MLB Player News

Moustakas has gone 3-for-6 with a home run in Cactus League action this spring.

Moustakas signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies on March 5 and had been ramping up by participating in live batting practice. He's since been in the lineup twice, with one appearance coming at designated hitter and the other third base. If Moustakas can remain healthy, he should have a chance to make the team out of spring training, though he'll have to surpass at least Elehuris Montero in order to have a regular spot in the lineup.

The Rays are targeting a return for Walls (oblique) on Thursday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Walls has been out of action since the beginning of spring training with an oblique strain. The Rays and manager Kevin Cash have insisted that the infielder would be ready for the start of the regular season, and a return to the Grapefruit League lineup two weeks before the start of the campaign seems to make that likely. Walls will likely serve as a utility infielder in 2023, and his role won't have much fantasy relevance unless he earns a bigger opportunity.

Groshans is dealing with a sore shoulder, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Groshans made a pair of diving plays Friday and visited a doctor about his shoulder the next day. While that may not bode well, a specific diagnosis beyond "soreness" has yet to emerge. Groshans could win a bench spot this spring after appearing in 17 big-league games last season, though the recent addition of Yuli Gurriel could hurt his chances.

Miranda (shoulder) began a throwing progression Friday without issues, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Shoulder soreness popped up for Miranda early in camp and forced him to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic. Whether or not he'll be able to handle the hot corner by Opening Day is unclear, but he'll at least be able to serve as the designated hitter, the position he's been playing so far this spring.

Hayes (thumb) will lead off and play third base Saturday against the Yankees.

Hayes had been held out of game action since Thursday while dealing with thumb soreness, but the injury never appeared to be a major one. He'd been able to hit in the cage despite the injury and should have plenty of time to get up to full speed by Opening Day.

Ramos went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Friday against the Cubs in Cactus League action.

Ramos has racked up 17 at-bats in the Cactus League this spring and has collected seven hits in that span while striking out just twice. Friday's homer came off Ryan Borucki and marked Ramos' first extra-base hit of the exhibition season. He won't challenge for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he should start the season with Double-A Birmingham and could earn an audition in the majors by the close of the campaign.

Senzel (toe) is on track to make his Cactus League debut early next week, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Senzel has had some setbacks with his running as he works his way back from two surgeries on his fractured left big toe. However, he's made nice progress of late and Reds manager David Bell said Friday that Senzel's batting practice has been the best he's ever seen it. He would seem to still be a question mark for Opening Day, but if Senzel can keep moving in the right direction he's got a shot to avoid an injured list stint.

Nevin has been diagnosed with a mild left oblique strain, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Nevin suffered the injury earlier this week during batting practice. He's shut down from baseball activities for now and could very well be unavailable for Opening Day even as the strain is being deemed minor.

Suarez is hitting .214 (3-for-14) with a double, a solo home run, a walk, a stolen base and four runs across six Cactus League games thus far.

Suarez last appeared in Cactus League action Saturday, as he's currently toiling for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. The slugger has struck out eight times in 15 spring training plate appearances overall, so he's certainly been more famine than feast at the plate thus far. However, Suarez managed to deliver 31 homers for the second straight season during his 2022 Mariners debut campaign despite posting a career-high 31.2 percent strikeout rate, so the poor contact won't necessarily impede his power numbers if it remains similarly elevated.

Hayes was held out of the Pirates' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to soreness in his left thumb, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Hayes did have no issue hitting in the cage, so this is perhaps just a minor blip. The 26-year-old third baseman has been plagued by a few different injuries in his young MLB career, including a lingering one around his left hand/wrist. It was lower-back trouble that largely took the blame after his rough .244/.314/.345 batting line last season.