MLB Player News

Choi (elbow) will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth against the Yankees on Thursday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

The 31-year-old will be making his first start of the spring and his Pirates debut after undergoing surgery in November to remove a bone fragment from his right elbow. Choi was traded in the offseason after slashing .233/.341/.388 with 11 homers in 113 games with the Rays last season. Health permitting, he should start against most right-handed pitchers to begin 2023.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Lewis (legs) is expected to make his spring training debut "by the weekend," Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

The manager said Lewis has been dealing with leg fatigue, likely the result of numerous knee problems during his major-league career. The outfielder was the AL Rookie of the Year while with the Mariners in 2020 but has done little since.

Ruf (wrist) took batting practice in an indoor cage over the weekend and is expected to move up to live batting practice in the next couple days, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 36-year-old slugger got a cortisone shot in his right wrist last week after reporting some soreness as he was ramping up his activity level. Ruf is expected to be fully healthy by Opening Day, but he'll likely be limited to a platoon role this year, getting some starts at DH and being used as a pinch hitter against left-handed pitching.

Blackmon (knee) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter in Sunday's spring game against the Brewers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Blackmon ended the 2022 campaign on the injured list with a torn meniscus in his left knee, but he's ready to go early in spring training for the Rockies. The 36-year-old had a .264/.314/.419 slash line with 16 home runs and 78 RBI in 135 games last season, and he should serve as Colorado's primary designated hitter this year, which is the final season of his contract.

Lewis is working on strengthening his legs and will be a non-participant in early spring games, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. "We have a plan and a process for him to just continue making sure that he's as game ready as possible," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Lewis' absence from game action was predetermined. Acquired from Seattle during the offseason, Lewis has dealt with knee problems throughout his career and managed to play in just 100 combined games over the last two years, including minor-league activity.

Solak (foot) is starting in left field and batting seventh in Sunday's spring game against the Giants, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Solak ended last season on the injured list with a fractured right foot but is good to go early in spring training. The 28-year-old was acquired by the Reds from the Rangers in November and will compete for a utility role in camp.

Encarnacion-Strand (back) was a full participant Thursday at Reds camp, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Encarnacion-Strand came into spring training with a bit of back discomfort, but it doesn't seem to be an issue at this point. He was moving well at third base Thursday at the Reds' complex and also took part in live batting practice. The 23-year-old could feasibly push to make his MLB debut in the second half of the 2023 season after delivering a stellar .304/.368/.587 slash line with 32 home runs and 114 RBI in 122 games last summer between the High-A and Double-A levels.

Harper (elbow) progressed to taking dry swings Thursday as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Harper's rehab is going "great" and expects the slugger to join the team in camp by March 8 or 9. He's obviously got a long way to go and many hoops to jump through in his recovery, but the hope is that Harper can return as a designated hitter before the All-Star break and as an outfielder at some point in the second half.

Canha revealed Wednesday that he had trouble maintaining his weight last season because of gastritis, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, a condition which made it "hard for me to get calories and be comfortable, so a lot of times I wouldn't eat very much because I was afraid of getting a stomachache," Canha said. The good news is the gastritis has subsided, allowing Canha to put some muscle back on during offseason workouts. The outfielder is hoping that the added bulk will lead to more power, with Canha having a goal of hitting 10 more home runs than the 13 he clubbed in 2022.

The Pirates announced Wednesday that Choi will be on a modified program for spring training while he ramps up from the surgery he underwent in November to remove a bone fragment from his right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Though Choi has experienced no unexpected setbacks in his recovery from the elbow procedure, the Pirates seem content to slowly integrate him into drills to ensure he's in optimal health by the time Opening Day arrives. Because of his elbow surgery, however, the Korea Baseball Organization chose to remove Choi from its 30-man roster for the World Baseball Classic earlier this month, despite the 31-year-old expressing confidence that he was healthy enough to play. Choi should still be able to get in plenty of at-bats during the Pirates' Grapefruit League schedule, though he may not be ready to make his spring debut during the first week of games.