MLB Player News

The Cardinals optioned Prieto to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Prieto has struggled at the plate this spring, going just 2-for-17 over six games in the Grapefruit League. With his quest for an Opening Day roster spot now over, the 26-year-old infielder will aim to get back on track in Memphis, where he slashed .301/.363/.457 in 516 plate appearances last season.

Ritter is impressing the Rockies with his ability to play multiple positions and could earn a roster spot as a utility player, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Ritter appeared in 60 games in 2025 and split his time evenly between second base and shortstop. The Rockies' offseason additions of Willi Castro and Edouard Julien weaken Ritter's chances of sticking at second base regularly, but he's appeared at second base, third base, shortstop and left field this spring. In addition to that versatility, he's hitting .478 with four doubles and a home run across 23 at-bats.

The Reds optioned Balcazar to minor-league camp Friday.

Balcazar was added to the Reds' 40-man roster this winter, but he wasn't under real consideration for an Opening Day roster spot. The 21-year-old had a .677 OPS across 51 games with Double-A Chattanooga last season and will head back there to begin the 2026 campaign.

The Reds optioned Arroyo to minor-league camp Friday.

Arroyo netted a spot on the Reds' 40-man roster this offseason, but he wasn't under real consideration to crack the Opening Day roster. The 22-year-old will get his first taste of Triple-A Louisville this season.

Merrill went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two total runs and two total RBI in a Cactus League win over Seattle on Thursday.

Merrill's third-inning, two-run blast was one of eight long balls hit by San Diego during the 27-6 thrashing of the Mariners. It's been a strong spring so far for Merrill, who is slashing .333/.400/.778 with two homers and four RBI through eight games. He's locked in as the Padres' everyday center fielder and will look to rebound from a somewhat disappointing sophomore campaign, which saw him post a .774 regular-season OPS (down from his rookie .826 mark) while missing nearly 50 games due to injuries.

Winn (arm) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Pirates.

Winn has been held out of action for the past few days after feeling some arm soreness as a result of a heavy workload on the backfields this past weekend. He'll be eased into things at DH on Thursday before working his way back in at shortstop.

Lindor (hand) took swings Wednesday for the first time since undergoing hamate bone surgery, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

It's a big step in Lindor's recovery, as he tries to ensure he's ready for Opening Day. The veteran shortstop has avoided setbacks in his rehab so far, but he's still a long way from having a firm timeline for spring game action. For now, Lindor will continue his hitting progression in controlled environments.

Troy started at second base and went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's spring game against the Athletics.

Troy rapped three singles, including a pair to the opposite field, and upped his spring line to 11-for-21 (.425) along with four doubles, two RBI, three runs and one stolen base over nine Cactus League appearances. He can play both infield and outfield, but Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that the plan is keep Troy locked at second base for now.

Hernandez (elbow) said Wednesday that he's optimistic about being activated from the 60-day injured list when first eligible May 24, Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times reports.

On the mend from Nov. 14 extensor repair procedure on his left elbow, Hernandez took a major step forward in his recovery process by hitting a baseball Wednesday for the first time since his surgery. Hernandez will still need to advance to facing live pitching in addition to proving that the elbow injury doesn't compromise him as a fielder before the Dodgers clear him for what will be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. Once activated, Hernandez projects to fill a utility role for the Dodgers and is likely to see most of his starts against left-handed pitching.

Lindor (hand) played catch Monday and will go through defensive drills and other baseball activities Tuesday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

The Mets are hoping that Lindor will be able to swing a bat Tuesday or Wednesday as he continues to work his way back from hamate bone surgery. It likely would be dry swings initially before he gradually ramps up his progression. Lindor has a chance to be ready by Opening Day for the Mets but cannot afford any bumps in the road in his recovery.