MLB Player News

Edman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 9-0 win over the Pirates.

Edman hit ninth Thursday against the right-handed JT Brubaker after batting leadoff in an everyday role last season. Edman isn't known for his pop -- he's posted a modest 27 homers across his three major-league seasons -- but his first hit of the season nonetheless left the yard in the eighth inning off reliever Aaron Fletcher. Batting at the bottom of the order could hurt the second baseman's production due to a drop in the volume of his plate appearances, though there's still a chance he'll hit leadoff against southpaws.

Castillo went 0-for-3 with one strikeout in Thursday's loss to the Cardinals.

Castillo replaced Ke'Bryan Hayes, who left in the bottom of the first inning due to cramping in his arm. The injury isn't expected to be serious, but Castillo would be a prime candidate for extra at-bats if Hayes is forced to miss any additional time.

Abrams isn't included in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Fresh off getting an official promotion to San Diego earlier Thursday, Abrams will take in his first big-league game from the dugout. The matchup with Arizona southpaw Madison Bumgarner is likely a factor in the lefty-hitting Abrams taking a seat, but the 21-year-old rookie is expected to handle at least a part-time role versus right-handed pitching. Abrams saw action at second base, shortstop and right field in spring training, with all three positions representing potential avenues to playing time when any of Jake Cronenworth, Ha-Seong Kim, Wil Myers or Jurickson Profar are out of the lineup.

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.