MLB Player News

Manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday that Carroll (hand) is expected to play the outfield in games Wednesday or Thursday, likely in a backfield game, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Carroll is making his third appearance of spring training Sunday at designated hitter, and he should be cleared to play the outfield after just a few more days. The 25-year-old underwent surgery in mid-February to repair the hamate bone in his right hand, but he's progressed quickly through his rehab program. Barring a setback, Carroll should be ready to start in right field Opening Day for the Diamondbacks.

Foscue (hamstring) will serve as the Rangers' designated hitter and No. 7 batter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

Foscue will check back into the Rangers' spring lineup for the first time since Feb. 23 after a strained right hamstring had kept him out of action for just under three weeks. The 27-year-old will still need to prove that the hamstring injury doesn't present any problems for him defensively in order to win a utility gig on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, but he could still find himself on the outside looking in for a spot. Foscue has a minor-league option remaining, so the Rangers could send him to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the season in order for him to receive everyday at-bats.

Eldridge went 0-for-1 in Saturday's 8-7 Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks.

Eldridge pinch hit in the ninth inning and struck out swinging, marking the 15th time he's struck out across 42 plate appearances this spring. Through 16 Cactus League outings, he's slashing .235/.381/.500 with seven runs scored, five RBI, four doubles and one home run. The 21-year-old made his big-league debut last September and could see playing time at DH for the Giants early in the season. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see him open the campaign in Triple-A Sacramento to get regular reps that may be harder to come by in the majors.

Lindor (hand) played four innings at shortstop while making his spring debut in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, but afterwards he wouldn't commit to being ready for Opening Day despite saying that he has "checked every single box," Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 32-year-old went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a strikeout in his first game action since undergoing surgery in mid-February to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Lindor will continue ramping up toward playing a full game, and he certainly appears to be trending toward being available for the start of the regular season, even though that's not yet official.

LaViolette (hand) struck out in his lone at-bat and played two innings in left field in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Padres in Cactus League play.

Though LaViolette hasn't been taking part in spring training with the big club, the Guardians opted to bring him aboard for Saturday's game to serve as an extra option in the outfield. A first-round pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, LaViolette didn't see any game action after being selected last summer while he recovered from a cleanup procedure on his left hand, but he appears to be heading into 2026 with a clean bill of health. The 22-year-old outfielder is likely to open the season at Single-A Hill City.

Koss went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Saturday's 8-7 Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks.

Koss singled in the fourth inning and came around to score before adding another single in the sixth. He's gotten on base frequently through 13 Cactus League appearances, slashing .423/.545/.423 with six runs scored, six RBI and a stolen base across 33 plate appearances during that span. The 28-year-old appears likely to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster in a utility role after making his big-league debut with the Giants last season, though Tyler Fitzgerald also remains in the mix for that role.

Pena (finger) said Saturday that he's been swinging a bat with one hand, throwing plyometric balls and fielding groundballs during his rehab program, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old was diagnosed with a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger in early March, sidelining him for the World Baseball Classic and putting his availability for Opening Day into question. Pena's current participation in baseball activities is encouraging, and at this point, he's just awaiting clearance to throw and swing with both hands. Once fully cleared, the shortstop doesn't expect to need many at-bats before being ready for MLB action, so he still has a chance to be ready by Opening Day.

Brennan started at center field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 8-7 Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks.

After reaching base on a fielder's choice in the second inning and coming around to score, Brennan added an RBI single in the third but was caught trying to steal second. Through 15 Cactus League outings, he's recorded eight runs scored, six RBI and four home runs while slashing .379/.455/.483 across 33 plate appearances. Following an injury-riddled 2025 campaign in which he underwent Tommy John surgery in June and sports hernia surgery in September, the 28-year-old outfielder signed a major-league deal with San Francisco in mid-February. The left-handed hitter is expected to operate as the Giants' fourth outfielder this season.

The Athletics are planning on having Butler (knees) make his Cactus League debut Tuesday versus the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Butler's spring debut has been delayed after he underwent surgery on his right knee in October to repair a torn patellar tendon, as well as receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee. Though the 25-year-old has been able to stay on top of his hitting progression, he's needed more time to complete a running program and take part in full defensive drills. Butler appeared to be running the bases at full speed during his workout Sunday, so the outfielder may have cleared the final hurdle in his long recovery process. Since he's already been able to get plenty of competitive at-bats in through live batting practice sessions and simulated games, Butler may need to play just a couple of Cactus League games to prove that he's ready to go for Opening Day.

Birdsong was diagnosed with a Grade 2 forearm strain and UCL sprain after undergoing an MRI on Sunday and will meet with Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that the right-hander was headed for a second opinion on his arm injury, and that certainly makes sense given the initial diagnosis. Birdsong is weighing the treatment options, and surgery is likely to be on the table.