WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Juan Soto struck out in his major league debut for the Washington Nationals, at 19 becoming the youngest player in the major leagues.He pinch hit to leading off the eighth inning Sunday and saw four pitches from Erik Goeddel in a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers."I like his swing, I really do," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He just missed a fastball, fouled it back."Martinez plans to insert Soto into the starting lineup at some point during a three-game series against San Diego."I'm going to look at the matchups but I definitely want him to play over the next two days," Martinez said.Soto played for three teams in the minor leagues this season and hit .362 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs."I was in shock," Soto said before the game. "I didn't think it would happen that quick but I feel pretty good."Soto became the first 19-year-old to debut since Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias in 2016 and just the second Nationals player to debut at 19 years after Bryce Harper,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Juan Soto struck out in his major league debut for the Washington Nationals, at 19 becoming the youngest player in the major leagues.He pinch hit to leading off the eighth inning Sunday and saw four pitches from Erik Goeddel in a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers."I like his swing, I really do," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He just missed a fastball, fouled it back."Martinez plans to insert Soto into the starting lineup at some point during a three-game series against San Diego."I'm going to look at the matchups but I definitely want him to play over the next two days," Martinez said.Soto played for three teams in the minor leagues this season and hit .362 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs."I was in shock," Soto said before the game. "I didn't think it would happen that quick but I feel pretty good."Soto became the first 19-year-old to debut since Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias in 2016 and just the second Nationals player to debut at 19 years after Bryce Harper,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Juan Soto made his major league debut for the Washington Nationals, at 19 becoming the youngest player in the major leagues.Soto played for three teams in the minor leagues this season and hit .362 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs. He pinch hit in the eighth inning Sunday and struck out against Erik Goeddel in a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers."I was in shock," Soto said before the game. "I didn't think it would happen that quick but I feel pretty good."Soto became the first 19-year-old to debut since Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias in 2016 and just the second Nationals player to debut at 19 years after Bryce Harper, who was 19 years, 195 days in 2012."He's going to get a chance to play," manager Dave Martinez said. "I want to put him in situations where he can succeed."Washington made the move one day after Howie Kendrick tore his right Achilles tendon, an injury that ended his season. Adam Eaton and Brian Godwin are also on the disabled list.Soto started the season at Class A Hagerstown, made his debut at Class A Potomac on April 24 then moved up to Double-A Harrisburg on May 10.Right-hander Jefry Rodriguez was optioned to Harrisburg, and outfielder Moises Sierra was designated for assignment to make room for Soto, whose contract was selected from the Senators. Washington also recalled shortstop Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Juan Soto was brought up by the Washington Nationals, at 19 becoming the youngest player in the major leagues.Soto played for three teams in the minor leagues this season and hit .362 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs. He was not in Sunday's lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers."I was in shock," Soto said. "I didn't think it would happen that quick but I feel pretty good."Soto would become the first 19-year-old to debut since Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias in 2016 and just the second Nationals player to debut at 19 years after Bryce Harper, who was 19 years, 195 days in 2012."He's going to get a chance to play," manager Dave Martinez said. "I want to put him in situations where he can succeed."Washington made the move one day after Howie Kendrick tore his right Achilles tendon, an injury that ended his season. Adam Eaton and Brian Godwin are also on the disabled list.Soto started the season at Class A Hagerstown, made his debut at Class A Potomac on April 24 then moved up to Double-A Harrisburg on May 10.Right-hander Jefry Rodriguez was optioned to Harrisburg, and outfielder Moises Sierra was designated for assignment to make room for Soto, whose contract was selected from the Senators. Washington also recalled shortstop Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Juan Soto was brought up by the Washington Nationals, at 19 becoming the youngest player in the major leagues.Soto played for three teams in the minor leagues this season and hit .362 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs. He was not in Sunday's lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers."I was in shock," Soto said. "I didn't think it would happen that quick but I feel pretty good."Soto would become the youngest player to debut since Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias in 2016 and just the second Nationals player to debut at 19 years after Bryce Harper, who was 19 years, 195 days in 2012."He's going to get a chance to play," manager Dave Martinez said. "I want to put him in situations where he can succeed."Washington made the move one day after Howie Kendrick tore his right Achilles tendon, an injury that ended his season. Adam Eaton and Brian Godwin are also on the disabled list.Soto started the season at Class A Hagerstown, made his debut at Class A Potomac on April 24 then moved up to Double-A Harrisburg on May 10.Right-hander Jefry Rodriguez was optioned to Harrisburg, and outfielder Moises Sierra was designated for assignment to make room for Soto, whose contract was selected from the Senators. Washington also recalled shortstop Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Catcher Miguel Montero was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals on Wednesday after going 0 for 11 in four games this season — and just 24 hours after he returned from paternity leave."The hardest thing for me is letting guys go like that," manager Dave Martinez said before the Nationals hosted the Atlanta Braves. "I've known Miggy for a long time, personally. Know his family. So it was tough. But he gets it."The decision essentially boiled down to this: The Nationals would rather have up-and-coming, 24-year-old Pedro Severino than the 34-year-old Montero as their backup to starting catcher Matt Wieters.In other moves Wednesday, Wieters was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list, left fielder Adam Eaton went on the DL and Moises Sierra's contract was selected from Triple-A Syracuse.Eaton hurt his left ankle on an awkward slide home in Washington's home opener last week. He tried playing, then sat out games Monday and Tuesday with what the team said was... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Catcher Miguel Montero has been designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals after going 0 for 11 in four games this season.In other moves before facing Atlanta on Wednesday, the Nationals reinstated catcher Matt Wieters from the 10-day disabled list, put left fielder Adam Eaton on the DL and selected the contract of outfielder Moises Sierra.The 34-year-old Montero agreed to a deal with the Nationals shortly before spring training and began the season as Wieters' backup. But Wieters appeared in only two games before straining his left oblique muscle, making Montero the starter on a temporary basis.Pedro Severino was called up to be the second catcher and played well, batting .368 and earning the job as the primary backup now that Wieters is returning.___More AP Baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

This was not how Felix Hernandez hoped to start spring training.Slowed by injuries last year, the Seattle ace was struck in his pitching arm by a line drive Monday and left his exhibition debut early.The Mariners said a precautionary X-ray of his right forearm was negative. Hernandez was listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.Hernandez was hit by a liner from Victor Caratini of the Chicago Cubs. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner immediately grabbed his arm and didn't chase the ball on the infield grass.Hernandez went down to a knee, hopped up and walked around in obvious pain. He headed to the dugout with a trainer holding his arm, and Caratini gave him a tap of encouragement.The 31-year-old Hernandez spent considerable time on the disabled list last season because of shoulder trouble. He was 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts.OHTANI'S A HITTwo-way star Shohei Ohtani had a much better big league debut as a hitter than he did as a pitcher.After patiently drawing walks in his... [More]

This was not how Felix Hernandez hoped to start spring training.Slowed by injuries last year, the Seattle ace was struck in his pitching arm by a line drive Monday and forced to leave his exhibition debut.The Mariners said a precautionary X-ray of his right forearm was negative. Hernandez was listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.Hernandez was hit by a liner from Victor Caratini of the Chicago Cubs. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner immediately grabbed his arm and didn't chase the ball on the infield grass.Hernandez went down to a knee, hopped up and walked around in obvious pain. He headed to the dugout with a trainer holding his arm, and Caratini gave him a tap of encouragement.The 31-year-old Hernandez spent considerable time on the disabled list last season because of shoulder trouble. He was 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts.OHTANI'S A HITTwo-way star Shohei Ohtani had a much better big league debut as a hitter than he did as a pitcher.After patiently drawing walks in... [More]

This was not how Felix Hernandez hoped to start spring training.Slowed by injuries last year, the Seattle ace was struck in his pitching arm by a line drive Monday and forced to leave his exhibition debut.The Mariners said a precautionary X-ray of his right forearm was negative. Hernandez was listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.Hernandez was hit by a liner from Victor Caratini of the Chicago Cubs. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner immediately grabbed his arm and didn't chase the ball on the infield grass.Hernandez went down to a knee, hopped up and walked around in obvious pain. He headed to the dugout with a trainer holding his arm, and Caratini gave him a tap of encouragement.The 31-year-old Hernandez spent considerable time on the disabled list last season because of shoulder trouble. He was 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts.OHTANI'S A HITTwo-way star Shohei Ohtani had a much better big league debut as a hitter than he did as a pitcher.After patiently drawing walks in... [More]

The Royals released Sierra on Wednesday, Matthew DeFranks of Sports Radio 810 Kansas City reports.

Sierra posted a respectable .712 OPS in 65 games with Triple-A Omaha, but he was not on the verge of a call-up, so the Royals decided to give him a chance elsewhere.

Sierra was assigned to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Sierra was beat out by Paulo Orlando for the Royals' fifth outfield job. He'll now provide organizational depth until a need or other unique circumstance arises.

Sierra was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Sierra will be removed from the 40-man roster as a result, but will stick in the organization as a depth outfielder. The 26-year-old logged 161 mostly unimpressive at-bats between the Blue Jays and White Sox last season, batting .230 with two homers.

Sierra was designated for assignment by the Royals on Tuesday.

Sierra was removed from the 40-man roster to open up a spot for Kendrys Morales. He hit well after the All-Star break last season, so he could garner some interest on the waiver wire.

The Royals claimed Sierra off waivers from the White Sox on Friday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

A 2-for-34 start with Toronto this season significantly damaged his overall numbers, but Sierra went on to post a respectable .276/.311/.417 batting line in 83 games after coming over to the White Sox on a waiver claim, with a .824 OPS in the second half. His arm makes him a more than capable corner outfielder, and he proved this season that he can play center as well if necessary.

Sierra (back) was activated from the 15-day DL on Sunday, ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla reports.

The White Sox are a bit short on outfield depth following Saturday's trade of Alejandro De Aza to the Orioles, so Sierra's return should benefit the team in that regard. However, since he's slashed a meager .236/.265/.345 over 148 at-bats this season, don't expect Sierra to see a ton of playing time in September.

Sierra (oblique) is starting a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Charlotte, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Sierra is first eligible for activation from the DL on Aug. 31, but since rosters expand just one day later, the White Sox may take advantage of the schedule. Nevertheless, he may have difficulty finding much playing time in a White Sox outfield that's growing healthier with the likely return of Adam Eaton (oblique) from the DL on Tuesday.

Sierra (back) was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

Removed from Friday's contest due to a sore back, the injury will send Sierra to the pine for a spell. As a corresponding move, Avisail Garcia (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list, which will help shore up an outfield with the ailing Dayan Viciedo (head).

Sierra left Friday's game with back soreness, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

After replacing Dayan Viciedo (dizziness), Sierra was removed from the game with an ailment of his own. Leury Garcia took over in right field, and Sierra is considered day-to-day.

Sierra rapped out four hits -- three singles and a double -- in five at-bats Thursday against Detroit, tallying an RBI and a run.

The White Sox racked up 16 hits, and Sierra contributed a full quarter of them, lifting his average from .214 to .237 in one afternoon. However, games like this have been rarities, as he only sees one or two starts a week.