MLB Player News

Villar is day-to-day after X-rays on his left hand came back negative, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Villar had to be removed from Monday's contest against the Rockies after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, but he's managed to escape with merely a bruise. The 27-year-old is competing for a reserve infielder job with the Giants this spring.

Villar was removed from Monday's Cactus League contest against the Rockies after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Villar was struck by a Peter Lambert offering in the sixth inning and walked off the field with the trainer. This could just be a precaution since his day was likely close to over, anyway, but it's unclear at this point whether he might require X-rays.

Gorman has gone 2-for-13 with a double, six strikeouts and a walk over five Grapefruit League games.

Gorman struck out at a 31.9 percent clip in 2023, so it's not unusual to see him whiffing a lot. He's still expected to have a starting role in the Cardinals' lineup, likely at designated hitter, but he could also split time with utility man Brendan Donovan at second base with Tommy Edman (wrist) likely to be in center field once he's ready to play. Gorman has slugged 41 homers over 208 career games, offering solid power while being an anchor on batting average.

Black is 4-for-17 (.235) with four runs, two steals and a 2:5 BB:K through six games this spring.

Black is one of Milwaukee's top prospects and posted a .942 OPS over 39 games with Triple-A Nashville last season, and though, he has not hit like that this spring, he is getting opportunities, as his 17 at-bats are tied for third among players in big-league camp with the Brewers. He spent most of his time at third base in 2023, but per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the bulk of his action this spring has come at first base. The Brewers have a lot of options in the infield, and he faces an uphill battle to break camp with the big club. However, he has one of the more potent bats of the bunch, and he will continue getting chances to work his way into the mix.

The Cardinals have growing internal concern that Edman (wrist) will not be ready for Opening Day, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Working his way back from October right wrist surgery, Edman has been going through drills on the back fields but has yet to be cleared to face live pitching. The switch hitter has taken swings from both sides of the plate, but his swing from the left side is considered ahead of his swing from the right side at this juncture. With about three weeks of exhibition games remaining, Edman is running out of time. If Edman requires a stint on the injured list, Dylan Carlson would be the Cardinals' Opening Day center fielder.

Rodgers will bat cleanup for the Rockies to begin the 2024 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Rodgers was limited by a shoulder injury for much of the 2023 season, and he managed just a .701 OPS across 192 plate appearances. Now fully healthy, the Rockies are hoping he'll be in for the breakout season his prospect pedigree seemed to promise. While Rodgers doesn't have the prototypical power of a cleanup hitter -- he has a career .146 ISO -- he makes relatively consistent contact, which should make him productive with runners in scoring position.

Merrifield started Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins at third base, something he hasn't done in a regular-season game since 2016.

Merrifield may have had another year or two left as an everyday second baseman had he chosen to sign with a non-contender this winter, but his decision to sign with the Phillies means he'll have to prepare for a utility role. Just how often Merrifield finds himself in the lineup may depend primarily on the health and effectiveness of the Phillies' other options. Merrifield should start against most southpaws, in place of either Bryson Stott at second or Brandon Marsh in left field, but if he winds up featuring frequently against righties, it's probably because Johan Rojas played himself out of a starting role in center field. If that were to happen, the likely outcome would be Marsh in center with Merrifield in left in most games. As for the hot corner, that's Alec Bohm's spot, but Merrifield may now be the top backup.

Andrus agreed to a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Sunday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Andrus spent last season with the White Sox, and he was unable to secure a major-league contract for 2024 after he posted a .251/.304/.358 slash line with six homers and 12 steals in 112 contests. The 34-year-old should compete for a roster spot as a backup middle infielder.

Kingery was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta due to an illness, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Kingery had been slated to start at shortstop and bat eighth, but he became the latest victim of the bug that has been making its way around the Phillies clubhouse. Though Kingery is attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, he's considered a longshot to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster and is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Acuna was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 21-year-old was with the Mets for the first couple weeks of big-league camp but will now move over to the minor-league side of spring training. Acuna immediately became one of the Mets' top prospects after being acquired from the Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade in July, and a strong showing at Syracuse this season could set up the young infielder's MLB debut later in the year.