MLB 2022 | Abreu hammers 13th HR, Yuli continues hot, Iglesias traded to the Braves, and more

Daily Major League Baseball (MLB) Cuban Players News for the 2022 season. A compendium from several MLB sources.

José Abreu. (Photo: Chicago White Sox's Twitter)

Aug 3, 2022

Orioles optioned OF Yusniel Díaz to Triple-A Norfolk.

Díaz finally made his Orioles debut on Tuesday night, four years after getting brought in as part of the Manny Machado trade. But he will get the boot on Wednesday to clear out a spot for Brett Phillips.

Luis Robert (illness) remains out of the White Sox lineup on Wednesday.

Robert was activated from the injured list on Tuesday, but he is apparently still working back to full strength after battling an illness that led to symptoms of blurred vision and lightheadedness. A.J. Pollock is in center field, José Abreu will DH, and Andrew Vaughn will cover first base on Wednesday afternoon against the Royals.

Aug 2, 2022

White Sox's Jose Abreu: Hammers homer in win.

Abreu went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the Royals. Abreu has homered in two of the last three games, but Tuesday was his first game with multiple RBI since July 14. The first baseman is up to 13 long balls 52 RBI, 56 runs scored and 27 doubles in 101 contests while maintaining a steady .300/.381/.470 slash line. The White Sox were quiet at the trade deadline, so Abreu's status as a key piece in the heart of the lineup remains unchanged as they try to chase down the Twins and the Guardians in the AL Central.

Astros' Yuli Gurriel: Continues base-stealing binge. Gurriel went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in a 2-1 loss to Boston on Tuesday. Batting second, Gurriel brought home Jose Altuve with a first inning single before swiping second base and adding another single in the fifth. The 38-year-old's theft was his fifth in his last 12 games while the two-hit performance extended his hitting streak to seven games, during which he's batted .379 with two doubles. The deadline acquisition of Trey Mancini may eat into Gurriel's playing time, though manager Dusty Baker will be forced to keep his bat in the lineup if he continues to put up quality numbers.

Rockies's José Iglesias: Five hits Tuesday.

Iglesias went 5-for-8 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI across both games of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Padres. Iglesias collected multiple hits in each game and now has two or more knocks in six of his last 10 starts. In that span, he's hit .429 with eight runs scored and three RBI. Iglesias has maintained an excellent .313 batting average across 340 plate appearances for the season, which has also allowed him to tally 39 runs scored and 37 RBI.

Nationals' Yadiel Hernández: Hits solo blast. Hernández went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Mets. Hernández homered in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Nationals up 4-1. It was his eighth home run of the season and his second in seven days. The outfielder has been on a tear and is currently on an eight game hit streak, including two two-hit performances. Hernández brought his average up from .261 to .272 during that span and has either scored a run or an RBI in all but two of those games.

C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic confirms that the Reds are calling up José Barrero on Wednesday.

Barrero, 24, might have made the Opening Day roster in Cincinnati had he not fractured his hamate bone in mid-March. He returned to action at Triple-A Louisville in late May and has since slashed .209/.263/.367 with eight home runs and five stolen bases in 54 games for the Bats.

Padres optioned RHP Michel Báez to Triple-A El Paso.

Báez made a relief appearance in the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rockies but was optioned to Triple-A El Paso ahead of Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against Colorado. Báez was called up last week and will head back to the minors after delivering a scoreless inning during Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill. He also pitched a scoreless frame during his other appearance while up with the Padres.

Dodgers selected the contract of IF/OF Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

It could be just a brief callup for Vargas, as Joey Gallo will join the team in a day or two. However, it sounds more like he'll get a chance to stick over James Outman. The 22-year-old Vargas has established himself as one of the game's top third base prospects while hitting .291/.382/.497 in Triple-A this year. Vargas brings a good mix of power and speed to the table, having recorded 15 home runs, 12 steals and an .897 OPS over 94 Triple-A games this season.

White Sox activated OF Luis Robert from the 10-day injured list.

Robert is finally past the mysterious illness that was causing him symptoms of blurred vision and lightheadedness. He is not in the White Sox starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Royals but was spotted taking pregame batting practice and could be available off the bench. He'll presumably be in the starting lineup on Wednesday, probably as the DH.

Braves acquired RHP Raisel Iglesias from the Angels for LHP Tucker Davidson and RHP Jesse Chávez.

This move was officially agreed upon just before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Tuesday, with Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos even acknowledging to reporters in the aftermath that he had some worries it might have come together too late. Atlanta will pay the full remainder of the four-year, $58 million contract that Iglesias signed with the Angels this past offseason. He's another high-leverage weapon for the defending World Series champions, even if that won't always translate to save chances.

Rays' Yandy Díaz: Took seat Tuesday. Díaz wasn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. Díaz went 2-for-13 with a home run and two RBI in the weekend series against Cleveland, capping off a July in which he slashed .330/.413/.511 with 18 RBI and 15 runs. Isaac Paredes will play third base Tuesday while Ji-Man Choi plays first.

Rangers' Adolis García: Not started Tuesday. García was on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Orioles. García has hit .298 with three home runs, four doubles and 12 RBI in 12 games since the All-Star break.