MLB Player News

Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts took ground balls at third base Tuesday to prepare for the position he will play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Bogaerts, a shortstop by trade, will start at third base against Boston College on Thursday. “He’s an infielder. You know what? He’s got a lot of natural ability and instincts there,” manager John Farrell told the Boston Globe. “We’ll get two days of workdays with him and then get him in a game.”

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com on Monday that Dee Gordon will likely begin the year at Triple-A Albuquerque. Hanley Ramirez is slotted to start at shortstop for Los Angeles this season. "If it gets to that situation, you don't do a guy a whole lot of good sitting and watching games when he needs the experience of just playing," Mattingly said of Gordon. "Young guys, you don't want them sitting on the bench. If that was the case, we'll do what's best for him and what's best for him in the long run."

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford is often lauded for his defense and even from unlikely sources. "I'm prepared to say with confidence that Brandon Crawford is the best defensive shortstop in baseball. His combination of instincts, hands and arm strength separates him from the rest," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis wrote in the Los Angeles Times during the World Series last year. One area Crawford doesn't receive a lot of praise is for his offense, but teammate Marco Scutaro feels that could change in 2013. "He's a guy who can be really good," Scutaro said. "Defensively he's unbelievable. At the end of the season last year he did some adjustments with his hitting. He was a little more consistent. When he starts getting consistent with his bat, he's going to be something special."

MLB.com has named shortstop Xander Bogarets and outfielder Jackie Bradley as the Red Sox's top two prospects, and both players could be on the verge of helping out the Boston lineup. "Their progression will kind of determine things, along with the major league need," Red Sox director of player development Ben Crockett said. "I think both guys are at the upper levels now. If they continue to perform, certainly they're guys we like a lot. We need to try to do what we determine is best for each of those guys and their development, and kind of see how that plays out with more and more exposure at the upper levels. I think it's really personalized to how mature the person is and how adept they are at handling challenges and handling these situations. I don't necessarily think that age is a factor that's going to make an absolute determination."

MLB.com reports Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada said he worked this offseason on base stealing with former teammate and current Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes. Tejada said he would like to run more this year and stick as the Mets' leadoff hitter.

Shortstop prospect Nick Ahmed was included in the deal that sent utility player Martin Prado, starting pitcher Randall Delgado, pitcher prospect Zeke Spruill and third base prospect Brandon Drury to Arizona for outfielder Justin Upton and third baseman Chris Johnson Thursday. Ahmed hit .269 with six homers and 40 steals at Class A Lynchburg last year.

The Diamondbacks and shortstop Cliff Pennington avoided arbitration on Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $5 million contract. Pennington was acquired from the A's in October.

Because Xander Bogaerts' bat should easily get him to the major leagues, the 20-year-old prospect has directed his attention toward other aspects of the game this offseason, according to MLB.com. "I'm not a lazy kind of guy," said Bogaerts. "I just like to work hard and get better every day. Like now, in the offseason, I'm taking extra grounders, working on my speed more. I'm trying to be a good all-around player so I can help the big-league team whenever they need me." Though at 6-feet-3, Bogaerts is a candidate to move off shortstop as he fills out, he hopes to avoid that scenario. "I'm working hard to try to stay at shortstop," he said. "My weight -- I don't have a problem with weight, as in getting fatter and stuff. I'm just working hard at the position."

With the arrival of Cliff Pennington in an offseason trade with the Athletics, Diamondbacks shortstop prospect Chris Owings is unlikely to see any time in the majors in 2013. According to MLB.com, the plan is for Owings to spend the season playing at Double- and Triple-A before getting a look in 2014. Though coaches have praised his defense, he still has a tendency to strike out too often. "I have been anxious," Owings said. "I need to be more patient in that aspect. I have to not be in a rush to make things happen. I have to wait for my pitch instead of forcing things with the pitcher's pitch."

The Cardinals recalled infielder Ryan Jackson from Triple-A Memphis Tuesday.