MLB Player News

Freeman (hamstring) is expected to serve as the designated hitter in a Cactus League game Saturday and then play first base Sunday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

That's tremendous news after Freeman tweaked his right hamstring Tuesday while representing Canada in the World Baseball Classic. It looks like that will turn out to be a minor blip for the star first baseman. He can remain penciled in for the Dodgers' starting lineup for Opening Day, which is exactly two weeks away.

Walker was scratched from the Diamondbacks' Cactus League lineup Thursday due to lingering left hip discomfort, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Walker was struck by a pitch just above his left hip this past Monday and still has some bruising. It doesn't sound like anything that would threaten his readiness for Opening Day.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that he is not concerned about Freeman (hamstring) being ready for Opening Day, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Freeman tweaked his right hamstring during Canada's win over Colombia on Tuesday in the World Baseball Classic and he returned to Dodgers camp Wednesday for an evaluation by the team's medical staff. The injury is mild, per Roberts, and there are no further tests planned. The expectation is the star first baseman will be able to get back into Cactus League play as early as this coming weekend, and he's slated to take swings in the batting cage Thursday.

Wade has gone just 3-for-20 across eight Cactus League games.

Wade has a home run, a double and three RBI this spring, but he's also struck out six times without recording a walk. After a strong 2021 campaign, Wade slumped to a .207/.305/.359 slash line with eight homers, 26 RBI and 29 runs scored across 77 contests in an injury-plagued 2022. He's expected to get the first crack at a starting role at first base, but he may be limited to the strong side of a platoon with Wilmer Flores. Wade has logged a poor .113/.169/.141 slash line against left-handed pitchers since the start of 2020.

Hall has impressed in Grapefruit League action this spring, homering four times in 10 games while slashing .310/.375/.759.

The Phillies will have designated hitter at-bats available for a good portion of the season with Bryce Harper set to miss about half the campaign following Tommy John surgery, and Hall seems set to be the primary option against righties. The 27-year-old filled in capably enough as a part-time DH last season, homering nine times in 42 games while slashing a lopsided .250/.282/.522, good for a 120 wRC+. His 3.5 percent walk rate and 31.0 percent strikeout rate made for a worrisome combination, so his 3:5 BB:K this spring is an encouraging sign.

Bohm has slugged three home runs and three doubles through 35 at-bats this spring in Grapefruit League play.

Bohm ranks in the top 15 in OPS (.971) across the combined Grapefruit League and Cactus League leaderboards. The 26-year-old third baseman had a rollercoaster season at the plate in 2022, but he put together a couple of encouraging stretches and came up with some big hits during the Phillies' postseason run to the World Series. Consequently, the 2023 season could potentially qualify as a breakout campaign.

Freeman (hamstring) won't play Wednesday for Team Canada in its World Baseball Classic matchup versus Team Mexico, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Canada manager Ernie Whitt also added that Freeman is "out of this tournament for now" because of the hamstring tightness which forced him from Tuesday's game against Colombia. Freeman has since returned to the Dodgers and is being evaluated by the training staff, but Whitt seemed to leave open the possibility that the first baseman could return to the lineup for Team Canada if it advances in the tournament, although that seems unlikely.

Walker (hip) is listed as the Diamondbacks' starting first baseman and cleanup hitter for Wednesday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Giants.

Walker was pulled early from Monday's game against the Rangers after being hit on the left hip by a pitch, but afterward, the team described his removal from the contest as precautionary. The fact that Walker is back in the lineup two days later seemingly supports that notion, and barring any further setbacks, he'll be on track to open the season in an everyday role coming off a career-best 2022 campaign in which he slugged 36 home runs and drove in 94 runs.

Walker (hip) is penciled in to play in one of Arizona's two Cactus League games Wednesday, Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports.

Walker, who was hit by a pitch on the hip Monday, did not play Tuesday. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the injury is not serious and that he could opt to give the first baseman another day off.

Montero went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Cactus League contest against the Cubs.

Montero took Justin Steele yard in the second inning to tally his third homer of spring training. He's competing for the third base job and his done well at the plate, ripping four extra-base hits while also maintaining a .385 on-base percentage across 39 plate appearances this spring. The primary question for Montero's playing time will be whether he can prove quick enough to be an adequate fielder at the hot corner.