Twins top prospect Byron Buxton continues to roll through Double-A
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(12:43 pm ET) Twins top prospect Byron Buxton is abusing Double-A pitching so far this season. One of the top prospects in baseball, Buxton ripped his 11th triple of the season and ninth in the month of May on Saturday.

Buxton is hitting .267 with five home runs, five doubles and 33 RBI in 42 games this season in the minors.

Dodgers prospect Corey Seager launches firsts two PCL homers
by Jason Lempert | Staff Writer

(12:33 pm ET) Dodgers prospect Corey Seage r had been mired in a slump since being promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma on May 1. The 2012 first-round pick came into Monday night’s game in 3-for-25 skid with no extra base hits during that stretch. But Seager did his best to put that drought far behind him on Monday against Salt Lake.

Seager launched his first two Pacific Coast League home run on Monday, as Oklahoma won 6-1. Now, the 21-year-old is hitting .250/.290/.364 with 14 strikeouts in 88 at-bats with Triple-A. But Seager knows what he has to do and is trying to stay positive the best he can.

“There’s going to be low points in every year,” he said, per MiLB.com. “You just try to minimize them as much as possible. That was the low point for me, and I made the adjustment. Hopefully we can move on and not have too many more of them.

“I’m getting comfortable now. “It’s always a whirlwind in the beginning trying to figure out everything about where you’re going to be, get your clothes, all that other stuff. It’s finally settling down. You can finally relax and go out and play again.”

Rangers’ Mitch Moreland batting .351 during hit streak
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:02 pm ET) Rangers first baseman/outfielder Mitch Moreland pushed his hitting streak to a season-best nine games with a two-RBI single Monday at Cleveland. He also had his first stolen base of the season and seventh in his career Monday.

Moreland has a .351/.385/.703/1.087 slash line over his last nine games. He also has three home runs, four doubles, six runs, eight RBI, two walks and five strikeouts in that span.

Padres 1B Yonder Alonso (shoulder) looking to return next week
by Jason Lempert | Staff Writer

(11:55 am ET) Padres manager Bud Black said injured first baseman Yonder Alonso will most likely begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday. Alonso, who has been out of action with a shoulder injury since May 8, is hoping to be back with the Padres early next week, Black told MLB Network Radio.

Padres’ Bud Black: Wil Myers still 7-10 days from rejoining team
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(11:49 am ET) Padres manager Bud Black was unable to provide a new update on Wil Myers on Tuesday, but noted he is still 7-to-10 days from joining the team, according to MLB Network Radio.

Myers, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a wrist injury, is getting examined on Tuesday to see if his wrist has made enough progression to take the next step in rehab. Myers has been out since May 10 with the injury and is hitting .291 with 19 RBI in 134 at-bats this season.

Twins DH Kennys Vargas thriving since demotion to Triple-A
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:35 am ET) Twins DH Kennys Vargas has been crushing the baseball following his demotion to Triple-A Rochester. Vargas homered for the third time in six games Monday.

He has a .409/.458/.864/1.322 slash line since joining the Rochester lineup. He has hit safely in all but one game. He also has one double, two walks, five strikeouts, six walks and six runs.

Vargas was demoted to the minors last week after batting .248 with three home runs, 10 RBI and 30 strikeouts in 29 games for Minnesota.

Dodgers, Braves have deal in place involving Uribe, Callaspo
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(11:34 am ET) The Dodgers and Braves have a deal in place involving infielders Juan Uribe and Alberto Callaspo, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. No word yet on if the deal has been finalized.

The deal would save Los Angeles some money in sending Uribe to Atlanta, but Callaspo can reject the deal until June 15th per the league’s collective-bargaining agreement because he was signed last offseason. The deal would also send a minor leaguer to Atlanta with the Braves shipping back three minor-league prospects.

Callaspo was a late scratch from Monday’s game as the team was looking to make a trade. He is hitting .206 with eight RBI in 107 at-bats this season.

Uribe is part of a crowded infield with manager Don Mattingly trying to rotate both Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero in at third base. Uribe is hitting .247 with six RBI in 81 at-bats this season.

OF Slade Heathcott off to promising start for Yankees
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:24 am ET) The short-term future of Yankees newcomer Slade Heathcott is unknown. One can only speculate on his status upon the eventual return of center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list.

But the present looks pretty promising. Heathcott has been impressive in three games, slamming a double for his first big-league hit and adding a two-run homer in a Monday rout of the Royals. He is 5-for-12 with three runs and three RBI.

So much for wilting under the pressure of playing in the majors, let alone that of wearing the legendary pinstripes.

“When I step across those lines, I just want it to be the same game I’ve played my entire career life,” he told the Journal News. “Obviously on a higher scale, and at a higher level – a lot more fans, a lot more energy – but I want to keep this the same game I’ve been playing. Don’t stress. Don’t try to do too much. That’s something I have to remind myself every AB.”

Joe Girardi has not indicated where Heathcott will fit in when Ellsbury comes back. But he’s certainly happy with his performance.

“You want to see your young players come up and have success and feel like they’re contributing,” he said. “Not put a ton of pressure on themselves and not looking over their shoulder and wondering if they’re going to play the next day.”

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman takes loss on Monday
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(11:12 am ET) Reds closer Aroldis Chapman gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth inning on Monday in Cincinnati’s 5-4 loss to the Rockies.

Chapman, in a non-save situation, allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach safely, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Then, Chapman allowed a sacrifice fly to Nolan Arenado to give Colorado the lead. Chapman would strikeout the final two batters to end the inning.

Chapman, now 2-3, moved his ERA to 1.86 in 19 1/3 innings of work.

Mets’ Cuddyer: David Wright experiencing ‘frustration of unknown’
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:11 am ET) Mets outfielder Michael Cuddyer has been exchanging text messages with ailing teammate David Wright lately. And the former can sum up the feelings of the latter with one word.

Frustration.

Wright has spun his wheels in his attempt to return from the disabled list. A diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis has him seeing a spine specialist. He appears no closer to coming off the DL now than he did when he was placed on it. There is no timetable – just more examinations and more rest.

“He’s frustrated,” Cuddyer told NJ.com. “I’m right there with him. We’re all frustrated with him. On a personal level it stinks. … Not knowing [is] tough. Any time it’s an indefinite – you don’t know. Broken arm, you know six weeks. Hamstring, you know probably three weeks. the back thing with him now, you just don’t know. It’s the frustration of the unknown.”

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has stated that there is no indication that the back injury will limit Wright in the future. But nobody seems to know when that future on the field will begin.