MLB Player News
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Continues solid play
Baez went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.
Baez started in center field for the third time in Detroit's last five games, and he continued his solid start to the season. The veteran is now batting .295 with a .774 OPS, one home run, five RBI and five runs scored across 13 appearances. Baez's ability to play the outfield has opened up shortstop for young phenom Kevin McGonigle, and that arrangement figures to stick for the time being, though McGonigle can also shift over to third to allow Baez to cover short on occasion.
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Wenceel Perez SS | DET
Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Delivers key home run
Perez went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.
Perez entered the game as a defensive replacement after Zach McKinstry exited following a collision, and the former didn't come to the plate until the eighth inning. Perez made the at-bat count, however, as the outfielder lifted his first home run of the year to break a 1-1 tie. It was a positive moment for Perez, though he still looks like a reserve option for the Tigers after getting recalled from Triple-A Toledo last week.
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Trevor Story SS | BOS
Red Sox's Trevor Story: Drives in five at Minnesota
Story went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run and five RBI in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Twins.
The veteran shortstop capped a five-run third inning with a three-run shot off Simeon Woods Richardson before adding a two-run double in the sixth. The long ball was Story's first in April and second of the season, and while he had a sluggish start to the campaign, he appears to have found his groove -- over the last nine games he's batting .314 (11-for-35) with a whopping 15 RBI.
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Jeremiah Jackson SS | BAL
Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson: Goes yard again Wednesday
Jackson went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 8-5 extra-inning loss to the Diamondbacks.
The 26-year-old utility player got hold of an Eduardo Rodriguez fastball in the bottom of the fourth inning, ripping it on a line over the fence in left-center field for a two-run shot. It was Jackson's fourth homer of the season, and all four have come in the last five games as part of a six-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .480 (12-for-25) with two doubles, five runs and 10 RBI. With Jackson Holliday (hand) having had a setback on his rehab assignment earlier this week and Jordan Westburg (elbow) still not expected back until late May, Jackson has the starting job at second base locked down for now.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Resting Wednesday
Crawford isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Crawford will grab a seat on the bench Wednesday after going 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch during Tuesday's series opener. Leo Rivas will fill the void at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Sam Antonacci SS | CHW
White Sox's Sam Antonacci: Starting at second base in debut
Antonacci will start at second base and bat fifth Wednesday versus the Rays in his major-league debut.
After Antonacci received the call to the big leagues earlier Wednesday, manager Will Venable said that the 23-year-old will mostly play left field for the White Sox, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. However, Antonacci will be making his debut at second base Wednesday while Chase Meidroth gets a day off. Antonacci slashed .313/.500/.479 at Charlotte to earn the promotion.
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Wenceel Perez SS | DET
Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Missing out on start vs. RHP
Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Since being called up from Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Perez has gone 0-for-10 with a walk in three starts. Perez will stay on the bench for a second straight game against a right-handed pitcher (Seth Lugo) and may be stuck in a short-side platoon role for Detroit until his bat begins to heat up.
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Sam Antonacci SS | CHW
White Sox's Sam Antonacci: Receives call to majors
The White Sox selected Antonacci's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
The White Sox had sent some mixed signals over the weekend regarding whether or not Antonacci would be in line for a promotion to the majors, but after further deliberation, the organization has elected to move the 23-year-old up to the big-league squad. Antonacci forced the White Sox's hand after a red-hot start to the season at Triple-A Charlotte, with whom he produced a .313/.500/.479 slash line, two home runs and five stolen bases while striking out in just 11.9 percent of his 67 plate appearances. Though Antonacci should get the chance to play regularly against right-handed pitching, it's unclear if he'll have a home at any one position or fill more of a super-utility role. He's seen the bulk of his starts in left field this season but has also received reps at all four infield spots since entering the professional ranks in 2024.
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Kevin McGonigle SS | DET
Tigers' Kevin McGonigle: Agrees to $150 million extension
The Tigers signed McGonigle to an eight-year, $150 million contract extension Wednesday.
The deal will begin in 2027 and run through the 2034 season, which covers McGonigle's final five seasons of club control, plus his first three years of free agency. He'll receive a $14 million signing bonus and the contract can max out at $160 million if McGonigle reaches all escalators. It's the latest in a string of pre-arbitration contract extensions teams have handed out to young players in recent weeks. McGonigle will not turn 22 until August and is slashing .311/.417/.492 with one home run, one stolen base and an 11:8 BB:K over his first 17 games at the major-league level.