MLB Player News

Votto (shoulder/biceps) saw plate appearances Friday in a minor-league game, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

In one of the plate appearances, Votto was able to draw one of his trademark walks. The former MVP is working his way back from surgery to repair his left bicep along with a torn rotator cuff in August. There's still no timetable as to when Votto will be able to rejoin the Reds, but it's a positive development that he's getting action against live pitching at this point in the spring.

Gurriel will be given reps at second and third base in addition to first base, Ely Sussman of FishStripes.com reports.

Gurriel officially latched on with the Marlins on Friday, and while it's a minor-league contract, he's almost surely in line to make the Opening Day roster. The 38-year-old hasn't made a start at a position other than first base since 2019, but he has plenty of past experience at third and a little at second. Gurriel slashed only .242/.288/.360 for the Astros last season and isn't much of a fantasy option for 2023, even if he gains extra position eligibility.

Votto (shoulder/biceps) continues to look good while going through long daily batting practice sessions and taking defensive reps at first base, but there's still no timetable for him to see spring training game action, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The longer Votto remains out of game action, the more likely it is that he'll begin the regular season on the IL. While he has been out, the Reds have split first base duties between Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jason Vosler. Interestingly enough, Wil Myers hasn't yet played first base, spending his time instead in right field this spring.

Montero is focused on improving his defense, and specifically his foot quickness, this spring, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Montero entered spring training blocked from a starting job, though Brendan Rodgers' shoulder injury has opened a slot along the infield. As a result, Montero will have the chance to start at the hot corner, but he has to prove capable of making the average play defensively. He's shown promise with his bat throughout his minor-league career, though he is off to a slow start this spring with only five hits -- one for extra bases -- across 24 at-bats. Nolan Jones and Mike Moustakas are other candidates to start at third base.

Gurriel signed a contract with Miami on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Rumors of a potential deal between the Marlins and Gurriel had been swirling around all offseason. Gurriel had been holding out for a major-league contract, and while the details of the deal are not yet known, the two sides were finally able to iron out an agreement. The veteran first baseman will turn 39 in June and slashed .242/.288/.360 during the regular season last year before spraining his right MCL in Game 5 of the World Series.

Toglia is better positioned for a spot on the Rockies' Opening Day roster with Sean Bouchard (biceps) out indefinitely, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.

Toglia was a mess offensively in his first taste of MLB action last season, striking out 44 times in 120 at-bats, but he worked diligently this winter on his timing to the baseball and barrel accuracy. Prior to his callup to the Rockies last August, the 24-year-old registered an .852 OPS with 30 home runs in 114 games between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque. He can play first base and the corner outfield while also functioning as an option at DH. That's a similar profile to Bouchard, who suffered a ruptured biceps muscle Wednesday.

Olson went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

The first baseman crushed a two-run shot to right field in the first inning off Carlos Rodon, his second homer in as many days and third in five contests. Olson's gone 8-for-12 in total to begin his spring, and while he's never been known as an asset in the batting average category, MLB's new limits on shifting could help the 28-year-old improve on last year's .240 average without costing him any power.

Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Stepping to the plate with a runner on base in the sixth inning, Smith hooked a Genesis Cabrera pitch down the right-field line for his first long ball of the spring. The 27-year-old is coming off a rough final season with the Mets that saw him fail to hit a homer in 152 plate appearances, but Smith is just a couple years removed from a .316/.377/.616 slash line during the pandemic season. The 2013 first-round pick will be given every chance in camp to win the starting first base job for the Nationals.

Hoskins (knee) will start at first base in Sunday's spring game, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Hoskins was expected to make his first start of the spring at first base Sunday, and he will indeed do just that. With just under four weeks to go in spring training, expect Hoskins to be back at full speed well in advance of Opening Day.

Goldschmidt (personal) is in the lineup for Sunday's exhibition contest.

Goldschmidt took a couple days to tend to a family matter, but he is back with St. Louis, and he will play first base and hit third for the Cardinals on Sunday.