MLB Player News

Choi plans to focus exclusively on hitting from the left side this season after experimenting with switch-hitting during the 2020 campaign, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The South Korean veteran saw all three components of his slash line decline in 2020, so he'll look to return to the form that helped him to a career-high 19 home runs and 63 RBI in 2019, a season during which he solely hit left-handed. Choi reports that he engaged in more heavy lifting than usual this winter since COVID-19 protocols in his native South Korea prevented him from taking any indoor fitness classes during the early part of the offseason.

Alvarez (knee) stretched and ran with his teammates Thursday but did not take batting practice, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez's knee issues limited him to just two games last season, and the fact that they're still limiting him to start camp this year doesn't seem like a good sign. It's possible the Astros are simply treating him with extreme caution with Opening Day still over a month away, and it's a positive that he's at least able to participate in some activities, but it's hard to be too confident in his health until he gets into game action.

Canha is a leading candidate to bat first for the Athletics this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Marcus Semien and Tommy La Stella led off in all but four games for the Athletics last season, but neither of them are on the team this year. Canha primarily batted fifth and never hit higher than third, though he does seem like a natural fit for the role. He doesn't have the speed of a traditional leadoff man but has the on-base ability that managers look for. He owns a 14.1 percent walk rate over the last two seasons, helping him to an elite .393 on-base percentage, a number that ranks eighth among qualified hitters over that stretch. If he does indeed lead off, he'll trade a few RBI for a few runs. More importantly he'd see a bump in total plate appearances, which would slightly boost his fantasy value.

Ohtani said his fastball reached 97 mph during Wednesday's live batting practice session, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

There was some pessimism about Ohtani's pitching outlook after he topped out at just 90 mph during a bullpen session last Thursday, but the right-hander proved that those concerns were overblown during his time on the mound Wednesday. Notably, Ohtani hit 97 mph only once during his brief stint as a pitcher last season. The 26-year-old indicated that his elbow feels "much better" compared to 2020, and he could be poised for a bounceback as a hurler if he's able to keep healthy throughout the campaign.

Buxton reported to spring training at 212 pounds, up from 200 to 205 pounds in 2020, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton has ranked in the 99th percentile among all players in sprint speed in each of his first six MLB seasons (per Statcast), going 62-for-71 on stolen-base attempts over that span. While the added weight might slow him a bit, it should help him more in terms of durability, which has long been a concern for the 27-year-old. The Twins have largely eschewed the run game in manager Rocco Baldelli's first two years at the helm, and though Buxton ranks as the team's top base-stealing threat, his opportunities to swipe bags could be more limited than his abilities suggest while he typically slots at the bottom of a strong Minnesota lineup. In fact, Buxton may be more of a power than speed play in fantasy these days; he mashed 13 home runs in 135 plate appearances in 2020, with his 9.6 HR/100 PA besting Luke Voit (9.4) for the MLB lead.

Ramirez (hamstring) was claimed off waivers by Cleveland on Wednesday.

Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Marlins earlier in February, but he'll land a spot on Cleveland's 40-man roster for spring training. The 26-year-old missed most of the 2020 season due to a positive COVID-19 test and a left hamstring strain. It's not yet clear whether he's fully healthy to begin spring training, but he should compete for a role in the outfield with his new club heading into the regular season.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Alvarez (knees) has not yet been cleared for on-field work at spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Baker suggested that Alvarez was being held out of workouts in a pre-planned arrangement as he recovers from the arthroscopic procedures he required on both of his knees in August, so the 23-year-old isn't believed to be dealing with any sort of setback. The Astros will likely ramp up Alvarez slowly throughout the spring with the goal of having him ready to serve as the club's everyday designated hitter when Opening Day arrives. Alvarez made just nine plate appearances in 2020 before being shut down with the dual knee injury.

Lewis stood out in both batting and fielding practice during the Mariners' position players' first workout of spring Tuesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The reigning AL Rookie of the Year picked right up where he left off during the Mariners' first full-squad workout, making several impressive catches on flyballs and homering to both the opposite field and pull side multiple times during five rounds of batting practice. Lewis is naturally locked into the starting center field role after hitting 17 home runs over his first 76 major-league games across the last two seasons, but he'll look to shave down a strikeout rate that checked in at a bloated 29.3 percent in 2020.

Stanton could still play some outfield this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

General manager Brian Cashman suggested in October that Stanton would be purely a designated hitter going forward, but the team may be changing plans. Stanton's constant health issues mean the designated hitter role would seem to suit him well, though he's graded out as a decent outfielder over the course of his career, and manager Aaron Boone suggested Tuesday that playing the outfield occasionally could help him stay in shape. Stanton won't be outfield-eligible in standard setups to open the season, as he didn't play the field a single time last year, but it sounds as though there's at least a chance he picks up eligibility midseason in some leagues.

Reyes said Monday that he suffered a sprained right ankle a few weeks ago, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Reyes didn't indicate whether he expects the injury to affect his status for spring training, though it wouldn't be surprising if Cleveland elected to limit his activity in the team's initial workouts. He's expected to open 2021 as Cleveland's everyday designated hitter, likely occupying a spot in the heart of the order in most games.