MLB Player News

thought he had given Nicaragua the lead earlier in the game, launching a towering drive to left that died just short of the wall. A couple innings later, he removed the ambiguity, crushing a 397-foot blast that left no doubt and put Nicaragua ahead. Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t hold up as the Netherlands rallied for a walk-off victory. The 27-year-old former top prospect — one of the centerpiece returns in the Mookie Betts trade earlier this decade — hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2023, spending the last two seasons with the SoftBank Hawks in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Careers rarely unfold in straight lines, and Downs’ path has bent more than most — but for one swing on Saturday, the narrative felt momentarily uncomplicated.

Sabato, the Twins’ first-round pick in 2020, will make his major league debut after hitting .273/.349/.528 with 25 homers in 470 plate appearances for St. Paul. He could see time at first base and DH this week.

Since being readded to the Twins roster five weeks ago, Jackson had gone 1-for-3 with a walk and caught a total of five innings in three games the Twins won a combined 34-3. He’s actually hit .304/.342/.406 in 73 plate appearances in the majors this season, but given that he cleared waivers last month, no one seems to be taking that seriously.

Herz will start tonight against the Tigers and potentially throw 70-75 pitches in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Simpson gave up five runs and walked seven in 4 1/3 innings during his three weeks with the Nationals.

The 27-year-old Henry, who was last in the majors in July, finished the year injured and thus couldn’t be DFA’d to open up his 40-man roster spot. So, he’ll go on release waivers and probably be offered a minor league contract to stick around if he clears. Henry looked like he might turn into a setup man a year ago after shifting to the pen, but he had a 7.90 ERA in 13 2/3 innings for the Nationals this season.

Thompson is about ready to return from a strained back, but he’s ineligible to do so because of the decision to move him to the 60-day IL at the beginning of the month. He won’t be able to come off the IL until the postseason, and it doesn’t currently look like the Diamondbacks will be taking part.

If the Angels still have high hopes for the 21-year-old Rada, they’re not really showing it while batting him sixth and playing him in a corner in Triple-A. He ends the year at .278/.376/.362 with three homers and 43 steals. It’s a lot more difficult to imagine him making it in the majors as a platoon starter against righties if he’s not a center fielder.

Rockies fans were robbed of a Condon callup by the horrible decision to not trade but extend Mickey Moniak in August. Condon ends the year with a .273/.390/.514 line, 27 homers and 98 RBI in 130 games for Albuquerque. He still might have a chance to make the Rockies out of spring training, but that Moniak belongs at DH and isn’t going anywhere won’t help matters.

Oklahoma City will be in the PCL championship, so Kim isn’t done for the year just yet. Still, his regular season is done. He had a .794 OPS in 37 Triple-A games and a .699 OPS in 71 major league games last year, but he’s at .674 in Triple-A and .651 in 43 major league games this season. He’ll likely enter the final guaranteed season of his three-year, $12.5 million contract out of the Dodgers’ plans. They’ll probably be willing to take on a portion of the $5.25 million he’s still owed if someone else wants to give him a chance.

Ingle’s introduction to the majors in June couldn’t have gone much worse, but he ends the Triple-A season with a fantastic .297/.424/.528 line and 20 homers in 471 plate appearances. That .952 OPS leads all qualified International League hitters, Ingle did go back to catching in the minors after being looked at a left fielder and DH during his brief time in the majors. It doesn’t seem like he has a future behind the plate in Cleveland, but his bat should make him of some use next year.