MLB Player News

Manager Torey Lovullo said Chris Owings will receive the bulk of playing time at shortstop, but Ahmed will still see a fair share of starts, Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports.

Ahmed has been behind Owings in terms of performance all spring, so the move doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, Lovullo said the move doesn't mean there won't be opportunities down the road. "Nick Ahmed is not a backup infielder," he said. "He's going to get a number of starts at shortstop." The general assumption here is that those starts will come on the days when Owings moves to right field. Ahmed is looking to move past his injury-riddled 2016 campaign.

Manger Torey Lovullo said Owings will receive the bulk of playing time at shortstop, Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports.

Owings has been in a tight battle with Nick Ahmed for the starting spot this spring, but it appears the team couldn't ignore his .345/.377/.534 slash line and two home runs. The 25-year-old is a suspect hitter but has shown flashes of potential. Lovullo noted that Ahmed will still see "a number of starts," so the pressure is on Owings to perform early.

DeJong will primarily play shortstop for Triple-A Memphis in 2017 while also seeing time at second and third base, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 23-year-old figures to start "four or five times a week" at shortstop but will also keep his skills at the other infield spots sharp. DeJong will receive his first exposure to Triple-A pitching after slashing .260/.324/.460 over 552 plate appearances at Double-A Springfield last season.

Seager (oblique) is expected to start Sunday's game against the Angels in the Freeway Series, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers have been cautious with Seager's recovery from an oblique injury this spring, but they're confident enough in his progress to where he'll get back into game action Sunday. Provided that Seager makes it through his appearance without any setbacks, he figures to be ready for Opening Day against the Padres.

Ahmed has slashed .259/.267/.431 and has driven in 11 runs over 58 at-bats during Cactus League play.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo hasn't officially decided on a starting shortstop to begin the season, but based on spring performance alone, Ahmed seems to be well behind Chris Owings, who has been a Cactus League standout with a .352 average and five extra-base hits in 54 at-bats. Ahmed's spot on the Opening Day roster still looks secure after the club demoted Ketel Marte to Triple-A Reno earlier in the week, and his defensive acumen still might be enough to earn him a couple starts per week at either middle infield spot.

Castro was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The 24-year-old infielder didn't pose much of a threat to claim a roster spot, especially after batting just .235 and walking once in 35 spring plate appearances. Castro will likely serve as an organizational depth piece moving forward, but his positional versatility could land him a spot in Denver later in the season if he picks things up at the plate during his time in the minors.

Swanson went 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and three runs scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

Despite a late start to the spring due to a strained side, Swanson is still slashing .313/.421/.500 in 38 plate appearances and seems ready to pick up where he left off in his impressive 2016 major-league debut. The 23-year-old will be hitting second for the Braves this season, which could make him a very valuable source of runs given his advanced hit tool and solid on-base skills.

Turner went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

Both long balls came off Seth Lugo, and Turner is now slashing .279/.323/.459 on the spring in 61 at-bats with three homers and six steals in six attempts. The 23-year-old appears to be more than ready for Opening Day.

Seager (oblique) is scheduled to play in a minor league game Monday and will stay in Arizona for the first two games of the upcoming Freeway Series, Bill Plunkett of the OC Register reports.

Seager continues to work back from an oblique injury that's kept him out of action for much of spring training. At this point, the team is focusing on getting Seager increased at-bats at the minor-league level, but it appears he'll rejoin the Dodgers on the Saturday prior to Opening Day. Seager could perhaps play in Saturday's home matchup with the Angels as Los Angeles wraps up its exhibition slate.

Seager (back) isn't satisfied with the quality of his swing, and he could stay back in Arizona when the team heads to Los Angeles for its final exhibition games later this week, Eric Stephen of SB Nation reports.

There are no reports of a setback with the shortstop's back, it just sounds like he isn't satisfied with his swing after missing the majority of spring training action. Seager has played in three minor league games this past week, and reportedly felt fine physically. If the Dodgers decide to hold their young star out of Freeway Series, it would simply be to get him more consistent at-bats in minor league camp, rather than a sign that they are planning on placing him on the disabled list to start the season.