MLB Player News

Strange-Gordon went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The veteran infielder hasn't seen regular action in the majors since 2019 and spent all of last season bouncing between three different Triple-A affiliates, but Strange-Gordon is making a strong case for a bench spot with the Nationals by batting .448 (13-for-29) this spring. Aiding his push for a spot on the 40-man roster is the fact that both Alcides Escobar (neck) and Ehire Adrianza (quadriceps) are banged up right now and may not be ready for Opening Day, while the organization has already decided prospect Luis Garcia needs more seasoning at Triple-A. The Nats have a track record of rehabilitating the careers of players seemingly in the twilight of their careers, with Escobar, Josh Harrison and Howie Kendrick all providing recent examples, and Strange-Gordon did steal 22 bases for the Mariners during that 2019 campaign. If he does break camp with the club and Escobar is unavailable, the 33-year-old would likely be competing with Lucius Fox for playing time at shortstop out of the gate.

Castillo will break camp on the Pirates' major-league roster, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

The Pirates won't be breaking camp with their most exciting middle infield prospect, Oneil Cruz, but Castillo is a fairly interesting prospect in his own right. He makes a ton of contact, striking out in just 10.7 percent of his plate appearances across his six minor-league seasons. He managed 19 homers and nine steals in 104 games split across the two highest levels of the minors last season while slashing .278/.355/.487 before erupting for five homers in 28 Grapefruit League at-bats this spring. His exact role this season is undetermined, but the Pirates don't have an inspiring group of alternatives in the middle infield, so there should be plenty of at-bats available.

Perdomo's grip on the starting shortstop position improved after Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported that Josh Rojas (oblique) will need weeks to recover.

Perdomo appeared to be solidifying a spot as the replacement for the injured Nick Ahmed (shoulder) at shortstop with the versatile Rojas seemingly the biggest threat. Rojas had been penciled in a third base but was also getting starts at shortstop since Ahmed's injury was revealed. Now, with the entire left side of the infield expected to miss the start of the season, it appears Perdomo will open on the Diamondbacks' roster.

Castillo is hitting .346 with five home runs in 26 at-bats this spring.

Castillo will get opportunities this season, and he may even break camp with the big-league club, as he is already on the 40-man roster and looks like he could be a better option than Hoy Park, Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker, although all of these middle infielders are having good springs statistically.

Adames (calf) will start at shortstop and bat second in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rangers.

Adames was pulled early in Friday's game against the Cubs after experiencing some calf cramping, but after a day of rest Saturday, he'll check back into the lineup to close out the weekend. The 26-year-old is positioned to begin the season as Milwaukee's everyday shortstop and should occupy a prominent spot in the lineup against both left- and right-handed pitching.

Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Adrianza (quadriceps) hasn't made any notable progress in his recovery from injury and is "still the same," suggesting the infielder isn't on track to make the Nationals' Opening Day roster, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Adrianza was expected to open the season as the Nationals' primary utility infielder, but his projected absence could pave the way for both Dee Strange-Gordon and another player to break camp as one of Washington's bench options. A timeline for Adrianza's potential season debut isn't likely to emerge until the 32-year-old advances to full baseball activities.

Adrianza's MRI revealed a strained left quadriceps Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Adrianza himself believes he'll be ready for Opening Day, but manager Dave Martinez was skeptical. Martinez is seemingly the more reasonable of the pair, as it's tough to see Adrianza getting over a strain in less than a week, but he'll avoid the injured list for now.

Wendle got the start at shortstop and hit leadoff in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, going 1-for-3 to improve his spring line to .346/.393/.385.

Acquired from the Rays in the offseason, the veteran utility player will likely spend most of his time this season at third base for the Marlins. Wendle launched a career-high 11 homers in 2021, but his main fantasy appeal comes from his ability to make contact (.274 career hitter) and swipe some bases (42 steals in 57 attempts over 436 MLB games.

Adames was removed from Friday's Cactus League game against the Brewers due to a calf cramp, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's matchup that Adames is fine, so it seems unlikely that the shortstop will be forced to miss time to begin the regular season. He should be considered day-to-day with just under a week remaining until Opening Day.

Adames left Friday's game against the Cubs with an apparent leg injury, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The nature and severity of the injury are not yet clear. With Luis Urias (quadriceps) opening the year on the injured list, the Brewers may have to turn to Mike Brosseau, Jace Peterson or Pablo Reyes at shortstop if Adames is forced to miss time.