MLB Player News

Buxton's absence from Grapefruit League games to this point has been by design and not related to injury, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Per Gleeman, the Twins don't see spring training games as more useful for veterans than back-field work. Buxton entered camp with no health restrictions and will play in some Grapefruit League games eventually, although it's unclear when that might happen.

Ohtani pitched four scoreless innings for Japan against China in the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five batters. He also went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and two RBI as a hitter.

Ohtani unsurprisingly starred for Team Japan in the squad's 8-1 victory, as he once again demonstrated his immense talent both on the mound and at the plate. This was the second time he's started a game as a pitcher this spring, with the other being in a Cactus League contest March 1 during which he hurled 2.1 scoreless frames. Where Ohtani is being drafted in fantasy is partly dependent on how he's able to be utilized, but he's unlikely to fall out of the first round in any format.

Harper (elbow) hit off a tee for the first time Thursday in Phillies camp, Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The workout came right after a followup physical, which apparently showed an encouraging degree of healing in Harper's surgically-repaired right elbow. The 30-year-old slugger had been limited to dry swings so far in his rehab progression before taking this meaningful step forward. Throwing, and thus playing the outfield, could remain an issue throughout all of 2023, but Harper is on track to return offensively from Tommy John surgery around the middle of the upcoming season.

Harper (elbow) said Thursday that he has no idea whether he'll be ready to play right field at some point this season, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.

Harper has reported to the Phillies' spring training complex and is set to undergo a physical. Based on those results, he expects to have a better idea on a timeline for his return to the Phillies' lineup. Harper underwent Tommy John surgery in November and the initial rough timetable projected him to be back as a designated hitter shortly before the All-Star break. That same timetable had him hopefully playing the outfield at some point in the second half, but it sounds as if that's not a slam dunk. For fantasy purposes, Harper will not have outfield eligibility initially in 2023 and it appears there's a chance that could carry over into 2024. A clearer picture will be available following the slugger's physical.

Turner (face) visited the Red Sox' spring training complex Thursday and the team is hopeful he'll have time to get ready for Opening Day, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Turner will not resume on-field workouts until his stitches are removed, which is expected to happen in about two weeks. That gives him a pretty tight window to knock some rust off before the opener, but it seems doable since he already has six games under his belt and, as a veteran, probably doesn't need a ton of at-bats.

Alvarez (hand) is expected to resume swinging Friday or Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez has yet to swing a bat this spring, though general manager Dana Brown said he is currently pain free. Alvarez's exact timetable to resume baseball activity has been a moving target, though this latest development is a positive for the slugger's outlook. Assuming he remains on track, Alvarez is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Brantley (shoulder) may not be ready to play on Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brantley is recovering from surgery to repair his right labrum and has been progressing slowly. He's currently away from the team due to a personal matter, but prior to that, he had not appeared in any Grapefruit League games. On Wednesday, general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's availability for Opening Day is in doubt, but the team hopes he'll be able to return to the field no later than April 10.

Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Turner (face) will probably be out two weeks, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

The timeline offered by Cora suggests that Turner, who was hit in the face Monday and required 16 stitches to seal the wound, will be cutting it close for Opening Day. If the veteran infielder needs to miss time, he likely won't need to spend more than the minimum 10 days on the injured list at the start of the regular season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Stanton could play "40, 50, 60" games in the outfield this season, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Not only will putting Stanton in the outfield free up more chances for others in the designated hitter spot, but Boone also feels that the veteran slugger is more engaged and that it's good for him physically to play the field some. He's expected to play some right field when the Yankees are at home, with Aaron Judge shifting over to the roomier left field. Stanton will be used in left in places like Fenway Park, where there's not as much ground to cover. Stanton made 38 total starts in the outfield in 2022, so he should already have eligibility at the position in the majority of fantasy leagues heading into 2023.

Torrens went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Rangers.

The power display was a bit unexpected, as Torrens had only three home runs in 151 at-bats with Seattle last season. However, the veteran backstop did go deep 15 times in 2021, so he has shown off some pop in his career. Torrens is likely third in Chicago's catching pecking order behind Yan Gomes and Tucker Barnhart, so his fantasy value will be limited unless he's able to move up the depth chart. He's on a minor-league deal and could start the year with Triple-A Iowa, though the Cubs may decide to carry three catchers in the early going.