MLB Player News

Wendle, who's competing for an infield utility role this spring, is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with two doubles, one home run, two RBI and five runs over his first six Grapefruit League games.

The versatile 29-year-old endured the worst offensive season of his career in 2019, slashing a pedestrian .231/.293/.340 across 263 plate appearances over 75 games. Wendle struggled with hamstring and wrist injuries last season, which certainly played a part in his subpar performance. However, he reported to camp at full health, and despite the modest sample, his early work at the plate suggests Wendle may be returning to the form that saw him generate an impressive .300 average and .354 on-base percentage during his first Rays campaign back in 2018.

Bogaerts (ankle) hit in the batting cage Tuesday and said afterward that he feels "pretty close to 100 percent" and anticipates playing in spring training games later this week, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Bogaerts' comments about his sore left ankle seemingly run counter to what interim manager Ron Roenicke said about the matter Sunday, when he indicated the shortstop was "still a ways away" from playing in spring games. That said, Roenicke indicated that he didn't feel Bogaerts was in any real danger of missing Opening Day, a sentiment that both player and manager align on. At this point, the 27-year-old probably shouldn't be downgraded much -- if at all -- in fantasy drafts, as he'll probably only need to play in a handful of games this spring to guarantee his availability for the season opener.

Anderson (illness) will start at shortstop and bat second in Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Anderson was sidelined over the weekend with a stomach virus, but he'll get the green light to rejoin the spring lineup after reporting to the ballpark healthy Monday. He'll slot behind Yoan Moncada in the lineup, and those two players are expected to regularly occupy the Nos. 1 and 2 spots in some order once Opening Day arrives.

Herrera has gone 7-for-14 with four RBI in Grapefruit League action and has "opened eyes" in camp, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Herrera hasn't hit well thus far in the majors -- he owns a career .225 average in 383 at-bats -- but his versatility in the field and hot start to spring have impressed team officials. Still, the 27-year-old is not on the 40-man roster and remains a longshot to make the Opening Day roster in spite of a rash of injuries to Yankee position players this spring.

Volpe grounded out as a pinch hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League loss to Detroit.

The Yankees' first-round pick in the 2019 draft entered for Gary Sanchez in the eighth inning and nearly collected a hit on a foul ball down the left-field line before grounding out to shortstop in his only at-bat. Volpe is 18 years old and hit .215 in rookie ball last year, so he is likely years away from being seriously considered for the big-league roster.

Mondesi (shoulder) doesn't have a set date for his spring debut, but it could occur this week, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Mondesi took a big step Saturday by seeing limited action in an intrasquad game as he continues his recovery from the left shoulder surgery he underwent in September. Manager Mike Matheny reiterated the young shortstop remains on track to be ready for Opening Day.

Interim manager Ron Roenicke said Sunday that Bogaerts (ankle) is "still a ways away" from playing in games, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Roenicke reiterated that he still believes his shortstop has enough time to be ready for Opening Day, but Bogaerts' status will remain in limbo until he's cleared for game action. The 27-year-old had the ankle soreness crop up early in camp and has been able to hit in the cage, take batting practice and field grounders.

Mateo, who's 3-for-12 this spring, has a good chance of making the Opening Day roster as he's out of minor-league options, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Mateo has just under 1,100 plate appearances at the Triple-A level over the last two seasons, and he showed signs of finally hitting his stride in 2019 with a .289/.330/.504 line that included career bests in home runs (19) and RBI (78). Gallegos reports Mateo has already impressed early in camp with his above-average athleticism and speed, and because he's out of minor-league options, the A's run the risk of losing him to waivers if they try to send him back to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Franco started and hit leadoff in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Nationals, going 1-for-4 with a run.

Franco was making his first Grapefruit League start, but he'd made his debut Thursday in a split-squad win over the Tigers when he entered the game as a defensive replacement for Willy Adames and grounded out to the pitcher in his only at-bat. The teenage phenom, who turns 19 on March 1, has rocketed through three minor-league stops over the last two seasons, hitting well over .300 at the Rookie, Low-A and High-A levels. Franco will gain valuable experience in big-league camp this spring, and he could potentially put it to use later this season if his meteoric rise through the ranks continues.

Adames went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and two runs overall in a Grapefruit League split-squad win over the Tigers on Thursday.

The 24-year-old came into the game without his first spring hit, but he remedied that with a second-inning two-run shot off Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann. Adames was eventually pulled for phenom Wander Franco to open the sixth inning, but not before kick-starting his Grapefruit League ledger with the multi-hit effort. Adames heads into the 2020 campaign looking to build on the career-best 20 home runs and 52 RBI he garnered last season across 584 plate appearances.