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Josh Donaldson 3B | MIL
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Leading off Friday
Donaldson will bat leadoff in Friday's matchup against the Red Sox, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Manager Aaron Boone indicated late in camp that Donaldson could lead off on occasion during the regular season, and the 36-year-old will get the opportunity to do so on Opening Day. Donaldson mainly hit in the No. 2 spot with the Twins last year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Yankees move him around between different prominent spots in the order to find the best fit early in his tenure with the club.
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Willians Astudillo 3B | MIA
Marlins' Willians Astudillo: Left off Opening Day roster
Astudillo isn't on the Marlins' Opening Day roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Astudillo served as a non-roster invitee this spring and hit .286 with a double and two RBI across nine Grapefruit League contests. He was unable to break camp with the big-league club but will be a candidate to serve as utility depth at some point.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: On minor-league IL
Jung (shoulder) was placed on Triple-A Round Rock's 60-day injured list Thursday.
Since Jung isn't on the Rangers' 40-man roster, the team reassigned him to the minors after he suffered a torn labrum in February that later required surgery. As a result, he'll be on the IL of the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate rather than the big club. Jung is expected to require 6-to-8 months to recover from surgery, making it unlikely that he comes off Round Rock's 60-day IL until September.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Agrees to contract extension
Hayes signed an eight-year, $70 million contract extension with the Pirates on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Hayes showed promise with the Pirates while appearing in 96 major-league games last year, hitting .257 with six homers, 49 runs, 38 RBI and nine steals. He's a key player for the rebuilding Pittsburgh club and will be rewarded with a long-term deal that includes a team option for a ninth season. The 25-year-old dealt with a minor ankle sprain late in camp but is healthy to begin the 2022 campaign.
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Jason Vosler 3B | SEA
Giants' Jason Vosler: Misses out on Opening Day roster
Vosler was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Vosler appeared in 11 Cactus League games this spring and hit .143 with two doubles, two runs, two RBI and one stolen base. Even though the Giants are dealing with several injuries to their infielders early in the season, the 28-year-old will begin the year in the minors.
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Evan Longoria 3B | ARI
Giants' Evan Longoria: Placed on injured list
Longoria (finger) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
A trip to the injured list was always expected after Longoria underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger in mid-March. The fact that he was placed on the 10-day IL rather than the 60-day IL indicates the Giants think he can return before early June, which matches up with the initial six-week timetable he was given at the time of the surgery.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
White Sox's Jake Burger: Called up, starting Opening Day
The White Sox recalled Burger from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. Manager Tony LaRussa said Burger will start at third base and bat ninth in Friday's season opener in Detroit, per Fegan.
Less than a week after he was optioned to the minors, Burger will be rejoining the White Sox after Yoan Moncada was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 oblique strain. Though the addition of Burger adds some reinforcements at third base, the 26-year-old won't necessarily be in store for a full-time role while Moncada is out. The Tigers are bringing a lefty (Eduardo Rodriguez) to the mound Friday, so the righty-hitting Burger could just be included in the lineup due to the platoon advantage being in his favor. Per Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago, Andrew Vaughn was seen taking reps at the hot corner during Thursday's team workout and could be an option at the position, while utility man Leury Garcia may also factor into the equation at third base.
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Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Out three weeks
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday that Moncada has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 oblique strain that is expected to keep him sidelined for three weeks, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Hahn provided the timeline for Moncada just minutes after the White Sox officially set their 28-man active roster for Opening Day by placing the 26-year-old on the 10-day injured list. While Moncada is sidelined, Jake Burger, Andrew Vaughn and Leury Garcia could all be candidates to pick up work at third base.
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Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Begins season on IL
The White Sox placed Moncada on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right oblique strain, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
The move is retroactive to Tuesday, so Moncada won't be eligible to make his season debut until April 15. The White Sox had previously indicated that Moncada tweaked a side muscle upon exiting Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, but follow-up tests evidently confirmed that he strained his oblique. According to Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago, Andrew Vaughn was spotted practicing at third base Thursday during the White Sox's team workout, so he could step in to replace Moncada at the hot corner for Friday's season opener in Detroit.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Starting at third base
Hayes (ankle) is starting Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Hayes didn't appear in any spring games after March 25 due to a minor ankle sprain, but he'll start at the hot corner and bat third during Thursday's Opening Day matchup. The 25-year-old appeared in 96 games for Pittsburgh last year and hit .257 with six homers, 49 runs, 38 RBI and nine stolen bases.