MLB Player News

Gurriel (hand) played seven innings in the field during Thursday's game with Double-A Corpus Christi and will serve as the team's DH on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Gurriel continues to work his way back from a hand injury and remains on track to return to the major-league club in a week. Upon his arrival, it's expected that Gurriel will be utilized as the Astros' primary first baseman after playing 139 games -- slashing .299/.332/.486 with 18 home runs and 75 RBI -- last season.

Beaty (undisclosed) will begin the 2018 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

The 2017 Double-A Texas League MVP is dealing with an undisclosed injury, but it sounds like it isn't of the serious nature. Once ready, Beaty will join Triple-A after proving his worth at the Double-A level with a .326/.378/.505 triple-slash in 481 plate appearances.

Olson went 0-for-4 and left six runners on base while striking out once in Thursday's loss to the Rangers.

Olson left three runners stranded in scoring position, as he was unable to record a hit for the first time in the last four games. He also struck out once, and this small sample size (10 strikeouts in 29 at-bats) suggests he hasn't improved much on his 27.8 percent strikeout rate from a year ago. Should he continuously fail to drive runs in, Olson could find himself in jeopardy of being moved down in the batting order, especially with Matt Chapman (.400/.455/.633 in 30 at-bats) on a tear to begin the year.

Cron went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Yankees.

Cron opened the scoring with his first-inning two-bagger that plated Kevin Kiermaier. The 28-year-old has gotten his Rays career off to a slow start overall, going 3-for-16 with a pair of doubles in the five games he's seen action in. He has hit safely in each of his last three starts, however, potentially a sign that he's beginning to come around.

Bell went 1-for-4 with his first homer of the season Wednesday against the Twins.

The first baseman is batting .400 in 20 at-bats and has at least one hit in each of Pittsburgh's first five games. Bell has also shown a willingness to run on the basepaths, though he's been thrown out on both of his stolen-base attempts. As a rookie last year, he hit only .255 in 159 games. Bell batted .303 in five minor-league campaigns, however, and could provide fantasy owners with a healthy boost in batting average in 2018.

Cooper was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right wrist contusion, retroactive to April 2, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

He was hit on the wrist by a pitch March 30, and while he saw three at-bats in the games following, it sounds like this move did not come as a surprise to the Marlins beat writers. It was already confirmed that he did not suffer a fracture, so he may be able to return when first eligible April 13 (the Marlins are off April 12). Braxton Lee was recalled from Triple-A as a corresponding move. Lee will serve as the fourth outfielder while Cooper heals up.

Abreu went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Abreu's eighth-inning homer proved to be the game-deciding hit, and he heads back for Thursday's home opener hitting .400 (8-for-20) with two homers and three RBI while reaching base safely in each of the White Sox's first five games.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said prior to Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers that Goldschmidt will receive occasional rest days in 2018, Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports. Specifically, Lovullo said he's targeting a games total "in the mid-150s" for Goldschmidt if the first baseman stays healthy for the full season.

Lovullo's pronouncement shouldn't alter Goldschmidt's fantasy outlook, as the slugger has played between 155 and 159 games the last three seasons, with a handful of his seven absences in 2017 due to a September elbow injury. The Diamondbacks' current schedule calls for the team to play no more than six consecutive games until the beginning of May, so it seems unlikely that Goldschmidt will be rested any time in the near future, especially with two of the team's top power bats (Steven Souza and Jake Lamb) on the disabled list. After an 0-for-3 showing Wednesday, Goldschmidt is batting just .059 with only one extra-base hit through six contests, though he has displayed a keen eye at the plate with a 9:6 BB:K.

Arias will open the year with Low-A Fort Wayne as the third youngest player in the Midwest League, Bill Center of MLB.com reports.

The advanced shortstop played 16 games with the TinCaps last year, hitting .242 with a 16:2 K:BB, so he will predictably take another crack at the level. Arias doesn't have any impressive offensive production to point to stateside, but he hit .271/.310/.486 with five home runs and a stolen base in 107 at-bats in the Australian Baseball League this past winter. He has good size (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) and could grow into being a power-hitting shortstop.

Hiura will DH a lot early in the season after experiencing minor elbow discomfort this spring, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

He saw a heavy dose of second base starts this spring and dealt with minor elbow discomfort on some specific throws. The organization is understandably being extra cautious with its top hitting prospect, and given the fact he is highly unlikely to reach the majors until 2019, this should not affect his stock in dynasty leagues. Hiura is opening the season in the Carolina League.