MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Hensley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Hensley went just 6-for-34 with 17 strikeouts this spring. The 27-year-old will be utilized in a utility role with Sugar Land.

Westburg was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Blue Jays after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Westburg initially stayed in to run the bases after being struck by an Anders Tolhurst pitch in the top of the fourth inning but was removed before the bottom of the frame. The Orioles were likely just being cautious here, but more should be known on Westburg's condition after the game.

The Phillies optioned Castro to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Castro was a longshot to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster following the signing of Whit Merrifield, and the former's .646 OPS over 32 plate appearances during spring training didn't help his chances. The 24-year-old played in 92 games between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh last season but had a .211/.297/.322 slash line and 28.9 percent strikeout rate.

McNeil (biceps) is starting at second base and batting cleanup in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Discomfort in his left biceps has kept McNeil out of Grapefruit League action thus far, but he'll make his spring debut Tuesday after playing five frames in a minor-league game over the weekend. The 31-year-old is poised to open the campaign as the Mets' primary second baseman and will get in a few game appearances ahead of the March 28 opener versus Milwaukee.

The Brewers optioned Miller to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Miller moved between the majors and minors with the Brewers last season and had a .674 OPS in 90 big-league games. Barring some infield injuries for Milwaukee late in camp, the 27-year-old will open 2024 at Nashville, where he had a .283/.336/.472 slash line last year.

The Brewers reassigned Black to minor-league camp Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Black entered camp seemingly with a shot to win a wide-open competition at third base, but that job looks as though it could go to Joey Ortiz to begin the season. The top prospect could still get a look with the big club sooner rather than later if he can get off to a nice start at Triple-A Nashville.

The Brewers optioned Dunn to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Dunn showed well this spring with an .876 OPS, one home run and four stolen bases over 14 Cactus League contests. The 26-year-old has yet to appear in the majors but seems to have a good shot to debut at some point during the 2024 season.

Ibanez has played well this spring and likely has locked up an Opening Day roster spot, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Ibanez was a pleasant surprise for the Tigers last season and he's carried that over into camp, as he's now popped four home runs in 15 Grapefruit League contests to go along with a .963 OPS. The utility player doesn't have a regular home on the diamond, but if he keeps swinging a hot bat, he may force his way into the lineup more often.

The Yankees optioned Vivas to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Vivas was traded to the Yankees in December after spending last season in the Dodgers' minor-league system between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He slashed .269/.381/.407 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI over 609 plate appearances while stealing 25 bases in the minors in 2023. Vivas will start 2024 in Triple-A and could make his major-league debut should the Yankees be in need of an infielder or left-handed bat.

Atlanta reassigned Lopez to minor-league camp March 5.

Lopez didn't make much of a push for a spot on the Opening Day roster, as Atlanta had several other players with prior MLB experience competing with him for a utility role. The 27-year-old switch hitter, who appeared in 76 big-league games with the Reds over the past three seasons, is expected to report to Triple-A Gwinnett to begin the 2024 campaign.