Teoscar Hernandez Drives Home Two In Spring Opener

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a two-run double against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. Los Angeles never relinquished its early lead, slamming the door on their divisional foes by a score of 14-1. This was Hernandez's first game as a Dodger and he certainly made an impact, plating Mookie Betts... Read More

George Springer To Remain In Leadoff Role

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer will remain locked in as the team's leadoff hitter for the 2024 season, manager John Schneider told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "For Georgie, it's about getting back to what he's great at," Schneider said. "Pulling the ball more is something he's talking about." These are positive comments and promising... Read More

Brenton Doyle Puts On 20 Pounds Of Weight

Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle has put on 20 pounds of good weight since the end of the 2023 season. In his first major-league season last year, Doyle struggled with a .203 batting average (81-for-399) and a .250 on-base percentage, but he also managed to club 10 home runs, drive in 48 runs and steal... Read More

Austin Slater Cleared To Play In Games

San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater (elbow) is throwing at a distance of 150 feet and said he has been cleared to play in spring training games. He did cutoffs and relays in camp on Thursday for the first time since having elbow surgery in October, which also included moving his ulnar nerve. Barring some... Read More

Mookie Betts Expects To Play Second Base Exclusively This Spring

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts expects to play second base exclusively in spring training this year. Betts joked that he didn't bring his outfielder's glove to camp. The Dodgers and Betts are fully committed to him playing on the dirt as the club's full-time second baseman in 2024. The 31-year-old All-Star will still be... Read More

Kyle Isbel The Favorite To Start In Center Field

The Kansas City Royals believe that outfielder Kyle Isbel is their best center field option heading into the 2024 season. They are counting on power at the corner-outfield spots from MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe. Drew Waters can play all three outfield spots and could easily play into an Opening Day starting spot. While Waters... Read More

Luis Rengifo, Mickey Moniak Are Candidates To Lead Off

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that he envisions second baseman Luis Rengifo or outfielder Mickey Moniak batting leadoff this year. Washington also sees first baseman Nolan Schanuel as the No. 2 hitter in front of outfielder Mike Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon. Meanwhile, shortstop Zach Neto will hit ninth in the batting... Read More

Jon Berti Now In Utility Role

Miami Marlins infielder Jon Berti was the team's projected starting shortstop for the 2024 season before they signed shortstop Tim Anderson to a one-year, $5 million deal on Thursday. Anderson now has a clear path to everyday playing time in Miami at the 6. Berti is far better suited for a utility role. The 34-year-old... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports for Hitters - Updates for Manny Machado, Willson Contreras, Noelvi Marte, Tommy Edman, more

The 2024 baseball season is just over a month away, but fantasy draft season has already begun. As always, injuries will mightily affect the 2024 campaign and fantasy lineup or draft decisions. Let's take a look at injured hitters Manny Machado, Willson Contreras, Noelvi Marte, Tommy Edman, and more. This is our weekly edition of... Read More

Exit Velocity (EV): Using Sabermetrics For 2024 Fantasy Baseball

If you've watched a baseball broadcast in the Statcast era, you have undoubtedly noticed the broadcasters commenting on a batted ball's exit velocity or EV. Many have taken to using stats like Hard% and Soft% to forecast how a player should be performing, expecting larger Hard% rates to produce larger BABIP and HR/FB figures. There... Read More

Stone Garrett Mostly A Full Participant At Camp

Washington Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett (ankle, leg) is mostly a full participant in camp right now, but he's not all the way back yet since breaking his left fibula and suffering damage to his ankle while crashing into the wall at Yankee Stadium last summer. He is running at full speed and has taken live... Read More

Amed Rosario To Serve In Utility Role

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that the plan is to play infielder Amed Rosario at both middle-infield positions and in the corner-outfield spots in 2024 after signing him to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Tuesday. Rosario will give the Rays more insurance at the 6 with Wander Franco potentially... Read More

Brandon Marsh Progresses To Jogging

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) has progressed to jogging at spring training. Marsh had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early February and was expected to need three to four weeks before making a full recovery. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter obviously won't be ready for the start of Grapefruit League games this weekend,... Read More

Dylan Carlson Expected To Run The Bases Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (ankle), who had season-ending left-ankle surgery last year, is expected to run the bases on Wednesday in addition to hitting in live batting practice and taking fly balls. Manager Oliver Marmol described Carlson's base-running as "checking the final box." The 25-year-old left-handed hitter probably won't play right away when... Read More

Tommy Edman Weeks Away From Full Baseball Activities

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (wrist) could still be a couple of weeks away from being cleared to take part in full baseball activities. Edman is being eased in at camp this year after having offseason surgery on his right wrist. His delay at spring training could cause him to be unavailable for the... Read More

Kings Of Candy: Biggest Sweet Spot Risers for Fantasy Baseball Year-Over-Year (Swt-Spt%)

We recently looked at hitters who increased their BB% the most year-over-year, but now we want to look at hitters whose sweet spot percentage increased the most. Why this metric? Well, by looking at who has increased their sweet spot percentage, you might find hitters who may be hitting the ball at a better angle,... Read More

NL-Only Fantasy Baseball Sleepers and Late-Round Draft Fliers (2024)

No fantasy league is won in the draft, but they can be lost. That's even truer when it comes to NL-only leagues. They are incredibly challenging. They will really test your knowledge and fantasy skills. They could also cause you to question why you play this game! But that's just part of the fun. The... Read More

Tigers Claim TJ Hopkins Off Waivers From Giants

The Detroit Tigers claimed outfielder TJ Hopkins off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday and designated left-hander Kolton Ingram for assignment in a corresponding move to make room for Hopkins on the 40-man roster. Detroit will be the third team that Hopkins has been with this offseason. The 27-year-old made his major-league debut... Read More

Riley Greene Faces Live Pitching Tuesday

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (elbow) faced live pitching in camp on Tuesday for the first time since last September. "I didn't even think about my arm. I feel normal...I wasn't nervous. I wasn't breathing hard. I was just ready to get in the box," Greene said. His 2023 season ended early due to Tommy... Read More

Amed Rosario Agrees With Rays On One-Year Deal

Free-agent infielder Amed Rosario and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed on Tuesday to a one-year, $1.5 million deal, according to sources. The 28-year-old will bring a strong bat against left-handed pitching and should get at-bats at shortstop, second base and potentially in the corner-outfield spots in 2024. It's more insurance for the Rays at shortstop... Read More

Aaron Judge Likely To Require "Constant Maintenance"

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (toe) said his toe will likely require "constant maintenance" for the rest of his career, but that it's been feeling good so far this year. Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe last summer when he crashed into the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium in June and... Read More

Evan Carter Wants To Improve Against Southpaws

Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter stepped up in a big way late last season when he was called up to the big leagues for the first time on the way to helping the team win their first-ever World Series title. He hit .306 with a 1.058 OPS in just 23 regular-season games and started... Read More

Andrew Benintendi Dealt With Hand Injury Last Year

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi (hand) said he was hindered by a hand injury in 2023 and focused on getting stronger this winter. "Added a little bit of weight. I think this was one of my best offseasons, as far as working out and getting stronger. We'll see how it translates, hopefully it does.... Read More

Pirates Claim Canaan Smith-Njigba Off Waivers From Mariners

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Monday and placed right-hander JT Brubaker (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster for Smith-Njigba. The Mariners had claimed Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Pirates, so he'll be returning to Pittsburgh... Read More

Michael Conforto To Be Everyday Left Fielder

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and the team view outfielder Michael Conforto as their everyday left fielder for the 2024 season, with Jung Hoo Lee in center field and Mike Yastrzemski in right field. Recent acquisition Jorge Soler will be the Giants' primary designated hitter. If anyone is going to steal... Read More

Ryan O'Hearn To See Reps In Corner Outfield

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that first baseman Ryan O'Hearn will be getting reps in the corner outfield at spring training. O'Hearn could see an occasional start in the outfield this year, but most of his playing time figures to come at first base and designated hitter. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger was in the... Read More

Dominic Smith, Cubs Agree On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent first baseman Dominic Smith (hand) and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to a source familiar with the deal. The contract includes incentives and can max out at $3.5 million. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter had hamate-bone surgery in early January but should be full-go by the end of spring... Read More

David Peralta, Cubs Agree To Deal On Monday

Free-agent outfielder David Peralta (elbow) and the Chicago Cubs agreed to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to sources familiar with the deal. Peralta joins the Cubs after hitting .259/.294/.381 with seven home runs, 25 doubles, a triple, 55 RBI, four stolen bases and 47 runs scored in 422 plate appearances over 133 games in... Read More

Jorge Mateo Becoming More Versatile

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said earlier this month that infielder Jorge Mateo would get a good bit of time in center field this spring, and manager Brandon Hyde noted on Monday that Mateo also worked at second base over the winter. "We're going to keep our options open with him. He really increases... Read More

Dylan Carlson Limited With His Running

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (ankle) is limited with his running in spring training. It doesn't come as a big surprise, even though he was cleared to do running in December, as Carlson had left-ankle surgery in September. The Cardinals play to ease the 25-year-old switch hitter in at camp, although he's expected to... Read More