MLB 2023 | Soler and Luis Robert homered, Iglesias secured third save, Abreu with two walks

Major League Baseball (MLB) and other Cuban Players News for the 2023 season. A compendium from several sources

Jorge Soler (Photo: MLB)

May 21

Jorge Soler went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBI on Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to propel the Marlins to victory over the Giants in San Francisco.

Soler opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning when he crushed a 436-foot (113.9 mph EV) solo shot off of Alex Wood. He added an RBI single in the third -- then another in the fifth that tied the game at 4-4. He had gone just 3-for-22 (.136) across his previous six games, though two of those hits were homers. The 31-year-old is up to a .247/.324/.518 slash line with 12 homers, 27 RBI, 24 runs scored and nine doubles through 45 contests this season. He needs just one more long ball to match his total from 2022.

Raisel Iglesias spun a perfect ninth inning on Sunday against the Mariners to record his third save of the season.

Iglesias got the call to protect a one-run lead and needed just 13 pitches (nine strikes) to slam the door. He got Julio Rodriguez to ground out to open the frame before striking out Jarred Kelenic on four pitches and fanning Eugenio Suárez to end the contest. The 33-year-old righty has looked sharp in his last couple appearances and has converted three of his four save opportunities since returning from the injured list. The veteran missed the first month of the season with a shoulder strain, but he appears to be finding his groove and should continue to see plenty of save opportunities in his first full campaign with Atlanta.

White Sox's Luis Robert: Matches career-best homer total. Robert went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday against the Royals. Robert took Max Castillo yard in the fourth inning to tally his 13th home run of the season. That matches his highest mark in a campaign, and it comes after just 190 plate appearances. Robert has been on a tear since the calendar has flipped to May, as he's smacked eight home runs, driven in 16 and scored 20 runs all while hitting .358.

Rays' Randy Arozarena: Swipes fifth bag. Arozarena went 0-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base Sunday against the Brewers. Arozarena went hitless for his third consecutive game, though he still managed to provide fantasy value. He was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning and then stole second base -- his fifth of the season and second in his last five starts. Arozarena continues to provide a well-rounded stat line, as he has 10 home runs, 31 runs scored and 36 RBI while also hitting .304 across 201 plate appearances on the season.

Astros' Jose Abreu: Walks twice in win. Abreu went 0-for-2 in Sunday's win over the Athletics. Abreu took advantage of a wild Athletics pitching staff that gave up eight walks in total, taking two free passes himself in four at-bats. After hitting 25 or more home runs in six of his first eight MLB seasons, Abreu has struggled to replicate those power numbers in 2022 and 2023, notching just 15 long balls in 157 games last season and remaining homerless through 44 games in 2023. Though the 36-year-old's best days appear to be behind him, his role as an everyday player in the heart of an extremely talented lineup keeps him relevant, especially with Jose Altuve back in action for Houston.

Yasmani Grandal went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Sunday in his return to the White Sox' lineup.

Grandal was back behind the plate Sunday afternoon following a three-game absence due to an ongoing right hamstring issue that's been bothering him for a couple weeks. The good news is that he's managed to avoid landing on the injured list, but it's possible the White Sox will continue to give him a couple days off this week so that it doesn't become a larger issue.