MLB Player News

Peguero was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Pirates camp.

Peguero was called up for his MLB debut last June but appeared in only one game with Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old infielder slashed .259/.305/.387 with 10 home runs and 28 stolen bases in 121 games last summer at Double-A.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Vargas (finger) is expected to resume swinging the bat in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Though Vargas hasn't been cleared to hit in games since Feb. 20 due to a right pinkie finger fracture, the injury hasn't hindered him in the field. He's still been making regular starts at second base during the Cactus League slate, and despite doing little more than standing in at the dish during his plate appearances, Vargas has managed to draw four walks. He'll start at the keystone again Monday against the Padres and won't take swings, but look for Vargas to become more aggressive at the plate beginning with Wednesday's contest.

Jones (elbow) has appeared in five of the Dodgers' Cactus League games to date, going 0-for-8 with a walk and a run scored.

Jones has seen reps at second base in all five of his appearances, so he looks to have made a full recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in late May of last season. The 25-year-old was once a prospect of some repute when he was coming up through the Angels' system, but injuries and poor performance during his time in the majors in 2021 and at the Triple-A level prompted the Orioles to release him last June. Jones joined the Dodgers on a minor-league pact last August and will likely open the upcoming campaign at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Fermin is dealing with a quadriceps strain and is expected to miss some extended time, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Big-league manager Oli Marmol said Monday that Fermin is likely out multiple weeks as he nurses his injured quad. The 23-year-old was dealt from the Guardians to the Cardinals in November and had gone 1-for-8 with a double and a run scored this spring prior to getting injured. Overall, Fermin is not expected to be a large part of the team's game plan in 2023 and will likely start the year with Triple-A Memphis , though he could earn a call-up at some point this summer.

Bae is in a competition with Tucupita Marcano and Rodolfo Castro to begin the 2023 season as Pittsburgh's starting second baseman, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Bae is among the Pirates' better prospects, and he made his big-league debut across the last two weeks of the 2022 season. He was impressive in that span by posting a .333/.405/.424 line with three stolen bases across 37 plate appearances, though Castro had a strong second half of the campaign as well. Bae hasn't hit particularly well at the start of spring training, as he has only one hit in nine at-bats while striking out four times.

Vargas (finger) will not take swings in Saturday's exhibition game, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Vargas has already started several games and not taken a swing while in the batter's box, and that will be the case again Saturday. There was hope that he would be cleared to hit in a game at some point this weekend, but manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that he will not do so until Wednesday at the earliest.

Garcia went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

His first homer of the spring wasn't a cheap one -- Garcia turned on a Max Scherzer fastball up in the zone in the third inning and drove it over the right-field wall. Garcia is coming off a mediocre season in the majors, but he's still only 22 years old and slashed .308/.366/.519 in 45 games for Triple-A Rochester in 2022. He could be poised for a big step forward this year.

Albies (shoulder) will start at second base and bat fifth in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Albies spent the first week or so of camp serving as the designated hitter following a clean-up procedure on his right shoulder in October. He's now ready to test the shoulder in the field and should be in the clear for Opening Day, barring a setback. Between a fractured foot and a broken pinky finger, Albies was limited to just 64 games and three stolen bases last season. He said he plans to do more running with the new rules in place for 2023.

Cubs manager David Ross indicated Thursday that Hoerner will be the primary leadoff man to begin the 2023 season, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Hoerner has already led off four times through less than a week of Cactus League games, and it sounds like that theme is going to carry over into the regular season. The 25-year-old middle infielder enjoyed a mini breakout in 2022, tallying 10 homers and 20 stolen bases across 135 games. He did that with a .327 on-base percentage, which can perhaps improve and elevate his full range of counting stats as Chicago's likely tablesetter.

Rodgers was determined to have suffered significant damage to the capsule in his left shoulder following an MRI on Wednesday and could be facing season-ending surgery, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Rodgers was initially diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder when he dove hard for a ball in a Cactus League game Tuesday against the Rangers, but follow-up tests have revealed a more serious injury than anticipated. Harding notes that doctors are still reviewing the full scope of the issue, so it may be several days before a determination on surgery is made one way or the other. The 26-year-old had been in line to serve as the Rockies' everyday second baseman in 2023, but his expected absence will force Colorado to alter its plans. Ryan McMahon could move over from third base to man the keystone, or Colorado could roll with Harold Castro or Alan Trejo at the position. Either way, Rodgers appears destined for an extended absence, and his expected absence for a large chunk of the season -- if not all of it -- is a major blow for the Rockies organization.