MLB Spring Training Notebook (3/11) - Hiura Endures Spring Struggles

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. Thankfully, we have real, live baseball being played every day again, and while it doesn't count for anything, these exhibition games gives us the smallest glimmer into players and teams heading into the new season. We're officially through the first week of spring training games […]

Ender Inciarte's Injury Giving Cristian Pache An Opportunity

Atlanta Braves outfielder Cristian Pache has a greater chance to open the season as the team's center fielder with Ender Inciarte (thumb) spending the last week bothered by a sore left thumb. Inciarte might not have enough time to prove he's capable of the handling the center field job with just three weeks until Opening […]

Michael Harris Impressing The Skipper

Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Michael Harris has played in just 53 minor league games since graduating high school in 2019, but the 20-year-old has made an impression on manager Brian Snitker in camp. Harris hit his first homer off Rays hard-throwing right-hander Pete Fairbanks on Thursday, making him 3-for-7 through seven games. Ranked as the […]

Later-Round Outfielders - Targets and Avoids in 2021

Once you reach the middle-to-late rounds of drafts, everyone wants to draft some upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can take a risk or two on a variety of different players, including a prospect, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even players with skills but have playing time concerns. […]

Marwin Gonzalez Homers Twice

Boston Red Sox utility man Marwin Gonzalez homered from each side of the plate on Wednesday, knocking in four in the Red Sox's 5-4 win over the Twins. Gonzalez, along with Kike Hernandez, Michael Chavis and Danny Santana, is one of the many utility players fighting for playing time in a crowded Red Sox lineup. Gonzalez […]

Ronald Acuna Jr. Goes Deep For First Time This Spring

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his first spring training home run on Thursday, a solo shot to left field off Rays right-hander Collin McHugh. Acuna entered the day 2-for-14 with five strikeouts in spring training but had two hits on the day. He was 5-for-32 with no extra-base hits and 14 strikeouts last […]

Mike Trout Blasts First Spring Homer

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout hit his first home run of spring training on Thursday, a towering two-run shot off Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto. Trout was previously 2-for-8 in five Cactus League games. Including his home run Thursday, the three-time American League MVP and eight-time All-Star is a career .346 hitter with 27 home […]

Yasiel Puig Facing Sexual-Assault Allegations

Major League Baseball investigators recently interviewed a woman who said free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig sexually assaulted her in a Staples Center bathroom, but she hasn't taken further steps due to her desire to remain anonymous while awaiting further evidence to emerge, according to an MLB source. The 30-year-old Puig remains without a team with the […]

Brandon Nimmo Possibly Leading Off For Mets In 2021

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo is batting leadoff and playing left field on Thursday in Grapefruit League action against the Astros. Prior to the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas stated that he was not sure if Thursday's lineup would be his Opening Day lineup, but he did acknowledge that Nimmo and shortstop Francisco Lindor […]

Dominic Smith To Play Left Field Friday

New York Mets outfielder/first baseman Dominic Smith is scheduled to play left field for the first time in Grapefruit League action Friday. The Mets had reportedly been holding Smith back from playing in the outfield this spring to avoid injury and/or burning him out coming off the shortened 2020 season. With no designated hitter in […]

Billy Hamilton Won't Make Opening Day Roster For Cleveland

Cleveland Indians outfielder Billy Hamilton has been informed that he will not make Cleveland's opening day roster, the Associated Press reports. Manager Terry Francona said the club told Hamilton on Thursday that he wasn't part of their plans. The Indians will try to trade Hamilton, who signed a minor league contract last month. Hamilton has […]

Cole Tucker Returns To Hitting Activities

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Cole Tucker (hand) is back to hitting after having appeared in just one Grapefruit League game this spring, in which he went 0-for-3. Competition remains relatively open for the rebuilding Pirates with Tucker in the mix to earn at-bats both at short or in center field, where Anthony Alford stands out as […]

George Springer Returns to Game Action

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer returned to action on Thursday after missing a few games with a minor abdominal strain. The veteran outfielder stayed in for three plate appearances and homered in his first at-bat of the game. He also made a nice running catch in center field. He's 3-for-11 (.273) with a stolen […]

Kansas City Scratches Michael Taylor From Thursday’s Lineup

Kansas City Royals outfielder Michael Taylor (back) was removed from Thursday's starting nine against Milwaukee due to back tightness, manager Mike Matheny confirmed. Taylor has gotten off to a scorching hot start in Cactus League play, having gone 6-for-14 with two home runs and two doubles, driving in four runs. Taylor has the inside track […]

Joshua Mears Annihilates 117.3 MPH Homer

San Diego Padres outfield prospect Joshua Mears demolished a 117.3 mph home run Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. The 20-year-old non-roster invitee is just 1-for-7 this spring, but his long ball would've been one of the hardest hit last season in the majors. The Friars 2019 second-round pick and No. 10 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) possesses […]

Eddie Rosario Goes 1-For-3 Wednesday

Cleveland Indians outfielder Eddie Rosario went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Rosario is now 3-for-16 with four RBI across his first six spring games. Rosario joins the Indians in 2021 after slashing .257/.316/.476 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 2020. He will settle into the middle of the […]

Charlie Blackmon Goes 1-for-3 Wednesday

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 7-5 win against the San Diego Padres. The hit was Blackmon's first of the spring as he is now just 1-for-12 across his first five games. Blackmon finished 2020 with a .303/.356/.448 slash line while hitting six bombs and driving in 42 runs. He has now […]

Jonathan Davis Gets On Base Three Times

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jonathan Davis went 2-for-2 with a walk on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. The 28-year-old's improved offensive approach could help the club in the event that Randal Grichuk, who has become expendable with the addition of George Springer, is traded for pitching help. Davis was already popular among Toronto coaches for […]

David Peralta Hits First Home Run Of Spring Wednesday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta went 1-for-3 with his first home run of the spring on Wednesday night in a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers. Peralta led off the game with a solo shot to right and then drove in Arizona's only other run on a fifth-inning groundout. He has looked solid at the plate […]

Jared Oliva Homers In Pirates Loss

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jared Oliva hit his first home run of the spring on Wednesday night as he finished 1-for-2 in the loss to the Yankees. Oliva has only appeared in three games this spring and is 2-for-6 with two RBI, two runs, a walk and a strikeout in that span. While he has shown […]

Corey Dickerson Gets Two Hits On Wednesday

Miami Marlins outfielder Corey Dickerson was in the lineup as the designated hitter for Wednesday evening's Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros. Dickerson went 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored. He raised his batting average to .467 and his OPS to 1.067 this spring. Dickerson is trying to come back from a […]

Brian Goodwin Hits Grand Slam In Pirates Loss Wednesday

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Brian Goodwin went 1-for-3 with a grand slam home run in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees Wednesday night. It was Goodwin's second hit of the spring as he is now 2-for-11 with five strikeouts through five games. Goodwin was thought to be one of the leading contenders for the starting job […]

Jarred Kelenic Resumes Light Work Wednesday

Seattle Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic (knee) has a Grade 2 adductor strain but has begun light work and pool therapy on his road back to playing shape. Kelenic is not yet running, hitting or doing any baseball activities. Before the injury, Kelenic was making a bid to start the year as the regular left fielder […]

Ronald Acuna Jr. Hungry For World Series Run

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has higher expectations for his team this year after narrowly missing out on a World Series last year. In a recent interview, Acuna stated, "We're coming in with the same mentality we had last year, but we are coming in with even more hunger to reach the World Series." […]

Yoenis Cespedes Being Linked To White Sox

Free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was impressive at a recent showcase, showing that he still has plenty of power left in the tank. According to scouts, he "hit rockets" at the showcase. Jon Heyman of the MLB Network believes that teams are going to be cautious in moving forward with Cespedes after he missed all of […]

Franchy Cordero To Return From COVID-19 List Thursday

Boston Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero has been cleared to rejoin the team for workouts Thursday after missing 17 days on the COVID-19 injured list, according to The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham. Cordero has shown potential to be a threat for double-digit home runs and steals, but he has yet to get enough playing time […]

Juan Soto Not In Lineup For Second Straight Game Wednesday

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto (illness) was out of the lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday after reporting that he felt "a little ill," according to MASN's Mark Zuckerman. According to Zuckerman, Soto was scheduled to have the day off on Tuesday and was set to return to the lineup Wednesday before he was […]

Jurickson Profar Dealing With Groin Tightness

San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar (groin) is dealing with groin tightness but should return Thursday. The utilityman has missed three games but had amassed a hit and three walks in 10 spring plate appearances. The 28-year-old flourished in his first season in San Diego, posting a .278/.343/.428 slash with seven homers and steals apiece […]

Mariners Could Use Mitch Haniger, Dylan Moore To Lead Off

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger and second baseman Dylan Moore are both candidates to be used in the top spot in the lineup, in addition to expected everyday leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford. Haniger, who is leading off in Wednesday's spring training game, was already expected to be in the top third of the order, but […]

Daniel Johnson Homers Twice in Cleveland Win

Cleveland Indians outfield prospect Daniel Johnson hit two home runs in three at-bats on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. He's now 4-for-11 (.364) this spring in five appearances and is a dark-horse candidate to win a spot on Cleveland's opening day roster in 2021. Johnson is battling Jordan Luplow and Bradley Zimmer for playing time. […]