MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt began his minor-league rehab assignment with Class A San Jose Thursday, as he works his way back from thumb surgery.

Belt began his assignment as a designated hitter, going 1 for3 with strikeout before he was lifted in the ninth inning. He is expected to stay on assignment for about a week before being activated, assuming he avoids any setbacks. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper played seven innings in his rehab debut for Double-A Harrisburg Thursday, his first extended game action since suffering a thumb injury in late April.

Harper went 1 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout before he was lifted in the seventh inning. His early exit was to be expected, as the team's plan all along has called for Harper to play seven innings Thursday. He will then play a full nine innings Friday, before taking Saturday off and playing Sunday.

Manager Matt Williams told MLB.com he thinks Harper could return to the Nationals lineup as early as Monday in Colorado. 

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson suffered a separated right shoulder Tuesday, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Pederson suffered the injury while attempting to dive for a ball in the outfield, and was diagnosed Wednesday. The injury is not considered a terribly serious one, however, though he will be sidelined at least 10 days as a result. 

Outfielder Andrew McCutchen prevented the Pirates from being shut out Wednesday at Tampa Bay, delivering a one-out, opposite-field solo home run off David Price in the top of the ninth inning. The home run ran Price from the game in a 5-1 win for the Rays.

It was McCutchen's 12th home run and eighth in June. He is batting .351 with 10 doubles and 25 RBI in 23 June games as well.

Rehabbing Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper appears set to continue his minor league stint Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg, according to the Washington Post. He played three innings for Class A Potomac on Monday.

Harper has been out of the Washington lineup since April 25 with a thumb injury.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class A San Jose Thursday, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt is targeting July 4 as a return date from thumb surgery, which has kept him out since early May. He has hit .264/.317/.504 with nine home runs and 18 RBI in 129 at-bats.

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson left Tuesday's game for Triple-A Albuquerque in the first inning with an apparent shoulder injury, reports the Los Angeles Times. Pederson was injured diving for a ball in the outfield.

The highly touted prospect entered play Tuesday batting .320 with a .438 on-base percentage, .570 slugging percentage and 1.008 OPS in 73 games. He also had three triples, 11 doubles, 17 home runs, 42 RBI, 58 runs and 20 stolen bases.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is unsure about playing all three outfield spots during his rehab, according to The Washington Post. 

"I kind of like it and I kind of don’t," Harper said. "I want to get comfortable in one spot." Harper is expected to receive time at all three positions in order to give him more versatility once he returns to the majors. While Harper said staying in one spot would be ideal, he admitted that he understands why he needs to get time at each spot. "Being able to play left, play center, play right is something I need down here," Harper said.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5 with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases in his team's 8-1 win over the Rays Monday.

McCutchen stole second base off Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb after a first-inning single, and turned the same trick in the third inning after another single. He added one more single and his second RBI of the game in the ninth inning. McCutchen has hit .317/.424/.525 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 284 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper began a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac Monday, singling and drawing a walk in two plate appearances while playing three innings in left field.

Harper is scheduled to play five innings Tuesday before taking Wednesday off. He is expected to see time at all three outfield positions during his rehab assignment. Harper has been sidelined since late April while recovering from thumb surgery.