MLB Player News

Garver went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Angels.

Garver is off to a sizzling start this spring, as he's now gone 6-for-15 with two homers and three RBI in six outings. It's an encouraging sign for the veteran slugger, who struggled at the dish while logging a .627 OPS in 430 plate appearance during his debut season in Seattle a year ago. Garver appears ticketed for a bench role as the Mariners' backup catcher to begin 2025, but he could push Mitch Haniger for at-bats at designated hitter if the former continues to swing a hot bat.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Thursday that Ohtani will not face hitters as a pitcher leading up to the season-opening series in Japan so that he can ramp up his preparations as a hitter, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani threw his last bullpen Feb. 25. He has continued to playing catch, but the organization is giving him a pause from ramping up his pitching so he can intensify his hitting. Roberts also talked about May as a potential time for Ohtani's return to pitching but added that they "just don't know" when the NL MVP will be able to take the mound, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that Stanton will rejoin the club in Florida this weekend after he receives a second round of platelet-rich plasma injections in his elbows, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cashman added that Stanton -- who is dealing with tennis elbow in both arms -- will still not be able to do much when it comes to baseball activities, but the hope is that the PRP injections help hasten the recovery process and allow him to avoid surgery, which is seen as a "last resort." Stanton has already been ruled out for Opening Day, and his timetable to return is currently open-ended.

Buxton went 1-for-2 with a home run and stole third base in Sunday's spring training tie with Tampa Bay. He's hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two stolen bases and a home run in five games this spring.

Buxton enters 2025 coming off a rare season during which he finished the year healthy and didn't have any offseason surgeries or rehabilitations. An uncommon steal of third base shows he and the Twins are feeling very confident about his health this spring. While he's played over 100 regular-season games just twice in 10 seasons, perhaps this is the year he finally puts it all together.

The Cardinals declined overtures from teams overseas this offseason that wanted to acquire Baker's rights, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Goold says the Cardinals see Baker as being able to contribute as a right-handed batter off the bench and decided to keep him in that role instead. Baker will turn 28 soon and has topped 30 home runs each of the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis, so there's nothing left for him to prove in the minors. However, it would probably take an injury or two for him to see regular at-bats with the Cardinals this season.

Stanton (elbows) will begin the season on the injured list, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Stanton has been away from the team tending to a personal matter in New York since Monday. However, he's been continuing his rehab while away, receiving platelet-rich plasma injections in both of his elbows to help treat his tendinitis. He's expected to rejoin the team within the next week, but there is currently no timetable for his return.

Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a Cactus League win over the Angels on Friday.

Ohtani didn't take long to remind the baseball world about his 2024 MVP season, as he hit an opposite-field home run on the sixth pitch he saw during his first at-bat this spring. The two-way star's subsequent plate appearances were less dramatic, as he popped out in the second inning and struck out in the fifth. Ohtani is expected to begin the regular season strictly in a hitting role, but manager Dave Roberts said in early February that he expects Ohtani to be pitching in big-league games by May.

Harper (triceps) will return to the Phillies' lineup for Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper exited Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays after being hit on the right triceps by a pitch, but the exit was precautionary. He had a scheduled day off Thursday and will be back in there Friday.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that he's not sure when Stanton (elbows) will return to camp, but the skipper is hopeful it will happen "soon," Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton is dealing with tennis elbow in both arms and returned to New York earlier this week, although that trip was "personal in nature," per Boone. The manager indicated Monday that he hopes Stanton can return healthy "in the middle of the season," so it doesn't appear the Yankees expect to have their designated hitter playing in games anytime soon.

Harper sustained a bruised right tricep after getting hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Blue Jays, but Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he's "not over concerned" about the injury, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

A Richard Lovelady offering caught Harper on the arm during a sixth-inning plate appearance, and the first baseman was immediately pulled from the game for a pinch runner. While Harper will be re-evaluated Thursday, the expectation is that he'll be fine moving forward. Harper was not going to play Thursday, regardless, and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday versus the Red Sox.