MLB Player News
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Kevin Newman 3B | LAA
Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Contributes to win
Newman started at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's 11-1 over the Angels.
Newman delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning, then after stealing his third bag of the season, trotted home on Joc Pederson's grand slam. Newman made his first start in three games; he had been the primary shortstop until Geraldo Perdomo was activated off the IL on Tuesday. Newman will work in a utility role and could see action all around the infield, although he's only appeared at shortstop and second base so far in 2024.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Drives in two in loss
Cruz went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
The 25-year-old shortstop tied up the game with a two-run single off Lance Lynn in the fifth inning, but that finished the scoring for Pittsburgh. Cruz now has eight RBI over his last seven games, and his batting average in June is a solid .286. He will carry a .248/.300/.432 slash line with nine home runs and 28 RBI into a weekend series at Colorado.
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Geraldo Perdomo SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo: Resting Thursday
Perdomo isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.
Perdomo has gone 3-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored in two games since returning from the injured list. He'll get a breather Thursday against Griffin Canning and the Angels while Kevin Newman starts at shortstop, batting ninth.
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C.J. Abrams SS | WAS
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Belts 11th homer
Abrams went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Tigers.
The shortstop launched a solo shot off Reese Olson in the third inning to get the Nationals on the board. Abrams has shaken off his May slump, hitting safely in six straight games with six of his seven hits (three doubles, a triple and two homers) during that stretch going for extra bases. On the season, the 23-year-old is slashing .248/.296/.472 with 11 homers, 10 steals, 34 RBI and 38 runs in 61 contests.
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Jordan Lawlar SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Building at-bats at Reno
Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen indicated Wednesday that Lawlar will stay at Triple-A Reno for now, Kevin Zimmerman of Arizona Sports reports.
Lawlar was activated off the injured list this week and played his second game for Reno on Wednesday. With changes afoot on the Diamondbacks -- primary shortstop Geraldo Perdomo is off the IL, and manager Torey Lovullo said Blaze Alexander will see more time at third base in place of the slumping Eugenio Suarez -- it's logical to think about where Lawlar fits. "Lawlar has a huge future," Hazen said. "Where he's going to play (in the majors), I don't know. I think the challenge with Jordan right now is he had spring training and then he had six weeks of nothing, outside of what he's had recently on his rehab (assignment)." The plan is to allow Lawlar to build up at-bats at the Triple-A level, where he had just 80 plate appearances last season. While he's doing that, the organization is likely to expose him to third base.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Goes deep Wednesday
Lindor went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs in a 10-4 victory versus Miami on Wednesday.
Lindor opened the bottom of the first inning with a double and subsequently scored on Harrison Bader's home run. The shortstop hit a long ball of his own in the eighth frame, going 414 feet to center field. Lindor has disappointed a bit this season after notching his first 30-30 campaign last year, though with 11 homers and nine steals he's one theft away from reaching double digits in both categories -- something only seven MLB players have done so far this season.
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Kevin Newman 3B | LAA
Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Moving into reserve role
Newman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
He'll sit for the second day in a row and looks set to see a steep reduction in playing time moving forward after the Diamondbacks brought back top shortstop Geraldo Perdomo from the injured list Tuesday. Newman joined the Diamondbacks in the second week of the season following Perdomo's placement on the IL and hit .266 with two home runs and two stolen bases over 49 games.
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Blaze Alexander SS | BAL
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Larger role at hot corner
Alexander is starting at third base Wednesday against the Angels, and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the utility infielder will see more opportunities at the position going forward, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Eugenio Suarez has worked as Arizona's everyday third baseman through the first two-plus months of the campaign, but he's struggled to a .575 OPS in 262 plate appearances. Wednesday's start is just Alexander's third at the hot corner this season, and his .279/.345/.403 slash line could be enough for him to seize a regular role. Lovullo wasn't clear how playing time will be split, but Suarez seems likely to still see at least fairly regular action.
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Vidal Brujan 2B | NYM
Marlins' Vidal Brujan: Returning to bench role
Brujan is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
Brujan closed the weekend with four straight starts in the infield, but the latter three came while both Tim Anderson and Otto Lopez were away from the team. Anderson has since been reinstated from the bereavement list and Lopez has come off the paternity list, so Brujan should settle back into a utility role for Miami.