MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Having strong spring
Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two RBI in Friday's spring game against the Giants.
Smith is enjoying a productive spring, slashing .390/.528/.756 with three steals, 12 walks, three doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI over 17 Cactus League games. That production, however, has overwhelmingly come against right-handers; Smith has just 10 at-bats (two hits) against lefties this spring and a career .631 OPS against southpaws. Despite the track record, Texas manager Skip Schumaker said earlier this month that Smith will not be in a strict platoon at second base.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Efficient final tuneup
Eovaldi allowed four hits and one walk and did not record a strikeout over four scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against San Francisco.
Eovaldi was efficient in his final Cactus League start before taking the ball Opening Day next Thursday. He threw just 36 pitches (27 strikes), which can happen when a team is as aggressive as the Giants were Friday. There should be no worries about length; Eovaldi threw 81 pitches and 5.2 innings in his previous spring start.
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Heston Kjerstad DH | BAL
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Battling hamstring tightness
Kjerstad is dealing with tightness in his right hamstring, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Kjerstad will undergo imaging as a precaution to determine whether he's dealing with any structural damage, at which point the team will know more about how long he'll be out. The 27-year-old outfielder has posted just a .605 OPS through 42 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League and seems likely to open the regular season in Triple-A.
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Logan Taylor Allen SP | CLE
Guardians' Logan Allen: Has night to forget
Allen allowed 12 runs on 14 hits and two walks while striking out two over 2.1 innings in Friday's spring game against Seattle.
After Allen emerged from a first-inning jam unharmed, his night went sideways. He was twice removed in the middle of innings only to return later, as allowed under spring rules. Allen's night was finally over in the fourth when he gave up two runs. The positives are four up-and-downs, 85 pitches thrown and that is wasn't a regular-season game. The left-hander finished the Cactus League on a sour note, having allowed 18 runs on 21 hits and five walks over his final five innings. Allen is part of the Guardians' projected starting rotation; however, it should be noted the team evaluated six potential starters this spring, and Allen's hold on a rotation spot could be tenuous.
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Dylan Beavers RF | BAL
Orioles' Dylan Beavers: Dealing with quad tightness
Beavers said Saturday that he felt tightness in his quad while running Friday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Beavers has reportedly been having trouble with his right quad for a few days, and it bothered him enough Friday for the Orioles to scratch him from their Grapefruit League lineup. He remains optimistic that he'll be ready for Opening Day, though the team hasn't announced any official timeline.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Orioles' Andrew Kittredge: Minimum IL stay expected
Kittredge (shoulder) said Saturday that he expects to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk once the regular season starts, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Kittredge has been working his way back from right shoulder inflammation since early March, and the Orioles have already confirmed that he will begin the year on the injured list. However, the right-hander has been encouraged by how his shoulder has responded to treatment and seems confident that he will only have to miss the first 15 days of the new season.
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Cameron Booser SP | TB
Rays' Cam Booser: Won't make Opening Day roster
The Rays informed Booser on Saturday that he won't be included on the team's Opening Day roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Booser gave up just one earned run and struck out nine batters over nine innings in the Grapefruit League, but despite his best efforts, he won't break camp with the big-league club. It's unknown whether he will opt to enter free agency or stick with the organization, but a decision is expected to come within the next few days.
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Marcelo Mayer 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Confirmed as starting 2B
Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Mayer will begin the season as the Red Sox's primary second baseman, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Cora's announcement comes shortly after he named Caleb Durbin as the team's starter at third base and the Red Sox's decision to option Nick Sogard to Triple-A Worcester. Mayer has posted just a .710 OPS this spring across 44 plate appearances, but the organization feels he has done enough to win the battle at the keystone. Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio remain in camp as bench pieces.
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Dillon Dingler C | DET
Tigers' Dillon Dingler: Hits first spring home run
Dingler went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After his spring training debut was delayed due to arthroscopic right elbow surgery in the offseason, Dingler got off to a slow start at the plate. However, the catcher has been a bit better lately, going 4-for-12 with the homer over his last four Grapefruit League contests. Dingler appears to be rounding into form for the start of the regular season, and he'll serve as Detroit's top backstop once again in 2026.
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Rays' Gavin Lux: Battling shoulder injury
Lux isn't in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins due to right shoulder discomfort, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Manager Kevin Cash said he expects Lux to return to the starting nine Sunday, so the 28-year-old doesn't seem to be dealing with anything serious. Through six spring training games, Lux has gone 4-for-18 (.222) with two runs scored and seven strikeouts.