MLB Player News

France went through a full workout Saturday after getting hit in the head by a pitch the day before, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

France left the game after the at-bat but initial reports were positive and he avoided a concussion. He clarified Saturday that the pitch didn't hit anything other than the flap of his helmet, so it doesn't appear that he'll be out long.

Rizzo will hit third and serve as the Cubs' designated hitter for Saturday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Angels, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Rizzo will play for the second day in a row after starting at first base in Friday's 9-3 win over the Mariners and finishing 3-for-3 with his first home run of the spring. After four straight seasons of 30-plus long balls, Rizzo finished with only 25 in 2018. While that downturn rendered Rizzo somewhat of a disappointment for fantasy purposes, the improved plate discipline he displayed last season in addition to a 34.1 percent hard-hit rate that was roughly on par with his career mark offers optimism that he'll bounce back in the power department.

Guerrero went 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday's split-squad game against the Pirates.

The weak performance was thrown into sharper relief when fellow top prospect Bo Bichette joined in a five-homer barrage with the other half of the roster. Guerrero is slashing only .211/.250/.316 without a home run this spring, giving the front office more cover when it inevitably decides to delay the start of his service clock by sending him back to Triple-A Buffalo. Don't be fooled by a small sample -- the 19-year-old's bat is big-league ready, and his stay in Buffalo to begin the season should be a brief one.

Hiura hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in Friday's spring game.

Hiura recorded just one hit over his first six spring games, but he's heated up over the last week, going 3-for-8 over his last four contests. The Brewers will be patient with their top prospect this year after bringing back Mike Moustakas to play second base, so Hiura is unlikely to join the team until later in the season unless injuries hit or he really forces the issue at the Triple-A level.

France isn't believed to have suffered a concussion after getting hit in the head by a pitch Friday against Oakland, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

France is still slated to be evaluated by the Padres' team doctors once the team returns to Peoria, but it appears as though he's dodged a major bullet. He'll be considered day-to-day until he undergoes further evaluation.

France does not have a concussion after getting hit in the head by a pitch Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The pitch struck the flap of France's helmet before hitting him in the jaw. His initial examination by team doctors was encouraging, though it's not yet clear if he'll still need to miss time.

Kirilloff was reassigned to minor-league spring training Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Kirilloff hasn't played above High-A in his young career, so this move doesn't come as a surprise. He slashed .362/.393/.550 with seven home runs and 45 RBI over 65 games at High-A Fort Myers a season ago and could begin the 2019 campaign at Double-A Pensacola given his early success in the minors.

France was hit in the head by a pitch Friday against Oakland and left the game.

The severity of his injury is not yet clear. France was able to walk off the field under his own power.

Raley went 2-for-3 with a triple, a double and four RBI in Thursday's spring game against Boston.

Raley drove in a pair in the second inning on a triple to right field, and he plated another run in the fourth on a double to left. His fourth RBI of the day would come in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly. Raley is now 5-for-18 with five RBI and a run scored this spring and could start the season at Triple-A Rochester given his prior success at Double-A. The former seventh-round pick slashed .275/.345/.477 with 17 homers and 53 RBI a year ago with Double-A Tulsa.

Flores went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Indians.

Flores kicked off the scoring in the first inning by hitting a two-run blast to left-center field. He's been firing on all cylinders at the plate this spring and is now 8-for-17 with seven RBI.