MLB Player News
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Ramon Urias 2B | HOU
Orioles' Ramon Urias: Returns to lineup Thursday
Urias (hamstring) will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Yankees.
Urias was unavailable for a little over a week as he battled through some hamstring soreness but is ready to give it a go in this one. The 30-year-old could see increased reps early on in the season if Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) isn't ready.
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Rafael Devers 3B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Won't play third base this spring
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that it's very unlikely Devers will play third base before the end of spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Cora still hasn't officially announced that Alex Bregman will be his third baseman and Devers will be his designated hitter this season, but that will be the setup for the foreseeable future with Devers unable to play the field. Devers has just two games under his belt this spring, as he's been working on getting his timing down at the plate following last season's shoulder issues.
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Tyler Freeman 3B | COL
Guardians' Tyler Freeman: Moving around diamond
Freeman started in center field and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's spring game against Texas.
Freeman, who launched his second Cactus League homer in the sixth inning, is thriving in a super-utility role. He's appeared in 13 games and has starts at second base (three), shortstop (one), third base (one), center field (four), right field (three) and DH (one). While second base gives him the best chance for a starting gig, Freeman's versatility will keep him in the majors in 2025. He's hitting .313/.421/.656 with six extra-base hits, five RBI, five runs and a stolen base this spring.
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Takes batting practice
Henderson (intercostal) took batting practice Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Recovering from a mild right intercostal muscle strain, Henderson continues to ramp up his baseball activities as he attempts to get ready in time for Opening Day. He will surely need to get some at-bats in a game setting soon in order to have a shot to be active for the opener, and it's not clear when that might happen. If Henderson has to miss some time, the Orioles would slide Jackson Holliday over to shortstop and likely use Ramon Urias at second base.
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Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Cut from big-league camp
The Orioles optioned Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mayo probably wasn't going to make the Opening Day roster no matter how well he played this spring, but he didn't help himself by slashing .190/.239/.262 with a 13:2 K:BB in 46 plate appearances. The top prospect will receive everyday reps back at Norfolk while waiting for an opportunity at the big-league level.
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Blaze Jordan 3B | STL
Red Sox's Blaze Jordan: Returns to action Monday
Jordan (arm) played two innings at first base in Monday's 12-3 loss to the Orioles in Grapefruit League play.
Though he didn't make any plate appearances, Jordan's usage off the bench Monday implies that he's healthy after he was hit by a pitch and then lifted for a pinch runner in his last Grapefruit League game back on March 8. Jordan is likely to open the 2025 season at either Double-A Portland or Triple-A Worcester.
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Cam Smith 3B | HOU
Astros' Cam Smith: Conflicting reports on roster odds
Smith may not break camp as Houston's everyday right fielder, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported Monday.
Rome's dispatch contradicts a report provided Monday by Will Kunkel of Fox 26 Houston, who relayed that Smith has a "good" chance of making the roster, per a source familiar with the situation. Rome isn't completely ruling out the possibility of Smith breaking camp with the club, adding that "even if Smith isn't on the Opening Day roster, this spring has showcased that he should make his major-league debut this season." Still, Rome's report throws some cold water on the idea of Smith being promoted aggressively, while suggesting that the Astros might not want to give up on Chas McCormick as a near-everyday player just yet. Last week, manager Joe Espada left the door open for Smith to make the team, telling Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com that "it's super exciting to see young players showcasing themselves and putting us in a tough spot to make tough decisions."
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Justyn-Henry Malloy 3B | DET
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Continues solid spring
Malloy went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.
While Malloy hasn't gone deep yet this spring, he is batting a solid .308 across 17 contests. Power is the 25-year-old's calling card, but after batting just .203 with a 37 percent strikeout rate as a rookie last year, the team would likely trade in a bit of his slugging ways for more consistent contact at the plate. Malloy may be a bench option for the Tigers to begin the regular season, though he has the upside to seize a larger role as the year progresses.
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Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Expected to be fine after HBP
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Mayo is expected to be fine after being lifted from Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Red Sox after being hit on the right hand by a pitch, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The team will re-evaluate Mayo's hand Tuesday just to be safe, but it doesn't sound like he will miss much, if any, time. Mayo is likely to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Norfolk.