MLB Player News
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Tim Tawa 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tim Tawa: Sent down to minors
The Diamondbacks optioned Tawa to Triple-A Reno on Monday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Tawa was added to the 40-man roster over the winter after slugging 31 home runs between Double-A Amarillo and Reno in 2024 and he will head back to Reno to begin the 2025 campaign. The 25-year-old can play all over the diamond, and his versatility should give him a chance to make his debut later this season.
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Tyler Callihan 2B | CIN
Reds' Tyler Callihan: Sent to minor-league camp
The Reds optioned Callihan to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.
Callihan was added to the 40-man roster in November, but given that he has only four games of experience above the Double-A level in addition to the fact that Cincinnati is well stocked in the infield, he never looked like a serious threat to break camp with the big club. The 24-year-old will likely spend the majority of the season at Louisville after slashing .271/.345/.413 with eight home runs and 21 steals over his 282 plate appearances at Double-A Chattanooga in 2024.
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Nicky Lopez 3B | ARI
Nicky Lopez: Moving on from Chicago
Lopez is expected to be granted his release after the Cubs informed him Sunday that he won't be part of the team's 31-man travel roster for its season-opening series in Japan versus the Dodgers on March 18 and 19, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Lopez signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs on Feb. 2 and had been competing for a utility infielder job with the big club during spring training. Even though second baseman Nico Hoerner (forearm) won't be available for the two-game series in Tokyo, Lopez wasn't able to beat out Rule 5 pick Gage Workman or Vidal Brujan for a bench role. Lopez shouldn't have much trouble catching on with another organization on a minor-league deal.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Status for Opening Day in question
Manager Ron Washington said Sunday that the club will "back off" Rengifo due to his hamstring injury, and he may not be ready for Opening Day, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old downplayed the hamstring issue as a cramp after he was scratched from the lineup last Monday, but the injury appears to be a bit more problematic after he was scratched again Saturday. Rengifo has seen action in just one Cactus League game so far, leaving him just two and a half weeks to get right before Opening Day against the White Sox on March 27.
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Nolan Gorman 2B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Struggling this spring
Gorman is just 4-for-26 with a 9:1 K:BB over his first nine Grapefruit League contests this spring.
Gorman worked with new hitting coach Brant Brown over the offseason on his plate discipline, but he has struggled to put those tips into action so far in camp. The Cardinals have pledged to give the 24-year-old a long leash this season, so Gorman is expected to open the year with a regular role -- likely bouncing between second base and designated hitter -- regardless of how he performs this spring. Potential fantasy investors would still like to see him string together some hits, however.
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Jared Serna 2B | MIA
Marlins' Jared Serna: Optioned to Pensacola
The Marlins optioned Serna to Double-A Pensacola on Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Serna appeared in six games at Triple-A Jacksonville at the end of last season, but the Marlins will send him back to Double-A to begin the 2025 campaign. The 22-year-old infielder went 4-for-7 with a home run, three runs scored and a stolen base in the Grapefruit League, and he may not have to wait long to return to Triple-A if his hot bat follows him to Pensacola.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Scratched from Saturday's lineup
Rengifo was scratched from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers due to hamstring tightness, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Rengifo was removed from Monday's lineup due to the same issue, and it appears he needs more time to recover from the injury after initially being slated to return Saturday. The Angels will likely take a cautious approach to Rengifo's rehab, but to this point there has been nothing to suggest he's in jeopardy of missing the start of the regular season. Christian Moore will take over for Rengifo at second base for Saturday's game.
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Kristian Campbell 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Preps with outfielders
Campbell worked with the outfielders during Friday's pregame work instead of the infielders, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Per the daily schedule posted in the locker room, Campbell was supposed to be working with infielders.
This follows a recent trend of Campbell playing the outfield. He opened camp getting work at second base, but Campbell's last four starts have come in left field. This spring, he's played 21 innings in left field and 20 at second base. This shift to the outfield coincides with the possibility that Wilyer Abreu (illness) may not be ready for Opening Day. Boston manager Alex Cora initially said Campbell getting reps in the outfield was a way to give at-bats to all the players competing for second base, but the coach later added context. "I think actually with everything that is going on, him getting reps in the outfield helps," Cora said. Another prospect, Roman Anthony, is expected to resume baseball activities Saturday following an illness, and he might be the more logical replacement for Abreu.
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Daniel Schneemann 2B | CLE
Guardians' Daniel Schneemann: Clubs second spring homer
Schneemann started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's spring game against the Athletics.
Schneemann clubbed his second home run of the Cactus League. He's seen time at shortstop, third base and center field during the spring season, putting him in position for super-utility duty if his lefty bat holds up against righties. Schneemann slashed .191/.276/.333 against them in 2024.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: In Saturday's lineup
Rengifo (hamstring) will start at second base and bat sixth in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Hamstring cramps have kept Rengifo sidelined since Monday, but he's fully recovered and is now set to make his second start of the spring. The 28-year-old projects as the Angels' Opening Day second baseman, though he may not settle in at just one position for the entire season.