MLB Player News

The Mets named Gimenez to their Opening Day roster Thursday. Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

In a surprise move, the 21-year-old will bypass the Triple-A level entirely and open the 60-game season with the big club as a reserve infielder. Expect Gimenez to serve as the top backup at shortstop and second base behind Amed Rosario and Robinson Cano, a role that may only translate to a couple starts per week. Gimenez may provide most of his impact as a late-inning defensive replacement or as a pinch runner, given his above-average speed.

Rodgers was optioned to the Rockies' alternate training site Wednesday.

Rodgers was expected to make the Rockies' major-league roster to begin the season, but he'll instead head to alternate camp ahead of Opening Day on Friday. The 23-year-old completed his rehab from the shoulder surgery that he underwent last June and should be the Rockies' top option to fill in if middle infield help is needed. The highly rated prospect's major-league debut last year didn't go as planned, as he hit .224/.272/.250 with seven RBI and 27 strikeouts over 25 games before his season was cut short with a torn labrum.

Chicago manager David Ross said Hoerner could be an option to play in center field this season if a need arises, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Albert Almora, Ian Happ and Jason Heyward are the most likely candidates for playing time in center, but Ross acknowledged that the team will need "to be prepared for anything this season." Hoerner saw a little action in center with Double-A Tennessee last season, though he did primarily play in the infield both for the Smokies and the Cubs. He's expected to split second base duties with Jason Kipnis in Chicago this season.

General manager David Stearns said Urias (illness) will need 2-to-3 weeks to get up to speed once he's cleared all health protocols, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Urias missed all of summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of July, and he'll need a couple of weeks to make up for lost time once he's cleared to return to workouts. As such, he doesn't seem likely to join the Brewers until at least mid-August. With Keston Hiura (arm) and Orlando Arcia expected to start up the middle for Milwaukee, Urias will likely have to fight Brock Holt for the top utility infield job once he's healthy.

Hernandez and Chris Taylor will share time at second base at the start of the season, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Most expected Gavin Lux to take the reigns at second base this season, but his assignment to the team's alternate training site Tuesday opens the door for veterans Hernandez and Taylor to each log significant time at the position, at least until Lux's inevitable return. Both players have proven capable of major-league production in the past, and both stood out in Tuesday's exhibition win over the Angels. Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBI and Taylor slugged a three-run home run for the second consecutive game.

The Brewers plan to assign Urias (illness) to their alternate training site in Appleton to begin the season, freelance baseball writer Robert Murray reports.

Urias never reported to summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month and is still waiting to clear all health-related protocols, even though he's said to be asymptomatic. Once Urias is cleared to head to Appleton, he likely won't take long to ramp up and could be activated from the COVID-19 injured list in short order. The Brewers appear content to proceed with Keston Hiura and Orlando Arcia as their primary options at second base and shortstop, respectively, so Urias will likely have to fight Brock Holt for the top utility infield job once he's reinstated from the IL.

Lux was optioned by the Dodgers on Tuesday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

In somewhat of a surprising move, the highly talented young infielder won't be part of the Dodgers' Opening Day roster. The 22-year-old didn't do a ton in his 23-game debut last season, hitting a modest .240/.305/.400, but he slashed an incredible .392/.478/.719 in 49 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City. It's likely that this move was made primarily because Lux wasn't able to report to camp until July 10 for undisclosed reasons. There's still a good chance he fills a major role for the Dodgers this season once he's in game shape.

Lux isn't in the lineup for Monday's exhibition game against the Diamondbacks.

Lux arrived late to camp but was able to participate in intrasquad action following his arrival. However, he hasn't been in the starting lineup for either of the team's two exhibition games ahead of Opening Day on Thursday. It's unclear whether his early absence is preventing his availability, but he may not be the starting second baseman to begin the season, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports. Chris Taylor started at second base Monday while Enrique Hernandez started at the keystone Sunday.

Chicago manager David Ross confirmed that Hoerner and Jason Kipnis will be the team's primary options at second base this year, with David Bote serving in a utility role, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

No real surprise here, as the righty Hoerner and the lefty Kipnis complement each other well in a platoon, and Bote has the versatility to work at second while also spelling Kris Bryant at third. While Kipnis appears to have the strong side of this platoon, the younger Hoerner could take the job and run with it if he performs well to start the season. He slashed .282/.305/.436 in a 20-game stint in the majors last year.

Rodgers is expected to begin the season on the major-league roster and should see occasional starts at second base, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old's availability for the original Opening Day was in doubt as he continued his recovery from the shoulder surgery he underwent last June, but Rodgers completed his rehab and will be available for the start of the shortened season. The starting jobs in the middle infield are locked up by Trevor Story and Ryan McMahon, but Rodgers could still see some starts at second base when McMahon covers first base in place of Daniel Murphy. However, Garrett Hampson and Chris Owings will also be competing for those opportunities.