MLB Player News

Rodriguez (ankle) was reassigned to minor league camp Wednesday.

The young slugger was experiencing some success in big league camp, but now that he's hobbling on an injured ankle, he'll head back to the minors to rehab and continue developing. Rodriguez crushed 26 home runs at Double-A Akron last season, so he could push for a promotion to Triple-A by the end of the season if he continues to demolish lower-level pitching.

Rodriguez is expected to miss a week with a sprained ankle, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Fortunately, the ankle injury doesn't seem to be particularly serious, as the club expects him to return fairly soon. Through 14 games this spring, Rodriguez has gone 10-for-27 with four RBI and a double.

Parmelee smacked a solo home run in his only at-bat during Monday's 3-1 Cactus League loss to the Reds.

The 29-year-old first baseman has quietly had a decent spring, with Monday's homer bringing his line to .278/.278/.500. A non-roster invitee, Parmelee had an eight-plate appearance big league stint in 2016 with the Yankees in which he smacked a pair of round-trippers, and he owns a .248/.313/.405 career line over 311 major league games.

Gillaspie went 2-for-2 with a pair of homers and three RBI in Sunday's 8-2 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays.

The switch-hitting 24-year-old blasted his first two homers of spring, one from either side of the plate. The first shot, which he hit right-handed, cleared the boardwalk in left-center, while the second, launched from the left side, landed over the right-field fence. Gillaspie, who has been focusing on increasing his power from the right side, is slashing .263/.333/.632 with a double, Sunday's pair of homers, six RBI, two walks and four runs over 19 spring at-bats.

Rodriguez left Sunday's game against the Padres with a sprained ankle, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Before exiting the game, Rodriguez was 2-for-2 with one RBI. Further information regarding the severity of the sprain should become available in the near future after Cleveland's trainers have the opportunity to examine the injury further.

Manager Terry Francona said Diaz still hasn't been cleared to play because of a right groin strain, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Diaz hasn't played in a Cactus League contest since March 4, when he came up limping while running the bases against Oakland. Diaz said he ran the bases on Friday and was scheduled to take batting practice on Saturday. Francona said he expects the prospect to be sidelined for at least a few more days. With two starters -- Michael Brantley (shoulder) and Jason Kipnis (shoulder) -- on the mend, Diaz has a real shot at making the Opening Day roster if the versatile 25-year-old can get back on the field soon.

McBride (back) says he will be making throws to second base Saturday and is close to catching in a live game, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

McBride has been sidelined with a lat strain over the past few weeks, but current signs are pointing to a return in the near future. Regardless of how he performs in Cactus League play, he'll likely begin the season serving as organizational depth in the minors.

Diaz has missed the last two games dealing with a sore groin, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

It doesn't appear to be overly serious, but the prospect has already missed two games with the ailment and will likely be held out a couple more as a precaution. Diaz is set to start 2017 at Triple-A Columbus, but the 25-year-old is close to reaching the big league club and could earn himself a midseason call-up.

Cron, who is battling for an everyday role, kept his hot spring going Wednesday, going 1-for-3 with a double, a steal and a run scored in a win over Cincinnati.

Cron is slashing .364/.417/.591 in 22 at-bats, putting a strong foot forward in the battle for the Angels' everyday role at first base. His competition, Luis Valbuena, is also playing well (.308/.357/.539), but he has done it in nine fewer at-bats after being eased into action following offseason surgery. It's tough to say that either player has taken a lead in the position battle, and manager Mike Scioscia likely won't tip his hand until we get closer to the regular season. It is worth noting that both of Cron's stolen bags this spring have come on double-steals where he was the delayed steal from third to home, so we are not seeing him turn into a speedster all of a sudden.

Kirilloff (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Thursday, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports.

The 15th overall pick in last summer's draft first sustained the injury in August during Appalachian League action. The procedure typically doesn't keep position players sidelined as long as pitchers, though Kirilloff will still need about nine months to recover. That may eat into his winter ball schedule and the early stages of his advancement through the Twins' farm system. Dynasty leaguers will need to wait until 2018 to see if he can build on his impressive rookie ball showing (.306/.341/.454, seven home runs and 33 RBI during 232 plate appearances for Elizabethton).