MLB Player News

Votto (COVID-19) will bat third and play first base Friday against Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Votto tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-March but has been back with the team for workouts for the past several days. He'd only gotten into four spring games prior to coming down with the illness, so it remains to be seen whether or not he can get up to full speed by Opening Day.

Cooper got the start in right field and hit cleanup in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, going 1-for-3 with a home run.

With Corey Dickerson (shoulder) held out for one more game, Cooper got some work in the outfield and took Nats closer Brad Hand deep in the third inning for his second homer of the spring. Cooper is expected to begin the season on the bench but spot in at first base and in the outfield corners on a semi-regular basis, and his .382/.417/.647 slash line through 36 Grapefruit League plate appearances suggests he could be hard to get out of the lineup if he stays hot straight through Opening Day.

Dalbec went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's spring game against the Twins.

Dalbec launched his seventh spring home run, which leads both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. That's seven homers in 42 spring at-bats, a better rate than the eight in 80 at-bats he had during 2020. Dalbec, who still qualifies as a rookie in 2021, has also struck out 18 times in 42 at-bats however, continuing the contact issues he had in his big-league debut (42.4 percent strikeout rate in 2020).

Vaughn will start in left field Friday against the Brewers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox are scrambling to fill in for injured left fielder Eloy Jimenez, who will miss a minimum of five months with a ruptured left pectoral tendon. Vaughn, who is projected to be team's primary designated hitter, will get his first exposure to the outfield Friday while the team evaluates other internal options, including Adam Engel (hamstring), Leury Garcia, Billy Hamilton and Nick Williams.

Bohm left Thursday's game with tightness in his left leg, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Bohm's exit was deemed precautionary, according to manager Joe Girardi. Bohm is considered day-to-day, though he won't return until at least Saturday's game, as he already had a scheduled day off for Friday's exhibition.

Votto (COVID-19) hasn't yet played in a spring training game since rejoining the team on Sunday. His status for Opening Day remains up in the air, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The Reds haven't yet said when Votto will return to game action. "Let's get his legs underneath him and go from there," general manager Nick Krall said. "I can't give you a timetable. It affects different people in different ways."

Vaughn could play some left field in 2021 with Eloy Jimenez (shoulder) sidelined, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Vaughn is on track to make the White Sox's Opening Day roster and should mainly serve as the team's primary designated hitter. However, Jimenez will be sidelined five to six months since he'll require surgery to repair a ruptured left pectoral tendon, and Adam Engel (hamstring) will also miss several weeks. As a result, general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday that Vaughn could see some time in left field this year. Vaughn hasn't yet played above the High-A level but has hit .286 with two home runs, five RBI and one stolen base this spring. He'll start in left field during Friday's Cactus League game against the Brewers and should see extra time there over the final few spring matchups, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Mountcastle (undisclosed) is starting Thursday's spring game against the Pirates, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mountcastle was unavailable Wednesday due to a "non-physical" injury, but he'll bat third and play left field Thursday. It's unlikely that Mountcastle's brief absence will impact his Opening Day status.

Bell went 1-for-3 with a home run and a strikeout in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The switch hitting slugger took Jake Odorizzi deep as part of a five-run first inning for the Nats. Bell has been locked in at the plate and is now hitting .385 (15-for-39) with five doubles and a team-leading five homers this spring. If he can carry that momentum forward into the regular season, a repeat of his massive 2019 first half could be in the cards.

Mountcastle was scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup with a "non-physical" injury, but manager Brandon Hyde hopes the outfielder will play Thursday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Hyde indicated he can't disclose the specifics of the injury, so it's unclear what the 24-year-old is dealing with. Regardless, it appears to be a minor issue, so it's unlikely to affect Mountcastle's status for the start of the season.