MLB Player News
-
Travis Bazzana 2B | CLE
Guardians' Travis Bazzana: Goes yard Tuesday
Bazzana walked twice and hit a three-run home run in Tuesday's Cactus League game against Milwaukee.
Bazzana entered in the sixth inning to play second base. The 22-year-old's notoriously discerning eye was on display in his first two plate appearances when he worked walks. He then jumped on the first pitch he saw in the bottom the ninth inning, going deep over the wall in right field. He's not expected to win the Guardians' open job at second base to start the season, but Bazzana and his 70 hit tool could reach the majors in 2025.
-
Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Spring debut in LF this week
Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Altuve will make his Grapefruit League debut in left field later this week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve's workouts so far in camp have focused on left field, and that's the position he'll man in his first game this spring. As long as he proves to be adequate defensively, it seems as though Houston plans to play him there often, if not on a full-time basis. Altuve has never played the outfield either at the major- or minor-league level.
-
Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Viewed as primary third baseman
White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday that he views Vargas as the team's primary option at third base, James Fegan of Sox Machine reports.
Vargas is working out a bit at first base this spring, too, and he has plenty of past experience at second base and in left field. However, it sounds like he will focus on the hot corner in 2025. Vargas has managed just a .175/.273/.312 batting line at the major-league level and slashed just .104/.217/.170 in 42 games with the White Sox last season after being acquired via trade. However, he turned just 25 this offseason and is a former top prospect, so expect the White Sox to give him plenty of leash to see if he can hit his stride.
-
Christian Moore 2B | LAA
Angels' Christian Moore: Will play some 3B this spring
Moore will get looks at both second base and third base during spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Moore was already expected to compete for an Opening Day roster spot as a second baseman, but he could increase his chances of breaking camp with the big club if he can prove himself capable of handling the hot corner. Though the Angels signed Yoan Moncada on Feb. 6 to fill a need at third base in the wake of Anthony Rendon's potentially season-ending hip surgery, the team hasn't yet committed to a specific starter either there or at second base. Luis Rengifo is also a candidate to start at either position, and Tim Anderson has spent some time at the keystone this spring as well.
-
Jamie Westbrook 2B | TB
Rays' Jamie Westbrook: Goes to Tampa Bay as NRI
The Rays signed Westbrook to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Westbrook, 29, saw his first major-league action in 2024 with the Red Sox, producing a .584 OPS over 21 contests. He's likely to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Durham, where he'll provide utility depth.
-
Edouard Julien 2B | MIN
Twins' Edouard Julien: Competing for 2B job
Julien is battling Brooks Lee for the starting second base job this spring with Willi Castro also likely to get time at the position, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He started at second base in his spring debut Sunday and went 1-for-3.
Julien was thought to be a possible platoon partner at first base earlier in the winter, but Minnesota's signing of Ty France likely limits him to second base for any starting job. Julien's role is in flux as he could win the second base job, platoon at first base (or DH or 2B) or even begin the season in the minors. Julien displayed a mix of exceptional plate discipline and power in 2023 with a .381 OBP and .195 ISO, but he struggled with a .615 OPS last season and spent much of the year in the minors.
-
Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Adds muscle
Vargas added 20 pounds of muscle during the offseason, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Vargas had considerable prospect pedigree while rising through the Dodgers' system, though he's hit just .204 with 13 home runs across 591 big-league plate appearances. His struggles in 2024 were at least partially blamed on the fact that he lost 12-to-14 pounds during the season, causing him to prioritize adding muscle this offseason. Vargas made his spring debut Saturday against the Cubs and went 0-for-2 with a walk.
-
Jose Caballero 2B | NYY
Rays' Jose Caballero: Starts in right field
Caballero went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Caballero didn't have a notable day at the dish, but he did start in right field. While Caballero boasts defensive versatility along the infield, he has only one appearance in the outfield across two seasons in the majors. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays are hoping that Caballero proves capable of handling corner outfield duties as a reserve option during the regular season.
-
Luke Keaschall 2B | MIN
Twins' Luke Keaschall: Logs hit in first spring game
Keaschall went 1-for-2 in Minnesota's spring training opener Saturday. He appeared as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at DH as he isn't able to play in the field due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery last August.
Keaschall has been taking grounders at second base but not throwing once he gets the ball. He could be cleared to begin throwing by the middle of March, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Keaschall almost surely isn't going to make the Opening Day roster, but he should debut during the 2025 season after slashing .303/.420/.483 with 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita in 2024.
-
Kristian Campbell 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Starts at second Friday
Campbell started at second base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's spring game against Northeastern University.
Campbell was one of several prospects and minors leaguers dotting Boston's lineup in the team's traditional spring kickoff against the Huskies. He's competing for a starting job at second base, but the Alex Bregman acquisition could influence the decision regarding the starter at the keystone. If Bregman plays third base, then Campbell has a real shot; if Rafael Devers stays at third base, then Bregman is expected to start at second base. That latter scenario means Campbell would likely open the season at Triple-A Worcester.