MLB Player News
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Kody Funderburk RP | MIN
Twins' Kody Funderburk: Will be 27th man Wednesday
The Twins will recall Funderburk from Triple-A St. Paul to serve as the 27th man during Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Funderburk has made two relief appearances at the major-league level this season, surrendering two runs with a 5:1 K:BB across four innings. He'll likely be returned to St. Paul after the twin bill.
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Zak Kent SP | STL
Guardians' Zak Kent: Back in majors
The Guardians recalled Kent from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Kent has made two relief appearances with the big club this season, allowing one run with a 5:2 K:BB over four innings. He'll give the bullpen a fresh arm after it was needed to cover six frames in Monday's win over the Brewers.
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Luke Jackson RP | SEA
Rangers' Luke Jackson: Hand still swollen
Jackson's hand is still swollen Tuesday but he's optimistic he'll be able to avoid the injured list, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jackson reportedly has a decent amount of strength and is squeezing a stress ball after getting hit on the hand by a comebacker Monday. Jacob Webb got the save after Jackson exited, but Chris Martin or Robert Garcia could also be options to get saves while Jackson is unavailable.
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Jason Foley RP | SF
Tigers' Jason Foley: Season-ending surgery needed
Foley underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Foley got 28 saves for the Tigers last year but didn't make the team out of spring training. He was effective at Triple-A prior to his injury, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and zero walks across five appearances. It's unclear what specific shoulder surgery Foley needed or if he'll be healthy for spring training.
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Chase Lee RP | TOR
Tigers' Chase Lee: Sent back to minors
Lee was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.
Lee pitched in back-to-back games after getting recalled Saturday and will head back to the minors. He has logged scoreless appearances in seven of eight games for the big club, so Lee should be back up in the not-too-distant future.
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Brandon Eisert RP | CHW
White Sox's Brandon Eisert: Serving as opener Tuesday
Eisert will be deployed as the White Sox's opening pitcher in front of bulk reliever Jonathan Cannon in Tuesday's game against the Reds, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.
The White Sox haven't used an opener since an April 29 loss to the Brewers, but manager Will Venable may want the left-handed Eisert to begin the game on the mound since the Reds typically have the left-handed-hitting TJ Friedl serve as their leadoff hitter. Eisert is unlikely to work more than one or two innings before turning the game over to Cannon, who previously followed an opener in that April 26 contest against the Athletics and ended up covering a season-high 7.2 innings.
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Nathan Lavender RP | NYM
Rays' Nate Lavender: Begins mound work
Lavender (elbow) is scheduled to throw his first true bullpen session of the season Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Working his way back from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his left elbow last May, Lavender said he had felt "unreal" during his recent throwing sessions before he completed what he described as a "short" bullpen session last weekend. The southpaw is now in line to throw a more traditional side session Tuesday, and he'll likely steadily increase the volume and intensity of his throwing in the weeks to come. Lavender will eventually advance to facing hitters in live batting practice and simulated games before heading out on an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The Rule 5 selection could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list and make his MLB debut with the Rays at some point in June or July.
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Kevin Kelly RP | TB
Rays' Kevin Kelly: Could begin assignment next week
Kelly (glute) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, MLB.com reports.
Kelly was placed on the 15-day injured list April 11 due to a left gluteal strain, but he had resumed playing catch in recent weeks and had hoped to begin throwing off a mound last Wednesday. The Rays haven't confirmed if Kelly was in fact able to start throwing bullpen sessions, but the right-handed reliever still seemingly has a chance at being ready to return from the IL before the end of the month. Prior to being shut down with the injury, Kelly struck out two batters and gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks in five innings over his five relief appearances.
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Grant Taylor RP | CHW
White Sox's Grant Taylor: Will make some relief appearances
Taylor will make some appearances out of the bullpen for Double-A Birmingham as means to manage his workload, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The White Sox still plan to develop Taylor as a starting pitcher, but they will be careful with his workload after he missed all of 2023 following Tommy John surgery and most of 2024 with a lat injury. Taylor has made six starts with Birmingham this season, posting a 1.56 ERA and 19:10 K:BB over 17.1 frames.
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Jesse Scholtens RP | TB
White Sox's Jesse Scholtens: Moving rehab to Charlotte
The White Sox transferred Scholtens' (elbow) rehab assignment from High-A Winston-Salem to Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
On the mend from the Tommy John surgery he underwent March 1, 2024, Scholtens kicked off his rehab assignment with Winston-Salem on May 6. He made his second appearance for the affiliate Sunday, covering four innings and striking out three batters while giving up one earned run on four hits and one walk. The right-hander will continue to build up his innings and pitch counts as he heads to Charlotte, where he's expected to make his third rehab start later this week. The White Sox will likely keep Scholtens in the minors for close to the entirety of his 30-day rehab window, but once activated in late May or early June, he could be in the mix for a spot in the big-league rotation.