MLB Player News

Witt will be a part of the Royals' 60-man player pool this season, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

Witt is the Royals' No. 1 prospect, but he is far from ready to handle MLB pitching. His numbers last year in the AZL don't jump off the page, but he hit .308/.352/.446 with his lone home run of the season over his final 15 games, so he may have figured something out down the stretch.

Allen is projected to be part of the 60-man player pool that will report to the Athletics' summer camp, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The 2017 third-round pick made his way up to High-A Stockton last season, slashing an impressive .292/.363/.434 with 30 extra-base hits (22 doubles, five triples, and three home runs) and 25 RBI across 328 plate appearances. Allen complemented his best offensive season as a professional with continued stellar glove work, and Gallegos notes the 21-year-old is regarded by many as boasting the best defensive tools in the entire Athletics organization. Given the fact he's yet to even reach the middle level of the minors, Allen is unlikely to see any big-league regular-season action in 2020, but his development should benefit from a chance to participate in taxi squad intrasquad games, often versus more experienced players.

Puason is projected to be a part of the Athletics' 60-man player pool that will report to the team's summer camp, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Gallegos relays a report from MLB.com colleague Jesse Sanchez, who had a source confirm to him that the 17-year-old is slated to get his first taste of a big-league camp beginning July 1. Puason was considered one of the most talented members of the 2019 international signing class, and he secured an impressive $5.1 million bonus last summer. Puason may well be a bit wide-eyed alongside the large contingent of much more experienced, older players, but the fact the organization wants to invest a spot in the young Dominican underscores how talented a prospect he is.

Franco is expected to be part of the Rays' 60-man player pool that will report to the team's summer camp, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The prize prospect's expected inclusion means he's expected to report to Port Charlotte, one of the two sites the Rays will use for their summer camp. The 19-year-old will therefore have a chance to continue his development despite the expected absence of a 2020 minor-league season, with the opportunity to play against big-league talent in intrasquad games projected as one of the biggest benefits of the move. That also leaves open the admittedly remote possibility Franco shows enough to earn a spot on the active roster at some point during the 60-game campaign, although the Rays continue to prioritize his continuing education as a player above all else. "We're not going to force anything. We're not going to throw any additional expectations on him," Rays general manager Erik Neander said in February. "We just want to make sure that we do right by him, progress him in all aspects of his development as best as we can, and prepare him for one day being a Major League player."

Marte will be a part of the Mariners' taxi squad this season, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports.

While prospects like Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez could get legitimate playing time in the majors as a part of Seattle's taxi squad, it seems unlikely Marte will get similar opportunities. He has never played stateside or above rookie ball, so while his future appears bright, his inclusion on the taxi squad is unlikely to result in notable playing time in the majors this season.

Adames was one of more than a dozen players present at Tropicana Field for the re-start of workouts Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The shortstop was present and accounted for in what was the first opportunity for Rays players to work out together in more than two months. Participants were able to play catch, run, use free weights in a makeshift gym and also complete plyometric jumps and other exercises during Monday's session, which was conducted in groups of two. While Adames and his teammates did not have access to amenities such as batting cages, bullpen mounds or the full weight room, Topkin notes those areas may be accessible as early as next week. The team is also expected to make the stadium available Wednesday and Friday this week.

Crawford, who has remained in the Arizona area while spring training has been suspended, is likely to be present for the informal workouts the Mariners will allow players to conduct at their Peoria complex beginning this week, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The team's spring training facility is set to open either Monday or Tuesday for voluntary workouts, making the Mariners one of many teams around MLB that will be granting limited access to players in coming days. Crawford has been working out on his own in the area, but having access to at least certain parts of the facility will allow him to presumably ramp up baseball-specific activities with the proper equipment.

Marte, who is projected to remain at shortstop for the foreseeable future, is considered one of the organization's brightest prospects, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Brock notes the 18-year-old Marte is still unsurprisingly growing into his body, now standing closer to 6-foot-2 after being drafted at almost two inches shorter and appearing to have a more chiseled frame in spring training than he did during his time in the Dominican Summer League last year. Marte may be robbed of a minor-league season this year, but in the event of such, he could potentially continue to get baseball-related work as part of developmental games each team might organize for some of its top prospects.

Bichette has been able to stay in shape in part by doing drills and working out with his father, four-time All-Star outfielder Dante Bichette, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

"Most of the time he's throwing me (batting practice), but every once in a while he actually pitches to me, so we'll get the Little League field distance and he'll throw it as hard as he can to try and get me out. That's when it gets a little bit intense and a little bit competitive," Bichette said about the workouts with his pop. The 22-year-old figures to be ready to go right away once spring training resumes.

Franco's chances of making his big-league debut during the 2020 season will likely be dampened if there is no minor-league season, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The elite prospect's chances of seeing big-league action in 2020 even if the season would have unfolded as planned may have been relatively remote, considering he's yet to take an at-bat above the High-A level. Despite the fact Franco is unquestionably on the fast track to the majors, the Rays would ideally like to get him more seasoning, leading Toribio to surmise an outright cancellation of the minor-league season would further depress the odds of the 19-year-old making his debut in a truncated year. However, he adds the disclaimer that the organization's view could change if the Rays find themselves in contention and conclude that Franco -- whose stellar .318/.390/.506 line at Low-A Bowling Green last season qualifies as the least impressive overall of his three professional stops to date -- could significantly improve the team's offensive firepower.