MLB Player News

Morel handled a number of tough chances at first base without issue during the Marlins' Grapefruit League opener against the Mets on Saturday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old has never played a game at first base as a professional, but after signing a one-year contract with Miami in December, Morel got to work over the winter to learn the new position. He compared the footwork necessary around the bag to learning a popular dance in his native Dominican Republic. "It's more the feet when you go to cover first base, trying to put your feet correctly," Morel said after Saturday's game. "But we're getting better. Today, we got a few ground balls, and I'm trying to dance bachata today. We need to dance bachata to be a first baseman." While getting his glovework in order is a good first step, he'll likely need to improve his offensive contributions as well to secure a full-time role at first base -- over the last two seasons between the Cubs and Rays, Morel launched 32 homers with 15 steals in 257 games but slashed just .204/.288/.363 with a 29.3 percent strikeout rate.

Marsee went 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in the Marlins' Grapefruit League game against the Mets on Saturday.

The 24-year-old got the start in center field and hit leadoff, swiping his first bag of the spring after drawing a leadoff walk against Joe Jacques in the sixth inning. Marsee stole 60 bases in 80 attempts between Triple-A and the majors last season, and while that middling success rate may limit the number of green lights he gets once Opening Day rolls around, hitting regularly at the top of the order should still give him plenty of opportunities to take an extra base.

Snelling tossed a perfect first inning in the Marlins' Grapefruit League game against the Mets on Saturday.

Getting the start in Miami's spring opener, Snelling faced Marcus Semien, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette and retired them on just 10 pitches (six strikes). The young left-hander doesn't have a clear path to a spot in the Opening Day rotation following the signing of Chris Paddack, but after an astonishing close to the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Jacksonville in which he posted a 1.27 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB over 63.2 innings, Snelling could force the Marlins to make a tough choice with a strong performance in camp.

Yastrzemski went 2-for-2 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Rays on Saturday.

The veteran outfielder went deep off Tampa Bay prospect T.J. Nichols in his first plate appearance of the spring. Yastrzemski signed a two-year deal with Atlanta in December, and he'll fill a strong-side platoon role in left field for his new squad after slashing .256/.362/.446 with 15 homers in 454 PAs against right-handed pitching last season between the Giants and Royals.

Stewart started at second base and went 0-for-1 with two walks in Saturday's spring game against Cleveland.

Stewart, who entered camp as the favorite to be the team's primary first baseman, was given an opportunity at second base in the Cactus League opener. A slimmed down version of Stewart -- he shed 26 pounds during the offseason -- makes it possible for him to be deployed at the keystone this season.

Rojas (quadriceps) will start in center field and bat ninth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old was optioned to Triple-A last year after the Phillies acquired Harrison Bader at the trade deadline, and a subsequent quad injury kept Rojas from being an option in the postseason. Although heralded for his outfield defense, he has struggled offensively in the big leagues with a .633 OPS in 699 plate appearances. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has already said that he envisions a starting outfield consisting of Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford and Adolis Garcia to begin 2026, but Rojas could provide a short-side platoon partner for Marsh in left field or Crawford in center.

Aguiar allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings in Saturday's spring game against the Guardians.

Aguiar stepped on a big-league mound in a game setting for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024. He was the third of three candidates for the final spot in the Reds rotation to pitch in the Cactus League opener, as Chase Burns started the game followed by Rhett Lowder. Aguiar threw 30 pitches (18 strikes) and used all the pitches in his arsenal, but he didn't face the toughest competition as Cleveland's expected regulars were out of the game by the time Aguiar entered in the fifth inning.

Lowder allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four over two innings in Saturday's spring game against Cleveland.

Lowder was the second of three pitchers competing for the Reds' fifth spot in the rotation used in their Cactus League opener. He followed Chase Burns (two scoreless innings, three walks) and was followed by Julian Aguiar (two innings, one run). For Lowder, who missed all of 2025 with forearm and oblique injuries, this was his first game action in a big-league setting since September of 2024. The right-hander threw 37 pitches (23 strikes).

Burns walked three and did not allow a hit while striking out two over two scoreless innings as the starting pitcher in Saturday's spring opener against the Guardians.

Reds manager Terry Francona wasted little time in getting three of the four candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation some game action. Burns, Rhett Lowder and Julian Aguiar all were used for two-inning stints in the Cactus League kickoff. Burns overcame a couple of four-pitch walks in the first inning and a two-out walk in the second while working his pitch count up to 37 (15 strikes). He used a new in-development changeup to induce a weak flyout to center field. "My changeup was really good. It gives me a lot of confidence," Burns told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com after the contest. Working on secondary pitches have been a focus for Burns in early in camp as the right-hander looks to expand an arsenal that includes a four-seamer, slider and sinker.

Condon started in right field and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.

Condon has worked primarily at first base throughout the spring, but the Rockies have several different options at the position. That has caused the team to try to give him multiple different paths to the majors, though he has yet to play in right field in a regular-season game as a pro. Condon also got off to a strong start to the exhibition season with his bat, but he looks likely to return to the minors to begin the 2026 campaign.