MLB Player News
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Brice Matthews SS | HOU
Astros' Brice Matthews: Strong start to spring
Matthews went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game versus the Pirates.
Matthews has swung the bat well to start the spring, going 4-for-10 with a double and a stolen base in his first four Grapefruit League games. Matthews, a first-round pick in 2023, is primarily an infielder, though he's been getting more work in the outfield this spring in an effort to make the Opening Day roster as a utility piece. Matthews struggled in a brief major-league stint last season, batting just .167 with four homers across 47 plate appearances. However, he put up impressive numbers in 112 games with Triple-A Sugar Land, slashing .260/.371/.458 with 17 homers and 41 stolen bases across 498 plate appearances.
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Leo De Vries SS | ATH
Athletics' Leo De Vries: Leaves Saturday's game
De Vries was removed from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants due to stomach issues and possible dehydration, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
De Vries grounded out to second base in his lone plate appearance before being pulled, but he isn't expected to miss much time going forward. De Vries received an invitation to spring training from the Athletics after being acquired from the Padres in late July in a trade that centered around Mason Miller being sent to San Diego. De Vries was promoted to Double-A in mid-August and appeared in 21 games for Midland, where he posted a .910 OPS with two steals, five home runs and 16 RBI across 103 plate appearances.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Scheduled for live BP
Crawford (shoulder) will take live at-bats Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Crawford's shoulder has never been considered a threat to his Opening Day availability, as the Mariners previously said they're simply taking a cautious approach with ramping up the veteran infielder. He's expected to make his first Cactus League appearance of the spring Tuesday as a DH and begin playing in the field the following week.
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Mikey Romero SS | BOS
Red Sox's Mikey Romero: Battling back tightness
Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Romero has been dealing with a tight back, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
The team is hoping for Romero to return Monday, so it doesn't sound like his injury is very serious. The 22-year-old infielder has gone 3-for-9 with three RBI and two runs scored in five games so far this spring and figures to open the regular season at Triple-A Worcester.
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Jackson Holliday SS | BAL
Orioles' Jackson Holliday: Cleared for throwing
Holliday (hand) said Saturday that he has been cleared to resume throwing a baseball, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Holliday was cleared for fielding and one-handed swings earlier this week after getting the stitches removed from his hand, and he's now added throwing to his regimen. Assuming he continues to progress without any issues, he'll begin taking regular swings Thursday as part of a plan to have him back in Baltimore's lineup around mid-April.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Hits first spring home run
Baez went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Baez has now gone 4-for-7 through three spring games, and his home run Friday was his first of the exhibition slate. Earlier this month, the veteran was suspended from the World Baseball Classic for testing positive for marijuana in March 2023. The WBC's governing body classifies marijuana as a banned substance, but Major League Baseball does not, so his status with the Tigers is unaffected. Baez looks like Detroit's primary shortstop to begin the year, though he could also move into a utility role and play some in center, particularly if top prospect Kevin McGonigle makes a push for the role at short. The 33-year-old had something of a bounce-back campaign in 2025, but his fantasy value overall has been trending down across his four seasons with the Tigers.
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Marcelo Mayer SS | BOS
Red Sox's Marcelo Mayer: Debut worth wait
Mayer started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against Atlanta.
Mayer's Grapefruit League debut was worth the wait. In his second at-bat, the lefty-hitting infielder turned on a changeup from Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias for a solo home run to right field. While he defended second base Friday, the 23-year-old is expected to see time at third base, too, as he and Caleb Durbin will toggle between the two positions.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Scratched due to illness
Seager was scratched from Friday's lineup against the White Sox due to an illness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Manager Skip Schumaker said Seager will be sidelined for at least a couple days. Cameron Cauley is starting at shortstop versus Chicago on Friday.
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Angel Martinez SS | CLE
Guardians' Angel Martinez: Focused on outfield
Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said Martinez will primarily focus on the outfield, particularly center field, during spring action, Joe Noga of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Martinez bounced between second base and the outfield in 2025 and will still be a versatile asset going forward, but the plan during Cactus League games is for him to be out on the grass rather than the dirt. All three of Martinez's spring appearances have come in center field, including Thursday's contest against Seattle in which he belted a double and drew a walk. There are a lot of moving parts in the Guardians' outfield, but Martinez could still land a regular gig in center.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Hitting off tee
Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Volpe (shoulder) has begun hitting off a tee, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Volpe began taking dry swings last week and has since been cleared to take the next step in his hitting progression, though Boone noted that the 24-year-old infielder is still several weeks away from being able to dive on his surgically repaired left shoulder. He's slated to begin the regular season on the injured list, leaving Jose Caballero to work as New York's primary shortstop for the time being.