MLB Player News

Mountcastle (illness) will serve as Baltimore's designated hitter in Friday's spring game against Atlanta, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The 27-year-old was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to an illness, but he'll rejoin the starting nine just a day later. Mountcastle clubbed 18 homers in 115 games last season but is hitless through six at-bats during spring training.

Montero started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Montero has shown intriguing power throughout his minor-league career and has flashed potential across 492 big-league plate appearances. He's gotten off to a strong start this spring, ripping two home runs across 13 plate appearances while striking out only twice. Montero likely has an advantage in the competition for a bench spot on the roster because he is out of minor-league options, though he could also push for at-bats at either first base or designated hitter if he continues to show well this spring.

Dixon announced his retirement on X on Thursday.

Dixon was most recently in the majors in 2023, when he earned 86 plate appearances with the Padres. He holds a career .224/.266/.397 line across 658 big-league plate appearances and also suited up for the Reds and Tigers.

The Diamondbacks announced Thursday that Walker has a right hand contusion after X-rays came back negative, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Walker was removed from Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants after being hit in the hand by a pitch. The first baseman suffered the injury in the fourth inning, but his day may have been finished regardless of the injury. He should be able to make a relatively quick return since he avoided a fracture.

Walker was removed from Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants after being hit in the hand by a pitch, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Walker was struck by a 92-mph sinker in the fourth inning during his second trip to the plate. It's possible he was going to be done for the day after the plate appearance, anyway, but the Diamondbacks weren't going to take any chances. Walker could be sent for X-rays.

Mountcastle was scratched from the Orioles' lineup ahead of Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh due to an illness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Mountcastle is expected to return to Baltimore's lineup within the next couple of days as he fights off his illness. The 27-year-old first baseman slashed .270/.328/.452 with 18 homers and 68 RBI last season and has been held hitless through six at-bats so far this spring.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Harris was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers due to "a little soreness in the oblique area," Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Harris, who has gone 3-for-10 with a double and two RBI through his first five spring training games, was slated to start in left field and bat seventh Thursday before he developed the oblique issue. Though Bochy seemed to downplay any concern about the injury, given the tendency of oblique issues to linger, it wouldn't be surprising if Harris was held out for the next several days. Harris was a standout performer between the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2023 and already possesses a spot on the 40-man roster, but with fellow prospects Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford seemingly ahead of him in the outfield pecking order, Harris is likely to return to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2024 season.

Noda went 2-fo-3 with a solo home run and an additional run in the Athletics' 7-4 Cactus League win over the Giants on Wednesday.

Noda got the Athletics off on the right foot by belting a Spencer Howard offering into the center field seats to lead off the first inning. The slugging first baseman, who recorded 39 extra-base hits (including 16 homers) across 128 games as a rookie in 2023, is now 3-for-6 over the last two exhibitions and has reached safely in all three games he's played overall.

Mountcastle was scratched from the Orioles' Grapefruit League lineup for Thursday's game versus the Pirates, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The reasoning for the scratch is unclear at the moment, but the O's should offer some clarity soon. Tyler Nevin will sub in for Mountcastle at first base.

Casas (illness) is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Casas has been away from the club for much of the week while dealing with a nasty bout of the flu, but he's on the mend and his return to game action is imminent. The young first baseman put up a 1.034 OPS in the second half last season and will be looking to carry that over into a breakout 2024 campaign.