MLB Player News

The Mets reassigned Williams to minor-league spring training Sunday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 20-year-old has received reps at shortstop and in center field during the first couple weeks of big-league camp, but he'll shift to the minor-league side after the first round of roster cuts. Williams is the Mets' top prospect and should open 2024 at Double-A Binghamton after he split most of last season between the Single-A and High-A levels, where he had an .876 OPS in 410 at-bats.

De La Cruz had a home run and two walks during Saturday's spring game against Colorado.

De La Cruz crushed his first spring home run off Cal Quantrill's 1-1 sinker that stayed up in the zone. De La Cruz later committed an error that led to four unearned runs. In five Cactus League appearances, he's 5-for-12 with two extra-base hits, three walks, three runs and two RBI.

Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that McLain (oblique) took 70 swings Friday and is slated to take live at-bats around Wednesday of the upcoming week, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

McLain no longer feels soreness in his right oblique area after being slowed since the beginning of camp. If he can get through live batting practice mid-week, his Cactus League debut might not be far behind. McLain has time to ramp up for Opening Day, but he can't afford any more bumps in the road.

Wendle has been dealing with a sore right shoulder, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Wendle's shoulder has prevented him from playing so far during spring training, but he is on track to make his Grapefruit League debut in about a week. The 33-year-old infielder slashed .212/.248/.306 across 318 plate appearances with Miami last season and figures to operate in a utility role for the Mets in 2024.

McLain (oblique) took groundballs Thursday after passing a series of tests that showed he's no longer dealing with the soreness issue, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The update also mentions McLain was scheduled for light swinging, but there were no details provided. The plan calls for the infielder to work with a mobility coach to become more flexible in his core. To this point, all updates on McLain's condition have been positive and suggest he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Abrams went 2-for-2 with a solo homer, an RBI single and a stolen base in Friday's loss to Houston.

The young shortstop has impressed in spring games thus far, logging four hits and three steals without a strikeout over the course of four games. Abrams' impressive rookie campaign with Washington included him setting the single-season franchise record with 47 steals. The 23-year-old will consistently be hitting leadoff for a less-than-stellar lineup, and he will look to explode as perhaps one of the few bright spots on the Nationals.

Anderson went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankeees.

Getting the start at shortstop and batting second behind Luis Arraez and ahead of Jazz Chisholm, Anderson didn't make an impact with his bat but looked healthy on defense, going deep in the hole to field a grounder in the second inning before firing the ball across the diamond to get the out at first base. The 30-year-old is coming off the worst season of his MLB career, but a knee injury that bothered him most of the year might have been the primary culprit for his decline. If Anderson is fully healthy in 2024, he could prove to be a draft-day steal for fantasy GMs, and a bargain for Miami on his one-year, $5 million contract.

Tovar led off and went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and two runs scored in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.

Tovar hit atop the Rockies' order with lefty Drew Smyly on the mound for Chicago. He led off the game with a single and then began the third frame with his first home run of the spring. Tovar primarily hit second and ninth in the order last season, and he projects to have a prominent spot in the lineup in 2024.

Luciano (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and batting second for the Giants on Thursday against the Diamondbacks in his Cactus League debut, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Luciano has been slowed by a hamstring issue to this point in camp but is feeling well enough to give it a go Thursday. The 22-year-old is tracking toward everyday shortstop duties for the Giants this season, although he will need to hold off Casey Schmitt and non-roster invitee Nick Ahmed.

Anderson could make his Grapefruit League debut either Thursday or Friday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Anderson officially signed with the Marlins less than a week ago and has been working out with the club as he gets back up to speed. The shortstop has said the left knee injury that plagued him last season is behind him, and he will have plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day.