The Rangers announced this afternoon that they’ve activated Adrian Beltre from the disabled list. Beltre is in the lineup tonight, hitting cleanup and playing his customary third base. Infielder Eliezer Alvarez was optioned to Double-A Frisco to open a roster spot for Beltre’s return from a hamstring strain that sidelined him for roughly two weeks. The injury initially served as cause for greater concern within the organization, as Beltre was reportedly visibly frustrated and was not optimistic after initially sustaining the injury. Beltre was hitting .310/.366/.437 through 101 plate appearances when he laced a would-be double to the gap in right-center field but came up lame and hobbled into first base before exiting a late-April game.
Some additional injury updates on several high-profile players throughout the league…
- The Orioles activated Jonathan Schoop from the 10-day disabled list prior to tonight’s contest, optioning infielder Engelb Vielma to Triple-A Norfolk to clear a space for their second baseman. Schoop, 26, missed nearly a month of action after landing on the DL on April 14 due to a strained right oblique muscle. Like much of the Baltimore offense, he’d been struggling prior to landing on the disabled list. In 65 plate appearances this season, he’s batted .230/.266/.344 with a troubling spike in strikeouts (19 — a rate of 29.2 percent) and just one walk on the season (1.5 percent).
- David Price has been scratched from tomorrow’s start by the Red Sox, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets. He’s headed back to Boston after experiencing numbness in his hand and being unable to complete his most recent bullpen session on Sunday, per the report. Abraham’s colleague, Alex Speier, recently examined Price’s velocity drop this season in a column, noting that he exited a start earlier this year due to similar feelings of numbness, though he attributed that instance to the cold weather. That wasn’t the case this time around, as Sunday’s bullpen session took place in Arlington. Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald has quotes from manager Alex Cora in the wake of today’s news. Cora doesn’t believe the injury is related to Price’s elbow, though the tests he undergoes in Boston will obviously be more telling in that regard. Rick Porcello is stepping up to start in Price’s place tomorrow.
- Johnny Cueto will be shut down entirely for the next two weeks as he rests a sprain in his right elbow, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic (Twitter links). The Giants righty told reporters today that he pitched through “unbearable” pain in each of his final three starts before landing on the disabled list. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that Cueto had mentally prepared himself for the news that he was going to require Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
- The Cubs announced today that outfielder Jason Heyward has been placed on the 7-day concussion DL. Infielder David Bote is back up from Triple-A to take his spot on the active roster for the time being. Heyward collided with the right-field wall over the weekend when attempting to rob former teammate Dexter Fowler of what wound up being a walk-off home run in the 14th inning of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals (video link). Interestingly, manager Joe Maddon tells reporters that Kris Bryant could see some time in right field while Heyward is sidelined (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat).
An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Cueto had already undergone Tommy John surgery once in his career.
Have Cubs fans been chanting “Opt-Out! Opt-Out! Opt-Out! Opt-Out! when Heyward comes up to bat?
So true. Not going to happen but wishful thinking
It absolutely will happen. Just because a player has opt-out, or no-trade clauses, that doesn’t mean he has all the power.
Teams routinely force players to opt-out, by telling them that they either do it or they won’t see much of the field for the remainder of heir contract.
It’s basically like a forced resignation, in layman’s terms. Rest assured, Harper will be patrolling right field, next year. Theo won’t allow this to continue.
I’d like an example when a baseball player was forced to opt out because of threat of being benched?
Ha you’re fooling yourself if you think he’s opting out of that contract. There’s no way he’s getting anything close to his current deal somewhere else so why would he opt out? Reduced playing time would not be the leverage to make that happen
No. Believe it or not, most fans watch baseball because they enjoy it, not because they’re invested in how the $10B yearly MLB revenue gets distributed between players and owners.
So Heyward getting paid for his first seven years of excellence in the majors a little bit later than he’s supposed to, and by the wrong team, should not really be their concern.
Heyward was never an excellent player. Anyone could see that was a terrible signing from miles away. I know-you saberheads will one the stats to say otherwise. He should send a $10,000 thank you card to the mathematicians who make him look good.
I think it’s just that Cubs fan would rather their team have an extra $24mm/year to spend on a good player other than Heyward
Red Sox fans should be chanting that at David Price.
I thought cub fans chanted world champ world champ at him
World Chump ?
The Price is wrong in Boston.
+ 1
Price might as well just go ahead and have TJS. It’s obvious based on results so far this season and the hand numbness that there’s a significant problem. Kudos to the Red Sox for having the hot start they’ve had despite Price’s struggles.
I don’t think it’s elbow related. When I first heard numbness I thought thoracic outlet syndrome. Now recurring symptoms definitely point that way. Fingers are crossed.
I thought same
Fulmer of the Tigers had it in the off season and has bounced back fine under 3 era before yesterday anyway. My team sucks this year 🙁
So what’s new about Price and DL stints…
Price may have symptoms of TOS…..
That’s the PRICE to pay for letting Trader Dave make the worst signing in Red Sox history.
Even Sox fans can’t dispute the fact that Price had HIGH MILEAGE on his arm AND that was coupled with an abundance of HIGH STRESS iNNINGS he is worn out.
Watch the domino affect on the rest of the staff this week.
Price for Heyward?? Lol
Its not his arm its his HEART
The reason not to give pitchers long term contracts.
Do you think Price will whine about this too?
He’ll blame the Starbucks Barista for making his macchiato to cold.
Anyone have any idea when Steven Wright is expected to be reinstated? Should be within the next week by my count.
Sox need pitching, they should offer Benintendi and Groome for Fulmer.
Not gonna get him with that weak sauce, maybe add the coveted Swihart.