ROYALS
Finnegan recalled from Naturals
CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals have recalled left-hander Brandon Finnegan from the Class AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Finnegan was the 17th overall pick in last year's draft. He had a 1.29 ERA in seven regular-season appearances with the Royals in 2014, and then went 1-1 with a 10.50 ERA in seven postseason games.
The 22-year-old Finnegan was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts with Northwest Arkansas at the time of the promotion. Royals Manager Ned Yost said Finnegan will work as a reliever with the major league club.
Kansas City used five relievers in a 13-inning victory at the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
The Royals also optioned infielder Orlando Calixte to Class AAA Omaha on Friday. Calixte was hitless in two at-bats for the Royals.
MARLINS
Suzuki to fill in for Yelich
MIAMI -- For the next 10 days, at least, Ichiro Suzuki is an everyday outfielder again.
Suzuki will continue to fill in for left fielder Christian Yelich, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a lower back strain. The move was retroactive to Monday.
The 41-year-old Suzuki signed a $2 million, one-year contract in January with the Marlins and was expected to be their fourth outfielder. Before the season, the large contingent of Japanese media that follow him peppered manager Mike Redmond with questions about Suzuki's potentially limited role, but he has played in every game.
"I was thinking today about all the time in spring training I wasted talking about how I was going to get Ichiro in the game," Redmond said with a wry smile. "I'll never get that time back."
Suzuki, a 10-time All-Star, began the weekend batting .257 and was 147 hits shy of 3,000.
Yelich, who also spent a two-week stint on the disabled list last season with a similar back injury, is batting only .200 with 13 strikeouts in 11 games. His back has bothered him much of this season, and a diagnosis has proved elusive.
"We'll get him checked out and see what's going on," Redmond said. "Hopefully it'll be just a short-term thing."
The Marlins recalled first baseman Justin Bour from Class AAA New Orleans as they opened a homestand against Washington.
Miami also placed catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the paternity list and selected catcher Jhonatan Solano from New Orleans. Solano is the brother of Marlins reserve infielder Donovan Solano.
Saltalamacchia is expected to miss two or three games.
Left-hander Grant Dayton was designated for assignment.
Fernandez becomes U.S. citizen
MIAMI -- Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, a native of Santa Clara, Cuba, become a U.S. citizen Friday and was the keynote speaker during the ceremony for 140 other South Florida residents.
The 22-year-old Fernandez arrived in the U.S. in 2008, settling in Tampa, Fla.
"This is a dream that I've had since I was little, and actually achieving it is really amazing," Fernandez said. "Having my family here and so much support from this amazing country, it's really fantastic."
Fernandez earned NL rookie of the year and All-Star honors in 2013. He's currently on the disabled list after missing most of the 2014 season because of Tommy John surgery. Fernandez was a 2011 first-round pick, and 14th overall by the Marlins, out of Tampa's Alonso High School.
"This is one of my important accomplishments," he said. "I'm an American citizen now -- I'm one of them. I consider myself now to be free."
ORIOLES
Flaherty goes on 15-day DL
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles have placed infielder Ryan Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain.
Flaherty sustained the injury running the bases on the final play in a 4-2 loss to Toronto on Wednesday night.
Flaherty joins shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Jonathan Schoop on the Orioles' DL.
The Orioles recalled infielder Rey Navarro from Class AAA Norfolk to help fill the void. The 25-year-old Navarro has not yet been in a major league game. He has played in 885 minor league games over nine minor league seasons.
Flaherty was batting .300 with two home runs and four RBI in nine games this season.
METS
Parnell's rehab on hold for week
NEW YORK -- Mets closer Bobby Parnell's rehabilitation for Tommy John surgery has been halted for a week because of right forearm soreness.
Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson said Friday that team medical director Dr. David Altchek found nothing wrong with the right-hander's surgically repaired pitching elbow.
Parnell already has been idle two days and will not throw for five more days before being reevaluated, Alderson said before the NL East-leading Mets played the Yankees in a Subway Series opener.
Parnell had reconstructive elbow surgery last April. He was on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Class A St. Lucie.
RAYS
Cobb tosses fastballs after tendinitis
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb has thrown 22 fastballs in his first bullpen session since being sidelined during spring training by forearm tendinitis.
Cobb took the mound before Friday night's game against Toronto.
"Huge day," he said. "Felt great. It's the first major step."
Cobb has no date for when he will rejoin the rotation, a process that will eventually require at least several minor league rehab starts.
Cobb was going to start opening day but instead began the season on the 15-day disabled list. He went 10-9 with a 2.87 ERA in 27 starts last season.
As expected, the Rays reinstated Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) from the 15-day disabled list to pitch Friday night against the Blue Jays. The left-hander has been out with shoulder inflammation.
First baseman James Loney, coming back from a right oblique strain, was also reinstated from the 15-day DL. Outfielder Mikie Mahtook and first baseman Allan Dykstra were optioned to Class AAA Durham after Thursday night's 2-1 victory over Boston.
-- Democrat-Gazette Press Services
Sports on 04/25/2015