MLB Player News

Isbel went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's Cactus League win over the White Sox.

Isbel reached base in both of his at-bats, first via a bunt single in the third inning and then with a 103.8 mph double to lead off the bottom of the fifth frame. Sunday marked the 29-year-old's second two-hit performance of the spring, bringing his Cactus League totals to .231/.355/.269 with a double and two RBI across 11 appearances. Coming off a 2025 season in which he hit .255/.301/.353 with four homers, 33 RBI and 42 runs scored, Isbel will face competition from the likes of Isaac Collins (side), Lane Thomas and Starling Marte for playing time in the outfield. However, Isbel's stellar glove in center field bodes well for him seeing consistent playing time in 2026.

Jenkins (hamstring) is expected to be ready for the start of the Triple-A St. Paul Saints season, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Jenkins was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain March 1, but he could return to play in a minor-league game this week. The 21-year-old received a taste of the Triple-A level late last year and has a decent chance of making his MLB debut at some point in 2026.

Larnach was scratched from the Minnesota lineup ahead of Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Red Sox due to left side soreness, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. "As of right now, we don't think [Larnach's injury] is significant enough to get [medical] imaging," manager Derek Shelton said after the game.

Larnach is scheduled to be evaluated again Monday. The outfielder's injury doesn't appear to be anything too serious, but if he's not ready to go for Opening Day, Alan Roden and James Outman would likely both be included on the 26-man active roster to begin the season.

Lowe (oblique) served as the Angels' designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Mariners in Cactus League play.

Lowe checked back into the spring lineup for the first time since Feb. 25 after a sore left oblique kept him out of action. The Angels eased Lowe back in by having him serve as a DH, but he should get some exposure to the corner outfield in the coming days. Lowe has just one hit through 10 at-bats in the Cactus League, but regardless of how he performs over the rest of the spring, he's likely to begin the season in a strong-side platoon role for the Angels.

LaViolette (hand) struck out in his lone at-bat and played two innings in left field in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Padres in Cactus League play.

Though LaViolette hasn't been taking part in spring training with the big club, the Guardians opted to bring him aboard for Saturday's game to serve as an extra option in the outfield. A first-round pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, LaViolette didn't see any game action after being selected last summer while he recovered from a cleanup procedure on his left hand, but he appears to be heading into 2026 with a clean bill of health. The 22-year-old outfielder is likely to open the season at Single-A Hill City.

The Athletics are planning on having Butler (knees) make his Cactus League debut Tuesday versus the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Butler's spring debut has been delayed after he underwent surgery on his right knee in October to repair a torn patellar tendon, as well as receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee. Though the 25-year-old has been able to stay on top of his hitting progression, he's needed more time to complete a running program and take part in full defensive drills. Butler appeared to be running the bases at full speed during his workout Sunday, so the outfielder may have cleared the final hurdle in his long recovery process. Since he's already been able to get plenty of competitive at-bats in through live batting practice sessions and simulated games, Butler may need to play just a couple of Cactus League games to prove that he's ready to go for Opening Day.

The Guardians optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

Rodriguez played in 31 games for Cleveland during the regular season last year and had a .626 OPS with two home runs and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate. He batted .273 across 25 plate appearances during spring training and failed to record any extra-base hits.

Kwan (illness) is starting in left field and batting leadoff in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.

The 28-year-old was held out of the lineup Saturday due to an upper-respiratory infection but will make a quick return to the starting nine. Kwan has found his power stroke through 11 spring games with a double, a triple and two homers, resulting in a .947 OPS.

Vierling, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, is sporting a 1.039 OPS this spring.

Vierling has gone 11-for-31 with six extra-base hits and seven RBI in 11 Grapefruit League contests to date. The 29-year-old is expected to serve as a fourth outfielder and possible infield option this year, though his strong play could ultimately lead to elevated playing time. Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez are struggling this spring, and both are candidates to cede time to Vierling if he continues to outperform them at the plate in the regular season.

Varsho went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

After launching two homers Friday against the Twins, Varsho went deep again Saturday to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, this time against two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal on a 95.5 mph sinker that he crushed to right-center field. Varsho now has four home runs in 35 spring plate appearances as part of a .455/.486/1.000 slash line, and the 29-year-old center fielder might only need to stay healthy to put together breakout campaign in 2026.