MLB Player News

Riley replaced Adonis Garcia in Saturday's split-squad game against the Marlins and went 2-for-2 with a double.

The No. 6 prospect in a deep Braves farm system, the 19-year-old Riley popped 20 home runs in Low-A Rome last year and has a huge ceiling if he can get his strikeouts under control. He'll head back to minor league camp when it begins next week and is years away from his major league debut, but he's made a good first impression on the big club.

Rendon went 2-for-3 with a double in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Coming off his second career 20-home run season, the 26-year-old could be just entering his prime as a hitter. Rendon will need to stay healthy, something he's struggled with in the past, but if he stays on the field he could be poised to top the .824 OPS he recorded in 2014.

Rockies manager Bud Black said he'll likely keep LeMahieu near the top of the lineup, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

In this case, the 2016 NL batting champion again will occupy the two-hole most often behind Charlie Blackmon. LeMahieu crossed the plate 104 times last year, which fueled his fantasy value just as much as the .348 batting average, and keeping a spot near the top increases the odds he'll come close to scoring that much again in this lethal lineup. This news doesn't make Trevor Story owners happy. He'd likely bat seventh with LeMahieu at No. 2.

Peterson will compete with Chase d'Arnaud for the primary utility spot on the Braves' bench, Zak Kerr of MLB.com reports.

For a rebuilding club, the Braves actually have a fairly set starting lineup following the acquisition of Brandon Phillips, so playing time could be tough to come by for the team's bench. Peterson's better offensive resume could make him manager Brian Snitker's preferred option when someone needs a rest, but the team also lacks any depth in the outfield -- starters Matt Kemp, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis are currently the only outfielders on the 40-man roster -- so if d'Arnaud or Peterson show they can handle center field on a semi-regular basis, they could see enough at-bats to become a viable option in deep NL-only leagues.

Anderson will continue playing third base in the minor leagues this season rather than beginning a transition into a utility role, The Sun-Sentinel reports. "We want to make sure we don't screw up his development by putting him in different spots," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said over the weekend. "We really like him at third. We don't want to back that up. We want to let him develop at third base."

The 23-year-old hit .302/.377/.440 in 49 games at High-A last year before stumbling after a promotion to Double-A, but he bounced back in the Arizona Fall League, leading the circuit with five home runs in just 22 games. Anderson isn't likely to dislodge Martin Prado from third base anytime soon, meaning his best chance at cracking the major league roster down the road will probably come via a bench role; for now, the Marlins are content to let him work on his defense at third and develop as a hitter.

With a crowded infield, Asuaje may find it hard to make the Opening Day roster.

Asuaje participated in winter ball in hopes of competing for a utility role with the club. After the Padres added Erick Aybar to their spring training roster, it appears that Asuaje may be out of luck of the veteran shortstop makes the Opening Day roster. Even if Aybar doesn't make the cut, Allen Cordoba's ability to play shortstop and Rule 5 label would make him the preferred option over the 25-year-old second baseman. Starting the 2017 season in the minors seems like the likely outcome for Asuaje.

Peterson will begin the season on the Braves' bench following the acquisition of Brandon Phillips, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

He was already going to have to compete with Sean Rodriguez for playing time at second base, but after Rodriguez's shoulder injury led to the trade for Phillips, the depth chart at the keystone got shaken up. Peterson saw brief action last season in the outfield and one game at third base, but should transition into a utility role on a full-time basis in 2017.

Arenado will suit up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The MVP candidate will join a star-studded roster that also features Alex Bregman and Matt Carpenter to man the hot corner for the US. Arenado stuffed the stat sheet last season with 41 home runs, 133 RBI and 116 runs, and he'll look to build upon that staggering performance in 2017.

Peterson is expected to begin the season as the Braves starting second baseman.

He didn't do much with his 350 at-bats last year, and with top prospect Ozzie Albies knocking on the door, Peterson's hold on the starting job at the keystone may only last until Albies clears the Super-2 deadline in May, which makes him a risky fantasy investment even as a late-round pick. Long-term, Peterson may have to transition to a utility role to keep his spot on the 25-man roster.

Reynolds will compete for a bench role with the Mets this spring.

He made his regular season debut for the team last year, but his .225/.266/.416 slash line and 35.4 percent strikeout rate in 89 at-bats were eyesores. Reynolds could win a utility role this spring, but with Jose Reyes and Wilmer Flores locked into similar roles and Ty Kelly seemingly having jumped him on the organizational depth chart, Reynolds will more likely head back to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the season.