Chicago Cubs infielder Vidal Brujan (elbow) is dealing with a right-elbow injury after banging it on the outfield wall while trying to make a catch in Cactus League action over the weekend. The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma reports that Brujan could start the year on the injured list. In his first camp with the Cubs, the 27-year-old Dominican hit just .222 (8-for-36) with a homer, double, triple, three RBI, five stolen bases and five runs scored in 16 spring training games. When healthy, he figures to serve as a utility infielder across the diamond for the Cubs, limiting his fantasy appeal to basically NL-only leagues. In his four major-league seasons to this point with the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins, Brujan has struggled at the plate, slashing .189/.261/.270 with a .531 OPS, five homers, 40 RBI and 14 steals in 201 games played.
Vidal Brujan, Alexander Canario, Gage Workman Good Bets For Opening Day Roster
Because of the fact that Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (elbow) isn't a lock for Opening Day in 2025, utility men Vidal Brujan, Alexander Canario and Gage Workman are safe picks for the roster going into spring training, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The Cubs acquired Brujan from the Miami Marlins this offseason, and the 27-year-old can play both infield and outfield. Canario is out of minor-league options and will give the Cubs a right-handed bat off the bench against lefties. Workman can play multiple infield positions, but as a Rule 5 pick, he must remain on the big-league roster or be sent back to the Detroit Tigers. Once a top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brujan has struggled offensively in the majors, but he certainly will give Chicago positional flexibility. Canario, 24, has an .857 OPS in just 52 major-league at-bats the last two years.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Chicago Cubs are acquiring infielder Vidal Brujan from the Miami Marlins in exchange for first baseman Matt Mervis. Brujan began his big league career with the Tampa Bay Rays before moving to Miami last summer. Across a hefty 227 games at the Triple-A level, the infielder held a strong .272/.357/.451 line with 243 total hits and 89 stolen bases. However, the 26-year-old was never able to see that production translate to the major leagues as he posted a poor .189/.261/.270 slash line across 201 games at the major leagues. He swiped only 14 bags and hit five long balls. Brujan could compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will likely spend most of the summer at Triple-A, given his struggles in the majors.
According to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of the Miami Chapter Chair, the Miami Marlins have released infielder Vidal Brujan to make room for third baseman Eric Wagaman. Brujan began his major league career in the Tampa Bay system. Across 227 games at Triple-A, Brujan posted a solid .272/.357/.451 line with 29 home runs and 89 stolen bases. However, he struggled when he was given the call to the big leagues. In 2022, the infielder carried an underwhelming .163/.228/.259 line across a 52-game stint. Last season he played 102 games with the Miami Marlins and struggled as well posting a .222/.303/.319 line with just two home runs and five swiped bags. While he flashed great contact skills and speed in the minor leagues, he has yet to put it together in the majors. If he does find a suitor, he will likely compete for a spot on an Opening Day Roster during Spring Training.
Miami Marlins infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan (shoulder) exited with a right shoulder AC joint sprain in Tuesday's game against the hosting division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Brujan injured his shoulder while making a spectacular diving catch in foul ground to end the third inning of Tuesday's series opener against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park. He was clearly shaken up after getting to his feet, then being lifted for pinch-hitter Cristian Pache to begin the fourth inning. Although it's not saying much, the 26-year-old former top prospect is having his most successful season in the major leagues in 2024 by slashing .214/.302/.321 with two home runs, 13 RBI, 29 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 243 plate appearances (88 games) as a part-time utility man for the Marlins. Fantasy managers can deem him day-to-day prior to Tuesday's clash with the Phillies.
Miami Marlins infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan will take a seat on the bench for Friday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres with veteran left-hander Martin Perez on the bump in South Beach. Brujan has now been on the bench the last four times that the Fish have faced a southpaw. The Marlins will roll with Kyle Stowers, Derek Hill and David Hensley across the outfield from left to right field, respectively. Brujan, who is a switch-hitter, has actually been better against lefties than righties in 2024 but is hitting a combined .218/.306/.316 with a .622 OPS, one homer, 12 RBI, four stolen bases and 28 runs scored in 206 at-bats on the year, making him avoidable in mixed fantasy leagues. It's not a good sign that he's been on the bench the last four games against lefties after Miami traded away so much position-player talent at the July 30 deadline.
Miami Marlins super-utility man Vidal Brujan will start on the bench for Tuesday's contest against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Brujan has the ability to play all over the diamond but got the start in center field on Monday and figures to share playing time there moving forward with new outfielder Cristian Pache. Pache is in center field on Tuesday and will hit in the six-hole against Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo. Pache is hitting .400 with a 1.100 OPS against Lodolo in his career, albeit in only five at-bats. DFS managers should be able to find better low-cost sleepers on Tuesday than Pache, who is hitting just .209 (23-for-110) this year with no home runs. Brujan, 26, should be a lineup regular for the Fish the rest of the way, but he's hitting a weak .219/.308/.318 with a homer, 11 RBI and four steals in 201 at-bats in 2024.
Miami Marlins infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan (undisclosed) is back in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the visiting Boston Red Sox, starting at second base and batting seventh against Red Sox right-hander Cutter Crawford. Brujan missed both Saturday and Sunday against the Phillies for undisclosed reasons but is back in there after an off day on Monday. Otto Lopez (undisclosed) was scratched for unknown reasons on Tuesday. Xavier Edwards, who was just called up from Triple-A Jacksonville, will start at the 6 and bat sixth for the Fish. Veteran and former All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson was designated for assignment on Tuesday, so Brujan and Edwards should be the primary candidates to fill the shortstop position moving forward. Brujan is expected to be the biggest beneficiary as an everyday player for Miami now.
Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said that infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan has "a high likelihood" of winning a spot on the Opening Day roster out of camp. "He's got a really good chance to make the team," Schumaker said. "He's versatile. He's done enough in Triple-A. He can run. He switch hits. He can do a lot of things for us. I haven't told him that he's made the team or anything like that, but I would anticipate him being part of our club." The 26-year-old was acquired in the offseason from the Rays and doesn't have minor-league options remaining, so it makes sense. Unless injuries strike Miami's starters, though, Brujan projects to be a super-utility man in Miami. In his three big-league seasons in Tampa, Brujan hit just .157/.218/.221 with three homers, 24 RBI and nine steals in 99 games played.
Marlins Acquire Vidal Brujan, Calvin Faucher From Rays
The Miami Marlins acquired infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan and right-hander Calvin Faucher (biceps) from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in exchange for infielder Erick Lara, right-hander Andrew Lindsey and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Brujan, a 25-year-old Dominican switch-hitter, really struggled offensively in his three seasons with the Rays, slashing .157/.218/.221 with three home runs, 24 RBI and nine stolen bases in 99 games played. He'll bring mostly defensive versatility to the Marlins and will likely start 2024 in the minors. Faucher, 28, finished the season on the 60-day injured list and had a rough 7.01 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with 12 walks and 25 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings over four outings (three starts) for Tampa this year.
Vidal Bruján
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