MLB Player News

Albies went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

The second baseman golfed a Matt Manning pitch deep down the right-field line in the second inning. It was Albies' first homer of the spring and only his second hit in 15 at-bats, but his 2:2 BB:K doesn't suggest he's struggling. The 26-year-old played only 64 games last season due to multiple injuries, but he's healthy in camp and looking to regain the form that saw him post career-best fantasy numbers in 2021.

Rojas has been scratched from Sunday's Cactus League lineup against the Rockies for undisclosed reasons.

Rojas has been replaced in the lineup by Buddy Kennedy, who will hit seventh and play third base. There should be an update shortly as to why the veteran infielder is out of the lineup.

Fermin (quad) was optioned Saturday to Triple-A Memphis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Fermin is dealing with a quadriceps strain, but was likely to open the year in Triple-A regardless of the injury. The infielder was acquired from the Guardians in November and added to the 40-man roster immediately after. He provides the Cardinals with organizational depth up the middle of the infield.

Villar was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers due to left hip tightness, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

After hitting a promising .231/.331/.455 (albeit with a 32.0 percent strikeout rate) in 52 games as a rookie last season, Villar entered spring training with a good shot to carve out a regular role at third base. If his injury remains nothing worse than tightness and he's able to return to the field soon, he'll still be in the favorite to start at the hot corner, but if he's forced to hit the injured list, Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis could earn a larger share of at-bats.

Turang went 3-for-8 (.375) with a double, an RBI, three runs, a walk and a stolen base over his last three exhibition appearances.

Turang racked up just a pair of singles over his first four games of the spring, but he got going a bit over the past week. Turang has a case to break camp with the big club, but given the glut of infielders on Milwaukee's 40-man roster, it seems most likely he will begin the season with Triple-A Nashville.

Alu was optioned to Triple-A Rochester by the Nationals on Friday.

Alu was added to the Nats' 40-man roster this offseason and has impressed this camp with his versatility. The 25-year-old has a good shot to debut at some point in 2023 but will get a little more seasoning first.

India has been hitting first or second most of the time in spring training so far and appears likely to hit there in the regular season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I haven't thought about the lineup too much yet, but he has proven that he's very effective in the leadoff spot," Reds manager David Bell said this week. "He's comfortable there. I still think he can hit pretty much anywhere in the lineup. For now, for spring training since he's done it, it's definitely an option and it just gets him more at-bats."

India lost 10 pounds and prioritized becoming a 'more athletic' hitter over the offseason. Multiple injuries limited India to 103 games and 431 plate appearances last season, so any reports about better conditioning should be welcomed. India has already drawn seven walks and stolen two bases while making his case for the leadoff spot.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout in a Cactus League contest against Oakland on Thursday.

This was Vargas' seventh game of the spring, but he wasn't allowed to swing the bat in his first six after fracturing his right pinky finger while fielding a grounder early in camp. He was cleared to begin swinging in games ahead of Thursday's exhibition contest and nearly homered in his first at-bat, driving a ball to deep center field that bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. Now that Vargas is back to playing without restrictions, there's nothing standing in his way of opening the campaign as the Dodgers' starting second baseman.

Wisely was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup Thursday due to a stomach virus, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Wisely, who's had a nice spring so far, should be fine after a day or two of rest. Ford Proctor will play second base instead Thursday afternoon against the Brewers.

Vargas (finger) is hitting second in the Dodgers' Cactus League lineup Thursday against the Athletics, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

And he has been given clearance to actually swing the bat in a live game for the first time since he suffered a hairline fracture to his right pinkie finger in February. Vargas should open as the primary starting second baseman in Los Angeles if all goes smoothly from this point forward. The 23-year-old struggled in his first taste of MLB action last season but posted excellent offensive numbers throughout his rise through the minors.