MLB Player News
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Masyn Winn SS | STL
Cardinals' Masyn Winn: Day off Tuesday
Winn is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.
Winn had started every game since Aug. 12 but will receive a day of rest in the series opener. Thomas Saggese will play shortstop in Winn's place and bat seventh in his major-league debut.
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Thomas Saggese SS | STL
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Officially added to roster
The Cardinals selected Saggese's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.
Brendan Donovan (foot) has been unavailable the last couple days and the Cardinals have been wanting to give Masyn Winn a little more rest, so Saggese should pick up some starts in the middle infield for St. Louis down the stretch. The 22-year-old got off to a slow start with Memphis this season but had turned it on since the beginning of July, slashing .291/.351/.524 with 12 home runs over 55 games. Saggese is starting at shortstop and batting seventh Tuesday versus the Reds in what will be his major-league debut.
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Franklin Arias SS | BOS
Red Sox's Franklin Arias: Wrapping up strong age-18 season
Arias is slashing .309/.409/.487 with nine home runs, 35 steals on 41 attempts and a 65:50 K:BB in 87 games across the Florida Complex League and Carolina League.
The 18-year-old shortstop understandably did much more damage in the FCL (1.055 OPS) than after his July 23 promotion to Single-A Salem (.709 OPS), but it's still an accomplishment for him to be holding his own against Single-A pitching. Arias came into the year as a hit-over-power shortstop who had a strong chance of sticking at the position, and while that is all still true, he was more impressive with the bat and more prolific on the bases than expected.
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Brayan Rocchio SS | CLE
Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Registers steal in win
Rocchio went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over the White Sox.
Rocchio has gone 7-for-18 (.389) with two home runs, five RBI and four walks over seven games in September. That has helped him gain a majority of the playing time at shortstop, though he still faces a small threat from Daniel Schneemann. Rocchio hit just .206 in August and is at a .214/.304/.328 slash line with eight homers, 10 steals, 32 RBI and 48 runs scored through 127 contests this season.
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Thomas Saggese SS | STL
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: Receiving promotion to big leagues
The Cardinals will call up Saggese from Triple-A Memphis prior to Tuesday's game against the Reds, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
St. Louis has yet to announce corresponding transaction, but Brendan Donovan (foot) has been banged up lately and may require a stint on the injured list. Saggese had a so-so first three months with Memphis this season but has slashed .291/.351/.524 with 12 home runs over 55 games since the start of July. The 22-year-old has mostly played shortstop this season but could get regular run at second base if Donovan needs to miss some time.
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Ceddanne Rafaela CF | BOS
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Knocks in four in win
Rafaela started in center field and went 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored in Monday's 12-3 win over the Orioles.
Rafaela gave Boston separation late in the game with a two-run single in the sixth inning and a two-run double in the eighth. It was assumed he'd move to second base with the return of shortstop Trevor Story from the 60-day injured list, but Rafaela has played only center field since, while Romy Gonzalez and Enmanuel Valdez handled second. Rafaela could eventually shift back to the infield, and it would seem to make sense as the Red Sox have a several outfield/DH bats that would be more dangerous in the lineup than the Gonzalez/Valdez duo.
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Mookie Betts RF | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Stays hot with homer
Betts went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and a walk Monday in a loss to the Cubs.
Betts put the Dodgers on the board with a run-scoring single in the fifth inning and added a two-run shot to left field in the seventh. The All-Star right-fielder has hit safely in nine straight contests, collecting four multi-hit efforts over that span. During the hitting streak, Betts is slashing .394/.459/.909 with four homers, 12 RBI, nine runs and a stolen base.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Smacks 444-foot homer
Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 3-2 win over the Marlins.
Cruz took Valente Bellozo deep to center in the first inning for his 19th blast of the season, which came off his bat at 113.7 mph. It was Cruz's first homer since August ninth, ending a career-long streak of 26 games without a home run. Cruz hit his sixth home run of 440 feet or more this season, which is tied for the third most in MLB. The 25-year-old has an average home run distance of 421.3 feet this season, trailing only Jorge Soler among players with 10 or more homers.
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Willi Castro LF | MIN
Twins' Willi Castro: Exits with illness
Castro left Monday's game against the Angels due to illness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Castro was slated to bat seventh in the series opener but didn't see an at-bat before being lifted from the game. Michael Helman will take his spot in the order and man center field in Castro's absence.