MLB Player News

The Angels reassigned Wong to their minor-league camp Monday.

Wong received 66 plate appearances over 32 games with the Angels in 2021, but he won't break camp with the big club this season after re-signing with Los Angeles this offseason on a minor-league deal. The 27-year-old is expected to fill a utility role at Triple-A Salt Lake for the majority of the upcoming season, though his versatility could make him an option for a call-up if the Angels' infield or outfield depth is tested at any point.

Barreto (elbow) will start at second base and bat ninth Monday in the Astros' Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

He'll be making both his spring and Astros debuts after he agreed to a minor-league deal with Houston last week. Once a highly-touted prospect, Barreto's star has dimmed in light of his poor body of work at the big-league level between stops with the Athletics and Angels from 2017 through 2020. He missed the entire 2021 season due to an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery, but his inclusion in the lineup Monday at a middle-infield position implies that he's back to full health. Barreto is expected to open the season with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land.

Bannon was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bannon made eight Grapefruit League appearances this spring and went 4-for-12 with a home run, a double, four runs, four RBI, four walks and four strikeouts. He'll begin the regular season in the minors but will be in consideration to serve as major-league depth if he performs well in Norfolk.

Jones was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Jones was in the mix for a major-league roster spot this spring, and he performed well in Grapefruit League action by going 5-for-14 with three doubles, four runs, an RBI, two walks and five strikeouts across seven appearances. He'll begin the year in the minors but should be in consideration for a call-up at some point in 2022.

Biggio went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

He took Michael King deep in the third inning, turning around a high fastball and depositing it over the right-field wall for his first homer of the spring. Biggio is coming off a career-worst .356 SLG and .678 OPS in an injury-plagued 2021, so any flash of power is a positive sign, but his hold on the starting second base job for the Blue Jays is a tenuous one.

Kemp is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with three doubles, a triple, an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and five runs across his first four Cactus League games.

The veteran enjoyed a career-best season in 2021 that saw him generate a .279/.382/.418 slash line across 397 plate appearances. Kemp also compiled a career-high 27 extra-base hits, and his scorching hot start in that regard this spring certainly supports the notion he's up to the task of replicating or even exceeding that feat this season. Despite the Athletics' overall rebuilding approach heading into 2022, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports the 30-year-old is set to enjoy an everyday role at second base for the first time in his career, although it bears noting the recent signing of the versatile Jed Lowrie does give manager Mark Kotsay another experienced hand capable of manning the keystone.

Frazier is hitting .333 (3-for-9) with a double, three walks and a run across his first five Cactus League games.

The offseason acquisition is penciled in as the everyday second baseman and is coming off an impressive 2021 season where he generated a career-best .305 average and .368 on-base percentage during stints with the Pirates and Padres. Frazier's constant presence on the basepaths early, albeit over a small sample, is certainly encouraging as he begins the first American League stint of his career.

Arroyo (hand) is hitting seventh and playing second base Saturday against the Rays.

Arroyo was scratched from the lineup earlier in the week with a sore right hand, though the issue was always deemed minor. He remains penciled in at second base while Trevor Story (personal) is away from the team, but Arroyo will likely serve as a utility player across the infield once the regular season begins. Arroyo has also recently begun working out in right field, furthering his versatility.

Short was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.

Short appeared in 61 major-league games last year but will begin the 2022 campaign in the minors after he went 1-for-9 with two runs, two RBI, a stolen base and a walk across seven Grapefruit League outings this year. He hit .236 with nine homers, 30 runs, 29 RBI and two stolen bases in Toledo in 2021.

Arroyo (hand) will get reps as an outfielder, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Arroyo had been penciled in as the starter at second base until Boston signed Trevor Story earlier this week. Without a permanent home, Arroyo will go back to being a utility infielder but will add outfield to his defensive resume, and he might get playing time in right field once he's comfortable. Red Sox manager Alex Cora plans to have Arroyo somewhere in the lineup against left-handers.