MLB Player News
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Will be back in lineup soon
Rengifo said Tuesday that the hamstring issue he's dealing with is merely a cramp, and he expects to be back in the Angels lineup soon, Jack Janes of TheSportingTribune.com reports.
Rengifo will miss a second straight game Tuesday against the Guardians, but he could be back in action by the end of the week. The switch-hitting Rengifo is competing for the Angels' second base job this spring, although he might ultimately settle into more of a super-utility role.
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Ji-Hwan Bae 2B | NYM
Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Checks back into spring lineup
Bae (hand) will start in left field and bat leadoff in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
Bae jammed the ring finger on his right hand when he was picked off while sliding back into third base during Sunday's game against the Tigers, but he needed just one day off to heal up from the injury. With Tommy Pham, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds expected to form Pittsburgh's preferred starting outfield trio from left to right heading into Opening Day, Bae is competing with Billy Cook, Jack Suwinski, Joshua Palacios, DJ Stewart and Nick Solak for one or two reserve outfielder roles this spring. The 25-year-old Bae's elite speed could make him a useful asset off the bench, though the fact that he has two minor-league options remaining could compel the Pirates to send him to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the season so he can receive steady at-bats.
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Jorbit Vivas 2B | NYY
Yankees' Jorbit Vivas: Making spring debut
Vivas (shoulder) will start at second base and bat seventh in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Vivas will be making his spring debut Tuesday after a sore shoulder delayed his entry into the spring lineup. The 23-year-old infielder is a member of the Yankees' 40-man roster, but he has yet to make his big-league debut and is most likely to begin the 2025 season in an everyday role at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Kristian Campbell 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Starts coming in LF
Campbell is starting in left field Tuesday for the third time this spring, compared to one start at second base, Joe Weil of WEEI reports.
Campbell's defense at the keystone is arguably the worst part of his game, and it's noteworthy that the Red Sox seem to be playing him at an easier position (left field) rather than giving him more game reps at second base. Vaughn Grissom has made six starts at second base, while David Hamilton has made three starts and Alex Bregman has yet to feature at the keystone this spring. Campbell's clearest path to playing time would be at second base, as the Red Sox already have a crowded outfield, and prospect Roman Anthony would likely get the nod over Campbell if Boston turned to a top prospect to take on a prominent outfield role. Campbell got his first hit of the spring Monday and is hitting .071 with nine strikeouts and two walks in 16 Grapefruit League plate appearances.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Scratched with tight hamstring
The Angels scratched Rengifo from the lineup for Monday's Cactus League game against the Rockies due to a tight hamstring, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Tim Anderson will start at second base and bat leadoff in place of Rengifo, who can be viewed as day-to-day until the Angels provide another update regarding the severity of the hamstring injury. Though a healthy Rengifo may not have a permanent home at one set position in 2025, he's expected to handle a near-everyday role while likely slotting near the top of the lineup against right-handed pitching.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Expected back in games this week
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Westburg (back) should be ready to return to Grapefruit League games by Wednesday or Thursday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Westburg will go through full baseball activities Monday, marking the first time he's done so since he went down with lower-back soreness following the Orioles' first game this spring. Barring any setbacks, Westburg is expected to be fine for Opening Day.
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Jorge Polanco 2B | SEA
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Making spring debut Monday
Polanco (knee) will start at designated hitter Monday against the Guardians in his Cactus League debut, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
Polanco underwent surgery last October to repair the patellar tendon of his left knee. While he hasn't had any known restrictions in Mariners camp, the club has held him out of Cactus League play until now, a tactic that isn't atypical for veteran players. Polanco is slated to be the Mariners' everyday third baseman this season.
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David Bote 2B | LAD
Dodgers' David Bote: Blistering ball this spring
Through eight Cactus League games, Bote has gone 10-for-20 with two home runs, two doubles, nine RBI, six runs and a 1:4 BB:K.
Bote has been given ample playing time this spring after he signed with Los Angeles on a minor-league deal in mid-December. The veteran utility man wasn't expected to have much of a chance at a roster spot, but he's doing all he can to put the onus on the Dodgers to find room for him given his scorching hitting in Cactus League play. Bote batted .304 over 48 plate appearances with the Cubs last year, though he didn't have any homers or stolen bases and struck out at a 27.1 percent clip. He's logged time in parts of six big-league campaigns and can play all over the infield as well as in the outfield, so Bote has plenty of defensive versatility to offer if he's able to claim a roster spot.
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Ji-Hwan Bae 2B | NYM
Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Dealing with minor hand issue
Bae suffered a hand injury during Sunday's spring game against the Tigers, but manager Derek Shelton downplayed the injury, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Bae jammed his hand while sliding into third base but doesn't appear to be facing a serious injury. The 25-year-old struggled in 29 big-league games last season with a .463 OPS and spent most of the campaign in the minors.
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Tyler Black 2B | MIL
Brewers' Tyler Black: Making spring debut Sunday
Black (back) is batting third as the designated hitter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.
It's the first game action of the spring for Black, who suffered a minor back injury early in camp. The 24-year-old finished last season at Triple-A Nashville but received his first taste of the majors and had a .204/.316/.245 slash line and 29.8 percent strikeout rate in 57 plate appearances. He faces long odds to crack Milwaukee's Opening Day roster.