MLB Player News

Torkelson was the only infielder taking groundballs at first base for the Tigers on Sunday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

When asked how often he could play first base this season, Miguel Cabrera said, "I don't know, because we want Torkelson in the lineup. ... I'll take the DH." It's still uncertain whether Torkelson will be on the Opening Day roster, but it doesn't seem to be up for debate who the Tigers plan on getting the bulk of the work at first base this season. Jonathan Schoop would slide over to second base while also getting some starts at designated hitter.

The Cubs announced Sunday that Higgins (forearm) is attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee after he agreed to a minor-league contract in November, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Higgins joins John Hicks as non-roster catchers present for big-league camp, though the former is expected to be limited to rehab work while he continues to recover from the Tommy John surgery he required last summer. Though Higgins may face a shorter timeline for his recovery than a pitcher would, he's still expected to miss a large portion of the 2022 campaign. Once he's back to 100 percent, Higgins will likely settle at Triple-A Iowa.

Torkelson was invited to major-league camp by the Tigers on Saturday.

The invitation is an expected one, as the 2020 first overall pick is thought to have a chance to push for an Opening Day roster spot. He doesn't have much left to prove in the minors after hitting .267/.383/.552 with 30 homers in 121 games across the three highest levels of the minors last year, including 40 games with Triple-A Toledo. Even if he's held down to start the year in an effort to manipulate his service time, he's likely to join the big-league squad fairly early in the season.

Casas was invited to Boston's major-league spring training Saturday.

Casas performed well at Double-A Portland in 2021, slashing .284/.395/.484 with 13 homers, 57 runs, 52 RBI and six stolen bases across 77 games. He was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A Worcester for the final week and a half of the minor-league season, and he'll now get a chance to work with the big-league coaching staff during spring training for a second straight year. The 22-year-old is unlikely to begin the 2022 campaign with the major-league squad but will likely be in the mix to debut at some point this year if he performs well in Worcester.

Torkelson said he's been seeing the ball well during spring drills, and the top prospect could push for an Opening Day roster spot, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft, made it all the way up to Triple-A in 2021, and he posted a solid .881 OPS across 40 games with Toledo. The Tigers will most likely get Torkelson a little more seasoning in the minors to begin the 2022 season, though the 22-year-old could force the issue if he gets off to a hot start.

Kirilloff (wrist) isn't expected to face any limitations to begin spring training, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Kirilloff underwent surgery on his right wrist in late July, and he was unavailable for the final few months of the 2021 campaign. However, manager Rocco Baldelli said that the 24-year-old looked good swinging a bat after reporting to spring training Friday. Baldelli indicated Kirilloff wouldn't have participated in activities if the team had any remaining medical concerns, so he should be ready to play once the Twins begin spring training games next week.

Torkelson said Saturday in an interview with Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press that he's nearly recovered from the sprained ankle he sustained during the Arizona Fall League.

Torkelson's ankle injury resulted in an early end to his stint in the AFL, but he's since remained in the desert to rehab the ankle and take part in offseason workouts at his alma mater, Arizona State. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft looks like he still has a couple minor hurdles to clear in his recovery from the injury, but he's on pace to be a full participant in workouts when the Tigers begin spring training. Expect the slugging corner infielder to open the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Toledo, where he posted an .881 OPS and 13.5 percent walk rate over 177 plate appearances last season following his mid-August promotion from Double-A Erie.

Blandino signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Blandino was granted free agency by the Reds in early November, and he'll land a minor-league deal with San Francisco just over a month later. He made 43 appearances in the majors last year and hit .200 with nine runs, five RBI and a stolen base. The 29-year-old will be invited to big-league spring training in 2022.

Singleton signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday.

Singleton appeared in 114 major-league games in 2014 and 2015, struggling to a .171/.290/.331 slash line. He's been out of affiliated baseball since 2017, though he did appear in 46 games for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League in 2021, hitting .321/.503/.693 with 15 homers.

Tellez agreed to a one-year, $1.94 million contract with the Brewers to avoid arbitration Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Tellez struggled to begin the season in Toronto but turned things around after being shipped to Milwaukee, where he hit .272/.333/.481 with seven home runs, 28 RBI and 22 runs in 174 plate appearances. The 26-year-old should enter spring training as the favorite to start at first base, barring any offseason additions.