MLB Player News

The Royals optioned O'Hearn to their alternate training site Tuesday.

Since Carlos Santana and Jorge Soler are expected to handle everyday roles at first base and designated hitter, respectively, O'Hearn offers limited value to the Royals as a first baseman with no positional flexibility. He'll continue to play regularly in simulated games at the alternate site before reporting to Triple-A Omaha in May for the start of the minor-league season.

Tigers general manager Al Avila said Tuesday that Torkelson will likely open the season at High-A West Michigan, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft still has yet to make his professional regular-season debut, but he was able to get some work in at the Tigers' big-league camp this spring. The early returns weren't impressive -- he went 1-for-26 with 16 strikeouts in Grapefruit League play -- but dynasty managers shouldn't fret too much about the 21-year-old's long-term outlook. Torkelson is still viewed as an impact power hitter who should provide a high batting average to go along with his slugging production.

Dalbec (finger) will start at first base and bat eighth in Tuesday's Grapefruit League against Atlanta, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Dalbec had sat out the past couple of days with a sore right index finger, but his return to the lineup for the Red Sox's spring finale suggests he'll head into Opening Day at full health. The 25-year-old has put together a big spring, slashing .311/.392/.822 with seven home runs and a stolen base across 45 at-bats. While Dalbec at least appears to be locked into a strong-side platoon role at first base, he's expected to bat in the bottom third of the lineup in most games to begin the season.

Abreu went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI in Sunday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Abreu delivered his 10th run of Cactus League play, second on the White Sox to Eloy Jimenez (pectoral). With Jimenez out of action for at least five months, Abreu carries a heavier burden as a middle-of-the-order RBI man. It's not an unfamiliar role -- he's knocked in 100-plus runs in five of six full seasons and posted 60 RBI in 60 games during the abbreviated 2020 season.

Vaughn started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against Arizona.

Vaughn made his second start in left field and handled his chances without issue. White Sox manager Tony La Russa is getting a look at Vaughn as a replacement for Eloy Jimenez, who will miss at least five months with a pectoral injury. The club may not need Vaughn as a permanent fill-in, because Adam Engel (hamstring) is due back within the first two weeks of the regular season. If Engel takes over in left, then Vaughn will slide back to designated hitter.

Toronto informed Tellez on Sunday that he would be included on the Opening Day roster, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The uncertain status of George Springer (oblique) for the start of the season might have helped Tellez's case for a spot on the 26-man roster, but the 26-year-old entered the spring on fairly sturdy ground after submitting a career-best .886 OPS over 127 plate appearances in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. The lefty-hitting Tellez will likely sit against southpaws more often than not, but he should start at least semi-regularly at either designated hitter or first base when the Blue Jays oppose right-handed pitchers.

Manager Alex Cora told WEEI radio during Sunday's spring game that Dalbec is sitting out a couple days due to a sore right index finger.

The 25-year-old apparently suffered the injury while fielding a grounder Saturday, but he's expected to retake the field in the final game of spring ball Tuesday. Dalbec is on track to be ready for Opening Day as Boston's starter at first base.

Diaz went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, an RBI groundout and a walk in a Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox on Friday, pushing his spring average to .290 (9-for-31) across 14 games.

Diaz was hitting just .188 as recently as March 16, but he subsequently picked up the pace at the plate and now has at least one RBI in six of his last eight exhibitions. The fact the burly infielder's late-spring surge has included a pair of round trippers is particularly encouraging, as Diaz has been working on squaring up on the ball with more authority following a nearly 15.0 percent drop in hard-contact rate and a tally of just five extra-base hits over 138 plate appearances in 2020.

Lowe was named the Rangers' starting first baseman Saturday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Lowe's top competitor, Ronald Guzman, has also made the team, but he isn't expected to play regularly at first base. Lowe could potentially thrive with regular at-bats, something he wasn't able to earn in the past two seasons with the Rays. His .215/.322/.447 slash line through his first 71 big-league games is decent, though his 31.8 percent strikeout rate is high for a player who's only shown modest power.

Voit has a partial meniscus tear and will undergo surgery, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Voit recently underwent an MRI that revealed the extent of his knee injury. Voit won't be able to participate in baseball activities for at least three weeks following his procedure, and it's not yet clear when he'll be able to return to game action. Jay Bruce will serve as the team's starting first baseman in his absence, while Derek Dietrich and Tyler Wade could also see increased playing time to begin the season.