MLB Player News
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Closing in on return
Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Walker (oblique) is scheduled to return to spring games next weekend and should be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Walker has been rehabbing from a sore left oblique that developed in early March and has progressed to hitting in a batting cage. Walker signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Astros in December after spending the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks.
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Kyle Manzardo 1B | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Clubs third spring homer
Manzardo went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's spring game against the Royals.
Manzardo launched his third Cactus League home run and is batting .412 (14-for-34) with five extra-base hits and seven RBI through 13 games. The 24-year-old should be a lineup regular in 2025 for the Guardians, either at designated hitter or first base.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: X-rays negative on hand
Kurtz, who was hit by a pitch on his right hand during Saturday's game against the Rangers, underwent X-rays that came back negative, Jessica Kleinschmidt of TheComeback.com reports.
Kurtz took a fastball off his hand in the seventh inning and was taken out of the game immediately. Initial imaging didn't reveal any fractures, but he'll continue to undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Hit by pitch, exits game
Kurtz was removed from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rangers after getting hit on the hand by a pitch, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Kurtz took a 94-mph fastball off his hand in the seventh inning of Saturday's contest and was immediately replaced on the basepaths. The 22-year-old prospect will presumably undergo imaging to make sure he avoided serious damage, and the team should offer an update on his status in the near future.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Club option for 2026 exercised
The Rays exercised Diaz's $12 million option for 2026 and added a vesting option for 2027 on Friday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Diaz's option for 2027 would vest if he reaches certain performance thresholds in 2026. The 33-year-old's performance in 2024 fell off a bit compared to his 2023 and 2022 seasons, but he still slashed .281/.341/.414 with 14 home runs in 2024 and boasts a career .373 on-base percentage. Diaz is slated to serve as the Rays' primary first baseman again in 2025, and he should also see ample starts at designated hitter.
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Donovan Solano 1B | TEX
Mariners' Donovan Solano: Could see regular at-bats at DH
Solano could see regular at-bats at designated hitter this season, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver (hand) appear to be the most likely candidates to occupy Seattle's DH spot on a daily basis this season, but Jude believes Solano could also get his fair share of action there in addition to the corner infield spots. Of the three players, it's worth noting Garver has stood out the most this spring with three home runs and six RBI in 18 at-bats. The Mariners have plenty of reps to fill in the infield following the offseason exits of both Josh Rojas and Justin Turner on top of moving Ty France at least year's trade deadline, so the versatile Solano could see playing time on the diamond elsewhere even if he doesn't carve out a consistent role at DH.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Continues hot spring
Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two total runs and four total RBI in a Grapefruit League victory against Detroit on Thursday.
Goldschmidt belted a massive 447-foot solo homer in the fourth frame and added a three-run double in the following inning. The veteran first baseman is enjoying a productive spring, slashing .300/.323/.700 while tying for the team lead in home runs (three) and RBI (10). Goldschmidt posted a career-worst .716 OPS with the Cardinals last season, but he could benefit from a change of scenery in what will be his first campaign as a Yankee.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Little pop in spring
Vaughn has only one extra-base hit across 26 at-bats in Cactus League action.
Vaughn has seven hits this spring, leading to a decent .269 average. The lack of pop could be a concern, though he's been very consistent across his four big-league seasons by posting ISOs between .156 and .171 in each campaign. Vaughn doesn't appear to have much upside heading into the 2025 season -- especially considering the state of the White Sox's lineup -- but he should be a near everyday player hitting in the middle of the order.
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Hits in batting cage
Walker (oblique) hit in the batting cage Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's the first time he's swung a bat since coming down with left oblique soreness last week. Walker has also gone through defensive workouts and is "coming along nicely," per Astros manager Joe Espada. It's not clear when Walker might be ready to play in games, but it shouldn't be long.
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Knocks first spring homer
Casas went 1-for-2 with a walk and a three-run home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.
This was Casas' second game back in Grapefruit League action after missing a week battling an illness that swept through Boston's camp. He swatted his first spring home run in the first inning. The lefty-hitting first baseman is batting .133 (2-for-15) through seven Grapefruit League games.