MLB Player News

Ruf, who was in Giants camp on a minor-league deal, could open the season on the 26-man roster, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

He hit .429/.469/1.000 with three home runs, five doubles, one triple, one steal and a 7:3 K:BB in 32 plate appearances this spring. The journeyman first baseman/left fielder spent the last three years playing in the KBO, slashing .313/.404/.564 with 86 home runs in 404 games over those three campaigns. Guardado suggests Ruf could make the roster as an outfielder and backup first baseman, but it seems more likely that he heads to Triple-A, as he is not on the 40-man roster.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Pederson (hip) is essentially recovered from his hip and side injuries, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Hip and side soreness kept Pederson sidelined for all of Cactus League action, though he had reportedly resumed playing in minor-league games before spring training was suspended. As such, the outfielder isn't expected to be limited whenever play resumes.

McCutchen (knee) is expected to be back to full health when MLB resumes its suspended season in mid-May or later, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

McCutchen has progressed well from the surgery he required last June to address a torn ACL in his left knee, but because he was still limited in spring training, the Phillies weren't planning on having him available for their Opening Day game in Miami that was initially scheduled for March 26. With the start of the season having been suspended for at least eight weeks, however, McCutchen looks like he'll have a fair amount of time to get back to full speed. Expect the Phillies to provide a formal update on McCutchen's health once MLB clears teams to resume training again, but if he's deemed ready for the start of the season, the 33-year-old will likely serve as the team's everyday leadoff hitter.

Belt slashed .280/.321/.560 with two home runs and one stolen base through 10 games before spring training was suspended.

The veteran first baseman has historically been a strong performer in the Cactus League, and that trend continued in 2020. Belt had a career-worst 99 wRC+ in 2019 but is poised for another season starting at first base for the Giants.

The Diamondbacks have reassigned Beer to their minor-league camp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Beer, the Diamondbacks' seventh-ranked prospect according to RotoWire, batted .176 (3-for-17) with three walks, an RBI and a run scored over 10 Cactus League games. A first-round pick of the Astros in 2018, Beer joined the Diamondbacks in 2019, when Arizona traded Zack Greinke to Houston. He seems like an odd fit for a National League team, as his defensive limitations may make designated hitter his best position. Plus, even if he shows promise at first base, the Diamondbacks have several first baseman ahead of Beer. The change in organizations led to a drastic decline in production, as Beer slashed .205/.388/.318 with one home run over 24 games at Double-A Jackson. This, after he bashed 25 homers in 98 games while in the Astros' system. Let's chalk that up to poor transitional adjustment and see what happens to Beer in his first full year with the new organization.

Ozuna was having a rough spring at the plate when MLB was put on pause, hitting .083 (2-for-24) with no extra-base hits and a 1:12 BB:K.

If he were a kid trying to crack the roster for the first time that kind of performance would be worrisome, but Ozuna's track record suggests it was just a matter of time before he found his rhythm, although the interruption in the schedule could reset that clock back to zero. After slugging at least 23 homers in four straight years, the 29-year-old is set to hold down a spot in the heart of Atlanta's batting order once the regular season finally begins.

Ramirez is a candidate to platoon with Matt Joyce in right field once the regular season begins, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old is facing competition from Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison and Garrett Cooper for the role. Ramirez put together a fairly impressive rookie season in 2019, but that may not be enough to ensure him consistent playing time in 2020.

The Rockies were using Blackmon in the third spot in the order this spring, while experimenting with David Dahl in the leadoff spot, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Manager Bud Black wants to get Blackmon into a better 'run-producing' - i.e. RBI-producing - spot in the order. He's already running less often as it is, so this move will only likely give him fewer runs while adding RBI.

Pederson (hip/side) has not resumed throwing to bases from the field, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

While Pederson has logged at-bats in a minor-league game, his inability to make throws from the outfield has prevented the slugger from making a full return. According to manager Dave Roberts, the defensive limitation "has been more of a hurdle than the swing" in Pederson's recovery from the hip/side soreness that has hampered him since the start of the spring training. Nonetheless, the Dodgers are optimistic that Pederson will be ready for the now-delayed start of the regular season.

Manager Dave Roberts said Pederson (hip/side) could return to Cactus League games next week, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Pederson has been held out of Cactus League games to this point by hip and side injuries, but he's progressed to appearing in minor-league games this week. Roberts continues to believe the 27-year-old will be ready in time for Opening Day, and a return to spring games next week would keep him on that track.