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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper throws to third base after fielding a single by New York Mets’ Daniel Murphy in the ninth inning of a spring training game Thursday in Viera, Fla.
AP PHOTO
Washington Nationals
Rookie Harper stays on big league roster
Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper will remain on the big league roster, at least for now.
The Nationals cut pitcher Cla Meredith and sent several players down to the minors on Friday, but kept Harper with the major league club.
The Nationals have said all along that they intend to start Harper in the minors this season. Manager Jim Riggleman says he’s not sure when the team will make that move with him.
Detroit Tigers
Despite DWI arrest, Cabrera ‘focused’
Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera said he remains focused on baseball following the release of the police report detailing his February arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.
Cabrera was the first Tiger on the field Friday, running through his routine conditioning drills. Afterward, he fielded questions from the media before Detroit’s game against St. Louis, though a team official wouldn’t allow direct questions about his off-field issues.
“You’ve got to be day by day,” said Cabrera, who went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI against St. Louis.
Baltimore Orioles
Roberts scheduled for MRI on back
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, sidelined this week because of back spasms, will have an MRI exam today.
After the Orioles’ 13-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, manager Buck Showalter said Roberts saw a specialist and was given some “trigger-point injections.”
Roberts missed most of last season with a herniated disk in his back and a concussion. He slid headfirst into first base on Monday against the New York Yankees and has not played since. He said Wednesday that he may have aggravated the condition.
Showalter said that he hoped Roberts would be available for the season opener at Tampa Bay on April 1.
New York Yankees
After fall, Berra returns to ballpark
Yogi Berra was fast — with a quip, anyway.
A day after the 85-year-old Hall of Famer tripped and fell in the clubhouse while going to get a bowl of soup, Berra was at the ballpark Friday for the New York Yankees’ game against Atlanta.
“I didn’t like the soup,” Berra said.
Berra, a spring training instructor, caught one of his sneakers on the carpet Thursday at Philadelphia’s complex. He went by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution after landing on his backside and was released about four hours later.