MLB Player News

Smith went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Royals.

Smith played the role of hero Saturday, crushing a walk-off grand slam in his team debut to punctuate Atlanta's six-run comeback in the ninth inning. With Sean Murphy (hip) on the injured list to begin the year and Jurickson Profar suspended for the entire season, the left-handed-hitting Smith has a clear pathway to at-bats at designated hitter versus right-handed pitching for the time being.

Stewart went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and a walk in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox.

Stewart's wrist soreness, which stems from being hit by a 110-mph liner Opening Day, didn't seem to be an issue Saturday, as he stayed hot at the plate. The first baseman had an RBI single in the first inning and then took Sonny Gray deep in the third. Batting cleanup for Cincinnati, Stewart is 5-for-8 with two doubles, one home run and two RBI through two games to begin the regular season.

The Brewers placed Vaughn on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a hamate fracture in his left hand.

Vaughn made an early exit from Thursday's game against the White Sox after hitting a single in the sixth inning, and imaging revealed a fracture afterwards. He's slated to undergo surgery Monday and will miss roughly 4-to-6 weeks. Jake Bauers and Gary Sanchez will be in the mix for starts at first base while Vaughn is out, and Jeferson Quero will come up from Triple-A Nashville to offer depth at catcher while freeing up Sanchez to occasionally start at first.

Stewart will start at first base and bat fourth Saturday against the Red Sox.

Concerns regarding Stewart's health arose after he took a 110-mph Roman Anthony line drive off his wrist in the fifth inning of Thursday's contest, but Stewart said Saturday that he only feels a little sore and will continue to play, per Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The 22-year-old infielder finished the season opener 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and is poised to start most games at first base for the Reds, though he's also capable of covering second or third.

Santana started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Santana started the first two games of the regular season at first base against right-handers, while the lefty-swinging Pavin Smith dealt with an elbow issue early in the regular season. Those two are expected to share first base and DH early on. Designated hitter will become more crowded when Lourdes Gurriel (knee) is ready to rejoin Arizona. The soon-to-be 40-year-old Santana is coming off a 2025 season in which he posted a career-low .325 slugging percentage (11 HR, 22 XBH).

France will start at first base and bat seventh in Friday's game versus the Tigers.

After the lefty-swinging Gavin Sheets started at first base Opening Day against southpaw Tarik Skubal, the Padres will go with the right-handed-hitting France versus lefty Framber Valdez. San Diego is expected to give Sheets plenty of run at first base against lefties this season, but France and Nick Castellanos will also be in the mix at the position.

O'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against the Mets.

O'Hearn took Tobias Myers yard in the sixth inning to tally his first home run of 2026 as well as with the Pirates. O'Hearn led off the final frame with a single and came around to score his second run of the contest. He started in right field and hit fifth in the order, and he should continue to hold a prominent role in Pittsburgh's lineup against right-handed pitchers.

Stewart batted cleanup and went 3-for-4 with two doubles in Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Red Sox.

Reds manager Terry Francona began experimenting with Stewart batting fourth followed by Eugenio Suarez late in spring training and stuck with it for Opening Day against Boston left-hander Garrett Crochet. The 22-year-old Stewart collected three of the four hits Boston's ace would allow, and Stewart managed to stay in the game after taking a Roman Anthony line drive off the hand while playing the field. Stewart slashed .327/450/.592 during spring training with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI across 20 games and will be the Reds' mainstay at first base and part of the rotation at DH, but he could also be an option at second or third base.

Young has won a spot on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old didn't do much in camp to earn the job, batting .150 (3-for-20) with a home run and a 4:5 BB:K, but a late-spring knee injury for Mike Tauchman might have given Young a reprieve. He'll provide a bit of left-handed power off the bench, but playing time could be hard to come by with Brett Baty apparently ahead of Young in the pecking order at DH and the corner infield and outfield spots.

The Padres selected France to the major-league roster Wednesday.

As expected, France is a member of the Padres' Opening Day roster after Sung-Mun Song (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. France put together a strong spring training across 19 Cactus League outings, finishing with a .306/.352/.510 slash line with two home runs and 12 RBI in 54 plate appearances. He should see occasional playing time as a utility man as long as Song is out of action.