MLB Player News

Ozuna went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in a 3-3 Grapefruit League tie with the Twins on Thursday.

Ozuna got a hold of a 2-0 fastball from Twins starter Adalberto Mejia in the second inning, getting it inside the left-field foul pole and placing it somewhere beyond his old Marlins spring training clubhouse at Roger Dean Stadium, as per Joe Trezza of MLB.com. The slugger had only one hit in his first seven spring at-bats coming into Thursday, but his mammoth connection was a tangible reminder of what the Cardinals hope he'll bring to the table on a consistent basis in the coming season. Ozuna's breakout 2017 in Miami included a .312/.376/.548 line with 37 home runs and 124 RBI, with all of those numbers representing career bests.

Cespedes (shoulder) will play the field for the first time this spring against the Astros in a split-squad game Thursday, Matt Ehalt of The Record reports.

Cespedes has been battling a case of right shoulder soreness over the past few days, but that didn't prohibit him from hitting out of the DH spot during Thursday's Grapefruit League affair versus Miami. Look for Cespedes to be eased into the outfield over the course of the spring as the Mets will want to make sure their star is ready for Opening Day after an injury-plagued 2017 campaign.

Harper underwent a minor procedure for his ingrown toenail but could be back on the field as soon as Saturday, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

Harper had a similar procedure in 2013 when he was dealing with an ingrown toenail as well, and that only caused him to miss one game. Manager Dave Martinez said that Harper wanted to get back on the field Friday, but the club doesn't want to push anything with there being no reason to rush him back.

Cespedes (shoulder/hamstring) will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and bat second in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

After being shut down for the final month of last season with a hamstring strain, Cespedes worked on his flexibility in the offseason to address the lower-body issues that have plagued him in the past. Though the hamstring injury is no longer a concern, the Mets have used Cespedes strictly as a designated hitter so far this spring, but look for him to get some reps in the outfield as Grapefruit League plays winds down. It was also revealed earlier this week that Cespedes was battling some soreness in his right shoulder, but his presence in the lineup Thursday suggests that injury isn't a major issue, either.

Harper will not play against the Marlins on Wednesday due to an ingrown toenail, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

Harper should be considered day-to-day while dealing with this minor issue. The outfielder is coming off another excellent season, hitting .319/.413/.595 with 29 home runs and 87 RBI in 111 games, but he did miss a significant portion of the year after suffering a bone bruise to his knee in August. Victor Robles will take over in right field versus Miami in his stead.

Belt went 3-for-3 with two runs scored in the Giants 14-12 spring training victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Belt suffered the fourth concussion of his baseball career against Arizona in early August, which cost him the final two months of the 2017 season. Concussion-like symptoms plagued the 29-year-old through everyday life in the following months, Kerry Crowley of the San Jose Mercury News reports, but he looks himself with spring training now underway. Belt was officially cleared of the concussion by MLB in October and is slated for another season as the Giants' starting first baseman.

Cespedes is battling mild right shoulder soreness, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Cespedes was already being eased into spring action after missing half of last season with lower-body injuries. This is another reminder of the risk involved with the veteran outfielder. He hit .292/.352/.540 in 81 games for the Mets last year, an excellent level of production, but he's 32 and is already battling multiple mild injuries. It's probably best to not expect or pay for a full season from Cespedes.

Cespedes (hamstring) will bat second and serve as the Mets' designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

As is often the case for veteran players coming off injury-shortened seasons, Cespedes won't handle a huge workload in spring training, hence the Mets' decision to hold the 32-year-old out for their first two games of Grapefruit League play. It appears that Cespedes, who was shut down for the final five weeks of last season while recovering from a right hamstring strain, has entered the spring at full strength, though it may take a few games before first-year manager Mickey Callaway is ready to deploy Cespedes at his normal post in left field.

Manager Mike Matheny reported Sunday that Carpenter's back is "doing better," Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Carpenter has been sidelined with a sore back during the opening days of spring training, but Matheny's comments suggest the veteran infielder could be back in action sooner than later. Carpenter's back injury doesn't seem like anything overly concerning at this time, and barring any setbacks, he should be ready for Opening Day.

Manager Mickey Callaway said Cespedes (hamstring) will play Sunday against the Marlins, Tim Britton of The Athletic New York reports.

As expected, Cespedes is set to make his 2018 Grapefruit League debut Sunday. After appearing in just 81 games last season due to nagging lower-body injuries, the 32-year-old should enter the 2018 season at full strength, barring anything unforeseen happens in camp. While Cespedes certainly carries injury concerns, it should be noted that he worked on increasing his flexibility in the offseason in an attempt to help him better withstand the rigors a 162-game schedule. If he's able to stay healthy, he could prove to be a bargain, as Cespedes proved he can still be productive when healthy, hitting .292/.352/.540 with 17 home runs across 321 plate appearances in 2017.