Triple-A Rochester placed Downs on its 7-day injured list May 14 with an unspecified injury.
After Washington optioned him back to the minors May 3, Downs appeared in just seven games for Rochester before going down with an injury that has now sidelined him for two weeks. The infielder will likely need to get healthy and turn in a productive stretch at Rochester before he gets another call-up to the big leagues.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Heads back to Rochester
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Downs to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
Utility man Ildemaro Vargas (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list in the corresponding transaction. Though he had been up with the big club since April 11, Downs appeared in just one game during his time with the Nationals and logged two plate appearances. He'll get a chance to play regularly again once he's back with Rochester.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Downs was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Rochester.
He'll replace Ildemaro Vargas, who is going on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. Downs had a rough showing in the Grapefruit League this spring and was slashing just .105/.191/.211 through 21 plate appearances this season at the Triple-A level. He has good speed and a bit of power, but the 24-year-old former Red Sox prospect probably won't offer immediate fantasy relevance -- even in deeper NL-only formats.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Downs was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Downs didn't make much of a case for a roster spot this spring, slashing .162/.225/.216 over 18 games. He's yet to produce even an average batting line in two seasons at the Triple-A level, so it's tough to envision a sudden breakout.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: To come off bench Friday
Rotowire
Downs (hand) is expected to come off the bench in the Nationals' Grapefruit League game Friday night against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Downs has been held out of exhibition action for much of this week after suffering a left hand contusion on a hit-by-pitch, but he can now continue his charge toward the final spot on the bench in Washington. X-rays turned up negative for any fractures.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Held out with hand contusion
Rotowire
Downs was held out of the Nationals' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to a contusion on his left hand, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Downs suffered the injury when he was struck by a pitch earlier this week, but he should be fine within the next day or two after X-rays came back negative for any fractures. The former Red Sox prospect is fighting for the final spot on Washington's bench.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Intriguing start to camp
Rotowire
Downs went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 24-year-old is now on his fourth organization, having been part of some very high-profile trades, including the one that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. However, Downs' prospect status has taken a steep dive the last couple years after back-to-back campaigns at Triple-A in which he hit under .200 with a strikeout rate hovering around 30 percent. Claimed off waivers from the Red Sox this winter, he's in camp fighting for a utility role on a rebuilding Nationals club, and through the early part of spring training he's showcased some impressive defense and speed on the basepaths. Journeyman 31-year-old Ildemaro Vargas is currently penciled in as the top middle infield backup behind CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia, but if Downs can show enough with his bat, he might be able to claim an Opening Day bench spot.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Claimed by Nationals
Rotowire
Downs (ankle) was claimed off waivers by the Nationals on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The former top prospect has found a new home after being designated for assignment by the Red Sox last week. Downs has seen his star fade after managing just a .661 OPS at the Triple-A level the last two seasons. He's only 24, though, and lands in a good situation on the rebuilding Nationals.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Booted off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Downs (ankle) was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Thursday.
One of the key pieces acquired from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, Downs struggled mightily at Triple-A Worcester the past two years with a .661 OPS in 180 games. He's still just 24, so he'll likely receive some interest on waivers.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Deactivated at Triple-A
Rotowire
Triple-A Worcester placed Downs (ankle) on its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Downs hadn't played for Worcester since Aug. 18 with a left ankle injury before being deactivated a week later. The 24-year-old debuted in the majors earlier this season and hit .154 over 14 games, but his ankle injury may take a promotion back to Boston off the table when the active roster expands to 28 men in September.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Considered day-to-day
Rotowire
Downs is considered day-to-day due to a left ankle injury, Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.
Downs exited Thursday's game at Triple-A Worcester after falling while running to second base, and he had to be helped off the field by trainers. However, the team hopes the 24-year-old will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Exits with leg injury
Rotowire
Downs exited Thursday's game with Triple-A Worcester due to a left leg injury, Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports.
Downs fell on his way to second base after lining a ball into left field, and he remained down momentarily before being helped off the field by trainers. There's no official diagnosis, but a trip to the minor-league injured list seems possible.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Downs started just one of the last five games and will lose his spot on the active roster after Christian Arroyo (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday. Downs was called up by the Red Sox in early July and hit .171 with a homer, a double, four runs and four RBI over 13 games since then.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Downs isn't starting Wednesday against the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Downs went 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts over three games following the All-Star break and will retreat to the bench for a third consecutive matchup. Yolmer Sanchez is starting at the keystone and batting ninth.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Starts at third for Devers
Rotowire
Downs started at third base and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays.
Downs filled in for the injured Rafael Devers, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a hamstring injury. Downs and Bobby Dalbec are the most likely fill-ins at the hot corner without Devers, who the Red Sox expect to return when eligible, per Betelhem Ashame of MLB.com. The Devers transaction plus one involving Enrique Hernandez (hip), who was transferred to the 60-day injured list, means Downs could be up with the team indefinitely. Downs is batting .156/.176/.281 over 11 games.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Connects for first MLB homer
Rotowire
Downs went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 13-2 loss to the Yankees.
Downs brought Boston to within one run with the first home run of his MLB career, a two-run shot off Gerrit Cole in the third inning. Sunday may have been his final MLB action at this juncture, as the Red Sox anticipate the returns of Christian Arroyo (groin) and Trevor Story (hand) after the All-Star break.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Remains starter at second base
Rotowire
Downs started at second base and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 14-1 loss to the Yankees.
The Red Sox placed Trevor Story (hand) on the injured list Saturday, and it looks like Downs will man second base until Story or Christian Arroyo (groin) return. Story's IL placement is backdated to Wednesday, meaning he's eligible to return for the second game after the All-Star break; Arroyo can return the first game after the break. Downs is 3-for-22 with 11 strikeouts over the first eight games of his major-league career.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Plays key role in win
Rotowire
Downs went 1-for-1 with an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Yankees.
Downs scored the game-tying run as a pinch runner for J.D. Martinez in the eighth inning, then plated a run in the 10th inning with his first hit in the majors. He later came around to score the winning run on Alex Verdugo's single. Downs is up with the Red Sox after the team placed Christian Arroyo (groin) on the 10-day injured list Saturday. The rookie could get a start or two at third base pending the status of Rafael Devers (back), who didn't play Saturday and is expected to sit out Sunday.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Downs was recalled by the Red Sox on Saturday.
Downs made his big-league debut in late June but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his lone game. He'll get another chance with Christian Arroyo (groin) landing on the 10-day injured list. Downs struggled early in the season for Triple-A Worcester but has been excellent in July, grabbing 13 hits in seven games while adding four homers and five steals.
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Red Sox's Jeter Downs: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Downs was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Downs went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his MLB debut Wednesday after being called up Monday, but he'll return to Triple-A just one day later. The 23-year-old has struggled to a .180 batting average with 11 homers, 21 RBI, 35 runs and 11 stolen bases over 189 at-bats with Worcester this season. His demotion suggests Christian Arroyo (illness) is nearing a return from the COVID-19 injured list.
