MLB Player News

Pratto was added to Kansas City's 40-man roster Friday.

Pratto dominated at Double-A and closed the year by hitting .259/.367/.634 with 21 home runs in 63 games at Triple-A. He is nearing his big-league debut and profiles as the Royals' first baseman of the future.

Clemens had his contract selected by the Tigers on Friday.

The move to the 40-man roster protect Clemens from being selected during the upcoming Rule 5 draft. The 25-year-old spent last season at Triple-A Toledo and hit .247/.312/.778 with 18 homers, 59 RBI and 66 runs in 97 games. He figures to be in big-league camp for spring training.

White (hip) has resumed taking part in baseball activities and is expected to have a normal offseason program, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The 25-year-old underwent hip surgery in July and was limited to 30 games in 2021, as Ty France took over the everyday role at first base for Seattle. France is now set to open 2022 as the starting first baseman, per Divish, while White will work in left field during the offseason and spring training to try and add some versatility to his game. White had a .599 OPS in 54 games during the shortened campaign in 2020, and his main positive was his defense as he won a Gold Glove, so he'll need to produce more offensively next season to have a chance of sticking around the big-league roster.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Tuesday the Mariners will begin the 2022 season with France as the team's starting first baseman, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

France is primarily viewed as more of a second baseman by trade, but he offers strong versatility and spent most of his time at first base in 2021 to go along with 19 appearances at the keystone and five at third base. Even though he's not the prototypical power bat at first, the 27-year-old produced at the plate with a .291/.368/.445 slash line, 18 homers, 32 doubles, 73 RBI and 85 runs in 650 plate appearances.

The Astros intend to exercise Gurriel's team option for the 2022 season, Gurriel tweeted from his personal account Thursday.

Gurriel's club option is worth $8 million, an increase of 1.5 million from his 2021 salary. He performed well as the Astros' regular first baseman last season, logging a 134 wRC+ and .363 wOBA while also winning the American League batting title. He projects to return to a full-time role once again, and his contact-heavy approach at the plate could help him maintain steady production despite entering his age-37 campaign.

Torkelson's sprained ankle will rule him out for the remainder of the Arizona Fall League, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The 2020 first overall pick was one of the top players to watch in the Fall League after he hit .267/.383/.552 across the three highest levels of the minors in his first professional season, but his fall season was cut short after 29 plate appearances due to an ankle injury. Previous reports suggested he could be back before the end of the fall schedule, but he'll instead rest and prepare for spring training.

Torkelson suffered an ankle sprain while playing in the Arizona Fall League and is expected to miss "a significant amount of time," Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Torkelson was absent from batting practice Thursday morning after being removed from Wednesday's game. Though initial reports suggest he's in for an extended absence, it was also noted that he could return prior to the end of Arizona Fall League action. Prior to the injury, Torkelson had collected nine hits in 29 plate appearances with two doubles while playing for Salt River. Regardless of whether he retakes the field in Arizona, the issue should not effect Torkelson's ability to participate in spring training barring any setback or change in diagnosis.

Voit (knee) is expected to be ready for spring training, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Voit missed the tail end of the season with left knee inflammation. The issue was expected to keep him out for multiple weeks if the Yankees advanced in the playoffs, but it evidently isn't an injury which is expected to be still bothering him in February.

Dalbec isn't starting Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros on Monday, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.

Dalbec started Game 1 of the ALDS against Tampa Bay, but Kyle Schwarber has taken over as the favorite for playing time at first base. Schwarber will lead off while serving as the first baseman, and Christian Arroyo will start at the keystone.

Gurriel went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in Saturday's ALCS Game 2 loss to the Red Sox.

Gurriel did his best to try to bring the Astros back from a nine-run deficit, hitting a two-RBI single in the fourth inning and a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, but Houston wound up falling four runs short. The home run was Gurriel's sixth in 63 career playoff games.