MLB Player News

Carpenter could be manager Mike Shildt's most logical choice to fill the designated hitter role that will be universally implemented during the truncated 2020 regular season, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Earlier in the shutdown of play, it had already been speculated the veteran infielder would make for a strong candidate were the DH to be a National League staple during the 2020 campaign. With official confirmation of such having come to pass, Rogers explains that Carpenter likely remains the odds-on favorite to fill the role most days. Not only is Carpenter an accomplished hitter, but there would be no defensive drop-off with having Tommy Edman replace him at third base. Such a development would not only get Edman's impressive bat in the lineup on a regular basis, it would also have the domino effect of freeing up space in the outfield for another one of the team's array of impressive young players.

Ozuna (facial laceration) could be used as Atlanta's primary designated hitter this season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old's bat will be in the lineup somewhere on a consistent basis, but Ozuna's declining defense over the couple of years could push him to DH rather than left field, while Nick Markakis and Adam Duvall platoon in the other spot. Austin Riley could also be in the LF/DH mix for Atlanta. Wherever he plays defensively, Ozuna's power will keep him in the heart of the batting order.

Winker has another avenue for playing time with the implementation of the universal DH for the 2020 season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Neither Winker nor Nick Castellanos are considered good defensive outfielders, but both have sufficiently productive bats to try to get them in the lineup more often. They are probably the two outfielders most likely to slot in as the DH. Winker still might sit frequently against left-handed pitching, however -- in 147 major-league plate appearances against lefties, Winker has hit .176/.295/.248 with only two homers.

Blackmon and organization mates Phillip Diehl and Ryan Castellani tested positive for COVID-19 after recent workouts at Coors Field, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The league and the MLBPA announced an agreement on a 60-game season earlier Tuesday, so the positive tests provide an immediate reminder regarding the realities of resuming baseball amid the pandemic. The season is expected to begin July 23 or 24, so Blackmon will have about a month to receive clearance from the coronavirus and ramp up his activity before games start.

Ozuna's facial laceration is considered minor and he continues to work out daily, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Ozuna was able to drive himself to the hospital after the incident, a clear sign that the laceration he suffered was a minor issue. His participation in daily workouts also suggests the issue won't have any effect on his ability to ready for the start of the 2020 campaign, assuming there is one.

Ozuna suffered a "small laceration" on his face after his wife allegedly hit him with a soap dish, Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640 reports.

This incident reportedly happened a couple weeks ago, and Ozuna was able to drive to the police station to report the incident, so it's possible he has already fully recovered from the laceration. It should not impact his availability if there is a season this year.

Miller has the most designated hitter experience on the Cardinals roster and could therefore be a candidate to frequently fill that slot if it is universally instituted for the 2020 season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Miller has spent at least part of all seven major-league seasons in the AL, and he boasts a .578 slugging percentage and .888 OPS across 107 career plate appearances at DH. Those numbers are partly comprised of 16 extra-base hits (seven doubles, nine home runs), so the veteran, who's also capable of filling in at multiple positions in the field, has a track record of success when only focusing on hitting. Miler has had access to a private gym while remaining in his Orlando home during the shutdown and has also relied on agent Mike Milchin, a former Cardinals second-round pick in his playing days, for batting practice sessions.

Carpenter presents as a potentially ideal designated hitter candidate if the position is instituted universally for the abbreviated 2020 regular season, Will Laws of SI.com reports.

Laws makes a case for one DH candidate for every National League team, and Carpenter gets his nod on the Cardinals for a couple of reasons. One is the fact that slotting in the veteran at DH would allow him to solely focus on fixing the offensive side of his game after he slumped to a .226/.334/.392 line across 492 plate appearances in 2019. Another is that removing Carpenter from the defensive equation would allow Tommy Edman to potentially slot in at third base on an everyday basis, which would in turn possibly lead to more outfield playing time for a promising prospect like Lane Thomas. Last season notwithstanding, Carpenter's past body of work lends credence to the notion he could thrive in a DH capacity, as he racked up a career-best 78 extra-base hits (42 doubles, 36 home runs) and .523 slugging percentage in 2018.

Ozuna could see significant action at designated hitter if the universal DH is part of a shortened MLB season, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

While Austin Riley is viewed as the likely top option to DH, Ozuna's somewhat shaky defense in left field could make Atlanta consider him for the spot as well. With veterans Nick Markakis and Adam Duvall on the bench, and top prospects Drew Waters and Cristian Pache potentially part of a taxi squad if the minor-league season is canceled, the roster would have plenty of outfield depth to cover any potential shift to DH for Ozuna.

Turner has been hitting off a tee in his backyard and playing catch at a local park, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

With MLB stadiums and facilities mostly shut down, Turner -- like most other players -- has had to rely on home equipment and local spaces to stay in shape. If the 2020 season takes place, the veteran will once again fill an everyday role as the Dodgers' starting third baseman.