MLB Player News

Andrus went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Saturday's game against the White Sox.

The Rangers have been taking it slow with Andrus, who underwent surgery for a sports hernia last November and hadn't been on a field until Saturday's game. He'll continue to work on his timing and build toward Opening Day.

Marte went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first game back from an illness Saturday.

The 23-year-old returned from a four-day absence and dropped his average below the Mendoza Line on the spring. Marte's struggling bat isn't helping his case for either of the two middle-infield spots, which currently belong to Chris Owings and Brandon Drury. If he is able to get on base closer to his 2015 clip with Seattle (.351 OBP), he could start to challenge Owings for the starting job at some point this season.

Manager Terry Francona said Mathias suffered a dislocated left shoulder in Saturday's game, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

This doesn't come as too much of a surprise for Mathias, who was carted off the field with an arm injury. No timetable has been set for his return, but it's expected that the 22-year-old will miss extended time with the injury.

Mathias was carted off the field Saturday with an injury he sustained while diving to make a catch, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Hoynes also noted the trainers were keeping his arm stable as they were carting him off, so it seems likely that is where he sustained the injury. The severity still isn't known, but his status will be updated when the Indians release more about his injury.

Andrus will start at shortstop and bat second in Saturday's Cactus League game, his first of the spring.

Andrus has been easing back into action this spring after undergoing sports hernia surgery during the offseason, but his long-awaited return appears to have arrived. Nonetheless, with less than a month until Opening Day, fantasy owners would be wise to monitor how he responds in his first action of the spring. Andrus is looking to build off a stellar 2016 campaign in which he posted career highs in both batting average (.302) and RBI (69).

Diaz will spend time at both second base and shortstop this season, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Although he was signed as a shortstop, the 20-year-old split time between second base and shortstop last season as well. In 587 plate appearances with Low-A Wisconsin last year, Diaz slashed .264/.358/.469. while hitting 20 home runs. He'll look to showcase that same power potential with High-A Carolina, where he is expected to start the season.

Albies hit leadoff and went 1-for-2 with a run scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

He didn't miss a beat in his first game action since fracturing his elbow in the Southern League playoffs last year, lashing a single up the middle, scoring from first on a double and turning a nifty unassisted double play in the field. Albies will begin the season with Triple-A Gwinnett and could spend most or all of the campaign in the minors following the Braves' acquisition of Brandon Phillips, but the 20-year-old should be Dansby Swanson's middle infield partner in the majors by 2018.

Gonzalez went 2-for-2 with a home run in Thursday's exhibition game against Columbia. He's hitting .571 (8-for-14) this spring. "He's done really well. He's been a pleasant surprise," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Gonzalez would appear to be a long shot to win a big league job since he's 27 years old and has played just 17 games above Double-A. However, a strong spring could put him in position to be one of the first callups in the infield if the Twins need depth this summer.

Andrus (groin) faced live batting practice on practice fields of Rangers camp Thursday, Stefan Stevenson of the Star-Telegram reports.

Stevenson posted a video of Andrus taking hacks. It coincides with reports that the shortstop would be turning up the dial on his preseason exercises, and the speedster should return to game action this weekend. Of course, considering he's drafted mainly for stolen bases, his showing on the basepaths will go a long way to confirm the veteran's safety for mixed fantasy drafts.

Andrus (groin) is expected to increase his baseball activities and play in a spring game this weekend, Stefan Stevenson of the Star-Telegram reports.

The shortstop has only built up his work gradually this spring after November surgery to repair a sports hernia. How he responds in his first March games should go a long way to revealing how safely fantasy owners can buy him as a source of steals in mixed league drafts.