MLB Player News

Metcalf, 24, was hitting .294/.363/.507 in 136 at-bats while repeating the Texas League. He batted just .221/.298/.325 in 425 at-bats for Frisco last year. He is an above average defender at third, but he’d be a weak stopgap for Hank Blalock at third base. Unless they can pull off a trade, the Rangers may play him four or five times per week anyway. AL-only leaguers could do worse.

Sasaki pitched scoreless first and second innings before walking three in a row with one out in the third. He was pulled at that point, and Nick Robertson went on to strand the bases loaded. Sasaki came back out in the fourth and gave up a two-run homer to Luca Tresh before finishing the inning. He again returned in the fifth, but he was pulled after Starling Marte’s leadoff double. In all, Sasaki struck out five and walked four. His fastball averaged 97.9 mph and topped out at 99.5. The improvement in his stuff from last year provides hope that he’ll be of use in mixed leagues eventually. We wouldn’t want to count on him initially, though.

Falter was originally going to start the game, but the Royals changed their minds and had him pitch behind Aaron Sanchez, since he’s probably going to be a middle reliever once the season starts. The switch obviously worked out well, except for the rest of the Royals’ pitchers giving up 10 runs over six innings in the loss.

The double was a 109-mph laser to center. If Marte could still play quality defense in a corner, he’d probably be a solid enough regular at age 37. As is, it’s probably for the best that the Royals will mostly limit him to at-bats in left field and at DH against lefties. It shouldn’t be enough to make him helpful outside of deep AL-only leagues.

Freeland had a nice opportunity this spring with Tommy Edman out and Hyeseong Kim away. but after reaching on five-of-six plate appearances in his first two games, he’s gone 3-for-35 in his last 14 games. It seems like a given he’ll be opening up in Triple-A.

Ballesteros’s homers were projected at 423 and 441 feet. He also walked and struck out. Ballesteros was DHing tonight for the third time this spring. He’s started six games at catcher and one at first base. It’s unclear just how much catching he’ll do in the regular season with the Cubs wanting to get both Carson Kelly, who went 3-for-4 with a homer of his own tonight, and Miguel Amaya playing time, but it sure would be nice if he could gain position eligibility there in leagues in which he’s currently only a DH.

Jeimer Candelario’s solo homer in the fifth was the only hit given up by Imanaga tonight. With his velocity up across the board this spring, Imanaga is looking like a nice bounce-back candidate and an underrated draft-day option.

This just isn’t going to work, at least not at the start of the year. The Angels want Manoah to be their fifth starter, but he’s averaging 90 mph with his fastball and he’s walked 14 in 15 1/3 innings this spring. He does have options left, so the team could send him down and go with Sam Aldegheri or Walbert Urena in his place. Or maybe they’ll be able to pluck a better option off the waiver wire.

All three of Bazzana’s at-bats produced balls in play in excess of 101 mph, but the double was sandwiched between a groundout and a GIDP. With his .897 OPS in Guardians camp, he’s made an argument to open up as the team’s second baseman. Still, they’ve already committed to sticking him in the minors to begin the year and will likely go with a double play combo of Brayan Rocchio (career 75 OPS+) at second and Gabriel Arias (career... well, wouldn’t you know it, 75 OPS+) at shortstop.

Lodolo, one of the Cactus League’s most effective pitchers the previous four years, is having a bit of an off spring this time around, having posted a 5.93 ERA in four starts. Still, that comes with an 18/3 K/BB in 13 2/3 innings. It’s just that he’s allowed as many earned runs this year as he did over 36 innings in his previous three springs combined.

Marte’s homer off lefty Kolby Allard was a 109-foot rocket to left-center. Marte was bad against lefties last year and the Reds have made judgments about him because of it, but he shouldn’t have any playing time concerns initially. He’s slugging .600 with his three homers and four doubles this spring.