MLB Player News
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Nick Ahmed SS | TEX
Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed: Not starting Friday
Ahmed isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup Friday against the Dodgers.
After doubling and scoring a run Thursday, Ahmed will take a seat Friday in favor of Geraldo Perdomo, who will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Masyn Winn SS | STL
Cardinals' Masyn Winn: Opening year at Triple-A
Winn is beginning the 2023 season at Triple-A Memphis.
There was some thought that Winn might repeat Double-A for a bit, but he showed so well this spring that he's getting the boost to Triple-A just 10 days after his 21st birthday. The toolsy young shortstop slashed .333/.393/.556 with two home runs, two doubles, two triples and four stolen bases over 18 games (61 plate appearances) in the Grapefruit League. He seems certain to make his MLB debut at some point this summer.
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Joey Wendle 2B | ATL
Marlins' Joey Wendle: Sitting against lefty
Wendle is not in the Marlins' lineup for Thursday's matchup against the Mets, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Wendle had just a .595 OPS against southpaws last season, so the lefty-hitting infielder will take a seat Friday against David Peterson. Jon Berti will take over for him at shortstop and bat ninth.
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C.J. Abrams SS | WAS
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Shows nerves Thursday
Abrams went 0-for-4 with a strikeout while also committing three errors in the field during an Opening Day loss to Atlanta.
Getting the start at shortstop and batting ninth in the order on his first MLB Opening Day, Abrams' first error could easily have been ruled a hit as it came on a scorching grounder by Ronald Acuna. There was no excuse for Abrams' two airmailed throws later in the game. The Nationals are rebuilding in 2023 and will live with Abrams' growing pains, but the 22-year-old might have a long way to go before he'll be a reliable big-league player -- or a reliable fantasy asset.
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Nick Ahmed SS | TEX
Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed: Doubles, scores on Opening Day
Ahmed went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Ahmed got the start at shortstop Opening Day against Los Angeles lefty Julio Urias, but he could find himself on the bench Friday. That's partially due to manager Torey Lovullo wanting to get the switch-hitting Geraldo Perdomo in against righty Dustin May, but also because Ahmed, who underwent shoulder surgery last season, will not be an everyday player early on.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Collects three hits in debut
Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Thursday's Opening Day loss to the Rockies.
The Padres were somewhat surprisingly held in check by Colorado's pitching staff, but Bogaerts wasn't to blame. The shortstop was the only San Diego batter to collect multiple hits, and he finished with three of the team's seven base knocks. Two of his hits went for doubles, and he scored San Diego's final run in the fourth inning. Bogaerts' affinity for two-baggers is nothing new -- he slammed 52 doubles in 2019 and averaged 36 doubles per campaign between 2021 and 2022.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Smacks awe-inspiring homer
Cruz went 1-for-2 with two walks, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Reds.
Cruz erased an early Reds lead with a missile of a home run, a 425-foot long ball off Hunter Greene clocked at 111.1 mph off the bat. His tools are just silly, and the walks are nice to see, suggesting the improved plate discipline from late last season might stick. While the team context isn't great, the upside is massive regardless for the Pirates' leadoff hitter.
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Dansby Swanson SS | CHC
Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Starts off hot in 2023
Swanson went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored en route to a 4-0 victory over Milwaukee on Thursday.
After getting two hits in three tries against Corbin Burnes, Swanson immediately began showing why the Cubs gave him a seven-year, $177 million contract in the offseason. Despite getting off to a slow start in spring training, Swanson figures to be one of the best hitters in Chicago's lineup this year.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: At leadoff spot for opener
Cruz is batting leadoff for the Pirates in their season opener Thursday against the Reds.
Cruz jumped up into the leadoff spot down the stretch in 2022, and he can hopefully latch onto that role throughout the entire 2023 campaign. The dynamic 24-year-old shortstop has tallied 18 home runs and 10 stolen bases across his first 89 major-league games.
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Paul DeJong SS | DET
Cardinals' Paul DeJong: Placed on 10-day IL
DeJong (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.
DeJong is expected to miss the first handful of weeks of the 2023 regular season after suffering a lower-back injury in mid-March. He'll probably be a bench player even when he does return to the Cardinals' active roster.