MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt's surgical procedure to insert two pins into his fracture left thumb went off with complications Tuesday, according to MLB.com.

Belt is expected to miss six weeks as a result of the injury, but the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday that timeline could extend as long as eight weeks, depending on how his recovery progress goes.

"It could be a little longer," manager Bruce Bochy said before Tuesday's game.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf is with Lehigh Valley on a rehab assignment, and he will stay there through the weekend as he recovers from an oblique injury.

General manager Ruben Amaro told the Philadelphia Daily News Tuesday he expects Ruf to stay with the IronPigs through Saturday. The next step in his recovery will come later. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had the stitches removed from his injured thumb Monday, masnsports.com reports.

Harper isn't ready for rehab work just yet. He should be back in early July once the UCL in the thumb heals.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon had his team's only run during a 4-1 loss Sunday against Reds, connecting for a solo home run off Homer Bailey in the fourth inning. It was Blackmon's ninth home run and second in as many days.

Blackmon is batting .304 (14 for 46) with a .609 slugging percentage and .913 OPS in 10 May games. He also has two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen returned from a one-game absence and reached base four times Sunday against the Cardinals. McCutchen went 1 for 2 with three walks and an RBI, giving him 19 RBI this season.

McCutchen sat out Saturday with a gimpy ankle. He's hitting .321/.438/.511.

The Phillies announced Monday outfielder Darin Ruf (oblique) and pitcher Ethan Martin (shoulder) had their rehab assignments moved from Class A Clearwater to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Ruf hit .250 (3 for 12) with two RBI in three games for Clearwater, while Martin tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings over three relief appearances. He allowed three hits and issued three walks.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who missed Saturday's game with an ankle injury, was back in the lineup Sunday night against the Cardinals. McCutchen, scheduled to hit third, was batting .319 with four homers, 18 RBIs and four steals entering the game.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt will undergo surgery Tuesday to have two pins inserted into his broken thumb. The timetable for his recovery remains six weeks.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf (oblique) and pitcher Ethan Martin (shoulder) are expected to move their rehab assignments from Class A Clearwater to Triple-A Lehigh Valley this week, per the Philadelphia Daily News.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon opened Saturday's game against the Reds with a home run and finished the day 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBI in his team's 11-2 win.

Blackmon has four multihit games and three home runs in May after shooting out to a hot start in April. He hasn't slown down much at any point this season, hitting .355/.388/.603 with eight home runs, 28 RBI and eight stolen bases in 141 at-bats.