Shohei Ohtani is likely to get two or three plate appearances Tuesday when he makes his exhibition debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago White Sox. Ohtani has looked sharp in practice this spring and took live batting practice on Sunday. Manager Dave Roberts has said Ohtani will dictate how many at-bats he gets Tuesday, but he expected him to come up two or three times.
Free agent Jurickson Profar and the San Diego Padres finalized a $1 million, one-year contract on Saturday that gives the 30-year-old outfielder the chance to make an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. San Diego started spring training with only two outfielders on its 40-man roster, right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and José Azocar. Profar primarily played left field with the Padres from 2020-22 and again when he rejoined them late last season, although he played some at the other outfield positions as well as in the infield and as the designated hitter.
Infielder Gio Urshela and the Detroit Tigers agreed Thursday to a $1.5 million, one-year contract, a move that figures to create competition at third base with Zach McKinstry, Matt Vierling and Andy Ibañez. Urshela can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $100,000 each for 500 and each additional 30 through 620. The 32-year-old Colombian hit .299 with two homers and 24 RBIs in 62 games last season for the Los Angeles Angels, who acquired him from Minnesota in November 2022.
When college baseball player Matt Masciangelo was hit by 8 pitches in 9 at bats, he either seriously drew the ire of the other team or suffered really bad misfortune.