MLB Player News
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Jadher Areinamo SS | TB
Rays' Jadher Areinamo: Departs with hamstring issue
Areinamo was pulled from Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh due to right hamstring tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Areinamo started at third base for the Rays on Sunday, but he was replaced by Logan Davidson in the third inning. Prior to exiting, Areinamo went 1-for-1 with a run scored. Tampa Bay is calling his removal precautionary.
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Jordan Lawlar SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Pops homer in spring debut
Lawlar started in center field and went 1-for-2 with a walk and solo home run in Saturday's spring game against the Rockies.
Lawlar won an eight-pitch battle, delivering a solo home run to left field off Valente Bellozo in the second inning. He's set to see a lot of time in center field this spring, as Alek Thomas will cover left field for the injured Lourdes Gurriel (knee). Once all of Arizona's injured outfielders return, including right fielder Corbin Carroll (hand), Lawlar could earn playing time as the right-handed hitting complement to Thomas in center and in left field when Gurriel operates as the designated hitter.
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Enrique Hernandez SS | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Placed on 60-day IL
The Dodgers placed Hernandez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
The move creates space on the Dodgers' 40-man roster for Jack Suwinski, who was claimed off waivers from the Pirates on Saturday. Hernandez is expected to miss the first several months of the regular season while he recovers from offseason elbow surgery, though the team is hopeful that he'll resume a hitting program soon.
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Cody Freeman SS | TEX
Rangers' Cody Freeman: Suffers back fracture
Freeman was diagnosed with a lower-back fracture Saturday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Freeman will remain sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks before the Rangers re-evaluate him, which will almost certainly cause him to miss the entire Cactus League schedule and could force him to begin the regular season on the injured list. The 25-year-old infielder had been in the running to land a spot on the Rangers' bench, but his injury will open the door for other players like Ezequiel Duran, Sam Haggerty and Justin Foscue to pick up reps during spring training games.
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Thomas Saggese SS | STL
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: More time in outfield likely
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday that the signing of Ramon Urias could lead to more playing time in the outfield for Saggese, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Saggese has never played the outfield in pro ball, but he's been working out there during spring training and could see starts in the outfield, especially against lefties. The 23-year-old also figures to see some starts at designated hitter, or in the field while others are getting a DH day. Saggese has hit only .250/.292/.336 with a 28 percent strikeout rate in his first 100 games in the majors.
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Casey Schmitt SS | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Starting spring opener
Schmitt (wrist) will start at third base and bat sixth during Saturday's Cactus League game against Seattle, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After undergoing offseason surgery to remove the carpal boss in his left wrist, Schmitt has officially been cleared for game action ahead of San Francisco's first spring exhibition game. The 26-year-old slashed .237/.305/.401 with 40 RBI and 34 runs scored across 348 plate appearances last season and is expected to begin 2026 as infield depth on the Giants' bench.
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Jordan Lawlar SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Will start opener in CF
Lawlar will start in center field in Arizona's Cactus League opener Saturday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
This will be Lawlar's first start in center field in a Diamondbacks' uniform. He was given reps in center during winter ball and has been working with outfielders during spring drills. As part of the team's adjustment to being without injured outfielders Corbin Carroll (hand) and Lourdes Gurriel (knee) for rest of spring training, Lawlar is expected to see time in the outfield in camp and into the regular season.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at 2B in opener
Smith started at second base and went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored in Friday's spring opener against the Royals.
After the Rangers traded second baseman Marcus Semien during the offseason, Smith's name was part of the group in line to compete for second base. The super-utility player recently confirmed he's been preparing to play the keystone since Semien's departure from the organization. Smith should be a regular presence in the lineup against right-handers at some position.
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Michael Arroyo SS | SEA
Mariners' Michael Arroyo: Homers in spring opener
Arroyo started at second base and went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and a double in Friday's Cactus League opener against the Padres.
Arroyo drove an opposite-field homer off a two-strike pitch from Jagger Haynes in the second inning, giving the Mariners an early 2-0 lead. It was reported earlier in the offseason that Arroyo would transition to the outfield, though he ultimately got the start at second base in Seattle's spring opener. While it remains to be seen where Arroyo will fit in the field long term, his major-league future will ultimately come down to his bat. Arroyo slashed .262/.401/.433 with 17 home runs across 556 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A last year. He should see regular playing time early in Cactus League play before reporting to Team Colombia for the World Baseball Classic.
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Geraldo Perdomo SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo: Three PAs in spring opener
Perdomo batted second and went 1-for-3 in Friday's Cactus League opener against the Rockies.
Perdomo should be a regular presence in spring lineups over the next two weeks, before he joins the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He's expected to bat leadoff against right-handers and second against left-handers for Arizona during the regular season.