MLB Player News

The Reds selected Vosler's contract Thursday.

Vosler had a strong showing in the Cactus League this spring and might be a regular option between first base and designated for the Reds as the season gets underway. He's actually starting at first base and batting fifth in Thursday's Opening Day game against the Pirates. The 29-year-old posted an .812 OPS in 111 plate appearances last season with San Francisco.

Castro is absent from the Pirates' lineup for Thursday's opener against the Reds.

Castro struggled this spring which caused him to lose the grip on his presumed starting role at second base. It will be Ji Hwan Bae at the keystone Thursday. The switch-hitting Castro figures to start at second against lefties, although it probably won't be a strict platoon.

The Nationals placed Kieboom on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder impingement.

Kieboom had a setback with his shoulder in early March. He's been doing some light workouts but it will probably be several weeks before he can return.

Farmer is not in the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day game against the Royals.

Jose Miranda is ready to play third base after battling a shoulder injury early in spring training, and the Twins will go with Joey Gallo and Nick Gordon on the right side of the infield against right-hander Zack Greinke. Trevor Larnach gets the start in left field. Farmer hit .308 with four homers during exhibition play and figures to be active early on -- just not as an everyday starter.

Urshela will start at shortstop for the Angels on Opening Day, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Urshela played only two games at shortstop with Minnesota last season, but he saw action there in 28 contests with the Yankees in 2021. The veteran will likely cede starts at shortstop to Luis Rengifo and David Fletcher (abdomen) occasionally, but he can also play all three other infield positions, so Urshela may have a near-everyday role with Los Angeles during the coming campaign.

Nevin (oblique) is on track to begin a rehab assignment at a minor-league affiliate this weekend, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The Tigers will formally place Nevin (oblique) on the 10-day injured list at some point prior to Thursday's season opener at Tampa Bay, but the fact that he'll be taking part in games this weekend suggests he'll likely be in line for a minimum-length stay on the shelf. Once he's activated, the righty-hitting Nevin could occupy the smaller side of a platoon at third base with the lefty-hitting Nick Maton.

Lewis (knee) has been taking live at-bats in Florida and will soon advance to baserunning, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Lewis was placed on the 60-day injured list back in February as he continues his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. The current belief is that he could be ready to begin appearing in extended spring training games around mid-April. A lengthy minor-league rehab assignment would then follow. The 23-year-old infielder may be an option for the major-league roster in early June if all continues to go well.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Moncada (back) has been cleared to play in Thursday's opener against the Astros, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

The White Sox were holding off on any announcements regarding Moncada's availability until he got through a workout Wednesday, and that evidently went off without a hitch. The third baseman had been dealing with some lower-back stiffness, but it won't be enough of an obstacle to keep him off the diamond to start the season. Moncada will be trying to bounce back from a dreadful 2022 campaign which saw him post just a .626 OPS.

Anderson will play right field "quite a bit" at the start of the season for the Brewers, manager Craig Counsell told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com on Wednesday.

It seemed when Anderson was first signed back in January that the plan was to play him primarily at third base as Luis Urias slid over to second. However, Tyrone Taylor's (elbow) injury created an opening in right field and Brice Turang seized the second base gig, allowing Urias to stay at third and Anderson to play right. His leash figures to be pretty short, though, as the Brewers have some talented young outfielders waiting at Triple-A Nashville and also Jesse Winker available to play the outfield when he's not at designated hitter.

Rafaela will begin the 2023 season with Double-A Portland, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Many expected Rafaela to open in Triple-A after he finished the 2022 campaign with the Sea Dogs, but the 22-year-old will get more action in the Eastern League before moving on to Triple-A. A source tells Starr that the organization wants the right-handed hitter to work on his approach at the plate without having to adjust to the higher level. Even with the outfielder opening the season in Double-A, there's a chance Rafaela spends time with the major-league club before the season comes to a close.