MLB Player News
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Josh Kasevich SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Josh Kasevich: Stress reaction in back
Kasevich will be sidelined several weeks after aggravating a stress reaction in his lower back in a game last weekend, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
It's not clear when Kasevich suffered the initial injury, but he's now had a setback. The 24-year-old infielder finished last season at Triple-A Buffalo and will be assigned there once he's healthy enough to play.
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Wenceel Perez SS | DET
Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Battling back tightness
The Tigers announced Friday that Perez is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to participate in full baseball activities this weekend, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez hasn't seen the field since Sunday due to the injury, but he appears to be trending in the right direction after taking a few days to rest up. If healthy, the 25-year-old has a strong chance to begin the season with a regular role for the Tigers since Matt Vierling (shoulder) will begin the campaign on the injured list.
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Ernie Clement SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Swats first spring homer
Clement went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Getting the start at third base and batting seventh in what might have been a preview of Toronto's Opening Day lineup, Clement turned on a Cooper Criswell offering in the second inning and drove it out to center field for his first homer of the spring. The 28-year-old infielder has gotten off to a hot start in camp, going 8-for-17 (.471) in seven appearances, but he'll likely need to improve on last season's .284 OBP if he's going to be anything more than a utility player in the majors over the long haul.
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Colson Montgomery SS | CHW
White Sox's Colson Montgomery: Hoping to return this weekend
Montgomery (back) is expected to return to Cactus League action as soon as Saturday and no later than Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Montgomery hasn't played in more than a week because of back spasms but is making nice progress. The shortstop took some swings off the Trajekt machine as part of his baseball activities Thursday, and it appears as though his return to the lineup is imminent. Montgomery is competing for the White Sox' shortstop job this spring, so he can't afford to miss much more time.
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Leonardo Rivas SS | SEA
Mariners' Leo Rivas: Returns to lineup
Rivas (ankle) will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.
Rivas has been sidelined since late February after turning his left ankle while participating in infield drills. After a week of rest, he's been cleared to return to game action and continue competing for a spot on Seattle's Opening Day bench.
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Bo Bichette 3B | NYM
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Could bat leadoff or cleanup
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Bichette could bat leadoff or cleanup this season, "depending on who we're facing," Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Schneider has decided on Vladimir Guerrero in the No. 2 hole and Anthony Santander in the No. 3 spot, but who bats before them and after them is not yet written in ink. Bichette has spent the vast majority of his career hitting second, but his 106 starts in the cleanup spot are the second most of any position in the batting order. George Springer has been the club's regular leadoff man during his four seasons in Toronto but might bat lower in the order in 2025.
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Yoeilin Cespedes SS | BOS
Red Sox's Yoeilin Cespedes: Looks healthy for 2025
Cespedes (hand) is listed on Boston's roster for its March 13 Spring Breakout game against Tampa Bay prospects.
Cespedes' inclusion on the roster implies that he's back to full health after undergoing surgery in August to repair a hamate bone fracture in his left hand. The 19-year-old infield prospect hit .319/.400/.615 with five home runs and three stolen bases over his 105 plate appearances in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last season before being shut down with the hand injury. He'll likely open the 2025 campaign at Single-A Salem.
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Felnin Celesten SS | SEA
Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Taking part in Spring Breakout game
The Mariners list Celesten (wrist) on the roster for their March 14 Spring Breakout game against Guardians prospects.
Celesten appears to be in good health entering the 2025 campaign after not playing for the Mariners' rookie-level Arizona Complex League from July 24 onward last season while recovering from a lingering hamate injury that he addressed with surgery. The 19-year-old infield prospect should be ready to debut with a full-season affiliate in 2025.
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Marcelo Mayer SS | BOS
Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Moves past illness
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Mayer has recovered from a stomach illness and plans to play in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
One of multiple players in Red Sox camp who has succumbed to a stomach bug in recent days, Mayer is the first of the ailing players to regain health and resume working out. The illness thus doesn't look like it'll be anything that sets Mayer back heading into the season, but the 22-year-old shortstop remains likely to open at Triple-A Worcester rather than with the big club.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Working on patience at plate
Pena has focused on being more selective with his swings this spring, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena adjusted his swing in preparation for the 2024 season, and this year, his focus has been laying off bad pitches in live batting practice. Across 1,842 career plate appearances, Pena has only a 4.9 percent walk rate but has still managed exactly a 100 wRC+. Despite this report, it is worth noting that Pena has not drawn a walk across 10 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action.