Diaz (foot) will be the designated hitter Wednesday and will start at catcher in Friday's Grapefruit League game, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Diaz was delayed due to a foot sprain suffered in the Dominican Winter League, but he wasn't too far behind, as he's scheduled to catch in a game before the end of February. Cesar Salazar is Diaz's only backup, so there should be ample playing time available for Diaz once he puts the foot sprain behind him.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Seigler is nursing a knee injury that he first suffered in the Dominican Winter League, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Seigler felt fine at the beginning of camp, but now the knee is barking again. It's not clear whether he will be sent for testing or will simply rest for a bit. Acquired from the Brewers in a trade this offseason, Seigler is competing for a reserve role with the Red Sox.

Jansen went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a walk in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels.

Jansen pieced together a few strong at-bats during Monday's exhibition. He struck for a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to get his squad on the board, and he later drew a six-pitch walk in the top of the fourth. Jansen hit second in the batting order Monday after being slotted in as the No. 3 hitter in his spring debut Saturday, though this is likely a strategy to get him as many at-bats as possible early in spring training games.

Millas (finger) will start at catcher and bat third in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Millas is fully healthy for spring training after he missed the final month of the 2025 season while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured right index finger. The 28-year-old backstop went 0-for-2 while playing four innings behind the plate in his spring debut during Saturday's win over the Astros and will now get his first start of the spring.

Jensen started at catcher and went 1-for-3 in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers.

Jensen was out of the lineup for the Royals' first two games before making his spring debut Sunday, grounding out in his first two at-bats before pulling a single into right field in the sixth inning before being lifted. One of the most highly touted catching prospects in baseball, the 22-year-old mashed during his brief stint with the Royals in 2025, slashing .300/.391/.550 with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBI across 20 games in September. The presence of franchise icon Salvador Perez is worth noting, but Jensen should still see regular action in the Kansas City lineup in 2026, whether behind the plate or at designated hitter.

Baldwin went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Atlanta's Grapefruit League game against the Twins on Sunday.

The 24-year-old backstop took Taj Bradley deep in the third inning, the only run Atlanta scored off the right-hander. Baldwin took home NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, slashing .274/.341/.469 over 124 games with 19 homers and 80 RBI, and he'll be a key part of Atlanta's offense this season.

Crim suffered an oblique strain during Monday's spring game, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Crim received his first taste of the big leagues in 2025 and had a .732 OPS in 20 games between the Rockies and Rangers. The severity of the strain has yet to be disclosed, but his availability for the start of the regular season is now in question.

Mervis went 1-for-1 with a walk, a double, two RBI and one stolen base during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

Mervis wasn't penciled into the starting lineup Monday, but that didn't prevent him from making an impact. He walked in his first at-bat and later swiped a bag, and he smacked a two-run ground-rule double in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game. Mervis isn't expected to open the 2026 campaign on the big-league squad, but more performances like this could help him throw his hat in the ring for a roster spot.

Foscue was lifted from Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels due to right hamstring tightness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Foscue singled and scored a run in the top of the first inning in his lone plate appearance before being removed for defense prior to the bottom of the second. It's unclear whether he'll be sent for an MRI, but even if it's not serious, Foscue figures to be off limits for at least a day or two. He's competing for a reserve role with the Rangers.

Kayfus' path to a roster spot is impacted by Cleveland's signing of first baseman Rhys Hoskins, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

At the start of training camp, Kayfus was seen as part of a rotation at first base, designated hitter and right field, but the Hoskins signing changed that. It now looks like Hoskins and Kyle Manzardo could make up a platoon at first base while also being part of the mix at DH. In that event, Kayfus' path might only be in right field, where Chase DeLauter, Nolan Jones and George Valera are also vying for opportunities.

Manzardo started at designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against Milwaukee.

Manzardo has appeared in two Cactus League games, one at first base and one at DH. He was expected to be the primary first baseman this season, but plans changed when the Guardians signed Rhys Hoskins to a minor-league deal. The "minor league" is a technicality, as Hoskins is expected to be added to the 40-man roster and will likely split time with Manzardo at first base and DH. The crowd at first base also includes CJ Kayfus, who in theory could be the left-handed complement at first base with Hoskins, which would leave Manzardo as the strong side of a DH platoon. Manzardo's exact role should be made clearer over the course of spring training.

Kurtz went 0-for-3 out of the leadoff spot during Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.

Though this is only the first action of the spring for Kurtz, Martin Gallegos notes that there's a real possibility the slugger could man the leadoff role to start the 2026 campaign. Manager Mark Kotsay explained that the order isn't solidified at this point, and the reason for having Kurtz atop the order in spring games is to get him several at-bats early in exhibitions. However, he also likes the idea of Kurtz leading off, per Gallegos. "My opinion, getting the best hitter on the team the most amount of at-bats is productive," said Kotsay. "Especially when that at-bat comes around the 18th through the 21st out of a game when a starter is going through a lineup a third time, it's nice to get those guys an opportunity. It presents a leverage situation."

Brujan was removed in the sixth inning of Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays due to an apparent hand injury, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base prior to exiting the game.

Brujan appeared to suffer the injury when his hand got stepped on by a Blue Jays infielder on a stolen-base attempt in the top of the sixth. The 27-year-old drew the start at shortstop Monday, and assuming the hand injury isn't anything too significant, Brujan could break camp as the Mets' top option at the position if Francisco Lindor (hand) isn't ready to go for Opening Day.

McNeil (shoulder) started at second base and went 1-for-1 with a walk in Sunday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians.

McNeil suited up for the first time as a member of the Athletics and reached base in both plate appearances, though he also committed a fielding error before being lifted Sunday. The veteran underwent thoracic outlet surgery shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 season, so his early participation in spring is an encouraging sign. The 33-year-old hit .243/.335/.411 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBI across 122 regular-season games with the Mets last year and will look to produce for his new club in 2026, likely entrenched at second base to open the campaign.

Caballero did some training at Driveline Baseball this offseason, where he focused on increasing his bat speed, Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic report.

Caballero's goal is to get his average bat speed up to 71 mph this season, which is a bit below the league average of 71.7 mph but would be a notable jump from his 69.1 mph average in 2025. The super utility player went deep in Grapefruit League action Sunday against the Mets and believes reaching double digits in home runs in 2026 is a reasonable goal, per Kuty. That would be a career high for Caballero, who popped nine homers in 2024 and five in 2025. The 29-year-old is slated to open the upcoming season as the Yankees' everyday shortstop while Anthony Volpe (shoulder) recovers.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Simon (shoulder) is projected to return to game competition in late March or early April, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

According to Tomczyk, Simon is "doing very well" four-plus months after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. The 25-year-old has been taking swings in the batting cage without restrictions so far in camp, and he's set to take another step forward next week, when he's scheduled to face live pitching in batting practice. However, because Simon won't be game-ready until late March, he would appear to be firmly out of the mix for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster.

Helman (groin/hip) started in left field and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout Sunday in the Rangers' 9-5 win over the Rockies in Cactus League play.

Helman had been scheduled to make his second start of the spring Saturday against the Cubs, but he was scratched from the lineup due to injury. The groin/hip issue was evidently a minor concern, given that the Rangers felt comfortable reinserting him into the lineup a day later. Helman will be competing for a utility job with the Rangers throughout the spring and could be deployed in the short side of a platoon if he ends up making Texas' Opening Day roster.

Estrada signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Monday that includes an invite to big-league spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Baltimore already acquired Blaze Alexander to help offset the injuries to Jordan Westburg (elbow) and Jackson Holliday (hand), and now Estrada will enter the fray as well. Estrada, 30, hit .253/.385/.370 with three home runs in 39 games with the Rockies last year. His 2025 season ended in August with a hamstring strain.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Long (elbow) took some swings Tuesday and feels better, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Long suffered a sprained left (non-throwing) elbow on a collision at first base over the weekend, but he's on the mend. The 24-year-old had planned to leave Tuesday for Japan to join Team Chinese Taipei for the World Baseball Classic, but he will delay his departure until Friday. It would appear the Cubs plan to give the go-ahead for Long to play in the WBC.

Okamoto went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League game against the Mets on Monday.

The 29-year-old slugger launched a Clay Holmes slow curve to straightaway center field in the second inning for his first long ball of the spring. Okamoto will leave camp soon to join Team Japan for the WBC, but he's making a good first impression this spring for the Jays. He's being counted on to fill a near-everyday role at third base during his first season in MLB.

An MRI on Pauley's right arm did not show any UCL damage, Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network reports.

It's not clear what the specific diagnosis was, but Pauley appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario. The infielder is able to field grounders but is not yet cleared for throwing or hitting. Pauley told Christina De Nicola of MLB.com on Tuesday that he could play in games as soon as later this week and no later than within two weeks. Pauley has a shot to be ready for Opening Day, but it could be close.

Pauley (forearm) said best-case he'll return to games later this week if not, within two weeks, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reported Tuesday.

He underwent imaging Monday after experiencing tightness, and it sounds like he has a chance to still be ready for Opening Day. Connor Norby will get a chance to play third base in the meantime.

Karros entered camp weighing 230 pounds, 20 pounds heavier than he was at the close of the 2025 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Karros made his big-league debut at the close of the 2025 season and managed only a .585 OPS with a 26.3 percent strikeout rate across 156 plate appearances. Manager Warren Schaeffer dismissed that sample due to Karros being down about 10 pounds from his typical playing weight, forcing him to play at less than full strength. Karros is among the top candidates to claim the starting third-base job in Colorado to begin the season, and he's collected three hits in his first five plate appearances in Cactus League action.

Garcia went 2-for-2 in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Cubs.

Garcia showed some pop Monday, collecting a pair of singles that both left the bat at over 100 mph in his two plate appearances before being lifted. Notably, the third baseman was slotted into the leadoff spot as manager Matt Quatraro evaluates options atop the lineup for the regular season. The 25-year-old broke out with an .800 OPS across 160 games last year while hitting most often in the cleanup spot, but a one-two combination of Garcia and Bobby Witt would give the Royals a dynamic duo to open the lineup.

Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Walcott could be return for game action in August, "if all things according to plan" in his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Walcott could return to hitting after 5-to-6 months, but it'll likely be longer before he's cleared to take the field. The 19-year-old is Texas' top prospect, and getting him back into game action, even in a limited capacity, would set him up nicely heading into 2027. Walcott spent the 2025 campaign at Double-A Frisco, where he totaled 13 homers, 32 steals and a .255/.355/.386 slash line in 124 contests.

Walcott underwent internal brace surgery on his right elbow last week, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The good news is he did not require a full Tommy John surgery. The bad news is he will still be sidelined for 5-to-6 months before resuming hitting, so he could still miss the entire season. One of the game's top prospects, Walcott slashed .255/.355/.386 with 13 home runs and 32 stolen bases over 124 games in 2025 at Double-A Frisco. He will turn 20 in March.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Lux has been held out of Grapefruit League games due to "overall spring training soreness," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cash added that Lux is fine, though it's unclear when the 28-year-old will be ready for his spring debut. Acquired via trade over the offseason, Lux is slated to take over as the Rays' primary second baseman this season.

Smith appears to be the favorite to win the starting job at second base, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

While the team hasn't openly announced that Smith is ahead of the competition, Corey Seager provided a hint when talking with media earlier in camp. When asked about working with someone new at the keystone, he specifically mentioned Smith, stating "I've played some games with him already so you kind of know how he operates. I'm really excited for him just to get this opportunity." Nothing is set in stone this early in camp, but Smith has now drawn two starts at second base in spring training and continues to work drills exclusively at second base outside of exhibitions, per McFarland.

Hernaiz started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a double in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Giants.

Hernaiz turned in a solid showing at the plate, reaching on an infield single in the first inning before lacing a 101.4 mph double to right field in the third inning. The 24-year-old slashed a modest .231/.292/.306 with eight extra-base hits and 16 RBI across 51 games with the Athletics last season and is competing this spring for a spot on the MLB roster in 2026. His ability to handle multiple infield positions works in his favor, and performances like Monday's are encouraging as Hernaiz prepares to depart to represent Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

Rojas went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

Rojas received an invite to major-league spring training at just 20 years of age, and he didn't look overmatched Monday as he connected for his first Cactus League home run. The young shortstop is not on Chicago's 40-man roster and has yet to play above the Double-A level, so he's almost certainly ticketed for a return to the minors, but he could turn some heads with a strong spring. Rojas is worth keeping a close eye on in dynasty formats this season, particularly if he keeps developing his power stroke.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Cabrera's status for Opening Day is "TBD," Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera is working his way back from last May's surgery to repair a fracture and ligament damage in his left ankle. He has been going through drills and is coming along well, but the utility player has yet to practice sliding on his surgically repaired ankle and doesn't appear close to playing in games. If healthy, Cabrera would likely be part of the Yankees' roster in a reserve role, but the club could play it safe and start him on the injured list.

Marsee went 1-for-2 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in the Marlins' Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals on Monday.

The 24-year-old center fielder took Michael McGreevy deep to lead off the game, and Marsee didn't see much to hit after that before exiting the game in the sixth inning. After an impressive big-league debut in 2025 that saw him slash .292/.363/.478 with five homers and 14 steals in just 55 games for Miami, Marsee is being counted on to make an impact from the top of the lineup this season.

Farmelo got the start in center field in Monday's Catctus League game against the Dodgers and went 1-for-2 with a stolen base.

The Mariners are taking an extended look at Farmelo early this spring, as the outfielder has appeared in three of their first four Cactus League contests. Farmelo has responded nicely, going 3-for-8 with a double and a pair of stolen bases. A first-round pick in the 2023 draft, Farmelo is one of the top prospects in a deep Seattle system, though he's been limited by numerous injuries early in his career. He appeared in just 30 games in 2025, where he posted a solid .819 OPS with seven home runs and two steals. Farmelo will likely return to High-A Everett to start the 2026 campaign.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Simpson (hamstring) is tentatively slated to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Simpson has been slowed early on in Rays camp by left hamstring tightness, but he appears to be making strides in his recovery. The speedy outfielder has plenty of time to ramp up for Opening Day, provided he can avoid setbacks.

Lockridge went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres.

Lockridge picked up a single in the top half of the first inning and slugged a solo home run in the top of the seventh in his final at-bat of the exhibition. He's now left the yard twice so far in two spring games after failing to hit a home run last season across 67 regular-season games. Lockridge looks to face an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, but he'd make the decision more difficult for Milwaukee if he continues to mash at the plate.

Green (hamstring) went 0-for-2 and played four innings in center field Saturday in the Nationals' 6-2 win over the Cardinals in Grapefruit League play.

Green missed the final month of the 2025 season due to a right hamstring strain but was fully cleared for the start of spring training. He'll likely open the upcoming campaign at High-A Wilmington, where he produced a .531 OPS over 140 plate appearances last season before being demoted to Single-A Fredericksburg following the All-Star break.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that Kelly has undergone additional testing on his injured back, including a CT scan, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Kelly -- who is battling mid-back tightness -- has also had an MRI. Lovullo said Monday that Kelly was feeling good, so the additional tests could be a precautionary measure. The Diamondbacks hope to know more about the veteran right-hander's condition by Wednesday.

Padres manager Craig Stammen said Tuesday that Waldron is "week-to-week" after undergoing hemorrhoid surgery, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Waldron is in competition for a spot in the Padres' rotation and threw two scoreless innings in his first Cactus League appearance. However, it's going to be difficult for the knuckleballer to earn one of those spots now. Waldron is coming off a rough 2025 season, as he was knocked around in his lone start for the Padres and posted a 6.67 ERA in 18 starts with Triple-A El Paso.

Brubaker didn't factor into the decision during Monday's 6-2 Cactus League win over the Athletics, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks across one inning.

Brubaker got the start in his first game action this spring but gave up two singles, two walks and a double in his lone frame. The right-hander re-signed with San Francisco on a one-year, $1.8 million pact after joining the club on a minor-league contract in August following his release from the Yankees. The 32-year-old appeared in five outings (one start) with the Giants in 2025, recording a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across 12.2 innings. Though he has plenty of experience as a starter, Brubaker appears more likely to operate in long relief to begin the season.

The Brewers say Woodruff (lat) is "on track to begin the season in the rotation," Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff is scheduled for a two-up live batting practice session Sunday and then he will begin game progression, per Rosiak. This report comes one day after Woodruff said his Opening Day availability is "up in the air," so expect many more reports on Woodruff's status between now and the start of the season. Woodruff hasn't thrown 70-plus innings in the majors since 2022, so the Brewers will proceed with caution this spring in hopes of having him available for the postseason.

Yesavage threw a side session Tuesday and is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut sometime next week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The Blue Jays are building up Yesavage deliberately following a considerable workload jump in 2025. His next mound work will be a live batting practice session, and a Grapefruit League start could follow that. The top pitching prospect threw 139.2 innings in 2025, including the postseason, after logging 93.1 innings as a junior at East Carolina in 2024. The Blue Jays plan to manage Yesavage's workload fluidly throughout the season, per Zwelling, who notes that Yesavage could have starts skipped or pushed back depending on how he's recovering between outings.

Irvin allowed one hit and two walks over two scoreless innings in the Nationals' Grapefruit League game against the Phillies on Monday. He struck out two.

The 29-year-old right-hander is one of only two pitchers to make 33 starts each of the last two years, with the other being Giants ace Logan Webb, but the 2025 results for the two couldn't have been more different. Irvin's 5.70 ERA and 38 homers allowed over 180 innings were the worst marks in the majors among qualifying pitchers, and his 1.43 WHIP and 15.8 percent strikeout rate were both significantly worse than the season before as well. With the Nationals having signed Miles Mikolas and Foster Griffin this offseason to bolster their rotation, and Josiah Gray expected back from Tommy John surgery, Irvin may need a strong spring training performance to hang onto his spot.

Merryweather was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League appearance against the Rays with a left hamstring strain, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Merryweather walked the first batter he saw in the third inning and then struck out the next hitter before being pulled. That the Twins are already calling the injury a strain suggests he could be out a while. Merryweather is in Twins camp as a non-roster invitee.

Santos allowed two hits and two walks across one scoreless inning during Monday's 6-2 Cactus League win over the Athletics.

Santos surrendered a double, a single and two walks but was able to escape the third inning without allowing a run. A non-roster invitee to spring training, Santos signed a minor-league pact with San Francisco in mid-December after being non-tendered by the Mariners following a forgettable two-season stretch in which he made just 16 relief appearances while missing time due to right knee and arm issues. He'll look to earn a spot in the San Francisco bullpen and return to form after his injury problems.

O'Brien (calf) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

It will be the first time O'Brien has thrown from the mound since he went down with a minor right calf strain a week ago. The injury is expected to prevent the reliever from pitching for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, but O'Brien should not have trouble ramping up in time for Opening Day if he can avoid setbacks.

Bickford was shut down from throwing Tuesday due to a triceps strain, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Bickford joined Detroit on a minor-league contract in January but is now dealing with an arm injury early in camp. The right-hander was already a longshot to crack the Opening Day roster, and the injury likely guarantees he'll open 2026 at the Triple-A level.

Holmes gave up two runs on one hit and two walks over 3.2 innings in the Mets' Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays on Monday. He struck out three.

The right-hander threw 57 pitches (30 strikes) as he prepares to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Holmes' one real mistake came on an 82.2 mph curveball to Kazuma Okamoto, which the Japanese slugger put over the fence in center field for a two-run home run. It's a pitch Holmes didn't throw at all in 2025. Once he returns to camp from the WBC, Holmes will be battling with Kodai Senga for the fifth spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation, although with only two days off through the first three weeks of their schedule, it's possible the team will roll with a six-man rotation out of the gate.

Stephenson (shoulder) said Tuesday he believes he'll be ready for Opening Day, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

He threw another bullpen session Monday after showing up to camp behind schedule due to a nerve issue and thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms he experienced this offseason. It remains to be seen if Stephenson's stuff has suffered as a result of these physical issues, as he has not made his Cactus League debut yet.

Alvarez will not make his spring debut until "a little bit later" due to normal buildup, per manager Joe Espada, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Carlos Correa and Christian Walker are slated to make their debuts Thursday, with Jose Altuve debuting Friday and Alvarez debuting sometime after that. Alvarez is discounted in fantasy drafts this year due to his injury issues in 2025, so it will be worth tracking how long his spring debut is delayed.

Kjerstad went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

Kjerstad launched his first homer of spring training Sunday. The 27-year-old is battling for an Opening Day roster spot, but Baltimore's offseason acquisition of Taylor Ward certainly makes it more difficult for Kjerstad to make the cut this spring. Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras appear to have a leg up on Kjerstad to open camp, but the Orioles are likely to have the three outfielders battle it out during exhibition action to determine who makes the team.

Stanton isn't expected to play in any Grapefruit League games until "right before or after the Yankees' off day on March 2," Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Stanton reportedly won't have any restrictions this spring, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, but New York is nonetheless keeping him out of the lineup for the first week or so of the exhibition slate. The veteran slugger played in only 77 regular-season games last year but performed well when healthy, posting a .944 OPS with 24 home runs and 66 RBI over 280 plate appearances. Stanton could be a value pick in fantasy if he can stay healthy -- especially since he has regained OF eligibility in most formats, having played 20 games between right and left field last year -- as his ADP currently sits north of 200.

Morel handled a number of tough chances at first base without issue during the Marlins' Grapefruit League opener against the Mets on Saturday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old has never played a game at first base as a professional, but after signing a one-year contract with Miami in December, Morel got to work over the winter to learn the new position. He compared the footwork necessary around the bag to learning a popular dance in his native Dominican Republic. "It's more the feet when you go to cover first base, trying to put your feet correctly," Morel said after Saturday's game. "But we're getting better. Today, we got a few ground balls, and I'm trying to dance bachata today. We need to dance bachata to be a first baseman." While getting his glovework in order is a good first step, he'll likely need to improve his offensive contributions as well to secure a full-time role at first base -- over the last two seasons between the Cubs and Rays, Morel launched 32 homers with 15 steals in 257 games but slashed just .204/.288/.363 with a 29.3 percent strikeout rate.

Ohtani may not be fully stretched out as a pitcher by Opening Day, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani is fully expected to be part of Los Angeles' pitching rotation while fulfilling his usual DH duties from the get-go, but it's unclear how stretched out he'll be as a pitcher due to his participation with Samurai Japan during the World Baseball Classic, as he's slated to work exclusively as a hitter during that tournament. Should the two-way star not be ready to handle a full pitching workload right away, it's very possible that he'll have his pitch count capped until he's fully ramped up. In that scenario, Chen suggests that Justin Wrobleski or another long reliever could work in a piggyback role with Ohtani during the early part of the campaign.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday that Ohtani will remain the team's leadoff hitter during the 2026 season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

For the first time since his final season with the Angels in 2023, Ohtani is preparing for a full season of pitching, but that won't affect the Dodgers' approach with him as their everyday designated hitter. After slugging a career-high 55 home runs while making 148 of his 158 starts out of the leadoff spot during the 2025 regular season, the four-time MVP will continue to set the table for Los Angeles once again in 2026. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani is expected to start at DH in the Dodgers' first two Cactus League games this weekend to get some competitive at-bats under his belt before he joins Team Japan in advance of the World Baseball Classic. Roberts has already said that Ohtani won't pitch for Japan in the WBC, but the two-way phenom will likely continue to build up through bullpen and live batting practice sessions throughout the spring to ensure that he'll be part of the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation.