MLB Player News

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Carroll (hand) could make his Cactus League debut as soon as this week, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

Carroll has made a swift recovery from surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right hand, an operation he had a little less than a month ago. If the outfielder does indeed get into Cactus League action later this week, he should be able to reach his goal of being ready in time for Opening Day.

Baez popped a two-run home run in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.

Baez's seventh-inning blast off of Nestor German traveled 416 feet and was measured at 109.4 mph off the bat. It's the third long ball in as many games for Baez, who was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason after a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him slash .287/.384/.500 with 20 homers and 54 stolen bases between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. Baez drew his first start in left field this spring Monday, and there is playing time available at that position with Lars Nootbaar (heels) expected to begin the season on the injured list. It's unlikely St. Louis would consider the 22-year-old for its Opening Day roster, but Baez could debut at some point this summer if he continues his upward trajectory.

Chourio (hand) will start in center field and bat second for Team Venezuela in Monday's game against Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic.

As anticipated, Chourio will make his return to the starting nine after sitting out Venezuela's first two games of the WBC while recovering from the left hand injury he suffered when he was hit by a pitch Wednesday in an exhibition game. Before joining the Venezuelan team for the WBC, Chourio appeared in six Cactus League games for the Brewers, going 4-for-18 with a 3:3 BB:K.

Robert could make his Grapefruit League debut with the Mets on Thursday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old center fielder has been treated with kid gloves early in the spring, having him play exclusively on back fields, but the Mets appear just about ready to let Robert start ramping up in earnest ahead of Opening Day. "He's in a good place right now," manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday. "You just watch him take batting practice, and the way the ball comes off his bat is different. He could be special." It's been a while since Robert was healthy enough to display his considerable upside, but the last time he played close to a full season in 2023, he slashed .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers and 20 steals in 145 games.

Conine went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Batting third and getting the start in right field, Conine switched places with Christopher Morel at first base to begin the sixth inning. Conine's third-inning long ball off Andre Pallante was his first of the spring, and he's looked good at the plate in Grapefruit League action, batting .278 (5-for-18) with a 6:6 BB:K. Morel remains the favorite to start at first base for the Marlins, but if he isn't able to handle the position defensively or struggles at the plate -- he's batting only .190 (4-for-21) with a 1:7 BB:K in eight spring appearances, after stumbling to a .651 OPS the last two seasons -- Conine may be the next man up.

Gamel went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The veteran outfielder has only reached double-digit homers once in his career, when he hit 11 back in 2017 with the Mariners, but Gamel's already launched four in six spring games, with his other hit being a double. He's in camp with Atlanta as a non-roster invitee and is a long shot to win a spot on the 26-man roster, but the season-long suspension for Jurickson Profar does create an opening. The fact that Gamel hits left-handed eliminates him as a potential platoon partner in left field for Mike Yastrzemski, however, and he might need another injury or absence ahead of him for his sudden spring power display to move the needle on his chances.

The Mets optioned Morabito to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

New York thought highly enough of Morabito to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft this winter and add him to the 40-man roster, but the 22-year-old may need multiple injuries to hit the Mets outfield in order to get a look in the big leagues in 2026. Morabito will be making his Triple-A debut to begin the upcoming season after he spent the entire 2025 campaign at Double-A Binghamton, where he slashed .273/.348/.385 with six home runs and 48 stolen bases over 491 plate appearances.

Gilbert (shoulder) has been cleared to serve as a designated hitter in Cactus League games, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Gilbert is working his way back from a left shoulder impingement and still isn't ready to play defense, but the Giants are comfortable having him hit. The 25-year-old is in the running for a reserve outfielder role in San Francisco, though the shoulder issue preventing him from playing the field doesn't help his chances.

Benson went 1-for-4 with a two-run, inside-the-park home run in Sunday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Benson legged out what looked like a garden-variety double down the line in right field, but he was able to touch all the bases when the ball got behind the outfielder. It was the third home run of the spring for Benson, who is locked in a battle with Rece Hinds and JJ Bleday for a depth spot in the outfield. Reds manager Terry Francona may want an extra left-handed bat, which would eliminate Hinds. All three outfielders have minor-league options remaining.

Call went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two additional RBI in a Cactus League loss to the Athletics on Sunday.

Call's first hit was a solo shot to left field in the third inning, and he added a two-run single in the fourth. The 31-year-old has been on fire offensively this spring, slashing .500/.588/.786 with five RBI through six contests. Call is likely to open the campaign on the big-league roster as a reserve outfielder.