MLB Player News

Montero was optioned to Double-A Springfield on Saturday.

The 21-year-old third baseman hit .188 with a 31.1 percent strikeout rate in 59 games at Double-A last year, and he will look to master the level this season. He dealt with multiple wrist injuries last season, which contributed to his struggles.

Naylor (neck) is back in the lineup Friday against Texas.

Naylor missed a few days after feeling tightness in his neck, but he's been cleared to both bat and play left field. The 22-year-old has gone 2-for-7 with a walk this spring as he looks to carve out a role in a crowded outfield.

Shaw was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old joined the Giants for the closing stretch last season but went 1-for-18 over 16 games. Shaw had a .298/.355/.592 slash line at Sacramento last year and will look to replicate those numbers in 2020.

Rizzo was scratched from Thursday's spring game against the Rangers due to a blister, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Corban Joseph will enter the lineup at first base in place of Rizzo, who should be considered day-to-day after a blister opened up on his right middle finger. With three weeks to go until Opening Day, it doesn't seem like this issue will affect Rizzo's availability for the start of the season.

Naylor has sat out the last four days after feeling tightness in his neck after a throw, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Naylor had hoped to return to action Wednesday but instead was scratched from the lineup after reporting stiffness. "He wanted to go. We thought it was best (to) give it another day or two," said manager Jayce Tingler. Naylor is fighting for an Opening Day roster slot but isn't projected to start in either outfield corner.

Calhoun went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's spring game against Kansas City.

Calhoun is 4-for-10 with a home run, five RBI and five walks in six spring appearances. He's batted out of the three hole in four games with one game at cleanup and another batting sixth. The 32-year-old outfielder's declining batting average over the last three seasons suggests a lower placement in the order once the regular season kicks off. As spring training draws to a close, and the lineups take on a regular-season look, a better indication of where Calhoun slots in should emerge.

Votto had a single in his final at-bat Monday against the Dodgers, making him 1-for-9 for the spring season, albeit with six walks, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I didn't even know that," manager David Bell said. "I do know how many walks he's gotten. It seems like he's been on base the whole spring. Those might be the best spring training at-bats you can have, walks. You're seeing more pitches and getting a better feel for the zone and all that.

With Votto coming off of his worst season, he's under extra scrutiny this spring to see if he's showing any signs of correcting what held him back in 2019. The Reds' batters are playing every other day right now, but that activity should pick up following Tuesday's off-day.

Goldschmidt, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run off Justin Verlander in a Grapefruit League win over the Astros on Tuesday, has launched both of his spring round trippers over the last three games.

Goldschmidt was hampered by some elbow soreness early in spring that limited him to designated hitter duties over the first three Grapefruit League contests. However, the veteran has been able to resume playing first base over the last three games, a stretch during which he's started to heat up at the plate. Goldschmidt heads into 2020 looking to improve on the career-low .233 average he produced last season.

Freeman (elbow) is starting Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, playing first base and batting third.

Freeman experienced right elbow inflammation Tuesday that led to him missing nearly a week of game action, but the team was never overly concerned about the injury, and he'll return to the lineup Monday. While the team could use some caution with Freeman going forward this spring to prevent further injury, the 30-year-old will likely be good to go for most activities as spring training progresses.

Freeman (elbow) could be in the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies if his workout Sunday goes as planned, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.

The veteran first baseman was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with right elbow inflammation, but the injury may end up costing him only a week. The Braves never expressed significant concern over the issue, but it's nonetheless a great sign to see Freeman expected to make a quick return to the field.