MLB Player News

Turang went 3-for-8 (.375) with a double, an RBI, three runs, a walk and a stolen base over his last three exhibition appearances.

Turang racked up just a pair of singles over his first four games of the spring, but he got going a bit over the past week. Turang has a case to break camp with the big club, but given the glut of infielders on Milwaukee's 40-man roster, it seems most likely he will begin the season with Triple-A Nashville.

Semien went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Friday's spring game against the Athletics.

Semien is batting .320 (8-for-25) with six runs scored over nine Cactus League contests. He fell off in all the major hitting categories in 2022, his first year with the Rangers, and he needs to bounce back in 2023 to justify the seven-year, $175 million investment Texas has in him.

Biggio went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's split-squad game against Atlanta.

Getting the start at second base and hitting second, Biggio turned on an inside pitch from Spencer Strider in the third inning and drove it over the wall in right field. Biggio has gone 8-for-22 with a homer and a steal through eight Grapefruit League appearances, and the 27-year-old could see consistent playing time in a utility role this season for the Blue Jays. With a .213/.320/.353 slash line over the last two seasons, however, his primary fantasy value could lie in his position flex rather than his performance at the plate.

Alu was optioned to Triple-A Rochester by the Nationals on Friday.

Alu was added to the Nats' 40-man roster this offseason and has impressed this camp with his versatility. The 25-year-old has a good shot to debut at some point in 2023 but will get a little more seasoning first.

Polanco has yet to play in any Grapefruit League games for the Twins this spring, but that's not due to any health issues, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Polanco missed the final month of last season with a knee injury, so his absence this spring raised some concerns. However, the infielder is healthy and doing back-field work. Polanco will see some Grapefruit League action eventually and is expected to be ready to roll for Opening Day.

India has been hitting first or second most of the time in spring training so far and appears likely to hit there in the regular season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I haven't thought about the lineup too much yet, but he has proven that he's very effective in the leadoff spot," Reds manager David Bell said this week. "He's comfortable there. I still think he can hit pretty much anywhere in the lineup. For now, for spring training since he's done it, it's definitely an option and it just gets him more at-bats."

India lost 10 pounds and prioritized becoming a 'more athletic' hitter over the offseason. Multiple injuries limited India to 103 games and 431 plate appearances last season, so any reports about better conditioning should be welcomed. India has already drawn seven walks and stolen two bases while making his case for the leadoff spot.

Vargas went 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout in a Cactus League contest against Oakland on Thursday.

This was Vargas' seventh game of the spring, but he wasn't allowed to swing the bat in his first six after fracturing his right pinky finger while fielding a grounder early in camp. He was cleared to begin swinging in games ahead of Thursday's exhibition contest and nearly homered in his first at-bat, driving a ball to deep center field that bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. Now that Vargas is back to playing without restrictions, there's nothing standing in his way of opening the campaign as the Dodgers' starting second baseman.

Lowe went 2-for-2 with a solo home run Thursday in a Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

Lowe is coming off an injury-riddled 2022 season during which he racked up only 266 plate appearances due to a back issue. He's been healthy this spring and has five hits across 15 at-bats, though Thursday's homer was his first extra-base knock. Lowe should be a near everyday player at second base once the regular season begins.

Wisely was scratched from the Giants' Cactus League lineup Thursday due to a stomach virus, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Wisely, who's had a nice spring so far, should be fine after a day or two of rest. Ford Proctor will play second base instead Thursday afternoon against the Brewers.

Vargas (finger) is hitting second in the Dodgers' Cactus League lineup Thursday against the Athletics, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

And he has been given clearance to actually swing the bat in a live game for the first time since he suffered a hairline fracture to his right pinkie finger in February. Vargas should open as the primary starting second baseman in Los Angeles if all goes smoothly from this point forward. The 23-year-old struggled in his first taste of MLB action last season but posted excellent offensive numbers throughout his rise through the minors.