INDIANS’ PUIG BECOMES CITIZEN
Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig has become a U.S. citizen.
The Cuban-born Puig, who was traded to Cleveland by Cincinnati last month, posted a photo Wednesday on social media showing him waving a small American flag. He wrote, “Thank you God for this great opportunity to be an American citizen.”
A team spokesman said Puig’s naturalization ceremony took place in Miami. He defected from Cuba in 2012 after several failed attempts.
Puig was not in uniform for the Indians’ afternoon game against Boston. He is serving the final game of a three-game suspension for his involvement in a July 30 brawl when he was still with Cincinnati.
The 28-year-old was part of a wild fight between the Reds and Pirates mere hours before being traded. Puig is batting .357 with one homer and six RBIs in 11 games with the Indians.
Earlier this season, Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana became a U.S. citizen.
Arrieta probably headed for surgery.
PHILADELPHIA» Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta probably will have season-ending surgery soon because of a bone spur in his pitching elbow.
Arrieta, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, has been pitching through pain for several starts, but his inability to go more than five innings led him to shut it down. He was scheduled for an MRI on Thursday and will determine his course of action afterward.
Pirates’ Taillon out for 2020.
Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon will miss the 2020 season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow for a second time.
The team said the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday in New York. The club initially hoped Taillon, who hasn’t pitched since May 1, would only need surgery on his right flexor tendon. During the operation, Dr. David Altchek determined Taillon also needed surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow.
This is the second Tommy John surgery for the 27-year-old Taillon. He also had the procedure in April 2014 while still in the minors. He missed the 2015 season with a sports hernia before returning in 2016, making his major league debut later that year.
Astros’ Cole says injury not “super serious.”
Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole said his sore right hamstring is “not super serious” a day after he was a late scratch in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.
Cole experienced discomfort in his leg while warming up and never took the mound. Instead, Chris Devenski opened the game and lasted just two innings in a 4-1 loss that gave the White Sox a split of the twinbill.
Giants place Sandoval on IL.
The Giants placed infielder Pablo Sandoval on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Manager Bruce Bochy said the injury has bothered Sandoval to varying degrees for several years, but it flared up Sunday when the 33-year-old switch-hitter was batting right-handed.
Bochy says Sandoval recently underwent an MRI, but the severity of his injury isn’t known. He had a cortisone shot Sunday.