MLB Player News

Campbell worked with the outfielders during Friday's pregame work instead of the infielders, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Per the daily schedule posted in the locker room, Campbell was supposed to be working with infielders.

This follows a recent trend of Campbell playing the outfield. He opened camp getting work at second base, but Campbell's last four starts have come in left field. This spring, he's played 21 innings in left field and 20 at second base. This shift to the outfield coincides with the possibility that Wilyer Abreu (illness) may not be ready for Opening Day. Boston manager Alex Cora initially said Campbell getting reps in the outfield was a way to give at-bats to all the players competing for second base, but the coach later added context. "I think actually with everything that is going on, him getting reps in the outfield helps," Cora said. Another prospect, Roman Anthony, is expected to resume baseball activities Saturday following an illness, and he might be the more logical replacement for Abreu.

Schneemann started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's spring game against the Athletics.

Schneemann clubbed his second home run of the Cactus League. He's seen time at shortstop, third base and center field during the spring season, putting him in position for super-utility duty if his lefty bat holds up against righties. Schneemann slashed .191/.276/.333 against them in 2024.

Rengifo (hamstring) will start at second base and bat sixth in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Hamstring cramps have kept Rengifo sidelined since Monday, but he's fully recovered and is now set to make his second start of the spring. The 28-year-old projects as the Angels' Opening Day second baseman, though he may not settle in at just one position for the entire season.

Villar appears unlikely to win a roster spot as he's behind both Brett Wisely and Casey Schmitt in the battle for San Francisco's final bench utility role, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

Villar is out of minor-league options, so he may be auditioning for a job on another big-league roster this spring. He's hitting .176 (3-for-17) in nine Cactus League contests.

Schneider went 2-for-2 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

He went back-to-back with Ernie Clement in the second inning off Cooper Criswell. It was Schneider's first long ball of the spring, but he's been locked in at the plate in camp when given an opportunity, going 5-for-13 with a 7:4 BB:K in 20 plate appearances. The 26-year-old doesn't have a clear starting spot in the lineup after managing a mediocre .625 OPS with a 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 2024, and he'll have trouble repeating his 454 PAs following the offseason additions of players like Anthony Santander and Andres Gimenez. Schneider's best path to playing time this season could come as a short-side platoon option in left field and at second base.

Frazier (back) will start at second base and bat fifth in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Frazier hasn't played in more than a week while dealing with a back issue, but he's feeling up to giving it a go Friday. The veteran is slated to serve in a utility role with the Pirates this season.

Marte batted leadoff and went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's spring game against Seattle.

While Marte and Corbin Carroll (back) split leadoff duties in 2024, Marte has batted first in all nine of his Cactus League games so far this spring, including the times when both he and Carroll have played. Marte was the leadoff hitter for 58 games in 2024 and slashed .314/.384/.572 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI in those contests.

Westburg (back) will start at second base and bat fifth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

It's the first game action Westburg has seen since the Orioles' spring opener, as he has been dealing with lower-back soreness caused by a mattress he was sleeping on being too soft. Most of Westburg's playing time this season is expected to come at third base, but he's getting the start at second base in this one.

Brujan plans to be more aggressive in attempting to steal bases this season with the Cubs, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Brujan stole only five bases and was caught six times in 2024 during his lone season in Miami, and he said the Marlins "didn't give me the green light that I needed." Following an offseason trade to the Cubs, the 27-year-old decided that he's "going to be myself" and "going to steal bases." Brujan was a prolific base stealer in the minors and his sprint speed was in the 91st percentile in his rookie season with the Rays back in 2021. However, he went only 9-for-17 in stolen-base attempts over 99 regular-season games across three seasons with Tampa Bay, and last year with the Marlins his sprint speed was down in the 53rd percentile. Brujan is already 4-for-4 on stolen-base attempts this spring, so he's held true to his word so far, and he's also posted a 1.042 OPS. That said, if the career .189/.261/.270 hitter doesn't improve at the plate, his intentions on the bases could be irrelevant. Brujan is aiming to win a utility role with Chicago this season.

Garcia went 1-for-1 with two walks and a solo home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

The second baseman got hold of a Valente Bellozo offering in the fourth inning for his first homer of the spring. Garcia is 3-for-8 with three walks against only one strikeout through his first four Grapefruit League appearances in camp, as the 24-year-old looks to demonstrate that his 2024 breakout was no fluke.