MLB Player News
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Zack Gelof 2B | ATH
Athletics' Zack Gelof: Could see time in center field
Gelof could get looks in center field in addition to reps at second base, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Gelof was spotted trotting out to center field during batting practice Monday, and skipper Mark Kotsay elaborated further on Gelof's potential utility role in spring training and heading into the 2026 season. "I do think Zack can play the outfield," said Kotsay. "We've seen Zack be a plus defender. There could be a role that exists on this club where Zack is on the roster." Gallegos notes that Jeff McNeil is in line to see everyday opportunities at second base, which will make the path for playing time more difficult for Gelof, who struggled in 2024 and couldn't stay healthy in 2025. However, the 26-year-old has always been a strong defender with plus speed, which will undoubtedly help as he learns the outfield. "With how the last two years have gone, I definitely want to lean into my athleticism," said Gelof. "Be the best baserunner on the team. Defensively, bring that aspect. I know I can hit, but the bare minimum is being a winning player. That's what I bring. I need to bring that to this team, so that's what I'm going to do."
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Tyler Callihan LF | PIT
Reds' Tyler Callihan: Fully cleared
Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Callihan (forearm) has been fully cleared for all baseball activities during spring training, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Callihan has had an incredibly unlucky professional career when it comes to his health, with his latest setback coming in May, when he snapped his forearm trying to make a sliding catch in Atlanta. He's facing an uphill battle to make the team as a bench player coming out of spring training, with Will Benson and JJ Bleday seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order among Cincinnati's left-handed-hitting corner outfielders.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Yet to begin baseball activities
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Gonzalez (shoulder) has yet to begin baseball activities, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Gonzalez injured his left shoulder late last regular season and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection in January after experiencing renewed discomfort. The Red Sox are hopeful that he will be ready in time for Opening Day, but there seems to be some uncertainty about Gonzalez's status. Once he's ready, the right-handed-hitting Gonzalez is slated to see regular playing time against left-handed pitching.
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Tommy Edman 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Tommy Edman: Ruled out for Opening Day
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Edman (ankle) will begin the season on the injured list, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Edman has dealt with a nagging right ankle injury for a couple years and finally underwent surgery to correct the issue this offseason. Roberts said Monday that the team will take a "methodical" pace with Edman and "take the long view" with his return, suggesting it's likely to be longer than a minimum stay on the injured list for the switch hitter. While Edman is out, Hyeseong Kim, Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland will be in the mix for playing time at second base for the Dodgers.
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Adam Frazier 2B | LAA
Angels' Adam Frazier: Goes to Angels on NRI deal
Frazier agreed Monday with the Angels on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Frazier split his time last season between the Pirates and Royals, finishing with a .267/.319/.365 batting line and seven home runs over 134 contests. The 34-year-old has a decent chance to capture a reserve role with the Angels, providing depth at second base, third base and the corner-outfield spots.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Focusing on second base this spring
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Altuve will spend most of spring training working exclusively at second base, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve was the Astros' Opening Day left fielder last season and wound up splitting his time pretty evenly between left field, second base and designated hitter. This season, however, he appears slated to return to his natural second base position on an everyday basis. Zach Cole looks like the favorite to see most of the reps in left field for Houston.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Healthy to start spring
Altuve (foot) is healthy to start spring training and is expected to serve as the Astros' primary second baseman this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve dealt with a rocky transition to left field to start the 2025 campaign and finished the year with a nagging foot injury, resulting in a .265 batting average, the lowest of his career apart from the 2020 shortened season. Now healthy and back at second base, Altuve will look to rebound in 2026. Manager Joe Espada emphasized the 35-year-old Altuve's health earlier in the offseason, stating that he needs to "help Jose have the right amount of time to be off his feet." With Houston's current surplus of infielders, it seems likely that Altuve will at least play fewer than the 155 games he did in 2025.
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Nico Hoerner 2B | CHC
Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Extension talks likely in camp
Hoerner and the Cubs will likely discuss a contract extension during spring training, but it's unclear if a deal will get done, Jesse Rogers of ESPN said on the Waddle and Silvy podcast.
Hoerner is in the last year of a three-year, $35 million contract, giving the Cubs some incentive to extend him before the season gets underway. However, the team's acquisition of Alex Bregman has pushed Matt Shaw off third base, and he could slot in at second base in 2027. That could impact Chicago's willingness to invest in Hoerner, who batted .297 last year with 29 stolen bases over 156 regular-season games. The 28-year-old has never hit for much power, but he's a career .282 hitter who's swiped 131 bases across seven MLB seasons, giving him plenty of fantasy appeal.
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Ha-seong Kim 2B | ATL
Braves' Ha-Seong Kim: Could be ready by early May
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Friday that he's optimistic4r Kim (finger) will be ready to make his season debut in early May, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Kim had surgery in January to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. The initial timeline provided had him returning in the second half of May as a best-case scenario, but is sounds like the veteran infielder could beat that projection. Mauricio Dubon is expected to be Atlanta's primary shortstop while Kim recovers.
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Nick Gonzales 2B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Getting work at hot corner
Gonzales was spotted fielding grounders at third base Thursday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Gonzales was Pittsburgh's primary second baseman when healthy in 2025, though the addition of Brandon Lowe will force him into a new role in 2026. The assumption was that Gonzales would fill in at shortstop until Konnor Griffin makes his big-league debut, though Jared Triolo was instead at shortstop Thursday. This alignment could be fluid throughout spring, as the Pirates have also been rumored to be trying to add a third baseman via trade. However, this could be positive news for Gonzales' long-term outlook if he proves capable of handling the hot corner defensively, given the lack of long-term solutions currently on the roster.