MLB Player News

Gimenez has gone 4-for-14 (.286) across four games for Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic.

Gimenez also went 3-for-11 over five Cactus League games before leaving for the WBC. The 24-year-old infielder is once again projected to be the Guardians' top second baseman heading into 2023 after slashing .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 69 RBI and 66 runs scored in 146 games during his 2022 breakout season.

Villar (hip) said Wednesday that he believes he'll return to Cactus League games in a few days, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

He suffered a left hip flexor strain over the weekend, but it's been deemed mild and it sounds like he should be ready to play before the end of the week. Villar is expected to log the bulk of the at-bats at third base for the Giants this season.

Rojas (legs) will start at third base and bat second in Wednesday's Cactus League split-squad game against the Giants.

Rojas has been dealing with some tightness in both of his legs and hasn't played in a spring game since March 8, but the Diamondbacks' decision to hold him out of action looks to have been mostly precautionary. The 28-year-old has moved between third base and second base over his first eight spring games, perhaps signaling that the Diamondbacks envision him filling more of a utility role in 2023.

Rojas (legs) is expected to play Wednesday, Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports.

Rojas has been held out of action while he deals with tightness in his legs. He has not played since the middle of last week.

Kim will rejoin San Diego for spring training in Arizona with Korea eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Though Kim went just 3-for-16 during WBC play, all three of his hits left the park, and he tallied five runs along with six RBI. He also struck out just one time and walked twice. Kim should resume playing in Cactus League contests shortly as he prepares to open the regular season as the Padres' starting second baseman.

Valdez was optioned to Triple-A Worcester by the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Valdez was competing for a utility spot with Boston, but at least to begin the 2023 campaign, the infielder/outfielder will begin the season in the minors. The 24-year-old has struggled in the Grapefruit League with a .695 OPS over 32 plate appearances with just one homer and no steal attempts over 14 games. While he starts the year in Worcester, Valdez will likely be one of the first players called up when Boston needs depth help.

Jackson was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Angels on Tuesday.

Jackson spent all of last season with Double-A Rocket City, slashing .215/.308/.404 with 44 RBI across 351 plate appearances. The 22-year-old infield prospect will most likely return to Double-A to begin 2023.

Julien was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul by the Twins on Tuesday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Julien had a nice showing this spring, putting up a .919 OPS with two home runs in six games. The 23-year-old on-base machine was added to the Twins' 40-man roster over the offseason after posting a .300/.441/.490 line with 17 homers and 19 steals at Double-A Wichita in 2022. He will see his first Triple-A action in 2023 and could push to debut at some point later in the year.

Ortiz (concussion) was optioned into minor-league camp Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Ortiz reached Triple-A for the first time last season and slashed an impressive .320/.383/.534 over 115 plate appearances. He will almost certainly return to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the year, and he could be in line for a major-league debut if he continues to post similar numbers to last season.

Diaz (hamstring) was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento by the Giants on Tuesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Diaz came down with a bit of hamstring tightness earlier this week, but he was already on the outside looking in for an Opening Day roster spot in San Francisco. The 26-year-old will serve as organizational infield depth for the Giants in 2023.