MLB Player News

Shewmake hit .231/.333/.308 with a double, a walk and two strikeouts in 15 plate appearances before being reassigned to minor-league camp.

This is hardly a knock on Shewmake, who has been in pro ball for less than a year (No. 21 overall pick in 2019). He got a brief taste of Double-A after dominating at Low-A (151 wRC+) and he will likely head back to Mississippi whenever the minor-league season gets underway.

Fletcher is expected to play "just about any position except first base and catcher" this season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Fletcher played all or part of at least 20 games at four different positions last season, often making in-game defensive position switches. He logged the most time at third base and second base, though his playing time at those spots is likely to be cut down dramatically this season with the signing of Anthony Rendon and the return to health of Tommy La Stella. While Fletcher did not see time in center field in 2019, he played the position for the first time in spring training and could make some appearances there in 2020 if needed. Per Bollinger, Angels manager Joe Maddon views Fletcher as "a Ben Zobrist-type player who can play in both the infield and outfield without any issues." That should enable Maddon to get Fletcher's bat -- and elite contact skills --into the lineup on a near-everyday basis.

Abrams has recovered from a bone bruise in his shoulder and was participating in minor-league camp -- including playing games on the back field of the Padres' spring training complex, per Nick Recchia of FriarLounge -- before camp was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abrams actually made his return to game action in October during the Don Welke Classic, according to Bill Center of FriarWire. The Padres' top prospect missed the end of last season due to the shoulder issue but nonetheless enjoyed a spectacular campaign highlighted by recognition as the MVP of the rookie-level Arizona League.

Mondesi (shoulder) will start at shortstop and bat second in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

The Royals have been pleased with the progress Mondesi has made this spring following his prolonged recovery from October surgery on his left shoulder, so he'll get the green light to enter the spring lineup for the first time. It's worth noting that rain is in the forecast in Arizona in advance of the game's 4:05 p.m. ET start time, so it's possible the contest gets postponed and Mondesi's spring debut is pushed back to Friday. In any case, Mondesi will likely only need to play a handful of games during the Cactus League slate to guarantee his availability for the March 26 regular-season opener.

Manager Dave Martinez suggested Wednesday that Turner will likely remain the Nationals' leadoff man to begin the season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Martinez entertained the idea of moving Victor Robles into the table-setting role and dropping Turner down to the three-hole earlier in the spring, but the skipper is seemingly less inclined to go in that direction with his lineup. Specifically, Martinez mentioned that he likes having the tandem of Turner and Adam Eaton batting back-to-back, and Starlin Castro's high contact rate makes him a good fit as the No. 3 hitter, given the speedy players in front of him. Batting out of the leadoff spot is probably a best-case scenario for Turner for fantasy purposes, as he'll likely have free reign on the basepaths more frequently than he would hitting third.

Mondesi (shoulder) is taking part in more baseball activities alongside the rest of his teammates, though he's yet to get into game action, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Manager Mike Matheny described Mondesi as "tracking well," though the fact that he's yet to appear in a game with Opening Day just 15 days away doesn't seem to bode well for his ability to avoid a trip to the injured list. The Royals have yet to officially announce when Mondesi is expected back from labral repair surgery.

Correa went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Monday's spring game against the Tigers.

Three of Correa's six spring hits have been doubles. The Astros made a series of cuts this week, so regulars like Correa should get more at-bats and work on timing over the next couple of weeks. The shortstop is coming off a third consecutive year impacted by injuries, although when healthy, Correa makes a fantasy impact out of the middle infield.

Fletcher played center field "for the first time in his life" Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Fletcher has been getting reps in the outfield with the hope that expanding his defensive versatility will better allow the Angels to get his bat into the lineup. Fletcher ranked among baseball's best contact hitters last season, but the acquisition of Anthony Rendon and return of Tommy La Stella figure to significantly cut down the playing time he sees as an infielder in 2020.

Amaya was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

Amaya received an invitation to spring training with the big-league club, but he'll join minors camp following Monday's round of roster moves. He reached High-A for the first time in his young career last season, slashing .250/.307/.375 with one home run and 13 RBI across 21 games.

Lindor suspended extension talks with Cleveland on Monday, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reports.

The star shortstop could still sign a deal with the Indians following the season, as he still has two more years left on his contract, but for now he'll focus on his performance on the field. The lack of an extension seemingly increases the prospects of Lindor getting traded, though it's hard to say how a hypothetical trade would affect Lindor's fantasy value, as he currently plays in a middle-of-the-road lineup in a park that plays pretty close to neutral.