July 13, 2025
Chicago Cubs third baseman
Matt Shaw is absent from the starting lineup for his team's Sunday afternoon game against the New York Yankees. Shaw has now been on the bench for four out of the Cubs' last five games and three straight, so this could be a more permanent role change for the struggling youngster. Utility man
Vidal Brujan is playing third and batting ninth today, while veteran
Jon Berti got the start at the hot corner on both Friday and Saturday. The 23-year-old Shaw won the Cubs' third base job out of Spring Training, but he's hit .199 with two home runs, 15 RBI, 28 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. With the trade deadline nearing and the Cubs reportedly searching for upgrades, Shaw could soon be looking at a demotion to Triple-A.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
Miami Marlins third baseman
Connor Norby (wrist) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left-wrist inflammation, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. Infielder
Graham Pauley was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville as the corresponding move and will start at third base and bat eighth for the Marlins in their Sunday game against the Baltimore Orioles. The 25-year-old Norby missed the start of the season due to an oblique strain, so this is his second trip to the injured list in 2025. In 273 plate appearances, Norby is hitting .241/.289/.364 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 33 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. It remains to be seen how long this latest injury will keep him sidelined.
--Will BradySource: El Extrabase - Daniel Avarez-Montes
July 13, 2025
The Boston Red Sox have traded catcher/outfielder
Blake Sabol to the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations, per MassLive's Chris Cotillo. The 27-year-old Sabol appeared in eight games this season for Boston, hitting .125 with a 38.9% strikeout rate. He wasn't much better in 167 plate appearances at Triple-A Worcester, slashing .167/.281/.299 with three home runs, 17 RBI, 15 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. Sabol is the rare catcher-eligible player with some speed, but he's not yet proven he can hit at the big league level. It does not appear as though he'll immediately have a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster.
--Will BradySource: Mass Live - Chris Cotillo
July 13, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates first base/outfield prospect
Tony Blanco Jr. (leg) was sent on a rehab assignment to the Florida Complex League Pirates, according to Anthony Murphy of Baseball America. Blanco Jr. has yet to log any game action this season as he recovers from a leg injury. He's just 20 years old and has not yet made it past the FCL, so Blanco Jr. is still a ways off from the Majors. Power is Blanco Jr.'s calling card, and MLB.com ranks him as the #21 prospect in the Pirates' system. In 109 plate appearances in the Complex League last season, Blanco Jr. slashed .305/.385/.505 with four home runs and 17 RBI.
--Will BradySource: Baseball America - Anthony Murphy
July 13, 2025
The Boston Red Sox recalled right-hander
Richard Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday. The team placed righty
Hunter Dobbins (knee) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Dobbins is done for the year after suffering a torn ACL, which opens up the fifth spot in Boston's rotation for Fitts. The 25-year-old has made eight starts this year and gone 1-3 with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 28:10 K:BB in 33 2/3 innings. That's passable back-end production, which is what the Red Sox are looking for in a Dobbins replacement.
--Connor ByrneSource: Boston Red Sox
July 13, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (hamstring) has begun getting "introductory workouts" in the outfield during his rehab assignment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Herrera hasn't played since June 19 because of a strained left hamstring. When he does return, the Cardinals plan to significantly cut his time behind the plate to reduce wear and tear. He'll primarily slot in at designated hitter upon activation, but occasionally lining up in the outfield would provide the team more flexibility to plug in various players at DH. Herrera's production this year has been stellar regardless of position. The 25-year-old has slashed .320/.392/.533 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 171 plate appearances. Herrera is on track to return to the St. Louis lineup after the All-Star break.
--Connor ByrneSource: Derrick Goold
July 13, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker (appendix) remains without a timetable to return to the major leagues, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Walker, who last played for the Cardinals on June 22, is on the 10-day injured list as a result of an appendectomy. The 23-year-old has returned to action on a rehab assignment in the minors, where he has been working on swing adjustments. Those changes have paid off lately, as Walker has homered twice in a three-game span with Double-A Springfield. Other than a promising rookie campaign in 2023, the former standout prospect hasn't hit much in the majors. Walker was batting an ugly .210/.267/.295 with three home runs and a 33% strikeout rate in 191 plate appearances this year before he went on the IL. The Cardinals have gotten much better production in right field from
Alec Burleson, who's slashing .289/.334/.463 with 11 homers and 43 RBI over 312 trips to the plate.
--Connor ByrneSource: Derrick Goold
July 13, 2025
The Boston Red Sox have not discussed which role right-hander
Tanner Houck (elbow) will take on when he returns from the injured list, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. Houck has been working back from a flexor strain that he suffered in mid-May. Before going on the IL, the 2024 All-Star stumbled to an 0-3 record with an 8.04 ERA in nine starts and 43 2/3 innings. Having lost righty
Hunter Dobbins (knee) to a season-ending torn ACL this weekend, the Red Sox are set to plug
Richard Fitts into the fifth spot in their rotation. Barring any more injuries to the team's starting staff, it seems likely Houck will pitch out of the bullpen for the first time since 2022 when he comes back. He's expected to return sometime this month.
--Connor ByrneSource: Christopher Smith - MassLive.com
July 13, 2025
Baltimore Orioles left-handed reliever
Keegan Akin (shoulder) will face hitters Monday before beginning a potential rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Akin has been on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation since July 1. The Orioles had to shut him down from throwing earlier this week after he received an injection in his shoulder, but he's now progressing toward a return. The 30-year-old has gone 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, 38:16 K:BB, and 12 holds over 38 innings.
--Connor ByrneSource: Roch Kubatko - MASNSports.com
July 13, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment in the Florida Coast League on Monday, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Varsho could rejoin the Blue Jays out of the All-Star break if things go smoothly. The 29-year-old hasn't played since he strained his left hamstring on May 31. He also missed almost all of April while recovering from shoulder surgery. When healthy, Varsho has brought plenty of power to the table this year. The two-time 20-home run hitter is batting .207/.240/.543 with eight HRs in 100 plate appearances.
Myles Straw has gotten the majority of starts in center field with Varsho unavailable.
--Connor ByrneSource: Arden Zwelling
July 13, 2025
Houston Astros right-hander
Cristian Javier (elbow) began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on Saturday. In his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024, Javier threw 35 pitches over 1 1/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks, striking out one. The 28-year-old's fastball reached 95 mph, and Astros manager Joe Espada said he felt "really good" afterward. The Astros remain optimistic that Javier will contribute in the second half of the season, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Javier has a career 3.59 ERA in 501 innings, but it's anyone's guess how he'll fare coming off major surgery.
--Connor ByrneSource: Matt Kawahara
July 13, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks corner infield prospect
Gino Groover capped off a strong first half of the season with a 2-for-2 performance in Saturday's All-Star Futures Game, which the National League won 4-2. Both hits were singles, and the 23-year-old also scored once in the contest. The 2023 second-round draft pick came into the game riding a 20-game streak at Double-A Amarillo in which he reached base at least once via hit or walk, and is riding an 11-game hit streak, during which time he's gone 19-for-46 (.413). For the season, the D-backs' 10th-ranked prospect is slashing .312/.386/.469 with 16 doubles and 10 home runs. Now with 88 games under his belt at Double-A between 2024-25, look for the 6-foot-2 slugger to see some time at Triple-A later this season.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
July
13,
2025
Detroit Tigers
first
base/catching
prospect
Josue
Briceno
went
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with
a
triple
and
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scored
for
the
American
League
team
during
the
All-Star
Futures
Game,
in
which the
National
League
squad
ended
up
winning
4-2.
In
fact,
read more...
July 13, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop prospect
J.J. Wetherholt hit leadoff for the National League team in Saturday's All-Star Futures Game, going 1-for-4 with a double in the contest that the NL team won 4-2. Wetherholt's hot hitting is what earned him a spot in the game, slashing .340/.460/.583 since June 3, including hits in each of his first three games at Triple-A Memphis. For the season, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect is hitting .303 with eight home runs, 14 steals, and more walks (45) than strikeouts (42). With a good showing at Triple-A, the team's 2024 first-round draft pick could make a late-season debut in St. Louis, otherwise, expect him to see plenty of time in the big leagues next season. The 22-year-old is expected to see time at third base and second base in addition to shortstop during his time at Triple-A, which should help open multiple paths to a promotion to the big league club.
--Jarod RuppSource: MLB.com
July 13, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
Shelby Miller (forearm) will seek a second opinion after getting his MRI results. It's usually not good news when a pitcher is seeking a second opinion on an elbow or forearm issue. It seems like the D-Backs and Miller are trying to avoid having Tommy John surgery. The 34-year-old is currently sidelined with a right forearm strain, but we'll see what happens after the second diagnosis. It is looking increasingly likely that Miller is done for the season. That would be tough news for the D-Backs who are already without
Justin Martinez (elbow), AJ Puk (elbow), and
Jalen Beeks (back) right now. That being said, the D-Backs are likely going to use a committee of
Kevin Ginkel,
Kendall Graveman, and
Kyle Backhus as their closer going forward.
--Andy WebbSource: Arizona Sports
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