MLB Player News
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: To see time in right
Torkelson is set to see some time in right field to wrap up spring training, starting with Monday's contest against the Pirates, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Detroit's outfield has been ravaged by injuries, with Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) both set to miss Opening Day. Wenceel Perez also recently dealt with back tightness, though he managed to return Saturday after missing a few days of action. Even with Perez back in the fold, the Tigers could use some more outfield depth, which is why they're giving Torkelson a try. He has only ever played first base or served as the DH in the majors, though the former Arizona State star did see some time in the outfield during his college days. Any additional positional versatility would help Torkelson's chances of making the Opening Day roster and could give him a bit more fantasy value this season.
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Closing in on return
Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Walker (oblique) is scheduled to return to spring games next weekend and should be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Walker has been rehabbing from a sore left oblique that developed in early March and has progressed to hitting in a batting cage. Walker signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Astros in December after spending the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks.
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Kyle Manzardo 1B | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Clubs third spring homer
Manzardo went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's spring game against the Royals.
Manzardo launched his third Cactus League home run and is batting .412 (14-for-34) with five extra-base hits and seven RBI through 13 games. The 24-year-old should be a lineup regular in 2025 for the Guardians, either at designated hitter or first base.
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Trey Mancini 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Trey Mancini: Hits homer Saturday
Mancini went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Saturday's spring game against the White Sox.
The veteran signed an NRI deal with the Diamondbacks just prior to camp and has hit well, going 9-for-21 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI over 13 Cactus League games. Most of Mancini's appearances have come off the bench against lesser-quality pitching, signaling that's he's not likely to win an Opening Day roster spot. He told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he does not intend to opt out of his minor-league contract if doesn't make the team's initial 26-man roster.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: X-rays negative on hand
Kurtz, who was hit by a pitch on his right hand during Saturday's game against the Rangers, underwent X-rays that came back negative, Jessica Kleinschmidt of TheComeback.com reports.
Kurtz took a fastball off his hand in the seventh inning and was taken out of the game immediately. Initial imaging didn't reveal any fractures, but he'll continue to undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Hit by pitch, exits game
Kurtz was removed from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rangers after getting hit on the hand by a pitch, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Kurtz took a 94-mph fastball off his hand in the seventh inning of Saturday's contest and was immediately replaced on the basepaths. The 22-year-old prospect will presumably undergo imaging to make sure he avoided serious damage, and the team should offer an update on his status in the near future.
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Bryce Eldridge 1B | SF
Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Battling sore hand
Eldridge won't play in Saturday's Spring Breakout game due to minor left hand soreness, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
While Eldridge's hand issue will be enough to keep him from playing Saturday, it doesn't sound like it's going to keep him from playing in any Triple-A games once the minor-league season begins. The 20-year-old first baseman breezed through San Francisco's farm system last season but slowed down considerably once he reached Triple-A. He'll likely spend most of the season with Sacramento, though a debut in 2025 is certainly on the table.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Club option for 2026 exercised
The Rays exercised Diaz's $12 million option for 2026 and added a vesting option for 2027 on Friday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Diaz's option for 2027 would vest if he reaches certain performance thresholds in 2026. The 33-year-old's performance in 2024 fell off a bit compared to his 2023 and 2022 seasons, but he still slashed .281/.341/.414 with 14 home runs in 2024 and boasts a career .373 on-base percentage. Diaz is slated to serve as the Rays' primary first baseman again in 2025, and he should also see ample starts at designated hitter.
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Jake Cronenworth 1B | SD
Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Not expected to play first base
Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that Cronenworth playing first base this season is not currently "on the radar," Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.
Cronenworth split time pretty evenly between first and second base last year, logging 80 starts at first and 66 at the keystone. However, the Padres are planning to deploy Luis Arraez on a near-everyday basis at first base in 2025 while allowing Cronenworth to settle in at second. That won't affect Cronenworth's eligibility in most fantasy formats this year, but if things go as planned, it's reasonable for those in dynasty and keeper leagues to anticipate him losing first-base eligibility in 2026. Despite the narrowing of where he'll play in the field, Cronenworth is expected to continue to be an everyday player for the Padres this season after slashing .241/.324/.390 with 17 homers, 83 RBI, 72 runs and five stolen bases over 653 plate appearances last year.
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Donovan Solano 1B | TEX
Mariners' Donovan Solano: Could see regular at-bats at DH
Solano could see regular at-bats at designated hitter this season, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver (hand) appear to be the most likely candidates to occupy Seattle's DH spot on a daily basis this season, but Jude believes Solano could also get his fair share of action there in addition to the corner infield spots. Of the three players, it's worth noting Garver has stood out the most this spring with three home runs and six RBI in 18 at-bats. The Mariners have plenty of reps to fill in the infield following the offseason exits of both Josh Rojas and Justin Turner on top of moving Ty France at least year's trade deadline, so the versatile Solano could see playing time on the diamond elsewhere even if he doesn't carve out a consistent role at DH.