MLB Player News

Vaughn could open the regular season as the starting left fielder after he made his debut there Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Vaughn had a largely uneventful day in left field, his first experience patrolling the outfield in game conditions. He caught the lone flyball in his vicinity and fielded a double that rolled into the corner. Manager Tony La Russa will evaluate him as a left fielder over the next few days and make a decision based on what he sees. Vaughn, a first-base prospect who was expected to serve as the primary designated hitter in 2021, took flyballs in the outfield during spring training this year and worked there last summer at the team's alternate training site in Schaumburg.

Shaw was reassigned to minor-league camp Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Shaw was designated for assignment by the Orioles in late January but went unclaimed on waivers. The 26-year-old appeared in 20 Cactus League games but hit just .071 with three walks and two runs. Shaw will likely begin the season with Triple-A Norfolk.

Dalbec went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's spring game against the Twins.

Dalbec launched his seventh spring home run, which leads both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. That's seven homers in 42 spring at-bats, a better rate than the eight in 80 at-bats he had during 2020. Dalbec, who still qualifies as a rookie in 2021, has also struck out 18 times in 42 at-bats however, continuing the contact issues he had in his big-league debut (42.4 percent strikeout rate in 2020).

Vaughn will start in left field Friday against the Brewers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox are scrambling to fill in for injured left fielder Eloy Jimenez, who will miss a minimum of five months with a ruptured left pectoral tendon. Vaughn, who is projected to be team's primary designated hitter, will get his first exposure to the outfield Friday while the team evaluates other internal options, including Adam Engel (hamstring), Leury Garcia, Billy Hamilton and Nick Williams.

Vaughn could play some left field in 2021 with Eloy Jimenez (shoulder) sidelined, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Vaughn is on track to make the White Sox's Opening Day roster and should mainly serve as the team's primary designated hitter. However, Jimenez will be sidelined five to six months since he'll require surgery to repair a ruptured left pectoral tendon, and Adam Engel (hamstring) will also miss several weeks. As a result, general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday that Vaughn could see some time in left field this year. Vaughn hasn't yet played above the High-A level but has hit .286 with two home runs, five RBI and one stolen base this spring. He'll start in left field during Friday's Cactus League game against the Brewers and should see extra time there over the final few spring matchups, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Mountcastle (undisclosed) is starting Thursday's spring game against the Pirates, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Mountcastle was unavailable Wednesday due to a "non-physical" injury, but he'll bat third and play left field Thursday. It's unlikely that Mountcastle's brief absence will impact his Opening Day status.

Mountcastle was scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup with a "non-physical" injury, but manager Brandon Hyde hopes the outfielder will play Thursday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Hyde indicated he can't disclose the specifics of the injury, so it's unclear what the 24-year-old is dealing with. Regardless, it appears to be a minor issue, so it's unlikely to affect Mountcastle's status for the start of the season.

The Orioles scratched Mountcastle from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Baltimore has yet to provide an explanation behind Mountcastle's removal, but it's possible that he's just getting some extra rest. Tyler Nevin was added to the starting nine as a replacement in left field for Mountcastle.

Vaughn is expected to make the White Sox's Opening Day roster and should begin the season as the team's primary designated hitter, barring an injury late in spring training, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Vaughn has yet to make his MLB debut and is unlikely to work out a long-term contract extension before Opening Day that would allow the organization to buy out his arbitration years, but Chicago apparently won't play service-time games with its top hitting prospect. Despite having yet to play above the High-A level since being drafted in the first round of the 2019 first-year player draft, Vaughn more than held his own in summer camp last season and during spring training this year, which has convinced the White Sox he's ready for look in the big leagues. Through 20 Cactus League games to date, Vaughn has slashed .289/.396/.489 with two home runs, a stolen base and a 7:9 BB:K. Vaughn has typically occupied a bottom-three spot in the batting order when the White Sox have used lineups consisting mostly of regulars, but the top-to-bottom strength of the starting nine should make a lower placement less punitive for the 22-year-old in terms of run-producing and run-scoring opportunities than if he were on another team.

France, who's solidified his starting DH role this spring with a .417 average (15-for-36), five home runs and 10 RBI across 15 Cactus League games, could serve as the emergency catcher this coming season, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Not that there's any doubt about France's job security, but this news only serves to increase his utility to the Mariners and could allow manager Scott Servais more flexibility with his primary backstops, Tom Murphy and Luis Torrens. France has experience behind the dish and served as a catcher as recently as last season at the Padres' alternate training site before his trade to Seattle at the deadline. In addition to DH and a possible occasional appearance at catcher, France is also slated to back up every infield spot except shortstop.