MLB Player News

Ozuna is batting sixth and getting the start in left field Opening Day against the Nationals.

With southpaw Patrick Corbin on the bump for the Nats, Ozuna will move out of the designated hitter role and into the field. The 32-year-old worked on his shoulder strength in the offseason to try and avoid being a defensive liability again, but if he can't hold up with the glove, Kevin Pillar could become the preferred platoon partner in left for Eddie Rosario. Ozuna has has some things to prove at the plate after stumbling to a .222/.278/.397 slash line over the last two seasons.

The Reds designated Solak for assignment Thursday.

Solak was a casualty of a series of roster moves ahead of the team's Opening Day game Thursday against the Pirates. The 28-year-old former top prospect has slashed just .246/.317/.354 in 839 major-league plate appearances since the beginning of the 2020 season.

Torrens had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 26-year-old will open the 2023 regular season as the third catcher for the Cubs, behind the platoon of Tucker Barnhart and Yan Gomes. Torrens batted just .225/.283/.298 over 166 major-league plate appearances last year with the Mariners. Seattle non-tendered him in November.

Winker is starting in right field for the Brewers in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Rockies.

Winker has seen some action in left this spring, but this will be his first time playing right. He could factor into the mix at that spot with Brian Anderson, and perhaps even Owen Miller. Tyrone Taylor (elbow) is not expected to be ready to join Milwaukee's active roster until mid-May. Winker should primarily operate out of the DH spot as the 2023 regular season rolls along.

McCutchen (elbow) made throws to bases over the weekend in Pirates camp, CJ Haddad of MLB.com reports.

McCutchen was limited to DH duties over the final stretch of the Grapefruit League schedule because of soreness in his right elbow, but he told reporters Monday that he expects to be able to play some outfield when the regular season gets underway. "It's all good," McCutchen said. "I'm fine. I'll be good. No worries."

Morel was optioned to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Morel hit four home runs but also struck out at a rate in excess of 40 percent this spring, perfectly encapsulating the good and bad parts of the 23-year-old's game. He remains talented and will be given a chance to play every day at Iowa, but Morel will probably have to start making more contact in order to get another long look with the Cubs.

Torrens is expected to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Tucker Barnhart and Yan Gomes will be 1B and 1B at catcher for the Cubs, but the team wants to keep Torrens around as a third catcher and designated hitter option. The 26-year-old has a 1.172 OPS with two homers this spring but has just a career .642 OPS over parts of five major-league seasons.

The Mets will designate Ruf for assignment Monday, a source tells Joel Sherman of The New York Post.

Ruf's removal from the 40-man roster comes after he mustered a lowly .413 OPS in 74 plate appearances for the Mets last season upon coming over in a deadline deal with the Giants. He then continued to struggle in Grapefruit League play this spring, batting just .167 in 35 plate appearances while also managing a wrist issue. Though Ruf has been an above-average contributor at the plate over parts of eight seasons in the majors (110 wRC+), his prolonged slump and lack of defensive flexibility may be enough to deter teams from putting in a waiver claim for the 36-year-old, who has $3.25 million remaining on his contract. With Ruf moving off the 40-man roster, the Mets are now likely to include outfielder Tim Locastro on their Opening Day squad.

Encarnacion-Strand, who was reassigned to minor-league camp March 14, isn't expected to be available to make his season debut for Triple-A Louisville until at least April 19 while he recovers from a slight disc herniation in his back, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Encarnacion-Strand originally suffered the injury Feb. 13, but he was sidelined for only a few days in spring training before entering the Reds' Cactus League lineup. He then proceeded to produce at the plate, batting a remarkable .577 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 27 plate appearances before getting sent to minor-league camp. The injury has since cropped back up and has resulted in Encarnacion-Strand sitting out minor-league games for the past week, so the Reds will err on the side of caution by holding him out at Triple-A for the early part of the season. The Reds are tentatively targeting April 19 for him to serve as a designated hitter for Louisville with the hope that he'll be ready to handle a full-time role in the field by April 24.

Lewis appears to have secured a spot on Arizona's Opening Day roster after Pavin Smith was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Lewis put his best foot forward during spring training with three home runs and a .480/.581/.960 slash line in 31 appearances, which seems to have earned him a roster spot. The 27-year-old seems unlikely to have an everyday spot in the lineup but could see regular action against left-handed pitchers.