MLB Player News

Kingery was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta due to an illness, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Kingery had been slated to start at shortstop and bat eighth, but he became the latest victim of the bug that has been making its way around the Phillies clubhouse. Though Kingery is attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, he's considered a longshot to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster and is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Norby (side) will make his spring debut as a reserve in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Norby has been slowed in camp due to slight left side soreness, but the injury shouldn't be anything that prevents him from being ready to go for the start of Triple-A Norfolk's season in April. Hyde didn't say whether Norby would be deployed in the field or eased back in as a designated hitter Sunday, but the 23-year-old is likely to check into the contest in the later innings.

Ibanez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

Ibanez now has two home runs and an even 1.000 OPS across six games this spring. The 30-year-old is competing for a bench spot in camp, and his strong performance so far should help his cause. Ibanez posted a .264/.312/.433 line in 114 games for the Tigers last year and gave the team plenty of defensive versatility as well. A similar role could be in store for him this season.

Acuna was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 21-year-old was with the Mets for the first couple weeks of big-league camp but will now move over to the minor-league side of spring training. Acuna immediately became one of the Mets' top prospects after being acquired from the Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade in July, and a strong showing at Syracuse this season could set up the young infielder's MLB debut later in the year.

Marte went 2-for-3 with two doubles in Saturday's spring game against the Angels.

Marte has hit safely in all five Cactus League games, going 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits. He will be Arizona's primary second baseman for a third consecutive season in 2024. Since moving to the keystone in 2022, Marte has played 137 and 150 games in successive seasons. Prior to moving full-time to second base, he was bedeviled by hamstring issues when the Diamondbacks made him a full-time center fielder from 2019 to 2021.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Valdez is next in line at second base due to Vaughn Grissom (groin) being sidelined, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

The team is not yet ruling Grissom out for Opening Day, but it looks like a longshot that he'll be ready. A replacement from outside the organization doesn't appear to be in the cards, which leaves Valdez at the top of the pecking order and Pablo Reyes also in the mix. Valdez, 25, struggles with the glove but has some offensive promise, having slashed .266/.311/.453 with six homers and five steals over 149 plate appearances with Boston in 2023.

Massey has gone 3-for-10 over four Cactus League games.

After hitting .229 with a middling .655 OPS across 129 contests in 2023, this is a good start to the spring for Massey. The Royals had an active offseason, and the signing of Adam Frazier -- who is 0-for-6 over three spring games -- could have a negative impact on Massey's playing time, though Frazier can also be an option in the corner outfield. Utility man Nick Loftin could also poach some at-bats at the keystone, especially against left-handed pitchers, so Massey will need to continue his solid spring to avoid losing his spot.

Manager Skip Schumacher indicated Friday that Brujan has "a high likelihood" of winning a spot on the Marlins' initial 26-man roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

"He's got a really good chance to make the team," Schumaker said. "He's versatile. He's done enough in Triple-A. He can run. He switch hits. He can do a lot of things for us. I haven't told him that he's made the team or anything like that, but I would anticipate him being part of our club." Brujan was picked up from the Rays in an offseason trade and is out of minor-league options, so him making the Opening Day roster wouldn't be a huge surprise, but it remains to be seen what kind of role the 26-year-old can carve out on a Miami roster that already has Jon Berti entrenched in a utility role and also added Nick Gordon in February.

Schneider went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Getting the start at second base and batting third in a Blue Jays lineup that featured only one other projected Opening day starter in Daulton Varsho, Schneider took Luke Weaver deep in the fifth inning for his first long ball of the spring. The 25-year-old made a spectacular MLB debut last August before cooling down, and with Cavan Biggio (shoulder) yet to see any Grapefruit League action, Schneider is getting an opportunity to prove he's ready to be the starter at the keystone, rather than a utility player.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that McNeil is dealing with left biceps soreness and will be shut down from hitting for a few days, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

McNeil will not undergo an MRI as the injury isn't believed to be serious enough to warrant that, but the infielder will be reassessed by the team Tuesday. He was expected to make his spring training debut in the first week of March, but the Mets are opting for the cautious approach given the biceps soreness is in the same arm that McNeil sustained a partial ligament tear late last season. He slashed .270/.333/.378 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI over 648 plate appearances in 2023.