MLB Player News

Vaughn could open the regular season as the starting left fielder after he made his debut there Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Vaughn had a largely uneventful day in left field, his first experience patrolling the outfield in game conditions. He caught the lone flyball in his vicinity and fielded a double that rolled into the corner. Manager Tony La Russa will evaluate him as a left fielder over the next few days and make a decision based on what he sees. Vaughn, a first-base prospect who was expected to serve as the primary designated hitter in 2021, took flyballs in the outfield during spring training this year and worked there last summer at the team's alternate training site in Schaumburg.

Calhoun (knee) took live at-bats in a simulated environment Thursday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

This was the first time Calhoun has executed this activity since undergoing knee surgery earlier in March. The next and final test for the knee will be running, according to manager Torey Lovullo, who added that the outfielder is not yet at that point. Calhoun is expected to start the season on the injured list.

Shaw was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Shaw was designated for assignment by the Orioles in late January but went unclaimed on waivers. The 26-year-old appeared in 20 Cactus League games but hit just .071 with three walks and two runs. Shaw will likely begin the season with Triple-A Norfolk.

Cron went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and two runs in Thursday's spring win over the Angels.

Cron smacked a double in the fourth inning and was brought in to score later in the inning, and he tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth. The 31-year-old has had a strong spring performance and has posted a 1.180 OPS with four home runs, 10 runs and seven RBI across 16 Cactus League games. Cron's contract was selected by the Rockies on Saturday, and he'll serve as the team's primary first baseman this year while playing his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

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."