MLB Player News

Rodriguez was removed from Thursday night's contest against the Angels in the third inning after taking a blow to the head earlier in the game, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez took a 78.2 mph throw from Nolan Schanuel off the back of his helmet while advancing to second base on a ground ball in the bottom of the first inning. After he was able to remain in the contest for an additional frame, he was replaced in center field by Victor Robles in the top of the third. Rodriguez will likely undergo additional testing to determine if he suffered a concussion.

Bubic (elbow/shoulder) received a cortisone injection Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic will be shut down for 7-10 days before the team will reevaluate where he's at. The southpaw has been sidelined since mid-May while nursing left elbow and shoulder discomfort, and he was shifted to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Lagrange was placed on the 7-day injured list with a right shoulder injury Thursday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Lagrange has not pitched with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since he allowed five runs on four hits and two walks while tossing two-thirds of an inning June 28. His lack of action can now be traced back to a shoulder issue, and he is expected to undergo an MRI in the near future. The right-hander had begun the process of transitioning from being a starter to working out of the bullpen, and he was on track to potentially join the major-league roster in the near future. His major-league debut will now have to be pushed further down the road.

Hancock will piggyback starter Logan Gilbert against the Blue Jays on Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Hancock was set to follow Gilbert out of the bullpen last Saturday, but the Mariners decided shortly before the game to give them both their own separate starts during the weekend. The team will now revive their original plan this Saturday, which presumably involves Hancock remaining on the mound through the end of the game once Gilbert's day is done. The 27-year-old Hancock posted a 5.19 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 26 innings in June, but he ended the month on a strong note while allowing just one earned run in 5.2 frames against Cleveland.

Gilbert will be piggybacked by Emerson Hancock during the former's start against Toronto on Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Gilbert and Hancock were originally supposed to work together in a piggyback game last weekend, but a last-minute change allowed the two pitchers to both make their own traditional starts. Now back in a piggyback plan, Gilbert could be limited to roughly five innings Saturday before Hancock steps in to potentially close out the game.

Eaton received a three-game suspension Thursday for his actions during a benches-clearing incident Tuesday against the Nationals, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports

The benches-clearing incident was sparked when Cade Cavalli struck out Willson Contreras. Contreras got a seven-game suspension while Cavalli received a seven-game ban and Miles Mikolas five games on the Nationals' side. Unless Eaton appeals the ban, he won't be able to play until July 7.

The Royals optioned Rave to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Rave will end up as the odd man out on the Royals' 26-man roster following Luke Maile's promotion from Omaha on Thursday. Rave appeared in nine games after getting called up June 14 and went 4-for-18 with a homer and two additional runs scored during his stint with Kansas City.

Contreras received a seven-game suspension Thursday for his actions during and following Tuesday's benches-clearing incident against the Nationals, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

The benches-clearing incident Tuesday was sparked after Cade Cavalli struck out Contreras, which led to Contreras being ejected. Along with the first baseman, Nate Eaton was also suspended for three games. On the Nationals' side, Cavalli received a seven-game suspension and Miles Mikolas a five-game ban. Unless Contreras appeals the suspension, he won't be able to play until July 11.

Ragans underwent UCL repair surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

It was unknown what type of procedure Ragans would need when the Royals announced last weekend that he was scheduled for surgery. Now confirmed to have undergone UCL repair surgery, the 28-year-old southpaw will officially miss the remainder of the season and is likely to remain out until at least midway through the 2027 campaign. He'll close the book on 2026 after putting up a 4.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 45:23 K:BB through 35.1 innings over eight starts.

Perez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays due to a sore left elbow, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The severity of Perez's elbow injury isn't fully known, though the Royals were concerned enough to keep him on the bench Thursday and call up Luke Maile from Triple-A Omaha to provide an extra option at catcher behind Carter Jensen. Perez will exit the lineup for the first time since June 11, ending a stretch of 18 consecutive starts during which he slashed an ugly .216/.227/.311 with one home run, four RBI and seven runs.