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  • Joey Gallo LF | CHW

    Nationals' Joey Gallo: Limited by quad soreness

    Gallo is currently limited to just hitting as he dealing with a sore quad, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

    Nationals manager Dave Martinez indicated that the club is being cautious and Gallo could be ready to play defense in games next week. The 30-year-old slugger is expected to handle most of the playing time in left field for the Nats this season, with some first base and designated hitter mixed in.

  • Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Making case for playing time

    Montero started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

    Montero has shown intriguing power throughout his minor-league career and has flashed potential across 492 big-league plate appearances. He's gotten off to a strong start this spring, ripping two home runs across 13 plate appearances while striking out only twice. Montero likely has an advantage in the competition for a bench spot on the roster because he is out of minor-league options, though he could also push for at-bats at either first base or designated hitter if he continues to show well this spring.

  • Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: X-rays return negative

    The Diamondbacks announced Thursday that Walker has a right hand contusion after X-rays came back negative, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

    Walker was removed from Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants after being hit in the hand by a pitch. The first baseman suffered the injury in the fourth inning, but his day may have been finished regardless of the injury. He should be able to make a relatively quick return since he avoided a fracture.

  • Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Exits game after HBP on hand

    Walker was removed from Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants after being hit in the hand by a pitch, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

    Walker was struck by a 92-mph sinker in the fourth inning during his second trip to the plate. It's possible he was going to be done for the day after the plate appearance, anyway, but the Diamondbacks weren't going to take any chances. Walker could be sent for X-rays.

  • Michael Toglia 1B | COL

    Rockies' Michael Toglia: Strong start to Cactus League

    Toglia has gone 3-for-7 with two home runs through his first three games of the Cactus League.

    Toglia has earned 272 plate appearances in the majors combined across the last two seasons, but he's struggled to just a .187/.246/.325 line in that span. As a result, he's in a battle for a roster spot as a reserve at first base and in the outfield, along with the likes of Hunter Goodman and Elehuris Montero. Toglia will need to continue to perform well to ultimately earn a roster spot, but he's made a strong impression early on this spring.

  • Garrett Cooper 1B | ATL

    Cubs' Garrett Cooper: Joins Cubs on minor-league deal

    Cooper agreed to a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Sunday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

    Cooper was an All-Star in 2022 and put together another solid season in 2023, slashing .251/.304/.419 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI and 42 runs over 123 games between the Marlins and Padres. He'll have to settle for a minor-league contract with the Cubs but will compete for a roster spot as a non-roster invitee this spring. The Cubs had a question mark at first base heading into spring training but alleviated some of those concerns by agreeing to terms with Cody Bellinger on Sunday. The team also has young players available to play first base when Bellinger is in center field, as Michael Busch was traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs this offseason, while Matt Mervis made his major-league debut for Chicago in 2023. However, if the Cubs don't feel as though Busch or Mervis are ready to handle regular playing time, Cooper could land on the active roster to provide a veteran presence.

  • Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Starting in spring opener

    Cronenworth (wrist) will start at first base and bat third in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

    Cronenworth didn't play after Aug. 25 last season due to a fractured right wrist, but he avoided surgery to address the injury and appears to have experienced no limitations thus far in spring training. With Xander Bogaerts making the move to second base in 2024 and Ha-Seong Kim entrenched as an everyday starter at shortstop, Cronenworth should see an even higher volume of starts at first base during the upcoming season than he did in 2023, when he made 94 starts at the position. Cronenworth is still expected to carry middle-infield eligibility in most leagues this season after he made 30 starts at the keystone in 2023.

  • Spencer Steer 1B | CIN

    Reds' Spencer Steer: Works with outfielders

    Steer was among a group of players executing outfield drills at Monday's first full-team workout, Steve Stockmar of MLB.com reports.

    Steer is making the transition from infield to outfield, which began in 2023 when he made 38 outfield starts. "The more reps I'm doing out there, the more comfortable I'm getting," Steer said. "That's a big focus for me, just getting as many fly balls as I can." Steer is a righty batter amid a lefty-dominant group. The left-handed trio of Will Benson, Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl led all the team's outfielders in games and at-bats a season ago. Cincinnati manager David Bell wouldn't rule out an all-lefty outfield but acknowledged other factors come into play, which suggests a regular path to outfield starts for Steer, who led the Reds in 2023 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI.

  • Dominic Smith 1B | ATL

    Cubs' Dominic Smith: Lands MiLB deal with Cubs

    Smith signed a minor-league contract with Chicago on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

    Smith is the second left-handed bat the Cubs have signed on the day, as David Peralta inked a minor-league contract earlier Monday. Murray notes that Smith underwent hamate bone surgery in January, so while he may not be 100 percent by the beginning of camp, the expectation is that he'll be at full strength for the start of the 2024 campaign. There will be plenty of competition at first base throughout spring training, as Michael Busch, Matt Mervis and Patrick Wisdom are all in the mix for playing time.

  • Luke Voit 1B | NYM

    Mets' Luke Voit: Back with Mets on NRI deal

    Voit signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

    Voit finished the 2023 season with the Mets' Triple-A Syracuse affiliate, posting a 1.058 OPS with 14 home runs through 37 games. He's likely headed back to Syracuse to begin the 2024 campaign, providing a depth option at designated hitter if Mark Vientos flops or needs to play more third base. Voit had just a .549 OPS in 74 plate appearances for the Brewers last season.

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