MLB Player News

Pasquantino has gone 4-for-17 across four games for Italy at the World Baseball Classic.

Those are adequate numbers for Pasquantino, who is projected to be the Royals' primary first baseman this season. The 25-year-old was a bit better in four Cactus League games before leaving for the WBC, going 4-for-9 with a home run, four RBI, three runs scored and two walks. Overall, there's nothing to discourage fantasy managers from selecting Pasquantino in the later rounds of drafts after he slashed .295/.383/.450 with 10 home runs, 26 RBI and 25 runs scored across 72 games as a rookie a year ago.

Lester went 3-for-4 with two triples, one RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's Grapefruit League win over the Pirates.

Lester had struggled earlier in the spring, but he's now hitting .387 (12-for-31) with four extra-base hits and nine RBI through 13 contests. He's gotten a long look so far, but the fact that the 28-year-old is on a minor-league deal and has just two major-league games under his belt presents a tough path to the majors.

Guerrero said Wednesday that with his recent knee injury behind him, he's open to rejoining Team Dominican Republic should they advance in the World Baseball Classic, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

A decision will be made after Guerrero has a conversation with Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. It seems unlikely Toronto would clear their star to leave camp given he just returned from a knee injury which cost him nearly two weeks of action. It could also be a moot point, as the Dominican Republic needs to defeat Puerto Rico on Wednesday in order to advance.

Freeman (hamstring) won't play Wednesday for Team Canada in its World Baseball Classic matchup versus Team Mexico, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Canada manager Ernie Whitt also added that Freeman is "out of this tournament for now" because of the hamstring tightness which forced him from Tuesday's game against Colombia. Freeman has since returned to the Dodgers and is being evaluated by the training staff, but Whitt seemed to leave open the possibility that the first baseman could return to the lineup for Team Canada if it advances in the tournament, although that seems unlikely.

Walker (hip) is listed as the Diamondbacks' starting first baseman and cleanup hitter for Wednesday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Giants.

Walker was pulled early from Monday's game against the Rangers after being hit on the left hip by a pitch, but afterward, the team described his removal from the contest as precautionary. The fact that Walker is back in the lineup two days later seemingly supports that notion, and barring any further setbacks, he'll be on track to open the season in an everyday role coming off a career-best 2022 campaign in which he slugged 36 home runs and drove in 94 runs.

Walker (hip) is penciled in to play in one of Arizona's two Cactus League games Wednesday, Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports.

Walker, who was hit by a pitch on the hip Monday, did not play Tuesday. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the injury is not serious and that he could opt to give the first baseman another day off.

Guerrero (knee) is starting Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

The young slugger hasn't seen game action since March 3 due to knee inflammation, but he's been cleared to take the field after ramping up his running program over the past couple days. Guerrero will now have two weeks of exhibition games to get ready for Opening Day versus the Cardinals on March 30.

Montero went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Cactus League contest against the Cubs.

Montero took Justin Steele yard in the second inning to tally his third homer of spring training. He's competing for the third base job and his done well at the plate, ripping four extra-base hits while also maintaining a .385 on-base percentage across 39 plate appearances this spring. The primary question for Montero's playing time will be whether he can prove quick enough to be an adequate fielder at the hot corner.

White was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma by the Mariners on Tuesday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

White will head to Triple-A as expected to receive regular at-bats after missing the majority of the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to injury. The former top prospect has struggled mightily at the highest level, but his strong defense at first could make him an option for the Mariners if he stays healthy and handles Triple-A pitching.

Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt said Tuesday that Freeman is being evaluated for hamstring tightness, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers will certainly want to have a say in that evaluation. Freeman felt the hamstring tightness while taking a cut at a pitch in the third inning of Canada's eventual 5-2 win over Colombia on Tuesday afternoon in the World Baseball Classic. He is not expected to be in the lineup Wednesday against Mexico and could be done with the WBC entirely.