MLB Player News

Polanco (knee) is scheduled to play in a minor league spring training game Tuesday, LaVelle E. Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He will first hit in the batting cage and take grounders Saturday.

Polanco missed the final month of 2022 with a knee injury, and his progress stalled in the Grapefruit League. He's set to begin the regular season on the injured list. This looks like a significant step in his return as he has not played in any games this spring. He still likely has several major hurdles to clear, but this gives hope he could return earlier rather than later in the regular season.

Urias was scratched from the Brewers' lineup ahead of Friday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear why Urias was taken out of the Crew's lineup, but it doesn't seem like it's injury-related. Cam Devanney will take over for him at third base.

Hernandez and Christian Arroyo will be used in the leadoff spot against left-handed pitching this season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com on Friday.

Alex Verdugo and Triston Casas are Cora's top two picks for the leadoff spot against righties. Hernandez batted leadoff for Cora for most of the first two months of last season before being used mostly toward the bottom of the order down the stretch after returning from a hip injury.

Arroyo and Enrique Hernandez will be utilized in the leadoff spot against left-handed pitching this season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com on Friday.

Cora mentioned Triston Casas and Alex Verdugo as potential leadoff hitters against righties as he uses a revolving door at the top of the batting order. Arroyo, who is set to start at second base, figures to be in the lower third of the order versus righties.

Ibanez was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Tigers on Friday.

Ibanez had seemed like a decent bet to make the team at the start of camp, but a hand injury suffered during WBC play killed that momentum. He'll be used as a utility infielder at Toledo.

Frazier is starting in right field and batting eighth Friday versus the Yankees, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Frazier will make his first start in the outfield for the Orioles after joining the team this offseason. With Ramon Urias (thumb) and Jorge Mateo expected to be regular starters at second base and shortstop, Frazier is likely to make the occasional start in the outfield in order to keep his bat in the lineup. For fantasy purposes, having dual eligibility gives him extra value, especially if he can return to his 2021 form -- a season in which he produced a .305 batting average with 46 extra-base hits, 43 RBI, 83 runs and 10 stolen bases over 155 games with the Pirates and Padres.

Marte was a scratch from Thursday's spring game due to illness, Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports. The illness is not believed to be COVID-related.

Marte returned from the World Baseball Classic earlier this week and went 2-for-6 with a double and a triple before bowing out of Thursday's game. Prior to the WBC, the second baseman had two hits over 13 at-bats.

Mann was reassigned Thursday to the minor-league side of Dodgers camp, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Mann got a lot of run in the Cactus League this spring and showed pretty well with a .775 OPS over 18 games, but he was never considered a likely candidate for the Opening Day roster. The 26-year-old will presumably return to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the 2023 campaign. He posted an .826 OPS with five home runs in 44 games at OKC to close out the 2022 campaign.

Hoerner was scratched from the Cubs' Cactus League lineup Thursday due to left biceps tightness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It's being labeled as a preventative measure for Hoerner, though there has to be at least some level of concern given that Opening Day is only one week away. Miles Mastrobuoni will cover second base against the Diamondbacks.

The Dodgers optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Hernandez logged a brief period of time in the majors with Arizona last season, but he spent most of the year at Triple-A Albuquerque and posted a .241/.349/.324 slash line across 298 plate appearances. Hernandez has had a very strong spring, going 8-for-30 at the plate with two RBI and three stolen bases, but he will need to show more at the highest level of the minors before he can contribute to the big-league club.