MLB Player News

Smith (wrist) is starting at first base and batting cleanup in Sunday's split-squad game against the White Sox.

Smith departed Friday's contest due to a bruised right wrist but will rejoin the lineup just two days later. The 28-year-old is expected to begin the season operating as Arizona's primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching, with Randal Grichuk likely to handle the small side of the platoon.

The Diamondbacks placed Walston (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

It was announced in mid-March that Walston will require Tommy John surgery, so it was only a matter of time before he was shifted to the 60-day IL. The left-hander will miss the entirety of this season and isn't likely to be back until midseason of the 2026 campaign.

The Diamondbacks selected Hampson to the major-league roster Sunday.

The 30-year-old exercised the opt-out clause of his minor-league contract with Arizona on Friday, and the organization elected to fully bring him aboard rather than let him hit free agency. Hampson has a .300/.396/.375 slash line through 17 spring games, though he posted a career-worst .575 OPS in 113 regular-season contests for Kansas City last year. He likely won't have fantasy relevance while filling a utility role.

Gorman (illness) is starting at second base and batting fifth in Sunday's spring game against the Nationals, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Gorman has been battling an illness the past few days but will return to the lineup for the Cardinals' final Grapefruit League game. He's expected to see regular at-bats against right-handed pitching this year, though he's struggled to a .585 OPS across 17 games during spring training.

Frelick is out of Milwaukee's spring lineup again Sunday due to minor calf soreness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old hasn't seen Cactus League action in a few days due to the injury, though he's still been hitting in a batting cage. The injury doesn't appear to be serious, and Frelick will have a few more days to rest up ahead of Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Yankees.

The Padres informed Gurriel on Sunday that he's made the Opening Day roster, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

The veteran slugger still needs to be officially added to the 26-man and 40-man rosters, but he's set to begin the campaign with the big club. Gurriel had a .241/.338/.296 slash line in 18 regular-season games with Kansas City last season, but he carried a hot bat during spring training with an .828 OPS in 14 contests.

Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Walker will be included in Philadelphia's season-opening rotation, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander entered camp with the expectation of working as a reliever, but instead he's needed in the rotation with Ranger Suarez (back) headed to the injured list. Walker had a 6.92 ERA and 6:3 K:BB through 13 innings during spring training, and he fared even worse in 19 appearances during the 2024 regular season with a 7.10 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 58:37 K:BB over 83.2 innings.

Manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Suarez (back) will begin the season on the injured list, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The left-hander suffered a back injury last week and will be unavailable for at least the first couple weeks of the regular season. Taijuan Walker will step into Philadelphia's rotation while Suarez is sidelined.

Barlow, who has pitched to a 4.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB over eight innings this spring, could be an option to close games after Alexis Diaz (hamstring) was ruled out for the start of the 2025 season. "I don't think it's necessary that we name a closer," manager Terry Francona told Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday.

Francona said he hadn't "given it a ton of thought yet" and didn't seem in a hurry to settle on one arm in the ninth inning, saying, "We'll just see how we get there, and we'll do it the best way we can." Barlow has racked up 58 career saves to date, including a career-high 24 saves in 2022, but Taylor Rogers and Emilio Pagan also have past closing experience. Graham Ashcraft is also moving to the bullpen and has expressed to the club a desire to work toward the closer role. The club still wants Diaz "to be that guy," Francona said, but a strong performance by someone else in the meantime could change the equation.

The Rockies selected Martini's contract Sunday.

Martini has had a fantastic spring, slashing .389/.511/.556 with two homers, four RBI, two stolen bases and a 7:6 BB:K over 45 plate appearances. His strong play has earned him a spot on Colorado's Opening Day roster, and he could land a starting role in left field to begin the campaign with Zac Veen optioned to the minors Sunday.