MLB Player News
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Kody Clemens 1B | MIN
Twins' Kody Clemens: No clear path to regular role
Clemens doesn't appear to have a set regular role in the lineup with the Twins signing Josh Bell and with several left-handed outfielders on the roster, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Clemens began the offseason looking like the team's starter at first base or at least the left-handed part of a platoon at the position. However, the Twins may not want to use Trevor Larnach in the outfield rather than DH against lefties, which would move Bell to first base, and Luke Keaschall looks set to play second base. Clemens hit .216/.284/.442 with 19 home runs last season in a breakout season and made significant strides in his batted-ball metrics with a 48.3 percent hard-hit rate and 12 percent barrel rate. His ability to play second base and first base should help find ways to get him into the lineup eventually, but he may find few at-bats early in the season unless the Twins trade a left-handed-hitting outfielder.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Propels DR to win in WBC
Wells went 1-for-1 with a three-run home run in Team Dominican Republic's 10-0, seven-inning victory over Korea in the quarterfinal of the World Baseball Classic on Friday.
Wells entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher in the top of the seventh inning. Team Dominican Republic led 7-0 going into the bottom of that frame, and Wells ended the contest via the mercy rule with his three-run blast to make the score 10-0. The long ball was the second of the tournament for Wells, who is slated to be the Yankees' primary catcher this season.
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Matt Wallner LF | MIN
Twins' Matt Wallner: Solid start to spring
Wallner went 2-for-3 in Friday's Grapefruit League loss to Boston. He's hitting .290 (9-for-31) with a home run this spring.
It's reassuring to see Wallner having a good spring as a terrible spring in 2024 resulted in a slow start to the regular season and an early demotion to the minors. Wallner looks set to start in right field and could have a breakout season after some bad luck last year. Wallner reduced his problematic strikeout rate below 30 percent for the first time in his career (29.1%) and had the best contact rate of his career (66.1%), but he had just a .775 OPS, with a .228 BABIP likely playing a factor.
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Kody Funderburk RP | MIN
Twins' Kody Funderburk: May not make Opening Day roster
Funderburk may not make the Opening Day roster with four left-handed relievers competing for a spot in the bullpen, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Funderburk has a 1.59 ERA and 6:1 K:BB in 5.2 innings this spring.
It's odd that Funderburk is on the roster bubble considering he's having a strong spring and coming off a strong second half. He had a 2.61 ERA and 21:8 K:BB in 20.2 innings after the All-Star break last year. Still, he's seen as behind veterans Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda and Andrew Chafin. It seems unlikely the Twins would have four left-handed relievers in the bullpen, so Funderburk may be the odd man out. A trade of one of the lefty relievers also seems like a possibility.
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Ryan Kreidler 3B | MIN
Twins' Ryan Kreidler: Could win roster spot
Kreidler appears to be the leading candidate to win a utility infield role with the Twins, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
He'd make the team based on his glove, as he's hit just .138/.208/.176 over parts of four major-league seasons and is only a career .236/.342/.401 hitter in the minors. The Twins don't have a clear backup shortstop on the roster, so Kreidler is battling Orlando Arcia for the backup shortstop role.
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Alan Roden LF | MIN
Twins' Alan Roden: May not win roster spot
Roden went 2-for-5 in Friday's Grapefruit League loss to Boston. Despite hitting .323 (10-for-31) with a home run this spring, both Matthew Leach of MLB.com and The Athletic project Roden to not make the Opening Day roster.
James Outman is having a strong spring and is out of options, so it's thought the Twins will send Roden to the minors to begin the season. However, the Twins' outfield situation is still in flux. The team has too many left-handed-hitting outfielders and a trade late in spring training seems possible. Roden could still win a role as a strong-side platoon player in left field if he wins a spot over Outman.
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Mick Abel P | MIN
Twins' Mick Abel: Ends scoreless streak
Abel gave up two earned runs over 3.1 innings with four strikeouts and one walk Friday, ending a 10-inning scoreless streak. He has a 1.35 ERA with a 17:1 K:BB in 13.1 innings this spring.
Abel is likely competing with Zebby Matthews for the fifth starter role. This was his first speed bump in otherwise stellar spring. A high walk rate (6.5 BB/9 in the majors last season) has been a problem, so his great control this spring is encouraging. He's making a strong case to begin the season in the rotation, but he'll likely be the odd man out since he has minor-league options left. Still the competition between him and Matthews will likely come down to the final week of spring training.
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Jonathan India 2B | KC
Royals' Jonathan India: Exits game with groin injury
India was removed from Friday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks due to right groin tightness.
India went 1-for-1 with a double and a run scored before being removed in the third inning. He'll undergo further tests and the Royals should have an update in the coming days, but the timing of the injury puts India in jeopardy of being sidelined for Opening Day. Michael Massey is nursing a low-grade calf strain, but assuming he recovers over the next couple of weeks, he would be a top candidate to start at second base if India were to miss time, though Maikel Garcia and Nick Loftin could also see some reps at the keystone.
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Braiden Ward CF | BOS
Red Sox's Braiden Ward: Showing off speed in camp
Ward has recorded 17 stolen bases across 16 Grapefruit League games with the Red Sox in spring training.
Per Conor Liguori of The Sporting News, Ward now holds the record for the most stolen bases in spring training. Ward's running ability comes as no surprise, given that he logged 56 steals (on 64 attempts) across 96 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season. He was acquired by the Red Sox from the Rockies in November and has yet to appear in an official major-league game. However, his ability to play multiple positions in both the outfield and infield, coupled with his proficiency on the bases, could earn Ward a call-up from the Red Sox in 2026.
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Michael Arroyo SS | SEA
Mariners' Michael Arroyo: Dealing with neck spasms
Arroyo was scratched from the Mariners' lineup for Friday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers due to neck spasms, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Arroyo was slated to start at second base and bat seventh in Friday's game before his injury flared up, and the Mariners should provide an update over the next couple of days once the 21-year-old undergoes further tests. Arroyo ended the 2025 season with Double-A Arkansas, where he slashed .255/.376/.341 with nine steals (on 12 attempts), two home runs and 15 RBI in 250 plate appearances.