MLB Player News

O'Keefe is benefiting from plenty of instructional time during summer camp, and the possibility exists he could see some action at the big-league level in 2020, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "He's super excited to be a part of the organization, and a lot of the things that we've thrown at him on the defensive side he's really taken to," manager Scott Servais said. "He's got things to work on, but he's got power and a lot of arm strength. We're trying to focus on his receiving and getting that up to speed."

O'Keefe has yet to play above Double-A despite the fact he's 26 years old, although he does have a trio of double-digit home-run tallies on his minors resume. The Rule 5 pick out of the Cardinals organization appeared in 10 Cactus League games but logged only nine at-bats, hitting .222 with two RBI, two walks and two runs. While Tom Murphy and Austin Nola are set to handle most of the catching reps this season, Johns points out both may need reinforcement at some point -- Murphy has already missed time during summer camp twice due to fouling a ball off his foot and has started a relatively modest 110 games across his first five big-league seasons, while Nola has only four games of experience behind the dish.

Ohtani will likely be the Angels' starting pitcher on Sundays throughout the 2020 season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani will be on a unique pitching schedule in which he starts exactly once per week on the same day of the week. General manager Billy Eppler indicated that the team is targeting Sunday as Ohtani's designated starting day, and the Angels have already lined up that plan by scheduling his final intrasquad appearance for this coming Sunday. The Angels don't have any Sunday off-days during the shortened 2020 campaign, so Ohtani could get in 10 starts if the plan unfolds without a hitch.

Manager Bud Black said Thursday that Blackmon (illness) is in the midst of a training program that would put the outfielder on track to be ready for the Rockies' July 24 season opener versus the Rangers, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Though he was cleared to join the Rockies at summer camp Monday after submitting two negative test results for the coronavirus, Blackmon was placed on the COVID-19 injured list a day later. Black clarified that the transaction was merely procedural, as Blackmon -- who previously tested positive for COVID-19 in late June -- remains healthy since joining the club for workouts. Expect Blackmon to gradually increase the intensity of his activities over the next week, and if his body responds well, he should be ready to handle an everyday role when the Rockies kick off their 60-game season in Texas.

Beer was diagnosed with a contusion after being hit in the face with a one-hopper during Wednesday's intrasquad game, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo said the 23-year-old didn't sustain a concussion, so he appears to have escaped the situation with only a bruise. Beer missed some time early in summer training after testing positive for COVID-19, and he may take it easy for a couple days after Wednesday's incident.

In reference to the likelihood Willie Calhoun's hip injury keeping him out for Opening Day, manager Chris Woodward said Wednesday, "I think Nick [Solak} falls in line to take those at-bats," T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Woodward has discussed wanting to find ways to make sure Solak receives regular at-bats, and the injury to Calhoun provides a clear answer to that problem. Solak had a .293/.393/.491 slash line in 33 games last season and was expected to fill a utility role, but a strong showing in left field could earn him an everyday spot in the lineup even after Calhoun returns.

Dickerson said Tuesday that his back feels great at summer camp as he prepares to fill a regular role in the heart of the Giants' lineup against right-handed pitching in 2020, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Dickerson dealt with chronic back issues that required surgery in 2017 and then underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, keeping him sidelined for two full seasons before he returned to action in 2019. After being traded from San Diego to San Francisco last June, Dickerson immediately went on a tear, batting .386 with six home runs, 10 doubles and 23 RBI in his first 30 games with the club. An oblique injury would confine him to the shelf for much of the second half and limited his production when he returned, but a healthy Dickerson is now beginning to show flashes of the promise he displayed last June and July. He hit a soaring home run off Shaun Anderson in an intrasquad game Tuesday, further solidifying his status as a pillar in middle of the order. If Dickerson can hold up for the entirety of a 60-game slate, he could prove to be a sneaky value late in fantasy drafts.

Miller (heel) returned to practice Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

A sore heel has kept Miller out of action since Friday, though the issue was never considered particularly serious. He's expected to participate in Thursday's intrasquad game. The lost practice time could have an impact on his readiness for the upcoming season, though he isn't expected to handle more than a utility role, so it may not cost him many (if any) at-bats.

The Rockies placed Blackmon on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to an unspecified issue.

After he was revealed to have tested positive for the coronavirus in late June, Blackmon was absent for the start of the Rockies' summer camp before reporting to the team facility Monday upon clearing all COVID-19-related protocols. No reports have surfaced since Monday suggesting that Blackmon suffered a setback in his recovery from COVID-19, which makes his move to the IL unexpected. It's possible the Rockies may have made the transaction as a means of roster management, as Blackmon was already uncertain to be ready for the July 24 season opener in Texas due to his late arrival at camp. Expect more information on Blackmon's situation to become available in the next few days.

Miller (heel) is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday's intrasquad game, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The veteran infielder has been sidelined since Friday due to the heel soreness, but he should retake the field this week. Barring a setback, Miller should be ready for the start of the season next week and is expected to operate in a utility role for the Cardinals off the bench.

McCutchen (knee) has been participating in the Phillies' intrasquad games at summer training, Tim Kelly of Phillies Nation reports.

The veteran outfielder was set to miss about the first month of the season as he completed his recovery from a torn ACL, but he's set to be ready for Opening Day with the delayed start to the season. McCutchen is expected to start in left field and bat leadoff in 2020 after posting an .835 OPS in 59 games last season before suffering the injury in early June.