MLB Player News

Montero is expected to get a chance to compete for the Rockies' third base job with Ryan McMahon moving to second, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

It will be Montero and Nolan Jones duking it out at the hot corner, general manager Bill Schmidt told Sherman. Montero faded late with the Rockies last season but overall held his own in his first stint in the majors with a .702 OPS and six home runs over 53 games. He's out of options, so the 24-year-old will make the Opening Day roster no matter what. Montero would be at a disadvantage in a potential platoon scenario though, as the right-handed hitter to Jones' left-handed bat.

Goldschmidt was scratched from the Cardinals' Grapefruit League lineup Friday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Worthy is hearing the move is not injury-related, so Cards fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Juan Yepez will take Goldschmidt's spot at first base.

Hoskins (knee) is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start at first base Sunday against the Blue Jays, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

That will follow his overall Grapefruit League debut at DH on Friday versus the Tigers. Hoskins has been brought along slowly this spring following December surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee, but there is no concern about his readiness for Opening Day.

Batten (calf) resumed a running program Wednesday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Batten has yet to appear in a Cactus League game because of a strained calf, but he seems to be making progress. The 27-year-old would seem to have enough time to get ready for Opening Day if he can keep moving in the right direction, although he's likely to start the year in the minors, anyway.

Votto (shoulder/biceps) said Wednesday that he remains without a timetable for when he'll be able to return to game action, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I want to make sure when I come back, I come back ready," Votto said. "It's not more complicated than that."

The first baseman noted that he's been making good progress and is feeling good while he works his way back from August surgery to repair his left bicep along with a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Votto is expected to miss at least the first half of the Reds' Cactus League slate, and even if he's able to play in exhibition games in the second half of March, he could still require a brief stint on the injured list to begin the season.

Smith (quad) checked out fine after getting hit by a pitch in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Smith was struck on the outside of his right quad, just above the knee, but he walked off the field under his own power and said that he would have fought to stay in the game had it been the regular season. All is well for the Nationals' projected starting first baseman.

Smith exited Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals after taking a pitch off his foot, Andrew Goldstein of the Washington Post reports.

Smith walked off the field without any assistance, so his early departure was hopefully just a precautionary measure. There were some heated words exchanged between the Nationals and Cardinals following the HBP, so it might have also been simply about quelling any bad blood. Smith signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Washington over the winter and is expected to operate as the Nats' primary first baseman in 2023.

Steer committed a throwing error and mishandled another ground ball that was ultimately ruled a hit in Sunday's spring training game, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Steer is trying to win the Reds' third base job this spring and is the presumptive favorite, but it'll bear watching his defense given that he hasn't been a full-time third baseman in the minors.

Hoskins has been cleared for full baseball activities after he underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee during mid-December, though he won't make his Grapefruit League debut until Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies didn't announce the surgery until reporters asked about Hoskins not playing in spring games this weekend, but there currently doesn't appear to be any cause for concern about his delayed appearance in the Grapefruit League. Assuming the 29-year-old takes the field Friday, he'll have over three weeks' worth of exhibition games to get up to speed ahead of Opening Day.

Flores (personal) reported to the Giants' spring training facility in Arizona on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Flores spent the past few days with his family following the birth of his son Thursday, but he's now in camp having missed minimal time. The 31-year-old had a .229/.316/.394 slash line with 19 home runs in 602 plate appearances last season, and he shouldn't have any issues being ready in time for Opening Day.