Juan Yepez Extends Hitting Streak With First Homer
Washington Nationals first baseman Juan Yepez stayed red-hot in Friday night's win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park, clubbing his first home run of the season with three RBI. Yepez increased the Nationals' lead with a three-run homer off Reds right-hander Frankie Montas to left field in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to 11 games in Friday's victory. We've seen the 26-year-old former St. Louis Cardinal make plenty of noise upon being called up in the past, and he's replaced Joey Meneses at first base in Washington with a sizzling .390/.468/.610 triple-slash line, six doubles, six RBI, eight runs scored, and one stolen base through his first 47 trips to the plate in 2024. Yepez should be rostered in deep fantasy leagues while he's running hot, but he's going to cool down at some point.
Washington Nationals first baseman/outfielder Juan Yepez is being promoted in a corresponding move that sent Joey Meneses to Triple-A Rochester. Yepez has performed quite well in Triple-A this season with a .263/.257/.438 slash line, 15 long balls, and 41 RBI in 74 games. In addition, he swiped three bags and held a solid 40:45 BB:K ratio. The 26-year-old was swinging a hot bat since June 14 riding a stellar .371/.435/.565 line, which helped earn him the promotion. Yepez could carve out a full-time role at first base as Joey Gallo (hamstring) remains on the 10-day injured list. Even though Yepez struggled to find consistency in his previous stints in the major leagues, he could be worth adding in deeper NL-only formats.
Free-agent first baseman Juan Yepez agreed to a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Yepez will head for D.C. after appearing in the big leagues in each of the last two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was more impressive in 76 games in his rookie year in 2022, hitting .253 (64-for-253) with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 274 plate appearances. The 25-year-old Venezuelan only appeared in 28 games for the Cards in 2023 and hit just .183 (11-for-60) with two home runs and 20 strikeouts. Yepez has a decent power stroke and will have more of an opportunity for a regular role in the big leagues for the rebuilding Nationals.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Juan Yepez has hit his way up the batting order. In five games, Yepez is hitting .316/.350/.474 with one homer and one RBI this season. It's a small sample size, but the Cardinals will ride with the hot bat. Yepez will move into the five spot and cover left field against left-hander James Paxton on Friday. It'll be Paxton's first start of the season, so this could be a good opportunity for Yepez to make some noise against a rusty pitcher.
Tyler O'Neill Goes On Injured List, Juan Yepez Coming Up
The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Tyler O'Neill (back) on the 10-day injured list and right-hander Jake Woodford (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Friday and recalled outfielder/infielder Juan Yepez and right-hander James Naile from Triple-A Memphis in corresponding moves. Right-hander Wilking Rodriguez (shoulder) was also moved to the 60-day IL. O'Neill will miss at least a week with a lower-back strain, and the 27-year-old was hitting a disappointing .228 with two home runs and one stolen base in 29 games this year. There's no timetable for his return. Yepez wasn't hitting very well in the minors prior to his call-up, but he had a combined 28 round-trippers between the majors and minors in 2022 and could see decent playing time against left-handed pitchers with O'Neill on the shelf.
Juan Yepez In Starting Lineup After Pinch-Hit Homer
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder/third baseman Juan Yepez is in the starting lineup Saturday, batting sixth and playing right field. Yepez is in for Dylan Carlson, in what is probably a case of playing the hot hand. Yepez had a clutch pinch-hit, two-out, two-run home run in game one to put the Cardinals up, and manager Oliver Marmol likely wants to see if he can do it again. Otherwise, the Cardinals lineup remains the same other than some positional changes.
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled outfielder Juan Yepez from Triple-A Memphis and optioned Nolan Gorman on Monday. Yepez has logged 229 plate appearances with the Cardinals in 2022, hitting .252 with 11 homers, 24 runs, and 27 RBI. The rookie outfielder is expected to help out in the outfield in St. Louis with Tyler O'Neill (hamstring) on the injured list. Yepez could help out fantasy teams in deeper leagues and NL-only formats over the final few weeks of the season.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Juan Yepez (forearm) has been activated off the IL and sent to Triple-A Memphis. Yepez had been contributing nicely for the Cardinals, but was slumping hard in July, slashing just .149/.196/.277 with two homers over 47 at-bats. With Lars Nootbaar heating up and Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, and Brendan Donovan contributing in different ways for the Cardinals, it appears there just isn't a spot right now for Yepez. The team likely wants him to keep getting at-bats instead of sitting on the bench with the major league team. Expect him to be called up as soon as a spot opens up, and when that happens be ready to add him in standard or deep leagues where outfield help is needed.
Juan Yepez Rehabbing This Weekend, Could Return To Majors Tuesday
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Juan Yepez (forearm) continues to play in rehab outings at the Triple-A level in hopes of returning to the big-league club on Tuesday, according to John Denton of MLB.com. Yepez will play six innings in right field on Saturday, then another six or nine innings on Sunday. The Cardinals would love to have the 24-year-old back in the majors, where he had been slashing .254/.298/.459 with 11 homers, 27 RBI, 14 walks, and 53 strikeouts through 62 games.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Juan Yepez (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis, per beat writer John Denton. The 24-year-old rookie has been out since the All-Star break with a Grade 2 right forearm strain and will see time at first base, designated hitter, and right field to test out his throwing arm. Yepez is slashing .254/.298/.459 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI over 209 at-bats with the Cards this season. He should return sometime in late August, barring any setbacks.
