MLB Player News

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.

Kiriloff was optioned to the Twins' alternate training site Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Kiriloff hasn't appeared in a regular-season game above the Double-A level but did get some major-league experience as a member of the Twins' playoff roster last fall. That seemingly indicated that he had a strong chance to open as the team's starting left fielder, but he did very little to back up that notion this spring, hitting .129/.182/.258 across 12 games with eight strikeouts and just one walk. The delayed minor-league season means he won't get the chance to prove his readiness in game action in April, which could delay his debut into May or beyond. That said, the Twins aren't exactly loaded in left field, so the job should still be his eventually.

Guerrero crushed a double with an exit velocity of 110 mph during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

It's far from the first time this spring the 22-year-old reached triple digits in exit velocity. Guerrero has erupted for a .520/.613/.840 slash line this spring over 12 games with five extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and a homer) and a stellar 6:2 BB:K. Perhaps more importantly, he's shown an improved launch angle when he has made hard contact, which has been viewed as the key to him unlocking his full potential at the plate. It's taken a couple of years, but Guerrero seems poised to start matching his massive minor-league numbers in the majors.

Gurriel went 1-for-4 in Monday's spring game against the Mets.

Monday's lineup featured several projected regulars, including Gurriel, who played all nine innings. He's just 5-for-30 in Grapefruit League play but is the projected starter at first base. If he doesn't pick it up in the regular season, the Astros could turn to Aledmys Diaz or Abraham Toro.

Olson is hitting .406 (13-for-32) with four doubles, five home runs, 14 RBI, a walk and eight runs over 12 Cactus League games.

The slugging first baseman pushed his average over the .400 mark with a 3-for-4 day at the expense of the Angels on Saturday that featured a two-run blast which Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports took out a palm tree considerably beyond the scoreboard in right-center field. The heavy offseason work he put in with hitting coach Darren Bush after mustering just a .195 average in 2020 seems to be paying dividends, with Olson remarking "I've gotten to a couple of pitches early that I wasn't handling well last year" after Saturday's game.

Lowe went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's spring game against Seattle.

Lowe entered Saturday's game batting just .160 this spring, which has opened the door to Ronald Guzman usurping the starting first-base job that was seen as Lowe's to lose when spring training started. Texas manager Chris Woodward still believes in Lowe, telling Kennedi Landry of MLB.com he has confidence in him. "I know he hasn't had a ton of results, but it's just the way this guy works and carries himself. I felt it was kind of a matter of time," Woodward said. "It's nice to see him get some results today." As for Guzman, he launched his third spring home run Friday and has a 1.203 OPS compared to Lowe's .687.

Torkelson was reassigned to minor-league camp Saturday.

Torkelson saw plenty of playing time this spring while working with the major-league coaching staff but went just 1-for-20 with one run, three walks and 12 strikeouts during Grapefruit League games. The Tigers' top prospect will now join the team's minor-league camp before he likely begins the season at High-A West Michigan.

White went 1-for-3 with a grand slam in a Cactus League loss to the Angels on Wednesday and is 3-for-6 with six total RBI over his last two spring games.

White entered Tuesday's exhibition versus the Royals hitting an anemic .095 (2-for-21), but he put together his first multi-hit effort of the spring in that contest, driving in a pair of runs in the process. Wednesday's big blast accounted for Seattle's only runs of the night while pushing White's spring RBI tally to an impressive 11, and Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports the recent success seems to be the byproduct of a more aggressive plate approach. "Evan's got big-time power, it's just the consistency of getting to his pitch and getting it in play," manager Scott Servais said. "He had some good swings [Wednesday]. You're starting to see the timing and confidence coming together here."

Dalbec hit a grand slam in his lone at-bat in Wednesday's spring game against the Twins.

Dalbec's power has been on full display this spring. The first baseman has five home runs and 12 RBI in 27 spring at-bats.

Diaz is hitting just .188 (3-for-16) across eight spring games, but he's looked improved defensively after working on conditioning and agility this offseason, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Topkin notes Diaz made several impressive plays at third base during Tuesday's win, web gems he complemented with an RBI single as part of a seven-run second frame for the Rays. Diaz does have five RBI overall this spring despite just three hits, and he's continued to display a good eye at the plate with four walks and just two strikeouts (21 plate appearances).