MLB Player News

The Royals selected Velazquez's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. He'll start at shortstop and bat ninth in the Royals' series finale versus the Giants.

The 32-year-old utility player will return to the majors for the first time since the 2023 season, when he appeared in 54 games with the Angels. Velazquez has played both middle-infield positions and all three outfield spots during his time in the minors with the Royals and Diamondbacks organizations this season, but he could end up seeing most of his playing time at shortstop while he's up with Kansas City. He'll enter the starting nine right away at shortstop in place of Bobby Witt (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Along with Velazquez, Tyler Tolbert will also be in the mix for reps at shortstop while Witt is on the shelf.

The Royals transferred Kolek (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

Kolek made his most recent appearance for the Royals on July 2 before landing on the family medical emergency list a couple of days later. The right-hander was able to make a rehab start at Triple-A Omaha on Saturday, but he emerged from that outing with a right forearm strain and was moved to the Royals' 15-day injured list. Though Kolek remains without a clear timeline for a return while he weighs his treatment options for the injury, the Royals' decision to shift him to the 60-day injured list will keep him out until at least September. The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Andrew Velazquez, whose contract was selected from Triple-A.

Caglianone (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Giants.

Caglianone injured his right shoulder on a diving attempt in the outfield during Tuesday's game. There's no word yet on the severity of the injury, but it's a good sign he wasn't placed on the injured list prior to Wednesday's contest. Consider Caglianone day-to-day for now. Starling Marte will play right field for the Royals in Wednesday's series finale.

The Royals placed Witt on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to low back tightness.

The durable Witt will go on the IL for the first time in his five-year career in the majors after he was held out of the lineup for Sunday's loss to the Padres due to the back issue and then aggravated the injury while returning to the starting nine for Monday's win over the Giants. The Royals haven't indicated that Witt's injury is any sort of long-term concern, so if he responds well to a week and a half of rest, he could be ready to come off the shelf when first eligible July 31. Tyler Tolbert and Andrew Velazquez are likely to share time at shortstop while Witt is out.

Schuemann is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Pirates.

Schuemann appeared to be gaining more traction in the Yankees' everyday lineup heading into the All-Star break, but he now seems to have settled back into a reserve role. He'll be on the bench for the fourth time in five games while the Yankees have opened up more playing time for Paul Goldschmidt at his expense.

Goldschmidt is absent from the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Pirates.

Ben Rice will handle first base, and Spencer Jones will grab a start at designated hitter. Goldschmidt will likely be back in the lineup for the second game of the twin bill.

Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 29th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Twins.

The 27-year-old closer fanned Kody Clemens as he extended his MLB saves lead, with the Padres' Mason Miller, the Rays' Bryan Baker and the Cardinals' Riley O'Brien tied for second with 25. Smith has allowed an earned run in only one of his last 10 appearances, and on the season he's produced a 2.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 66:11 K:BB over 46.1 innings.

Messick didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Twins, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The southpaw was lifted after 88 pitches (59 strikes) with one on in the sixth inning and the game tied 2-2, missing out on both his eighth quality start of the season and his ninth win when Cleveland scored twice in the bottom of the frame. Messick has given up just one earned run in three straight outings, and on the campaign he sports a 2.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 116:36 K:BB through 117.2 innings in his first full season as part of the big-league rotation. He lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Tampa Bay.

Jeffers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Guardians.

The backstop took Parker Messick deep in the top of the first inning for his ninth long ball of the season, but it was the only lead the Twins would hold in the game. Jeffers missed nearly two months after undergoing surgery on a fractured hamate bone in May, but he hasn't shown much rust since returning just before the All-Star break, going 5-for-21 (.238) in six games with two doubles and two homers.

Paredes (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk over three innings of relief as the Twins fell 5-2 to the Guardians. He didn't strike out a batter.

Kendry Rojas got the start but worked just 2.1 innings before handing the ball to Paredes in a tandem arrangement, with neither pitcher being particularly effective. Since joining the big-league roster in late May, Paredes has managed a 4.72 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 19:13 K:BB through 34.1 innings over nine appearances (five starts). Connor Prielipp (finger) is closing in on a return from the IL to fill the fifth starter spot, but depending on how Minnesota navigates the trade deadline, there could be other openings in the rotation in August. Paredes hasn't done much to stake a claim for any vacancies, however.