MLB Player News

Walker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's spring training game against the Cubs.

Walker walloped his second spring home run in the fourth inning and has hit in seven of nine Cactus League contests. The righty-hitting first baseman is focused on putting a dismal 2021 season behind him, and he's been convincing thus far. He's 9-for-25 with three walks, two homers, two doubles, five RBI and six runs scored. It should be noted that Walker was just as good in 2021's spring training over 53 plate appearances but went on to slash .244/.315/.382 with 10 home runs in the regular season.

Bohm isn't guaranteed a starting role or even a roster spot to begin the year, as the Phillies are considering Bryson Stott at third base, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Bohm entered the spring as the presumptive favorite at third base despite a disappointing sophomore season which saw his wRC+ drop from 138 to 75, with corresponding steps back in his strikeout rate (20.0 percent to 26.6 percent) and barrel rate (10.3 percent to 6.6 percent). He's continued to struggle this spring, hitting .208/.296/.375 through his first 10 games, which has prompted the Phillies to give more looks at the hot corner to Stott, the team's top hitting prospect. Stott's primary position is shortstop, where he also has a chance to beat out Didi Gregorius, but he can likely handle the hot corner as well. If the Phillies do elect to go with Stott as the Opening Day third baseman, Bohm may head to the minors for everyday at-bats rather than remaining stuck in a bench role.

Olson went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

He blasted a fourth-inning offering from JT Chargois out to right-center field for his first homer of the spring. Olson is batting .263 (5-for-19) with a sharp 4:3 BB:K, and with his power stroke coming around he appears just about ready for Opening Day. The 28-year-old, picked up from the A's in the offseason to replace Freddie Freeman, is coming off a career-best campaign in which he slugged 39 homers and 111 RBI.

France is hitting just .231 (6-for-26) with a home run and three RBI across nine exhibitions this spring but is penciled in as the Mariners' everyday first baseman.

France has forged a collective .294/.368/.449 slash line across the last two seasons, and he's coming off having recorded a career-high 18 home runs and 73 RBI while playing 152 games for Seattle in 2021. The 27-year-old could be primed for an even bigger season in 2022 with more protection around him in the lineup stemming from the offseason acquisitions of Adam Frazier, Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez.

Goldschmidt went 4-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base and three runs scored in Wednesday's 29-8 win over the Nationals.

Goldschmidt has used a new bat model for the first time in his career, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and it's been paying off in spring games. The first baseman is 10-for-19 with three homers, a double, four RBI and seven runs scored in eight Grapefruit League contests. Goldschmidt remains a high-end first baseman in fantasy who should be a solid pickup around the fourth round.

Ellis was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.

Ellis made his major-league debut in 2021, but he failed to land a spot on Arizona's Opening Day roster this year after he went 2-for-15 with a run, two walks and six strikeouts across eight Cactus League appearances. He'll work on developing with Reno and will be an option of fill in as infield depth for the Diamondbacks during the regular season.

O'Hearn (groin) will bat third while serving as the Royals' designated hitter in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Giants.

O'Hearn's return to the lineup supports the notion that the Royals' decision to remove him from Tuesday's game against the Mariners was mostly a matter of caution while he dealt with a left groin injury. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a red-hot spring with 10 hits -- including a pair of home runs -- across 20 at-bats.

Lowe is expected to be the Opening Day cleanup hitter, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.

The lefty-hitting Lowe is nice fit between two righties -- Mitch Garver and Adolis Garcia. The caveat with that strategy is that the jury is still out on whether Lowe mash like a traditional corner infielder and cleanup hitter. There's untapped potential in the bat, and Lowe has hinted at it during spring games. He's slashing .381/.381/.571 over 21 at-bats across seven games. Lowe's batted third, fourth or fifth in Cactus League contests.

Vaughn (hip) was able to take a limited number of swings in the batting cage Wednesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Vaughn's availability for Opening Day is still up in the air after the White Sox announced Monday that the 23-year-old is tending to a right hip pointer that will keep him from playing for 1-to-2 weeks. Though his status may not become clearer until next week, Vaughn's ability to do at least some baseball activity Wednesday is a positive sign. For what it's worth, Vaughn also noted that he feels "tenfold better" Wednesday compared to earlier in the week.

Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Solano (hamstring) will begin the regular season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Solano sustained a left hamstring injury Tuesday against the Rangers and feels slightly better Wednesday, but he'll still be held out to begin the regular season. An exact timetable for his return isn't yet clear, though manager David Bell suggested that Solano's stint on the IL "may not be very long," per Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Solano was expected to be a fixture in the lineup against left-handed pitching, but his absence could clear the way for the righty-hitting Brandon Drury to make the Opening Day roster as a utility man.