MLB Player News

Donovan revealed Thursday that his surgery last August was to repair a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, not the flexor tendon as had been previously reported, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan did deal with a flexor strain last season, but the operation he ultimately had was an internal brace procedure to correct his UCL. The 27-year-old has been limited to second base so far in camp as the Cardinals monitor his throwing, but he's played a couple Grapefruit League games and shouldn't be under any restrictions by the time the season begins.

McNeil isn't expected to see his first Grapefruit League action until the first week of March, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports.

The 31-year-old is managing a partial ligament tear in his left elbow, so the team is easing McNeil into camp. "I already have it mapped out with him. It's part of his progression, build up, volume and all of that," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday. "After going through what he went through this offseason with some of the things he was dealing with, he is healthy, going through full workouts. He's getting plenty of at-bats in live batting practice. He is running the bases. It's more like building the volume up. He'll be up there pretty soon." McNeil is on track to be in the Opening Day lineup at second base, and the elbow issue isn't expected to hamper him at the plate.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Edman (wrist) is further along on his hitting program from the right side of the plate than the left side, but the 28-year-old remains without a timeline to make his Grapefruit League debut, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

While Edman hasn't experienced any reported setbacks with his surgically repaired right wrist upon reporting to spring training and has been able to hit off a tee as well as soft-toss pitching, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat posits that Edman is still at least a couple weeks away from facing live pitching. With Opening Day just four weeks away, the Cardinals may be preparing for the possibility of Edman beginning the season on the injured list. If Edman fails to break camp as a member of the active roster, Dylan Carlson would likely step in as the Cardinals' primary center fielder, but Edman's absence may loom more largely in the infield. Youngster Masyn Winn is in line to serve as St. Louis' everyday shortstop this season, but Edman had profiled as the top backup option at the position, as the Cardinals have concerns about the defensive abilities of Brendan Donovan and Jose Fermin.

Mathias (shoulder) will start at third base and bat sixth in Monday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Brewers.

The non-roster invitee will be making his second start in as many days after he went 0-for-3 while manning the keystone for five innings in Sunday's 9-4 win over the Angels. Mathias finished the 2023 campaign on the Giants' 60-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain, but he looks to be back to full health as the start of the 2024 season nears.

Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that India (foot) won't be able to play in Cactus League games until March 7 or 8, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

India recently suffered a setback with the plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and it seems the Reds will take it slow as he progresses in his running program. Once he's healthy, India is expected to take on a utility role, with Matt McLain (oblique) in line to become Cincinnati's primary second baseman.

Marcano (knee) is running and doing baseball activities but isn't yet fully recovered from last August's ACL surgery, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Marcano tore his ACL last July in a game against San Diego while he was a member of the Pirates. The Padres ended up claiming the 24-year-old off waivers in early November, and he has a chance of working his way up to a utility role for the big club this season. However, it's unclear when Marcano will be ready to play in contests, as manager Mike Shildt said Sunday that "it's really kind of early to give you a timeline on when he gets back to competition relative to playing in a game." Shildt added that Marcano is still a "week or two" away from starting to ramp up baseball activity.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said recently that Arroyo will receive the bulk of his reps this spring at third base, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

He'll also be mixed in at first base. Arroyo is capable of playing both middle infield spots, as well, but it sounds like his focus will be on the corners, and he could even push for ample playing time at a third base spot that's wide open for the Brewers. Also competing for starts at the hot corner along with Arroyo will be Andruw Monasterio, Joey Ortiz, Tyler Black and Owen Miller. Milwaukee is also giving Sal Frelick some reps at third base, although it doesn't appear he's a real candidate for starts there, at least not initially.

India (toe) took grounders at second and third base during the early days of spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He's also been exposed to the outfield.

India, who was Cincinnati's primary second baseman in 2023, was informed this offseason that Matt McLain (oblique) will see most of the opportunities at the keystone, leaving India to take on a utility role. That transition has begun. Reds manager David Bell said India will get opportunities at first base, second base, third base, left field and designated hitter. The 27-year-old India played third base in college, but the other fielding positions will be new.

The Brewers designated Jones for assignment Wednesday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Milwaukee needed to clear a spot on its 40-man roster after announcing the re-signing of Brandon Woodruff, and Jones ended up being the casualty. Jones, 26, has a career .460 OPS in 90 plate appearances across parts of three major-league seasons. His versatility could make him appealing to some clubs once he hits waivers.

Edman (wrist) could be several weeks away from being cleared for full baseball activities, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Edman missed one workout with a stomach bug, but it's his surgically repaired right wrist that has the Cardinals slow-playing him thus far during the spring. While Edman is able to go through normal fielding drills, he's currently limited to one-handed swings designed to build strength and range of motion in his wrist. He will eventually progress to soft toss and then batting practice before being cleared for game action. The Cardinals still believe Edman has enough time to be ready for Opening Day, but he seems to be working with a tight window.