The Cleveland Guardians announced on Tuesday that outfield prospect Chase DeLauter (hernia) had surgery this morning to fix a bilateral core-muscle injury (sports hernia) and will miss anywhere from eight to 12 weeks. DeLauter was seen by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia on Monday for an injury that DeLauter sustained doing defensive work in camp on Feb. 28 during a pre-game workout. It's more bad news for the 23-year-old, who is considered by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 2 prospect. DeLauter has only played in 96 games in the minors since the Guardians used a first-round pick on him back in 2022. Foot injuries have mostly been the culprit for DeLauter missing time, but now he'll be rehabbing from hernia surgery early this year, setting his development back even more. Fantasy managers stashing him in dynasty/keeper leagues have to be pretty frustrated.

After a substandard season in 2024, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso worked hard in the offseason to figure out why his swing got "out of control" in the regular season, per The Athletic's Will Sammon. Co-hitting coach Eric Chavez said Alonso learned the importance of his hips as a power source. Alonso has his hips in the right position before and during his swing, and Chavez said the power hitter has "actually learned how to hit." "It's the best I've ever seen him. I'm very, very optimistic that Pete is going to have a monster year," Chavez said. Ideally, the 30-year-old will both refine his swing and chase bad pitches less frequently. The four-time All-Star bounced back in the batting average department last year, but his .788 OPS was a career-low, and his 34 homers were his fewest in a full season in his career. Staying in New York is a positive for his fantasy value, and fine-tuning his swing mechanics could indeed return Alonso to an elite power guy.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (illness) was scratched from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to a stomach bug that continues to make its way through the team this spring. Casas is under the weather now, but we'd expect him to be feeling good enough to return to spring training action later this week. With the 25-year-old left-handed slugger out on Tuesday, Nathan Hickey will fill in for him at first base and bat cleanup for the BoSox. Casas missed almost four months in 2024 due to torn rib cartilage and had a strikeout rate of 33.3 percent once he returned. The former 26th overall pick in 2018 hit 24 home runs and drove in 165 in his first full MLB season in 132 games in 2023, but his rib injury set him back a year ago. There's no denying that Casas has 30-homer power at first base, but we're still waiting for him to prove it. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 12 first baseman.

Washington Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett cleared waivers on Tuesday and has been outrighted to Triple-A Rochester after he was designated for assignment last week. Garrett fractured his ankle in August of 2023 and was still recovering from the injury early in 2024. The 29-year-old former eighth-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2014 ended up playing in just two games for the Nats last year after hitting .269/.343/.457 with an .801 OPS, nine home runs, 40 RBI, three stolen bases and 40 runs scored in 89 games in 2023. Garrett's .674 OPS in 71 games for Rochester wasn't impressive at all, but he showed in 2023 that he could at least be an option in a short-side platoon role against left-handed pitchers. Unfortunately, Garrett will start at Rochester again this year and will face an uphill battle to carve out a substantial role at the big-league level once again in 2025.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (knee) left Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals due to pain in his left knee, according to the team. Walker will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Jupiter, Fla., to determine the cause and severity of the injury. The 22-year-old departed after just one at-bat and then catching a fly ball in right field in the second inning. Walker most likely tweaked his knee while chasing down the fly ball in the outfield, but we'll have to wait to see if it's a serious enough injury to keep him sidelined for Opening Day in late March. St. Louis' former top prospect had another dismal season in 2024 and was once again optioned to the minors. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 slashed only .201/.253/.366 with five homers, 20 RBI and 50 K's in 178 plate appearances. The good news is he did hit the ball, but making contact was an issue again. The Cardinals plan to give him plenty of run in 2025. It's a make-or-break season for him.