MLB Player News

Story (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Portland, MLB.com reports.

The initial plan calls for Story to play five innings at shortstop Friday, then serve as the designated hitter Saturday, followed by another five innings at short Sunday. Boston manager Alex Cora said Story is feeling good physically, both at the plate and in the field, and that the assignment is about building him up. The manager also stressed the organization will not rush Story back despite a desperate need for stability at the shortstop position in the majors. The rehab assignment could last up to 20 days.

Seager went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Rays.

Seager had fanned three times before taking Javy Guerra deep in the bottom of the seventh inning, turning a 2-1 lead into a 5-1 margin. It was his 14th long ball of the season. The shortstop is 5-for-18 with a 1.103 OPS since the All-Star break, building on a monster first half in which he posted a 1.026 OPS over 59 games.

Correa went 2-for-6 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Mariners.

Correa tacked on the Twins' last run of the game with his ninth-inning solo shot. The shortstop had gone 16 games without a homer, though he hit .281 (18-for-64) over that span, showing an overall improvement in his batting. For the season, he's at a .234/.309/.416 slash line with 12 homers, 42 RBI, 36 runs scored, 20 doubles and two triples through 85 contests.

Baez went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 11-10 loss to the Royals. He also stole two bases.

Baez was all over the place Tuesday, recording his eighth and ninth stolen bases of the year. It was the second time this season he's stolen two bases in the same game, with the other coming back on June 4. The shortstop isn't getting on base frequently enough to really run wild, though Tuesday's effort showed that he's still capable of stealing a base or two when given the chance. The nine steals matches Baez's total from 2022.

Arias is slashing .274/.426/.526 with six home runs, 14 steals and as many walks as strikeouts (25) in 25 Florida Complex League games.

A prized seven-figure signee in last year's international signing class, Arias is meeting or perhaps even exceeding expectations in his stateside debut. His 20.5 percent strikeout rate is perfectly adequate for an 18-year-old who is doing damage in the FCL, and he should get a bump to Single-A in the coming weeks.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said in an interview on SportsTalk 790 in Houston on Tuesday that Pena (hamstring) will be back in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Colorado.

A hamstring cramp necessitated Pena's removal from Saturday's game versus the Angels and he didn't play Sunday. However, it looks like the shortstop is good to go following Monday's off day.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated that the club will announce Tuesday when Story (elbow) will begin his minor-league rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

By all indications, Story is on the verge of playing in games in the minors. The big questions now are when, where exactly and for how long? It's possible Story will have to work his way up the ladder in the minor leagues, and he could potentially need close to the full 20 days afforded to him on the rehab assignment. Story underwent an internal bracing procedure on his right elbow in January and the Red Sox need him to show he can throw well enough with that elbow to play in the field upon his return.

Duran went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Monday in a 3-2 win over the Rays.

Shane McClanahan dominated Texas for five innings before Duran provided a key turning point with his game-tying two-run shot off the Tampa Bay ace in the sixth. It was the emerging slugger's first hit since the All-Star break -- he had gone 0-for-7 with four strikeouts prior to that point. Duran is enjoying a very strong campaign overall, however, slashing .301/.336/.523 with 13 homers, 37 RBI, 38 runs and four steals over 73 contests.

Martinez was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Martinez owns a .226 batting average through 70 contests at Double-A New Hampshire, but he's gotten progressively better after a disastrous April (.089 average over 15 games), turning in a .280/.391/.480 slash line with three home runs and 11 RBI in 23 June matchups and a 7-for-19 start to July. As Matheson notes, it'll be worth keeping an eye on Marinez's playing time at the hot corner down the stretch of the regular season with Matt Chapman due to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

Baez is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Kansas City.

Baez has shown no signs of righting the ship so far in July, batting just .167/.186/.262. Zach McKinstry will handle shortstop Monday while Baez regroups.