MLB Player News

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.

Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt said Tuesday that Freeman is being evaluated for hamstring tightness, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers will certainly want to have a say in that evaluation. Freeman felt the hamstring tightness while taking a cut at a pitch in the third inning of Canada's eventual 5-2 win over Colombia on Tuesday afternoon in the World Baseball Classic. He is not expected to be in the lineup Wednesday against Mexico and could be done with the WBC entirely.

Freeman (hamstring) is unlikely to play Wednesday against Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Freeman was removed from the lineup Tuesday against Colombia because of tightness in his hamstring. The former MVP will likely miss the contest against Mexico, and very well could miss the rest of the World Baseball Classic out of an abundance of caution. There should be further updates on Freeman's status in the coming days.

Freeman was removed from Team Canada's game Tuesday against Team Colombia with a slight hamstring issue, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports.

Freeman could be seen running gingerly to first base on a third-inning flyout and was promptly replaced in Canada's lineup by Denzel Clarke. It didn't seem to be anything overly serious -- he made it to first base and then into the dugout under his own power -- but this could very well end Freeman's run in the World Baseball Classic. Opening Day for the Dodgers is just over two weeks away.

Cooper went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

He took Stephen Nogosek deep in the sixth inning for his first spring homer. The Marlins' recent signing of Yuli Gurriel doesn't really change Cooper's role heading into the regular season, and the 32-year-old is still locked in as the starter at first base. He hasn't quite got his timing down this spring, posting a 1:8 BB:K through 25 plate appearances despite a .333 batting average, but his ability to stay healthy is still his biggest obstacle to consistent fantasy value.

Walker left Monday's game against the Giants after being hit in the left leg by a fastball, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Walker was able to remain in the contest immediately after being hit by the pitch, but he was later removed. After the exhibition, manager Torey Lovullo stated that had it been a regular-season game, Walker would've stayed in. He'll be considered day-to-day moving forward but isn't expected to miss any serious time.

Voit's minor-league contract with the Brewers contains an out clause that he can exercise Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Voit went 2-for-2 with a walk Monday versus the Reds and is now batting .346/.370/.538 with one home run over 10 Cactus League games. The Brewers surely would like to keep him around, but complicating matters is that Keston Hiura is competing for a similar role and he's out of options. Milwaukee and Voit will have some decisions to make this week.

Toglia went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and three strikeouts in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.

Toglia was in the lineup at first base, though he'll be trying to crack the Opening Day roster as an outfielder. His chances of doing so have improved due to injuries to Sean Bouchard (biceps) and Randal Grichuk (groin), though he has struck out 12 times across 39 plate appearances through 13 games this spring. Toglia also struck out at a 36.7 percent clip in a 120 plate-appearance sample in Colorado to close the 2022 campaign.

Batten (calf) is starting at third base and batting ninth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.

Batten has been held out of spring action thus far due to a strained calf, but he'll make his Cactus League debut Sunday. The 27-year-old received his first taste of the big leagues last year and went 2-for-19 in 15 games, but he's likely to be back with Triple-A El Paso to open the 2023 campaign.

Votto is hitting second and playing first base Sunday in a Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

It will be the first appearance of the spring for Votto, as the veteran first baseman has been brought along slowly after missing the end of the 2022 campaign with a torn rotator cuff and a left bicep injury. The 39-year-old is not the fantasy stalwart he once was, but his fantastic approach at the plate still should allow him to get on base at a solid clip, and hitting near the top of the Reds' lineup does give him the opportunity to help in the runs category.