MLB Player News

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Peguero hasn't been featured in the Grapefruit League lineup since last Wednesday while he recovers from a virus, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

A bug seems to be making its way around the Pirates' spring facility in Bradenton, Fla., as Shelton also noted that reliever Colin Holderman hasn't been available since last Tuesday due to an illness. Peguero had already compiled 24 at-bats in Grapefruit League action before his recent absence, so assuming he's able to get back in action before the Pirates' spring schedule comes to a close March 25, his availability for Opening Day shouldn't be in question. The 23-year-old is likely to begin the season as the Pirates' everyday second baseman.

Allen (back) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff Monday in the Athletics' Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.

Allen likely isn't a serious candidate to handle leadoff duties once the regular season gets underway, but Oakland presumably wants him to get in as many competitive at-bats as he can to close out the spring after a back strain had kept him out of Cactus League action since March 1. The shortstop checked out fine after participating in a minor-league game Sunday, so he'll be playing for the second consecutive day as he readies himself for the start of the regular season. Though he emerged as an everyday player for Oakland by the end of the 2023 campaign, Allen wasn't an appealing fantasy option, as he batted just .221 with four home runs, five stolen bases, 29 runs and 20 RBI over his 329 plate appearances.

Arcia will undergo an MRI this week after X-rays on his left hand came back negative, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Arcia's left hand feels much better Monday, one day after he exited a Grapefruit League game following a hit-by-pitch. He's set for additional imaging just to be safe, but he seems to have avoided any fractures and should be considered day-to-day.

The Nationals reassigned Baker to minor-league camp Sunday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Baker, the son of former player and manager Dusty Baker, was selected in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Last season, the 25-year-old made the jump from High-A Wilmington to Triple-A Rochester. In Triple-A, he slashed .270/.336/.337 with three home runs across 448 plate appearances in 99 games. The second baseman notched four hits in 13 plate appearances during spring training.

The Athletics reassigned Muncy to minor-league camp Sunday.

Muncy was a first-round draft pick in 2021 and was promoted from Single-A Stockton to High-A Lansing last season in July. The shortstop has slashed .179/.233/.464 with two home runs across 30 plate appearances in 15 Cactus League games. Additionally, the 21-year-old struck out 14 times in those games.

Diaz (calf) has yet to resume baseball activities as of Sunday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The veteran infielder suffered a calf strain while rehabbing from a groin strain last week, and he hasn't played in spring games since late February. Diaz still needs to start a running progression and appears poised to begin the season on the injured list.

Arcia was hit by a pitch on the left hand during Sunday's Grapefruit League game and had X-rays come back negative, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Atlanta will see how Arcia is feeling Monday before determining next steps, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.

Allen (back) is participating in a minor-league game Sunday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old hasn't seen Cactus League play since March 1 due to a mild back strain, but he's now on the cusp of returning to action. Allen is expected to begin the season as Oakland's primary shortstop, and he appears on track to be ready for Opening Day.

Shewmake was diagnosed Sunday with a lateral left ankle sprain and is expected to be sidelined 2-to-4 weeks, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury during Saturday's Cactus League contest and will now be unavailable for the rest of camp. Shewmake was in good position to make the White Sox's Opening Day roster as a reserve infielder, but now he's likely to begin the campaign on the injured list.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sunday that Grissom (groin) won't be available for Opening Day but could be ready to make his season debut around "mid-April, probably late April," Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

The 23-year-old's groin strain has never been viewed as a long-term injury, and Cora's comments Sunday reiterate that sentiment. Still, Grissom will miss a couple or few weeks of the regular season, even in the best-case scenario. He's taking part in baseball activities and should continue ramping up his workload during the final days of camp.