MLB Player News
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Athletics' Matt Olson: Cast removed
Olson (hand) had his soft cast and stitches removed and said he feels good Tuesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
He was in good spirits, apparently firing up shots with a nerf basketball in the clubhouse using his surgically repaired right hand. Per the original timetable, Olson is roughly 5-to-7 weeks away from resuming normal activity -- it is largely a matter of pain tolerance.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Remains hot at plate
Diaz went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs in a win over the Rockies on Monday.
Diaz has opened the season with a five-game hitting streak, a stretch during which he's flashed various aspects of his diverse offensive profile. The 27-year-old has logged a pair of doubles, a home run and three walks, and he's complemented it with just a single strikeout over his first 20 plate appearances. With an everyday job locked in and solid upside, Diaz's value should remain robust across all formats as the season unfolds.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Hitting in extended spring games
Guerrera (oblique) has been taking at-bats in extended spring training games and looks good, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Guerrero is working his way back from an oblique strain, but it doesn't appear as though he'll miss much time. He's expected to spend a couple weeks in the minors as the Blue Jays wait to promote him until they secure an extra year of team control.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Transitioning to 1B
Moutncastle, who is opening at Triple-A Norfolk, will see significant time at first base this season, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.
He hit .297/.341/.464 with 13 home runs and a 121 wRC+ in 102 games at Double-A last year, so the assignment to Triple-A makes sense. Mountcastle's defense (particularly his below-average throwing arm) has always been his biggest weakness, so the transition to first base also makes sense. He could reach the majors this summer.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Out with minor wrist injury
Kirilloff (wrist) will open the year on the injured list at Double-A Pensacola, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
He sustained the injury late in spring training, but is expected to return to the field sometime in April. Kirilloff is expected to start seeing time at first base this year -- a sensible solution to a perceived logjam on the organizational outfield depth chart.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | ATL
Blue Jays' Rowdy Tellez: Launches pinch-hit homer
Tellez accounted for all the Blue Jays' offense in Sunday's extra-innings loss to the Tigers, hitting a pinch hit three-run home run in the eighth inning.
His first blast of the year, a 395-foot shot to right-center, came off perennial Tigers closer-of-the-future Joe Jimenez. Tellez doesn't have an everyday role right now as the Jays use their DH spot to keep other players fresh, and he could lose his roster spot entirely when Vlad Guerrero Jr. gets his inevitable promotion, but if he keeps flashing his power he'll make it tough for manager Charlie Montoyo to take him out of the lineup.
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Asdrubal Cabrera 1B | CIN
Rangers' Asdrubal Cabrera: Stays hot in series finale
Cabrera went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's 11-10 victory over the Cubs.
Cabrera plated the Rangers' first run in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly and drove in two more in the seventh on a two-run blast to left field. The 33-year-old third baseman put together a strong opening weekend, collecting five hits including two homers, five RBI and three runs scored over three contests.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Royals' Ryan O'Hearn: Collects first extra-base hit
O'Hearn went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored Sunday against the White Sox.
O'Hearn laced an RBI double to right field in the seventh inning, but the White Sox would take the series finale in what turned out to be a sluggish day at the dish for the Royals' offense. The 25-year-old first baseman finishes opening weekend 2-for-8 with three RBI over two games.
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Jose Abreu 1B | HOU
White Sox's Jose Abreu: Launches another homer
Abreu went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks Sunday against Kansas City.
Abreu got the White Sox on the board in the fourth inning by clubbing a solo homer to left center. The 32-year-old first baseman is off to a strong start at the dish in 2019 and is now 4-for-11 with a pair of long balls and four RBI over three games.
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Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE
Angels' Kole Calhoun: Collects two extra-base hits
Calhoun went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Oakland.
It was Calhoun's first long ball of 2019 and his second multi-hit game already. He had just two extra-base hits at the end of April last season but now has four before April has even started. Calhoun could be getting back to his 2015-16 form which would be terrific for fantasy owners.