MLB Player News

Westburg was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Blue Jays after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Westburg initially stayed in to run the bases after being struck by an Anders Tolhurst pitch in the top of the fourth inning but was removed before the bottom of the frame. The Orioles were likely just being cautious here, but more should be known on Westburg's condition after the game.

Ibanez has played well this spring and likely has locked up an Opening Day roster spot, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Ibanez was a pleasant surprise for the Tigers last season and he's carried that over into camp, as he's now popped four home runs in 15 Grapefruit League contests to go along with a .963 OPS. The utility player doesn't have a regular home on the diamond, but if he keeps swinging a hot bat, he may force his way into the lineup more often.

The Yankees optioned Vivas to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Vivas was traded to the Yankees in December after spending last season in the Dodgers' minor-league system between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He slashed .269/.381/.407 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI over 609 plate appearances while stealing 25 bases in the minors in 2023. Vivas will start 2024 in Triple-A and could make his major-league debut should the Yankees be in need of an infielder or left-handed bat.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Valdez will be part of a platoon at second base to open the season, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

While Cora didn't specify which players would platoon at the keystone, he was presumably referring to Valdez as the long side of the platoon and Pablo Reyes as the short side. It will be a short-term arrangement, as Vaughn Grissom (groin) is due back in mid-to-late April and will be in line to take over everyday duties at the position at that time.

The Athletics reassigned Schuemann to minor-league camp Sunday.

Schuemann was having an impressive spring, slashing .321/.412/.429 with a homer across 34 plate appearances in 15 games. Despite this, the 27-year-old was not expected to make the Opening Day roster due the presence of outfielders JJ Bleday and Miguel Andujar.

Drury (illness) went 1-for-1 with a walk in Saturday's Cactus League contest versus the Cubs.

Prior to Saturday, Drury hadn't played in a game since Monday due to an illness. His ability to return to the lineup against Chicago suggests that he's past the issue and won't have any problem being ready for Opening Day. Drury is expected to serve as the Angels' everyday second basemen during the coming campaign.

Schuemann went 1-for-2 with an RBI sacrifice fly and a run in a Cactus League loss to the Brewers on Saturday, pushing his spring average to .321.

After opening Cactus League play 1-for-10 over his first six exhibitions, Schuemann's bat has come alive. The 26-year-old has gone on to hit safely in seven of his next eight games, going 8-for-21 with two RBI, two walks and six runs over that span. However, despite the strong spring, Schuemann doesn't make Martin Gallegos of MLB.com's latest Opening Day roster projection due to the presence of hot-hitting reserve outfielders JJ Bleday and Miguel Andujar. If Gallegos' projection proves accurate, it likely equates to a return to Triple-A Las Vegas to start the 2024 campaign for Schuemann, who slashed .277/.402/.429 with the Aviators across 103 games last season.

The Tigers reassigned Jung to minor-league camp Thursday.

This was expected, as the Tigers said before spring training started that Jung would not make the Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old has plenty of potential and figures to be in the team's future plans at third base. Jung got his first taste of Double-A last year and may see Triple-A action at some point this season, with an MLB promotion potentially on deck if he plays well in the minors.

Urias went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a Cactus League win over the Brewers on Thursday.

Urias's sixth-inning solo shot off potential Milwaukee closer Joel Payamps pushed Seattle's lead to 4-1 and served as his second homer of spring. The offseason addition has overcome some early adversity stemming from a shoulder injury, playing third base with regularity and putting together a .333 batting average with a double, a triple, the pair of round trippers and four RBI across nine exhibitions.

Dubon is a lock to make the Astros' Opening Day roster thanks to his defensive versatility, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Dubon logged a career-high 492 plate appearances in 2023 and posted a passable .720 OPS with 10 homers and seven stolen bases. He'll enter the 2024 season as a bench bat, but he would likely step into a more significant role should any of the Astros' regular starters be forced to miss time thanks to his ability to play any defensive position except catcher.