MLB Player News
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Brooks Baldwin SS | CHW
White Sox's Brooks Baldwin: Day-to-day with sore elbow
White Sox manager Will Venable said Wednesday that Baldwin is day-to-day with right elbow soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Baldwin hasn't seen any Cactus League action since last week, as he felt soreness while throwing to bases recently. It doesn't appear at this point to be an injury that threatens his Opening Day availability. Baldwin is expected to open the season in a reserve role with Chicago.
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Maximo Acosta SS | MIA
Marlins' Maximo Acosta: Sidelined with oblique discomfort
The Marlins scratched Acosta from the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros due to left oblique discomfort, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Acosta will likely be put through further testing as the Marlins look to determine the severity of his oblique issue, but even a mild strain at this point in spring training could be enough to remove the young infielder from contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old reached the majors for the first time in 2025, slashing .204/.295/.389 with three home runs and one stolen base across 61 plate appearances with Miami.
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Jett Williams SS | MIL
Brewers' Jett Williams: Returning to action Thursday
Williams (quadriceps) is slated to return to Cactus League play Thursday versus the Guardians, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Williams has been shelved for more than two weeks with a left quad injury but has improved enough to be cleared for game action. The 22-year-old was a long shot to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster, anyway, but the injury cinched it. Williams is slated to open the season as an everyday guy at Triple-A Nashville.
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Trey Sweeney SS | DET
Tigers' Trey Sweeney: Taking part in hitting progression
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Sweeney (shoulder) is completing a return-to-play hitting progression, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Sweeney might be ready to make his Grapefruit League debut as a designated hitter at some point in the near future, but the Tigers haven't provided word regarding when the shortstop might be ready to begin throwing again as he works his way back from a left shoulder strain. Detroit is unlikely to carry Sweeney on its Opening Day roster if he's available only as a DH, so at this point, he could be trending toward a stint on the injured list to begin the season.
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Konnor Griffin SS | PIT
Pirates' Konnor Griffin: Included in roster projection
Griffin was included in the Pirates' projected Opening Day roster by Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Neither writer cited team sources, so this is far from confirmation that Griffin is breaking camp with the team. However, it is notable that Hiles indicated that the Pirates are trying to win in 2026 and that Griffin has been the team's best shortstop this spring -- a combination that could cause the team to break from their typical conservative nature with prospects. Griffin is just 5-for-24 in Grapefruit League games, but he has recorded four barrels on 18 batted-ball events.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Clubs first spring home run
Shaw went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Cactus League contest against the Rangers.
The home run was the first of the spring for Shaw, who is batting .310 with an .812 OPS across 11 Cactus League contests. Also notable Tuesday was seeing the youngster start in center field. With Alex Bregman now in the fold to play third base, Shaw is getting comfortable in the outfield, and the Cubs plan to start him regularly in right field against left-handed pitchers. Shaw struggled with consistency during his 2025 rookie campaign, though he still managed 13 home runs and 17 stolen bases. It remains to be seen how much the 24-year-old will play in 2026, but he could take a step forward from a fantasy perspective if he sees the field often enough from a utility role.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Plays defense in MiLB game
Lindor (hand) played four innings at shortstop during a minor-league spring game Tuesday, though he did not hit in the contest, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 32-year-old clearly still has some limitations in his rehab program, but returning to game action, even in a limited capacity, is significant progress in his return from right hamate bone surgery. Lindor said that he's "100 percent optimistic" that he will be available for Opening Day, which is less than three weeks away.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Fields grounders Tuesday
Lindor (hand) went through fielding drills with the other Mets infielders Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lindor did not appear to have any limitations with his surgically repaired left hand. The shortstop also recently progressed to hitting in a batting cage. It's unclear when Lindor might be cleared for game action, but he and the Mets remain optimistic about his Opening Day availability.
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Bryce Rainer SS | DET
Tigers' Bryce Rainer: Fully cleared for hitting
Rainer (shoulder) served as a designated hitter Monday during a minor-league game on the back fields of Tigers camp, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
The 20-year-old shortstop hasn't yet been cleared to play defense after undergoing surgery in June to repair a dislocated right shoulder, but since he's hitting without restrictions this spring, he could be ready to make regular starts at DH once the minor-league season gets underway later this month. Before suffering the shoulder injury last summer, Rainer had been in the midst of a stellar first season in the professional ranks, as he slashed .294/.383/.452 with five home runs, nine stolen bases and a 13.1 percent walk rate over 149 plate appearances with Single-A Lakeland.
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Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Simplifying swing
Tovar worked on shedding weight and simplifying his swing this offseason, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Tovar was limited to 95 games in 2025, in part due to an oblique strain. He attributed that injury to overly complicated swing mechanics and playing at slightly above his preferred weight. Tovar shed seven pounds during the offseason and simplified his swing in an effort to bounce back in 2026. He's gone 3-for-14 this spring, but has struck out only twice, and he is also representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.