MLB Player News

Kieboom (elbow) is expected to be limited to DH duties in the Nationals' early slate of Grapefruit League games, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Kieboom missed the entire 2022 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, and the Nats are going to ease him into action this spring. He's doing overhand throws from third base but has yet to try sidearm throws or backhand plays. The 25-year-old will likely open the season at Triple-A Rochester as he rounds out his ability to again man the hot corner.

Urias is expected to play more at second base during spring training, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Urias won a Gold Glove at third base last season, but the Orioles seem to be planning to use Gunnar Henderson there in 2023, with Jorge Mateo at shortstop and Adam Frazier at second. It would appear to leave Urias without a set starting spot, although he should still play plenty. Urias ended last season with a knee injury but reported to camp fully healthy.

Senzel is back to full health following offseason toe surgery and will enter spring training as the frontrunner for the Reds' starting center fielder role, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "If he's healthy, he's going to play," Bell said Tuesday. "What I told Nick is get yourself ready to play center, but also as our team settles in, we are going to move him around a little bit, let him play some infield, prepare him to play corner positions in the outfield, so we have some flexibility there."

Senzel may be facing a make-or-break season with the Reds, as he could find himself off the 40-man roster if he's unable to solidify himself as the everyday center fielder or emerge as a useful bench piece. Through parts of his first four seasons in the big leagues, Senzel has managed a lowly .240/.303/.360 slash line in 1,036 plate appearances while missing extensive time with an assortment of injuries. In an effort to jumpstart his career, Senzel told Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer that he'll be experimenting with a swing change in spring training, so his results during Cactus League play may be worth keeping an eye on.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone expects LeMahieu (toe) to be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

LeMahieu has been spotted early in the spring taking grounders at third base, and he reportedly looks to be back at full health after missing the end of the 2022 season because of a broken right toe. The infielder notably struggled while trying to play through the injury, leading to him finishing the campaign with a .261/.337/.337 slash line over 541 plate appearances. A healthy campaign could see the 34-year-old ascend back to previous levels, but there's a good chance LeMahieu is only a one-category player at this stage of his career.

De La Cruz will focus on shortstop this spring, despite playing some third base last season and in winter ball, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The Reds have a slew of shortstop prospects acquired through the draft, via international signings like De La Cruz, and in the trade market the last two seasons, so they'll have to sort out who ultimately sticks at shortstop and who moves elsewhere. For now, De La Cruz remains at short, but due to his size, he could move over to third eventually.

Senzel (toe) told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic on Tuesday that his surgically repaired left foot is "good."

Senzel has undergone multiple surgeries for a troublesome fracture in his left toe and is hoping to be able to put that issue fully behind him in 2023. He will be eased along in Reds camp this spring, but Rosecrans notes that the 27-year-old outfielder is "in great shape" about six weeks out from Opening Day.

Urias (knee) announced Friday in a video posted on his personal Instagram account that he has fully healed from the sprained right knee that sidelined him for the final week of the 2022 season.

Urias acknowledged in early October that he would avoid surgery on the knee and would need about 8-to-12 weeks to make a full recovery from the injury, so it doesn't come as a major surprise that he's good to go for spring training. However, due to what he attributed to "medical insurance" purposes, Urias didn't receive clearance to play for the Mexican team in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Urias shouldn't face any limitations in Orioles camp or during the Grapefruit League slate as he looks to stake a claim to a full-time starting role in the infield heading into Opening Day.

LeMahieu (toe) was spotted taking grounders at third base during the Yankees' team workout Monday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Though only pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the Yankees' facility in Florida at this stage of spring training, LeMahieu is already in camp and looks to be back to full health after he was sidelined with a broken right toe for New York's postseason run last fall. LeMahieu was able to avoid offseason surgery and treated the injury through rest and rehab. Before being shut down with the fractured toe, LeMahieu struggled mightily down the stretch while playing through the injury, ultimately finishing the 2022 regular season with a .261/.337/.377 slash line, 12 home runs and four stolen bases across 541 plate appearances. The 34-year-old should reclaim an everyday role in the infield to begin 2023 now that he's healed up, but he could be at risk of moving further down in the lineup after making 89 of his 116 starts in 2022 out of the leadoff spot.

Senzel (toe) has spent most of the offseason wearing a walking boot, and it's unknown if he'll be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Senzel missed the final few weeks of the year after he fractured a toe in his left foot in September. He's undergone two surgeries on the toe, as the first operation was unsuccessful. The 2016 second overall selection slashed .231/.296/.306 with five homers in his 420 plate appearances in 2022, but despite his struggles at the plate, he has a chance to be a regular for the Reds if he's healthy enough to be on the field.

Rosario will be sidelined multiple months after suffering a fractured ankle while doing sprinting drills during winter ball, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Rosario needed surgery to repair the fracture and is expected to be on the shelf until around midseason. Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 5 prospect in the Padres' system, Rosario had been slated to compete in spring training for a reserve role. The 23-year-old went 1-for-5 at the plate during a cup of coffee with San Diego last season.