MLB Player News
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Orlando Arcia SS | MIN
Braves' Orlando Arcia: X-rays negative on hand
Arcia was hit by a pitch on the left hand during Sunday's Grapefruit League game and had X-rays come back negative, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Atlanta will see how Arcia is feeling Monday before determining next steps, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.
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Blaze Alexander SS | BAL
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Makes case for roster
Alexander started at designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's spring game against Texas.
Alexander is still hanging around major-league camp and can't be ruled out of a spot on the Opening Day roster. There isn't an everyday home for the prospect, but the infielder is batting .400 with five extra-base hits and three stolen bases through 18 Cactus League games. If he can handle multiple positions and the Diamondbacks are fine with him not getting regular at-bats, Alexander could be added to the roster. He's appeared in games at second base (12), third base (three), designated hitter (two) and shortstop (one).
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Geraldo Perdomo SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo: Tests on knee are negative
Perdomo took grounders Saturday after imaging on his left knee came back negative, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Perdomo hurt his knee earlier this week on a slide during Cactus League play, but he's managed to avoid a serious injury. It's not clear when he might be cleared to play in a game, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he's not concerned about his shortstop's availability for Opening Day.
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David Fletcher 2B | ATL
Braves' David Fletcher: Still fighting for bench spot
Fletcher got the start at shortstop in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base.
The 29-year-old infielder was picked up from the Angels in December but then got outrighted off the 40-man roster, which meant he came into camp with an extra hurdle to clear to make the final cut for Opening Day. Fletcher's done his best to earn a spot though, batting .310 (9-for-29) through 13 games with a 3:2 BB:K and three steals in three attempts. He could form a flexible, experienced bench duo with Luis Guillorme this season, but Atlanta manager Brian Snitker tends to lean heavily on his starters, which wouldn't leave much work around the infield for either utility player.
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Edwin Arroyo SS | CIN
Reds' Edwin Arroyo: Nursing shoulder injury
Arroyo is not playing for the Reds in Thursday's Spring Breakout game after suffering a left shoulder injury Wednesday in Cactus League action, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Manager David Bell said that Arroyo "felt a little tweak" in his shoulder on a dive back into first base. Bell believes Arroyo will be fine, but the team has ordered an MRI just in case. Once healthy, Arroyo will likely begin the season at Double-A Chattanooga.
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Geraldo Perdomo SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo: Hurt in slide
Perdomo tweaked his lower half on a slide during Monday's Cactus League game against the Athletics and will be held out until the weekend, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Jace Peterson started at shortstop in the two games since. The Diamondbacks feel Perdomo needs a few days to bounce back, but the injury doesn't appear to be anything serious. Perdomo has gone 4-for-25 over 10 Cactus League games.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Impressive showing in spring
Cruz is hitting .292 with four home runs and one stolen base across 25 plate appearances in Grapefruit League games.
Cruz has hit all four of his home runs in his last three contests, and his performance seemingly puts to rest any concerns about his leg injury from last season lingering into the new campaign. He's also shown strong plate discipline, striking out at a 20 percent clip while maintaining a 20 percent walk rate. Cruz should be in line to lead off for Pittsburgh against right-handed pitching and will be a key to the team's offensive success.
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Jackson Merrill SS | SD
Padres' Jackson Merrill: Joining team for opening series
Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that Merrill will travel with the team to South Korea for the team's season-opening Seoul Series against the Dodgers on March 20 and 21, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
After Merrill slugged his second home run of Cactus League play Tuesday, Shildt announced that the 20-year-old will be part of the major-league squad to begin the season, at least for the two-game set in South Korea. The skipper stopped short of naming Merrill the Padres' starting center fielder, but he strongly hinted at the youngster having some runway to show what he can do. "He's earned his way on the plane [to Korea]," Shildt said. "He's earned what's coming after the plane." Merrill has yet to play above the Double-A level and will still need to be officially added to the 40-man roster.
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Jackson Merrill SS | SD
Padres' Jackson Merrill: Homers in second straight game
Merrill went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.
For the second day in a row, Merrill went yard, this time against Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen. The 20-year-old Merrill is now up to a .995 OPS this spring. While he has yet to play above the Double-A level, Merrill is very much in the running to make the Opening Day roster as the Padres' starting center fielder. Widely considered a top prospect in the organization, Merrill combined for 15 homers and 15 steals in 114 games between High-A and Double-A last season.