MLB Player News

Harper (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Harper has managed to avoid a 60-day IL placement for the time being with the Phillies hoping that he might be able to return from Tommy John surgery sometime in May. He recently advanced to soft-toss work in his rehab program.

Ozuna is batting sixth and getting the start in left field Opening Day against the Nationals.

With southpaw Patrick Corbin on the bump for the Nats, Ozuna will move out of the designated hitter role and into the field. The 32-year-old worked on his shoulder strength in the offseason to try and avoid being a defensive liability again, but if he can't hold up with the glove, Kevin Pillar could become the preferred platoon partner in left for Eddie Rosario. Ozuna has has some things to prove at the plate after stumbling to a .222/.278/.397 slash line over the last two seasons.

The Royals selected Reyes' contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Not only that, they're starting him at designated hitter and batting him fifth on Opening Day versus the Twins. MJ Melendez is getting the start in right field, with Edward Olivares in left and Nate Eaton on the bench.

The Reds designated Solak for assignment Thursday.

Solak was a casualty of a series of roster moves ahead of the team's Opening Day game Thursday against the Pirates. The 28-year-old former top prospect has slashed just .246/.317/.354 in 839 major-league plate appearances since the beginning of the 2020 season.

Madris was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Madris reached the majors for the first time in his career last season but slashed just .177/.244/.265 over 123 plate appearances with the Pirates. He had a much better spring, but the 27-year-old outfielder will return to the minors to serve as organizational depth.

Torrens had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 26-year-old will open the 2023 regular season as the third catcher for the Cubs, behind the platoon of Tucker Barnhart and Yan Gomes. Torrens batted just .225/.283/.298 over 166 major-league plate appearances last year with the Mariners. Seattle non-tendered him in November.

Winker is starting in right field for the Brewers in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Rockies.

Winker has seen some action in left this spring, but this will be his first time playing right. He could factor into the mix at that spot with Brian Anderson, and perhaps even Owen Miller. Tyrone Taylor (elbow) is not expected to be ready to join Milwaukee's active roster until mid-May. Winker should primarily operate out of the DH spot as the 2023 regular season rolls along.

McCutchen (elbow) made throws to bases over the weekend in Pirates camp, CJ Haddad of MLB.com reports.

McCutchen was limited to DH duties over the final stretch of the Grapefruit League schedule because of soreness in his right elbow, but he told reporters Monday that he expects to be able to play some outfield when the regular season gets underway. "It's all good," McCutchen said. "I'm fine. I'll be good. No worries."

Manager Mark Kotsay said Monday that Rooker earned a spot on Oakland's Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 28-year-old bounced around from the Twins to the Padres to the Royals last season before being claimed off waivers by the A's in November, and he's now claimed a spot on Oakland's Opening Day roster after he finished spring training with a .906 OPS. Rooker has a .668 OPS in 81 career big-league games, and he's likely to begin the campaign on the short side of a platoon in left field with Conner Capel.

General manager Dana Brown stated Monday that Brantley (shoulder) isn't expected to make his 2023 debut until mid-to-late-April, Michael Connor of Sports Talk 790 reports.

Brown noted that the club's initial expectation was for Brantley to take the field in mid-April, but he's already a week or so behind that target date. The GM mentioned that the veteran outfielder has been hitting and getting his necessary days off, and the squad has no intention of rushing him back before he's ready. An update on Brantley's timeline should arrive as he gets closer to seeing live at-bats, likely in a minor-league setting.