MLB Player News
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John Gil 3B | ATL
Braves' John Gil: Goes yard for second straight day
Gil went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's split-squad game against the Twins.
Getting the start at DH, Gil homered for the second straight day when he crushed a 94.5 mph fastball from Eric Orze over the left-field fence. Per Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the ball left Gil's bat at 109.7 mph. The 19-year-old shortstop's bat may be catching up to his glove and legs, a process that appeared to start last season when he slashed .328/.425/.568 over 31 games after the All-Star break for Single-A Augusta before a late cup of coffee with Double-A Columbus. Gil is showing early signs of a full breakout as a prospect in 2026.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Back in action Tuesday
Lewis (side) is starting at third base and batting leadoff in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
The third baseman has been sidelined the past few days after some side tightness cropped up last week, but he's ready to rejoin the lineup after having an MRI come back clean and going through live batting practice Sunday. Given Lewis' extensive injury history, fantasy managers should still keep on eye on his health status throughout spring training.
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TJ Rumfield 3B | COL
Rockies' T.J. Rumfield: Impressing new club
Rumfield is making a case to be the primary first baseman for the Rockies to begin the season, Stephen Harding of MLB.com reports.
Rumfield was very productive in the minor leagues while working his way through the Yankees' minor-league system, but he was ultimately blocked and never got a chance to reach the majors. His outlook changed when he was traded to the Rockies in late January, and he has taken advantage early in spring, slugging three home runs across 16 at-bats while striking out only once. Harding currently projects Rumfield to start at first base against right-handed pitching, with Blaine Crim a potential complement to step into the lineup against lefties.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Should return this week
Lewis (side) participated in a session of live batting practice Sunday and could rejoin Minnesota's Grapefruit League lineup as early as Tuesday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old was scratched from the lineup last Thursday due to right side tightness, but he had an MRI come back negative and resumed baseball activities over the weekend. Lewis had injury troubles once again in 2025 with hamstring and quadriceps issues, but he still played in a career-high 106 games. The side injury appears to be a minor concern, but any spring health problems are worth keeping an eye on given Lewis' injury history.
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Cubs' Alex Bregman: Hits first spring home run
Bregman went 2-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
Bregman connected for his first Cactus League home run as a member of the Cubs, and he's now slashing a robust .455/.571/.909 this spring. The talented third baseman will next play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic before returning to camp. Bregman dealt with a quadriceps strain last year that limited him to only 114 regular-season games for the Red Sox, his fewest in a season since 2021. He's fully healthy now and should slot into the heart of Chicago's lineup to begin the year.
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Not expected to be platooned
Cubs manager Craig Counsell suggested Saturday that Busch won't be deployed in a platoon to open the season and has earned the right to play regularly versus left-handed pitchers, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Busch is coming off a breakthrough 2025 campaign in which he slashed .261/.343/.523 with 34 home runs, but the left-handed-hitting first baseman was largely shielded from same-handed pitching and did the overwhelming share of his damage versus righties, whom he faced for 497 of his 592 regular-season plate appearances. The Cubs signed the right-handed-hitting Tyler Austin this winter with the intention of having him fill the short side of a platoon, but with Austin now set to miss multiple months after recently undergoing a knee procedure, Counsell appears content to give Busch a full run of at-bats at first base. While the added exposure to lefties could lead to a drop in his batting average, Busch could increase his output in the counting categories due to the higher overall volume of plate appearances.
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Brady House 3B | WAS
Nationals' Brady House: Keeps slugging Saturday
House went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.
The 22-year-old third baseman has been swinging a hot bat to begin spring training. Through four games, House has gone 5-for-11 with two doubles and two homers while posting a 0:3 BB:K. Plate discipline remains a concern after he posted an atrocious 8:78 BB:K in 274 plate appearances during his big-league debut last season, helping drag down his .234/.252/.322 slash line, but House has power potential if he can learn to make more consistent contact.
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Isaac Paredes 3B | HOU
Astros' Isaac Paredes: Homers in spring debut
Paredes went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Pirates.
Paredes started his spring with a bang, launching a homer off Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler in the fifth inning. There are no doubts about Paredes' power potential -- he's hit 90 home runs over the last four seasons. However, there is a lingering question about where exactly he'll fit in Houston's lineup. Paredes served as the DH on Saturday, a spot expected to be occupied by Yordan Alvarez in the regular season. While his name has swirled in trade rumors for much of the winter, it's starting to appear more likely than not that Paredes will remain in Houston for now, in some kind of utility role.
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Nacho Alvarez Jr. 3B | ATL
Braves' Nacho Alvarez: Optioned to Triple-A
Atlanta optioned Alvarez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
The 22-year-old was attempting to earn a roster spot as a utility player, but he instead ends up being one of the first cuts of camp. Alvarez played 58 big-league games last season and had a .234/.296/.330 slash line with two home runs in 208 plate appearances.
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Graham Pauley 3B | MIA
Marlins' Graham Pauley: Good to go at DH
Pauley (forearm) is batting sixth as the designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Pauley has dealt with tightness in his right forearm early in camp, but he's set to make his spring debut Sunday. The 25-year-old likely won't be fully cleared until he's deemed ready to handle defensive duties, but he still has plenty of time to do so ahead of Opening Day.