MLB Player News

Saggese is drawing his first-ever start in left field in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Astros, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Saggese has never played the outfield as a professional but is getting a crash course there during spring training. He's expected to soon receive a start in center field, as well, before departing Cardinals camp in order to play for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. St. Louis has been on the hunt for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, but they signed righty infielder Ramon Urias instead, in part because they like how Saggese and Jose Fermin have looked in the outfield this spring. With Lars Nootbaar (heels) likely headed for a stint on the injured list to begin the season, Saggese could see some playing time in left field early on.

Made went 2-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and a run in Wednesday's spring game.

Made got his feet wet with the Brewers last spring, but he has already racked up both more at-bats and hits than he did throughout the last exhibition season. The 18-year-old is destined to start the season in the minors after just reaching the Double-A level late in 2024, but he is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and he could be ready to make an impact at the top level in 2027.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that there's no timetable for when Miller (back) will resume swinging a bat, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Miller has been receiving treatment for lower-back soreness and is ramping up his activity level in the weight room. However, with no timeline for when he'll be allowed to hit again, it sounds like it could be a while before we see the top prospect in Grapefruit League action. Miller entered camp as a long shot to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster, and the back injury makes it close to a foregone conclusion that he's ticketed for Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the campaign.

Griffin was removed from Wednesday's Grapefruit League game versus Atlanta as a precaution after being hit on the foot by a pitch, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

Griffin did not start the game but was struck on the foot by a Hayden Harris offering in the top of the seventh inning in what turned out to be his lone plate appearance of the day. He initially stayed in to run the bases but did not come out to play shortstop in the bottom of the frame. Griffin told reporters after the game that "I'm good," so it doesn't seem he will miss much, if any, time. The top prospect is competing for the Pirates' starting shortstop job.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Lindor had his stitches removed from his left hand Tuesday and could begin some "impact" activities within 2-to-3 days, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Mendoza added that Lindor has experienced no complications since undergoing surgery two weeks ago to repair a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, and the star shortstop appears poised to begin a hitting progression in the coming days. Though it could take a bit of time for Lindor to regain his power coming off the procedure, he should be in good shape to avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the season so long as he's not dealing with any discomfort as he increases his baseball activities.

De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's spring game against the Royals.

De La Cruz belted his first spring homer and has three extra-base hits in his two Cactus League appearances. It's a promising sign for the dynamic De La Cruz, who has enjoyed protection from Eugenio Suarez batting behind him. Suarez followed De La Cruz's blast with his own homer and is expected to bat cleanup behind De La Cruz in the regular season.

Griffin went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Griffin was hitless across his first five at-bats of Grapefruit League action, but he blasted a pair of long balls over the replica Green Monster at jetBlue Park on Tuesday. Both of those homers came on breaking balls -- the first of which was a curveball from Ranger Suarez -- and had exit velocities of 104.8 and 111.2 mph, respectively, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Griffin now has four flyballs measured over 104 mph this spring.

Rojas went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

Rojas received an invite to major-league spring training at just 20 years of age, and he didn't look overmatched Monday as he connected for his first Cactus League home run. The young shortstop is not on Chicago's 40-man roster and has yet to play above the Double-A level, so he's almost certainly ticketed for a return to the minors, but he could turn some heads with a strong spring. Rojas is worth keeping a close eye on in dynasty formats this season, particularly if he keeps developing his power stroke.

Brannigan will visit a specialist after suffering multiple injuries to the nasal complex when he was struck by a bad hop Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Brannigan was re-examined by team physicians Monday and the damage appears to be confined to the nose area, but he will examined by a specialist just in case to rule out orbital fractures. The 24-year-old is also coming back from surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, which he had last July. Brannigan should be considered day-to-day for the time being.

McLain went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI while batting second in Sunday's spring training loss to the Mariners. The Reds would like to see McLain bat second this year, but manager Terry Francona won't force it, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports. He was hitting second in a lineup that featured a typical top of the order, with TJ Friedl and Elly De La Cruz sandwiching McLain and Eugenio Suarez batting cleanup.

McLain hit second 66 times last season and struggled in the role. Francona suggested that it won't merely be McLain's spring training stat line that will drive the batting-order decision. "Just like everyone, you want them to feel good about themselves when they leave here," Francona said. "That's the whole idea. If I had a formula, we'd do it. You want guys to play enough. Everyone is different, which is ok."