MLB Player News
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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.
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Mason McCoy SS | SD
Padres' Mason McCoy: Doesn't make Opening Day roster
The Padres optioned McCoy to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.
McCoy has struggled with the bat this spring, slashing a meager .154/.214/.231 through 18 games. He has a paltry .494 OPS through his first 43 MLB contests, so it remains to be seen if he'll ever hit well enough to stick in the big leagues. McCoy did look better with El Paso last season, slashing .272/.354/.450 with 11 home runs, 59 RBI and 17 stolen bases across 90 contests.
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Colt Emerson SS | SEA
Mariners' Colt Emerson: Will open season in minors
The Mariners reassigned Emerson to minor-league camp Saturday.
Emerson entered spring as a contender to start at second base for the Mariners to begin the season, but fellow youngster Cole Young ended up running away with that role. Still, Emerson has held his own in Cactus League play, posting a .268/.340/.488 slash line with two home runs, eight RBI, nine runs and a stolen base through 18 contests. Emerson remains likely to make his MLB debut at some point during the upcoming campaign.
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Rece Hinds SS | CIN
Reds' Rece Hinds: Sent down to Louisville
The Reds optioned Hinds to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Hinds will head back to the minors to begin the new season despite swinging a scorching bat this spring (1.388 OPS). The 25-year-old was a major offensive threat in the minors last season too, as he slashed .302/.359/.563 with 24 homers, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored and 21 steals across 435 plate appearances. If his impressive offensive performance continues into the start of the 2026 Triple-A season, he could earn a spot on the big-league roster relatively soon.
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Konnor Griffin SS | PIT
Pirates' Konnor Griffin: Reassigned to minors camp
The Pirates reassigned Griffin to minor-league camp Saturday.
Despite being included in several roster projections, the 19-year-old will officially head back to the minors to begin the 2026 season after going 7-for-38 (.184) in spring training with four homers, nine RBI and seven runs scored. Although he missed the cut for the Opening Day roster, a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis is certainly possible, and his MLB debut could still come in the near future if he continues to dominate minor-league pitching as he did in 2025 (.941 OPS).
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Paul DeJong SS | NYY
Yankees' Paul DeJong: Moved to minors camp
The Yankees reassigned DeJong to minor-league camp Saturday.
Although he won't be part of the Yankees' Opening Day roster, DeJong has previously said that he doesn't plan to opt out of his contract. He'll begin the season as infield depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after putting up a .732 OPS in the Grapefruit League.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Swinging bat
Pena (finger) began swinging a bat Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros still haven't ruled Pena out for Opening Day, and his ability to hold/swing a bat without aggravating his fractured finger will likely be a key factor in determining his availability. If the team decides it's best to hold him out, Carlos Correa would presumably slide over to shortstop while Isaac Paredes mans the hot corner.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Having strong spring
Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two RBI in Friday's spring game against the Giants.
Smith is enjoying a productive spring, slashing .390/.528/.756 with three steals, 12 walks, three doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI over 17 Cactus League games. That production, however, has overwhelmingly come against right-handers; Smith has just 10 at-bats (two hits) against lefties this spring and a career .631 OPS against southpaws. Despite the track record, Texas manager Skip Schumaker said earlier this month that Smith will not be in a strict platoon at second base.