MLB Player News
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Keston Hiura 1B | LAD
Tigers' Keston Hiura: Playing well this spring
Hiura went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays and is now batting .304 this spring with a 1.042 OPS.
Hiura has two home runs and nine RBI across 15 spring contests to go along with the strong batting average and OPS, making him a pleasant offensive surprise to this point. The veteran is pushing for an Opening Day utility role, and with his impressive play so far in camp, he's making a compelling case. However, Hiura's fantasy value is limited if he's mostly a bench player this season.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Dealing with neck stiffness
Mountcastle reported neck stiffness Saturday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mountcastle's neck reportedly began bothering him when he woke up, and it will keep him out of the lineup for at least Saturday's contest. He's considered day-to-day.
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Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Twins' Carlos Santana: Could bat leadoff against lefties
Santana is likely to bat leadoff against left-handed pitchers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I think he will hit leadoff. I don't know if it's going to be the whole year," manager Rocco Baldelli said this week.
Santana looks set to be an everyday player at first base and will likely hit sixth or lower in the order against righties. Alex Kirilloff will also get time at first base, but will mostly be used at DH and will sit most days against left-handed pitchers. Santana has a career .819 OPS vs. lefties, including an .807 OPS last season. His ability to draw walks and takes pitches is viewed as a plus at the top of the lineup, but the Twins frequently change their batting orders under Baldelli, especially against lefties.
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Jose Abreu 1B | HOU
Astros' Jose Abreu: Could see game action Sunday
Abreu (knee) will go through full workouts Friday and Saturday with the goal of starting at designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.comreports.
The 37-year-old has been battling knee soreness over the past week, but a return to spring games this weekend would give him plenty of time to ramp up before Opening Day. Abreu could see more days off and more starts as the designated hitter this season after he posted a .679 OPS during his first campaign with Houston in 2023.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Joey Votto: Making Grapefruit debut Sunday
Votto will make his Grapefruit League debut for the Blue Jays on Sunday versus the Phillies, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.
Votto has seen some action in minor-league games since signing a non-roster invitee deal with the Jays a week ago, but this will be his first official spring training contest. The plan is for the 40-year-old to begin the season back in the minors in order to get in some reps, but if he looks good he could become an option for the major-league roster sooner rather than later.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Back at first base Friday
Guerrero (knee) is starting at first base and batting third in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
The 24-year-old returned to the lineup as the designated hitter Wednesday after sitting out a couple games with a bruised left knee, and he's back playing defense a couple days later. There never seemed to be significant concern over the injury, and there shouldn't be any worries regarding Guerrero's availability for Opening Day.
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Jonathan Aranda 1B | TB
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Locking up roster spot
Aranda has maintained a 1.124 OPS across 29 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League.
Aranda entered spring as a strong candidate to earn a large-side platoon role at DH. He's done everything in his power to lock up those plate appearances, as he's struck out just 6.9 percent of the time while clubbing five extra-base hits. While it's not yet clear if Aranda will be a regular part of the Rays' lineup, he appears to be a safe bet to crack the Opening Day roster.
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C.J. Cron 1B | BOS
Red Sox's C.J. Cron: Makes second appearance
Cron started at designated hitter and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Thursday's spring game against the Phillies.
Cron made his second start since signing a minor-league deal with the Red Sox and reiterated to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe that he's beyond the back injury that limited him during 2023. He and Bobby Dalbec are competing as the right-handed complement to Triston Casas at first base. Recently, manager Alex Cora talked about Dalbec getting outfield starts, which potentially signals both players making the roster. Dalbec could become the righty-hitting depth option in the outfield to replace the injured Rob Refsnyder (toe).
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Bobby Dalbec 1B | CHW
Red Sox's Bobby Dalbec: Will play outfield
Dalbec will soon get starts as an outfielder in spring games, Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Dalbec is competing with C.J. Cron to be the right-handed backup behind Triston Casas at first base and can also play third base. With Rob Refsnyder (toe) set to miss four-to-six weeks, the Red Sox will give Dalbec exposure to the outfield. He doesn't have major-league experience there, but Dalbec did play 36 games in right field for Triple-A Worcester last season. Dalbec, who started at third base Wednesday and went 2-for-4, is 8-for-27 (.296) with a double, a home run and seven RBI over 12 Grapefruit League contests.
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Takes lefty deep
Casas went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's spring game against the Yankees.
Casas got hold of a Carlos Rodon slider and sent it 421 feet at 109.1 mph. That the blast came off a lefty pitcher is significant, as Casas slashed just .215/.361/.456 against southpaws in 2023. This season, with Justin Turner gone, Casas could get more starts against lefties. The Red Sox have right-handed batters C.J. Cron and Bobby Dalbec competing to back up Casas, and either one could steal those starts if the lefty struggles continue. Casas is 3-for-23 with five walks through nine Grapefruit League games, including 1-for-6 against southpaws.