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  • Jose Altuve 2B | HOU

    Astros' Jose Altuve: First spring game will be in LF

    Manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Altuve will play left field in first Grapefruit League game this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Altuve has seen significant reps in the outfield in the early days of camp and will work with the outfielders exclusively over the next 4-to-5 days. It's becoming clear at this point that the Astros are serious about potentially moving Altuve to left field, although the 34-year-old will have to show he's comfortable out there before the team commits to it. If Altuve does shift to the outfield, Mauricio Dubon looks to be the current favorite to start at second base. Houston also just agreed to a minor-league deal with Brendan Rodgers, who will be a threat to win the second base job.

  • Nick Yorke 2B | PIT

    Pirates' Nick Yorke: Uncertain role

    Yorke has been working out at second base to begin spring training, but he could be an option to fill in at first base in the absence of Spencer Horwitz (wrist), Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

    Yorke has put up excellent numbers at most of his minor-league stops, but he has an uncertain defensive home. Nick Gonzales is the favorite to start at second base, while the addition of Tommy Pham likely shuts the door on Yorke's potential to play regularly in the outfield. However, Horwitz's injury opens up potential playing time at first base, though there are several other options at the position.

  • Astros' Brendan Rodgers: Signs with Houston

    Rodgers signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

    Rodgers slashed .267/.314/.407 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI over 539 plate appearances with the Rockies last season. However, his OPS dropped to .571 when he wasn't hitting at Coors Field, which likely factored into Colorado's decision to non-tender him in November. Now in Houston, he figures to have a better chance of making the Opening Day roster with Jose Altuve moving to left field, though Rodgers will still have plenty of competition for the second-base job during spring training from Mauricio Dubon and Shay Whitcomb, among others.

  • Gleyber Torres 2B | DET

    Tigers' Gleyber Torres: Should have big offensive role

    Torres is expected to play nearly every day at second base and bat in the top half of Detroit's lineup, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

    Torres seemed set for a key role when he agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal back in December, and early reports out of camp support this notion. He was the only player taking reps at second base Monday and the team expects him to hit high in the order. Torres served as the Yankees' leadoff man for 56 games during the 2024 regular season, though he also regularly batted fifth or lower in New York's stacked lineup. The Tigers may install Torres as their leadoff hitter, but even if he's not hitting first, the 28-year-old appears primed to fill a key run-producing spot most days. He could be poised for a big season with his new club.

  • Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA

    Angels' Luis Rengifo: No limitations in spring training

    Rengifo (wrist) said Tuesday that he began his normal offseason training in late December and is entering spring training without limitations, Jack Janes of TheSportingTribune.com reports.

    Rengifo underwent right wrist surgery last August but appears to be 100 percent recovered at the beginning of camp. The switch hitter should be an everyday player for the Angels in 2025, although it might not necessarily be at one position. Rengifo saw most of his action in 2024 at second and third base, but he's also expected to get a look in the outfield this spring. Manager Ron Washington said he prefers Rengifo at third base over second base, but that he will see time again at both spots.

  • Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Sticking mostly at third base

    Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that Westburg will get some reps at second base but will focus mostly on third base during spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

    Westburg would seem to be the most likely candidate to handle second base if Jackson Holliday flops, but the Orioles are giving Holliday plenty of runway to capture the starting job at the keystone. The 26-year-old Westburg collected a .792 OPS with 18 home runs over 107 regular-season games in 2024 and could take another step forward in 2025.

  • Jose Altuve 2B | HOU

    Astros' Jose Altuve: Dabbling in left field, second base

    Astros manager Joe Espada reiterated Monday that Altuve will see action at both second base and in left field this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Earlier this month, Espada revealed that Altuve had been working out in left field for a couple weeks before the start of spring training, perhaps in anticipation of the Astros re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman, which would have resulted in offseason pickup Isaac Paredes shifting over to second base. While Bregman ultimately came to terms with the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million deal, the Astros aren't yet closing the door on giving Altuve some exposure to left field, a position the 34-year-old hasn't played at any point since beginning his professional career in 2007. Espada said that he's made no permanent decisions on where Altuve will play this season, calling it an "everyday thing" with regard to how Altuve's deployment in the field will evolve throughout the spring based on the feedback he receives from the veteran. Even if Altuve ends up opening the season at his familiar spot at the keystone, the Astros could still look to move him to left field later on in the campaign to make way in the infield for top prospect Brice Matthews, who has spent most of his time at shortstop in the minors but made 11 starts at second base during winter ball in Puerto Rico.

  • Jace Jung 2B | DET

    Tigers' Jace Jung: Impresses in batting practice

    Jung's wrist is fully recovered from December surgery, and he put on a show during batting practice Saturday by hitting homers out to all fields, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

    With Alex Bregman choosing Boston over Detroit and a couple other teams, the third-base job is an open competition between Jung and Matt Vierling this spring. Jung has a chip on his shoulder and reported to camp early to show that he's regained the explosiveness in his swing that was more apparent in 2023. His exit velocities were below expectations last season, but Beck reports those metrics have been on the rise since minicamp in January. Jung mentioned that he did 100 push-ups a day to strengthen the wrist and also put in a lot of time with his brother, Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, working on his footwork at third base. Vierling will make the team regardless, but Jung will likely open the season at Triple-A if he can't win the third-base job in spring training.

  • Luis Urias 2B | ATH

    Athletics' Luis Urias: Gets one-year deal

    Urias signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Athletics on Monday.

    Urias was present at the Athletics' spring training facility in Arizona on Monday and will likely be given the chance to compete with Gio Urshela for the starting job at third base. The 27-year-old slashed only .191/.303/.394 in 41 games with Seattle last season but clubbed 39 home runs for the Brewers from 2021 to 2022.

  • Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Working out at keystone exclusively

    Campbell said Monday that he's been working out at second base almost exclusively during spring training, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

    Presumably, that's been at the directive of the Red Sox, which is notable with the team not yet revealing which positions Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers will play this season. Campbell's playing time in the minors in 2024 was split fairly evenly between second base, shortstop and center field, with some third base mixed in. If Campbell wins a starting job this spring, it appears likely to be at second base, which would presumably result in Bregman playing third base and Devers shifting to designated hitter and/or first base.

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