MLB Player News

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Adrianza (quadriceps), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, has yet to start a running program, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The skipper noted that until Adrianza is able to start running again during his rehab program at extended spring training, the Nationals won't have a clear target date for his return from a left quad strain. Adrianza's absence to begin the season allowed Lucius Fox to secure a spot on the Nationals' Opening Day roster as a reserve infielder.

Ahmed (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Ahmed has dealt with shoulder injuries in the past and expected to be able to play through the issue in 2022, but he was sidelined for the final week of camp and will begin the season on the injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder. Geraldo Perdomo is starting at shortstop Thursday and should see most of the playing time at the position while Ahmed is unavailable.

Schmitt (hand) is on High-A Eugene's Opening Day roster.

Schmitt missed time last season with a hand injury and finished the Low-A season with a .247/.318/.406 slash line with eight home runs, 29 RBI, 36 runs scored and two stolen bases in 64 games. The 2020 second-round pick probably shouldn't be expected to advance beyond Double-A this season barring a significant improvement in his batting stats.

Williams will be on the Giants' Opening Day roster, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Williams' defensive versatility makes him a good fit for a bench role. After hitting a modest .245/.315/.316 as a rookie last year, he may not get the chance to play regularly, even with a Giants team that rotates players frequently.

The Padres selected Abrams' contract from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

The 21-year-old secured his spot on the Opening Day roster after slashing .324/.359/.514 across 37 at-bats during Cactus League play. The Padres haven't indicated that their top prospect will be an everyday starter at any position, but Abrams likely wouldn't have made the Opening Day roster just to provide depth. He'll presumably be in store for at least a handful of starts per week at either second base and shortstop, and perhaps even right field, where he received a look in the Padres' Cactus League finale. Abrams' excellent bat-to-ball skills and high-end speed could make him a useful asset in the batting average and stolen base categories.

Castillo is not in the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day contest against the Cardinals.

A strong spring for Castillo earned him an Opening Day call-up despite the fact that he'd only played in 18 Triple-A games. The promotion was perhaps even more surprising given that the Pirates are in no rush to win and didn't call up fellow middle infield prospect Oneil Cruz. Castillo's inclusion apparently doesn't mean he'll have an everyday role, however. Kevin Newman starts at shortstop, while Hoy Park starts at second base. Castillo is a righty while Park bats left-handed, so it's possible Pittsburgh plans to utilize a platoon at the keystone.

Abrams is expected to be included on the Padres' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Look for San Diego to make the move official by adding Abrams to the 40-man roster in the hours leading up to Thursday's season opener in Arizona, which starts at 9:40 p.m. ET. Abrams' inclusion on the Opening Day roster isn't a major surprise, as he stuck with the Padres throughout big-league camp and wasn't assigned to Triple-A El Paso when the affiliate began its season Tuesday. The 21-year-old is a middle infielder by trade, and he'll likely see most of his initial action at shortstop, where he and Ha-Seong Kim are expected to serve as the primary replacements for Fernando Tatis (wrist), who is expected to be sidelined into June. Abrams also made a start in right field late in Cactus League play, potentially giving him another avenue to at-bats. Even if he heads into Opening Day as more of a part-time player than a lineup regular, Abrams' elite speed and hit tool make him an appealing player to stash at the back end of a fantasy roster in most mixed leagues.

The Pirates optioned Marcano to Double-A Altoona on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Marcano was previously demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 24, only to move down another level two weeks later since the Pirates determined an everyday role wouldn't be available to him with the top affiliate. The move to Double-A is a disappointing one for Marcano, who made the Padres' Opening Day roster last season before being dealt to Pittsburgh in the deal that sent Adam Frazier to San Diego. Upon joining the Pirates, Marcano reported to Indianapolis and fizzled over 48 games with the affiliate, slashing .230/.325/.279 with only six extra-base hits in 210 plate appearances.

Arcia batted .250 (8-for-32) over 14 games this spring and appears set as Atlanta's primary backup around the infield.

The defending champs have a set infield with Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley, but Arcia could see action a couple times a week giving any of the latter three a breather. The 27-year-old actually spent more of his time with the team last year in left field, but with Eddie Rosario and Alex Dickerson on the roster, Arcia likely won't be needed there too often. The former Brewer managed only a .567 OPS last season, but Atlanta is hoping he can supply something closer to the .733 mark he produced over 189 plate appearances in 2020.

Manager Dave Martinez informed Strange-Gordon on Tuesday that the utility man made the Nationals' Opening Day roster, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The 33-year-old joined Washington on a minor-league deal in December and was able to earn a roster spot by hitting .469 in 12 spring training games. Strange-Gordon didn't play in the majors last season and hit .248/.288/.370 at the Triple-A level with the Cubs, Brewers and Pirates. He'll fill a utility role with Ehire Adrianza (quadriceps) beginning the season on the injured list.