MLB Player News

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Friday that Higashioka will be out of the lineup until Sunday due to a back injury, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The veteran backstop, who turns 36 years old in April, is projected to split catching duties with Danny Jansen this season. Higashioka slashed .241/.291/.403 with 11 home runs, a career-best 47 RBI, 33 runs scored and a 20:72 BB:K across 327 plate appearances last season for Texas.

Jung (hamstring) is expected to return to Cactus League action Sunday against the Mariners, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung was initially expected to return to the lineup Friday against the White Sox, but the Rangers are giving him a couple extra days of rest. Luke Hanson is making the start at third base for Texas against Chicago.

Seager was scratched from Friday's lineup against the White Sox due to an illness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Manager Skip Schumaker said Seager will be sidelined for at least a couple days. Cameron Cauley is starting at shortstop versus Chicago on Friday.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Brieske is day-to-day with thoracic spine inflammation, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Brieske was injured during fielding drill this week and was unable to pitch in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against Baltimore. The right-hander appeared in 22 regular-season games for the Tigers in 2025, registering a 6.55 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 16:12 K:BB across 22 innings. He's competing for a role in the bullpen.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Wilson is dealing with back issues and will not be ready for Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wilson missed significant time during the 2024 season with the White Sox due to back problems, though it's not clear whether this is a recurrence of those issues. The veteran reliever was acquire via trade this offseason and has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League contest. Expect Wilson to begin the year on the IL, with no clear target date yet for his season debut.

Melton has a right elbow strain and will not be ready for the start of the season, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Melton will be shut down for "a week or two" before being ramped back up. The young right-hander has yet to pitch in a game this spring and will need to be built back up from scratch once he does resume a throwing program. Melton was unlikely to crack the Tigers' rotation even before the injury and is now looking at a stint on the injured list.

Pereira is still feeling soreness in his right oblique after injuring it last week while taking swings off the Trajekt machine, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Pereira was examined by team doctors Wednesday and is still waiting for the results. Meanwhile, he has been limited to running and strengthening his oblique area. Pereira is in competition for reps in the White Sox' outfield and is still waiting to make his Cactus League debut.

Crawford (wrist/illness) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

It will be the first time the right-hander has faced hitters since he suffered a wrist injury last summer that required surgery. Crawford has been brought along slowly in Red Sox camp post-surgery and also had a bout of the flu. He appears likely to begin the season on the injured list, though the Red Sox have not confirmed as much yet.

Basallo (abdomen) believes he'll be ready to return to Grapefruit League play this weekend, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Basallo was pulled from Thursday's game against the Tigers due to right-side abdominal discomfort, but he thinks it was merely cramping and imaging was deemed unnecessary. Consider the young slugger day-to-day.

An MRI on Lewis' right side came back negative, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Lewis had to be scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Pirates due to tightness in his side, but he has managed to sidestep a serious injury. The Twins are likely to keep Lewis out of game action for at least a few days to be safe, but he should be considered day-to-day.