangers' everyday third baseman, but he could be eased back from the IL as a designated hitter initially.
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Ramon Urias 3B | STL
Orioles' Ramon Urias: Back in starting nine Wednesday
Urias (neck) will start at third base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
Urias didn't start either of the Orioles' last two games while managing a stiff neck, but he came off the bench in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to replace Jorge Mateo (arm) and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Mateo is out of the lineup Wednesday, so Urias will step back into the starting nine to fill the final spot in the Baltimore infield.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Getting breather Wednesday
Rendon is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Rendon appears to be receiving a rest day while the Angels wrap up their series in Seattle with an afternoon game. Willie Calhoun will step in as the Halos' designated hitter in place of Rendon, who had started each of the first five games out of the All-Star break while going 4-for-22 with one walk, one stolen base, two RBI and one run.
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Jason Vosler 3B | SEA
Mariners' Jason Vosler: Productive in team debut
Vosler started at designated hitter in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Angels and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run.
The new arrival delivered the only extra-base hit for the Mariners on another anemic night for the team's offense. Vosler, along with fellow Triple-A callups Tyler Locklear and Cade Marlowe, was one of three new faces in Seattle's lineup Tuesday, and it remains to be seen if he'll be able to carve out a regular role for the short term while the team deals with the absences of Julio Rodriguez (ankle) and J.P. Crawford (finger).
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Abraham Toro 1B | BOS
Athletics' Abraham Toro: Productive in big win
Toro went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a stolen base in a win over the Astros on Tuesday.
The Athletics' lineup is suddenly an unlikely juggernaut; Oakland belted another five home runs Tuesday. While Toro's line stood in stark contrast since it only consisted of a pair of singles, it was still noteworthy considering those were his first hits at the big-league level since June 21 due to his month-long IL stint because of a hamstring injury. Toro's steal was his fourth of the season overall, and the fact he had the green light confirms his hamstring is back to full health.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | SD
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Two RBI in return
Rengifo (wrist) went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Mariners.
Rengifo returned to the lineup for the first time since July 3 and provided a clutch piece of hitting with a two-run single in the fifth to extend the Angels' lead to 5-0. Though he missed some time with a wrist injury, Rengifo has 12 hits and seven RBI over his last eight games and is slashing .314/.357/.439 with six homers, 27 RBI, 36 runs, 22 steals and a 13:36 BB:K in 273 plate appearances this season. His power numbers are down compared to his past two years (33 homers combined), but he's on pace for a career high in average and his 22 steals are more than what he accumulated over his previous five seasons combined (18).
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Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Survives injury scare
Devers experienced shoulder discomfort after attempting a diving stop on a grounder in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Rockies, but he was able to stay in and finish the game, MLB.com reports. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, an RBI and a run in the victory.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the shoulder was jammed and noted Devers took some "vicious hacks" later in the game. Cora added Devers would be ready to go for Wednesday's series finale.
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Josh H. Smith 2B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Integral in win
Smith went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the White Sox.
Smith scored the Rangers' second run when he stole home on a double-steal in the first inning. It was his sixth steal in seven attempts. The infielder later gave the team a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning with a run-producing double. That insurance run became important when reliever Josh Sborz permitted a leadoff home run in the next frame. For Smith, the two-hit night halted an 0-for-14 skid since returning from the All-Star break.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Homers in victory
Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Tigers.
Ramirez put the Guardians ahead 3-2 in the fifth inning with a homer off Joey Wentz, his 24th this year, before driving in what proved to be the deciding run with an RBI single in the sixth. The home run snapped a stretch of 18 games without a long ball for the All-Star third baseman -- he'd posted a subpar .590 OPS in that span. Overall, Ramirez is slashing .274/.325/.518 through 422 plate appearances this season with 82 RBI (second most in the majors behind Aaron Judge), 72 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.