MLB 2024 | Vargas hitless in White Sox's debut; León to make MLB debut; Luis Robert with his 15th steal; Soler will be leadoff with the Braves
- Ray Otero-Alonso
- Jul 31, 2024
- 4 min read
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources
Miguel Vargas went hitless in team debut.
In Tuesday's 4-3 defeat against the Royals, Vargas had a hitless game, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Making his first appearance for the White Sox following a trade from the Dodgers the day before, Vargas took on the role of designated hitter and batted second in the lineup. The White Sox are considering utilizing Vargas at third base, second base, or in the outfield in the near future, with the remaining months of the season presenting him with the best chance for regular playing time in the major leagues. Vargas has a unique opportunity to prove himself as a hitter in the Majors, but he must leave behind the past experiences with the Dodgers. It would be highly disappointing if the Cuban fails to perform with a team that is playing without pressure this season.
Pedro León is set to make his MLB debut.
According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Houston Astros outfield prospect Pedro León is poised to make his debut in the major leagues. He is expected to take over the roster spot previously held by Joey Loperfido, who was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. León has spent the last three seasons playing at the Triple-A level, but this summer has shown significant progress in his development. In his 93 games at Triple-A Sugar Land, the 26-year-old has an impressive .297/.377/.519 batting line, along with 19 home runs, 74 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. He was on track to surpass his previous career bests. With Kyle Tucker still recovering from injury, León might have the opportunity to secure the starting role in right field on a regular basis, especially since Chas McCormick has underperformed this season with a .208/.272/.318 batting line.
Luis Robert Jr steals his 15th base.
In Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Royals, Robert went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Despite the trade deadline passing with Robert remaining on the White Sox roster, the 26-year-old outfielder marked the occasion by swiping his 15th bag of the year in the eighth inning. However, he was caught stealing for the first time in 2024 in the first frame. Additionally, he showcased impressive fielding skills with a notable play in centerfield. While Robert's performance at the plate has been lackluster in July, with a .244/.313/.400 slash line, three home runs, eight runs, and 11 RBIs, he has been particularly active on the basepaths, with 12 of his stolen bases this season coming in the last 24 games. For Wednesday's game against the Royals, Luis Robert Jr. will not be playing.
Randy Arozarena returned to the starting lineup.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena was back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox after being taken out of Monday's game for an undisclosed reason following a collision with the left-field wall. Given the lopsided score, the Mariners had little reason to keep the 29-year-old slugger in the game. In Tuesday's game, he recorded a 1-for-5 performance with a run, an RBI, and a strikeout. Arozarena has accumulated six hits in 16 at-bats since joining his new team.
According to sources, the Twins had expressed interest in acquiring Néstor Cortés before the Yankees opted to retain the pitcher.
If the Yankees' trade for Jack Flaherty had not collapsed, they probably would have traded Cortés, who could have been a valuable addition for the Twins. However, Minnesota only managed to secure one reliever, Trevor Richards, before the deadline. The team is currently facing a shortage in the rotation due to Chris Paddack being on the injured list.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leaves game prematurely on Tuesday.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was taken out of Tuesday's game ahead of schedule. He was pulled in the third inning due to visible discomfort following his at-bat. With the Diamondbacks holding a significant lead, the decision may have been a precautionary measure. During the game, Gurriel's performance included going 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI, and two strikeouts.
José Iglesias will be playing on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, José Iglesias is set to start for the Mets. He will be playing at second base and batting seventh against the Twins. So far this season, he has a batting average of .342, with three home runs and 17 RBIs.
Both the Yankees and Astros showed interest in acquiring first baseman Yandy Díaz.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Yankees and Houston Astros were both keen on making a potential deal for Tampa Bay Rays' first baseman Yandy Díaz. Heyman also mentioned that the Pittsburgh Pirates were also in the mix as a potential destination for Díaz. Díaz, who has a batting average of .271 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs this season for the Rays, would be a significant addition for either the Yankees or Astros due to his strong on-base skills, boasting a career on-base percentage of .373.
Jorge Soler is set to lead off in the batting order.
According to a report by David O'Brien of The Athletic, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker announced on Tuesday that Soler will assume the leadoff position for the team. Soler's performance significantly improved when he was moved to the leadoff spot by the Giants, boasting a .911 OPS over his last 24 games. Notably, Soler also occupied this position for Atlanta during their successful 2021 World Series campaign. As a result of Soler's placement at the top of the lineup, Jarred Kelenic will be shifted down in the order.
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