MLB Player News

Torkelson's contract was selected by the Tigers on Wednesday.

The Tigers announced last weekend that Torkelson had made the Opening Day roster, and the move was made official Wednesday. The No. 1 overall pick from 2020 slashed .258/.385/.484 with a homer, four doubles, four runs, four RBI and a steal this spring, and he'll begin the year as Detroit's primary first baseman.

The Guardians announced Wednesday that Naylor (lower leg) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.

Naylor is on the 10-day injured list to begin the 2022 campaign, but his rehab assignment as the minor-league regular season gets underway signals that he'll likely be able to rejoin the Guardians following a relatively brief absence. Bradley Zimmer and Oscar Mercado are expected to fill in as options in right field while Naylor is unavailable.

Pasquantino went 9-for-23 with two homers, two doubles and 2:7 BB:K this spring, producing a .391/.440/.739 batting line. However, he will be starting the season in Triple-A.

Those stats jump off the page, but that's nothing new for Pasquantino, who crushed to the tune of .300/.394/.563 with 24 homers, 84 RBI and six steals in 116 games across High-A and Double-A last year. Most impressively, he put up a brilliant 64:64 BB:K, reflective of his rare bat-to-ball skills. Incumbent first baseman Carlos Santana is in his decline phase and won't be a huge impediment to Pasquantino's progress to the major-league level, but fellow prospects Nick Pratto and MJ Melendez might be. Either way, if he rakes in Triple-A the way he has everywhere else so far, it's going to be impossible to keep him down for too long.

Kirilloff (knee) will start in left field and bat seventh in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Kirilloff was out of the lineup for the last two days with minor left knee soreness, but the injury doesn't look like it'll be anything that keeps him from playing when the Twins begin their regular season Thursday versus Seattle. The 24-year-old should be a mainstay in the lineup against right-handed pitching, seeing most of his work in left field, at first base or at designated hitter. Kirilloff showed intriguing potential as a rookie in 2021 with a .722 OPS across 231 plate appearances, but improving upon his elevated 48.8 percent groundball rate will be imperative for him to tap into the sort of power typically associated with a corner player.

Kirilloff (knee) is expected to return to the Twins' lineup Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Kirilloff was removed from Saturday's Grapefruit League matchup due to mild left knee soreness, but he should be back in action for Tuesday's spring finale. The 24-year-old should be available for Opening Day against the Mariners on Thursday.

Vaughn (hip) is starting in right field in Monday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old was a late addition to Monday's lineup after AJ Pollock was scratched with a head cold, but it's encouraging that Vaughn has been given clearance to play the outfield late in spring training. Although Vaughn was limited by a right hip pointer late in camp, it appears as though he's now healthy ahead of Opening Day.

Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a home run and an additional run scored Saturday in a Grapefruit League win over the Braves.

Rizzo left the yard for the first time this spring when he belted a solo shot to right field in the third inning. The veteran first baseman has seen action in nine exhibition games, slashing .333/.429/.500 with three RBI and two stolen bases over 28 plate appearances.

Vaughn (hip) will bat ninth as the White Sox's designated hitter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.

Vaughn will check back into the spring lineup for the first time in a week, after he was forced to exit early in the White Sox's March 27 game against the Dodgers due to a right hip pointer. Though the injury no longer looks like it affects Vaughn at the plate, it's unclear if he'll receive full clearance to play the outfield (or first base) ahead of the White Sox's season opener Friday in Detroit. Regardless, the fact that Vaughn is available as a DH will likely be enough for him to avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the campaign.

Naylor will begin the 2022 campaign on the 10-day injured list, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Naylor had a slow start to spring training while recovering from his significant leg injury that he sustained in June of 2021, but he made his Cactus League debut Tuesday against the Dodgers. While the 24-year-old will be unavailable to begin the regular season, manager Terry Francona is hopeful that Naylor will be back in action following a relatively short stay on the injured list. While Naylor is sidelined, Bradley Zimmer and Oscar Mercado should see additional playing time in right field.

Kiriloff left Saturday's game against the Rays with mild left knee soreness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The fact that the Twins are calling the issue mild and his removal precautionary seemingly indicates that Kiriloff has a chance to be ready for Opening Day against the Mariners on Thursday. If the issue turns out to be something that can't be solved with a few days of rest, Brent Rooker or Luis Arraez could spend time in left field. A longer absence could also give non-roster invitees Jake Cave and Kyle Garlick the chance to make the team.