Twins’ prospect Culpepper (hip) back from injury

This was reported yesterday and is now official. Murakami will return to a .240/.378/.560 slash line with 20 home runs and a 32.5 percent strikeout rate in 57 games. The White Sox can certainly use his power back in the lineup.

No word yet on the type of contract, but we’d assume it’s a major league deal. Wilson has become a full-time reliever but has a 6.52 ERA in 9 2/3 innings this season for the Phillies and Cubs. Of course, he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings against the Brewers back on June 28th, so they must have seen something they liked then.

It makes sense since the Marlins are in the midst of a 26-8 stretch that has put them right back into the thick of the playoff race. In his last seven starts, Alcantara has a 2.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 20.6 percent strikeout rate. He’s clearly been a great starter for the Marlins and, even with his limited strikeout rate, has been a useful pitcher in fantasy leagues as well. It seems like his fantasy value going forward won’t be impacted by a new team.

King was the Nationals’ first-round pick in 2024 and began the season with a blistering start in Double-A, hitting .336/.427/.562 with five homers and five steals in 35 games. He was then promoted to Triple-A, where he has hit .275/.338/.443 with five home runs and four steals in 33 games. King played some second base this year but is primarily playing shortstop, which will create some questions about how the team can make room for him if they want him in the lineup in 2027. For now, the team doesn’t believe his oblique injury is serious, and they hope it will only keep him out for a few weeks.

Breslow mentioned that the visit with Dr. Gary Lourie was just to confirm the rehab plan that Anthony was already on and that the severity of the injury has not changed: “Unfortunately, this is just an injury that is taking longer than expected to heal.” Anthony will continue to rehab at the Red Sox spring training complex in Florida, where, as Breslow put it, the team has all the facilities and resources he needs.

Harrington was the 36th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and a former top prospect in the Pirates’ system. Heading into last year, he was the 80th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and the third-ranked prospect for Pittsburgh, ahead of Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows. However, the command specialist struggled at the upper levels of the minors, posting a 5.34 ERA in 96 innings at Triple-A last year and a 6.52 ERA in 58 innings this season. He has since moved into a bulk relief role, which is likely how he will be used in Pittsburgh now.

Kelly is the Pirates’ 7th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and was up in the middle of June when he allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings against the Marlins. While twelve of his 17 appearances in Triple-A have been starts, he is likely up to give the Pirates some depth out of the bullpen since they got a short outing from Mitch Keller on Thursday.

Cogrove was just acquired from the Astros on July fourth after posting a 4.30 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 29/21 K/BB ratio across 29 1/3 innings in the minor leagues for the Astros. He has a 3.86 ERA in 70 career MLB innings.

We know Ryan Jeffers is going to be activated today, so it seems that the Twins will carry three catchers on the roster instead of having to designate Alex Jackson for assignment. Fedko was 0-for-16 in his first 19 MLB plate appearances.

Eldridge had three of the four hardest-hit balls of the game, coming in at 106.1 mph on his homer in the fourth, 108.5 mph on a lineout in the fifth and 108.1 mph on a single in the eighth. Hopefully, it means he’s escaping the drought that saw him hit .177 with one homer in his previous 17 games. That previous homer also came against Rockies pitching.