MLB Player News
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Blaine Crim 1B | COL
Rockies' Blaine Crim: Cleared for baseball activities
Crim (oblique) has been cleared for baseball activities Tuesday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.
Crim has missed most of spring training with a strained oblique. The 29-year-old made his MLB debut last season, appearing in 20 games with the Rangers and Rockies and producing a .200/.270/.462 slash line with five home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored and a 6:28 BB:K across 74 trips to the plate.
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Bryce Eldridge 1B | SF
Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Battling strikeouts this spring
Eldridge went 0-for-1 in Saturday's 8-7 Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks.
Eldridge pinch hit in the ninth inning and struck out swinging, marking the 15th time he's struck out across 42 plate appearances this spring. Through 16 Cactus League outings, he's slashing .235/.381/.500 with seven runs scored, five RBI, four doubles and one home run. The 21-year-old made his big-league debut last September and could see playing time at DH for the Giants early in the season. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see him open the campaign in Triple-A Sacramento to get regular reps that may be harder to come by in the majors.
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Matt Mervis 1B | WAS
Nationals' Matt Mervis: Cut from big-league camp
The Nationals reassigned Mervis to minor-league camp Friday.
Mervis has had a busy spring, going 3-for-12 with a 2:5 BB:K over seven Grapefruit League games and 3-for-11 with a pair of doubles over three games for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. The 27-year-old still wasn't able to make the Opening Day roster, despite Washington having a glaring hole at first base. After struggling mightily during his time in the majors with the Marlins in 2025, Mervis will likely need a hot start at Triple-A Rochester to garner any serious consideration for a promotion.
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Jorge Polanco 1B | NYM
Mets' Jorge Polanco: Swats second spring homer
Polanco went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 32-year-old took Michael McGreevy deep in the first inning for the Mets' only run of the afternoon. Polanco is adjusting to a new defensive position at first base, but so far it hasn't impacted him at the plate, and through five spring appearances he's gone 4-for-12 with two homers and a 2:4 BB:K.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Power on display this spring
Olson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.
He took Nick Martinez deep in the first inning, giving Olson his third homer in nine spring games. The 31-year-old first baseman has four 30-homer campaigns in his career and three other seasons with 29, and well as six 90-RBI seasons on his resume, including five straight. While his batting average can waver, Olson remains one of the most reliable power sources in the league.
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Keaton Anthony 1B | PHI
Phillies' Keaton Anthony: Fractures toe
Anthony suffered a fractured toe after fouling a ball off his foot during Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Red Sox, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Anthony is expected to undergo surgery later this week to repair the damage, and a timetable for his return could be revealed following the operation. Once healthy, Anthony is likely to be assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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Ty France 1B | SD
Padres' Ty France: Realistic chance to crack roster
France appears to have a path to make the Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Sung-Mun Song's oblique injury has seemingly opened up an opportunity for France, who has been seeing the ball well so far this spring. The 31-year-old is 10-for-27 (.370) at the dish with five RBI and two runs scored following Monday's exhibition against the Rangers. France is in consideration for a utility role of sorts, as he logged time at second base earlier in his career and could provide a solid bat off the bench, which as Cassavell notes, could be of interest to skipper Craig Stammen. However, this will all depend on whether Song is forced to begin the 2026 regular season on the injured list.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Moved to minor-league camp
The Reds optioned Encarnacion-Strand to minor-league camp Monday.
Encarnacion-Strand entered spring training looking like a long shot to make the team, and coming to camp with a hamstring injury didn't help his chances. He's healthy now but will begin the season at Triple-A Louisville.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Makes outfield start
Steer started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's spring game against Kansas City.
Steer is expected to be the team's primary left fielder, but Saturday's start was his first at the position. He played first base in his first six Cactus League games. Sal Stewart started at first base Saturday.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Uncertain role
Horwitz enters the 2026 season with an uncertain defensive home, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Horwitz was the Pirates' primary first baseman when healthy in 2025, and he delivered a solid 119 wRC+ across 411 plate appearances. However, the team brought in Ryan O'Hearn this winter, and he will almost certainly get some playing time at first base. The team's other additions of Brandon Lowe and Marcell Ozuna lower the potential playing time available at second base and designated hitter, respectively, leaving Horwitz without an obvious path to a regular defensive home. O'Hearn is slated to also play in right field, so Horwitz should still get a fair bit of run at first base while also occasionally filling in at second base and DH as needed.