MLB Player News

Semien (elbow) went 0-for-3 with a stolen base and a run in Monday's spring league game.

Semien is 0-for-7 since returning to spring action after being hit by a pitch last week, though he does have a stolen base and a run over that period. The 26-year-old has cooled off since he started spring on a tear, but he'll head into the season with high expectations after posting a career-high 27 homers and 75 RBI.

Solarte was back in the Padres lineup Monday, going 1-for-3 in a win over the Rangers.

The 29-year-old was participating in the World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela. Manager Andy Green expressed concerns that his infielder wasn't receiving enough playing time in the tournament (3-for-6 in five games), so it would make sense for Solarte to see regular at-bats in the final couple weeks of spring training to get back up to speed with his teammates. The switch-hitting infielder had a career year last season, hitting .286 with 15 home runs and 71 RBI in 443 plate appearances. Assuming good health, he should easily surpass 500 plate appearances as an everyday player and gain second base eligibility (if he didn't already possess it), making him a potentially undervalued asset.

Manager Brian Snitker confirmed that Albies is not seriously injured after fouling a ball off his knee during Tuesday's spring game, David O'Brien of AJC.com reports.

Snitker also said he believes Albies could be ready to play after the team's off day on Wednesday, so it doesn't appear to be more than just a knock. The 20-year-old will begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he has a good chance to crack the big leagues with his talent and advanced feel for hitting.

Albies exited Tuesday's spring game after apparently fouling a ball off his knee, David O'Brien of AJC.com reports.

Albies tried to shake it off and continue his at-bat, but he had to exit after seeing a couple pitches. There is no word on his condition yet, so consider him day-to-day until the Braves update his status.

Altuve went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Monday's game against the Cardinals, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

This was Altuve's first spring game since returning from the World Baseball Classic. He intends to play as much as possible over the Astros' final nine Grapefruit League games in order to get ready for the regular season.

Diaz is 6-for-11 (.545) with a home run, three doubles and four RBI in six spring games with the Brewers.

Diaz reached the Low-A level last year for the first time and will likely open this season with High-A Carolina, but that did not prevent the Brewers from letting him show what he can do with the big club this spring, and he's responded in impressive fashion. The Brewers can be patient with him thanks to the middle-infield depth at the top levels of their system, but he could push his way up the ranks quicker than expected if he keeps hitting like he has this spring and like he did in 2016, when he posted an .827 OPS over 135 games with Wisconsin.

Arroyo was optioned to the minors Sunday, CSN Bay Area reports.

Arroyo left major league camp with a bang, smacking a two-run home run in a loss to the Brewers. The Giants want to give their top hitting prospect regular plate appearances in the minors, as opposed to seeing sporadic time as a bench bat behind Eduardo Nunez, so this move was to be expected. The 21-year-old has progressed well since being drafted out of high school back in 2013. Arroyo may still be a year or two away from a regular role, but he projects to be San Francisco's third baseman of the future.

Altuve is expected to return to Houston's training camp Sunday after Team Venezuela was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic over the weekend, Jake Kapan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve went 7-for-27 (.286) with four runs and an RBI in seven games for Venezuela. He'll re-enter Houston's Grapefruit League lineup Monday or Tuesday, according to manager A.J. Hinch.

Kemp was optioned to minor league camp Sunday.

Kemp went 10-for-35 during his stint in major league camp but was expected to return to Triple-A Fresno before Opening Day. With the offseason additions of Norichika Aoki, Carlos Beltran and Josh Reddick, there wasn't much room for Kemp on the big league roster.

Albies got the start at second base and hit leadoff in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, going 1-for-2 with a walk and his first stolen base of the spring.

His late start to the exhibition schedule while he recovered from last season's broken elbow hasn't phased him at all, as Albies is hitting .364 with a .533 OBP in 11 at-bats, walking three times without striking out, and Friday's hit came off 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel. Albies just turned 20 in January and will begin the season with Triple-A Gwinnett, but given his talent and advanced feel for hitting, don't expect him to end it there.