MLB Player News

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera designated hitter Victor Martinez went through three pitches in an hour-long batting practice session, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that the hurdles Cabrera and Martinez have yet to clear are mostly "running and agility" exercises, according to the MLB.com. Once they clear those hurdles, Ausmus will determine the amount of at-bats they will receive in Grapefruit League play on the fly.

"We still have hurdles to cross," Ausmus said, "mostly the running and agility stuff. As much as you can run them and do agility (work), it's hard to simulate game movements."

Outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the Indians' lineup on Tuesday, returning from an illness that kept him out over the weekend. 

Brantley started in left field and batted third. He grounded out, flew out and walked at the plate and made two putouts in the field, before leaving at the start of the seventh. 

The Tigers did not provide any injury updates on Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, according to the Detroit Free Press. Cabrera took ground ball and participated in batting practice, along with Martinez.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Tuesday that second basmean Christian Colon is "absolutely" the favorite for the team's backup infielder role, the Kansas City Star reports.

Colon saw his first major-league action in 2014, going 15 for 45 with three walks and two stolen bases. He also hit .311/.366/.433 with eight home runs, 47 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 344 at-bats with Triple-A Omaha.

Colon has excelled this spring, going 9 of 20 with one double and four walks.

Tigers catcher Alex Avila and Yoenis Cespedes are in the starting lineup for Monday's spring game against the Cardinals.

Avila was pulled from Wednesday's game with lower back stiffness. He was initially scheduled to return Friday before being crossed off the team's travel roster. Cespedes came out of Thursday's game with quad tightness and was not expected to appear Sunday or Monday, but he'll make his return to action in Jupiter against the Cardinals.

The Indians continue to battle a stomach bug that's spreading through the locker room. 

On Sunday, outfielder Michael Brantley and pitcher Cody Anderson were scratched after being laid up with flu-like symptoms. 

Meanwhile, Brandon Moss, who missed the last two games with illness, returned to the Indians lineup on Sunday. Moss was fourth in the Indians' lineup, playing right field. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and designated Victor Martinez are both running bases for the first time since undergoing surgery, according to MLB.com.

Cabrera, 31, had surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle back in October. The first baseman finished 2014 with a batting average of .313 with 25 homeruns.

Martinez tore the medial meniscus in his left knee in February. In 2014 he batted .335 with 32 homeruns.

The Tigers are hopeful that both players will be ready to go by opening day, but there is no definite timetable for their respective returns.

An MRI on Mariners shortstop Chris Taylor's wrist revealed a fractured triquetrum bone in his right wrist, the team announced on Saturday. 

Taylor fouled a pitch off the wrist on Friday. 

The injury will keep Taylor out of action for four-to-six weeks, ending his spring training and giving Brad Miller the shortstop job to start the season. 

Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is set to take batting practice on Saturday, but isn't on the team's travel roster to go to Jupiter on Sunday and Monday, per MLive.com.

Cespedes left Thursday's Grapefruit League game with tightness in his left quad, and has not been able to return since. He did reveal that his left quad is feeling better on Saturday. He is hitting .313 with one double, one home run and five RBI in six spring games.

Barring a last-minute trip to join his teammates in Jupiter, the next opportunity for him to return to the lineup will come against Washington in Lakeland.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Friday outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is feeling "so-so" after leaving Thursday's spring game due to tightness in his left quad, per MLB.com. Ausmus said Cespedes is penciled into the lineup for a split-squad game Saturday, but he would be surprised if Cespedes plays.

Cespedes, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Boston, is batting .313 (5 for 16) with one double, one home run and five RBI in six spring games. He also has five runs, one walk and one stolen base.

Cespedes is entering the final year of his contract. He is slated to make $10.5 million in 2015.