MLB Player News

Bogaerts (shoulder) is pushing hard to play shortstop Wednesday against the Twins, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Bogaerts was the designated hitter Sunday and will DH again Tuesday. If he doesn't get onto the field on his target date of Wednesday, it sounds like that should be coming any day now. He is tracking toward being in the lineup on Opening Day.

Witt is hitting .333/.379/.667 with three home runs, six strikeouts and two walks through 27 at-bats this spring.

Witt, who turns 21 in June, has been the talk of Royals camp and has earned glowing reviews from those inside and outside the organization. While he lacks experience in a full-season league, the normal rules may not apply here. Witt was a standout last summer at the alternate training site and looks like one of Kansas City's best position players this spring, so he could debut this season.

The Rays reassigned Franco to their minor-league camp Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Tampa Bay's demotion of its top prospect doesn't come as a major surprise, as Franco was always expected to get a little more seasoning in the upper levels of the minors before making his MLB debut at some point later this season. Franco made a positive impression over his seven games with the Rays during the Grapefruit League slate, going 5-for-17 with a home run.

Chang appears to be the leading candidate to win a utility role this spring, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. He's hitting .294 (5-for-17) with three home runs this spring.

With the trade of Mike Freeman to the Reds, it looks like Chang will begin the season on the big-league roster. If he can carry his strong showing at the plate into the regular season, it's not out of the question Cleveland could find a way to get him more at-bats.

Marcano started in center field Sunday against the Reds and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run. He has also played right field, left field, second base, third base and shortstop this spring.

In addition to playing all over the field, Marcano has also been getting it done at the plate, slashing .368/.429/.632 with a home run and three RBI. The 21-year-old isn't likely to break camp with the club, but he is certainly turning heads in the organization. Marcano hasn't logged time in the outfield thus far in his minor-league career, but he has played over 40 games at three different infield positions (second base, shortstop and third base).

Cruz went 0-for-1 with a walk and run scored in Sunday's loss to Philadelphia.

He has just one hit and two walks in 19 spring at-bats. Despite talks of moving the 22-year-old to the outfield, Cruz has primarily played shortstop on defense this spring, making only two appearances in center field. He's likely ticketed for Triple-A Indianapolis in an effort to gain experience in the upper minors before potentially making his MLB debut later this summer.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Downs was removed from Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins due to a left side injury, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Cora acknowledged the possibility that Downs might be dealing with an oblique strain, but the Red Sox training staff will likely put the middle-infield prospect through more tests before a firmer diagnosis is made. Downs picked up the injury when he dove after a ball while playing shortstop.

Downs left Sunday's spring game against the Twins after a dive attempt during the seventh inning, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

The 22-year-old came off the bench Sunday but didn't have a plate appearance after suffering the injury in the field. Downs was able to leave the field under his own power, so it may not end up being a serious issue.

Bogaerts (shoulder) will serve as Boston's designated hitter and will bat third in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The Red Sox initially planned on having Bogaerts take part in a simulated game Sunday, but he'll instead remain in the spring lineup for the third day in a row. Bogaerts still has yet to make his debut in the field while the Red Sox ease him back from the sore right shoulder he developed earlier in camp, but manager Alex Cora said he expects the 28-year-old to occupy his normal post at shortstop Tuesday against Atlanta or Wednesday against Minnesota, per McCaffrey.

Bogaerts said he'll be ready for Opening Day after making his Grapefruit League debut Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Bogaerts arrived to spring training with a sore right shoulder and has been brought along slowly. He served as the designated hitter Friday (0-for-2). "Yeah, I will be completely ready [for Opening Day]," Bogaerts said. "I feel completely ready right now. Just looking forward to continuing to strengthen my shoulders and working with the training staff and just sticking to the routine we have going on right now." The next steps will be more baseball activities and playing in the field during a game. Bogaerts will serve as the DH for a second straight game Saturday, when the Red Sox host Atlanta.