LEADING OFF: Rookies Witt, Gorman and Harris draw attention

A have a look at what’s occurring across the majors right this moment:

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ROOKIE WATCH

Bobby Witt Jr. started the season as a extremely rated prospect and appears like he’s beginning to warmth up. Fellow rookies Nolan Gorman and Michael Harris are also attracting consideration.

A day after falling a double shy of the cycle, Witt hit three doubles Saturday because the Royals beat Minnesota 7-3. The 21-year-old shortstop has 41 hits this yr — 22 for further bases, together with a team-best 13 doubles.

Gorman went 4 for 4, together with his first main league homer, and drove in 4 runs to steer St. Louis over Milwaukee 8-3. A primary-round draft choose in 2018, the 22-year-old second baseman is batting .360 in eight video games since making his debut this season.

The 21-year-old Harris made his debut Saturday, going 1 for 3 and scoring a run for Atlanta in a 4-1 loss to Miami. The middle fielder joined the Braves from Double-A Mississippi on Saturday.

Requested how Harris will help the Braves, supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned, “Nicely, simply the defensive a part of it.”

NOT PHAM FRIENDLY

Reds outfielder Tommy Pham will end out his three-game suspension, imposed by Main League Baseball after he slapped Giants outfielder Joc Pederson due to a dispute about their fantasy soccer league.

New York Mets’ Brandon Nimmo runs up the primary bottom line on his option to a double through the third inning within the second baseball recreation of a doubleheader towards the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday, Might 17, 2022, in New York.

Pham will miss the collection finale towards San Francisco at Nice American Ball Park. He additionally was fined.

The incident occurred whereas the Giants warmed up within the outfield Friday. Pham confronted Pederson and smacked him within the face earlier than they have been separated.

Pham mentioned Saturday there was some “sketchy” stuff occurring with the fantasy league, and added Pederson had made “disrespectful” feedback about his former group, the San Diego Padres.

“We had an excessive amount of cash on the road, so I have a look at it like there’s a code,” Pham mentioned. He additionally mentioned Pederson was “messing with my cash.”

COMEBACK TRAIL

Nationals star Stephen Strasburg makes his second rehab look for Class A Fredericksburg towards the Salem Crimson Sox, this time with a goal of 60-70 pitches. Strasburg, the 2019 World Collection MVP, is getting back from thoracic outlet surgical procedure final yr. The fitting-hander additionally began Tuesday’s collection opener towards Salem and threw 62 pitches over 2 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs, struck out three and walked 4.

COME BACK SOON

The Mets hope middle fielder Brandon Nimmo will return to the lineup for his or her collection finale towards Zack Wheeler and the rival Phillies in prime time.

Nimmo didn’t begin Saturday due to a sore proper wrist. An MRI got here again clear, however supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned the leadoff man might require an injection. Both method, Showalter was optimistic Nimmo could be again inside a day or two. Nimmo has a 10-game hitting streak and a .386 on-base proportion for the season.

Wheeler is ready for his tenth begin versus his former group. He’s 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA towards the Mets since signing a $118 million, five-year cope with Philadelphia earlier than the 2020 season.

It is going to be the twelfth assembly already this season between the NL East foes. After this one, they received’t play once more till Aug. 12.

CY YOUNG WINNER AVAILABLE

Dallas Keuchel is available on the market after the veteran left-hander was designated for project Saturday by the Chicago White Sox.

The 34-year-old Keuchel is 2-5 with a 7.88 ERA in eight begins this season. He signed a $55.5 million, three-year contract with Chicago in December 2019.

Keuchel is owed $14,456,044 for the rest of his contract: $12,956,044 in wage for the remainder of this season, plus a $1.5 million buyout of his 2023 possibility. If he’s launched, one other group might signal him for a prorated share of the $700,000 minimal, with the White Sox accountable for the remainder.

Keuchel received the AL Cy Younger Award in 2015, going 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA for the Houston Astros. He’s 101-87 with a 3.86 ERA in 262 profession video games, together with 251 begins.

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Extra AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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