MLB Player News

Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic Cleveland reports.

Diaz was expected to serve a utility role for the Indians this season, and while he may still do so, that won't happen right away. Diaz has little left to prove at the Triple-A level; he's hit .331/.419/.455 in 184 games at Triple-A over his career. In 49 games with Cleveland last year, he hit .263/.352/.327 with no home runs. He hits the ball hard but far too often on the ground (59 percent groundball rate last year), limiting his power potential. Still, it's a profile that's good enough to work in a utility role, so Diaz should be back with the team at some point this season.

Wade was assigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic Minnesota reports.

Wade played well for Minnesota this spring, going 7-for-23 (.304) with two doubles and eight walks over 17 games. After hitting .292/.397/.408 across 117 games at Double-A Chattanooga last season, Wade could make his way up to Triple-A Rochester during the upcoming season.

The White Sox optioned Gillaspie to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

The move isn't surprising as Gillaspie struggled this spring with a .189 batting average and .514 OPS. The 2014 first-round pick will likely need to improve upon his 2017 slash line of .223/.297/.373 at Triple-A if he is to earn a major-league opportunity this season.

Abreu is batting .188 with two home runs in 32 spring at-bats.

Abreu's spring track record is better than what he's shown in 2018. Over his first four camps with the White Sox, he's batted .296, .383, .508 and .296 with an average of three homers. Abreu, who's been a consistent presence in the middle of the White Sox's order since he joined them in 2014, still has some time to find a groove at the plate. It would only take a two- or three-game hitting streak to get him back on track.

Gurriel (hand) began taking groundballs Thursday with more infield drills planned in the coming days, Oliver Macklin of MLB.com reports. "He's starting to do a little bit more," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's just starting the beginning stages of light ground balls... It's just a matter of keeping the swelling out of his hand and building his hand strength back up."

The Astros will have Gurriel work in the field, but have no plans yet to have him swing a bat. That, Hinch says, will be the final step in the rehabilitation process. Gurriel is still on pace to return mid-to-late April. Marwin Gonzalez is expected to get most of the at-bats at first base in place of Gurriel, whose spot on the 25-man roster will be filled by one of A.J. Reed, Tyler White or J.D. Davis. The eventual winner of that roster spot is expected to be a temporary addition and will not get many starts.

Mountcastle is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Look for this absence to extend closer to six weeks, as Mountcastle is one of the Orioles' top prospects and the team has no reason to push its luck. Once fully healthy, Mountcastle should report to Double-A Bowie. He struggled initially following his promotion to the Eastern League last season, slashing .222/.239/.366 after posting marks of .314/.343/.542 with High-A Frederick to begin the year.

General manager Jeff Luhnow said Gurriel (hand) will begin increased activity Thursday, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Gurriel will begin to ramp things up as he continues to work his way back from hand surgery he underwent at the end of February. The 33-year-old remains on schedule in his recovery, which lines him up to return sometime in mid-to-late April. Once he's healthy, however, he'll have to serve a five-game suspension, so it's more likely he's back in action towards the latter half of the month. In the meantime, Marwin Gonzalez appears to be the most likely candidate to see reps at first base until Gurriel is back in the fold.

Duenez was sent to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Monday, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

Duenez went 1-for-11 with one home run and three RBI through eight spring training games. He figures to start the season with the Royals' Double-A affiliate after a short stint at big-league camp.

Hague was sent to minor-league camp Sunday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Hague put up serviceable numbers in 11 spring training appearances, recording four hits and one walk in 17 plate appearances. The Mariners don't believe he's quite ready to make a big-league Opening Day roster. Hague should start the year at Triple-A Tacoma.

Cronenworth was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday, J. Scott Butherus of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old shortstop was hitless in 11 spring at-bats, although he did score twice. Cronenworth slashed a solid .285/.363/.342 across 179 plate appearances at Double-A Montgomery in 2017, and he should be back there to begin 2018. He has flashed next to no power in his pro career thus far, but he's hit between .268 and .322 in four of five stops and generated a career-best 10.6 percent strikeout rate with the Biscuits last season.