MLB Player News

Astudillo was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.

Astudillo was on the major-league roster bubble before spring training was shut down in March, as it wasn't clear the Twins would keep three catchers. However, he's very likely to make the initial major-league roster in the shortened 60-game season since the Twins will be able to initially keep 30 players in the majors. The uncertainty of the short season could lead the Twins to keep three catchers on the major-league roster all year, even when rosters are reduced to 26 players after four weeks.

Jung was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool Sunday.

Jung, who was drafted eighth-overall by the Rangers in 2019, is not yet on the 40-man roster and probably won't get a sniff playing time against major-league pitching in 2020. The 22-year-old third baseman appeared in 40 games at Low-A Hickory where he slashed .287/.363/.389 with one home run and 23 RBI for the Crawdads in 2019. The Rangers will continue their work, likely in the alternate training camp, to develop Jung's power stroke.

Rivera was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool and is expected to be part of the team's 30-man active roster to start the season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Rivera was expected to be part of the player pool, but a more prominent spot on the roster became likely when the Rangers released Matt Duffy. Rivera, who is a truer shortstop than Duffy, spent parts of the last five seasons in the majors for the Brewers and Marlins. The Rangers have Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the depth chart behind starting shortstop Elvis Andrus, but if the club opts to use Kiner-Falefa as the starting third baseman with Todd Frazier sliding across the diamond to first, Rivera becomes the top depth option at short. He batted .183/.258/.217 in 34 games for Miami in 2019.

Reynolds will be a part of the Royals' 60-man player pool this season, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

The 29-year-old journeyman was in camp as a non-roster invitee prior to the shutdown. He has a .223/.295/.340 slash line in 240 career MLB plate appearances.

Freeman will be a part of the Indians' 60-man player pool this season.

Freeman is one of the best prospects in Cleveland's system, and he projects to be an everyday middle infielder sometime in the next couple years. However, he played 62 games at High-A to close 2019, so he is not quite ready for significant run in the majors.

Duffy signed with the Yankees on Sunday and was added to the team's 60-man player pool.

Duffy logged 169 plate appearances with Tampa Bay last season, slashing .252/.343/.327 with a home run and 12 RBI. The utilityman should compete for a spot on the team's 30-man roster to open the 2020 campaign.

Walls is expected to be named to the Rays' 60-man roster pool, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Walls earned an invite to big-league camp but went 2-for-19 before the suspension of spring training. The 24-year-old spent most of 2019 at Double-A Montgomery and had an .825 OPS with six homers, 42 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 55 games.

Madrigal may not open the season with the White Sox, but general manager Rick Hahn envisions the second baseman making his MLB debut in 2020, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

That's the same position Madrigal was in during spring training; he was expected to open at Triple-A Charlotte then join the White Sox later in the season. "He certainly is a consideration for breaking with us and if not immediately then certainly helping us at some point over the course of this summer," Hahn said. Madrigal would initially serve as the backup at second base to Leury Garcia.

Madrigal might be part of the White Sox's roster when MLB resumes its season, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Before the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the first four months of the season, the plan was for Madrigal to open at Triple-A Charlotte and be up with the big club by now, possibly as the everyday second baseman. Without a minor-league season in place, it may be best for Madrigal's development to open the season with the White Sox and eventually ascend to the starting job.

Paredes will probably get 400-500 at-bats at the Triple-A level before making his MLB debut, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Paredes would have likely made his MLB debut at some point this season if there was a normal schedule, but with play currently delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's unclear how soon he'll be able to log those Triple-A at-bats. The 21-year-old has never appeared above Double-A, so it makes sense that the Tigers want to get him some extended time at Triple-A before pushing him to the majors. Paredes may now have to wait until 2021 for his big league debut.