Nationals' Jeter Downs: Held out with hand contusion
Rotowire
Downs was held out of the Nationals' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to a contusion on his left hand, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Downs suffered the injury when he was struck by a pitch earlier this week, but X-rays came back negative for any fractures and he should be fine within the next day or two. The former Red Sox prospect is fighting for the final spot on Washington's bench.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Intriguing start to camp
Rotowire
Downs went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 24-year-old is now on his fourth organization, having been part of some very high-profile trades, including the one that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. However, Downs' prospect status has taken a steep dive the last couple years after back-to-back campaigns at Triple-A in which he hit under .200 with a strikeout rate hovering around 30 percent. Claimed off waivers from the Red Sox this winter, he's in camp fighting for a utility role on a rebuilding Nationals club, and through the early part of spring training he's showcased some impressive defense and speed on the basepaths. Journeyman 31-year-old Ildemaro Vargas is currently penciled in as the top middle infield backup behind CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia, but if Downs can show enough with his bat, he might be able to claim an Opening Day bench spot.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Claimed by Nationals
Rotowire
Downs (ankle) was claimed off waivers by the Nationals on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The former top prospect has found a new home after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox last week. Downs has seen his star fade after managing just a .661 OPS at the Triple-A level the last two seasons. He's only 24, though, and lands in a good situation on the rebuilding Nationals.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Booted off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Downs (ankle) was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Thursday.
One of the key pieces acquired from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, Downs struggled mightily at Triple-A Worcester the past two years with a .661 OPS in 180 games. He's still just 24, so he'll likely receive some interest on waivers.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Deactivated at Triple-A
Rotowire
Triple-A Worcester placed Downs (ankle) on its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Downs hadn't played for Worcester since Aug. 18 with a left ankle injury before being deactivated a week later. The 24-year-old debuted in the majors earlier this season and hit .154 over 14 games, but his ankle injury may take a promotion back to Boston off the table when the active roster expands to 28 men in September.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Considered day-to-day
Rotowire
Downs is considered day-to-day due to a left ankle injury, Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.
Downs exited Thursday's game at Triple-A Worcester after falling while running to second base, and he had to be helped off the field by trainers. However, the team hopes the 24-year-old will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Exits with leg injury
Rotowire
Downs exited Thursday's game with Triple-A Worcester due to a left leg injury, Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.
Downs fell on his way to second base after lining a ball into left field, and he remained down momentarily before being helped off the field by trainers. There's no official diagnosis, but a trip to the minor-league injured list seems possible.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Downs started just one of the last five games and will lose his spot on the active roster after Christian Arroyo (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday. Downs was called up by the Red Sox in early July and hit .171 with a homer, a double, four runs and four RBI over 13 games since then.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: On bench Wednesday
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Downs isn't starting Wednesday against the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Downs went 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts over three games following the All-Star break and will retreat to the bench for a third consecutive matchup. Yolmer Sanchez is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Starts at third for Devers
Rotowire
Downs started at third base and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays.
Downs filled in for the injured Rafael Devers, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a hamstring injury. Downs and Bobby Dalbec are the most likely fill-ins at the hot corner without Devers, who the Red Sox expect to return when eligible, per Betelhem Ashame of MLB.com. The Devers transaction plus one involving Enrique Hernandez (hip), who was transferred to the 60-day injured list, means Downs could be up with the team indefinitely. Downs is batting .156/.176/.281 over 11 games.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Connects for first MLB homer
Rotowire
Downs went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 13-2 loss to the Yankees.
Downs brought Boston to within one run with the first home run of his MLB career, a two-run shot off Gerrit Cole in the third inning. Sunday may have been his final MLB action at this juncture, as the Red Sox anticipate the returns of Christian Arroyo (groin) and Trevor Story (hand) after the All-Star break.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Remains starter at second base
Rotowire
Downs started at second base and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 14-1 loss to the Yankees.
The Red Sox placed Trevor Story (hand) on the injured list Saturday, and it looks like Downs will man second base until Story or Christian Arroyo (groin) return. Story's IL placement is backdated to Wednesday, meaning he's eligible to return for the second game after the All-Star break; Arroyo can return the first game after the break. Downs is 3-for-22 with 11 strikeouts over the first eight games of his major-league career.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Fills in for injured Story
Rotowire
Downs entered Tuesday's game for an injured Trevor Story (hand) and went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Rays.
Story swung at a pitch that hit his right hand -- it was ruled a foul ball -- and was replaced by Downs. If Story is required to miss time, Downs figures to be the logical replacement with Christian Arroyo (groin) on the injured list.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Plays key role in win
Rotowire
Downs went 1-for-1 with an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Yankees.
Downs scored the game-tying run as a pinch runner for J.D. Martinez in the eighth inning, then plated a run in the 10th inning with his first hit in the majors. He later came around to score the winning run on Alex Verdugo's single. Downs is up with the Red Sox after the team placed Christian Arroyo (groin) on the 10-day injured list Saturday. The rookie could get a start or two at third base pending the status of Rafael Devers (back), who didn't play Saturday and is expected to sit out Sunday.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Downs was recalled by the Red Sox on Saturday.
Downs made his big-league debut in late June but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his lone game. He'll get another chance with Christian Arroyo (groin) landing on the 10-day injured list. Downs struggled early in the season for Triple-A Worcester but has been excellent in July, grabbing 13 hits in seven games while adding four homers and five steals.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Optioned to Triple-A
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Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Downs went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his MLB debut Wednesday after being called up Monday, but he'll return to Triple-A just one day later. The 23-year-old has struggled to a .180 batting average with 11 homers, 21 RBI, 35 runs and 11 stolen bases over 189 at-bats with Worcester this season. His demotion suggests Christian Arroyo (illness) is nearing a return from the COVID-19 injured list.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Debuting at third base
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Downs is starting at third base and batting ninth during Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Downs has played in the middle infield to begin his professional career, but the team apparently feels comfortable enough in his abilities at the hot corner to put him at the position for his major-league debut. The 23-year-old slashed .180/.297/.397 with 11 homers, 35 runs, 21 RBI and 11 stolen bases over 53 games at Triple-A Worcester to begin the year.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Set for big-league debut
Rotowire
The Red Sox recalled Downs from Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
Downs was a big enough prospect to be a key part of the return in the trade which sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers prior to the 2020 season, but he's had a difficult time at the plate for his new organization. After hitting .190/.272/.333 in 99 Triple-A games last season, he's managed a .180/.297/.397 line in 53 games at that level in 2022. His strikeout rate was north of 30 percent in both seasons. There's potential for an interesting power-speed combo here, as he homered 25 times and stole 29 bases in 152 games since the start of last year, but he'll need to make far more contact if he's to be a viable major-league regular.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Rejoins Triple-A lineup
Rotowire
Downs (side) started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 with two walks, two runs and his eighth stolen base of the season Sunday in Triple-A Worcester's 10-2 win over Lehigh Valley. He also reached base on a hit by pitch.
Downs was back in the lineup for the first time in a week after he had been sidelined with side discomfort. After playing a full nine innings to close out the weekend, Downs is seemingly back to 100 percent health. The 23-year-old has endured a rough go of things in his return to Worcester this season, as he's managed a modest .743 OPS across 159 plate appearances.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Removed from Saturday's game
Rotowire
Downs experienced discomfort in his side and was removed from Triple-A Worcester's game Saturday, Katie Morrison of MassLive.com reports.
The decision to remove Downs is seen as precautionary. "I think he said it was more on a play in the field that he felt it a little bit more," Worcester manager Chad Tracy said. "He was a little concerned about swinging and not making it worse. So much like [Refsnyder] yesterday...we have plenty of guys that are available and ready to go." Downs is batting .212/.325/.417 with seven home runs, 13 RBI and 27 runs scored for the WooSox.
