MLB Player News
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Belts third homer of spring
Ozuna went 1-for-2 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The veteran slugger took Kyle Tyler deep in the fifth inning, giving Ozuna his third long ball of the spring. While his .229 batting average (8-for-35) in Grapefruit League play isn't impressive, Ozuna seems to have his timing down at the plate -- five of those hits have gone for extra bases, and he sports a sharp 4:4 BB:K.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Mets' Jesse Winker: Back in lineup
Winker (calf) will serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Winker has been sidelined since exiting Monday's game early due to calf cramps, but the issue seems to have subsided ahead of Thursday's contest. The 31-year-old slashed .253/.360/.405 with 14 homers and 58 RBI in 508 regular-season plate appearances last year and has shown no signs of slowing down this spring, maintaining an .805 OPS through 13 Grapefruit League games.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Launches first homer of 2025
Ohtani went 1-for-3 with solo home run and two walks during Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Cubs in Tokyo.
After hitting a career-high 54 homers during the regular season in his first year as a Dodger in 2024, Ohtani didn't take long to deliver his first long ball of this season. The three-time MVP reached multiple times in each of the first two games of the season and has gone 3-for-8 with two walks, a double, a homer and three runs scored.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Scores twice Opening Day
Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo.
The Japanese superstar was unable to deliver a home run in the first official game back in his home country, but he still produced as a leadoff man in the season opener. Ohtani recently slowed his pitching progression in order to ramp up his preparations as a hitter for Opening Day, but he's still expected to join the starting rotation sometime in May. For now, the 30-year-old will continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter as he works his way back from November shoulder surgery.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Mets' Jesse Winker: Nursing calf cramp
Winker exited Monday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Rays due to a calf cramp, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Winker's removal was precautionary, adding that the 31-year-old "should be OK." Winker -- who was retired in his lone plate appearance Monday -- is sporting an .805 OPS this spring and projects to open the season as the Mets' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
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Yohel Pozo C | STL
Cardinals' Yohel Pozo: Sent to minor-league camp
The Cardinals reassigned Pozo to minor-league camp Monday.
Pozo received a late invitation to big-league camp but never made much of a push for a spot on the Opening Day roster with the Cardinals likely to begin the season with Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera as their catching tandem. The 27-year-old Pozo hasn't seen MLB action since 2021 with the Rangers and will likely spend the majority of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Memphis.
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Joey Meneses DH | NYM
Mets' Joey Meneses: Dispatched to minor-league camp
The Mets reassigned Meneses to minor-league camp Monday.
Meneses has produced at a near-league-average level at the plate over parts of three seasons in the majors with the Nationals, slashing .274/.322/.408 with a 101 wRC+ across 1,210 plate appearances. The 32-year-old's power production dropped considerably in 2024, however, with Meneses slugging just three home runs in 313 plate appearances before the Nationals demoted him to Triple-A last July and kept him in the minors for the remainder of the season. He caught on with the Mets on a minor-league deal in the offseason, but Meneses' declining production and lack of defensive flexibility made it unlikely that he would win a bench role on the Opening Day roster. Meneses will likely open the season at Triple-A Syracuse, and it may take a Pete Alonso injury in order for him to get a look with the big club.
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Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Willing to move back to OF if asked
Harper said recently that he would be willing to move back to right field if the Phillies were able to acquire an impact first baseman at the trade deadline, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported this week that Harper told the Phillies over the offseason he would be open to shifting to the outfield if the club could acquire a marquee first baseman. That never came close to happening, but the offer remains on the table should an opportunity present itself. Harper has turned himself into an excellent defensive first baseman and will, in all likelihood, remain at that position over the long haul, but having the flexibility and willingness to move back to right field could come in handy, both for the Phillies and for anyone with fantasy shares in the 32-year-old star.
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Luken Baker DH | ARI
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Showing increased bat speed
Baker has shown increased bat speed this spring and has hit a team-leading three home runs in 11 Grapefruit League games, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Baker made it a point over the offseason to increase his bat speed, and it sits at 79 mph this spring, up 5.1 mph over his 73.9 mph average from 2024. The 79 mph average would have ranked second in all of baseball last season, behind only Giancarlo Stanton (81.2 mph). Baker should open the season as a starter versus left-handed pitching, being used both at designated hitter and first base. If he can carry over the increased bat speed into the season, it's possible he works his way into some playing time against righties.
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Luis Torrens DH | NYM
Mets' Luis Torrens: Smacks first spring homer
Torrens went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 28-year-old took Sonny Gray deep the other way in the second inning for his first long ball of the spring. Torrens is set to open the season as the Mets' starting catcher with Francisco Alvarez (hand) on the shelf until at least late April, but there's little reason to expect him to make an impact with regular playing time -- his .229/.292/.373 slash line over 130 regular-season plate appearances in 2024 was very similar to his .227/.289/.356 career line.