MLB Player News
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Jake Cronenworth 1B | SD
Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Drives in two
Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double during Thursday's 6-4 win over the Giants.
Cronenworth plated Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill on a seventh-inning double as part of a four-run frame for the Padres. He's now generated multiple RBI in back-to-back games dating back to San Diego's two-game series in South Korea against the Dodgers and has already driven in six on the season.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Opens in outfield
Steer started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Nationals on Opening Day.
Steer was part of a productive lower-half of the order, which combined to go 8-for-19 and was responsible for all eight runs and RBI. He has eligibility at multiple positions, but the offseason plan was to use him primarily in the outfield. Steer led the team in home runs (23) and RBI (86) last season while stealing a fantasy-helpful 15 bases.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Launches first homer
Freeman went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Thursday's 7-1 win over St. Louis.
Freeman got the scoring started Thursday with an RBI single in the first inning before cranking a two-run homer off Miles Mikolas in the third. The 34-year-old Freeman is coming off a stellar 2023 campaign where he slashed .331/.410/.567 with 29 home runs, 102 RBI and a career-high 23 steals. He has a chance to be even more productive this year, batting in the third spot behind Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani in a star-studded Dodgers lineup.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Homer, three hits in loss
Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Goldschmidt accounted for all three of the Cardinals' hits Thursday, including a fourth-inning homer off Tyler Glasnow that stood at St. Louis' lone run in the Opening Day defeat. The veteran first baseman slashed .268/.363/.447 last season with 25 home runs and 80 RBI. The Cardinals are counting on Goldschmidt to provide a similar offensive presence in the middle of their order this year.
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Garrett Cooper 1B | ATL
Cubs' Garrett Cooper: Added to roster
The Cubs selected Cooper's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.
Cooper posted a .927 OPS with three long balls this spring to secure a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster. He figures to mostly play against lefties but offers an option at designated hitter and will also provide protection at first base for Michael Busch.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Set to be No. 3 hitter
Freeman batted third in the order for both Seoul Series games against the Padres as well as throughout the Cactus League slate, contradicting a comment by manager Dave Roberts early in camp that the first baseman would remain the Dodgers' No. 2 hitter despite the offseason signing of Shohei Ohtani.
Freeman batted second in each of the 161 games he played in last season, but it appears he'll move down a slot with Ohtani now in the fold. The veteran first baseman should get plenty of run-producing opportunities with Mookie Betts and Ohtani hitting ahead of him, and he'll also remain protected with the solid bat of catcher Will Smith behind him for most games. Freeman slashed .282/.333/.667 along with four homers and a team-leading 16 RBI over 42 plate appearances in spring action and went 1-for-6 with four walks in the Seoul Series versus San Diego.
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Michael Toglia 1B | COL
Rockies' Michael Toglia: Makes Opening Day roster
Toglia has been informed that he has made the Rockies' Opening Day roster, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Toglia beat out Sean Bouchard for the final spot in the outfield. The 25-year-old could see action in right field mostly against left-handed pitching, and he's also capable of filling in at first base on days Kris Bryant plays the outfield or is at designated hitter.
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Kody Clemens 1B | MIN
Phillies' Kody Clemens: Sent to minor-league camp
The Phillies optioned Clemens to minor-league camp Sunday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The 27-year-old was in the running for a bench spot on Philadelphia's Opening Day roster, but he'll end up missing out despite posting a 1.244 OPS during spring training. Clemens should receive a look with the Phillies at some point in 2024, but he'll begin the campaign back at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM
Mets' Ji-Man Choi: Staying with organization
Choi, who was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday after being informed he wouldn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, won't exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and will begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Even though the newly signed J.D. Martinez isn't expected to be available for their first series of the regular season, the Mets opted not to carry Choi as an option at designated hitter for Opening Day. Though his path to a big-league roster spot will become more blocked once Martinez is ready to make his Mets debut, Choi will stick around in the organization and stay ready at Triple-A in the event an opportunity in New York emerges.
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Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM
Mets' Ji-Man Choi: Won't make Opening Day roster
Choi was informed Sunday he didn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
The 32-year-old signed as a non-roster invitee in mid-February but was unable to carve out a place on the Opening Day roster with a .182/.308/.333 slash line in 14 spring games. Choi had a .624 OPS in 39 contests between the Pirates and Padres last season, and it's unclear if he plans to stick around the Mets organization or test his luck elsewhere.