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AL Central Notes: Lynn, Candelario, Tigers, Twins, Ryan, Dobnak

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Lance Lynn is scheduled to make his third rehab start on Wednesday, White Sox manager Tony La Russa told reporters (including Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times).  Beyond that, La Russa left open the possibility that Lynn could be activated from the 60-day injured list, assuming that the veteran right-hander is feeling good coming out of that next Triple-A outing.

Knee surgery sidelined Lynn in early April, so the hurler has yet to make his 2022 debut.  Getting Lynn back in action would be a huge help to a Chicago team that has been bitten hard by the injury bug, but the White Sox are still treading water despite a shorthanded roster.  The White Sox improved to 25-27 after today’s 6-5 win over the Rays.

More from around the AL Central…

  • Speaking of injury-riddled teams, the Tigers may have suffered another loss as Jeimer Candelario left today’s game in the second inning due to a left shoulder injury.  Candelario dove to try and snag a Josh Donaldson line drive, but was shaken up on the play, and had to be replaced mid-inning at third base by Harold Castro.  Since Detroit doesn’t have games on either Monday or Thursday, it’s possible the club could wait a few days to see if Candelario can avoid the IL, though the third baseman’s condition could be determined earlier based on tests.  Like many Tigers hitters, Candelario is suffering through a rough year at the plate, hitting only .181/.236/.319 over 195 plate appearances.
  • Some reinforcements could be on the way for the Tigers, as manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen) that Austin Meadows is tentatively ready to be activated from the 10-day IL on Tuesday.  Meadows has been battling vertigo symptoms and was placed on the IL in mid-May.  As for other injured Tigers, both Eduardo Rodriguez and Robbie Grossman could be close to starting rehab assignments.
  • Twins manager Rocco Baldelli provided Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links) and other reporters with some updates on injured players, including the status of right-hander Joe Ryan.  After being placed on the COVID-related injured list on May 25, Ryan has tossed one bullpen session already and will throw another, more intense session today or Tuesday.  It isn’t yet known if Ryan will require a rehab start in the minors before returning to Minnesota’s rotation.
  • While Ryan may be close to a return, the news isn’t good for Randy Dobnak, as Baldelli said the right-hander recently suffered a setback with his injured right middle finger.  It has been almost a full year since Dobnak initially sprained his finger, and he has pitched in only one MLB game since (on September 3, 2021).

A’s To Select Jared Koenig For Wednesday Start

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The Athletics are planning to start rookie left-hander Jared Koenig on Wednesday against the Braves, Oakland manager Mark Kotsay told reporters (including The San Francisco Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara).  Koenig will be making his MLB debut, and the A’s will need to make at least one roster move before the game in order to add Koenig to the 40-man roster.

A start against the World Series champions is quite the culmination of a long journey for Koenig, who hadn’t even played affiliated baseball until 2021.  A 35th-round pick for the White Sox in the 2014 draft, Koenig opted for college ball but then went undrafted after two years of NCAA action.  From there, Koenig spent the 2017-19 seasons pitching in the indy leagues and in the Australian Baseball League before catching on with the Athletics on a minor league deal.

After pitching well in Double-A in 2021, Koenig has done even better at the Triple-A level in 2022.  The southpaw has a 2.21 ERA, 29.5% strikeout rate, and 7.2% walk rate over 53 innings (starting eight of nine games) for Triple-A Las Vegas.  With a 3.43 FIP and 4.20 xFIP, Koenig is perhaps a little fortunate to have such a low ERA, though his numbers certainly stand out in the hitter-friendly Vegas environment.

Koenig will become the ninth different pitcher to make a start for Oakland this season, as the Athletics are still looking for consistency in the rotation in the wake of trading Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea during the offseason.  Zach Logue was optioned back to Triple-A last week, opening the door for Koenig to get a shot at age 28.  With the A’s in the midst of a rebuild, an opportunity exists for Koenig to grab a rotation spot if he proves he can handle MLB batters.

Orioles’ Prospect Grayson Rodriguez Diagnosed With Lat Strain

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TODAY: Elias provided reporters (including MASNsports.com’s Steve Melewski) with another update, saying Rodriguez has suffered a Grade 2 lat strain.  As a result, Rodriguez isn’t expected to return until September at the earliest, and while “I definitely don’t want to rule out him pitching later this season if we think it’s the right thing to do,” Elias said there is a possibility the team might ultimately shut the righty down for the rest of 2022.  Ultimately, the Orioles’ aim is to have Rodriguez on the Opening Day roster for 2023.

JUNE 2: Orioles pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez suffered a right lat strain during his start last night with Triple-A Norfolk, general manager Mike Elias announced to reporters (including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com and Dan Connolly of the Athletic). Elias declined to specify a timetable for his return to game action but ominously noted the 22-year-old “is going to miss a decent amount of time at minimum.” (Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Sun first reported the diagnosis before the team announcement).

It’s a disappointing development both for Rodriguez personally and the Baltimore fanbase. The 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Rodriguez has cemented himself as one of the sport’s most highly-regarded minor league arms. Baseball America just ranked the right-hander the sport’s #3 overall prospect and top pitching farmhand on its updated Top 100 list this morning. FanGraphs and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN each rated him as the league’s best minor league pitcher heading into the season.

Rodriguez has backed up that optimism with an incredible start to the year in Norfolk. Through 11 starts with the Tides, he’s worked 56 innings of 2.09 ERA ball. The Texas native has fanned an incredible 37.4% of batters faced at the minors’ top level against a meager 6.5% walk rate. He’s allowed fewer than three earned runs per nine innings at every stop in his pro career.

That utter domination of Triple-A hitters had seemed to put Rodriguez on the map for an imminent call-up. That’ll obviously be on hold while he’s out of action, and Elias declined to answer when asked if this injury could prevent Rodriguez from making his major league debut at any point in 2022 (Connolly link). In any event, whatever hope O’s fans had of potentially seeing the prized young hurler in Camden Yards over the next few weeks has been dashed.

It’s a disappointing setback, although Elias expressed confidence Rodriguez wouldn’t be hampered long-term by his recovery process. At 22-30, the O’s are likely ticketed for another last place finish in the AL East. The timing of Rodriguez’s debut won’t change the team’s fortunes this season, but he’d provide a jolt to the fanbase and get a development opportunity against big league hitters if he returns to health and gets on a big league mound at some point this season.

Cardinals Place Corey Dickerson On 10-Day Injured List

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The Cardinals placed outfielder Corey Dickerson on the 10-day injured list due to a left calf strain.  Right-hander Jake Walsh was called up from Triple-A to take the open spot on the active roster, and in another move, Jake Woodford was also optioned back to Triple-A after serving as the 27th man for yesterday’s doubleheader.

Dickerson left the first game of that doubleheader in the second inning, so it isn’t surprising that he’ll now head to the IL.  The injury adds to what has been a rough season for Dickerson, as he has hit only .194/.245/.286 over 106 plate appearances since signing a one-year, $5MM free agent in March.  In a cruel twist of fate, Dickerson’s injury comes just a day after his best performance in a St. Louis uniform, as Dickerson hit his first two home runs of the season in Friday’s 14-5 win over the Cubs.

While Dickerson’s absence leaves the Cardinals more shorthanded in the outfield, Tyler O’Neill and Dylan Carlson could be back from their own IL stints within a few days.  Brendan Donovan has also emerged as a multi-position option, and Lars Nootbaar is on hand to more specifically fill Dickerson’s role as a left-handed complement within a largely right-handed lineup.  Tommy Edman could also factor into the outfield picture when not playing shortstop, and Albert Pujols could get more DH at-bats against right-handed pitching while Dickerson is out.

Roman Quinn Elects Free Agency

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TODAY: Quinn cleared DFA waivers, and the Phillies announced that Quinn has elected to become a free agent rather accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.

JUNE 1: The Phillies announced a series of roster moves Wednesday, placing second baseman Jean Segura on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured right index finger, recalling lefty Cristopher Sanchez and infielder Nick Maton from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and designating outfielder Roman Quinn for assignment. The team announced after last night’s game that Segura had fractured his finger.

Quinn, 29, scored the walk-off run from second base on a cringeworthy Dodgers error earlier this season, but his blistering speed hasn’t been enough to offset his general lack of production at the dish. In 40 plate appearances, he’s hitting just .162/.225/.289 with 15 punchouts (37.5%). He’s had similar struggles dating back to the 2019 season, batting a combined .200/.278/.315 through 340 plate appearances with the Phillies, who’ll now have a week to trade the former second-rounder, pass him through outright waivers or release him.

The loss of Segura is a tough one for a Phillies club that is floundering through another disappointing season. The 32-year-old veteran has been solid at the plate, hitting .275/.324/.407 with six home runs and eight stolen bases, and he’s been one of the team’s only average-or-better defenders (by measure of Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average).

In Segura’s absence, the Phils can turn to Maton or utilityman Johan Camargo, with struggling prospect Bryson Stott taking increased reps at shortstop. Maton had a hot start in his MLB debut last year but saw his bat wilt en route to a .256/.323/.385 output over 131 big league plate appearances. He’s hitting .241/.360/.462 so far in Triple-A this year. Camargo similarly had a strong start in 2022 but has faded of late; he’s now hitting .248/.318/.350 on the season.

Kevin Pillar To Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

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TODAY: Pillar’s surgery will end his season, Roberts told Jack Harris and other reporters.

JUNE 4: Pillar has opted to undergo surgery, the outfielder told Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group (Twitter link).  It isn’t yet known if a surgical procedure will indeed end Pillar’s 2022 season, though he will certainly be sidelined for most of the next four months.

JUNE 2: Dodgers outfielder Kevin Pillar has fractured his left shoulder, according to a club announcement. He’s been placed on the 10-day injured list, with utilityman Zach McKinstry recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take his active roster spot.

Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times) that Pillar is weighing his treatment options, with surgery a possibility. In any event, he’s likely to be out for a significant portion of time given the seriousness of the diagnosis. The team has yet to provide a timetable on his return, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the veteran outfielder is facing a months-long absence.

Pillar just made it onto the big league roster over the weekend. The 33-year-old signed a minor league deal with the club in Spring Training and locked in a prorated portion of a $2.5MM salary when he got to the majors. He appeared in only four games before suffering the fracture yesterday against the Pirates.

Prior to his call-up, the righty-hitting Pillar had absolutely mashed with Oklahoma City. Through 153 plate appearances in Triple-A, he’d been hitting .315/.412/.622 with nine home runs. His 13.1% walk rate was excellent, topping a minuscule 11.1% strikeout percentage. Pillar had a June 1 opt-out right under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, but the Dodgers elected to bring him to the majors rather than let him retest free agency. Unfortunately, he’ll be out of action just a few games into his MLB tenure with the organization. Pillar will hit free agency at the end of the season.

Braves Claim Kramer Robertson From Cardinals

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The Braves announced that they have claimed infielder Kramer Robertson off waivers from the Cardinals and optioned him to Triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster, outfielder Eddie Rosario was transferred to the 60-day IL.

A fourth round selection of the Cards in the 2017 draft, Robertson worked his way up to the bigs mostly by taking walks, as well as stealing a few bases. This year, in 38 Triple-A games, he’s walked in 19.3% of his plate appearances, producing a slash line of .220/.398/.371, 120 wRC+, along with 12 steals. He was able to make his MLB debut with the Cards but got into just two games, getting only a single plate appearance, which resulted in an RBI groundout.

Robertson’s played second, third and short at Triple-A this year, meaning he’ll provide some infield depth for the Braves. The club has Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley as their regulars and Orlando Arcia as the primary bench infielder. Robertson will likely be jockeying with Joe Dunand, himself a recent waiver claim, to be the next call-up whenever the need arises.

As for Rosario, it was announced in late April that he was undergoing a laser procedure to deal with “blurred vision and swelling in the right retina.” The expected recovery timeline for that procedure was listed as 8-12 weeks, which would likely mean Rosario won’t be returning before July. With today’s transfer, he won’t be eligible to return until 60 days from the initial IL placement, which would be late June. Though he recently started hitting in a cage, per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he’s not on pace to return in the next few weeks, making today’s transaction a mere formality.

Diamondbacks Claim Cole Tucker From Pirates, Designate Jacob Webb

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The Diamondbacks have claimed Cole Tucker off waivers from the Pirates, reports Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The club later announced the claim, with right-hander Jacob Webb being designated for assignment to create a spot for Tucker on the 40-man roster. Tucker has been optioned to Triple-A.

This will be a homecoming for Tucker, as he was born in Phoenix, played high school ball at Mountain Pointe High there, and committed to the University of Arizona before being selected by the Pirates in the first round of the 2014 draft.

Despite being a former first round selection, Tucker has struggled to cement himself in the big leagues so far. In 154 career games, he’s hit just .211/259/.314 for a wRC+ of 53. Though the club initially hoped that he could be their shortstop of the future, his tepid performance at the plate pushed them into moving him around the diamond in the hopes of creating a super utility player. As such, Tucker’s seen time at each infield position, as well as appearances in center and right field.

With the Diamondbacks, they likely intend to use Tucker to help with his original shortstop position. Nick Ahmed has been on the COVID IL for a couple of weeks and is still trying to get answers about the shoulder issues that have been plaguing him for years. With Ahmed out, the club has given the bulk of their shortstop starts to Geraldo Perdomo, who is taking walks but adding no power, producing a slash line of .215/.338/.277, 82 wRC+.

Tucker, 25, is in his final option year, meaning the D-Backs can give him regular playing time in Reno and see if he can get into a groove at the plate and earn his way onto the big league roster, though he’ll be out of options next year and will need to hold onto a spot on the active roster or else be sent into DFA limbo again.

As for Webb, he pitched for the Braves in each of the previous three seasons but was designated for assignment in April, landing in Arizona on a waiver claim. He had dealt with his share of injuries but provided good results when healthy. In 76 2/3 career innings in the big leagues, he has a 2.47 ERA, 21.9% strikeout rate, 9.6% walk rate and 38.7% ground ball rate. He’s logged just 5 1/3 Triple-A innings so far this year. He is in his final option year, meaning any team lacking in depth could be interested in picking him up and stashing him in Triple-A. Arizona will have a week to trade him or put him on waivers.

Injury Notes: Clevinger, Kittredge, Kremer, Gregorius

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The Padres announced that right-hander Mike Clevinger has been reinstated from the injured list, with outfielder Brent Rooker being optioned in a corresponding move. After a lengthy absence from the majors while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Clevinger had to return to the IL after just three starts due to a triceps strain. Thankfully, he only required a minimum stay on the shelf and is quickly back on the roster, starting today’s game.

While many teams around the league are dealing with mounting injuries to their pitching staffs, the Padres now have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to their starting rotation. Clevinger joins Yu Darvish, Sean Manaea, Joe Musgrove, MacKenzie Gore and Blake Snell, with Nick Martinez likely getting bumped into a long-relief role. The club is off to a great start, sporting a record of 32-21, just three games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. The strength of their rotation has played a big role in that, as their collective 3.11 ERA is fourth-best in all of baseball, trailing only the Yankees, Dodgers and Astros.

Some other IL reinstatements from around the league…

  • The Rays announced that righty Andrew Kittredge has been reinstated from the injured list, with fellow righty Calvin Faucher being optioned to make room for him. Kittredge was slowed by some lower back tightness but is able to return after a minimum stay on the injured list. Last year, he threw 71 2/3 innings with a 1.88 ERA, 27.3% strikeout rate, 5.3% walk rate and 53.5% ground ball rate. That success earned him a key role in the bullpen, as he eventually earned eight saves and seven holds. He wasn’t able to continue that this year, possibly due to this back injury. Over 18 innings, his ERA is an even 3.00, with a 19.7% strikeout rate and 44.2% grounder rate, though he’s limited walks to just 1.5% of batters faced.
  • The Orioles reinstated righty Dean Kremer from the injured list today, with fellow righty Denyi Reyes being optioned in a corresponding move. Kremer landed on the injured list back in April due to an oblique strain. He is starting today’s ballgame for the O’s, which will be his season debut. His MLB time has been on the rough side so far, as his career ERA is currently 6.84 through 72 1/3 innings. However, while rehabbing from this injury, he’s thrown nine scoreless innings in the minors with a whopping 18 strikeouts against just two walks.
  • The Phillies announced that they have reinstated Didi Gregorius from the IL, with Nick Maton trading places with him, heading to the IL due to a right shoulder sprain. Gregorius returns after about a month on the IL due to a left knee sprain. Prior to that, he was hitting .288/.338/.356 on the season. The resulting 97 wRC+ indicates that his bat has been about 3% worse than league average, though it’s still a big improvement over last year’s wRC+ of 68. Maton was just recalled a few days ago to provide help in the middle infield when Jean Segura landed on the IL, but will now join him on the shelf after just two games. Without those two options, it’s likely that Gregorious, Bryson Stott and Johan Camargo will now share the middle infield duties.

Angels Place Taylor Ward On IL, Recall Jo Adell

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The Angels have announced that outfielder Taylor Ward has been placed on the 10-day IL, categorizing his injury as a mild right hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to June 4. Fellow outfielder Jo Adell has been recalled to take his place on the roster.

Ward was one of the most pleasant surprises of the first few weeks of the season. Through May 2o, he was hitting an astounding .370/.481/.713 for a wRC+ of 242. Since then, however, a couple of injuries have slowed him down. He collided with the outfield wall while making a catch in the club’s game on May 20, causing some pain in his neck and shoulder. He eventually returned to action, but this hamstring issue flared up. Between the two maladies, he’s only been able to make 27 plate appearances over the past two weeks, hitting .167/.259/.333 in that time.

It doesn’t seem Ward is in line for an extended absence, as manager Joe Maddon tells reporters, including Sam Blum of The Athletic, that they’re hoping he’ll miss “minimal time.” While he’s out, Adell will step in and take another shot at finding success in the big leagues. Over the past few seasons, Adell has tantalized with excellent production in the minors but hasn’t yet been able to get into a groove at the MLB level. In 92 games over the past three seasons, his career batting line is .207/.249/.351, 63 wRC+.

Much like Ward, the Angels jumped out to a hot start but have been slowed recently. They are currently mired in a 10-game losing streak that has dropped their record to 27-27. Despite that awful slump, they’re still in possession of the final Wild Card playoff spot in the American League, though four teams are within a game and a half of them.

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