MLB Player News

Abrams went 0-for-4 with a strikeout while also committing three errors in the field during an Opening Day loss to Atlanta.

Getting the start at shortstop and batting ninth in the order on his first MLB Opening Day, Abrams' first error could easily have been ruled a hit as it came on a scorching grounder by Ronald Acuna. There was no excuse for Abrams' two airmailed throws later in the game. The Nationals are rebuilding in 2023 and will live with Abrams' growing pains, but the 22-year-old might have a long way to go before he'll be a reliable big-league player -- or a reliable fantasy asset.

Ahmed went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Ahmed got the start at shortstop Opening Day against Los Angeles lefty Julio Urias, but he could find himself on the bench Friday. That's partially due to manager Torey Lovullo wanting to get the switch-hitting Geraldo Perdomo in against righty Dustin May, but also because Ahmed, who underwent shoulder surgery last season, will not be an everyday player early on.

Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Thursday's Opening Day loss to the Rockies.

The Padres were somewhat surprisingly held in check by Colorado's pitching staff, but Bogaerts wasn't to blame. The shortstop was the only San Diego batter to collect multiple hits, and he finished with three of the team's seven base knocks. Two of his hits went for doubles, and he scored San Diego's final run in the fourth inning. Bogaerts' affinity for two-baggers is nothing new -- he slammed 52 doubles in 2019 and averaged 36 doubles per campaign between 2021 and 2022.

Cruz went 1-for-2 with two walks, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Reds.

Cruz erased an early Reds lead with a missile of a home run, a 425-foot long ball off Hunter Greene clocked at 111.1 mph off the bat. His tools are just silly, and the walks are nice to see, suggesting the improved plate discipline from late last season might stick. While the team context isn't great, the upside is massive regardless for the Pirates' leadoff hitter.

Swanson went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored en route to a 4-0 victory over Milwaukee on Thursday.

After getting two hits in three tries against Corbin Burnes, Swanson immediately began showing why the Cubs gave him a seven-year, $177 million contract in the offseason. Despite getting off to a slow start in spring training, Swanson figures to be one of the best hitters in Chicago's lineup this year.

Cruz is batting leadoff for the Pirates in their season opener Thursday against the Reds.

Cruz jumped up into the leadoff spot down the stretch in 2022, and he can hopefully latch onto that role throughout the entire 2023 campaign. The dynamic 24-year-old shortstop has tallied 18 home runs and 10 stolen bases across his first 89 major-league games.

DeJong (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.

DeJong is expected to miss the first handful of weeks of the 2023 regular season after suffering a lower-back injury in mid-March. He'll probably be a bench player even when he does return to the Cardinals' active roster.

Adrianza had his contract selected by Atlanta on Thursday.

The 33-year-old earned a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster and has now officially been added to the 26-man and 40-man rosters. Adrianza will fill a utility role and begins the season as the primary backup option at second base, shortstop and third base.

Arcia agreed Thursday with Atlanta on a three-year, $7.3 million contract extension with a $2 million club option for 2026, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Arcia was named Atlanta's starting shortstop last week and now has a new deal. He had been under contract for $1.3 million in 2023 with a $2 million club option for 2024, but the extension wipes those years out and adds on potentially two more. Arcia might ultimately just be keeping the shortstop seat warm for Vaughn Grissom or Braden Shewmake, but he has the versatility to bounce around and transition to a utility role.

DeJong (back) took some swings and fielded light grounders off a pitching machine in Florida on Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

DeJong is slowly ramping things back up after he had a setback with his back last week. He'll begin the season on the injured list and seems likely a good bet to be sidelined for a handful of weeks.