MLB Player News
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Working toward rehab games
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Volpe (shoulder) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment around the second week of April and will require the equivalent of a full spring training before joining the Yankees, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
The 24-year-old shortstop had been hoping to make his season debut sometime in April, but that doesn't seem likely if he needs a multiple-week rehab assignment that begins in mid-April. Volpe has progressed to taking part in high-intensity defensive workouts and could soon advance to facing live pitching.
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Zach Dezenzo SS | HOU
Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Won't be part of Opening Day club
Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Dezenzo won't be part of the Opening Day roster and will remain at extended spring training to rehab his right elbow injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Dezenzo recently injured his elbow while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Though the elbow hasn't presented any issues for him as a hitter, he'll need to prove that he can throw without limitations before he's cleared for game action. The Astros are likely to place Dezenzo on the 10-day injured list when they set their Opening Day roster Thursday.
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Ryan Ritter SS | COL
Rockies' Ryan Ritter: Claims roster spot
Manager Warren Schaeffer said Sunday that Ritter has secured a spot on the Rockies' Opening Day roster, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Ritter is expected to fill a utility role for the Rockies after slashing .333/.404/.529 with two home runs and three stolen bases over 57 plate appearances in the Cactus League while seeing playing time at three infield spots as well as in left field. He should be in line for regular playing time versus left-handed pitching and could earn more opportunities against righties early on if Tyler Freeman (back) requires a stint on the injured list.
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Alika Williams SS | PIT
Pirates' Alika Williams: Fails to win utility gig
The Pirates reassigned Williams to minor-league camp Sunday.
Williams will start at second base and bat ninth Sunday against the Red Sox in the Pirates' Grapefruit League finale, but the 27-year-old will fall short in his bid for a utility spot on the Opening Day roster. He's expected to report to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he spent the entire 2025 season while slashing .268/.329/.392 with nine home runs and four steals across 394 plate appearances.
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JoJo Parker SS | TOR
Blue Jays' JoJo Parker: Packed on muscle this winter
Parker says he's added 20 pounds since he was selected eighth overall by the Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB Draft, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
The 19-year-old shortstop was projected to grow into his power at the plate, but it could arrive more quickly than anticipated. Parker will make his professional debut in 2026, likely at Single-A Dunedin, and while the organization won't want to rush him up the ladder, he could make a lot of noise as the top hitting prospect in the system.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Still in play for Opening Day
Manager Joe Espada said that Pena (finger) is scheduled to hit again Sunday, and the Astros are still discussing whether he will travel with the team back to Houston in advance of Opening Day, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 28-year-old shortstop was cleared to resume swinging a bat Friday as he continues working his way back from a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger. Pena still has a chance of being cleared for Thursday's season opener versus the Angels, but he'll likely need to face live pitching at some point early this week to avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the season.
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Rays' Gavin Lux: Good to go Sunday
Lux (shoulder) is starting at second base and batting third in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 28-year-old sat out Saturday due to right shoulder discomfort, but he's back in the lineup a day later. After posting a .269/.350/.374 slash line with five homers, 53 RBI and 49 runs in 140 regular-season games with the Reds last season, Lux is poised to operate as Tampa Bay's primary second baseman in 2026.
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Austin Martin SS | MIN
Twins' Austin Martin: Rejoining lineup
Martin (concussion) will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
Martin suffered a concussion while playing the outfield last week, but he's apparently cleared the protocol and is ready for game action. The 26-year-old is without an extra-base hit through 13 spring games but is batting .286 with a 5:4 BB:K and has stolen four bases. Martin could open 2026 with a regular role in left field after the Twins optioned Alan Roden to Triple-A to begin the season, though the left-handed-hitting James Outman lingers as a potential platoon mate.