MLB Player News

Julien appears to likely to win a spot on the major league roster even with Brooks Lee having a strong spring, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. Julien is hitting .273 (6-for-22) with a home run and three walks in eight games this spring.

Julien is competing with Lee for the starting second base job with Willi Castro also likely to get time at the position. Julien could also get time at first base as well. Julien has struggled in the field this spring (two errors at 2B, one at 1B), however. At this point it's still not clear what the Twins plan to do at second base, but Julien remains in the mix to win a roster spot and could still find playing time against right-handed pitching.

Rengifo (hamstring) participated in on-field drills Monday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The extensiveness of the workout isn't clear, nor is Rengifo's effort level while going through drills, but that he worked out at all seems like a good sign after Angels manager Ron Washington said Sunday that the club would "back off" the switch hitter as he deals with a hamstring problem. The Angels have not yet ruled Rengifo out for Opening Day, but he has played just one game so far this spring.

Manager Ron Washington said Sunday that the club will "back off" Rengifo due to his hamstring injury, and he may not be ready for Opening Day, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old downplayed the hamstring issue as a cramp after he was scratched from the lineup last Monday, but the injury appears to be a bit more problematic after he was scratched again Saturday. Rengifo has seen action in just one Cactus League game so far, leaving him just two and a half weeks to get right before Opening Day against the White Sox on March 27.

Rengifo was scratched from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers due to hamstring tightness, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Rengifo was removed from Monday's lineup due to the same issue, and it appears he needs more time to recover from the injury after initially being slated to return Saturday. The Angels will likely take a cautious approach to Rengifo's rehab, but to this point there has been nothing to suggest he's in jeopardy of missing the start of the regular season. Christian Moore will take over for Rengifo at second base for Saturday's game.

Campbell worked with the outfielders during Friday's pregame work instead of the infielders, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Per the daily schedule posted in the locker room, Campbell was supposed to be working with infielders.

This follows a recent trend of Campbell playing the outfield. He opened camp getting work at second base, but Campbell's last four starts have come in left field. This spring, he's played 21 innings in left field and 20 at second base. This shift to the outfield coincides with the possibility that Wilyer Abreu (illness) may not be ready for Opening Day. Boston manager Alex Cora initially said Campbell getting reps in the outfield was a way to give at-bats to all the players competing for second base, but the coach later added context. "I think actually with everything that is going on, him getting reps in the outfield helps," Cora said. Another prospect, Roman Anthony, is expected to resume baseball activities Saturday following an illness, and he might be the more logical replacement for Abreu.

Schneemann started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's spring game against the Athletics.

Schneemann clubbed his second home run of the Cactus League. He's seen time at shortstop, third base and center field during the spring season, putting him in position for super-utility duty if his lefty bat holds up against righties. Schneemann slashed .191/.276/.333 against them in 2024.

Rengifo (hamstring) will start at second base and bat sixth in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Hamstring cramps have kept Rengifo sidelined since Monday, but he's fully recovered and is now set to make his second start of the spring. The 28-year-old projects as the Angels' Opening Day second baseman, though he may not settle in at just one position for the entire season.

Schneider went 2-for-2 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

He went back-to-back with Ernie Clement in the second inning off Cooper Criswell. It was Schneider's first long ball of the spring, but he's been locked in at the plate in camp when given an opportunity, going 5-for-13 with a 7:4 BB:K in 20 plate appearances. The 26-year-old doesn't have a clear starting spot in the lineup after managing a mediocre .625 OPS with a 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 2024, and he'll have trouble repeating his 454 PAs following the offseason additions of players like Anthony Santander and Andres Gimenez. Schneider's best path to playing time this season could come as a short-side platoon option in left field and at second base.

Westburg (back) will start at second base and bat fifth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

It's the first game action Westburg has seen since the Orioles' spring opener, as he has been dealing with lower-back soreness caused by a mattress he was sleeping on being too soft. Most of Westburg's playing time this season is expected to come at third base, but he's getting the start at second base in this one.

Kingery is among a group of infielders vying to begin the regular season as the Angels' starter at shortstop while Zach Neto continues his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Kingery didn't play in the majors last season, but he had a good campaign at the Triple-A level, slashing .273/.321/.505 with 27 homers, 70 RBI, 76 runs and 26 stolen bases. The Angels acquired the 2015 second-round draft pick in a trade with Philadelphia in November, and he was added to the team's 40-man roster a few days later. Kingery has struggled during his previous stints in the majors; he has a .667 OPS and 28.4 percent strikeout rate over 1,127 career regular-season plate appearances. Punchouts have been a problem for him this spring as well, as he's fanned seven times in 19 at-bats. Kevin Newman and Tim Anderson are other candidates to hold down the fort at shortstop until Neto is able to return to action, with Newman described by Bollinger as having a "leg up" among the group for the role.