MLB 2024 | Blanco 3-for-3 with a HR; Ramos with another multi hit game; Yordan hits his eighth home run

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources

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Dairon Blanco went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer, two steals and four runs scored as the Royals topped the Angels 10-4 on Thursday.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco showed up big on Thursday, leading his team to a 10-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Blanco went 3-for-3 with four runs scored, two RBI, a homer, and two stolen bases. It was a full stat line for Blanco, but unfortunately the 31-year-old hasn't done much to warrant being rostered. He will steal the occasional base, with 10 on the season, but he hardly starts games and is usually used as a late-game pinch-runner.

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Bryan Ramos went 2-for-4 Thursday, leading the White Sox to a 3-2 win over the Guardians.

It’s pretty remarkable that Ramos is excelling considering that he skipped Triple-A entirely to make the leap to the big leagues earlier this month. The 22-year-old prospect is off to a sizzling-hot start, batting .389 (7-for-18) with a pair of RBI through six contests.

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Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a solo homer on Thursday, powering the Astros to a 4-3 victory over the Yankees.

Alvarez kicked off the scoring in the opening frame by taking Yankees starter Marcus Stroman deep for his eighth round-tripper of the season. It was the first time he’s left the yard since a two-homer explosion back on April 27, snapping a nine-game homerless drought. The 26-year-old superstar is batting .245/.325/.448 with 21 runs scored, eight homers and 19 RBI through 163 plate appearances.

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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Set to resume throwing.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo is coming close to the six-month mark in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, which is when he might get final clearance to resume throwing. The clearance could come next week and would be another step toward getting Oviedo ready to pitch next season. The 26-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in early December of last year and will not be available to pitch for the Pirates at all in 2024. The Cuban right-hander made a career-high 32 starts for the Bucs in 2023 and went 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA (4.49 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 83 walks and 158 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings pitched. Unsurprisingly, consistency was an issue for Oviedo in his first full season as a starter in the big leagues, and he's going to need to show better command when he returns in 2025.

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Luis Robert Jr. has resumed hitting.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. has resumed hitting after suffering a minor setback with his right hip flexor strain while rehabbing in Arizona. Manager Pedro Grifol says Robert is back up to running at 70 percent intensity, and the center fielder will continue to ramp up his activity. Robert is about a week away from taking the next step in his recovery, which could be a minor-league rehab assignment, and he'll play some backfield games before doing so. While the dynamic 26-year-old slugger could get into rehab games in mid-May, barring any setbacks, Chicago should be prepared to be without Robert until late May with the last-place ChiSox likely in no hurry to rush him back.

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Athletics sent OF Lázaro Armenteros outright to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Armenteros went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week. The 24-year-old outfielder will remain with the Athletics as extra organizational fodder.

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