MLB Player News

Buxton will be used at DH "a vast majority of the time" to begin the season, manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton went 1-for-3 with a double while at DH in his major league spring training debut Tuesday.

Buxton had been playing in minor-league games the past week. Buxton underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late September, and the Twins are being very careful about easing him into action this spring. Buxton hasn't had any issues, but the Twins sound like they are going to take it cautiously with his return into the start of the regular season. Unfortunately, that could mean frequent days off and few stolen-base attempts, though keeping him healthy for a full season would still pay dividends for fantasy owners. Michael Taylor may get more playing time in center field to begin the season as a result.

Ohtani fired a scoreless inning with a strikeout to pick up a save to give Team Japan a 3-2 win over Team USA in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic final.

He also went 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate. Ohtani was named Most Valuable Player for his efforts in the tournament, as he hit .435/.606/.739 through seven games and also registered a 1.86 ERA in a pair of appearances. The strikeout was notable, as he fanned Mike Trout to end the contest and gave Japan their third WBC title in five tournaments. He did walk Jeff McNeil, but then got Mookie Betts to hit into a double play before fanning his Los Angeles teammate. Ohtani, Trout and the rest of the MLB players will now head to their spring training homes to get ready for the season.

Jimenez (calf) is expected to return to the White Sox's Cactus League lineup Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jimenez set off alarm bells when he exited Monday's game with a right calf injury, but it's merely cramps and he's fine now. The slugger is sitting out Tuesday in what was already a scheduled off day, but he'll be back in there in one of the team's split-squad lineups Wednesday.

Buxton is making his Grapefruit League debut for the Twins on Tuesday against the Rays.

The Twins have slow-played Buxton this spring, having him get in most of his work in drills and minor-league games. He's ready to finally play in an official game Tuesday and will be batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Brantley (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley has been brought along slowly this spring after undergoing right shoulder surgery last August, and he also was away from camp for a spell due to a personal matter. The 35-year-old has since rejoined the Astros, but because he didn't spend much time going through baseball activities while he was away from the team, he appears to have run out of time to get fully ramped up before the opener. It's unclear how much time he might miss, but fantasy managers should plan for a minimum of a couple weeks in the likely event that he's placed on the injured list. With Brantley and Jose Altuve (thumb) out, the top two spots in the Houston lineup have been opened up.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Alvarez (hand) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been out all spring while dealing with nagging soreness in his left hand, an issue similar to what he experienced in both hands at times during the 2022 season. The Astros seem to be taking extra precaution with Alvarez this spring, but fantasy managers still must have some level of concern about the slugger's ability to hold up all season. Alvarez will have a week to knock the rust off before Opening Day, but all signs point to him avoiding a stint on the injured list.

Ramirez has started two games since returning from the World Baseball Classic, and he's gone 2-for-5 with an RBI in that span.

Ramirez played for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic, though he managed only two hits across 16 plate appearances. He's fared better overall with the Rays in spring training, though he has drawn zero walks and zero extra-base hits with five strikeouts across 16 plate appearances. Despite the minimal production, Ramirez remains a prime candidate to see work as the designated hitter in the Rays' lineup come the regular season.

Hummel, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo home run in a Cactus League win over the Brewers on Monday, is projected to make the Opening Day roster by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.

Kramer fleshed out his position-by-position Opening Day roster prognosis Friday, and Hummel, who can fill in at catcher and the corner outfield spots, added to this terrific spring Monday with a multi-hit effort that pushed his Cactus League average to .333 and his homer tally to four. The 28-year-old, who logged the first 201 plate appearances of his big-league career last season with the Diamondbacks after spending six-plus seasons in the minors, has been a constant presence on the basepaths all spring, and Kramer notes Hummel's defensive versatility would give the Mariners more flexibility with the workloads of the top backstop duo of Cal Raleigh and Tom Murphy.

Ohtani could pitch in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic against Team USA if Team Japan advances to the final, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Team Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama said that it's a non-zero chance that the two-way star would be able to pitch if Japan was able to defeat Mexico in the semifinal. Angels manager Phil Nevin had told reporters that Ohtani was unlikely to pitch past the quarterfinals, but the right-hander hurler told reporters shortly after that a decison hasn't been made. If Ohtani does pitch, it likely would be a short outing; possibly as a relief option to close out the game.

Jimenez is day-to-day after exiting Monday's Cactus League game versus the Diamondbacks with cramping in his right calf, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief that it isn't something more serious. Jimenez figures to rest for a few days just to be safe, but this doesn't sound like a long-term concern.