May 23, 2025
Per the team, the Kansas City Royals have designated outfielder
Hunter Renfroe for assignment. Infielder
Nick Loftin was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. The former first-round pick has been dreadful this season, batting .182 (18-for-99) with six doubles, five runs scored, four RBI, and no home runs (35 appearances). Kansas City will now have the week to decide what is next for the veteran. If Renfroe ends up in the minors, it will be his first trip there since 2018, during his time with the San Diego Padres. He hasn't posted a double-digit barrel rate since 2022, having plateaued around 6% over the prior three seasons after regularly achieving 10% or higher through the first seven years of his career.
--Alex CiullaSource: Kansas City Royals
May 23, 2025
Washington Nationals outfielder
Jacob Young (shoulder) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 20, with an AC sprain in his left shoulder. The former seventh-round pick picked up the injury last Saturday when he slammed into the outfield wall in the team's 10-6 win against the Baltimore Orioles.
Dylan Crews (oblique) is also on the IL, so prospect
Robert Hassell III should have every opportunity for everyday playing time moving forward, especially after an impressive MLB debut on Thursday. Young's season line is uninspiring (.227/.309/.282), but he's exhibiting a solid eye at the plate (15% strikeout rate) and is vastly underperforming his .279 xBA. Look for him to get some better BABIP luck when he returns.
--Alex CiullaSource: Bobby Blanco
May 23, 2025
Baltimore Orioles outfielder
Ramon Laureano (ankle) is sitting out for the first game of Friday's doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox. The 30-year-old tweaked his ankle in Baltimore's outing with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday and has yet to appear in a game since. It seemed that he was heating up, too, notching three multi-hit efforts over the last four games before the injury. Teammate
Heston Kjerstad is occupying right field for the matinee, batting eighth for the club. Initial reports indicated that Laureano's injury was not serious, described as "very mild and minor," and he was expected to return in a few days. He may suit up for the second game on Friday, though that isn't a guarantee.
--Alex CiullaSource: MLB
May 23, 2025
The Washington Nationals are promoting outfield prospect
Daylen Lile to the major leagues. In a corresponding move, the Nationals are placing outfielder
Jacob Young (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder AC sprain. Earlier this week, the Nationals also promoted another top outfield prospect,
Robert Hassell III, to the major leagues. Lile opened the 2025 season with Double-A but needed just 21 games to prove he was ready for the Triple-A level. Through his first 18 games at Triple-A Rochester, the No. 9-ranked prospect in the system has posted a strong .361/.432/.514 slash line with four doubles, one home run, and three stolen bases. Fantasy managers should monitor his playing time as he could work out a starting role with both Young and
Dylan Crews (oblique) on the IL. For now, he should be rostered in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Blanco
May 23, 2025
Athletics infield prospect
Brennan Milone went 3-for-4 with three home runs during their contest against Double-A Frisco on Thursday. This outing extended his current hitting streak to three games. Over his last nine contests, Milone has been quite productive at Double-A, posting a strong .394/.475/.788 slash line with one double and four home runs. During this stretch, he has tallied 10 RBI and held a 7:6 K:BB. This is an excellent sign as Milone held a modest .231/.319/.413 line with just four long balls through his first 31 games of the regular season. Last season, the Oregon product spent his entire season at the Double-A level and posted a .278/.361/.441 line with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, and eight stolen bases. If he continues to turn the corner at Double-A, he could be in the mix to earn a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect
Arjun Nimmala went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and two RBI during their contest against High-A Eugene on Thursday. This was his second time tallying at least three hits over his past three contests. Over his last 10 games, the top prospect in Toronto has posted an impressive .333/.404/.718 slash line with four doubles, one triple, three home runs, and an 8:6 K:BB. Through his first 37 games at the High-A level, the former 20th overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft has posted a strong .291/.367/.568 slash line with 12 doubles, nine long balls, and two stolen bases. Given his impressive production at High-A, fantasy managers should expect Nimmala to contend for a promotion to Double-A in the coming weeks.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect
Mike Burrows struggled in his season debut on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. In this outing, Burrows tossed five innings of four-run ball. He allowed four hits and two walks. He struck out three. He ran into trouble early, allowing a three-run shot to Milwaukee outfielder
Christian Yelich in the opening frame. Later in the second, his fourth earned run came on a solo shot by
Joey Ortiz. Burrows was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace
Carmen Mlodzinski in the rotation. Earlier this season, Burrows found success at the Triple-A level, logging a strong 2.51 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP across 31 1/3 innings of work. During this stretch, he struck out 41 batters and served up just 11 walks. He is slated to face a potent Arizona lineup in his next outing.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 23, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks catching prospect
Adrian Del Castillo (shoulder) recently began his rehab assignment with Arizona's ACL affiliate. Across two games, the young backstop has posted a .500/.667/1.333 slash line with a triple and a home run. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his production as he could be in the mix to move his rehab assignment to another level if he does not face any setbacks. Last season, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut and performed quite well during his first taste, holding a .313/.368/.525 slash line with four long balls across 25 contests. Across 142 career games with Triple-A Reno, the No. 6-ranked prospect in the system has posted a .296/.384/.540 slash line with 42 doubles and 28 home runs. If he performs well in his rehab assignment, he could push for an early return to Arizona.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
May 23, 2025
The Washington Nationals are set to promote right-handed pitching prospect
Travis Sykora to High-A. Sykora is considered the top prospect in the Nationals' system and the No. 62 overall prospect on MLB.com. Through the early part of the campaign, Sykora needed just one appearance at Low-A to prove he was ready for High-A. Sykora underwent offseason hip surgery. In this lone stint, the right-hander tossed six one-hit innings with nine punchouts. He served up two walks. Last season, the former third-round pick logged 85 innings at Low-A and posted an impressive 2.33 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out 129 batters and allowed just 27 walks. Given his impressive strikeout production, Sykora should be in the mix to reach Double-A later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Blanco
May 23, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays' outfielder
Jonatan Clase went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two walks, and a stolen base in Thursday's 7-6 extra-innings victory over the Padres. After getting some exposure to MLB in 2024, Clase picked up his first multi-hit game of the 2025 campaign Thursday and walked twice. Clase has now recorded a hit in three straight games he's played in while going 4-for-7 with three RBIs, three walks, and two stolen bases. Clase is still not playing every day for the Blue Jays, and is not a recommended waiver wire pickup in redraft leagues, but it's worth noting his success these last few games and seeing if it results in more playing time down the stretch. Next up for Clase and the Blue Jays is a three-game series at George M. Steinbrenner Field to take on the Tampa Bay Rays.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 23, 2025
Washington Nationals young star
James Wood went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored, and two walks in Washington's 8-7 extra-inning win against the Atlanta Braves. Wood has been blistering hot at the plate of late, slashing .529/.609/.765 over his last seven days. Thursday was no different, and he played a huge role in sparking the Nationals' comeback win over the Braves. Wood is slashing .291/.389/.545 on the season with 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 32 runs scored, 12 doubles, and seven stolen bases. He is breaking out in his sophomore campaign, and fantasy managers don't have to hesitate whether or not to keep him in their lineups. Next up for Wood is a three-game series in San Francisco as the Nationals take on the Giants.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 23, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers closer
Trevor Megill secured his eighth save of the season on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and helped the Brewers hold on to win 8-5 in the contest. Megill entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, with the Brewers up 8-4, and a runner on second and third base with no outs. He took care of the next three batters with a punch out, ground out, and line out. Megill has now converted his last six save opportunities while posting a 0.93 ERA and 9:4 K:BB across his previous 9.2 innings. After a tough start to the 2025 season, he has found his groove, lowered his season ERA to 2.20, and converted eight of his nine save opportunities on the season. He remains a solid option in leagues that accumulate points for saves.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
May 23, 2025
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Bryan Woo was hit by a foul ball in the lower leg on Thursday. There is some bruising, but manager Dan Wilson does not believe his start on Saturday is in jeopardy, Mariners Insider Shannon Dryer reports. Woo appeared to have been hit by a foul ball in the visiting dugout in the eighth inning of Thursday's game against the Houston Astros. He left the contest and went to the clubhouse with Mariners assistant athletic trainer Taylor Bennett. An unfortunate event for fantasy managers, however, the reported news seems encouraging that he will make his next start. In the meantime, fantasy managers will want to monitor his status leading up to Saturday's projected start, as it's possible he may get pushed back a day or two if the bruising doesn't go down.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: Shannon Drayer
May 23, 2025
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez (back) was scratched from Thursday's lineup against the Astros due to back tightness he experienced during batting practice, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. Manager Dan Wilson said Rodriguez is considered day-to-day, so his status is unclear for Friday's game against the Astros. Since Rodriguez was warming up to play and experienced the tightness about 30 minutes before first pitch, he will likely be back in the lineup sometime Friday or Saturday. However, fantasy managers will want to monitor his status leading up to Friday's tilt against the Houston Astros.
Leody Taveras shifted to centerfield in his absence, while
Randy Arozarena and
Miles Mastrobuoni occupied the other two outfield spots.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Kramer
May 23, 2025
Cincinnati Reds third base prospect
Sal Stewart went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and a walk during their contest against Double-A Rocket City. While Stewart saw his five-game hitting streak come to an end on Wednesday, the infielder bounced back in a big way on Thursday. Over his last 12 contests, the 21-year-old has posted an impressive .408/.431/.531 slash line with three doubles, one home run, seven RBI, and a 6:2 K:BB. Through his first 41 games at the Double-A level, the No. 70-ranked prospect in the sport has performed at an elite level, boasting a .331/.393/.478 slash line with 14 doubles, three home runs, and 10 stolen bases. Given his impressive start, Stewart should be in the mix to reach Triple-A in the coming months. If he continues to swing a hot bat, he could push for his MLB debut in the second half of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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