MLB Player News

Fermin went 3-for-3 in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Mets.

Fermin's big game has him hitting .385 (5-for-13) over six spring games. The 24-year-old projects as a utility infielder if he makes the Cardinals' big-league roster out of camp. Fermin had limited success last year, batting .235 with a .594 OPS across 61 plate appearances. With established options at most, if not all, of the infield positions, Fermin's playing time is unlikely to be significant barring injuries to other players.

Bote went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.

Bote now has two home runs, four RBI and a 1.317 OPS across six Cactus League games. The veteran utility man spent last season with Triple-A Iowa, where he clubbed 14 long balls and posted an .811 OPS across 99 contests. With the Cubs adding depth to the infield in recent years, Bote seems to be on the outside looking in for a roster spot, though he does give the team an experienced depth option.

Villar will play in his fifth Cactus League game of the spring Thursday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Villar is getting plenty of playing time so far, and he's gone 2-for-7 with a pair of doubles and a run scored over his first four spring games. The 27-year-old is projected for a utility role if he makes the major-league roster out of camp. That said, he has no clear path to playing time with more established options at both corner infield spots and second base, his three most likely positions. Villar also bats right-handed, as are all but two (LaMonte Wade and Brett Wisely) of the Giants' infield options, so there's not much chance of Villar earning a favorable platoon situation.

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.