MLB Player News

The Reds have selected McLain with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 first-year player draft.

As with most college shortstops with good hit tools, McClain's profile is otherwise lacking in clear impact potential. He can handle shortstop but may fit better at second base or center field. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, there are concerns about how much power will come with what could be a high batting average. When he hits a home run, he is typically top-spinning a grooved fastball up in the zone or hitting a wall scraper to the opposite field. He hit .333/.434/.579 with nine home runs, nine steals (on 10 attempts) and a 34:34 K:BB in 47 games as a junior at UCLA. If the hit tool is as good as advertised, McClain's defensive versatility and plus speed will allow him to play almost every day and chip in around 20 steals. However, a potential swing change in pro ball designed to unlock more power could compromise his hit tool, so the eventual offensive output is fluid.

Owings went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in a 3-1 triumph over the Padres on Sunday.

Owings pinch hit for starter Jon Gray in the seventh and took Craig Stammen deep to give Colorado a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The utility man is now 3-for-5 following an 0-for-16 stretch over his previous 10 games and concludes the first half slashing .306/.405/.667, albeit in only 19 games.

Lindor went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 6-5 loss to Pittsburgh.

The shortstop opened the scoring with his 11th homer of the year coming in the first inning off Pittsburgh starter Chase De Jong. Lindor has gone yard twice in the last four games. He's struggled a bit in his first half-season as a Met, posting a .227/.326/.377 slash line with 36 RBI, 49 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 361 plate appearances. Sunday was just his fourth three-hit game of the year.

Swanson went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs and a walk in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Miami.

The shortstop was pretty much the lone bright spot for Atlanta in its first game without Ronald Acuna (knee). Swanson went deep off Miami starter Pablo Lopez in the sixth inning and added a second long ball off reliever Anthony Bender in the ninth. Swanson closed the first half of the season hot with 13 hits, including two homers and five doubles, in his last seven contests. He's slashing .243/.302/.453 with 15 homers, 40 RBI, 40 runs scored and six stolen bases through 362 plate appearances.

Rojas went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in Sunday's 7-4 win over Atlanta.

The shortstop was productive at the plate, and he was able to knock in Jesus Sanchez in the sixth inning. Rojas has provided just two stolen bases, two RBI and one run scored through 10 games in July despite going 11-for-40 (.275). He finished the first half with a .258/.322/.385 slash line, four home runs, six stolen bases, 24 RBI and 36 runs scored across 276 plate appearances.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Seager (hand) will take at-bats during simulated games at the club's spring training facility in Arizona next weekend, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Roberts said that the club has yet to schedule a rehab assignment for the shortstop, though the skipper indicated that he's hopeful Seager will be ready to return from the 60-day injured list at some point during the Dodgers' four-game home series with the Giants that begins July 19, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. The 27-year-old has been on the shelf since suffering a right hand fracture on May 15.

Story is back in the starting lineup Sunday against the Padres after being scratched Saturday because of soreness, Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com reports.

Story was removed from Saturday's lineup due to lingering soreness from being hit by a pitch Friday. The shortstop appears to be feeling better Sunday, as he'll bat third during the series finale.

Ahmed is not starting Sunday against the Dodgers.

Ahmed will take a seat after recording just one hit in his last 20 at-bats. Josh Rojas will slide over to shortstop as Josh VanMeter mans the keystone Sunday.

Berti is not in Sunday's lineup against Atlanta, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Berti is sitting for the second time in the team's three-game weekend series against Atlanta. He's managed only six hits in 32 at-bats across his last 10 appearances, which has translated to a .188/.257/.188 line. Joe Panik has been the beneficiary of Berti's struggles and will start at third base while hitting eighth Sunday.

Baez is batting cleanup and playing shortstop in Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.

He will not miss a game after exiting Saturday's contest with a jammed thumb. Baez has an unimpressive .238 average at this point in the season, but he has gone 9-for-19 with a trio of home runs and seven RBI in his last six games.