MLB Player News

Lewis (knee) received clearance for spring training, but he hasn't been able to participate in workouts during MLB's ongoing lockout since he's a member of the Twins' 40-man roster, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The lockout comes at a particularly inconvenient time for a player like Lewis, a top prospect in the organization who hasn't played an official game in affiliated ball since 2019. After he was unable to play in 2020 because of the cancellation of the minor-league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis missed all of 2021 after tearing the ACL in his right knee last February and undergoing surgery. The 22-year-old was at least able to prove his health by taking part in the Twins' final two Instructional League games in mid-October, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, but Lewis would surely benefit from getting in regular at-bats during intrasquad games this spring, even against minor-league competition. Unfortunately, because of his status as a 40-man player, Lewis isn't available to work out in a team setting, and he'll be ineligible to report to any of the Twins' minor-league affiliates when the season begins in early April if the lockout remains in place. Lewis received only 148 plate appearances at the Double-A level upon earning a mid-season promotion in 2019, but because he's missed more than two years of development time, the Twins could be willing to fast track him to Triple-A St. Paul once the lockout ends.

Muncy (elbow) said Friday in an interview with David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports that he's resumed swinging a bat and expects to be ready for the start of the season. "Hopefully [my elbow is] ready for Opening Day," Muncy said. "That was the plan and we were on track for that. Hopefully it is not going to affect me too much, but I can't answer that until we get out there."

Muncy wasn't available for the Dodgers' postseason run last fall after he suffered a torn UCL and dislocation of his left elbow in the regular-season finale. Before the MLB lockout began, Muncy might have faced an uphill battle gaining clearance for Opening Day, but commissioner Rob Manfred's decision to postpone at least the first week of regular season games improves the 31-year-old's odds of avoiding missed time. It's worth noting, however, that because of the lockout, Muncy hasn't had the chance to meet with team trainers since December, so fantasy managers that are considering drafting him will have to put a lot of faith in the player's own assessment of his health. Muncy, who enters the upcoming season with eligibility at both first and second base in the majority of fantasy leagues, proved mostly durable in the 2021 campaign, appearing in 144 games while slashing .249/.368/.527 with 36 home runs, 95 runs, 94 RBI and two stolen bases.

Rendon (hamstring) should be "full go" once the lockout ends and camp begins, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Rendon struggled to a .240/.329/.382 slash line in 58 games to start the 2021 season before missing the entire second half due to a hamstring injury which wound up requiring surgery. Reports from early November indicated that the veteran third baseman was expecting to be ready for the start of spring training, and it looks as though he's continued on the right path, with the delayed start of the season buying him even more time to heal.

Muncy (elbow) is getting closer to swinging a bat and has a chance to be ready for the start of the season, as he told the Bleed Los podcast.

Muncy is a player who would undoubtedly benefit from the delayed start to the season, although the lockout prevents his recovery process from unfolding under the watchful eyes of the Dodgers training staff for the time being.

Jung is expected to be sidelined for 6-to-8 months after he underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left labrum, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung was shut down last week after suffering the injury while lifting weights, but a decision on whether he would require surgery wasn't immediately made. Now that Jung has opted for the procedure, he's expected to be sidelined until September at the earliest, effectively closing the door on the top prospect's chances of making his MLB debut this season. Even once he completes his rehab program, Jung will be limited to designated hitter duties rather than playing at third base. Jung's injury at least tentatively clears the way for Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to open the season in an everyday role for Texas at the hot corner.

LeMahieu said Thursday that he's fully healthy again following October surgery to repair a sports hernia, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

LeMahieu noted that he's been able to take batting practice for much of the winter, so getting his timing back at the plate shouldn't be much of an issue once the lockout ends and the Yankees are able to reconvene for workouts. After posting a career-best 1.011 OPS during the 60-game 2020 campaign, LeMahieu took a major step back in the slugging department in 2021, posting an .094 ISO. He was at least able to maintain his strong eye at the plate, walking in a career-best 10.9 percent of his plate appearances while striking out a modest 13.8 percent of the time.

Jung experienced left shoulder discomfort while lifting weights last week and has been shut down with a labral strain, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Jung is considered one of the more interesting prospects set to debut this season, as he hit .326/.398/.592 across the two highest levels of the minors in 2021 and has a clear path to the third base job in Texas. He's unfortunately now suffered a preseason injury two years in a row, as a stress fracture in his left foot last March pushed his season debut back to mid-June. Exactly how much time this particular injury will wind up costing him won't become clear until a follow-up visit next week and will depend in part on whether or not the season is delayed, but it may mean that Isiah Kiner-Falefa ends up remaining the starter at the hot corner for longer than previously expected.

Moustakas is a good candidate to be the Reds' designated hitter with the NL adopting the DH in 2022, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

With Jonathan India firmly ensconced at second base, Moustakas doesn't have a full-time position right now, and even though he's on the left-handed hitting side of a potential third base platoon, he's a lesser defender. Moreover, he's been injury-prone throughout his career, including his tenure with the Reds. The addition of the DH helps Moustakas out tremendously.

Alvarez has joined the Brewers as an assistant in the baseball operations department, the organization announced Friday.

Alvarez's move into Milwaukee's front office effectively signals the end of his playing days. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2008 first-year player draft, Alvarez reached the big leagues in 2010 and spent parts of nine seasons in the majors with the Pirates and Orioles. The power-hitting corner infielder was named an All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2013 after bashing a career-high 36 home runs, and he had three other seasons with at least 20 long balls. However, Alvarez's poor contact rates and lack of defensive flexibility played a large part in his playing days being over after his age-31 season.

Bregman (wrist) was cleared to resume hitting Friday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.

Bregman underwent right wrist surgery in early November and appears to be on track in his recovery. The 27-year-old remains hopeful that he'll be ready for the start of spring training.