MLB Player News

Harper mentioned on the Phillies' spring training broadcast Friday that he's on a throwing program but will throw to bases as soon as Monday.

Harper battled back issues late last season, making it tough for him to throw. He's being brought along slowly this spring but made his Grapefruit League debut as a hitter Friday against the Pirates and looked ready to go, homering to left field in his first plate appearance. There should still be plenty of time for Harper to get fully up to speed on both sides of the ball by Opening Day.

Ohtani will pitch as a normal member of the Angels' six-man rotation this season and won't be locked into a specific day of the week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Teams in Ohtani's native Japan typically use six-man rotations and have one off day per week, allowing each starter to pitch on a dedicated day throughout the season. The Angels had kept Ohtani on a similar schedule when he first came to MLB, but they intend to use him in the same way as the rest of their rotation this season. They'll still use a non-standard six-man rotation, which limits his potential two-start weeks, but he'll at least now have the chance to receive a few throughout the season if his turn happens to line up during a week in which the Angels play seven games. The decision comes as part of a broader plan to make fewer exceptions for Ohtani this season, which may include using him as a designated hitter the day after his starts, something the Angels have been hesitant to do thus far.

Manager Scott Servais said Torrens (finger) could receive a couple at-bats at designated hitter in Saturday's spring game against the A's, Lauren Smith of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

The 24-year-old has yet to make his spring debut due to a finger laceration, but it appears he'll be on the field Saturday. If all goes well at the plate, Torrens is then expected to be worked into the catching rotation.

Harper will make his spring debut in Friday's exhibition game against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It was reported earlier in the week that Harper was in no rush to get into games, but he is apparently ready to step into the batter's box and face opposing pitchers for the first time. Harper will serve as the Phillies' designated hitter and hit third Friday.

Cabrera played first base Thursday in a Grapefruit League game, his first appearance there since 2019, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera spent three innings in the field, and manager A.J. Hinch said afterward, "Miggy's a good first baseman. ... He was pretty active." The 37-year-old will now likely get a few days off, but he could return to the lineup this weekend and will likely continue to play first base occasionally into the regular season -- though it remains to be seen how frequently he'll be used defensively. Cabrera played in 57 games in 2020, all as the Tigers' DH.

Belt (heel/illness) played catch and swung in the cage Thursday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Belt is recovering from a non-COVID illness and October heel surgery, but he's been able to participate in baseball activities in recent days. The Giants are still pushing him to be ready in time for Opening Day.

Winker (hip) will lead off and play left field Thursday against the Royals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Winker was scratched Monday with a sore hip, but the Reds called that decision "very precautionary." That appears to be correct, as he's now back in the lineup just three days later. Opening Day is still four weeks away, so he'll have plenty of time to get up to speed by the start of the season.

Torrens has been dealing with a cut on his finger but will make his spring debut over the weekend, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Torrens is expected to back up Tom Murphy this season, but the Mariners have estimated that he'll receive up to 45 percent of the starts behind the plate with Murphy coming off a season missed to injury. The delayed start to Torrens' spring shouldn't hurt him too much in that pursuit, as he'll still have several weeks to prepare for Opening Day.

Pederson went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners.

Pederson hit his first home run of the spring and his first in a Cubs uniform. The 28-year-old outfielder batted cleanup, and he should slot into a prominent lineup spot during the regular season. The Cubs also sound committed to letting Pederson play every day and face lefties, which could help his counting stats but possibly act as a drain on his batting average if he struggles against southpaws.

Ramirez has reported to Cleveland's big-league camp and cleared intake procedures.

He will be competing with a host of similarly talented outfielders for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Ramirez may lack the fantasy upside of players like Daniel Johnson and Bradley Zimmer, but he may be a steadier option early in the season.