MLB Player News

Walker (oblique) took seven at-bats in a minor-league game Tuesday and is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday's season opener versus the Mets, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The 33-year-old finished spring training having played in just four Grapefruit League games due to the oblique injury. However, Walker is ramping up his rehab work and is expected to be good to go for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with New York.

Manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Rice will be included on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Giancarlo Stanton's elbow issues created an opening at designated hitter, and Rice took advantage of the opportunity during spring training with five homers and an .848 OPS in 69 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is likely to see most of his action at designated hitter but could also get looks at first base and catcher.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Dezenzo has made the Opening Day roster, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

With Christian Walker (oblique) expected to be fine for Opening Day and Jose Altuve and Cam Smith claiming the corner outfield jobs, Dezenzo wouldn't appear to be in line for regular time. His bat has potential, however, making him worth keeping an eye on should circumstances push him into the lineup.

Johnson has secured a spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Johnson was the 74th overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft and will bypass the minor leagues as he slots into the Los Angeles bullpen. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed five runs with a 10:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings during Cactus League play. Johnson will probably be eased into high-leverage situations, but he certainly has the talent to eventually become a late-inning reliever. The last player to make his major-league debut without having appeared in the minors first was Garrett Crochet.

Smith will be included on the Astros' Opening Day roster and is expected to start in right field Thursday against the Mets, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The 22-year-old top prospect still needs to be officially added to the 26-man and 40-man rosters, but that's just a formality at this point. After being acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade in December, Smith began taking reps in right field during spring training, and he hit the cover off the ball in Grapefruit League action with four homers and a .342/.419/.711 slash line in 43 plate appearances. The 2024 first-round pick has just 32 minor-league games under his belt, but it appears he'll occupy a prime spot in the lineup for his first taste of the big leagues, as he's batting fifth in Tuesday's exhibition versus Triple-A Sugar Land.

Wesneski (foot) is starting Tuesday's exhibition game against Triple-A Sugar Land.

Wesneski needed X-rays after being struck on the left foot by a comebacker in an appearance in a minor-league game last week, but those tests were negative and he is fine. The right-hander will open the season as the Astros' fifth starter.

Smith is starting in right field and batting fifth in Tuesday's exhibition game versus Triple-A Sugar Land.

Smith started in right field and hit sixth against Sugar Land on Monday, contributing a two-RBI triple. Most of the Astros' regulars were in the lineup for both games, which seems to bode well for Smith's chances of being named the starting right fielder. Chas McCormick is starting in center field Tuesday after entering mid-game to play center field Monday.

Manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Dominguez will be included on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

The 22-year-old experienced some defensive struggles in left field during spring training, but there's never been any real question about whether he would make the season-opening roster. Dominguez had a decent showing at the plate in Grapefruit League action with three homers, two steals and a .267/.302/.467 slash line in 63 plate appearances. He posted a .747 OPS in 26 MLB games across the past two seasons but is now poised to receive his first true opportunity as an everyday player at the big-league level.

Casas is not in the Red Sox's lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game against Sultanes de Monterrey after taking a bad-hop grounder off the right hand in Monday's contest, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Casas attempted to barehand the grounder, but the ball bounced off his hand and into right field. X-rays after the game came back negative, so Casas sitting Tuesday seems precautionary, but more should be known about his status after the contest.

The Mariners signed Raleigh to a six-year, $105 million contract extension Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The deal begins this season and buys out Raleigh's final years of arbitration eligibility as well as his first three years of free agency. Raleigh has become baseball's preeminent power bat at catcher, easily leading the position with 76 home runs over the past three seasons. The 28-year-old also captured his first Gold Glove in 2024.