Minor League Transactions: April 8-14

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period April 8-14.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Loaned to Mexican League: RHP Edward Concepcion (to Tijuana)
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Matt Buschmann
Removed from 40-man: RHP Kyle Drabek (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Chad Oberacker, OF Chuck Taylor, OF Stryker Trahan
Reinstated from DL: C Matt Jones

Atlanta Braves
Signed: OF Emilio Bonifacio (released by Braves, April 6)
Recalled: RHP Chris Withrow, SS Daniel Castro, OF Mallex Smith
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Jhoulys Chacin, RHP Joel de la Cruz, LHP Hunter Cervenka
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Joel de la Cruz, RHP John Gant
Removed from 40-man: RHP Jose Ramirez (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Chad Sobotka, OF Sean Godfrey, OF Connor Lien
Reinstated from DL: RHP Victor Mateo, RHP Kanekoa Texeira, RHP Rob Wooten, OF Dian Toscano

An injury to Ender Inciarte created playing time for speedy center-field prospect Mallex Smith in Atlanta, and while Smith has struggled initially, he earned that right to struggle with a terrific spring. He went 9-for-26 (.346) in the Grapefruit League, amassing three doubles, three triples and one home run, and then went 6-for-15 (.400) with three more extra-base hits in his first three games at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Eric Fornataro (released by Nationals, July 25)
Released: RHP Paul Demny
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dennis Torres, C Stuart Levy

Boston Red Sox
Signed: LHP Wesley Wright (released by D-backs, March 28)
Added to 40-man roster: SS Josh Rutledge
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Rusney Castillo
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Daniel McGrath, C Jordan Procyshen, OF Allen Craig

Chicago Cubs
Recalled: 2B Munenori Kawasaki
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Giovanni Soto (purchased from Indians), 2B Munenori Kawasaki
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Stephen Fife, RHP Dillon Maples, 2B Carlos Sepulveda, LHP Tyler Ihrig
Placed on 60-day DL: LHP Manny Parra

Chicago White Sox
Recalled: RHP Michael Ynoa
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Michael Ynoa
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Carroll, C Jeremy Dowdy, OF Courtney Hawkins
Reinstated from DL: 3B Nick Delmonico

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP John Walter, OF Sean Buckley, OF Jose Fernandez
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Tim Melville, 1B Brandon Allen
Removed from 40-man: 1B Brandon Allen (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Brantley Bell, SS Carlton Daal

Left fielder Sean Buckley, the son of Reds scouting director Chris Buckley, showed a nice power stroke early in his pro career, but the 26-year-old has not yet proven himself at higher levels. The Reds made him a sixth-round pick in 2011, and he hit .261/.329/.360 in 69 games at Double-A Pensacola last year, his first crack at the level.

With neither Mike Hessman nor Dan Johnson kicking around Triple-A this year, 30-year-old bruiser Brandon Allen and his 194 career home runs assume the role of active minor league leader. Allen also ranks first with 757 minor league RBIs.

Cleveland Indians
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jordan Cooper

Colorado Rockies
Recalled: C Dustin Garneau
Placed on 7-day DL: C Tom Murphy

The Rockies placed catcher Tom Murphy on the Triple-A Albuquerque disabled list with a strained left oblique, according to his MLB.com player page.

Detroit Tigers
Added to 40-man roster: C Bobby Wilson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Bruce Rondon

Houston Astros
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B Matt Duffy
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andrew Walter

Kansas City Royals
Released: C Luis Lara, C Jin-Ho Shin
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Brandon Dulin

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Eury Sanchez (released by Giants, March 29), OF Forrestt Allday (released by Red Sox, April 1)
Added to 40-man roster: RHP A.J. Achter, LHP Greg Mahle
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP A.J. Achter, RHP Cam Bedrosian, RHP Danny Reynolds (waiver claim from Astros)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Harrison Cooney, LHP Chris O’Grady, SS Roberto Baldoquin, OF Alex Abbott

The Angels continue to apply patches to their minor league system by signing two more minor league players who had been released by other organizations at the end of spring training. They have signed 16 such players this spring, which, if nothing else, gives them an early lead in the race for most potential minor league free agents in November. It will all be worth it, however, if Los Angeles hits on only one of the signees.

Update: BA correspondent Bill Mitchell indicates that the majority of minor league players signed by the Angels this spring are gathered in extended spring training in Tempe, Ariz., perhaps waiting for a roster spot to open.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: LHP Sean Burnett (released by Nationals, April 2)
Recalled: LHP Adam Liberatore, 2B Micah Johnson
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Micah Johnson, 3B Zach Walters (purchased from Indians), OF James Ramsey (purchased from Indians)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Logan Bawcom, RHP Carlos Frias, 1B Cody Bellinger, 1B O’Koyea Dickson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Red Patterson

The Dodgers placed first baseman Cody Bellinger on the Double-A Tulsa disabled list with a strained hip, according to his MLB.com player page. He mashed 30 home runs and a California League-leading 103 RBIs last season at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga.

Miami Marlins
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Eric Jokisch (waiver claim from Cubs)
Designated for assignment: RHP Scott McGough (lost on waivers to Orioles)
Removed from 40-man: OF Cole Gillespie (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ryan Newell, RHP Nefi Ogando, SS Aaron Blanton, SS Elliot Soto, OF Isael Soto

The Marlins placed 19-year-old right fielder Isael Soto on low Class A Greensboro disabled list with right Achillies tendinitis, according to his MiLB.com player page. The lefthanded hitter has tantalizing batting potential but got off to a 1-for-14 start this season. Soto missed nearly three months of 2015 with a left knee injury.

Milwaukee Brewers
Released: C Milan Post, OF Omar Cotto
Removed from 40-man: RHP Ariel Pena (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Cody Ponce, RHP Martin Viramontes, 3B Will Middlebrooks, OF Troy Stokes

The Brewers placed righthander Cody Ponce on the high Class A Brevard County disabled list with forearm fatigue. A second-round pick in 2015 from Cal Poly Pomona, the 6-foot-6 Ponce recorded a 2.15 ERA in 46 innings at low Class A Wisconsin last summer, striking out 7.0 and walking 1.8 batters per nine innings.

Minnesota Twins
Recalled: LHP Taylor Rogers, OF Max Kepler
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Zach Tillery, SS Engelb Vielma, 3B Stephen Wickens

Shortstop Engelb Vielma is dealing with a hamstring strain, according to his MiLB.com player page, explaining his placement on the Double-A Chattanooga disabled list.

New York Mets
Recalled: RHP Rafael Montero
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B Eric Campbell
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Witt Haggard, OF Vicente Lupo

New York Yankees
Signed: OF Nick Swisher (released by Braves, March 28)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Will Carter, RHP Nick Rumbelow, C Sebastian Valle, 3B Deibinson Romero

Oakland Athletics
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Eric Surkamp

Philadelphia Phillies
Recalled: LHP Elvis Araujo

Pittsburgh Pirates
Recalled: RHP Rob Scahill
Added to 40-man roster: RHP A.J. Schugel
Removed from 40-man: SS Pedro Florimon (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Cesilio Pimentel

St. Louis Cardinals
Placed on 7-day DL: C Steve Bean, C Alberto Rosario, 2B Andrew Brodbeck
Reinstated from DL: 2B Darren Seferina

San Diego Padres
Signed: 1B James Loney (released by Rays, April 3)
Released: 3B Duanel Jones
Returned Rule 5 selection: RHP Josh Martin (to Indians)
Recalled: LHP Robbie Erlin, 3B Alexi Amarista
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Phil Maton, 2B Fernando Perez

San Francisco Giants
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Austin Fleet, RHP Matt Pope, LHP Carlos Diaz, LHP Christian Jones
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jake Smith

Seattle Mariners
Reinstated from DL: 1B Dan Paolini

Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Burke Badenhop (released by Nationals, April 1)
Recalled: LHP Alex Claudio, OF Nomar Mazara
Added to 40-man roster: RHP A.J. Griffin, C Brett Nicholas
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Luke Jackson, RHP Phil Klein
Removed from 40-man: OF Justin Ruggiano (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jake Shortslef, LHP Michael Roth

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: RHP Kyle Westwood (released by Astros, March 26)
Released: RHP Scott Copeland, C Robinzon Diaz
Recalled: RHP/LHP Pat Venditte
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Anthony Alford, OF Darrell Ceciliani

No. 1 Blue Jays prospect Anthony Alford injured his right knee in the high Class A Dunedin opener when he slid into home plate and had his leg pinned under the catcher. Toronto wants him to rehab the injury rather than have surgery, with no timetable set for the 21-year-old center fielder’s return. Blue Jays correspondent Shi Davidi has more details about the probable nature of Alford’s knee injury and also details his amateur medical history.

The Blue Jays granted 28-year-old righthander Scott Copeland, who logged 15 innings with the big club last season, his release so that he could sign with with LG Twins in Korea.

Washington Nationals
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Taylor Hearn