MLB Player News

No surprise here after Durbin recently broke the Arizona Fall League’s single-season steals mark following an impressive campaign last year that included 10 homers and 31 steals across three minor-league levels. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters earlier this month that he expects Durbin to “play a big role” next season, so it’s not out of the question that he’ll carve out a versatile multi-position role with New York in spring training. He’s a prospect fantasy managers should be watching closely in Grapefruit League action.

Abel’s ugly outing Wednesday has cost him his spot for now. He could return as the Phillies’ fifth starter after the break, but the team will also have Andrew Painter as an option then. First, Taijuan Walker is expected to get the call Tuesday, which is the one remaining time the Phillies will need a fifth starter before the break. It ended badly, but Abel did show some promise in his six major league starts. He heads back to Triple-A with a 5.04 ERA, but he had a 2.21 ERA and a 17/4 K/BB over 20 1/3 innings in his first four outings.

Johnson will get the chance to stick around as a middle reliever after serving as a 27th man in Wednesday’s doubleheader. He’s allowed one run in four innings for the Phillies this season. He had a 4.43 ERA and a 53/26 K/BB in 42 2/3 innings in Triple-A.

Marte, who hit .333 with two homers and just one strikeout during a nine-game rehab assignment, is back two months after suffering a strained oblique. The Reds have him starting at third base and batting seventh today. His return should result in far less playing time for Santiago Espinal, but Espinal is starting at second with Matt McLain DHing today. Christian Encarnacion-Strand could also lose some at-bats. Marte should be worth playing in mixed leagues; he was batting .294/.342/.515 with three homers and four steals in 19 games before getting hurt.

The Reds will happily welcome back one of the key cogs in their pen. Ashcraft had a 4.19 ERA and a 38/14 K/BB in 34 1/3 innings before going down with a groin strain last month.

Vilade appeared in only one game during his nine days with the Reds and didn’t get an at-bat. The former Rockies prospect has played in just 28 major league games since debuting in 2022 and gone 9-for-64 with a homer as his only extra-base hit.

Benschoter didn’t get to make his major league debut during his three days with the Reds, but at least he’s on the 40-man roster now. He had his contract selected Tuesday to serve as an option in middle relief.

It sounds like it’ll be another lengthy absence for Williams, who missed 3 1/2 months last year with a flexor tendon sprain. Williams was 3-10 with a 6.21 ERA this season, but the Nationals still appreciated his innings. Now they’ll either have to go to Cade Cavalli or Shinnosuke Ogasawara prematurely as they make their way back from injuries or turn to another struggling Triple-A starter. Brad Lord would be their best option to take over, but he’s the team’s most important reliever at this point and isn’t stretched out.

Ruiz was injured June 23 when he was hit in the head by a foul ball sent into the dugout. He’ll go back to serving as the Nationals’ primary catcher, though he had lost some time to Riley Adams before getting hurt. Ruiz has hit just .247/.278/.320 in 259 plate appearances this season.

Millas appeared in three games while Keibert Ruiz was on the injured list and went 1-for-7 with an RBI.

Loutos was just sent down Thursday to make room for Andrew Chafin. He’s back now as a result of Trevor Williams’ elbow injury, though he might just stay until a fifth starter is needed next week. Loutos gave up eight runs — six earned — over 4 1/3 innings in his first stint with the Nationals.