MLB Player News

Here's a fun fact: The Giants' Brandon Belt has as many home runs this spring as he did all of last season.

Yes, it's the Cactus League, which tends to make muscle men out of lean, mean doubles-hitting matchines. Yes, it's spring training, where any stat of any note comes with a disclaimer. But for a player just entering his prime who has yet to meet his power potential but did manage to compile a .494 slugging percentage over the final two months last year, it's encouraging.

It could, in fact, be nothing, so I should warn you not to overvaluate it and reach for Belt ahead of, say, Ike Davis or Eric Hosmer. But if it's part of your justification for targeting him with a late-round pick, you should know that I'm right there with you.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was held out of the spring lineup again Monday because of a neck injury, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Belt added his neck feels better and he probably would have played if it was the regular season.

Belt is batting .433 (26 for 60) with one triple, five doubles, seven homers, 13 runs, 17 RBI and two stolen bases in 19 spring games.

After being scratched from the lineup the day before due to flu-like symptoms, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen showed no signs of the illness in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. He went 2 for 3 with a homer, a walk and three runs scored in the 12-10 loss. McCutchen launched a two-run shot off Brian Matusz in the first inning for his third long ball of the spring.

McCutchen is batting .231 (9 for 39) through 15 Cactus League games with 10 RBI and a .513 slugging percentage.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 3 for 3 with a double and two singles during Washington's 9-3 victory over Atlanta in a Grapefruit League contest Sunday. Harper alleviated all concern about the swelling in his left thumb that forced him to sit Saturday and pushed his hitting streak to four games. He now has seven multihit performances this spring for a stellar .431 batting average. "It'll be fine," Harper told reporters. "If it does hurt, I’m still going to play, anyway."

The Rockies made several roster moves on Sunday as they moved pitchers Tyler Chatwood, Rob Scahill, Christian Friedrich and Josh Outman, catcher Gustavo Molina, second baseman Charlie Culberson, first baseman Ben Paulsen and outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson to minor-league camp. 

I'm disappointed to see Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna sidelined 4-6 weeks with a fractured left hand. While Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick steal all the attention in the Marlins' farm system among the team's outfield prospects, Ozuna in my eyes shouldn't be a prospect overlooked.

He's managed three straight seasons of 20-plus homers in the minors and is slugging .481 in 452 career games. He strikes out a lot like many power prospects, but prior to getting hurt I felt like he could be a player that might force his way into the majors this season. Now, I'm not so sure since Ozuna is getting a late start.

I still like Ozuna as a long-term Fantasy keeper, but he's sort of off the radar right now for seasonal-league owners.

The Giants scratched first baseman Brandon Belt from Sunday's Cactus League lineup due to an upper back injury, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Belt, who was spotted wearing a wrap on his back, is considered day to day. It doesn't appear to be a big concern for the Giants at the moment. 

The 24-year-old Belt is batting .433 this spring over 60 at-bats with seven home runs and 17 RBI, not to mention two stolen bases. He figures to be the opening day first baseman for the Giants as long as he is healthy. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went deep again for his seventh Cactus League home run Saturday against the A's. He had a solo shot off Tommy Milone in the sixth inning. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI in a 12-5 loss. Belt is batting .433 with 17 RBI in 60 at-bats this spring.

Mets infielder Justin Turner, who was dealing with a sprained right ankle, returned to the starting lineup Saturday against the Nationals. Turner, who started at second base, went 0 for 3 in a 3-1 victory. He is hitting .281 with five RBI in 32 at-bats this spring.

Marlins outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna will miss the start of the season after suffering a broken bone in his left hand when he crashed into a chain-link fence chasing a fly ball earlier this week. Ozuna is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after X-rays revealed a hairline fracture at the base of the fourth metacarpal of his left (non-throwing) hand near the wrist.

"He's getting ice and treatment, and doing all the things he can physically do to stay in shape," Miami vice president of player development Marty Scott told the Sun Sentinel.

Ozuna, considered the No. 5 overall prospect in the organization, went 4 for 11 during Grapefruit League play before being optioned to Double-A Jacksonville on March 11.