MLB Player News

Toro has the edge over Garrett Stubbs to become Houston's 26th man, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Toro brings more versatility to the final roster spot than Stubbs. He's a switch hitter that can play both corner infield spots, whereas Stubbs is primarily a catcher with limited outfield experience. Toro batted .125 (3-for-24) with one RBI over 24 spring at-bats.

Senzel (shoulder) played in four games as the DH prior to the suspension of spring training, and felt good making throws from the outfield in drills, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Senzel and the Reds are optimistic about his ability to play when the season begins. He's also added some muscle with offseason weight training.

Suarez (shoulder) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Rockies as a designated hitter, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Suarez's first appearance is contingent on Major League Baseball not cancelling spring training due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Reds' decision to sign off on him playing Friday marks a significant step forward in his recovery from offseason right shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old will still need to prove he can field his position and throw across the diamond without issue before the Reds clear him for the March 26 regular-season opener, but for his part, Suarez remains optimistic he'll be ready to go for Opening Day.

Davis went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

He took Carlos Martinez deep in the third inning for his first spring homer, boosting his slash line to .308/.375/.615 through 16 plate appearances. Davis seems to be fully recovered from his shoulder injury, and with Michael Conforto (oblique) now iffy for Opening Day, Davis is expected to begin the season locked into a starting corner outfield spot.

Vargas is hitting .394 (13-for-33) with three extra-base hits, three RBI, five runs scored and one stolen base over 12 Cactus League games.

Vargas leads the Diamondbacks in spring at-bats and hits and is sealing a spot on the Opening Day roster as the utility infielder. The 27-year-old Vargas appeared in 92 games for Arizona in 2019, playing mostly second base and making a handful of starts at shortstop and third base.

Candelario went 1-for-2 with a home run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The home run was the second of the spring for Candelario, who has mostly struggled with a .143 average and .536 OPS. Dawel Lugo finished last season as the Tigers' primary third baseman, and the two are competing for the role in camp, though Candelario could also potentially snag some playing time at first.

Suarez (shoulder) fielded grounders and made light throws to first base Tuesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Suarez is gradually working his way back from January shoulder surgery. He's expected to get his first Cactus League action as a designated hitter Friday, with games at third base presumably coming not long after. He's certainly cutting it close to be ready for Opening Day but appears to still have a chance to avoid the injured list.

Asuaje was assigned to minor-league camp Tuesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Asuaje was in camp as a non-roster invitee but always seemed like a long shot to win a roster spot. He'll have a shot to add to his 586 career big-league plate appearances at some point this season, but with a career .240/.312/.329 slash line, the Cubs probably hope they don't have to turn to him.

Madrigal confirmed Tuesday that he suffered no serious injuries after a groundball struck his face Monday, but he'll sit for the next few days, Andy Masur of 720 WGN Chicago reports.

Madrigal wasn't showing any signs of a concussion immediately after leaving the game, and it appears that none have developed since then. The delay shouldn't significantly impact his readiness for Opening Day. He's expected to spend that day in the minors, but his big-league debut could come fairly early in the season. He's played just 29 games for Triple-A Charlotte but looked quite good in those games, hitting .331/.398/.424 with a typically miniscule 3.7 percent strikeout rate.

Machado is hitting .087 (2-for-23) thus far in spring.

While one of Machado's hits is a home run, he has also struck out seven times. The Padres are counting on the third baseman to take a step forward this season after signing him to a 10-year, $300 million contract last February. Machado was a mild disappointment during his first campaign in San Diego, batting .256 with 32 home runs and 85 RBI.