MLB Player News
-
Luke Voit 1B | NYM
Brewers' Luke Voit: Scratch not injury-related
Voit's removal from the Brewers' Cactus League lineup Friday was not injury-related, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
It seems to have more to do with the pending opt-out clause in Voit's minor-league contract with Milwaukee. The 32-year-old slugger has slashed .316/.333/.526 with two home runs and two doubles over 39 plate appearances this spring in the Cactus League, so he should have other offers out there if the Brewers don't give him an Opening Day roster spot.
-
Keston Hiura 2B | LAD
Brewers' Keston Hiura: Won't make Opening Day roster
Hiura was informed Friday that he will not be on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
That might explain why Hiura was scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers. Milwaukee will look to trade the former top prospect over the next few days, per general manager Matt Arnold. If there are no takers, he'll be put on waivers. It sounds like the 26-year-old's time in the Brewers organization is about to come to an end.
-
Keston Hiura 2B | LAD
Brewers' Keston Hiura: Scratched from lineup
Hiura was scratched from the Brewers' lineup ahead of their game against the Dodgers on Friday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
No word yet on what might be keeping Hiura out of the lineup, but the Brewers will likely provide an update soon. Hiura is slashing just .156/.229/.219 through 35 plate appearances this spring.
-
Luke Voit 1B | NYM
Brewers' Luke Voit: Scratched from lineup
Voit (undisclosed) was removed from Friday's lineup versus the Rockies, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
After he was initially set to start at first base and bat fifth, Voit was pulled from the lineup for an undisclosed reason. It's possible that the 32-year-old is on the verge of becoming a free agent, considering his opt-out clause was pushed to Friday.
-
Dominic Smith 1B | ATL
Nationals' Dominic Smith: Heating up at plate
Smith is batting .302 (13-for-43) this spring with three home runs.
The 27-year-old failed to leave the yard at all last season in 152 plate appearances for the Mets, so Smith's spring power display -- which includes homers in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday -- is encouraging. He's penciled in as the Nationals' starting first baseman, but if he struggles at the plate again, Joey Meneses could shift over from DH and bump Smith to the bench.
-
C.J. Cron 1B | BOS
Rockies' C.J. Cron: Set to go through full workout
Cron (back) will go through a full workout Friday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Cron will taking batting practice and participate in fielding drills with his teammates. He's missed the last week of action with back spasms but is trending toward being available for Opening Day, provided he can avoid any setbacks in his recovery.
-
Brewers' Rowdy Tellez: Back with Brewers
Tellez went 0-for-3 in Thursday's exhibition contest.
Tellez did not do anything noteworthy Thursday, but he did appear in his first game since rejoining the Brewers following his WBC stint with Mexico. Tellez homered three times in five spring games before his departure, and he will open the season as Milwaukee's primary option at first base.
-
Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE
Phillies' Rhys Hoskins: Will get second opinion
Hoskins will receive a second opinion, but Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Friday that it's pretty clear the first baseman suffered a torn left ACL, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Hoskins suffered the unfortunate injury while trying to chase down a grounder during Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Tigers. Assuming the second opinion confirms the tear as expected, Hoskins will undergo surgery and miss the entire 2023 campaign. He's slated for free agency after the season.
-
Darick Hall 1B | PIT
Phillies' Darick Hall: In line for bulk of starts at 1B
Hall will receive "the majority of the playing time" at first base for the Phillies this season following the injury to Rhys Hoskins (knee), president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer on Friday.
Dombrowki wasn't ready to commit to the left-handed hitting Hall playing against lefties, saying the club needed to discuss that first. Hall is set to start at first versus righties, though, which means Alec Bohm will remain at third base those days while the Phillies put someone else in the designated hitter spot. Bohm could slide over to first against southpaws, with Edmundo Sosa and/or Josh Harrison handling the hot corner. Hall had already been in line to start against righties in the DH spot, but Hoskins' injury does seem to secure his playing time a bit more. He was already a deep-league power option, but Hall's value is trending up.
-
Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE
Phillies' Rhys Hoskins: Suffers ACL tear
Hoskins' MRI results revealed he tore his left ACL during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Detroit.
Hoskins will undergo surgery to repair his ACL, and the Phillies will now be without their slugging first baseman for most, if not all, of the 2023 season. Alec Bohm will likely shift over to become Philadelphia's primary first baseman for the year, opening the door for Edmundo Sosa to get most of the reps at third base.