MLB Player News

LeMahieu has tested positive for coronavirus, Marly Rivera of ESPN reports.

LeMahieu is reportedly asymptomatic, but it remains unclear when he'll be able to join his teammates. With Opening Day less than three weeks away, he won't have much time to get in game shape even if he's back with the team soon, which could open up a temporary role for Tyler Wade or Thairo Estrada at second base.

Candelario will likely be the Tigers' starting third baseman to begin the 2020 season, but he's facing pressure from prospects Isaac Paredes and Spencer Torkelson in camp, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Candelario and Dawel Lugo were battling for the third base job before play was suspended, and the belief was that Candelario had separated himself. However, Paredes and Torkelson are expected to be big parts of the team's future, and both were added to the summer camp roster. Lugo is also still in the mix at camp. While the organization likely won't rush Paredes or Torkelson into action, Candelario is going to need to perform well to earn any type of job security.

Astudillo has tested positive for COVID-19, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Astudillo is reportedly asymptomatic, but he'll nevertheless remain quarantined for the time being. The lost time these next few weeks could shrink his role early in the season, and he's already not guaranteed too many at-bats, as he hit an unimpressive .268/.299/.379 in 204 plate appearances last season.

Toro is expected to make the Opening Day roster, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

This represents no change from the spring when Toro was expected to claim the final spot on what was then a 26-man roster. With rosters expanded to 30 for the first two weeks of the season, Toro should be on the Astros' bench Opening Day. He can play multiple infield positions, which puts him in competition with Jack Mayfield, a less-accomplished hitter than Toro.

Maggi was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.

Maggi spent last season in the Twins' organization, where he hit .258/.384/.405 with 10 home runs, 46 RBI and nine stolen bases while playing for Triple-A Rochester. He's likely to spend most his time with with Minnesota's alternate training site, but gives the Twins an older veteran minor leaguer for depth.

Lewis was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.

Lewis was set to continue to develop as a shortstop in the minors this season, but it's possible he could be called up as a center fielder if the Twins have a need during the 60-game season (which is possible due to Byron Buxton's injury history). The Twins will likely decide to leave him at Minnesota's alternate training site all year. Lewis likely needs more time -- likely a full season -- at Double-A and Triple-A before he is ready for the majors, but it's possible that the abnormal season could cause the Twins to get more aggressive with his timetable.

Groshans will be a part of the Blue Jays' 60-man roster.

Groshans started the 2019 campaign in the Midwest League with Low-A Lansing, where he hit .337/.427/.482 with two home runs and 13 RBI over 95 plate appearances before suffering a left foot injury in mid-May that ended his season. However, the 20-year-old is fully healthy heading into the 2020 campaign and will get a chance to develop with the team's 60-man roster once play resumes.

Astudillo was included in Minnesota's 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, MLB.com reports.

Astudillo was on the major-league roster bubble before spring training was shut down in March, as it wasn't clear the Twins would keep three catchers. However, he's very likely to make the initial major-league roster in the shortened 60-game season since the Twins will be able to initially keep 30 players in the majors. The uncertainty of the short season could lead the Twins to keep three catchers on the major-league roster all year, even when rosters are reduced to 26 players after four weeks.

Jung was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool Sunday.

Jung, who was drafted eighth-overall by the Rangers in 2019, is not yet on the 40-man roster and probably won't get a sniff playing time against major-league pitching in 2020. The 22-year-old third baseman appeared in 40 games at Low-A Hickory where he slashed .287/.363/.389 with one home run and 23 RBI for the Crawdads in 2019. The Rangers will continue their work, likely in the alternate training camp, to develop Jung's power stroke.

Rivera was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool and is expected to be part of the team's 30-man active roster to start the season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Rivera was expected to be part of the player pool, but a more prominent spot on the roster became likely when the Rangers released Matt Duffy. Rivera, who is a truer shortstop than Duffy, spent parts of the last five seasons in the majors for the Brewers and Marlins. The Rangers have Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the depth chart behind starting shortstop Elvis Andrus, but if the club opts to use Kiner-Falefa as the starting third baseman with Todd Frazier sliding across the diamond to first, Rivera becomes the top depth option at short. He batted .183/.258/.217 in 34 games for Miami in 2019.