MLB Player News

Brad Miller has performing much better offensively (.447/1.000/1.512) this spring than Nick Franklin (.235/.412/.745), and it would seem he is running away with the starting shortstop job for the Mariners. However, manager Lloyd McClendon considers it a closer race than you would think.

"I think they’ve both played well to this point," McClendon said, per The Seattle Times. "I will reserve my thoughts on that for a little while longer. But they’ve both done a nice job. I’ve been pleased. As far as separation, I don’t think they’ve really separated themselves. I evaluate things a little different than how you guys evaluate them. I don’t particularly evaluate on given performance on any day. I see good things from both of them."

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf was scratched from Thursday's spring lineup against the Astros after suffering a strained left oblique during batting practice. Ruf is batting .217 (10 for 46) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 18 spring games.

Struggling Athletics slugger Yoenis Cespedes received words of encouragement Wednesday from teammate Brandon Moss, who sees the outfielder working to emerge from a slump that has dragged his spring batting average down to a troubling .128.

"If he was up there raking and was hitting .128, and really feeling good at the plate, that would be one thing," Moss told the Bay Area News Group. "But he's up there working on things, trying to shorten his swing."

Cespedes has regressed since a fine rookie season in 2012. He experienced significant drops in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage and his problems have followed him to spring training.

Lloyd McClendon knows who will be in what is a strengthened Mariners lineup to start this season, but he is still experimenting with the batting order, per the Tacoma News-Tribune.

McClendon will bat sizzling shortstop Brad Miller second and third baseman Kyle Seager fifth in the game Wednesday against Milwaukee. He is planning on batting deposed shortstop Nick Franklin leadoff on Thursday. The Mariners have reportedly been actively seeking to trade Franklin.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is having a pretty horrible spring at the plate. He's batting just .135 (5 for 37) with 12 strikeouts through 14 games.

"I’m taking too many pitches in the [strike] zone and swinging at bad pitches," Ozuna said, per The Miami Herald. "My timing sometimes is early. Sometimes it’s late. When I [swing] late I get a lot of outs. When I [swing] early I’m pretty good. I’m working with (hitting coach) Frank (Menechino) every day. He says swing down, don’t swing up, don’t hit fly balls. I’m watching videos."

Despite Reed Johnson and Jake Marisnick having productive springs, Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Tuesday he's "still expecting (Ozuna) to be out (in center field) on opening day."

"We feel comfortable with what he’s able to do," said Redmond, who points to the three walks Ozuna has drawn in his last three games as a sign of a more patient approach of late. "I think sometimes in spring training you just need a hit to kind of jump start you and get your confidence back and going."

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller continued to shine Tuesday, going 3 for 4 with three runs and his fourth spring home run in his team's 5-5 tie with the Padres.

Miller played second base Tuesday as the team used Nick Franklin at shortstop, likely in an attempt to showcase him for a potential trade. Miller, who is 14 for 34 with four home runs this spring, likely has the starting shortstop role all sewn up.

The Marlins reassigned 17 players to the minors Monday, which included optioning top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney to Double-A Jacksonville. Catcher Rob Brantly was also optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.

Joining Brantly at New Orleans are Sam Dyson and Brian Flynn, who was competing for a spot in the team's rotation. Edgar Olmos was optioned to Jacksonville.

The Marlins also reassigned Nick Wittgren, Bryan Evans, James Leverton, Greg Nappo, Adam Conley, Josh Spence, Rett Varner, Austin Barnes, Danny Black, Mark Canha, Colin Moran and Joe Benson to minor-league camp. Moran, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, is one of the team's top hitting prospects.

The Dodgers made a few roster moves Sunday. They selected the contract of infielder Justin Turner, optioned infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena to minor-league camp and reassigned catcher Miguel Olivo to minor-league camp.

The Royals optioned infielder Christian Colon, catcher Francisco Pena and pitcher Michael Mariot to Triple-A Omaha Friday.

Colon went 1 for 2 with one run and one RBI Friday and went 8 for 27 in 14 games with the Royals. Pena hit his first spring home run Friday and is 2 for 9 in six games. Mariot allowed one earned run in one inning Friday and has given up six earned runs in six innings this spring.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 and hit a solo home run in his team's 6-5 win over the Phillies Friday.

McCutchen has been on fire this spring, clubbing three home runs while going 12 for 22 with two doubles, four RBI, two walks and one stolen base. He's now hit at least three home runs in each of the last four springs.