MLB Player News

Barrero, a one-time shortstop prospect, is attempting to earn a roster spot exclusively as an outfielder, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Barrero started in right field Sunday and launched a home run in three plate appearances. He's made four Cactus League appearances -- three starts in right field and one in center. "I feel comfortable out there," Barrero said. "I'm glad that this organization has been giving me the opportunity to play several different positions in my time here." The Reds introduced him to the outfield in 2023, when he made 17 appearances in center field.

Correa went 2-for-3 in Sunday's spring training tie with Tampa Bay. He's hitting .429 (3-for-7) through three spring games.

Correa played through plantar fasciitis in his left foot for most of last season but said he was pain-free as spring training began, and he's looked sharp in the field. Correa slashed just .230/.312/.399 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI in 580 plate appearances last season while battling through a nagging foot issue starting in mid-May, so he could bounce back simply by avoiding re-injury.

The Rockies reassigned Kaiser to minor-league camp Sunday.

Kaiser reached the big leagues for the first time in 2023, logging four plate appearances over three games with Colorado. The 27-year-old infielder was moved off the Rockies' 40-man roster last July and was attending camp as a non-roster invitee, but he wasn't a serious candidate to be included on Colorado's Opening Day roster. He'll likely begin the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Story went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Saturday's spring game against the Nationals.

Story, making his fourth appearance of the Grapefruit League, has struck out six times in 12 plate appearances. He's missed a lot of time the last two seasons due to injury, and he enters 2024 with questions about what he can give fantasy managers. He'll be Boston's starting shortstop and will have a chance to answer those questions. The Red Sox lack thump from the right side of the plate and will look for Story to produce similar results as he did as a member of the Rockies between 2016 and 2021.

The Mets reassigned Williams to minor-league spring training Sunday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 20-year-old has received reps at shortstop and in center field during the first couple weeks of big-league camp, but he'll shift to the minor-league side after the first round of roster cuts. Williams is the Mets' top prospect and should open 2024 at Double-A Binghamton after he split most of last season between the Single-A and High-A levels, where he had an .876 OPS in 410 at-bats.

De La Cruz had a home run and two walks during Saturday's spring game against Colorado.

De La Cruz crushed his first spring home run off Cal Quantrill's 1-1 sinker that stayed up in the zone. De La Cruz later committed an error that led to four unearned runs. In five Cactus League appearances, he's 5-for-12 with two extra-base hits, three walks, three runs and two RBI.

Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that McLain (oblique) took 70 swings Friday and is slated to take live at-bats around Wednesday of the upcoming week, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

McLain no longer feels soreness in his right oblique area after being slowed since the beginning of camp. If he can get through live batting practice mid-week, his Cactus League debut might not be far behind. McLain has time to ramp up for Opening Day, but he can't afford any more bumps in the road.

Hernaiz has been seeing action at third base this spring and could get a shot to start there for the Athletics, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Hernaiz has predominantly been a shortstop in the minors, and the A's aren't exactly set at that position with Nick Allen as the incumbent. However, it sounds like Hernaiz's better shot at a starting gig might come at third, particularly with Aledmys Diaz (groin) likely to require a stint on the injured list. Jordan Diaz, Brett Harris and Abraham Toro are also in the mix at the hot corner. For what it's worth, Gallegos projected Hernaiz on Thursday to win the third base job.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Friday that it would be "optimistic" to think Diaz (groin) could return before the end of the Cactus League schedule, MLB.com reports.

Diaz is dealing with a strained left groin and is expected to miss at least the next 2-to-3 weeks of action. Barring a rapid recovery, it sounds like an injured list stint should be expected. Diaz is competing for Oakland's third base job, but his injury opens up more chances for Darell Hernaiz, Jordan Diaz and Brett Harris.

Hampson is projected to be the Royals' main utility player this season, Anne Rogers of the Royals' official site reports.

Hampson can cover a number of positions -- he's played everywhere but first base and catcher in his major-league career. Rogers notes it's likely Hampson won't have a single position, but he could still come close to everyday playing time by providing cover around the diamond. He hit a career-high .276 with his second-base OPS (.729) last season with the Marlins, which is impressive given he spent his first five seasons with the Rockies, so his move to the Royals alone shouldn't end up having a negative impact on his play.