MLB Player News

Allen was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Allen will return to the big leagues after being sent down May 22. The shortstop has produced a .174 batting average with two doubles, two runs and a stolen base over 23 at-bats in two stints with the Athletics this season. He's been red hot in June with Las Vegas, producing a .365/.500/.538 slash line with a home run, six doubles and 11 RBI in 16 games. With the Athletics out of playoff contention, it's possible that the 24-year-old sticks around for a while.

Anderson went 2-for-5 with a run scored Monday against the Blue Jays.

Anderson was activated from the injured list Monday and immediately returned to his customary role as the White Sox's leadoff hitter. He singled in his first plate appearance and also came around to score, showing little rust. Anderson has been excellent this season, maintaining a .357/.393/.500 line with five home runs and eight stolen bases across 41 games.

Franco (quadriceps) is set to move his rehab assignment Wednesday to Triple-A Durham from the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Between games Saturday and Monday in the FCL, Franco went 3-for-7 with a pair of extra-base hits, an RBI and a run scored. Even though he ended up getting a tough test Monday with rehabbing Red Sox starter Chris Sale (rib cage) on the mound for Boston's FCL affiliate, Franco will have higher-level minor-league pitching in Durham, with whom he's expected to appear in games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He'll be re-evaluated thereafter and could be cleared to return from the 10-day injured list for the Rays' game Saturday versus the Pirates.

Velazquez went 1-for-2 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Royals.

Velazquez has logged two steals over his last three games, though he's also struck out five times in that span. The shortstop is up to 10 thefts this season, and he's yet to get caught stealing. He's posted a lackluster .175/.219/.273 slash line with four home runs, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored and six doubles across 197 plate appearances, and it's expected he could see a challenge for playing time from utility man Tyler Wade going forward.

Cruz went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.

Cruz was as advertised in his season debut Monday, flashing his potential as a five-tool star. His most impactful moment was a rocket line-drive double that brought in three runs during the third inning. Per MLB Pipeline, the 23-year-old shortstop recorded the fastest throw by an MLB infielder this season while also posting elite sprint speeds. Cruz posted a .758 OPS with Triple-A Indianapolis this season but it looks like he'll be a permanent fixture in the Pirates' lineup moving forward.

Anderson (groin) was activated off the injured list Monday and will lead off and play shortstop against the Blue Jays.

Anderson was given a three-week timetable when he hit the injured list with a strained right groin at the end of May, and he'll be back right on schedule after going 5-for-15 across four rehab games. He was having an excellent season prior to his injury, hitting .356/.393/.503 with five homers and eight steals in 40 games, so the White Sox will be counting on him to kickstart a stalled season. Yoan Moncada (hamstring) hit the injured list in a corresponding move.

Abrams was recalled by the Padres on Monday.

Abrams joined the Opening Day roster straight from Double-A this season but looked overmatched. He was demoted a little over a month into the season after struggling to a .182/.270/.273 line in 20 games. He's fared far better in his first taste of Triple-A action, hitting .314/.365/.507 in 30 games for Triple-A El Paso. Depending on the severity of Manny Machado's ankle sprain, Abrams could be in line to start regularly going forward, with Ha-Seong Kim sliding to cover third base, leaving Abrams as the primary option at shortstop.

Crawford isn't starting Monday's game against Atlanta, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Crawford will get a breather after he hit .233 with two doubles, five RBI and a run over the last nine games. Thairo Estrada is taking over at shortstop while Wilmer Flores starts at second base.

Castillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

Pittsburgh called up top prospect Oneil Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier Monday and will have him make his first start with the big club at shortstop, where he'll likely handle an everyday role moving forward. As a result, Castillo no longer has a path to steady playing time at the position, but he could get a look at second base while the likes of Josh VanMeter (finger) and Kevin Newman (groin) are on the shelf. However, it'll be Hoy Park who picks up the start at the keystone Monday after slugging a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win.

The Pirates recalled Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday. He'll start at shortstop and bat sixth in the Pirates' series opener against the Cubs.

Infielder Liover Peguero was sent to Double-A Altoona to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Cruz, who is with the big club for the first time in 2022 after getting the chance to make his MLB debut last September. The Pirates delayed calling up Cruz more than two months into the season for dubious reasons, but he'll likely be immediately installed as the team's everyday shortstop. Over his 55 games with Indianapolis this season, Cruz slashed .232/.336/.422 with nine home runs and 11 stolen bases across 247 plate appearances.