MLB Player News
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Doing some light baserunning
Lewis (hamstring) will do some light baserunning Thursday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
While he won't be running full-bore, this appears to be the first time Lewis has run the bases since he suffered a strained left hamstring in mid-March. Lewis has also taken on-field batting practice and gone through defensive drills this week, so he is making clear progress. That said, it's uncertain when he will be ready for a rehab assignment, so a target for his return to the Twins' lineup remains up in the air.
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Athletics' Gio Urshela: Getting day off
Urshela is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.
Urshela will take a seat for the day game after he started at third base in each of the Athletics' previous three contests. Max Schuemann will fill in at the hot corner for Urshela, who is batting .196 with no home runs or stolen bases across 50 plate appearances on the season.
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Oliver Dunn 2B | CHW
Brewers' Oliver Dunn: Sent down to minors
The Brewers optioned Dunn to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.
Dunn has started at third base all 11 times the Brewers have faced a right-handed pitcher this season, but he'll head back to the minors after slashing just .167/.205/.222 across 41 plate appearances. The Brewers have not announced a corresponding roster move, but they could recall Caleb Durbin from Nashville to take over as their primary option at the hot corner.
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Graham Pauley 3B | MIA
Marlins' Graham Pauley: Heading back to Triple-A
Miami optioned Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.
The Marlins had optioned Pauley to Triple-A on March 16, but he ended up being recalled just over a week later and was included on the Opening Day roster after Connor Norby suffered an oblique strain in the team's second-to-last spring training game and was placed on the injured list. Pauley had served as Miami's primary third baseman against right-handed pitching over the first three weeks of the season but didn't do much with the opportunity, slashing .191/.235/.277 over 52 plate appearances. With Norby completing a rehab assignment and returning from the IL on Thursday, Pauley will now head to Jacksonville, where he'll get the chance to play on an everyday basis.
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Noelvi Marte 3B | CIN
Reds' Noelvi Marte: Back in big leagues
The Reds recalled Marte from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
Marte was just sent down Tuesday but has returned to take the roster spot vacated by Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. The 23-year-old didn't play much in his previous brief stint with the Reds and might not this time around, either, although there should be some reps at third base up for grabs while Jeimer Candelario shifts over to first base to cover for Encarnacion-Strand.
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Connor Norby 2B | MIA
Marlins' Connor Norby: Batting second in return from IL
The Marlins reinstated Norby (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Thursday. He'll start at third base and bat second in the Marlins' series finale versus the Diamondbacks.
Graham Pauley was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move, clearing the way for Norby to step back in as Miami's primary third baseman. The 24-year-old had been on track to open the season as an everyday player for the Marlins before he strained his left oblique in the Marlins' penultimate spring training game. After a few weeks of rest and rehab, Norby was cleared to head out on a rehab assignment last weekend, and he went 4-for-8 with a solo home run and a pair of walks over three games with Jacksonville. Now healthy, Norby will likely continue to maintain a prominent spot in the Miami lineup against both right- and left-handed pitching.
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Graham Pauley 3B | MIA
Marlins' Graham Pauley: Headed to minors
The Marlins plan to option Pauley to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.
He has received regular reps at third base in the absence of Connor Norby (oblique) but has slashed just .205/.234/.295 across 13 games. Pauley's poor start will result in him heading back to the minors, and his demotion could prove to be the corresponding move for Norby's return from the IL.
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DJ LeMahieu 2B | NYY
Yankees' DJ LeMahieu: Will need full buildup
LeMahieu (calf) is logging at-bats at the Yankees' minor-league complex and will need a buildup of game activity that replicates a full spring training, MLB.com reports.
LeMahieu was injured during his second at-bat during spring training, so it makes sense that the Yankees want him to log what manager Aaron Boone termed "a pretty big buildup." The veteran infielder isn't yet playing in games, and it's not clear when he will be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. LeMahieu could eventually reclaim a starting role at the hot corner for New York, though Oswaldo Cabrera has done a decent job so far this season in his stead, slashing .278/.333/.278 with four RBI and four runs but with no extra-base hits.
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Oswaldo Cabrera LF | NYY
Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: Sitting again Wednesday
Cabrera is not in the Yankees' starting lineup against the Royals on Wednesday.
The switch-hitting Cabrera has gone 4-for-6 with a walk versus southpaws this season, but he has yet to receive a start against a lefty as he is working in a platoon with Oswald Peraza, who is starting Wednesday at the hot corner and batting ninth against Royals left-hander Kris Bubic. Cabrera is slashing .278/.333/.278 with four runs scored and 10 RBI across 39 plate appearances to start the season.
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Paul DeJong SS | NYY
Nationals' Paul DeJong: Released from hospital
DeJong (nose) was held overnight at a Pittsburgh hospital for observation but was released Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
DeJong was hit in the face by a pitch in Tuesday's game versus the Pirates and was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a fractured nose. The Nationals are hopeful DeJong isn't dealing with any additional injuries, but they won't know for sure until the swelling around his eye goes down. Amed Rosario is at third base for Washington on Wednesday and should see the bulk of the time there while DeJong is out.