MLB Player News
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Undergoes exam
Steer (shoulder) received positive results after being re-examined by the team's medical staff Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Steer was examined for the first time since receiving a cortisone injection in his right shoulder. Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said Sunday that he'll work on range-of-motion activities and estimated Steer should progress to hitting off a tee by mid-week.
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Matt Mervis 1B | WAS
Marlins' Matt Mervis: Worked to fix swing in offseason
Mervis believes he has corrected some bad habits that developed in his swing mechanics and his approach last season, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports. "Last year, I think I just tried to prove that I deserved to be [in the majors] and got out of my approach, swung it some bad pitches. I would say [my struggles were] more things that I could control," Mervis said this week.
The numbers bear out that assessment, as Mervis' 55.1 percent swing rate with the Cubs in 2024 was almost five points higher than it had been the season before. The 26-year-old also dealt with a fractured hamate bone in his hand that cost him about six weeks while with Triple-A Iowa. Acquired by the Marlins this offseason in a trade, Mervis appears to be locked into a spot on the 26-man roster following Saturday's optioning of prospect Deyvison De Los Santos to Triple-A Jacksonville. Mervis should serve on the strong side of a platoon at first base with Jonah Bride while also seeing time at DH, and the confidence that comes with not feeling like he's fighting for a job could help him regain the form that saw him slash .287/.394/.555 and slug 37 homers over 157 games for Iowa in the 2022-23 seasons. He's looked good so far this spring, going 6-for-20 (.300) with two doubles and a homer in seven Grapefruit League appearances.
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Jared Young 1B | NYM
Mets' Jared Young: Sent out of MLB camp
The Mets optioned Young to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
Young joined the Mets on a big-league deal over the winter after he split the 2024 season between Triple-A Memphis in the Cardinals organization and the Korea Baseball Organization's Doosan Bears. Though Young produced at a high level with both clubs, he struggled in his brief exposure to MLB pitching during his time with the Cubs in 2022 and 2023, slashing .210/.290/.435 with a 29 percent strikeout rate over 69 plate appearances. The 29-year-old has some experience in the corner outfield and at third base, but since he profiles best defensively at first base, he may not be in line for much action with the Mets unless Pete Alonso misses time with an injury.
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Jake Lamb 1B | SF
Giants' Jake Lamb: Back in lineup Sunday
Lamb (quadricep) will serve as the Giants' designated hitter and No. 5 batter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Before striking out in his lone at-bat as a reserve DH in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Royals, Lamb hadn't played since Feb. 27 while managing a left quad strain. He hasn't resumed playing defense, but his presence in the starting lineup Sunday suggests the quad injury isn't anything that will make or break his chances of winning a spot on the Opening Day roster. Lamb is attending Giants camp as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor-league deal in January.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Ready for tee work
Horwitz (wrist) was cleared to begin hitting off a tee Sunday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The 27-year-old is about a month removed from undergoing surgery on his right wrist and continues ramping up his hitting program. Horwitz was given an initial recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks and appears likely to be sidelined for Opening Day, but he may not miss much of the regular season.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Has breakout potential
Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's spring game against Arizona.
Encarnacion-Strand took advantage of a Jordan Montgomery fastball that stayed up for his third Cactus League homer. Coming back from a wrist injury that limited him to 29 games in 2024, Encarnacion-Strand appears healthy in camp. He's mainly batted in the lower half of the order this spring, but he could provide a middle-of-the-order presence if he continues to mash. Capable of playing both corner infield spots, Encarnacion-Strand has started mostly at first base and is looking like the favorite to win the job. His cause is aided by the shoulder injury to Spencer Steer, who may open the regular season on the IL.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Hit streak at eight games
Naylor went 1-for-2 with a walk in Saturday's split-squad game against the Athletics.
After going hitless in his Cactus League debut, Naylor has hit in eight consecutive games and is 11-for-24 (.458) with four doubles and three RBI on the spring. He may not be able to replicate the defense of three-time Gold Glove winner Christian Walker, Arizona's starting first baseman in 2024, but Naylor's bat is expected to replace the production lost when Walker signed with Houston this offseason.
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Bryce Eldridge 1B | SF
Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Reassigned to minors camp
The Giants reassigned Eldridge to minor-league camp Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
He was one of a host of cuts the Giants made Wednesday. Eldridge managed to make it all the way to Triple-A Sacramento in 2024 as a 19-year-old (he's 20 now), so he's just a step away from the big leagues. However, it's not a surprise that he's a relatively early cut from major-league camp, as the top prospect could still use a little development. A debut at some point in 2025 is in play for Eldridge.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Will hit off tee soon
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Horwitz (wrist) is expected to progress to hitting off a tee by this weekend or early next week, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Horwitz is currently taking dry swings as he works his way back from right wrist surgery and will take another step forward in his progression soon. He will not be ready for Opening Day, but a return sometime in April is possible. Once healthy, Horwitz is projected to serve as the Pirates' primary first baseman.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Flexing muscles in camp
Olson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
He went back-to-back with Austin Riley in the first inning off Marcus Stroman. The blast was Olson's second of the spring in 13 at-bats, and the 30-year-old first baseman will look to rebound this season after what was by his standards a disappointing 2024 campaign in which he produced "only" 29 homers and 98 RBI.