MLB Player News

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Westburg (back) should be ready to return to Grapefruit League games by Wednesday or Thursday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Westburg will go through full baseball activities Monday, marking the first time he's done so since he went down with lower-back soreness following the Orioles' first game this spring. Barring any setbacks, Westburg is expected to be fine for Opening Day.

Sanchez is away from Orioles camp Monday while he recovers from an illness, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez will likely need just a couple days off to shake off the illness before returning to action. The 32-year-old is in line to open the season as the Orioles' No. 2 catcher behind Adley Rutschman.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Henderson (side) has turned a corner in his recovery, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Hyde added of Henderson that this is the "best he's felt" since he exited last Thursday's Grapefruit League contest with right lower side discomfort. The expectation is that Henderson should be able to resume baseball activities soon, with a return to game action coming shortly after that.

Anthony was scratched from Monday's lineup versus the Orioles due to illness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The top prospect should be ready to roll in a day or two. Anthony is competing for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster and has looked good so far at the plate this spring, going 4-for-13 with a double and a 1:4 K:BB in six contests.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that the plan "right now" is for Altuve to be the team's primary left fielder Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It's not a surprise, given that Altuve seems to be working out almost exclusively in left field this spring. However, Espada stressed that nothing has been decided yet, as he's still evaluating how Altuve looks in the outfield and he also wants to get feedback from the player. Espada noted that he wants to avoid moving Altuve back-and-forth between left field and second base, so if the team commits to making the 34-year-old a left fielder, that's where the overwhelming majority of his reps will come.

Polanco (knee) will start at designated hitter Monday against the Guardians in his Cactus League debut, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.

Polanco underwent surgery last October to repair the patellar tendon of his left knee. While he hasn't had any known restrictions in Mariners camp, the club has held him out of Cactus League play until now, a tactic that isn't atypical for veteran players. Polanco is slated to be the Mariners' everyday third baseman this season.

Rortvedt (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.

Rortvedt played for the first time since receiving an injection in his sore right shoulder early last week, though he was limited to a non-defensive role. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rortvedt will be available off the bench again Monday versus Atlanta, but if called upon to play, the 27-year-old will most likely replace starting designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. According to MLB.com, the Rays are targeting Thursday's game versus the Phillies for Rortvedt's return to catching duty, assuming his throwing is no longer compromised by the shoulder issue.

Jimenez (illness) went 1-for-1 with a walk and a run scored and played four innings at shortstop in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Phillies in Grapefruit League play.

Though Bo Bichette drew the start at shortstop Sunday, Jimenez's ability to come off the bench and play four innings in the field suggests he's healthy again after he had been scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees due to an illness. Jimenez is vying for a utility role after slashing .229/.329/.358 over 210 plate appearances as a rookie with Toronto in 2024.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Gamel (back) should be ready to return to Grapefruit League action Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Gamel has been sidelined by a sore back, but Espada said the injury is "nothing concerning." The 32-year-old is projected to open the 2025 season as a reserve outfielder in Houston.

Yoshida served as the designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against the Mets.

Yoshida made his Grapefruit League debut Sunday and made an immediate impact. He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the first inning and delivered a ground-rule double then singled and drove in a run in his next at-bat. Yoshida has been slowed in the early weeks of camp as he completes rehab from a labral tear in his right shoulder, which will limit him to DH for now. Boston manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com that Yoshida is "still at 45 feet" in his throwing program. That suggests he may not be ready for the Opening Day roster if limited only to DH. The Red Sox are much deeper than when Yoshida signed with the club in 2023, and there's no urgency to rush him into an everyday role.