MLB Player News

Story went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-0 win over Oakland.

Story's batting just .235 for the season, but he's delivered when runners are in scoring position (1.073 OPS). Four of his last five hits are doubles, as the second baseman has picked up in June where he left off in May. After delivering 32 runs during the previous month, Story has three RBI in the first three games in June.

Duran started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. He also had a fielding error.

Duran made his major-league debut after the Rangers placed Josh Smith (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list. He's never played above Double-A prior to Saturday, which can be read as an indictment of the Rangers' current situation at the hot corner. Neither Charlie Culberson nor Andy Ibanez has done enough to earn an everyday job, so the organization is digging into its depth in the minors.

Fletcher (hip) was recently cleared to begin playing catch, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Fletcher underwent surgery to repair his adductor muscles May 10 and was later moved to the 60-day injured list. He visited a hip specialist June 2 and has now been cleared to begin playing catch. The utilityman remains weeks away from a return, but he's optimistic that he could rejoin the big club in early-to-mid July.

Witt went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 6-0 win over the Astros.

Witt got aboard with an RBI single and stole second before scoring on a Salvador Perez double in the eighth inning. This was Witt's first steal since May 27, and he's now 8-for-10 on the basepaths this year. The rookie infielder has hit safely in each of the last two games after ending an 0-for-14 skid. He's at a .228/.269/.439 slash line with seven home runs, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored, three triples and 13 doubles through 201 plate appearances.

Smith (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder sprain Saturday.

Smith was removed from Friday's game against the Mariners with a shoulder injury, and he underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed a sprain in the AC joint of his shoulder. The 24-year-old was seen in a sling Saturday morning, and he received an anti-inflammatory injection, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. Smith doesn't yet have a timetable for his return. Ezequiel Duran was recalled from Double-A Frisco and will start at third base and bat seventh during his major-league debut Saturday. Duran should see most of the playing time at the hot corner in Smith's absence, but Andy Ibanez could also see a slight uptick in at-bats.

Smith isn't starting Saturday against Boston.

Smith started in the last two games and went 0-for-6 with a walk and four strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Chad Pinder starts at the hot corner and bats fifth.

Duran will be called up from Double-A Frisco to start at third base Saturday against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Josh Smith, who was acquired along with Duran from the Yankees in the Joey Gallo trade, is dealing with a shoulder injury, and Duran was already on the 40-man roster. While he has never played at Triple-A, Duran was slashing .321/.368/.582 with seven home runs, seven steals and a 17.9 K% in 201 plate appearances at Double-A. The 23-year-old played shortstop, second base and third base this season for Frisco.

Story went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, two RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 7-2 win over Oakland.

Story's two-run double in the sixth inning turned out to be the game-winning hit and ended a six-game RBI drought. Prior to that, he had knocked in 21 runs over seven contests to vault himself among the MLB leaders in runs batted in. The second baseman now delivered a team-high 39 runs, placing him eighth overall in the league.

Bogaerts went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and three RBI in Friday's 7-2 win over Oakland.

Bogaerts clubbed his sixth homer of the season in the fourth inning then gave the Red Sox breathing room with a two-run double in the ninth. It came on a special night for Bogaerts, who set the Red Sox franchise record for most games played (1,094) at shortstop. He's expected to set another record Saturday when he makes his 1,082nd start at short.

Witt went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Astros.

Witt went yard in the sixth inning, accounting for the only runs the Royals mustered against Astros starter Jose Urquidy. Prior to Friday, Witt had gone 0-for-14 in his last four contests, so it's positive to see him break the slump in a big way, even if it had little impact on the game. The 21-year-old is slashing .227/.269/.443 with seven homers, 27 RBI, 24 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 13 doubles and three triples in 197 plate appearances, but he's also striking out at a 25.4 percent clip while walking at just a 4.1 percent rate.