MLB Player News
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Davis Wendzel 3B | CIN
Rangers' Davis Wendzel: Loses 40-man spot
The Rangers designated Wendzel for assignment on Monday.
Wendzel was cast off the 40-man roster with the Rangers needing to open up a spot for third baseman Josh Jung (wrist), who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. The 27-year-old Wendzel was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on July 4 after slashing .128/.163/.234 across 49 plate appearances between his two separate stints with the big club earlier this season. He'll likely stick around with Round Rock if he goes unclaimed off waivers.
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Jonathan Ornelas 3B | TEX
Rangers' Jonathan Ornelas: Sent to Round Rock
The Rangers optioned Ornelas to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Ornelas will return to the minors after appearing in 11 games for the Rangers following his June 30 call-up. He went 3-for-19 with an RBI over that span while serving as a utility infielder. Ornelas will get the chance to play on an everyday basis as he heads back to Round Rock, with whom he's slashed .248/.320/.348 with seven stolen bases, three home runs and 22 RBI across 257 plate appearances this season.
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Ezequiel Duran 3B | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Recalled, will start Monday
The Rangers recalled Duran from Triple-A Round Rock, and he'll start at designated hitter and bat seventh Monday against the Cardinals.
Duran is back with the big club for the first time in just over a month, joining the Rangers as a replacement on the active roster for Justin Foscue, who was optioned to Round Rock. The 25-year-old slashed an impressive .277/.302/.554 with five home runs and five stolen bases over his 19-game stint in the minors, but Duran likely won't be in store for everyday playing time as he rejoins Texas. Though he's out of the lineup Monday, Josh Jung (wrist) was activated from the 60-day injured list and is expected to take on a regular role beginning with Tuesday's game in St. Louis. Duran is expected to head to the bench to open up a spot in the lineup for Jung, but Duran could still get steady at-bats against left-handed pitching while he's with the Rangers.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Returns from IL
The Rangers reinstated Jung (wrist) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Though Jung isn't in the lineup for Monday's series opener in St. Louis, he finally looks to be back to full health after undergoing right wrist surgery in early April. Jung was pulled off his rehab assignment in late June after experienced renewed soreness in the wrist, but he checked out fine after playing in three games at Double-A Frisco over the weekend while going 4-for-10 with a double and two RBI. Look for Jung to return to Texas' lineup Tuesday and settle back in as the club's everyday third baseman.
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Oswaldo Cabrera 3B | NYY
Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: Heading back to bench Monday
Cabrera is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Cabrera had started at third base in the Yankees' last four games, but he looks like he could move into more of a utility role now that Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) has returned from the injured list. With Stanton set to occupy the designated hitter spot in most games and with Alex Verdugo, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto likely to serve as the Yankees' primary outfield configuration, the newly acquired Jazz Chisholm looks poised to get steady playing time at third base. Chisholm hasn't played third base during his time in the professional ranks, but the Yankees will break him in at the position Monday while Cabrera moves to the bench.
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Jeral Perez 3B | CHW
White Sox's Jeral Perez: Joins ChiSox in three-team deal
The White Sox acquired Perez, infielder/outfielder Miguel Vargas, infielder Alexander Albertus and a player to be named later or cash considerations Monday in a three-team deal involving the Dodgers and Cardinals, Russell Dorsey of Bally Sports reports. The Dodgers acquired infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman and right-handers Michael Kopech and Oliver Gonzalez, and the Cardinals received right-hander Erick Fedde, outfielder Tommy Pham and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
The 19-year-old Perez was regarded as one of the Dodgers' better lower-level position prospects and had made starts at second base, shortstop and third base at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season. He slashed .264/.380/.420 with 10 home runs and four stolen bases in the California League while posting a walk rate of 14.3 percent and a strikeout rate of 22 percent across 350 plate appearances.
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Tyler Nevin 1B | OAK
Athletics' Tyler Nevin: Doubles, scores in loss
Nevin started at third base in a loss to the Angels on Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run.
Nevin recorded a second consecutive start for the first time since June 25-26 and was in the opening lineup for the third game in the last four overall. The utility player laced his second double in that span and subsequently scored the first run of the day for the Athletics on Miguel Andujar's fielder's choice groundout in the third inning. Nevin has seen action at five different positions including designated hitter, and while he's offered some decent pop by belting 13 of his 35 hits for extra bases, he carries a lackluster .205/.299/.351 slash line across 197 plate appearances overall.
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Josh H. Smith 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Pokes homer in loss
Smith went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays.
Smith launched a two-run shot in the eighth inning, his 11th of the season. With news that third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) is progressing well on a rehab assignment, Smith will soon find a new home in the Rangers' lineup, likely as the primary designated hitter.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Reaches 20-steal mark
Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.
After going 13 games without a steal, Ramirez has swiped a bag in each of the last two contests to get to 20 thefts on the year. He's one of 19 players in the majors to reach that mark so far in 2024. The third baseman continues to provide well-rounded production from the heart of the Guardians' order, slashing .271/.326/.507 with 24 home runs, 82 RBI and 73 runs scored over 102 games.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Still on bench Sunday
Rendon is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the A's, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
It's the second consecutive game on the bench for Rendon, who has gone 5-for-30 in seven contests since the All-Star break. Willie Calhoun will bat cleanup as the designated hitter in the series finale versus Oakland.