MLB Player News
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Zack Short SS | HOU
Mets' Zack Short: Makes Opening Day roster
Short will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 28-year-old infielder has a strong spring at the plate, batting .308 (12-for-39) with a homer, three steals and more walks (seven) than strikeouts (six). Short offers defensive versatility to the Mets' bench, seeing action in more than 30 games at second base, third base and shortstop for the Tigers in 2023, but his most significant role to begin the current campaign is likely to come at the hot corner as a platoon partner for Brett Baty. Short's career .575 OPS over 450 plate appearances in the majors doesn't suggest he'll have much fantasy value, but he has flashed some modest power and speed in the minors.
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Hoy Jun Park 2B | ATH
Athletics' Hoy Park: Could break camp with team
Park, who's hitting .500 with one home run and nine RBI during Cactus League play, has an increased chance of making the Opening Day roster due to Miguel Andujar's knee injury, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Park has encountered little success against big-league arms during his 68-game majors stint with the Yankees and Pirates, yet he's been Oakland's best all-around hitter this spring. Park came into camp as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor-league deal in November, but Andujar's absence for the next several weeks opens up a spot on the 26-man roster. Manager Mark Kotsay has lauded Park for his stellar spring, and the 27-year-old's ability to play three infield spots and across the outfield could certainly buttress his case to break camp with the Athletics.
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Luis Garcia 2B | WAS
Nationals' Luis Garcia: Roster spot in jeopardy
Garcia committed his fourth error of the spring Sunday, and he could lose his starting job at second base and potentially even his roster spot to Trey Lipscomb, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
Garcia hasn't had an impressive spring at the plate, batting .245 (12-for-49) with a 2:7 BB:K, but his defensive issues are the bigger issue as the Nationals finalize their Opening Day roster. Lipscomb's made a strong push for a spot, flashing a strong glove at multiple infield positions while batting a blistering .400 (20-for-50) with a 5:7 BB:K, but the organization wants him to play every day. If the Nats decide Lipscomb is ready, Garcia seems to be the most vulnerable starter on the infield, and he's out of minor-league options. The team could also elect to return Rule 5 pick Nasim Nunez to the Marlins to create a spot on the 26-man roster for Lipscomb, but Garcia doesn't have the defensive versatility to be a useful bench piece. Even if the 23-year-old keeps his starting job at the keystone to begin the season, Garcia figures to be on a very short leash.
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Davis Schneider 2B | TOR
Blue Jays' Davis Schneider: Claims spot on roster
Manager John Schneider said Sunday that Schneider has won a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Davis Schneider has endured a rough spring training with a .171/.255/.341 slash line through 16 Grapefruit League games, but his ability to play three positions (second base, third base and left field) in addition to notching a 1.007 OPS in his first 141 big-league plate appearances late last season likely factored into the Blue Jays' decision to include him on the 26-man active roster. Despite his success in his first taste of the big leagues, Schneider still appears likely to begin the upcoming season as a short-side platoon player while Cavan Biggio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Daulton Varsho appear secure as the Blue Jays' projected starters at second base, third base and left field, respectively.
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Luis Rengifo 2B | MIL
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Returns to lineup
Rengifo (hamstring) is starting at second base and batting eighth in Sunday's spring game against the Dodgers.
The 27-year-old will return to action as expected this weekend, putting him on track to be available Opening Day. Rengifo is expected to fill a super-utility role this season, though he could see a large chunk of his time at third base.
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Kolten Wong 2B | BAL
Kolten Wong: Parts ways with Baltimore
Wong was granted his release by the Orioles on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The Orioles had two days to either release Wong or add him to the big-league roster after he exercised the opt-out in his minor-league contract Friday, and the club has now made its decision. The veteran second baseman posted a .519 OPS between the Mariners and Dodgers last season and hit .185 during spring training, so he's unlikely to find much in the form of guaranteed big-league opportunities with Opening Day less than a week away.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Makes debut for Reds
Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's spring game against the Rockies.
Espinal made his first appearance since Cincinnati acquired him from Toronto last Wednesday. The infielder provides insurance in an infield that will be missing two projected starters at second and third base when the regular season begins.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: IL stint expected
Manager Matt Quatraro said Saturday that he expects Massey (back) to begin the season on the injured list, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Lower-back problems have kept Massey out of action since Tuesday, and it appears Massey's absence will extend into the regular season after initially being seen as a day-to-day issue. An IL stint for Massey likely means more playing time at second base for Adam Frazier to begin the year, though Nick Loftin may fill in against left-handed starters.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Belts first spring homer
Marte went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against the Mariners.
Marte is closing out the best spring of his career in terms of OPS (1.131). He's hit safely in 15 of 16 games, going 20-for-47 (.426) with eight extra-base hits, six RBI and 10 runs scored. The switch-hitting Marte is set to open the season as Arizona's primary second baseman and bat in the upper third of the order, likely leading off against lefties and batting second against righties.
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Kolten Wong 2B | BAL
Orioles' Kolten Wong: Prompts opt-out decision
Wong exercised the opt-out in his minor-league contract Friday, giving the Orioles two days to either release him or add him to the big-league roster, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
The veteran second baseman didn't appear likely to crack Baltimore's Opening Day roster after signing as a non-roster invitee in February, but he's apparently still in the mix after the club reassigned top prospect Jackson Holliday to minor-league camp Friday. Wong didn't exactly put his best foot forward during spring training and had a .587 OPS in 31 plate appearances, which is only marginally better than last season's .183/.256/.263 slash line.