Athletics first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League win over the Texas Rangers, and he's gone 3-for-7 with two RBI, two runs, a walk, and a strikeout in his three spring games. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger is part of the A's exciting mix of young players. He signed a seven-year, $86 million contract extension in December after slashing .276/.346/.474 with a career-high .820 OPS, 25 home runs, 93 RBI, 75 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 624 plate appearances over 158 games played in his first full season in the big leagues in 2025. With Nick Kurtz locked in at first base, Soderstrom will be the A's regular in left field going into the 2026 campaign. His batted-ball metrics indicate his breakout was for real, especially as he made more contact.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to approach shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin with a long-term contract extension this spring, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Despite being only 19 years old with just 21 games of experience beyond High-A in the minor leagues, Griffin is the No. 1 prospect in the sport and is trending toward beginning the 2026 season as Pittsburgh's starting shortstop. If the 2025 Minor-League Player of the Year isn't on the Opening Day roster, it shouldn't be long before he makes his MLB debut. Passan writes that Griffin has "top-of-the-scale power and speed with a nifty glove and a shotgun-blast arm." His work ethic is also off the charts. If he makes the Opening Day roster, Griffin would be the first teenage hitter to debut on Opening Day since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989. A contract extension this spring would accelerate his timetable to the big leagues and continue to raise his ADP in fantasy baseball drafts.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on MLB Network on Thursday that designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will see time in left field this season. Espada discussed how Alvarez enjoys playing left field, so the skipper believes it's important to get him some time on defense. It also allows the Astros to get some other players looks in the DH spot. It's unclear if it will be enough to give the Cuban left-handed slugger outfield eligibility in fantasy leagues, but if it is, it will make Alvarez even more attractive as a potential bounce-back candidate after his injury-plagued 2025 season. The 28-year-old three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year only played in 48 games and hit .273/.367/.430 with a career-worst .797 OPS, six home runs, 27 RBI, and 17 runs scored. Durability is the issue for Alvarez, but if he can stay healthy, he could easily post his fifth 30-homer season.

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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (hamstring) is expected to make his return to the lineup on Sunday or Monday, according to Shawn McFarland. Jung was pulled from Thursday's lineup as a precaution due to a hamstring issue. He was initially expected to return on Friday, but the team is giving him a few extra days to rest. It's early in camp, so teams are usually going to be extremely cautious with players, even with minor issues. When healthy, Jung has good upside, but keeping him on the field has been a struggle. Last season, Jung slashed .251/.294/390 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI in a career-high 131 games. The 28-year-old could be worth a look as a late-round option due to his power upside.

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Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. This will mark the first time that Kerkering has thrown since suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain earlier this month. If everything goes well, Kerkering should progress to facing live hitters. After that, Kerkering should get back to pitching in live games. The right-hander has plenty of time to ramp up at his own pace before Opening Day. Last season, Kerkering posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 65/27 K/BB ratio across 69 games with the Phillies. He figures to be an important late-inning option, but his fantasy value is limited due to the lack of save opportunities.

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Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi (side) was scratched ahead of Friday's Spring Training contest versus the Texas Rangers. Benintendi was pulled out of the lineup due to right-side soreness. For now, Benintendi is considered day-to-day, so hopefully, he has avoided any significant issues. The 31-year-old is coming off a decent campaign with the White Sox in 2025. He slashed .240/.307/.431 with 20 home runs and 63 RBI in 116 games. Darren Baker took over in left field on Friday and could see an expanded role until Benintendi returns.

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New York Mets infielder Grae Kessinger (knee) is reportedly getting imaging done after suffering a left knee injury during Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the St. Louis Cardinals. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the injury didn't look too good, but the team will wait until the MRI comes back before they decide the next step. Normally, Kessinger's presence wouldn't be a huge factor, but he's currently in the running for the starting shortstop gig. Francisco Lindor (hand) is uncertain for Opening Day, so the Mets might need to pivot once again if Kessinger misses significant time. The 28-year-old was unlikely to make a big impact on the Mets, given his .131/.243/.213 career slash line. However, the injury to Kessinger gives the Mets less depth going forward.

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Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers (back) was scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's Grapefruit League game versus the Washington Nationals. It's early in camp, so teams are going to play it safe even with minor issues. It sounds like Meyers is dealing with back spasms, so he should be considered day-to-day. This injury shouldn't be something that impacts his status for Opening Day. Meyers is looking to build off his breakout campaign in 2025. He slashed .292/.354/.373 with three home runs, 24 RBI, and 16 steals in 104 games with the Astros last season. Kellen Strahm figures to see more time in center field until Meyers is ready to return.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader (thumb) was removed early during Friday's Cactus League game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bader was taken out of Friday's contest after his lone at-bat due to a right thumb contusion. It's unclear how Bader suffered the injury, but there should be more information later. At the moment, fantasy managers should consider Bader as day-to-day, but the organization should give another update on him soon. He signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants in the offseason to be the everyday option in center field. Will Brennan or Jerar Enarnacion could see more at-bats if Bader misses any time.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim rebuilt his swing from the ground up in the offseason after struggling with big-league pitching in his first year in the league in 2025, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Hitting coach Aaron Bates said Kim's swing last year was too "twisted," and his inability to adjust to breaking pitches made him vulnerable. Dodgers coaches worked to get the 5-foot-10 South Korean native to use the "ground to generate more of his power and stability," and they also made subtle adjustments to keep him "squared up to the ball longer." In his first four Cactus League games, Kim has gone 6-for-13 with a home run. The 27-year-old has really impressed this spring, putting him in position for a more prominent role in 2026. Kim didn't make the Opening Day roster last year. He finished with a .280 batting average, but it came with a .699 OPS and 30.6% strikeout rate. With Tommy Edman (ankle) set to start on the injured list, Kim has made a strong case to open the year in a utility role on the big-league roster.

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Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober was bothered by a hip injury last spring, and it lingered all season long, leading to "compromised mechanics, decreased velocity, and a career-worst 5.10 ERA in 146 1/3 innings." Ober has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game in spring training, instead "ramping up with live bullpen sessions," according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. "Physically, I'm feeling good," Ober said. "I'm throwing more bullpens this year, just making sure everything mechanically is lined up." The 30-year-old veteran also worked with a hip specialist in the offseason and is hoping to bounce back for the Twins in 2026. Before he battled injuries last year, Ober had three straight seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA, and he also had a career-high 191 punchouts in 178 2/3 innings over 31 starts in 2024. With better health and increased velocity, Ober could return to form and be a great value pick late in fantasy baseball drafts.

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New York Mets right-handed reliever Devin Williams gave up a home run on his first pitch in Grapefruit League action on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. It's not exactly what Mets fans wanted to see, especially after Williams' struggles across town with the New York Yankees in 2025. The home run was the only hit he allowed in his one inning of work, and he didn't walk or strike out a batter. The Mets signed the 31-year-old to a three-year, $51 million contract in December, likely locking him in as the closer to begin the year to replace Edwin Diaz, who left in free agency. Williams blew four saves in 22 chances last year in the Bronx and ultimately lost his grip on the closer's role two separate times, finishing with a 4.79 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 90:25 K:BB in 62 frames. He'll be a top-10 closer in fantasy for one of the best teams in baseball, but Williams could have a short leash if he struggles again.

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Boston Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer, who has quickly developed an injury-prone label, "set out on a mission to gain more strength and speed" to withstand the rigors of his first full major-league season, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. The 23-year-old has never played more than 91 games in a season since he was taken fourth overall in 2021 due to back, shoulder, and wrist injuries. Mayer entered camp this year at 220 pounds, the most he's ever weighed, but he also feels "fast and explosive." He has much more to prove this year as he looks to lock down a starting job at either second or third base in 2026. Mayer's rookie season in 2025 ended early in August due to right-wrist surgery, and he hit just .228 with a .674 OPS in 44 games in Boston before the injury. If Mayer can stay healthy, steal more bases, and limit his strikeouts (especially against lefties) in 2026, he could be an excellent sleeper candidate in fantasy baseball with potential multi-position eligibility.

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San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (hamstring) was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to a tight left hamstring, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. For now, Devers will be considered day-to-day until we know more about the severity of his injury. If it ends up being something more serious, young first baseman Bryce Eldridge would handle everyday duties at the cold corner in San Fran to open up the 2026 season. The 29-year-old Dominican was traded to the Giants last year, and although he hit 20 homers in the Bay Area in 90 games played, he hit just .236 (79-for-335) with 116 K's and 56 walks. Overall, Devers had a .252/.372/.479 slash line, .851 OPS, 35 homers, and 109 RBI in 163 games played. A full season in a pitcher-friendly park in San Fran isn't ideal, but Devers is still a pretty solid option at first base with a high floor after the elite names come off the board.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (wrist) was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in camp on Friday, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. It will be Crawford's first time facing hitters since last summer, before he suffered a wrist injury that required surgery. Because the 29-year-old is behind the other pitchers in spring training -- he also missed time due to the flu -- there's a chance he'll open the 2026 regular season on the injured list. The injuries started for Crawford last spring after he threw a career-high 183 2/3 innings in 2024, with the Red Sox shutting him down due to patellar tendon soreness. He ended up not pitching at all in the big leagues for the BoSox in 2025, which means when he's ready to go this year, he'll likely have limited upside in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues while the Red Sox limit his workload.

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Baltimore Orioles right-hander Shane Baz looked good in his Grapefruit League debut with the team on Friday, allowing no runs and no hits while walking two and striking out four in 2 1/3 innings pitched, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Baz threw 25 of his 39 pitches for strikes during the outing and retired seven of the nine batters he faced, including each of the final five. He generated eight whiffs, and his four-seam fastball maxed out at 98.6 mph. It was an impressive debut for the former Rays pitcher. Baz struggled in his final season in Tampa in 2025, particularly at home at Steinbrenner Field, and he finished with a 10-12 record, 4.87 ERA (4.37 FIP), 1.33 WHIP, a career-high 176 strikeouts, and 64 walks in 166 1/3 innings over 31 starts. If Baz can become more consistent in Baltimore -- the move to a more pitcher-friendly venue should help -- he can become a nice back-end rotation piece for fantasy managers in mixed leagues.

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Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that shortstop Corey Seager (illness) was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox because he's feeling under the weather, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Seager will be down for a couple of days or so. The 31-year-old veteran and five-time All-Star fell short of the 30-homer mark in 2025 to break a streak of three straight seasons with 30 homers. He once again missed considerable time due to injury and finished with a .271/.373/.487 slash line, .860 OPS, 21 home runs, 50 RBI, 61 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 445 plate appearances over 102 games played. Seager definitely has the skills to return to the 30-homer mark in Texas in 2026, but durability concerns are real, dropping him to No. 13 in RotoBaller's fantasy shortstop rankings.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) has been making progress in his throwing progression in camp, but he's been limited to flat-ground work so far, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Roberts acknowledged that, given the calendar, it will be "hard" for Snell to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. Although the 33-year-old two-time Cy Young winner finished last season healthy and as a World Series champion, he admitted that he was gassed after missing four months due to left-shoulder issues during the regular season. Snell isn't dealing with a shoulder injury this spring, but the Dodgers are slow-playing so that he can be healthy for the entire 2026 campaign. He most likely will not be part of L.A.'s Opening Day starting rotation, and when he does debut in April, he will probably be on an inning limit. It might make Snell more of a value pick in upcoming drafts. He's still worthy of a SP3 spot for his strikeout upside on the best team in baseball.

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Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Stephen Kolek (oblique) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus left oblique strain and will be shut down for the next week or so, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Kolek's timeline for a recovery will depend on how he responds to rest and recovery, putting his availability for Opening Day in late March very much up in the air. The 28-year-old's injury definitely hurts his chances of winning a spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 regular season. Kolek ended up making 19 starts with the Royals and San Diego Padres last year while going 5-7 with a 3.51 ERA (3.82 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, and 77:31 K:BB in 112 2/3 innings pitched. He started the year off with an impressive 14 1/3 straight scoreless innings and even threw a shutout at Coors Field before posting a 5.10 ERA in 12 starts. Kolek is a ground-ball artist with limited strikeout upside, limiting his fantasy appeal to AL-only leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is fully healthy this spring, which is evident by the way the ball is bouncing off his bat in spring training and by the way he's gliding around the bases, according to Charlie Goldsmith. "I've always been healthy," De La Cruz said. "It feels good to be healthy. That's for everybody. Everybody wants to be healthy to be able to play every day. I'm excited. I feel proud of my work. I put a lot of work in the offseason. It feels good to see it working." He has five hits in his first nine Cactus League at-bats, which includes three doubles, a triple, and a homer. It appears the 24-year-old's work in the offseason to get stronger is already paying off at the plate. De La Cruz battled a significant quad injury in the second half of 2025 and went into a prolonged slump where he didn't homer over a 74-game stretch. The Dominican was still an All-Star and stole 37 bases and hit 22 home runs, but it was a drop from his 2024 numbers. With better health this year, De La Cruz could easily end up being the most valuable fantasy shortstop in 2026.

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