MLB Player News

Barrero (hand) is set to begin a hitting progression Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Barrero has been idle for the past month while he waited for his left hand to heal after undergoing surgery to repair his hamate bone, but the 24-year-old looks like he's now ready to begin ramping up for a return. Since he'll essentially need to complete spring training all over again following his shutdown, Barrero is likely at least a week or more away from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. Whenever he's activated from the IL, Barrero could push for work at third base or second base, depending on the health of Jonathan India (hamstring), Mike Moustakas (biceps) and Donovan Solano (hamstring).

The Athletics placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a bone bruise in his left ankle, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Smith was spotted with his left ankle in a walking boot Tuesday, so his move to the IL a day later doesn't come as a major surprise. The rookie infielder has gotten off to a rough start to 2022, slashing .161/.212/.226 with a 30.3 percent strikeout rate across 33 plate appearances. Smith's absence for at least the next week and a half should give Sheldon Neuse more job security as the Athletics' primary third baseman.

Allen made his major-league debut in Tuesday's win over the Orioles, starting at second base and going 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

The defensive-savvy prospect is more renowned for his prowess at shortstop, but he's also logged 61 appearances at the keystone in the minors. Allen's promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday was the result of the Athletics' rash of COVID-19 absences, so his initial majors stint may not last but a few days.

Perdomo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

Perdomo started the last three games and went 0-for-6 with two walks and two strikeouts. Sergio Alcantara will start at shortstop while Yonny Hernandez takes over at the hot corner.

Lindor went 4-for-9 with two doubles, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Giants.

The shortstop played hero in the matinee, bringing home Brandon Nimmo for the winning run with a 10th-inning single, then Lindor scored the Mets' first run in a 3-1 win during the nightcap. The 28-year-old has regained his swagger to begin 2022 after a couple lackluster campaigns, slashing .310/.442/.619 through 12 games with three homers, three steals, nine RBI and 10 runs scored with a stellar 9:6 BB:K.

Story went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Scoring opportunities were rare for Boston, which managed just three hits during the game. Enrique Hernandez and Story hit back-to-back doubles in the third to produce the team's first run. Story's double extended his hit streak to six games and gives him three RBI in the last two contests.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Ahmed (shoulder) could return at some point during an upcoming homestand that begins Friday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Lovullo, who mentioned the possibility of a rehab assignment, did not indicate whether a potential return would be closer to the beginning or the end of the homestand. The Diamondbacks open a three-game set against the Mets on Friday, followed by another three-gamer beginning Monday against the Dodgers. Ahmed took six at-bats and played six innings defensively Monday during an exhibition game at the team's training facility at Salt River Fields. The manager also labeled the injured Jordan Luplow (oblique) as a potential returnee along with Ahmed.

Arcia went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Dodgers.

Arcia singled in the second inning and doubled in the fourth and seventh, plating a run during the former. The 27-year-old is slashing a torrid .368/.409/.474, though the production has come in a 19 at-bat sample on the weak side of a platoon.

Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 7-2 loss Tuesday against the Angels.

Pena reached on a catcher's interference and scored in the third and added a solo home run in the seventh. The top prospect has gotten off to a great start for the Astros, leading the team with six extra-base hits and posting a 1.014 OPS. The 24-year-old had only played 30 minor-league games above High-A level prior to this season and has shown he belongs in the big leagues so far.

Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in a 7-2 win Tuesday in Houston.

Velazquez led off the sixth inning with a single and then stole second base but was left stranded. He started at shortstop and hit ninth in the Angels' lineup. The journeyman has started the last six games for the Angels after being recalled when David Fletcher (hip) went on the injured list. The 28-year-old has a .182 lifetime batting average across 187 at-bats in five seasons.