Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (oblique) will make his Cactus League debut on Friday and is hitting third and serving as the designated hitter against the Colorado Rockies. Langford is just now ready to play in spring games after missing the first couple weeks of spring training games due to a mild oblique strain. The 23-year-old will take it slow and start off by serving as the DH, but he'll now have three weeks to get up to full speed before Opening Day later this month on March 27 against the Boston Red Sox. The former fourth overall pick last year out of the University of Florida slashed .253/.325/.415 with a .740 OPS, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 19 stolen bases and 74 runs scored in 134 games in his MLB debut in 2024 and is one of the best young outfield power/speed threats in the game. In what should be a better Rangers lineup in 2025, Langford is a top-20 fantasy outfielder.

Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby (shoulder) has been dealing with right-shoulder inflammation and underwent an MRI exam that showed no structural damage, according to The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. Kirby has been shut down from throwing in camp despite his wishes and will start the 2025 regular season on the injured list. This is very worrisome for a starting pitcher that RotoBaller had ranked at No. 10 at his position, although if any team is equipped to handle the loss of a high-end starter, it would be Seattle. The good news is there's no structural damage in the 27-year-old's arm, but that doesn't mean that his shoulder won't become an issue later on this year once he comes off the IL. Kirby has had a below-average strikeout rate but has made up for it with impeccable command. His injury should open up a rotation spot for right-hander Emerson Hancock early on.

The Athletic's Katie Woo writes that all inclinations are that the St. Louis Cardinals are leaning towards using left-hander Matthew Liberatore as a multi-inning reliever (a role he excelled in last year) instead as starting-pitching depth. Liberatore has been dominant in spring games so far, retiring 21 of the 22 batters he's faced without allowing a hit. Manager Oliver Marmol said that the 25-year-old southpaw looks to be on a mission this year, but a path to fantasy relevance is unlikely unless he is given a starting-rotation spot. Based on results alone, Liberatore has been much more effective as a reliever -- 3.89 career ERA in relief as opposed to a 5.86 ERA as a starter -- which is why it makes the most sense for him to open the 2025 season out of the bullpen. After moving to relief last August, he had a 25% strikeout rate and 2.67 ERA out of the 'pen.

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) is back in camp with the team, but manager Aaron Boone said it's doubtful that he will play in any Grapefruit League games. We already know that Stanton will open the 2025 regular season on the injured list, so it's not much of a surprise that he won't play in any games this spring while dealing with tennis elbow in both of his arms, something he's dealt with since last season. The 35-year-old veteran slugger has already received two rounds of platelet-rich plasma injections in his elbows to try to alleviate his issues, but he still has no timetable for a return to baseball activities, let alone game action. For an aging player with a lengthy injury history that really only provides fantasy value because of his light-tower power, Stanton has become a very risky fantasy selection in 2025.

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (triceps) is back in the Cactus League lineup on Friday to face the Texas Rangers and right-hander Jacob deGrom. Tovar is starting at shortstop and batting second in the lineup after he was removed early on Wednesday as a precaution after being hit by a pitch on his left triceps. The injury was obviously a minor one for the 23-year-old, who has gone 4-for-17 so far in spring training action with three doubles. The 23-year-old Venezuelan infielder had a league-high 655 at-bats and 45 doubles in 2024 in his second full season in the big leagues while also slashing .269/.295/.469 with a .763 OPS, 26 home runs, 78 RBI, six stolen bases and 83 runs scored in 157 games played. Tovar calls one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the sport as his home, but his lack of patience limits his fantasy upside at a premier position.