MLB Player News

Crawford went 1-for-5 with a pair of RBI in Team United States' win over Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic Championship on Wednesday.

The slugging shortstop shone on March's biggest stage, slashing .385/.429/.577 with six RBI while playing for his country. Crawford will now reunite with his Giants teammates in Arizona to close out the final weeks of spring training. Barring injury, the 30-year-old will serve as the club's everyday shortstop, providing a little pop and solid counting stats for his position.

Cecchini was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

Cecchini was in the conversation for a utility role with the Mets, but he and Matt Reynolds, who was also cut Wednesday, were always believed to be firmly behind Wilmer Flores and T.J. Rivera for those duties. The 23-year-old will now prep for a second straight season at Las Vegas, where he slashed .325/.390/.448 in 2016.

Seager (oblique) said he felt no discomfort in his side while serving as DH in Tuesday's minor league contest, Eric Stephen of SB Nation reports,

Seager went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but the fact that he got through three at-bats without any discomfort is the bigger takeaway. He'll take off Wednesday before he progresses to five innings of work at shortstop in Thursday's minor league game. The Dodgers will continue to be cautious with the 22-year-old, but if he is able to avoid any setbacks through the rest of spring, he should have enough time to be ready for Opening Day.

Seager (oblique) will serve as DH in Tuesday's minor league game but will not take the field, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Seager was set to play three innings at shortstop to go along with his at-bats, but the Dodgers will continue to take it slow with him. If all goes well Tuesday, he is scheduled to play five innings on Thursday and could return to the field later in the week. The 22-year-old still has enough time to get ready for Opening Day, but it's looking like it will be a close call.

Seager (oblique) will get three at-bats and play three innings at shortstop in Tuesday's minor league game, SB Nation's Eric Stephen reports.

It was originally reported that he would DH in the game, but the fact that he will also get action at shortstop is an encouraging sign. If all goes well, he will progress to five innings in the field on Thursday, presumably still on the minor league side, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports. Seager still has enough time to be ready for Opening Day.

Seager (oblique) is expected to DH in a minor league game Tuesday, AM 570's David Vassegh reports.

The Dodgers said last week that they believe their star shortstop has enough time to be ready by Opening Day, but it's looking like it will be a close call. He will presumably progress to taking the field in a game later this week if he avoids setbacks. Enrique Hernandez or Chris Taylor would likely fill in at shortstop at the start of the season if Seager is not ready.

Rojas got the start at shortstop and went 3-for-3 with a stolen base during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

He's picked the right time to heat up at the plate with the news that Martin Prado (hamstring) could miss the first month of the regular season. Rojas should handle the short side of a platoon with Derek Dietrich at third base while Prado is sidelined, and the 28-year-old might have a bit more upside at the plate than it seems at first glance given his career .274/.318/.384 line in 160 games at Triple-A with eight home runs and nine steals. His main fantasy value in deep NL-only leagues will come from his positional flexibility, however, as Rojas will carry eligibility at first base, second base and shortstop forward from 2016 in most formats.

Swanson is batting leadoff and playing shortstop during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Swanson has missed the past two weeks of major league camp with back tightness, but it appears that he's progressed well enough to return to live action for the Braves. The 23-year-old suited up in a minor league game Saturday, but did not play any defense. The fact that he's going to see time in the field today is a great sign.

Swanson (side) hit but did not play defense in a minor league game against the Tigers' Triple-A squad Saturday, going 2-for-3 with a home run, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "That's a good sign," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "Hopefully they clear him and we get him in there (Sunday). But that was good. They said he had a really strenuous workout, the whole thing this morning, and then batting practice and all that. So, he's OK. That was good he got some hits."

The promising rookie shortstop has been out two weeks with the injury, which was originally described as back tightness, so the Braves elected to bring him along slowly rather than throw him right back into Grapefruit League action Saturday. Assuming Swanson has no setbacks Sunday morning, he's likely to be in the Braves' lineup for the afternoon against the Cardinals, but don't be too surprised if he's only the designated hitter. The 23-year-old is still on target to be ready by Opening Day.

Turner went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

He also committed his second error of the spring, but for the most part, Turner's looked sound defensively at shortstop. His .222/.301/.343 line through 35 at-bats isn't impressive, but the 23-year-old seems locked in as the Nats' leadoff hitter and will be looking to prove his explosive rookie campaign was no fluke.