Indians:
The New York Yankees activated outfielder Aaron Hicks from the disabled list Thursday and placed rookie outfielder Clint Frazier on the 10-day DL with a left oblique strain.
Hicks (.290, 10 HRs, 37 RBIs in 60 games) sustained a right oblique strain June 25 and was on a rehab assignment in the minors. He was expected to return tonight against the Red Sox.
Frazier (.243, 4 HRs, 17 RBIs in 28 games) was injured in batting practice before Wednesday’s game with Toronto, and an MRI Thursday morning showed the injury.
Even before Jay Bruce played his first game for Cleveland, manager Terry Francona said the slugger boosted the banged-up Indians.
“It gives you a little bounce in your step,” Francona said Thursday before the Indians opened a four-game series at Tampa Bay. “There’s no guarantees. There’s not supposed to be, but he is a really good run producer, and to add him to your lineup is really going to help.”
Bruce wasn’t at Tropicana Field in time to start against the Rays. The AL Central leaders acquired the 30-year-old Bruce from the New York Mets on Wednesday for minor league pitcher Ryder Ryan.
Bruce (.256) hit 29 home runs, tied for fourth-most in the NL, and drove in 75 runs for the Mets, playing the outfield and occasionally at first base. Francona said he wants to talk with the left-handed power hitter before making any longterm decisions, but he said Bruce will probably bat fifth tonight.
Outfielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley are on the disabled list, although Francona hopes to get Chisenhall back by next week.
Rangers:
Texas claimed right-handed reliever Jhan Marinez off waivers from the Pirates.
Texas will have to make a roster move before its game tonight against AL West-leading Houston to add Marinez to the active roster. The Rangers were off Thursday.
Marinez, who turns 29 on Saturday, is 0-3 with a 3.91 ERA over 39 relief appearances this season with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Right-hander Michael Fulmer (10-9, 3.59 ERA), who was put on the 10-day DL on Aug. 3 after feeling tingling in his fingers, is on pace to return to the rotation next week. “He’ll toss today and probably throw a bullpen (session) on Friday or Saturday,” manager Brad Ausmus said.
Tigers: Former umpire Kaiser dies:
Ken Kaiser, a colorful figure between the lines who briefly moonlighted as a professional wrestler to make ends meet while working in the minor leagues, died at 72.
The World Umpires Association said Thursday he died in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y., on Tuesday. Kaiser had diabetes for years.
An American League umpire from 1977-99, Kaiser umpired two World Series, one All-Star Game and several playoff series.
The 6-foot-3 Kaiser weighed just under 300 pounds and often was criticized for that portly physique during the more than 3,000 big league games he umpired.