According to Ken Rosenthal of MLB on FOX, the Athletics have signed free agent infielder Gio Urshela to a one-year contract. Urshela spent the 2024 campaign playing in Detroit and Atlanta. Across 128 games, the infielder held a .250/.286/.361 line with 19 doubles, nine home runs and no stolen bases. Urshela showed a great eye at the plate with a 15.6% K rate and 20.3% whiff rate which were both significantly above the average marks. In addition, he also generated a .264 xBA which suggest he could be due for some positive regression in 2025. In 2022 and 2023 he posted a .285 AVG and .299 AVG respectively. Fantasy managers should expect him to have an everyday role at the hot corner with the Athletics and could be worth a look in deeper AL-only formats given his low strikeout rate and solid batting average.
The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder Gio Urshela to a major-league contract on Tuesday and placed third baseman Austin Riley (hand) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 19) with a fractured right hand in a corresponding move. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Braves moved left-handed reliever A.J. Minter (elbow) to the 60-day IL. Urshela was recently cut by the Detroit Tigers after hitting .243/.286/.333 with a weak .619 OPS, five home runs, 37 RBI and 25 runs scored in 300 at-bats in 2024. It's clear the Braves are desperate for help at the hot corner with Riley now expected to miss the rest of the year. Down on the farm, they're auditioning veteran Yuli Gurriel at third base. Urshela could immediately slot in at the hot corner in Atlanta, starting on Tuesday against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, but he doesn't warrant fantasy attention outside of NL-only leagues.
The Detroit Tigers designated infielder Gio Urshela for assignment on Friday, according to a source. The out-of-contention Tigers have decided that it's time to play the youngsters to close out the 2024 regular season. Both infield prospects Trey Sweeney and Jace Jung have been called up the last two days and figure to get plenty of opportunities to impress in their first taste of the big leagues down the stretch. Sweeney and Jung are both starting at shortstop and third base, respectively, on Friday at Comerica Park against the New York Yankees. Urshela provided very modest production for the Tigers and fantasy managers in 2024, slashing .243/.286/.333 with a well below-average .619 OPS, only five home runs, 37 RBI and 25 runs scored in 300 at-bats. He's likely to clear waivers and could be sent to Triple-A Toledo.
Gio Urshela Hits Walkoff Blast To Get Tigers Past Dodgers On Saturday
Detroit Tigers third baseman Gio Urshela hit a walkoff two-run homerun in the bottom of the 10th inning on Saturday to secure the Tigers' 11-9 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a five-run bottom of the ninth, Urshela came in to replace Justyn-Henry Malloy in the lineup. In the bottom of the 10th with one out and a runner at third, Urshela launched a 81.5 MPH sweeper into the left field stands to give the righty his fourth HR of the season. The walkoff shot will certainly provide a great boost of confidence for Urshela who has been having a subpar season at the plate and was recently moved from third base to first base to provide Matt Vierling and Zach McKinstry more time at the hot corner. With Saturday appearing to be a day of rest, expect Urshela to be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Dodgers, who have not named a starter as of yet.
Gio Urshela Back From Injured List And Starting Tuesday
The Detroit Tigers reinstated infielder Gio Urshela (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Akil Baddoo to Triple-A Toledo after Monday night's game in a corresponding move. Urshela is starting at third base and batting sixth for the Tigers in his first game back on Tuesday against the visiting Miami Marlins and left-hander Ryan Weathers. Urshela has never faced Weathers in his career but was hitting .298/.310/.333 with no homers and six RBI in 57 at-bats before landing on the injured list on April 20 with a strained hamstring. The 32-year-old should return to see most of the playing time at third base in Detroit, making him useful in some deep-mixed leagues. Urshela went 5-for-8 with an RBI and two runs in three minor-league rehab games. He doesn't have a ton of power but makes plenty of contact.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Gio Urshela (hamstring) ran the bases and took batting practice ahead of Tuesday's game against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians, and he will do so again on Wednesday. If all goes well, Urshela could begin a minor-league rehab assignment sometime soon after the Tigers return home on Friday for the start of a three-game series with the Houston Astros. Although the 32-year-old defensive-minded infielder was hitting .298 (17-for-57) before going on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right hamstring, he has only six RBI, two extra-base hits, and four runs scored through 18 games (57 at-bats) as Detroit's primary third baseman and doesn't need to be stashed in most fantasy leagues. Matt Vierling is worth a look in AL-only formats in the meantime, however, slashing .286/.321/.510 with two home runs, one double, two triples, and seven RBI over his last 49 ABs (15 games).
Third baseman Gio Urshela (hamstring) is traveling with the Detroit Tigers for their six-game road trip as he gets closer to a return from injury. Urshela is going through hitting and defensive drills, while also continuing to run as he looks to return from a right-hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since April 19. He's currently on the 10-day injured list. Before the injury, Urshela was the Tigers' everyday third baseman and was slashing .298/.310/.333 with six RBI. In place of Urshela, Detroit has been starting Matt Vierling at third base. Once Urshela returns from injury, he will resume being the everyday third baseman, but despite that, he is under 5 percent owned in Yahoo and ESPN fantasy leagues.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Gio Urshela (hamstring) was cleared to resume baseball activities on Tuesday. After suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain in Friday's win over the Minnesota Twins, Urshela was able to do some straight-line running drills on Tuesday. The fact that the 32-year-old defensive-minded infielder is already progressing from the injury means he should be able to return to the Tigers in early May. Although Urshela was hitting for a .298 batting average (17-for-57) before going down, he has just two extra-base hits and six RBI over 18 games in Detroit's weak lineup and is not a recommended stash in the majority of fantasy leagues. Utility man Matt Vierling will handle the lion's share of the reps at third base until Urshela is back healthy, but fantasy managers can do better on waiver wires.
The Detroit Tigers placed infielder Gio Urshela (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right-hamstring strain and recalled infielder Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Urshela was removed from Friday night's win over the Minnesota Twins with right-hamstring tightness after running to first base and will now miss at least the next 10 days. Kennedy will provide infield depth for the Tigers in the meantime, but Matt Vierling is the most likely candidate to see most of the playing time at the hot corner in Detroit until Urshela is able to return. Vierling is at third and batting fifth on Saturday against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. Although Urshela doesn't have a homer this year, he was hitting .298 (17-for-57) with six RBI at the time of his injury on Friday night.
Gio Urshela Hasn't Locked Down Starting Duties At Third Base
When the Detroit Tigers signed infielder Gio Urshela to a one-year, $1.5 million deal late in February, having him serve as the primary third baseman in 2024 always made the most sense but the Tigers didn't make any declarations about his playing time because they needed to evaluate his on-field performance in his return from a broken pelvis last year. With eight days until Opening Day on March 28 against the Chicago White Sox, Urshela hasn't locked down starting duties at the hot corner as he competes with Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez. Vierling was projected to be the primary third baseman before the team signed Urshela, only to move back to his previous role as an outfielder. Urshela is the best defender, but he hasn't been hitting for power or drawing walks on offense. Urshela and Vierling -- both right-handed hitters -- are at the top of the pecking order in the internal plan for a primary third baseman.
Gio Urshela
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