MLB Player News

Schmitt went 2-for-3 in Saturday's spring game and is hitting .222 with a .722 OPS in six games. He's battling Brett Wisely, Osleivis Basabe, Jake Lamb and Christian Koss for a utility role this spring, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Schmitt is likely the favorite and the Giants could keep two backup infielders on the roster. Schmitt hit .252 with six homers and a .760 OPS with the Giants last season. Schmitt may have the best glove of the group at third base which could help his case.

Koss has a chance to win a utility role with the Giants this spring, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 in Saturday's spring game. "He's continuing to impress, and he hit a ball down the line for a double and he's playing with a lot of confidence," said manager Bob Melvin. "We're giving him some reps right now. It's nice to see because we're putting an emphasis on defense and he's played great defense every place we've put him."

Koss is hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a home run in eight games this spring. He's a long shot but the final bench spot appears wide open for the Giants early this spring. Koss had just a .757 OPS at Triple-A last year (54 games) and hasn't been regarded as a top prospect (he's 27 years old), but his glove could help him find a way on to the roster.

Baez (hip) said he's been running and swinging at 100 percent recently, Joey Johnston of MLB.com reports.

Baez underwent a right hip labral repair last September and has been ramping up slowly during the winter months. The veteran shortstop made his Grapefruit League debut Friday, and although he went 0-for-2 with a walk as the DH, he said afterward that he felt good. Baez could bounce back some in 2025 if he's fully healthy, but he will likely see a reduced role with the younger Trey Sweeney expected to see a lot of playing time at short.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Alexander suffered a Grade 1 right oblique strain and will be unavailable for Opening Day, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.

It's unclear when exactly Alexander sustained the injury, but his last appearance in a Cactus League game came Monday versus the Guardians. The 25-year-old was fighting to earn a roster spot as a utility infielder but now appears set to begin the campaign on the injured list. Once healthy he could be headed to Triple-A Reno.

Jimenez was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League lineup versus the Yankees due to an illness, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Jimenez should be fine to play in a day or two. He's been replaced in the lineup by top prospect Arjun Nimmala.

Through four Grapefruit League games, Vargas has gone 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI.

Vargas hit his second spring homer Thursday, belting a two-run shot in the eighth inning against the Phillies. The 23-year-old was among the top signees in the 2018 international class, but he's yet to really put things together, and he posted a modest .670 OPS with four home runs and 15 stolen bases over 260 plate appearances during his first taste of Double-A ball last year. Vargas isn't in serious contention for an Opening Day big-league roster spot, but he's still young enough to have a major-league future if he can demonstrate development in the minors.

Perez might be the biggest beneficiary of an absence for Matt Vierling (shoulder), who is slated to begin the season on the injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Vierling is out indefinitely with a strained right rotation cuff muscle, and while he was going to see time at multiple positions, the lion's share of his playing time was projected to come in right field. That spot might now go to Perez, who could also see action in center field if Parker Meadows (biceps) needs to miss time. Perez slashed .242/.300/.383 with nine homers and nine steals across 112 regular-season games in 2024.

Basabe will not throw for a few days after being diagnosed with a right shoulder strain, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

It's not clear how or when Basabe was hurt, but the Giants do not seem overly concerned about the injury at this time. That said, the injury could impact Basabe's chances at winning a utility role, which already had seemed pretty low.

Mayer started at third base and went 3-for-3 with a triple, a home run and three RBI during Thursday's spring game against Detroit.

The Red Sox flexed their prospect muscle Thursday, bringing Mayer, Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell along for a road game. Mayer had the best performance of the bunch and heeded manager Alex Cora's advice early by delivering a run on a first-inning triple to left-center. "We were talking about his swing today," Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "In BP, he was rotational. He was pulling everything, and I talked to him a little bit. His first BP a few weeks ago, he was driving the ball to left-center, and that plays. I know we live in an environment where we preach 'Pull the ball in the air,' but he can drive the ball to left-center." Mayer eventually got his "pull" on, belting a two-run home run over the right-field fence in the fifth. He's likely to start the season at Triple-A Worcester, which would be his first exposure to the highest level of the minors.

With Parker Meadows (biceps) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) both banged up in camp, Perez could see more playing time in center field to start the year, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Meadows is simply dealing with some inflammation, so he seemingly should be able to return to start the regular season, though the Tigers may be cautious with him. Vierling, meanwhile, is having his shoulder injury evaluated and more details should emerge in the next few days. Depending on the availability of either player, Perez stands to see more playing time in center field in the early going. The 25-year-old slashed .242/.300/.383 across 112 regular-season games last year during his MLB debut. Perez is also an option to see regular playing time in right field, especially when Meadows and Vierling are healthy and patrolling center.