MLB Player News
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Opening Day availability in peril
Manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Henderson's status for the Orioles' March 27 season opener in Toronto is up in the air after the shortstop was diagnosed with a mild intercostal muscle strain, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
While Henderson's condition has improved since he sustained the injury last Thursday, the Orioles plan to proceed cautiously with the 23-year-old star with the aim of avoiding a setback that could extend his recovery timeline. Hyde's comments suggest that Henderson's return to the Grapefruit League lineup isn't imminent, though the skipper remains "very, very hopeful" that Henderson will be ready for the start of the season. Even if Henderson isn't back to 100 percent in advance of Opening Day, he shouldn't be in store for an extended absence to begin the season, but the uncertainty of his status is reason enough for fantasy managers to bump him down at least a few spots on their draft boards.
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Cam Collier 3B | CIN
Reds' Cam Collier: Reassigned to minors camp
The Reds reassigned Collier to minor-league camp Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The top prospect saw some Cactus League action, going 1-for-8 at the dish, but he never had a real chance to make the Opening Day roster. Collier, 20, posted a .798 OPS with 20 homers at High-A Dayton in 2024 and could either head back there to start this season or move up to Double-A Chattanooga.
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Matthew Batten 3B | ATL
Braves' Matthew Batten: Nets MiLB deal from Atlanta
Atlanta signed Batten to a minor-league contract Feb. 21 that includes an invitation to spring training.
Batten has already seen action in three Grapefruit League games for Atlanta, going 1-for-5 with an RBI. The 29-year-old is likely to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Gwinnett serving as utility depth.
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Vinny Capra 3B | BOS
Brewers' Vinny Capra: Socks fourth spring homer
Capra went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and a stolen base in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Reds.
Few players have been as hot this spring as Capra, who is now up to four homers and two steals in just 17 at-bats. The journeyman has appeared in just 20 big-league games and figures to open the regular season with Triple-A Nashville, but he does occupy a spot on Milwaukee's 40-man roster, so he remains in the mix for the time being.
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Brett Harris 3B | ATH
Athletics' Brett Harris: Battling oblique strain
The Athletics announced Tuesday that Harris is recovering from a left oblique strain, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The injury explains why Harris hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since Wednesday. While a timeline for Harris' return to game action hasn't been established, the oblique strain could effectively spell an end to the 26-year-old's bid for winning a spot on the Opening Day roster as a reserve infielder. Harris reached the big leagues for the first time in 2024, slashing .146/.276/.262 with a 14.2 percent walk rate and 20.3 percent strikeout rate over 123 plate appearances for the Athletics.
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Jeimer Candelario 3B | LAA
Reds' Jeimer Candelario: Out after having tooth pulled
Candelario is currently sidelined after having a painful wisdom tooth pulled Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Candelario left camp Monday for an appointment and then returned to the dentist Tuesday to have the tooth extracted. He should be ready to play again in a day or two. Candelario is slated for regular playing time with the Reds this season, likely between both corner infield spots and designated hitter.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Making return Tuesday
Machado (back) will start at third base and bat cleanup in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Giants.
As anticipated, Machado will make his return to the lineup for the first time since last Tuesday, after a bout with back tightness prompted the Padres to hold him out. The fact that the Padres are deploying Machado in the field Tuesday rather than at designated hitter suggests that the team doesn't have much concern about the back issue being something that will require extra management throughout the spring.
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Rafael Devers 3B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Not ready for spring debut yet
Devers (shoulders) will not make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Rays as initially anticipated, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Devers has been slow-played this spring following last season's shoulder issues and doesn't feel up to speed yet while taking live batting practice, so he has asked Red Sox manager Alex Cora to delay his spring debut a bit. This seems to be more about Devers wanting to get his timing down and not any kind of physical setback, but the potential red flags are starting to pile up this spring with the 28-year-old.
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Justyn-Henry Malloy 3B | TB
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Inside track on roster spot?
Malloy seems well positioned to earn a roster spot coming out of camp, though he's still competing with several other players for a utility role, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Malloy's biggest selling point is probably his ability to hit lefties, and he sported an .893 OPS against southpaws across 61 regular-season plate appearances last year as a rookie. The 25-year-old is a bit limited defensively, serving mostly as a DH and occasionally playing in the corner outfield spots, though he is experimenting some at first base in camp. Spencer Torkelson profiles similarly as a lefty masher and is likely Malloy's top competition for a roster spot this spring. Ryan Kreidler is also in the mix for a utility role off the bench.
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Mike Moustakas 3B | CHW
Mike Moustakas: Ready for retirement
Moustakas announced Monday that he's retiring.
Moustakas spent time across five organizations during his 13-year MLB career, finishing with a .247 batting average, 215 home runs and 683 RBI over 1,427 games. He'll sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Royals on May 31 to retire with the club he won a World Series with.