MLB Player News
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Ryan Zeferjahn P | LAA
Angels' Ryan Zeferjahn: Starting bullpen game
Zeferjahn will start Friday's game against the Phillies, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Zeferjahn will serve as an opener Friday, marking his first big-league start. The 27-year-old owns a 5.66 ERA and a 41:22 K:BB across 35 innings in 2025. He's completed two innings in just one of his 40 appearances.
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Andrew Hoffmann SP | ARI
Royals' Andrew Hoffmann: Back in bigs
The Royals recalled Hoffmann from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Hoffmann made his MLB debut earlier this season, allowing two runs in two innings of relief May 30. He'll take the spot of Michael Lorenzen (oblique) on the 26-man roster, although Hoffmann will work out of the bullpen rather than plugging the hole in the rotation. Hoffmann boasts a 2.31 ERA and 55:10 K:BB in 39 innings with Omaha.
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Ian Hamilton RP | ATL
Yankees' Ian Hamilton: Serving as opener
Hamilton will open Friday's game against Atlanta, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
The Yankees were initially expected to start Max Fried (blister) on Friday, but the team has opted to give Fried a few extra days of rest. Instead, Hamilton will open up what's expected to be a bullpen game. The 30-year-old reliever has a 3.47 ERA through 36.1 innings this season, and he hasn't pitched more than two innings in an outing this season. Coming out of the All-Star break, New York could look to get multiple innings out of Hamilton's fresh arm Friday.
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Jose Ruiz RP | TEX
Rangers' Jose Ruiz: Headed to Texas
Ruiz was traded from Atlanta to Texas in exchange for Dane Dunning on Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Ruiz lost his spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster June 19, but he went unclaimed on waivers and remained in the organization. He'll get a fresh start with the Rangers, his third club of 2025.
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Paxton Schultz RP | WAS
Blue Jays' Paxton Schultz: Beginning rehab assignment
Schultz (finger) began a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays on Thursday.
Schultz hit the injured list with right middle finger inflammation in late June and resumed throwing roughly a week later. He should be activated relatively soon, as he typically works one or two frames per appearance and shouldn't need a ton of appearance before being reinstated.
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Josh Winckowski RP | BOS
Red Sox's Josh Winckowski: In throwing progression
Winckowski (elbow) is in the early stages of a throwing progression at the Red Sox' spring training complex in Florida, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Winkowski suffered a right flexor strain at Triple-A Worcester back in mid-May and was recalled and placed on the 60-day major-league injured list in early June. He will not be eligible for activation until early August, and it sounds like it will be longer than that before he'll be an option for the Red Sox.
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Jack Perkins P | ATH
Athletics' Jack Perkins: Option to join rotation
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said recently that Perkins is an option to join the team's rotation out of the All-Star break, Jason Burke of Athletics on SI reports.
The Athletics closed out the first half with four starters in their rotation after optioning Mitch Spence to Triple-A Las Vegas. All four of Perkins' appearances in the majors have come in relief, but he went at least three innings in three of them and is also one of the club's better starting pitching prospects. Perkins has struck out 11 over 9.2 innings with the A's and has totaled 68 punchouts in 44 frames this season at Las Vegas. Kotsay also mentioned J.T. Ginn and Osvaldo Bido as potential options for the rotation.
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Joe Boyle SP | TB
Rays' Joe Boyle: Slated for multi-inning relief role
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Thursday that Boyle will open the second half in a multi-inning relief role, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Boyle served in a piggyback role with Drew Rasmussen in his two appearances with the big club this month, throwing a total of nine innings while yielding three runs (two earned) with an 8:3 K:BB. However, Rasmussen is set to resume a normal starter workload after the break, and Neander mentioned Thursday that Boyle would be used for 2-to-3 innings at a time moving forward. It severely limits Boyle's fantasy outlook, should he remain in that role. However, there remains a good chance the righty will eventually find his way into the Rays' rotation, whether it be due to injury or trade of another starter. Boyle boasts a 1.29 ERA and 15:5 K:BB over 14 major-league innings in 2025 and has collected a 1.85 ERA and 96:31 K:BB across 73 frames at Triple-A Durham.
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Manuel Rodriguez RP | TB
Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Facing lengthy absence
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander indicated Thursday that Rodriguez (forearm) is facing a lengthy absence, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rodriguez experienced a setback with his right elbow/forearm during a rehab appearance last week and had been scheduled to meet with a doctor Monday. While Neander didn't divulge any details about that doctor visit, it seems as though Rodriguez didn't receive good news. The hard-throwing righty has been sideline since mid-June.