MLB Player News
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Kevin Padlo 1B | LAD
Angels' Kevin Padlo: Moved to minor-league camp
Padlo was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Angels on Tuesday.
Padlo was signed in December as a non-roster invitee. The infielder has seen MLB action with four different clubs, but he has gone just 5-for-46 in his chances with those teams. He'll be a depth option with Triple-A Salt Lake, assuming he stays in the organization.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Likely to fill utility role
Arias has hit .350 (14-for-40) with three doubles, three RBI, 10 runs scored and four stolen bases across 15 Cactus League games.
Tyler Freeman was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, paving the way for Arias to serve as the Guardians' main utility man off the bench. Arias' bat has certainly earned him the chance to start the season at the major-league level, and his contact-and-speed approach fits well with the team. The 23-year-old slashed .191/.321/.319 with three extra-base hits and a stolen base in a 16-game sample last season.
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Dealing with finger pain
Casas was scratched from the Red Sox's Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday because of left fifth finger pain, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The Red Sox are calling the first baseman day-to-day, with manager Alex Cora telling Ian Browne of MLB.com he expects him back in a day or two. Casas is having a great spring, sporting a .952 OPS with two home runs.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Might not be ready for Opening Day
Kirilloff (wrist) might not be ready in time for Opening Day, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Kirilloff was able to play in a minor-league game Saturday but has yet to see any Grapefruit League action as the Twins ease him into things following another right wrist surgery. While president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has said the team hasn't made a decision yet on whether Kirilloff will be part of the Opening Day roster, it seems likely at this point that he'll just run out of time. Kirilloff does have options remaining, so the club could stash him at Triple-A St. Paul for a bit if he needs to knock some rust off. If that happens, Joey Gallo, Jose Miranda and Donovan Solano are among the candidates to handle first base in Kirilloff's absence.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Nearing return to swinging
Vaughn (back) said he feels better after playing catch and fielding grounders Sunday, and he expects to return to swinging within the next couple days, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Manager Pedro Grifol indicated Saturday the slugger will be out at least a few more days due to lower-back soreness, and there doesn't appear to be a rush to get him back into game action. There's just under two weeks before Opening Day, and Vaughn also said he could hit off a pitching machine at the end of camp if he needs additional reps at that point. His outlook for the start of the season will remain up in the air at least until he returns to full baseball activities.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Starting to heat up
Torkelson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
Torkelson got off to a 3-for-18 start at the plate in spring training. Since then, however, he's gone 7-for-19 with two doubles, and Saturday's home run was his first in Grapefruit League action. Torkelson struggled as a rookie in 2022, but the talent is there for him to take a big step forward in his second MLB season, and he seems to be building some momentum as the team approaches Opening Day.
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Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE
Mariners' Kole Calhoun: Playing first base Saturday
Calhoun is playing first base and hitting sixth for Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Guardians, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.
As Brock notes, Calhoun has not played first base in an MLB game since 2015 when he was with the Angels. The veteran outfielder is trying to win a spot on the Seattle bench after signing as a non-roster invitee this winter, and the ability to play multiple positions would go a long way toward achieving that goal.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Plays in minor-league game
Kirilloff (wrist) played four innings at first base Saturday and went 0-for-2 in a minor-league game, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Kirilloff continues to make progress as he ramps up following surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue. His return to game action is a significant step and gives hope he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. Kirilloff has a minor-league option remaining, so the Twins could have him report to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season in order to continue his ramp-up process rather than stashing him on the injured list if he needs more time.
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Kyle Manzardo 1B | CLE
Rays' Kyle Manzardo: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Manzardo was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rays on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Manzardo was strong in his time in camp with the Rays, with a .280/.357/.600 slash along with two home runs over 28 plate appearances. Considered among the top prospects at the first base position, Manzardo will start 2023 in the upper levels -- possibly with Triple-A Durham -- and has a realistic path to playing for the Rays in 2023.