MLB Player News

Berti had gone 4-for-29 (.138) with a 1:10 BB:K when spring training was suspended.

Perhaps the most worrisome part of his spring line is the fact that he didn't even attempt a stolen base for a team that saw players like Monte Harrison (6-for-7 on steal attempts) and Jonathan Villar (4-for-4) run seemingly at will. Granted, Berti didn't get many chances to put his wheels to the test -- two of his four hits went for extra bases -- but it's still a disappointing spring effort from a player without a secure spot in the lineup. The 30-year-old's fantasy value will remain tied to his playing time and speed when the regular season begins, making him a very volatile asset.

Swanson was hitting 7-for-27 (.259) with a double and a 2:6 BB:K when spring training was suspended.

The spring numbers weren't impressive, but Swanson had nothing to prove in camp. The 26-year-old hit the ball a little harder in 2019 and saw a slight uptick in his power numbers as a result, but as yet his long-anticipated breakout hasn't occurred. Swanson is locked into the starting shortstop role in a loaded Atlanta lineup.

Rojas is expected to begin the regular season as the Marlins' starting shortstop despite a lackluster .250/.308/.458 slash line through 26 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

The 31-year-old isn't in the lineup for his offensive contributions but instead to provide steady defense behind a pitching staff that often needs all the help it can get. Rojas' hold on the starting job at the six is likely to be tenuous once the regular season begins, however; Jon Berti could push for more playing time if he keeps running wild as he did at the end of last year, and the organization may want to reward top prospect Jazz Chisholm with a callup if he proves himself at Triple-A Wichita.

Edman's likelihood of receiving ample playing time in both the infield and outfield increased with the release of Yairo Munoz on March 7, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Coming into spring training, Edman was already set to see plenty of action in 2020 after having logged time at second base, third base, shortstop and center field last season. The 24-year-old was highly productive at the plate as well with a .304/.350/.500 line across 92 games, and he hit .237 (9-for-38) with a double, a home run, six RBI, two walks, one stolen base and eight runs across 12 Grapefruit League games before spring training was paused.

Shewmake hit .231/.333/.308 with a double, a walk and two strikeouts in 15 plate appearances before being reassigned to minor-league camp.

This is hardly a knock on Shewmake, who has been in pro ball for less than a year (No. 21 overall pick in 2019). He got a brief taste of Double-A after dominating at Low-A (151 wRC+) and he will likely head back to Mississippi whenever the minor-league season gets underway.

Abrams has recovered from a bone bruise in his shoulder and was participating in minor-league camp -- including playing games on the back field of the Padres' spring training complex, per Nick Recchia of FriarLounge -- before camp was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abrams actually made his return to game action in October during the Don Welke Classic, according to Bill Center of FriarWire. The Padres' top prospect missed the end of last season due to the shoulder issue but nonetheless enjoyed a spectacular campaign highlighted by recognition as the MVP of the rookie-level Arizona League.

Manager Dave Martinez suggested Wednesday that Turner will likely remain the Nationals' leadoff man to begin the season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Martinez entertained the idea of moving Victor Robles into the table-setting role and dropping Turner down to the three-hole earlier in the spring, but the skipper is seemingly less inclined to go in that direction with his lineup. Specifically, Martinez mentioned that he likes having the tandem of Turner and Adam Eaton batting back-to-back, and Starlin Castro's high contact rate makes him a good fit as the No. 3 hitter, given the speedy players in front of him. Batting out of the leadoff spot is probably a best-case scenario for Turner for fantasy purposes, as he'll likely have free reign on the basepaths more frequently than he would hitting third.

Amaya was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

Amaya received an invitation to spring training with the big-league club, but he'll join minors camp following Monday's round of roster moves. He reached High-A for the first time in his young career last season, slashing .250/.307/.375 with one home run and 13 RBI across 21 games.

Cruz was optioned to Double-A Altoona on Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Cruz played 35 games for Altoona last season, homering once and stealing three bases while hitting .269/.346/.412. Despite his unusual size for a shortstop (6-foot-7), the Pirates reportedly have no imminent plans for him to change positions.

Arcia hit his fifth home run of the spring in Sunday's split squad game against the Angels.

Arcia homered in his second exhibition game appearance and has not slowed down, adding four more long balls to his tally. Despite the spring power surge, it is still tough to expect much from him offensively given his struggles at the plate for the larger part of his career, and, in particular, the .199 batting average he posted after the All-Star break last season. Still, Arcia knows he will be pushed for playing time this season by both Luis Urias (wrist) and Brock Holt, and he is responding thus far.