MLB Player News

Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna went 3 for 4 with one double, one home run and three runs in his team's 10-1 win over the Rockies in Monday's regular-season opener.

Ozuna won the center field competition over Jake Marisnick this spring and, for one game at least, made the coaching staff look very wise for opting to go with him. He struck out 21 times this spring while hitting .177/.284/.355 in 62 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper passed a concussion test after a baserunning collision in the second inning and another one after Monday's 9-7 win over the Mets, the Washington Post reports.

Harper appears to have avoided injury after taking a shot to the face while sliding into second base in an attempt to break up a double play. He ended up playing the entire game, going 1 for 4 with a walk and striking out twice.

The Rockies' center field and leadoff jobs are not likely to get locked down after just one game, but by giving those responsibilities to Charlie Blackmon in the season opener, manager Walt Weiss has given him the first shot to prove himself worthy of an everyday role.

Blackmon just may be better suited to the leadoff role than rival Corey Dickerson. In the minors, he was more proficient at drawing walks and stealing bases. Then again, Blackmon has piled up 481 major league plate appearances over the last three years, and he has just 13 stolen bases and 14 walks to show for it. He does own a .291 batting average, but he owes much of that to the otherworldly 31 percent line drive rate he posted in 2013.

Should everything break right for Blackmon -- a return to more prolific walks and steals along with a sustained high line drive rate -- he could produce enough to keep his job. He would also have a high enough batting average and run total to justify ownership in mixed leagues. I'm skeptical that this will happen, and Dickerson has enough power to wrest playing time from Blackmon in due time, even if he is not the best fit for the leadoff spot.

Although Ryan Goins is the Blue Jays' starting second baseman, he was not in the starting lineup Monday against the Rays, replaced by Maicer Izturis in the season opener.

Manager John Gibbons said he went with Izturis because Rays starting pitcher David Price is tough on lefties, but added Goins sitting against left-handed starters won't be a regular occurrence.

"It's not an easy call because you want the kid's defense," Gibbons said of sitting Goins.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper remained in the game after a nasty second inning collision.

The Nationals twitter account initially announced Harper had been removed from the game, but that tweet was premature. Harper took a shin to the face while sliding into second base trying to break up a double play. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, and was able to start the bottom of the second in left field.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is hitting fifth Monday against the Mets.

Manager Matt Williams hinted at Harper's spot in the lineup during spring training, and followed through Monday. While there's an argument Harper should hit higher in the lineup, he'll start things off in the middle of the order. Harper will take on Dillon Gee Monday.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced his opening day lineup for Monday's game against the Royals. Second baseman Ian Kinsler will hit leadoff and be followed by right fielder Torii Hunter, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, DH Victor Martinez, center fielder Austin Jackson, catcher Alex Avila, third baseman Nick Castellanos, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and left field Rajai Davis.

Jackson has primarily hit leadoff in his career, but after the spring he put together, Ausmus made the decision to hit him in the heart of the order. Jackson hit .429 (24 for 56) with two triples, two home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI and 17 runs in 18 spring games.

"The way Austin Jackson hit this spring, he was the best option to bat fifth," Ausmus said.

What was assumed is now official: Brad Miller is the starting shortstop for the Mariners. Lloyd McClendon has also announced the Nick Franklin has been demoted to Triple-A Tacoma.

Miller thoroughly outplayed Franklin in the spring competition. Miller batted .439 with 17 runs, four home runs and 12 RBI in exhibition play to run away with the position.

"Brad separated himself," McClendon told MLB.com. "I'd be a fool not to recognize that. Brad won the job. Nick didn't lose it."

As expected, the Phillies placed pitchers Mike Adams, Ethan Martin, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, and outfielder Darin Ruf and second baseman Freddy Galvis on the 15-day  disabled list on Thursday, ESPN reports.

Manager Lloyd McClendon has done his best not to tip his hand on the Mariners' shortstop situation, but that hasn't stopped me from falling more in love with Brad Miller this spring.

I chronicle the whole thing in my Sleepers 2.0 column, using words like "tingly," "sizzling" and "stud." It's actually kind of embarrassing.

I feel I owe it to him after leaving him out of the initial column because of his so-called competition with Nick Franklin. He was clearly the front-runner coming into spring training given the way the two performed as rookies last year and the fact he actually has the range to play the position. If a .439 batting average and 14 extra-base hits in 57 at-bats hasn't locked it up for him, the Mariners are just trying to lose.

I'm thinking they haven't declared a winner yet because they want to keep Nick Franklin's trade value high. Plenty of teams have needs up the middle, and he's too good for the minors or the bench.

But he's no Miller, who I'd consider a near lock for a .300 batting average this year, with possibly as many as 20 home runs.