MLB Player News
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Adael Amador SS | COL
Rockies' Adael Amador: Lengthy power outage
Amador is slashing .138/.312/.149 with zero home runs, 12 steals and more walks (19) than strikeouts (17) in 25 games for Double-A Hartford.
Coming into the year, Amador was seen as one of the best pure hitters in the minors, so it's a bit jarring to see his batting average sitting at .138 through the first five weeks of the season. Perhaps more concerning though, is Amador's complete lack of power, as his .171 BABIP and overly patient approach largely explain his low batting average. Amador's 20.6 percent hard-hit rate and 63.2 percent groundball rate are very troubling marks. He is playing half his games in Hartford, which is essentially a neutral hitting environment, after getting to play half his High-A games at the very hitter-friendly park in Spokane, which helped him slug .514 in 54 High-A games last year.
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Kevin Newman 3B | LAA
Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Plays hero Monday
Newman went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in Monday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
Newman ended the night with a walk-off, two-run single off Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz, who had hit a batter and walked two before the shortstop played hero. It was the third consecutive game with multiple hits for Newman, who is 8-for-12 with four doubles, a triple, two RBI and four runs scored during that stretch. He's added 74 points to his batting average -- from .179 to .253 -- due to this outburst and is more in line with his career mark of .259. He had become the team's primary shortstop, because his glove was more reliable than rookie Blaze Alexander. Newman should continue to serve that role until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) is ready, which is expected to be at some point in June.
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Mookie Betts RF | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Smacks leadoff homer
Betts went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Giants.
Betts snapped a 26-game homer drought with his leadoff blast Monday. He was far from a slouch in that span, batting .337 with an .848 OPS during the power drought. For the season, Betts is up to a .341/.440/.553 slash line with seven homers, 28 RBI, 35 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 11 doubles and two triples over 200 plate appearances. While it has cost him some power, Betts is enjoying the best plate discipline of his career with a 15.0 percent walk rate and 9.0 percent strikeout rate.
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Walker Martin SS | SF
Giants' Walker Martin: Recovering from hamstring strain
Martin is working his way back from a hamstring strain and has yet to make his season debut for the Giants' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate, Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reports.
It's unclear when Martin suffered the injury, but Giants farm director Kyle Haines said that the 20-year-old won't be thrust into game action until he fully completes his rehab and return-to-play progression. The Giants are likely to let the No. 52 overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft get his feet wet at shortstop when he begins his professional career, but the 6-foot-2, 188-pound Martin will most likely shift over to third base as he climbs the minor-league ladder.
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Ha-seong Kim 2B | ATL
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: In Monday's lineup
Kim (wrist) will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Monday's game versus the Rockies.
Kim was removed from Sunday's game against the Dodgers after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist. However, X-rays came back clean and he won't wind up missing any starts.
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Edmundo Sosa 3B | PHI
Phillies' Edmundo Sosa: Stays hot at dish Sunday
Sosa went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Marlins.
Sosa has been getting the job done as the primary replacement at shortstop for Trea Turner, who was placed on the 10-day injured list May 4 with a left hamstring strain. While starting in seven of the last eight games, Sosa has gotten on base at a .444 clip while contributing three extra-base hits (one triple, two doubles) and two stolen bases. He'll remain in the starting nine once again Monday against the Mets, manning shortstop while batting sixth.
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Tim Anderson 2B | LAA
Marlins' Tim Anderson: Placed on IL with back injury
The Marlins placed Anderson on the 10-day injured list Monday with lower-back tightness.
Anderson had missed the previous two games with the injury and evidently didn't show enough progress to avoid a stint on the IL. Because the move is backdated to Saturday, Anderson will be eligible to return from the IL in just over a week. However, it's unclear whether he'll be ready to rejoin the Miami lineup by then. Vidal Brujan is expected to serve as the Marlins' everyday shortstop while Anderson is on the shelf.
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Tim Anderson 2B | LAA
Marlins' Tim Anderson: Held out again Monday
Anderson (back) remains out of the lineup for Monday's contest against the Tigers.
Anderson is battling lower-back tightness and will miss a third straight start. The Marlins haven't indicated that a stint on the injured list might be required for Anderson, but the odds certainly increase the more time he misses. Vidal Brujan will again handle shortstop in Anderson's place while Otto Lopez covers second base.
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Brandon Crawford SS | STL
Cardinals' Brandon Crawford: Playing time sparse
Crawford is slashing .107/.194/.107 over 10 games with the Cardinals this season.
Crawford was signed to serve as backup to rookie Masyn Winn, who has been one of the Cardinals' better hitters. As such, Crawford has seen minimal playing time. All three of his hits this season have been singles, and he's also posted a 3:11 BB:K. The veteran shortstop is unlikely to see a larger role unless Winn suffers an injury or enters a severe slump.
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Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Homers early in win
Tovar went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Rangers.
The Rockies got to Jose Urena early in the first inning, and Tovar's blast was ultimately all they needed in the win. The shortstop has hit safely in six straight games, going 8-for-26 (.308) with four extra-base hits in that span. For the season, he's at a .266/.308/.411 with four homers, 15 RBI, 16 runs scored, three stolen bases, nine doubles and a triple over 39 contests.