Mining the News (6/9/26)

Note: I normally dig through regular articles for information, and during the season find little useful information. I’m going to transition to at least going through the team injury information to find some actionable items.

American League

Blue Jays

• While the team likes Brandon Valenzuela’s pitch calling …

His work behind the plate has also improved during that span, with ace Kevin Gausman saying his pitch framing “is getting close to Kirky’s level where you think you’re throwing way more strikes than maybe you are.”

… and improvements to his swing …

So, drop the leg kick, they told him, because timing up a big move is hard, especially with inconsistent playing time. You’re strong enough that you don’t need to generate extra force with your body, they added. The general principles were, “relax, go for line drives, simplify your body, do it for a few days, don’t move your body a lot,” Valenzuela remembered.

On April 29, in an 8-1 win over the Red Sox, he did just that, shifting from the leg kick to a rock back and forth as the trigger on his swing, going 2-for-3 with a home run (on the swing below) and a walk as a result.

“It clicked right away,” he explained. “I started seeing the ball better. I feel like I have better ABs and I’m giving the team a chance with my ABs.”

Since then, Valenzuela is batting .294/.396/.565 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 30 games and has 15 walks against 16 strikeouts in 102 plate appearances.

… the team might demote Valenzuela (has options) and keep Tyler Heineman (no options) …

From an asset preservation standpoint, optioning Valenzuela and not exposing the out-of-options Tyler Heineman to waivers, makes clear sense. A claim on Heineman would leave the organization’s depth perilously thin, with Willie MacIver as the third-string backstop.

Heineman ranks among the major-league leaders in pitch framing, throwing and blocking and knows the pitching staff exceptionally well, making him an important part of the team. But unless the Blue Jays decide to carry three catchers — something Schneider described as “not ideal,” but didn’t entirely rule out — demoting a Valenzuela who’s earned the right to stay won’t be easy.

… when Alejandro Kirk returns from the IL.

C Alejandro Kirk
Injury: Left thumb fracture
IL date: April 4 (transferred to 60-day IL on May 27)
Expected return: Potentially this week
Status: Could return soon after playing as DH and catcher at Triple-A.

• Shane Bieber will start his rehab stint soon.

RHP Shane Bieber
Injury: Right elbow inflammation
IL date: March 25 (60-day IL, retroactive to March 22)
Expected return: Potentially late June
Status: Will make rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on June 11.

• The team acquired Simeon Woods Richardson with the hope of improving him.

Schneider said, Woods Richardson could bring back the change-up he flashed when he first broke into the big leagues.

It seems like a simple fix, considering he used to throw his change-up 39 percent of the time, and it was a solid offering. But Woods Richardson got rid of the change entirely this year, part of declining pitch usage that stems back to an altered arm slot ahead of the 2024 season. Perhaps when he dropped his arm slot from 67 degrees to 47 degrees (a massive switch), he lost feel for the change.

While the article mentioned dropping the splitter, he didn’t in his first appearance with Toronto. Instead, he reshaped it with less spin (-150 RPM) and two fewer inches of drop. The splitter’s 10.4% SwStr% was a season high.

Mariners

• With Cal Raleigh returning from the IL soon …

C Cal Raleigh
Injury: Right oblique strain
IL date: May 14 (10-day IL)
Expected return: Potentially next homestand, beginning June 16
Status: Began rehab assignment June 7 at High-A Everett, going 1-for-3. Will transition to Triple-A Tacoma on June 9 and play the rest of the week there.

… make sure to find replacements for Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda if they are rostered, since their playing time will drop.

Rays

• Jonny DeLuca is about to go on a rehab assignment.

OF Jonny DeLuca
Injury: Right hamstring strain
IL date: May 24 (10-day IL, retroactive to May 23)
Expected return: Possibly late June
Status: Felt hamstring “grab” while running to first base on an infield single May 22. MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain. Expected to begin a rehab assignment on June 12 after facing Craig Kimbrel in live BP on June 9.

Right before he went on the IL, he seemed to break out of a short-side platoon with six straight starts and five against righties. He was batting .288/.351/.404 with 2 HR while seeing a 1.6 mph increase in bat speed and ~10% point increase in Contact%.

Red Sox

• Marcelo Mayer added a toe tap, and his swing feels good.

“I’ve just been feeling really disconnected with my legs,” Mayer said. “So I implemented a toe tap or whatever you want to call it two days ago, and it’s been feeling really good ever since. I actually started it as a drill during the rain delay, and it felt really good. So, they were like, ‘Yo, just try it on.’ I was like, ‘All right.’”
…
“I’ve just been working on trying to hit the ball harder, so it definitely felt good,” Mayer said. “Yeah, I’ve just got to keep working at it, got to keep grinding, swinging at the right pitches.”

Tigers

• Kenley Jansen is nearing a rehab assignment.

RHP Kenley Jansen
Injury: Right groin tightness
IL date: May 28 (15-day IL)
Expected return: Likely mid-June
Status: Scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Toledo on June 9.

Be prepared to quit speculating on Saves with Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest, and Drew Anderson .

Twins

• Mick Abel (43% rostered) should return by the end of the month.

RHP Mick Abel
Injury: Right elbow inflammation
IL date: April 20 (15-day IL, retroactive to April 17)
Expected return: Mid-to-late June
Status: Threw a bullpen on June 7. Next step will likely be either a second live batting practice or a rehab start.

Before going on the IL, Abel had a 3.98 ERA (4.25 xFIP), 1.57 WHIP (4.4 BB/9), and 10.2 K/9 in 20 IP.

National League

Diamondbacks

• The outfield is about to be crowded with Jordan Lawlar …

OF Jordan Lawlar
Injury: Right wrist fracture
IL date: April 3 (60-day IL)
Expected return: Possibly second week of June
Status: Was hit by pitch on right wrist on April 2. Took live at-bats for first time on May 29 against Corbin Burnes. Joined Triple-A Reno to begin a rehab assignment on June 5.

… and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. about to come off the IL.

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Injury: Left hamstring tightness
IL date: May 23 (10-day IL)
Expected return: Mid-June
Status: Felt tightness in left hamstring after making a sliding catch on May 22 and was placed on the 10-day injured list after examination. Has begun taking machine batting practice, running and doing outfield work. Could begin rehab assignment at club’s complex as soon as June 8.

Lawlar and Gurriel haven’t been on the roster at the same time this season. Corbin Carroll isn’t going anywhere. Ryan Waldschmidt (.689 OPS) should stay in centerfield. Tommy Troy will likely head to the minors. Also, Pavin Smith won’t be able to DH much.

Padres

• Jake Croneworth’s concussion was so bad that he can now just start watching a game.

2B Jake Cronenworth
Injury: Concussion symptoms
IL date: May 5 (7-day IL)
Expected return: July
Status: Experienced concussion symptoms after a fastball off the chin on April 18. Has resumed light baseball activity and is ramping up. Was able to watch game from dugout for the first time on June 6.

I’ve liked him as a bench streaming option in deeper formats, but knowing the extent of his injury, I’m out.

Rockies

• Troy Johnston is working through some swing changes.

Possibly disrupted by the incident, Misiorowski issued a one-out walk to Hunter Goodman to load the bases. But Johnston – whose .400 average with runners in scoring position leads the NL — lifted a fly ball to left field that was not deep enough to drive in McCarthy.

“I’m working through some swing changes right now, trying to work on being more on-time and being in a good spot,” Johnston said. “That at-bat and the last couple of days, I have not been in a good spot to hit. But I’ve got the confidence and I’m swinging at good pitches. I’ve got that going for me, and I’m really close to being able to drive in those runs.”

While examining his recent swing tendencies, he seems to be going for more hits (lower attack angle, not pulling the ball, more contact) and less power.