MLB Player News

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that Turang (shoulder) will open the season as the club's primary second baseman, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Milwaukee was seriously considering shifting Turang to shortstop this season, but the idea was scuttled once the infielder developed some shoulder soreness. The shoulder issue is not expected to affect his availability for Opening Day. Turang is the reigning Platinum Glove winner in the National League for his defensive work at second base.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that Ortiz will open the season as the team's primary shortstop, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers were considering sliding Brice Turang over to shortstop and putting Ortiz at second base, but Turang's sore shoulder ended that conversation. Ortiz will enter the season with only third-base eligibility if your platform uses a 20-game threshold, but he will pick up shortstop eligibility soon.

Ortiz is expected begin the 2025 season as the club's starting shortstop, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers appeared ready to give Brice Turang the nod at shortstop to begin the year, but a shoulder injury has derailed that plan. Instead, Ortiz is the likely candidate to at least start the campaign at shortstop, with Turang remaining at the keystone until he works through the shoulder issue.

Turang (shoulder) struggled during his throwing session Monday and will be shut down for 3-to-5 days, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers haven't expressed much long-term concern about Turang, whom McCalvy notes remains on track to play Opening Day. However, the reps that he'll miss out on over the next few days make it unlikely that Turang will begin the season as the starting shortstop, after Willy Adames left Milwaukee in free agency and signed with San Francisco. Joey Ortiz is now the leading candidate to play shortstop, while Turang likely handles an everyday role at second base, at least until he's able to fully move past the shoulder issue and isn't restricted with his throwing.

The Padres reassigned Goodrum to minor-league camp Monday.

Goodrum will likely open the season at Triple-A El Paso, where he'll presumably serve as a utility man. The 33-year-old logged 33 plate appearances at the big-league level in 2024 between stops with the Rays and Angels, slashing .103/.188/.103 with one stolen base.

Acuna seems likely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster and could handle the short side of a platoon at second base alongside Brett Baty, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

The Mets may have been reluctant to bring Acuna north if he was just going to be stuck on the bench, but the potential for consistent playing time might make the decision to keep him on the 26-man roster easier. That playing time is available due to an oblique injury to Jeff McNeil, and if either or both of the youngsters play well in his absence, there's no guarantee he wins back the starting gig given how his production has declined since he won the NL batting crown in 2022. The 23-year-old Acuna would help his case with a strong finish to his spring -- through 14 appearances he's batting .226 (7-for-31) with a 0:6 BB:K, although he has gone 3-for-3 on steal attempts.

The Cardinals optioned Helman to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Helman went just 2-for-18 at the dish during Grapefruit League play, which likely eliminated any chance he had at breaking camp with the big club. The 28-year-old infielder reached the big leagues for the first time in 2024 as a member of the Twins, appearing in nine games for Minnesota last September.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Mauricio (knee) will not appear in any spring games, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Mauricio missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing ACL surgery in December of 2023 before having a cleanup procedure in August. Mendoza said back in February that Mauricio was targeting a mid-March return, but it appears the 23-year-old infielder may start the 2025 season on the injured list or in extended spring training before reporting to Triple-A Syracuse.

Manager Pat Murphy told reporters Saturday that his decision to take Turang (shoulder) out of the lineup against the Athletics was done as a precaution, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Medical staff had cleared Turang to play Saturday, but Murphy wanted to give the 25-year-old some additional time to recover from right shoulder fatigue. It remains to be seen whether Turang will play in Sunday's spring game against Cleveland, but he doesn't appear to be in serious jeopardy of missing Opening Day.

Estrada was pulled from Saturday's Cactus League game against the White Sox after getting hit in the head, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The second baseman was hit in the head by Michael Taylor's foot while tagging him out at second base in the fourth frame. Estrada was able to finish the half-inning but was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fifth. Manager Bud Black said the incident shook Estrada up quite a bit, but his removal was precautionary, and he likely won't need to miss much time.