MLB Player News

Choi suffered a setback in his recovery from right knee inflammation/soreness and will be checked out by a doctor Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays were previously optimistic that there were no structural issues with Choi's knee, though he's already received a pair of cortisone injections and was expected to open the year on the injured list. That seems all but confirmed now, though when exactly he's expected to return won't become clear until after his doctor visit. The Rays have a deep group of alternatives at the corner infield positions, with Yandy Diaz, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Mike Brosseau all potentially in line to benefit from Choi's absence.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt confirmed Sunday that Carpenter will begin the season as a reserve after Tommy Edman was named St. Louis' everyday second baseman, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

St. Louis may have considered giving Edman more work in the corner outfield if Carpenter had swung a hot bat this spring, but that failed to materialize. Instead, the 35-year-old has gotten off to a 1-for-34 start to the Grapefruit League slate heading into Sunday's game against the Nationals, effectively ending any hope Carpenter had of beginning the season as a full-time player. Carpenter should still have a decent chance at cracking the lineup when the Cardinals are playing in an American League park, or when Edman, Nolan Arenado or Paul Goldschmidt require a day out of the field.

Manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Vogelbach has secured a spot on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The lack of a universal designated hitter in 2021 will relegate Vogelbach to a bench role to start this season, after the 28-year-old slugger had previously been a mainstay in the lineup for the final month of last season upon being scooped up off waivers from Toronto last September. While the lack of regular at-bats will severely limit Vogelbach's fantasy value when top first baseman Keston Hiura is available, Counsell envisions Vogelbach filling an important role as a pinch-hitting extraordinaire for Milwaukee. Per McCalvy, Counsell said he's aiming to find ways to get Vogelbach at least one at-bat per game.

Miller (oblique) will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and will bat seventh in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Miller will be back in the Phillies' spring lineup for the first time since March 10 after an oblique injury kept him sidelined for nearly three weeks. Since the Phillies are breaking him back in as a DH rather than in the field, Miller may not be back to 100 percent yet, but he still seems to have a decent chance of being included on the Opening Day roster.

Ruf and LaMonte Wade are the candidates for the last reserve spot on the 26-man roster, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ruf is out of minor-league options, which could help keep him in the majors. Ruf is hitting just .195 (8-for-41) with a home run this spring.

Lewis (knee) won't play in Monday's Cactus League finale, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Lewis has been sidelined over the past several days due to a left knee injury. Manager Scott Servais isn't yet sure whether Lewis will be available for Opening Day, but the team will be running some tests in the coming days to determine his status. If Lewis is held out to begin the regular season, Jake Fraley could shift to center field while Jose Marmolejos starts in left field.

Lewis, who was held out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive spring training game Friday due to a left knee injury, is recovering more slowly than anticipated, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. "It's not coming along as quickly as I hoped or Kyle hoped or anybody else," Mariners manager Scott Servais said Friday afternoon. "We are staying patient... He's not 100 percent and I don't want to put him out there until he feels 100 percent, so that's why he's not out there (Friday against San Diego)."

Lewis' injury stems from a collision with the outfield wall in Monday's game against the Dodgers, and even though it was initially believed he'd be available to return to game action as soon as Wednesday, he remains sidelined with just two more Cactus League games left. Initial evaluations on the talented outfielder's knee have indicated there's no structural damage, but Servais confirmed Friday the team will be "running a few more tests" in coming days.

Choi, who took swings in the batting cage and played catch Wednesday, said Thursday his knee felt "back to normal", Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

It's encouraging the first baseman's knee appeared to tolerate Wednesday's activity well, but Choi will still begin the season on the 10-day injured list. Yandy Diaz and Yoshi Tsutsugo are slated to be the primary fill-ins at first base while Choi remains sidelined.

Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The veteran slugger took Chaz Roe deep in the sixth inning for his second homer of the spring. Ozuna has only gone 7-for-31 (.226) in Grapefruit League play, but five of those seven hits have gone for extra bases, and his 7:10 BB:K suggests he's been seeing the ball well. After posting a career-high 1.067 OPS last year in his first season with Atlanta, Ozuna is expected to hit cleanup behind the table-setting trio of Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman, a spot that should have him among the league leaders in RBI opportunities.

Martinez (illness) is starting in right field and batting third in Friday's spring game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The veteran slugger was sidelined the past couple days due to food poisoning, but he's back in the lineup Friday. Martinez should take up his usual post at designated hitter for the Red Sox come Opening Day.