MLB Player News

Muncy is 6-for-21 with four walks, two doubles, a home run and five RBI through 10 Cactus League games.

Muncy has seen regular playing time at the hot corner this spring and has looked solid at the dish, tallying three extra-base hits while also showing improved plate discipline with four walks thus far. He walked only 4.6 percent of the time during a lackluster rookie campaign last season, when the 23-year-old slashed .214/.259/.379 with seven doubles, nine homers and 23 RBI across 63 games. Continuing to produce strong numbers in Cactus League play should aid Muncy's pursuit of the starting third-base job for the 2026 regular season, though Darell Hernaiz -- who's away from the team competing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic -- and Andy Ibanez remain in the mix.

Perdomo (illness) will start at shortstop and bat ninth for Team Dominican Republic in Monday's game against Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

After falling ill, Perdomo was held out of the lineup for Sunday's 12-1 win over Team Netherlands, with Erik Gonzalez filling in at shortstop in his stead. The Diamondbacks infielder needed just one day off to move past the ailment and will rejoin the starting nine as the Dominican Republic looks to move to 3-0 in pool play.

Lawlar started in center field and went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's spring game against the Reds.

Lawlar cracked his third homer during Cactus League play, sending a Graham Ashcraft slider that caught too much of the plate over the wall in left-center. He's hit in three straight games and should continue to build up plate appearances with Alek Thomas playing for Team Mexico at the World Baseball Classic. Lawler, who is 8-for-23 with four extra-base hits in eight spring contests, has played exclusively in center field. That suggests he could be the primary center fielder with Thomas shifting to left field, if Lourdes Gurriel (knee) opens the season on the injured list. Once Gurriel is ready, Lawlar could be used as the righty-hitting complement to Thomas in center.

Sogard (illness) is starting at first base and batting seventh Monday against the Phillies, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

He was scratched Friday with the illness but it was a minor issue. Sogard is competing for a bench spot on the Red Sox.

The Diamondbacks optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Reno on Sunday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

After being added to the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster over the winter, Fernandez will make the jump to Triple-A this season after spending the entire 2025 campaign at Double-A Amarillo, with whom he slashed .272/.321/.454 with 17 home runs and 12 steals in 510 plate appearances. The 22-year-old from Venezuela is regarded as only an average defender at shortstop, so a move to third base could be in the cards at some point down the road.

Crisantes (shoulder) has appeared in three Cactus League games since making his spring debut Wednesday, going a collective 3-for-7 with one double.

Crisantes was eased into workouts this spring after he underwent left shoulder surgery in May, but the 21-year-old demonstrated enough progress in his recovery for the Diamondbacks to sign off on him playing in games. Crisantes is attending camp as a non-roster invitee and is likely to be assigned to High-A Hillsboro to open the 2026 season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday that Mayer is "doing a good job" but wouldn't guarantee the young infielder will make the Opening Day roster, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.

The 23-year-old is batting just .200 through four spring training games, though one of his two hits was a home run. Mayer struggled to a .228/.272/.402 slash line in 44 regular-season games as he received his first taste of the majors in 2025, and the offseason acquisitions of Caleb Durbin and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have resulted in a more crowded infield. If Mayer doesn't win a starting job, the Red Sox could prioritize getting him everyday opportunities in the minor leagues rather than keeping him in the majors as a bench option.

The Cubs optioned Cowles to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Cowles was jettisoned from Chicago's 40-man roster last September and again at the beginning of spring training, but each time he's ended up reuniting with the Cubs after being claimed and waived by another team. Now back on the 40-man, at least for now, the 26-year-old is expected to handle an everyday role in Iowa to begin the season and could receive his first big-league call-up if the Cubs require an extra infielder at any point.

The Pirates optioned Brannigan (nose) to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Brannigan has been out of action since suffering a fractured nose after being hit in the face by a bad hop in his Grapefruit League debut back on Feb. 22. The injury isn't considered significant, but it's an unfortunate setback after the 24-year-old infielder missed the final three months of the 2025 season while recovering from shoulder surgery. The Pirates haven't revealed if Brannigan will be ready for game action by the time spring training concludes, so he could open the season on Indianapolis' 7-day injured list.

Romero (back) will start at second base and bat sixth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

After having been held out of action since Feb. 26 due to a back issue, Romero returned to the lineup as a designated hitter Saturday, going 0-for-2 in a 2-0 win over the Rays. Romero apparently experienced no setbacks coming out of that contest, prompting the Red Sox to clear him for defensive duties a day later. The 22-year-old is likely to be assigned to Triple-A Worcester to begin the season.