MLB Player News
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Jorge Polanco 1B | NYM
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Belts pair of homers Sunday
Polanco went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a grand slam, a hit-by-pitch and an additional run in a Cactus League win over the Giants on Sunday.
The veteran's blistering bat continued to pay dividends, with Polanco's standout day propelling his spring average and OPS to .500 and 1.000, respectively. The 30-year-old has primarily been held back by injury and dips in playing time the last two seasons in Minnesota, but he recorded a career-high 33 homers and 98 RBI as recently as 2021.
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Elvis Andrus 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Elvis Andrus: Makes Arizona debut
Andrus started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's spring game against the Dodgers.
Andrus made his debut for the Diamondbacks on Sunday. He was signed a week ago as another option to compete for a backup infield job. The organization needs someone that can back up Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop and also to fill in at second and third base. Andrus played both of those positions last season with the White Sox and will get more time at each position as Arizona evaluates him.
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Jonathan India 2B | KC
Reds' Jonathan India: Gets outfield start
India started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's spring game against the Guardians.
India batted leadoff and homered in the bottom of the first inning. He's transitioning to a utility role that will mostly involve him playing the infield, but the club has exposed him to outfield reps during camp. This was India's second Cactus League start, but the first one was rained out after four innings Friday. India will mostly see time at the three infield base positions.
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Xavier Edwards 2B | MIA
Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Managing foot issue
Edwards isn't in either lineup for Miami's split-squad games Sunday and was seen wearing a boot on his left foot, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Manager Skip Schumaker said Edwards is dealing with some inflammation but could be back in the lineup "in the next couple of days." The 24-year-old hasn't seen game action since March 5, and every day he's unavailable hurts his chances of cracking the Marlins' Opening Day roster.
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David Villar 1B | SF
Giants' David Villar: Returns to lineup
Villar (hand) is starting at third base and batting sixth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Villar was hit by a pitch on the left hand Monday but had X-rays come back negative, and he'll return to action Sunday after taking a few days to recover. The 27-year-old struggled to a .551 OPS in 46 big-league games last season and is fighting for a bench job on San Francisco's Opening Day roster.
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Scott Kingery 2B | CHC
Phillies' Scott Kingery: Plays off bench Friday and Saturday
Kingery (illness) went 0-for-3 with a run scored and a strikeout while seeing action at shortstop and second base in Grapefruit League games Friday and Saturday.
Kingery hadn't played in any spring games for about a week due to an illness before returning to action Friday. Though he's seemingly healthy again, Kingery is likely to be reassigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley before camp comes to a close.
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Sam Haggerty LF | TEX
Mariners' Sam Haggerty: Sidelined with arm soreness
Haggerty hasn't played in a Cactus League game since Wednesday due to arm soreness, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
Drayer adds that the utility asset is due to return to games "in the next day or two." Haggerty has had a rough spring at the plate thus far, hitting .077 (1-for-13) with a walk, a stolen base and three runs over six Cactus League games. However, the veteran will be counted on again to fill in at multiple infield and outfield positions during the 2024 campaign after producing a .255/.345/.382 slash line with 20 extra-base hits, 28 RBI and 23 stolen bases over 135 games for the Mariners in the last two seasons.
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Tommy Edman 2B | LAD
Cardinals' Tommy Edman: Encouraged after multiple opinions
Edman said Saturday that the nagging pain in his surgically repaired right wrist is "more inflammation than structural" following second and third opinions from doctors, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
The switch-hitter has had to be shut down twice this spring due to lingering pain when he bats right-handed and is expected to begin the season on the injured list. However, while it's not yet clear what the steps will be in Edman's rehab, he's confident he will not be sidelined long. The Cardinals are expected to use Dylan Carlson in center field while Edman is on the shelf.
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Brendan Donovan 2B | SEA
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Set for outfield reps
Donovan is expected to get some playing time in the outfield next week, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Donovan was limited to second base early in camp, but manager Oliver Marmol is loosening the reins on his super-utility player. Once the season starts, it's unlikely Donovan will need to play right field much, but he could be valuable cover in left field, as Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is likely to miss time at the start of 2024. Donovan is still projected to see most of his playing time at second base this season, but his versatility gives Marmol options when constructing his lineup on a daily basis.
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Michael Chavis 2B | CIN
Mariners' Michael Chavis: Reassigned to MiLB camp
The Mariners reassigned Chavis to minor-league camp Saturday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Chavis signed with the Mariners in January as a non-roster invitee, but he will end up missing the cut after going 2-for-18 across eight games with two RBI and eight strikeouts. Chavis owns a .650 OPS since 2021 and will head to the minors looking to fight his way back onto the major-league bench.