Guardians outfielder George Valera made a strong case for the left field job this spring. The 25-year-old has an .833 OPS through 10 games. Valera has not been in the lineup since Monday, and manager Stephen Vogt revealed he is dealing with a left calf problem. He will remain out for a few more days, reports Tim Stebbins of MLB.com.
Valera made his debut in the last month of the 2025 campaign. He posted a respectable 113 wRC+ in his short time with Cleveland. The left-hander was on the bench in Game 1 of the Wild Card round Tarik Skubal on the mound for the Tigers, but started in right field in the next two games of the series. Valera went back Casey Mize in the first inning of Game 2, setting the tone for Cleveland’s one-run win.
The Guardian struggled to find a sustained offense in the outfield last year. Steven Kwan he had a great season, but Cleveland finished dead in OPS in both center and right field. Angel Martinez it was a big case in the center, with Nolan Jones dragging the numbers to the right. The current plan for next season is for Kwan to move into midfield, with Valera and the top prospect Chase DeLauter handle the corners, at least against right-handed pitching. Martinez and Jonathan Rodriguez can be a factor against lefties.
Despite stumbling in his first taste of Triple-A, Valera held his own as a hitter at all minor league levels. Injuries shortened his career in 2025, but he slashed .255/.346/.457 in 28 games in Columbus.
A person who has just entered this stage is dealing with minor injuries of his own. Isaac Collins of the Royals is working on back/side tightness, reports MLB.com’s Anne Rogers. The outfielder has not been ready for the spring game since Tuesday. Collins downplayed the issue with Rogers, describing the injury as something he didn’t want to get over with Opening Day so close.
Kansas City got Collins and a right-hander Nick Mears from the Brewers Angel Zerpa in the middle of December. The outfielder was a late bloomer, playing for Milwaukee at age 26 in 2024. He only appeared in 11 games that season, but emerged as an everyday player this past year.
Collins posted a 122 wRC+ in 441 plate appearances in his first extra chance as a major leaguer. He drove in nine runs and had 16 stolen bases. Braves catcher Drake Baldwin he took home NL Rookie of the Year honors comfortably, but Collins finished fourth in the polls, trailing his former teammate. Caleb Durbin.
Similar to the pitchers, the Royals had a tough time getting reliable offensive production from the outfield last season. The club made sure to address that need this winter, trading for Collins and signing Lane Thomas again Star Marte. The two veteran additions are in right tackle, making them logical teammates Kyle Isbell again Jac Caglianone. The switch-hitter Collins should be ticketed for an everyday gig in left field, assuming this injury isn’t too serious.
The White Sox outfield will lose a familiar face this year, and a long-time pitcher Luis Robert Jr. we faced the Mets. His potential replacement is now dealing with an arm injury. Brooks Baldwin was sidelined with elbow inflammation, according to Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times. The 25-year-old has been out of the spring game for more than a week. “Talking to the coaches, we got the picture, we did everything,” Baldwin said.But great pain there, [we’re trying] to find that we should calm down and take one day at a time and see where we are.”
Baldwin spent most of the 2025 season with the big league club, slashing .240/.290/.407 with 11 home runs across 103 games. He made 64 starts in the outfield, but also had double-digit appearances at second base, third base, and shortstop. Baldwin is headed for a regular center role this year, alongside him Andrew Benintendi and new arrivals Austin Hays. If he is forced to miss a time, he doesn’t go Derek Hill and a former Yankee Everson Pereira can be candidates to see opportunities increase.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
