MLB Player News
-
Luisangel Acuna 2B | CHW
Mets' Luisangel Acuna: Makes Opening Day roster
Acuna will be on the Mets' Opening Day roster, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
The .966 OPS that Acuna delivered in his first 14 games of MLB action late in the regular season last year didn't quite carry over into spring training, as he wrapped up camp with a .250/.304/.269 slash line alongside five RBI, seven runs scored and three steals in 21 Grapefruit League games. Likely destined to spend most days on the Mets' bench, the 23-year-old's best path to playing time is in the short side of a platoon with Brett Baty at second base until Jeff McNeil (oblique) returns.
-
Christian Moore 2B | LAA
Angels' Christian Moore: Beginning season at Double-A
Moore has been assigned to Double-A Rocket City to begin the season, MLB.com reports.
Moore had an opportunity early on in Angels camp to win the starting second-base job, but he struggled in Cactus League play, collecting a .616 OPS and 32.7 percent strikeout rate. The top prospect also struck out at nearly a 30 percent rate in his 23 games with Rocket City last season, so he still has work to do in the minors even while he was productive in 2024 with a .984 OPS over two levels. The Angels don't have many roadblocks at second base and are typically aggressive in promoting their prospects, so Moore still has a good chance to make an impact at the big-league level in 2025 if he can get off to a nice start at Rocket City.
-
Travis Bazzana 2B | CLE
Guardians' Travis Bazzana: Starting season at Double-A level
Bazzana will begin the season at Double-A Akron, MLB.com reports.
The first overall selection in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Bazzana did not receive an invitation to the major-league side of spring training with the Guardians but still saw action in seven games, going 2-for-12 with a home run and a 4:4 K:BB. Bazzana made his pro debut at High-A Lake County last season and will move up to Akron to begin the 2025 campaign. The Guardians' second-base job is wide open, and Bazzana has a chance to claim it at some point this season.
-
David Bote 2B | LAD
Dodgers' David Bote: Exercises upward mobility clause
Bote has exercised his upward mobility clause, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The move allows Bote to leave if another organization wants to give him a major-league contract. If that doesn't happen, he will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Bote had a great spring training, hitting .400 with a couple homers, but he has just 48 plate appearances in the big leagues over the last two seasons.
-
Brendan Rodgers 2B | BOS
Astros' Brendan Rodgers: Wins roster spot
Rodgers will be on the Astros' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Rodgers didn't exactly have a great spring training, finishing camp with a .233/.250/.349 batting line alongside eight RBI and four runs scored across 44 plate appearances. Despite his lackluster performance, he'll land a spot on the Astros' bench to begin the 2025 campaign. The 28-year-old hasn't played anywhere other than second base since 2021, so he'll likely only get to see playing time whenever Mauricio Dubon receives a day off or starts in the outfield.
-
Luke Keaschall 2B | MIN
Twins' Luke Keaschall: Returns to second base
Keaschall played second base for half of a Triple-A spring training game Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
It was his first game in the field after undergoing Tommy John surgery last August. He made a strong impression against major-league spring competition by hitting a home run with an .813 OPS while playing DH and pinch hitting. He'll likely begin the season at Double-A but could be in the majors this summer.
-
Nicky Lopez 3B | COL
Angels' Nicky Lopez: Signs with Halos
Lopez agreed to a major-league contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The 30-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in February, but he was unable to earn a roster spot with the Cubs despite posting a .450/.542/.550 slash line in 24 plate appearances during spring training. Lopez will provide infield depth and could see regular playing time early in the season with Yoan Moncada (thumb) banged up and Zach Neto (shoulder) recovering from shoulder surgery.
-
Nico Hoerner 2B | CHC
Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Appears ready for Opening Day
Hoerner (forearm) will start at second base and bat sixth in Tuesday's exhibition game against Atlanta.
Hoerner will close out the spring having started at the keystone in three of the Cubs' final five games. He has just one hit in six at-bats through his first two starts, but assuming that he's been able to get some additional swings in against live pitching between batting practice and minor-league games, Hoerner looks like he'll be ready to handle an everyday role when the Cubs play their first domestic series of the season later this week in Arizona. While he was still completing his recovery from the flexor tendon surgery he underwent in October, Hoerner wasn't available last week for the Cubs' two-game season-opening series in Tokyo versus the Dodgers, resulting in Jon Berti picking up a pair of starts at second base.
-
David Villar 1B | SF
Giants' David Villar: Pushed off 40-man roster
The Giants designated Villar for assignment Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
With the Giants needing to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for reliever Lou Trivino, Villar -- who had no minor-league options remaining -- was deemed expendable. Villar owns a respectable .710 OPS and 93 wRC+ over 358 career plate appearances in the big leagues, but as a 28-year-old who is limited defensively to the corner-infield spots, it's unclear if he'll attract much interest from other clubs via trade or waivers.