MLB Player News

Belt went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Marlins.

It was an impressive performance from the veteran first baseman in the Giants' opener, highlighted by an eighth-inning blast off lefty reliever Richard Bleier. Belt posted career-best power numbers last year with 29 homers and a .597 SLG, and he's picked up right where he left off to begin 2022.

Beer is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres.

Beer walked off San Diego with a three-run homer Opening Day, but he'll still make his way to the bench for the second game of the season. Cooper Hummel will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Dickerson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

Dickerson hit eighth as the designated hitter Thursday on Opening Day and went 0-for-2 before being replaced by a pinch hitter. The 31-year-old figures to see plenty of at-bats this season but is unlikely to start much against left-handed pitching such as Cincinnati's starter Friday, Reiver Sanmartin.

Belt (knee) will bat second and play first base for Friday's Opening Day contest against the Marlins, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt battled knee inflammation late in camp, though the Giants remained optimistic about his readiness for Opening Day. That optimism has proven accurate, though it's still possible Belt gets a few extra off days early in the year to make sure he stays healthy.

Canha went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Nationals.

Somewhat surprisingly, Canha hit seventh against lefty Patrick Corbin while designated hitter J.D. Davis hit second, but the veteran outfielder still had plenty of success getting on base from the bottom of the order. If that slot in the lineup becomes his regular home, it would impact Canha's upside in runs, but more likely manager Buck Showalter will figure out he's a better fit higher in the order.

Hummel walked as a pinch hitter in Thursday's 4-2 win over San Diego.

The 27-year-old Hummel won a roster spot after the Diamondbacks placed Jordan Luplow (oblique) on the injured list. The switch-hitting outfielder will fill a depth role and could emerge as a platoon option for any of David Peralta, Pavin Smith or Daulton Varsho, being the only rostered outfielder who bats from the right side.

Beer went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Padres.

April 7 was National Beer Day, and appropriately enough, the rookie prompted a celebration in the home team's locker room after a walkoff blast. Arizona's offense scuffled for most of the game, but it got going after Yu Darvish didn't come out for the seventh inning. Beer served as the designated hitter and batted seventh in the order, and he will likely remain in the lower third most of this season -- that's been manager Torey Lovullo's customary practice with young players.

Beer will serve as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter and will bat seventh in Thursday's season opener against the Padres.

Few players are expected to benefit from the universal DH quite like Beer, a power-hitting 25-year-old who profiles as a below-average defender even at first base. Expect the lefty-hitting Beer to at least handle a short-side platoon role at DH, and the early season absences of two key contributors in Nick Ahmed (shoulder) and Josh Rojas (oblique) could even allow him to stick in the lineup versus some lefties, too. Beer produced a .909 OPS in 435 plate appearances at Triple-A Reno last season before getting a cup of coffee with Arizona in September.

The Padres optioned Rooker to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Rooker won't immediately report to the big club after the Padres acquired him earlier in the day in a four-player deal with the Twins. He'll get the opportunity to play on an everyday basis at El Paso, and his presence on the 40-man roster should put him near the top of the list for a promotion when the Padres require another corner outfielder or right-handed bat off the bench.

The Padres acquired Rooker and reliever Taylor Rogers from the Twins on Thursday in exchange for starting pitcher Chris Paddack and reliever Emilio Pagan, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Since they were planning to keep Kyle Garlick over Rooker on the Opening Day roster as a reserve outfielder/designated hitter, the Twins will cash out on the latter in an effort to bolster their pitching staff. With the move to San Diego, Rooker may face a similarly difficult path to earning a bench role on the Opening Day roster, and since he has two minor-league options remaining, the Padres are likely content to keep him around as organizational outfield depth at Triple-A El Paso. Rooker logged 213 plate appearances in the majors for Minnesota in 2021, slashing .201/.291/.397 with nine home runs and 16 RBI.