Christian Walker Has Right-Hand Contusion

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (hand) has been diagnosed with a right-hand contusion after being hit by a pitch on his hand and leaving Thursday's Cactus League game early against the San Francisco Giants. Apparently X-rays came back negative on Walker's hand after he was hit by a pitch, so he should be considered […]

Christian Walker Leaves Early After Being Hit By Pitch

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (hand) left the team's Cactus League game early on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants after being hit on the hand by a pitch. He'll presumably be taken for X-rays, and we'll have the results of those X-rays when they become available. Hopefully, the 32-year-old avoids any breaks in […]

David Villar Seeing Extensive Playing Time In Camp

San Francisco Giants infielder David Villar is once again in the team's Cactus League lineup on Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, starting at first base and batting cleanup. This is already Villar's fifth game in spring training, and so far he's gone 2-for-7 with two doubles and a run scored in Cactus League action. The […]

Ryan Mountcastle Out Sick Thursday

Updating a previous report, Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (illness) was scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates because he was under the weather. Mountcastle is fine and should be back in the lineup in spring training games soon. The 27-year-old right-handed-hitting first baseman missed a […]

Aledmys Diaz Undergoes MRI On Groin

Oakland A's utility player Aledmys Diaz has undergone an MRI on his groin and the club is still awaiting results, as per manager Mark Kotsay. This isn't the first time Diaz has missed time with groin issues as he was limited to just 109 games last season in part due to groin problems to begin […]

Ryan Mountcastle Scratched On Thursday

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle was scratched from the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday against the Pirates. There was no reason given for why Mountcastle will not play, but we'll update you if it was injury-related. Tyler Nevin ended up taking his place at first base and hit third in the lineup. Mountcastle went […]

Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports for Hitters - Updates for Julio Rodriguez, Triston Casas, Max Muncy, Cedric Mullins, Keibert Ruiz, more

Spring training action has begun, which can only mean the start of the 2024 MLB season is just around the corner. Fantasy baseball drafts are in full swing, and there will be plenty taking place between now and the start of the new campaign. It's never too early to check in on the latest injury […]

Triston Casas Close To Playing In First Game This Spring

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (illness) has been away from JetBlue Park for a few days as he recovers from the flu. He has still been managing to swing a bat, per manager Alex Cora, and he should be healthy enough to play in a game within the next few days. The 24-year-old […]

Top 300 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: AL-Only Leagues (February 2024 Update)

Welcome back to more fantasy baseball rankings! It's an exciting time for baseball fans as spring training begins and Opening Day is around the corner. For fantasy managers who still play in old-school leagues such as AL-Only or NL-Only formats, we've got you covered. Today, we will look at our 2024 AL-Only fantasy baseball roto rankings. […]

Time To Hang It Up: Five MLB Players That Should Retire

There are several MLB players who are approaching the latter part of their careers. When that happens, their production isn't the same, and they're just hanging on until they officially retire. After the 2023 season, we saw several veterans retire, including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, and Adam Wainwright. Cabrera was 40 years old, Cruz was […]

Bryce Harper To Make Spring Debut Wednesday

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that first baseman Bryce Harper and catcher J.T. Realmuto are expected to make their Grapefruit League debuts on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves. Harper and Realmuto are just getting a few days in camp to ramp up. Harper is making the full-time transition from the outfield to first base […]

Best Ball Buys and Fades For Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2024)

The fantasy baseball season is right around the corner. While some of you have been drafting for months, others are just returning from football. For either party, fantasy baseball best ball formats are an excellent way to get your feet wet and dig deeper into the player pool. Best ball can help you get an […]

Five Breakout Outfielders For Fantasy Baseball Drafts - NL Edition (2024)

The term "breakout" always gets the juices flowing, so to speak, in our fantasy baseball world. Everyone loves a good breakout. So much in fact, that we decided to do two whole articles on breakout outfielders here on RotoBaller. Today I'll be discussing five National League outfielders that I'm expecting to break out offensively this […]

Top 100 FYPD Prospects for Fantasy Baseball First-Year Player Drafts (February 2024)

The final update of the First-Year Player Draft rankings is just in time for peak FYPD draft season. This update adds in a half-dozen signees from the January 15 international class along with updating the teams for a few former Japanese players who signed this offseason with an MLB club and a player who was […]

Matt Olson Walks, Picks Up A Hit In Spring Debut

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson made his spring debut on Sunday in a 5-4 Grapefruit League loss to the Boston Red Sox. Last year's MLB home run leader drew a walk on four pitches in his first at-bat, then took a swing at the first pitch he saw in the next at-bat which resulted […]

Garrett Cooper Signs With Cubs

Free-agent first baseman Garrett Cooper signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training, according to a source. Cooper will compete for playing time at first base this spring alongside newcomer Michael Busch and Matt Mervis. The 33-year-old veteran was an All-Star in 2022 with […]

Michael Busch Set To Make Spring Debut On Monday

Chicago Cubs infielder Michael Busch is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Monday. Cubs' manager Craig Counsell mentioned that Busch has been dealing with some shoulder soreness early in camp. That being said, the Cubs have been extra cautious because it's the beginning of spring. The early expectation was that Busch would see […]

Freddie Freeman Homers, Collects Two RBI In Spring Training Debut

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1-for-2 with a homer, sacrifice fly, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 4-1 Cactus League win over the Padres. Freeman was batting in his usual second spot in the order and picking right where he left off last season. He ambushed the first pitch he […]

Top 200 Infield Fantasy Baseball Rankings (February Updates)

Howdy RotoBallers! Baseball is officially back! Spring training games are being played, and in about 30 days, the 2024 baseball season will begin. We are back with more fantasy baseball rankings to help crush your league. We have recently published rankings articles for each position, including middle and corner infielders. Some league formats don't require […]

Cody Bellinger Signs With The Cubs - Fantasy Impact

One of the best available free agents this offseason finally signed with a team. Cody Bellinger's three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs shouldn't have come as a surprise, other than how long it took for the parties to agree to a reunion. Last year with the Cubs, Bellinger had his best season since winning the […]

Max Muncy In Better Shape

Los Angeles Dodgers corner infielder Max Muncy appears to be in improved physical condition at spring training this year. Both manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes gave credit to Muncy for taking on the challenge to improve himself in the offseason. "Our hitting guys are raving about him," Gomes said. The 33-year-old veteran […]

First Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Tiers, Analysis - Roto Leagues (2024)

Spring training is finally here, so there is no better time than now to prep for your fantasy draft. First base has long been relied on to contribute more than their fair share to a team’s statistics. This year, the field is loaded at the top, but there is some great value to be found […]

5 Bounce-Back Infield Candidates for Fantasy Baseball Drafts (2024)

Baseball is a game where a player can underperform for a day, month, year, or even longer and still eventually return to form. That’s just the nature of it. But how do we separate the players who are likely to find their game again from those who have fallen off completely? Many signs can distinguish […]

Barrels and Brls/BBE: Using Sabermetrics For 2024 Fantasy Baseball

Previously, we looked at how exit velocity is only one piece of the fantasy baseball analysis puzzle. Baseball broadcasts commonly cite Launch Angle (LA) to complement their EV figures, but it is given in terms of degrees. Are we trying to find the hypotenuse of an isosceles triangle? Launch angle is basically a fancy way […]

Top 50 Second Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings (February Updates)

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to more fantasy baseball rankings! Pitchers and catchers are reporting while Opening Day is right around the corner. It's an exciting time for fantasy managers, with an entire baseball season ahead. We are here to help you build those league-winning rosters with our MLB team's updated 2024 fantasy baseball second base rankings, […]

Alec Bohm, Rafael Marchan Sidelined For Start Of Grapefruit League Play

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (neck) and catcher Rafael Marchan (back) are both being held out of action due to their respective injuries, manager Rob Thomson told Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Bohm is dealing with neck spasms and won't play this weekend. It doesn't sound like this injury is too serious, and the […]

Mike Ford Inks Minor-League Deal With Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have signed free-agent first baseman Mike Ford to a minor-league deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal includes an invitation to spring training, as well as additional opt-out clauses that would presumably come into effect if Ford doesn't make the big-league squad. Heyman notes that Ford would […]

Kyle Manzardo Likely To Start At Triple-A

The Athletic's Jason Lloyd writes that Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo will probably start the 2024 season at Triple-A Columbus. Guardians officials reiterated this offseason the difficulty of hitting in Cleveland in April and how a slow start can bury young hitters. The 23-year-old grew up in Idaho, so he probably knows a thing […]

Vinnie Pasquantino Starting Cactus League Opener

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (shoulder) is playing first base and batting second in the team's Cactus League opener on Friday versus the Texas Rangers. It's good news after Pasquantino had season-ending shoulder surgery last June. The power-hitting left-hander played in only 61 games in his second year in the majors due to […]

Jake Cronenworth Homers In Spring Opener

San Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth went 1-for-2 with a solo homer during Thursday's Spring Training opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres fell behind early and never came back, dropping the first game of Cactus League play by a score of 14-1. Cronenworth took a step back offensively in 2023 with a […]