MLB Player News
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Alec Bohm 3B | PHI
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Roster spot safe
Bohm will make the Phillies' Opening Day roster, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Bohm's roster spot appeared to be in some doubt thanks to his poor spring and the strong performance of the Phillies' top hitting prospect Bryson Stott. While Bohm's roster spot is secure for now, his playing time may not be, with Stott making the team as well. If the pair wind up platooning at third base, the right-handed Bohm would see less than half of the available starts, though it's likely Bohm still gets to start against some righties. He can spell Rhys Hoskins at first base on occasion, while Stott can start at either middle infield spot.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Reds' Joey Votto: Dialed in
Votto has been dialed in this spring, hitting .297/.333/.622 with two homers. He's been getting more plate appearances than other regulars on the team, in an attempt to get off to a quick start, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "He's really committed to getting off to a good start," manager David Bell said. "Just seeing that happen for him, it's just impressive, everything about it."
Despite the teardown of the roster around him, Votto is no less dedicated to his craft. He will get fewer opportunities to compile runs and RBI with presumably lesser players around him in the lineup, however.
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Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Makes big spring impression
Pasquantino went 9-for-23 with two homers, two doubles and 2:7 BB:K this spring, producing a .391/.440/.739 batting line. However, he will be starting the season in Triple-A.
Those stats jump off the page, but that's nothing new for Pasquantino, who crushed to the tune of .300/.394/.563 with 24 homers, 84 RBI and six steals in 116 games across High-A and Double-A last year. Most impressively, he put up a brilliant 64:64 BB:K, reflective of his rare bat-to-ball skills. Incumbent first baseman Carlos Santana is in his decline phase and won't be a huge impediment to Pasquantino's progress to the major-league level, but fellow prospects Nick Pratto and MJ Melendez might be. Either way, if he rakes in Triple-A the way he has everywhere else so far, it's going to be impossible to keep him down for too long.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | ATL
Brewers' Rowdy Tellez: Tacks on two RBI
Tellez went 0-for-3 with two RBI in Monday's spring game.
Monday's contest was a microcosm of Tellez's spring, as he owns just a .233 batting average and .286 OBP over 11 exhibition games but has also recorded two homers, seven RBI and a .753 OPS. Tellez is set to be the Brewers' primary first baseman and will occupy a spot in the middle of the batting order.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Starting in spring finale
Kirilloff (knee) will start in left field and bat seventh in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Kirilloff was out of the lineup for the last two days with minor left knee soreness, but the injury doesn't look like it'll be anything that keeps him from playing when the Twins begin their regular season Thursday versus Seattle. The 24-year-old should be a mainstay in the lineup against right-handed pitching, seeing most of his work in left field, at first base or at designated hitter. Kirilloff showed intriguing potential as a rookie in 2021 with a .722 OPS across 231 plate appearances, but improving upon his elevated 48.8 percent groundball rate will be imperative for him to tap into the sort of power typically associated with a corner player.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Back in action Monday
Freeman (illness) is starting Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels.
Freeman was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to an illness, but he'll be back in action a day later. His brief absence shouldn't impact his Opening Day availability.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Expected to return Tuesday
Kirilloff (knee) is expected to return to the Twins' lineup Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Kirilloff was removed from Saturday's Grapefruit League matchup due to mild left knee soreness, but he should be back in action for Tuesday's spring finale. The 24-year-old should be available for Opening Day against the Mariners on Thursday.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Starting in right field
Vaughn (hip) is starting in right field in Monday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old was a late addition to Monday's lineup after AJ Pollock was scratched with a head cold, but it's encouraging that Vaughn has been given clearance to play the outfield late in spring training. Although Vaughn was limited by a right hip pointer late in camp, it appears as though he's now healthy ahead of Opening Day.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Scratched with illness
Freeman isn't playing in Sunday's exhibition game against the Angels due to what manager Dave Roberts describes as a "24-hour bug," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Freeman isn't at the stadium for the contest, but he could be back in the lineup Monday. Assuming this is indeed a short-term issue, the star first baseman should be ready to go come Opening Day. Freeman is slashing .333/.368/.500 with a home run and two RBI through 19 spring plate appearances.
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Drew Ellis 1B | PHI
Diamondbacks' Drew Ellis: Back in big-league camp
Ellis is back with the Diamondbacks in big-league camp Sunday in the wake of Josh Rojas' oblique injury, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Ellis was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday and will make a quick return to major-league spring training with Arizona in need of more infield depth. The 26-year-old is only 2-for-15 with six strikeouts in Cactus League play, but the injury to Rojas could allow him to snap a spot on the Opening Day roster.