MLB Player News

I'm disappointed to see Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna sidelined 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand. While Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick steal all the attention in the Marlins' farm system among the team's outfield prospects, Ozuna in my eyes shouldn't be a prospect overlooked.

He's managed three straight seasons of 20-plus homers in the minors and is slugging .481 in 452 career games. He strikes out a lot like many power prospects, but prior to getting hurt I felt like he could be a player that might force his way into the majors this season. Now, I'm not so sure since Ozuna is getting a late start.

I still like Ozuna as a long-term Fantasy keeper, but he's sort of off the radar right now for seasonal-league owners.

The Giants scratched first baseman Brandon Belt from Sunday's Cactus League lineup due to an upper back injury, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Belt, who was spotted wearing a wrap on his back, is considered day to day. It doesn't appear to be a big concern for the Giants at the moment. 

The 24-year-old Belt is batting .433 this spring over 60 at-bats with seven home runs and 17 RBI, not to mention two stolen bases. He figures to be the opening day first baseman for the Giants as long as he is healthy. 

The Astros have sent outfielder J.D. Martinez down to Triple-A, CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler reports. 

Martinez, 25, struggled mightily in 2012, as he hit just .241/.311/.375 (86 OPS+) after he posted a sharp 104 OPS+ in his rookie year of 2011. The Astros expressed a desire for the outfielder to hit every day. The Astros starting outfield will likely be Chris Carter in left field, Justin Maxwell in center field and Fernando Martinez in right field.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went deep again for his seventh Cactus League home run Saturday against the A's. He had a solo shot off Tommy Milone in the sixth inning. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI in a 12-5 loss. Belt is batting .433 with 17 RBI in 60 at-bats this spring.

Mets infielder Justin Turner, who was dealing with a sprained right ankle, returned to the starting lineup Saturday against the Nationals. Turner, who started at second base, went 0 for 3 in a 3-1 victory. He is hitting .281 with five RBI in 32 at-bats this spring.

Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna will miss the start of the season after suffering a broken bone in his left hand when he crashed into a chain-link fence chasing a fly ball earlier this week. Ozuna is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after X-rays revealed a hairline fracture at the base of the fourth metacarpal of his left (non-throwing) hand near the wrist.

"He's getting ice and treatment, and doing all the things he can physically do to stay in shape," Miami vice president of player development Marty Scott told the Sun Sentinel.

Ozuna, considered the No. 5 overall prospect in the organization, went 4 for 11 during Grapefruit League play before being optioned to Double-A Jacksonville on March 11.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from Saturday's Grapefruit League contest against the Mets because of swelling in his left hand but the issue is not a major concern, the Washington Post reports. Harper jammed his hand during Friday's game and insisted on playing Saturday.

Manager Davey Johnson said the 20-year-old would likely return to the starting lineup on Sunday. Harper, entering his first full season with the Nationals, is hitting .400 with three homers and 12 RBI through 20 games this spring.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox due to flu-like symptoms, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. McCutchen, who finished third in the NL MVP Award voting last season, is hitting just .194 this spring. He also has two home runs and eight RBI over 14 exhibition games.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has always had the physical tools to translate his minor-league success to the big-league level, and he finally thinks he has developed the mental fortitude to become a big-time producer his season.

"There are going to be some tough times in there," Belt told the San Jose Mercury Friday. "But I'm not the same player from a mental aspect. I know what to expect now. I'm going in with a lot more confidence this year."

Belt had arguably his finest performance of the spring Friday in Cactus League action against the Rockies, as he went 4 for 4 in an 11-6 win. He wound up one triple short of a cycle in the game, hitting his second home run late in the game instead. He drove in four runs and raised his batting average to .439 in 18 spring games. 

Mets infielder Daniel Murphy took batting practice Friday, but is still not expected to return to the lineup for a few days as he continues to deal with an intercostal strain. Murphy will not be in the lineup Saturday. Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters that if Murphy is to be ready for opening day, he will have to get into a game by this weekend. If Murphy is not ready for opening day, Justin Murphy is expected to get the call at second base to open the season.