Rafael Furcal could finally debut for Marlins this week

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MLB.com’s Joe Frisario has an update on veteran infielder Rafael Furcal, who hasn’t appeared in a game this year …

The 36-year-old infielder’s legs are holding up nicely, and the Marlins could reinstate him as early as Friday for the start of the homestand against the Pirates.

“I don’t know when that day is coming, but it is probably coming soon,” Miami manager Mike Redmond said. “It was coming soon about a month ago, too, and it didn’t. I think it’s safe to say coming soon.”

Furcal signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Miami over the winter and was expected to open 2014 as the Marlins’ starting second baseman, but he injured his left hamstring at the end of spring training and then suffered a groin strain on a late-April rehab assignment.

Furcal hasn’t played in the majors since 2012, when he batted .264/.325/.346 for the Cardinals.

Anthony Rendon fan interaction video looked into by MLB

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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OAKLAND, Calif. – Major League Baseball is looking into a video circulating on social media that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon grab a fan by the shirt through the bleacher guardrails after Thursday night’s game in Oakland, a league spokesperson said Friday.

Rendon looks to have grabbed the fan’s shirt near his chest through the bars of the railing and exchanged words with him before appearing to take a swipe at the bill of the man’s ballcap and walking into the tunnel.

Angels spokesman Adam Chodzko says the team has no comment. The Angels do not play Friday, but the club expects Rendon to address the video Saturday in the clubhouse before the game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland.

The video shows the fan, dressed in A’s colors, approach the railing as Rendon turns toward him from the tunnel walkway below. Rendon then appears to grab the man’s shirt and ask him what he just said, accusing the fan of calling him a derogatory term before swiping at his ballcap.

The A’s won the game 2-1.