MLB Player News
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Bobby Dalbec 1B | CHW
Red Sox's Bobby Dalbec: Tests positive for COVID-19
Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said Tuesday that Dalbec tested positive for COVID-19, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
Dalbec didn't report to summer camp while awaiting the results of his intake testing, which have now been made available. Roenicke notes that Dalbec is currently asymptomatic, but he'll still need to self-isolate at home and receive two negative test results before being cleared to join the Red Sox. The slugging third baseman has yet to make his MLB debut and isn't expected to make a major impact for the big club in 2020 unless the team's corner-infield depth is tested.
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Luke Voit 1B | NYM
Yankees' Luke Voit: Noticeably lighter after quarantine
Voit lost 13 pounds during the shutdown of play, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Voit attributes his reduced weight to his wife's clean cooking and extra cardio. The first baseman indicated that he feels lighter and quicker, which could help him improve his defense at first base. That was a focus of Voit's during the offseason and could be a critical factor in helping the 29-year-old maintain an everyday role during the abbreviated season.
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Bobby Dalbec 1B | CHW
Red Sox's Bobby Dalbec: Not yet at camp
Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said Monday that Dalbec has yet to take part in workouts at summer camp while he awaits the results of his COVID-19 test, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Dalbec is expected to receive his results within a few days, and so long as he tests negative, he'll be able to join the main group for training. The 25-year-old has yet to debut at the MLB level and may not get a shot at an everyday role with Boston in 2020 unless top third baseman Rafael Devers misses time at some point.
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Nate Lowe 1B | CIN
Rays' Nate Lowe: Takes BP in first day of camp
Lowe was one of the players to take batting practice during the Rays' first day of summer camp Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old impressed during his first taste of the big leagues in 2019, slashing .263/.325/.454 across 169 plate appearances. Lowe is currently down the depth chart at first base and designated hitter, but with rosters expanded to 30 players for the first two weeks of the regular season, he certainly has a chance of sticking if he can impress during the approximately three weeks until the start of the campaign.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Gets hacks in Friday
Diaz was present for the Rays' first day of summer camp Friday and was able to take batting practice, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The burly slugger conceded to still feeling "a little scared" with respect to his health, but he also confirmed how pleased he was to be back among teammates. Diaz was enjoying a highly productive Grapefruit League slate before spring training was suspended, hitting .345 (10-for-29) over 11 exhibitions. Diaz will look to build on a career-best campaign in 2019 while serving as the Rays' primary third baseman.
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Bobby Dalbec 1B | CHW
Red Sox's Bobby Dalbec: Lands spot in player pool
Dalbec was added to the Red Sox's 60-man player pool.
Dalbec was eclipsed by Tristan Casas as Boston's top power prospect, but he's the closest to the majors. It's unlikely we'll see him on the active 30-man roster to start the season, as the Red Sox are set at the infield corners, but Dalbec's big bat could make its debut at some point.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Part of 60-man player pool
Kirilloff was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.
Kirilloff hit .429 with two home runs and a 3:1 K:BB in 22 plate appearances in big-league spring training as the top prospect showed he can make an impact as soon as 2020. He's likely to begin the season at Minnesota's alternate training site, but could be called up to the major league roster if there's an injury at first base or DH.
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LaMonte Wade 1B | CHW
Twins' LaMonte Wade: Added to 60-man player pool
Wade was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.
Wade was optioned to Triple-A Rochester before spring training was shut down due to the pandemic. He was battling Jake Cave and Willians Astudillo for a final roster spot before he was sent down. With major league rosters expanding to 30 players for the first two weeks of the 60-game season, Wade appears likely to win a reserve outfielder role.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Included in 60-man roster pool
The White Sox announced Monday that Vaughn will be included as part of the team's 60-man roster pool.
With the 2020 minor-league season expected to be cancelled, Vaughn, one of the White Sox's top prospects, will join the big club for its summer training camp that begins Friday. Though Vaughn will be available to play during Chicago's 60-game regular-season slate, he'll most likely see most of his reps in simulated games while Jose Abreu and Edwin Encarnacion handle regular duties at first base and designated hitter for the big club. After being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 first-year player draft, Vaughn appeared in 55 games between three different affiliates in his first pro campaign, slashing .278/.384/.449 with six home runs and 17 doubles.
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Nick Pratto 1B | TEX
Royals' Nick Pratto: Gets summer camp invite
Pratto will be a part of the Royals' 60-man player pool this season, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.
Like several other high-profile Royals position player prospects, Pratto had a dreadful 2019 season, hitting .191 with a 34.7 percent strikeout rate at High-A. As a top-15 pick in 2017, Pratto will be given plenty of chances to bounce back, but he is obviously not ready to face MLB pitching.