MLB Player News
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Nick Allen SS | HOU
Athletics' Nick Allen: Starts season hot
Allen went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a loss to the Guardians on Friday.
Allen put together a solid spring during which he appeared to have made strides at the plate, mustering a .261 average and .922 OPS across 27 plate appearances. The young shortstop has been swinging an even hotter bat to start the regular season, with Friday's multi-hit effort preceded by an Opening Day single in three plate appearances. Allen also closed out the 2023 campaign with a .385 average over his final nine games, so it's conceivable the 25-year-old has somewhat turned the corner against big-league arms heading into what should be his third extended stint in the majors.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Slugs key homer Friday
Crawford went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a win over the Red Sox on Friday.
Crawford sent a Nick Pivetta offering 381 feet into the right-field stands with one out in the sixth inning for what would turn out to be the only run of the game. The veteran shortstop had gone 0-for-4 on Opening Day, so his two times on base Friday were his first of the nascent season.
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Austin Martin RF | MIN
Twins' Austin Martin: Called up from Triple-A
The Twins will promote Martin from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The move corresponds with the Twins placing Royce Lewis (leg) on the IL. It'll be the first time Martin has been called up to the majors, and he is expected to add depth at second base and in the outfield. He slashed .208/.321/.250 with two RBI and three walks over 24 at-bats in spring training.
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Orlando Arcia SS | MIN
Braves' Orlando Arcia: Three hits in opener
Arcia went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Friday's 9-3 win over the Phillies.
The veteran shortstop hit the ground running in 2024 as part of a 13-hit attack for Atlanta in its opener. Arcia is coming off a career-best campaign that saw him slash .264/.321/.420 with 17 homers, 65 RBI and 66 runs, and even from the bottom half of the order -- he batted eighth Friday against Zack Wheeler -- he's capable of delivering solid production in a stacked lineup.
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Jackson Merrill CF | SD
Padres' Jackson Merrill: Won't start Friday vs. lefty
Merrill is not in the lineup Friday against the Giants.
Merrill started in center field Thursday, and he finished 0-for-2 with one run, one walk and one strikeout while batting ninth. With left-hander Kyle Harrison starting for the Giants on Friday, Jose Azocar will play center field and bat ninth.
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Jorge Mateo SS | ATL
Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Nabs steal Thursday
Mateo went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 11-3 win over the Angels.
Mateo got the start at second base versus Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval, which may be an early indication of manager Brandon Hyde's preferences for lineup construction. It still doesn't give Mateo an everyday spot, but he could see a short-side platoon role at second base early in the campaign. He offers speed -- the utility man has 67 stolen bases over the last two campaigns -- but he'll need to hit enough to stay in the lineup, especially with top prospect Jackson Holliday waiting at Triple-A Norfolk.
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Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Opens season on 60-day IL
The Athletics placed Diaz on the 60-day injured list Thursday with a right calf strain.
Diaz was able to resume light baseball activities at the tail end of spring training and is set to begin jogging this week, but he's not close to being ready for game action. Diaz should be on track to return when he's first eligible to come off the IL in late May and serve as a utility player for Oakland.
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Ha-seong Kim SS | ATL
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: Nabs second steal
Kim went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Thursday's 6-4 win against the Giants.
Kim has reached base four times -- three via walk -- through three games this season, and he's stolen a base on half of those occasions. He recorded a career-high 38 steals in 47 attempts last year and appears to have the green light to run frequently this season. Kim has yet to get his bat going with just one hit in 10 at-bats, but the thefts have helped highlight what he can provide for fantasy managers.