MLB Player News

In anticipation of Giancarlo Stanton nearing a return, Marlins manager Mike Redmond told reporters that Marcell Ozuna will start seeing some action at center field.

Stanton will start his rehab assignment Tuesday and could return as early as next week. Ozuna has played all 32 of his games at right field with Stanton out. The 22-year-old is hitting .352 (25 for 71) with 11 RBI in his last 19 games.

"We're going to start working on ... possibly moving Ozuna into center a lit bit, taking some fly balls in center and left for when Stanton gets here," Redmond told The Miami Herald. "We want to have some flexibility there."

Class A Jupiter, a Marlins' affiliate' announced Tuesday that Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is ready to begin his minor-league rehab assignment. Stanton will be the designated hitter Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.

Stanton has been on the disabled list since April 29 due to a hamstring strain, and it is not clear how long he will be on his rehab assignment.  

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna entered the majors with a track record that suggested a powerful but inconsistent hitter. So far he’s proven to be just the opposite.

His .333 average with 15 RBI and one home run has analysts scratching their heads trying to peg Ozuna’s hitter identity. Nando Di Fino offered his theory on Monday’s Fantasy Baseball Today that Miami’s “cavernous” stadium has Ozuna’s power developing slowly. Scott White added that he initially saw Ozuna as a Dayan Viciedo, but so far he’s been more of a Michael Brantley.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Monday outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) is going through base-running drills at the team's spring complex and that a rehab assignment might not be far off, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Just a day after having his 16-game hitting streak snapped, Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna bounced back with a big day at the plate Sunday against the Mets.

Ozuna fell a home run shy of the cycle as he finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and four RBI in an 11-6 victory. He is hitting .358 (24 for 67) with 10 RBI in his last 18 games played.

Brandon Belt entered the game Sunday in the seventh inning and used his lone at-bat to secure a 4-2 win for the San Francisco Giants at St. Louis.

Belt, who came in as a pinch hitter for starting pitcher Chad Gaudin, doubled to score two runs, which ended up being the difference.

The first baseman struggled at the beginning of the season as he was ill and took a while to regain his strength. After hitting .235 in April, he was up to .266 in May and his overall average is now .250. Belt has 28 RBI and six home runs.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper says his injured knee hasn't improved yet, but he still hopes to return to baseball activities by the end of the week and return to the team by June 11, CSN Washington reports Sunday. Harper is still dealing with bursitis in his left knee dating back to May 26.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna entered Saturday's game against the Mets with a major-league leading 16-game hitting streak, but it ended as he went 0 for 3. 

Ozuna walked once and scored a run in his first hitless game since May 14. The Marlins won the game, 8-1. 

Ozuna raised his batting average from .300 to 330 during the course of the streak, during which he had six RBI. 

Marlins manager Mike Redmond threw batting practice to outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) prior to Saturday's game against the Mets. Stanton is expected to begin shagging fly balls soon.

"He looked good," Redmond said. "He's getting close as well, which is exciting. Two days ago, I wasn't as excited, just wasn't sure where he was at. But he's pushing himself and he wants to play and he wants to be a part of this team."

The Nationals placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list as expected, Saturday. Harper's DL stint is retroactive to May 27, as he has not been able to play through bursitis in his left knee. Harper is eligible to come off the DL June 11. 

The team recalled pitcher Erik Davis from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Harper on the roster.