MLB Player News

The Rangers activated Rocker (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Rocker is slated to rejoin the rotation Wednesday with a start against the Rays after being sidelined since late April with a right shoulder impingement. He threw only 53 pitches and four innings in his final rehab outing, so Rocker is likely to have a limited workload versus Tampa Bay.

The White Sox claimed Cusick off waivers from the Tigers on Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Cusick has struggled at the Triple-A level this season, posting a 6.32 ERA and 11:14 K:BB over 15.2 innings. However, the 25-year-old was a first-round pick back in 2021, so the White Sox will see if they can coax more out of him.

Festa has been scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday with Triple-A St. Paul and appears likely to enter the Twins rotation Sunday against the Blue Jays in place of the injured Pablo Lopez (lat), Declan Goff of SKOR North reports.

Lopez exited his start Tuesday against the Athletics due to a right lat strain, and while he has not yet been officially placed on the 15-day injured list, the transaction is considered imminent. Festa missed some time at St. Paul in May with right arm fatigue, but he's looked strong in two starts since returning, allowing just one run with a 12:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings. The 25-year-old has also pitched well in three starts with the Twins this season, collecting a 1.38 ERA and 15:5 K:BB across 13 frames. Festa could be needed for multiple starts with the big club, pending the results of the tests on Lopez's lat.

Campbell (elbow/wrist) appears on track to begin pitching in games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League during the first week of July, SI.com reports.

The No. 37 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Campbell has been snakebitten on the health front since being selected and is still waiting to make his professional debut. After previously undergoing nerve decompression surgery on his right elbow in May 2023, Campbell then required Tommy John surgery on the same elbow last April. Additionally, Campbell had another procedure Oct. 1 of last year, when he underwent surgery to address De Quervain tenosynovitis on his right wrist. Campbell looks to be making good progress in his rehab program for the elbow and wrist issues, but given his long layoff, it's fair to expect some rust once he eventually makes his debut in Arizona.

Triple-A Las Vegas placed Estes on its 7-day injured list May 20 due to an undisclosed injury.

After being optioned to Las Vegas in early April after two rough starts for the Athletics to begin the season, Estes made seven appearances for the Triple-A club before going down with an injury. The 23-year-old righty likely would have been in consideration for a call-up in the near future had he not gotten hurt, as he posted a 4.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB across 34.2 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Stephen struck out a career-high 11 for High-A Vancouver on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) one three hits over six innings. He didn't walk a batter.

The 22-year-old right-hander hasn't missed a beat since his promotion to the Northwest League, and over three starts for Vancouver, Stephen has posted a 3.21 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB through 14 innings. A second-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, the Mississippi State product made his pro debut at Single-A this season and is racing up the ladder on the strength of a mid-90s fastball, a potentially plus changeup and strong control and command.

Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.

It's unclear how hard or how many pitches Garcia threw, but manager Joe Espada did note that the session went well. While this is a positive step forward, Garcia is expected to be sidelined until at least late July.

McClanahan (triceps) threw a short box bullpen session Tuesday and has a full bullpen session scheduled for Friday, MLB.com reports.

The Rays continue to offer optimistic news about McClanahan, as imaging has revealed no structural issues with his arm. He'll continue to ramp up his throwing intensity but will be sidelined until after the All-Star break.

Lopez suffered a lat strain on the back of his pitching shoulder during Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Athletics and is likely to be placed on the injured list, the Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports. "It's not the greatest news to hear, to have to deal with, but if there's a silver lining it's that it wasn't that posterior cuff or that I didn't feel anything blowing up," Lopez said after the game.

Lopez was removed in the sixth inning after feeling soreness in his shoulder after throwing warmup pitches. He was still able to come away with his fifth win of the season, giving up two earned runs on fur hits and three walks while striking out four over five frames. Lopez is set to undergo further testing Wednesday before the Twins confirm the diagnosis of a lat strain, but at least his initial outlook doesn't seem to be too ominous. Triple-A St. Paul starters David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson would appear to be the leading candidates to enter the big-league rotation the next time Lopez's turn comes up.

Bello came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Angels, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.

After struggling to complete five innings in a start through most of May, Bello began June with a much sharper outing, tossing 65 of 103 pitches for strikes in his third quality start of the year. The 26-year-old right-hander will carry a 3.91 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 33:24 K:BB through 46 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Rays.