MLB Player News

Franco started and hit leadoff in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Nationals, going 1-for-4 with a run.

Franco was making his first Grapefruit League start, but he'd made his debut Thursday in a split-squad win over the Tigers when he entered the game as a defensive replacement for Willy Adames and grounded out to the pitcher in his only at-bat. The teenage phenom, who turns 19 on March 1, has rocketed through three minor-league stops over the last two seasons, hitting well over .300 at the Rookie, Low-A and High-A levels. Franco will gain valuable experience in big-league camp this spring, and he could potentially put it to use later this season if his meteoric rise through the ranks continues.

Adames went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and two runs overall in a Grapefruit League split-squad win over the Tigers on Thursday.

The 24-year-old came into the game without his first spring hit, but he remedied that with a second-inning two-run shot off Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann. Adames was eventually pulled for phenom Wander Franco to open the sixth inning, but not before kick-starting his Grapefruit League ledger with the multi-hit effort. Adames heads into the 2020 campaign looking to build on the career-best 20 home runs and 52 RBI he garnered last season across 584 plate appearances.

Camargo, who hit a home run off Yankees prospect Deivi Garcia in Friday's Grapefruit League game, is the favorite in the third-base job battle with Austin Riley, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

This sounds like an educated guess from Bowman. We already know Camargo will make the 26-man roster, getting some occassional starts at the hot corner while serving as the backup at second base and shortstop, but it sounds like he could also just win the third base job outright. Riley has produced a couple long line drives while going 2-for-10 with just one strikeout thus far and is the much more appealing fantasy option due to his big power potential, but Camargo could become useful in deep leagues if he enters the season as close to an everyday player.

Anderson will miss Friday's game against Cleveland due to a stomach virus, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

With the illness occurring nearly a month before Opening Day, Anderson can afford to miss a few days and still have plenty of time to get ready for the regular season. He lines up to hit near the top of the batting order for the White Sox as the everyday shortstop this season.

Arcia went 2-for-2 and hit a three-run home run in Thursday's spring game against the Royals.

Arcia is off to a fast start this spring, going 4-for-10 with two home runs and seven RBI over four games -- a good sign for a player who had the worst wRC+ among qualified hitters a season ago. The Brewers brought in Luis Urias to either compete with or supplant Arcia, but Urias is working his way back from wrist surgery, so Arcia will get ample opportunities to hone his hitting skills during the exhibition season.

Bogaerts (ankle) hit in the cage Friday but remains a few days from getting into a game, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Bogaerts has been dealing with a sore ankle since early in camp. The issue doesn't appear to be a major worry, and he still has time to get built up for Opening Day, though it would certainly be reassuring to see him looking like himself in a Grapefruit League game soon.

DeJong, who went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run in a Grapefruit League win over the Astros on Wednesday, also hit a three-run home run and drove in four runs overall in an exhibition loss to the Nationals on Tuesday.

The slugging shortstop has only logged six plate appearances through three spring games, but he's made excellent use of them. DeJong mustered career highs in extra-base hits (62) in 2019, including new high-water marks in doubles (31) and home runs (30). He drove in a career-best 78 runs, but he also produced a pedestrian .233 average, the lowest of his big-league career thus far. The timely hitting he's demonstrated over a small sample thus far in Grapefruit League play is a particularly welcome sight after DeJong hit just .193 with men in scoring position last season, and Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports manager Mike Shildt was particularly gratified to see it. "I want to see Paul hit with that runner at third, less than two outs, " Shildt said. "And today we got that situation. He got to two strikes and didn't try to do too much. What a fluid, pretty swing."

Garcia homered twice in Tuesday's spring training loss against the Angels, despite the wind blowing in, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Garcia is getting some extra playing time in spring training with Freddy Galvis out for the short-term, but he impressed manager David Bell. "He's fun to watch," Bell said. "He's a talented young player. It will be fun to see him. We'll be sure to get him some playing time this spring. It will be a good experience for him." Garcia is ticketed for Double-A after breaking out at High-A Daytona last year.

Manager Kevin Cash said that Franco will join the Rays for Thursday's split-squad game against the Tigers, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

The 18-year-old phenom is scheduled to substitute in for Willy Adames at shortstop midway through Thursday's contest before making the trip with the big club to West Palm Beach, Fla. for Friday's game against the Nationals. Franco's exposure to big-league camp at this stage of his development speaks to his elite talent, and the Rays remain open to the possibility of the switch-hitting infielder making his MLB debut at some point in 2020 if his performance warrants it. After torching the competition in stops at Low-A Bowling Green and High-A Charlotte last season, Franco could report to Double-A Montgomery to begin the campaign.

Gordon, who arrived in camp late due to the birth of his daughter, is expected to make his Cactus League debut either Wednesday or Thursday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The veteran infielder has been busy playing catch-up after not reporting to camp until last Friday. Gordon isn't projected to open the season as the starter at second base, with Shed Long slated for the top job at the keystone. However, the 31-year-old is still expected to serve as a valuable veteran presence and a fill-in option in at both second and center field.