MLB Player News

Steer started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Steer made his eighth Cactus League start, seven of which have come in left field and one at second base. The transition from infield to full-time outfielder appears to be taking shape this spring. His name came up as someone that could fill in at third base -- where he made 46 starts last year -- following Noelvi Marte's 80-game suspension, but the Reds have plenty of options before Steer. Those include Jeimer Candelario, Jonathan India and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Steer is batting .273 with a .775 OPS, two extra-base hits, five RBI, two stolen bases and six runs scored in 24 plate appearances.

Clemens (illness) is starting at third base and batting sixth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Clemens has been sidelined the past few days by an illness but will return to the lineup for Sunday's contest. The 27-year-old has a .429/.556/.571 slash line through 18 plate appearances in Grapefruit League play as he attempts to earn a place on the Opening Day roster.

Hoskins has gone 2-for-9 (.222) with a solo home run, three total runs scored and a 3:6 BB:K through four games this spring.

Coming off a torn ACL, Hoskins did not make his first appearance of the spring until Mar. 1, but he has reached base at least once in all four games he's played. Both hits he has recorded came over the last three days, so it seems he is settling in. He has not encountered any setbacks since making his debut, so he is on track to start at first base for the Brewers on Opening Day.

Walker started at first base and went 1-for-2 with a double in Thursday's spring game against the Rangers.

Walker returned from a hand injury sustained a week ago when he was hit by a pitch. He played three innings in the field and got two at-bats Thursday before being replaced by a pinch runner following his double in the top of the fourth inning. Walker will ramp up in the coming days with eye toward playing back-to-back days in the field.

Gallo (quad) is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup for the Nationals on Thursday versus the Mets, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Gallo hasn't played in a little over a week due to a sore quad, but he's feeling well enough to at least hit Thursday. It's not clear when he might be ready to play the field. Gallo is 1-for-7 with a couple RBI so far at the plate so far this spring. He'll be used in left field, at first base and at DH for the Nats this season.

Walker (hand) will start at first base and bat cleanup in Thursday's Cactus League game versus the Rangers.

Walker missed a week of action with right hand soreness after being hit by a pitch, but his absence had always been viewed as precautionary. The slugger is 2-for-8 with a double and a single so far during Cactus League play.

Olson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

The first baseman crushed a Pablo Lopez offering in the first inning for his first long ball of the spring. Olson set an Atlanta franchise record with 139 RBI in 2023 while adding a career-high 54 homers, and the 29-year-old is a safe bet to reach triple-digit RBI for the fourth straight season while batting in the heart of one of the most potent lineups in MLB.

Clemens was scratched from the Phillies' Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday due to illness, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

He should be fine in a day or two. Jake Cave will move to first base and Cam Gallagher will enter the lineup at designated hitter.

Encarnacion-Strand started at designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's spring game against Oakland.

Encarnacion-Strand, who was hitless over his first five Cactus League at-bats, has hit safely in three straight games, going 4-for-8 with three extra-base hits and four RBI. Although he served as the DH on Monday, the 24-year-old is projected to be the Reds' primary first baseman.

Walker (hand) is now expected to return to action Thursday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

An earlier report estimated Tuesday for Walker's return, but manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday is the more likely target. The first baseman, who was hit on the right hand by a pitch last Thursday, has begun hitting.