MLB Player News

Miguel Cabrera returned to the field for the Tigers a day earlier than expected. Cabrera was going to test his surgically repaired ankle by running the bases on Saturday, then play on Sunday. 

Instead, he was inserted into a pair of minor league games on Saturday. Cabrera singled in one game and ran to first base. Then he went to an adjacent field and hit a single in that game as well. 

Cabrera added a third single, a 10-pitch walk, and finished his day with a strikeout. 

The Tigers may be getting back Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez as soon as Sunday. 

Cabrera is returning from ankle surgery, and Martinez is recovering from knee surgery. 

Both players will run the bases on Saturday, and, depending on how they do, manager Brad Ausmus is considering putting them in Sunday's lineup.

"The final hurdle in terms of them getting into a game on the big league side would be running the bases and them being fine with that," Ausmus said, per MLive's Chris Iott. "It depends on today."

The Tigers have split squad games on Sunday, so both Cabrera and Martinez could play DH. Or the team could have them play in a minor league game and not run the bases. 

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said having first baseman Brandon Belt play in the outfield is "currently being discussed" as Hunter Pence is nursing a broken arm and Angel Pagan is dealing with a sore back, per SFGate.com.

“I’m down, for sure. I’m here to do whatever they need me to do,” Belt said. “If they want me to go the outfield, I’m ready to do it. If they want me to go on the mound and pitch, I’m ready to do that.”

Bochy also said Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall could be options to play in the outfield as well.

“We have coverage. It’s going to be up to us to decide which way we’re going to go,” Bochy said. “A lot depends on where we’re at with Angel before I jump to any conclusions.”

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit his first home run of the spring on Friday. 

In the fourth inning, Harper hit a 1-0 slider to right-center for a solo shot off of Jake Buchanan. Harper went one for two with a walk and lifted his average to .238 for the spring. 

Manager Matt Williams said that Harper had been "jumpy" at the plate earlier in the spring, but he'd settled down during batting practice over the last few days. “He’s calming his lower half down,” Williams said, per the Washington Post's James Wagner. “He gets 40 at-bats and he’ll be right where he needs to be. The BPs are better. He’s getting better results. He’s taking his walks. All those things are positive.

Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen (lower body) and Jose Tabata (ankle) both took batting practice Friday and showed no ill effects, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 

McCutchen has missed the last five games with his injury, which has been described as a "mystery ailment," but said he was fine after taking BP.

Tabata took his batting practice while wearing a protective shield on his ankle, after fouling a ball off his foot during Wednesday's game. 

After the Marlins reached a new deal with outfielder Christian Yelich on Thursday, the next domino to fall figures to be CF Marcell Ozuna. But, according to MLB.com, the outfielder is willing to be patient regarding his contract extension. 

Ozuna is scheduled to be arbitration-eligible in 2016, but on the advice of his agent, Scott Boras, he will focus his energy on the field and not his deal.

"[Boras] tells me 'Don't hurry. Be waiting for the moment, and let's see what happens in a couple of years,' " said Ozuna, who hit .269 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs in his first full MLB season. 

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson went 3 for 3 from the plate for three RBI in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Cubs. 

Pederson hit a home run, a double and a single during the game. That's his second home run and third double of the spring. 

"What I like with Joc right now is that he's staying in the middle of the field more. Early on he was a little bit pull-happy," manager Don Mattingly said, via SB Nation's True Blue LA. "He seems to be getting himself a good pitch to hit and that's the key more than anything."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton connected for his first spring home run Wednesday against the Nationals. It was also his first home run since getting hit in the face by a pitch in September.

Stanton doubled in the first inning against Doug Fister, had an RBI single in the third inning that made it 2-0 and tied the score 3-3 when he homered leading off the sixth inning against Casey Janssen.

"Today was a good day, obviously," Stanton said, per the Associated Press.

Stanton is batting .286 (6 for 21) with two doubles, three walks, six RBI and one run in nine spring games.

"He looks great," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "He looks confident. His swings look good."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera designated hitter Victor Martinez went through three pitches in an hour-long batting practice session, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that the hurdles Cabrera and Martinez have yet to clear are mostly "running and agility" exercises, according to the MLB.com. Once they clear those hurdles, Ausmus will determine the amount of at-bats they will receive in Grapefruit League play on the fly.

"We still have hurdles to cross," Ausmus said, "mostly the running and agility stuff. As much as you can run them and do agility (work), it's hard to simulate game movements."

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the lineup for the fifth straight Grapefruit League game on Wednesday due to lower body soreness, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

McCutchen is taking a cautious approach in his recovery, and has vowed not to return until he's 100 percent. He is hitting .167 (2 for 12) with one double, one RBI, one walk and one run in five spring training games.