MLB Player News

Alcala threw a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in Wednesday's spring training win over Toronto. He reached 96.3 mph with his fastball.

After a rocky spring debut (two earned runs on two hits with a walk and no strikeouts over one inning), Alcala has improved. He has a 4.50 ERA with a 7:2 K:BB in four innings this spring. Alcala underwent season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery on his elbow in August, so a slow start to the spring isn't surprising. He's expected to be a key setup man and could figure in the mix for saves with the Twins possibly using a committee approach.

White (shoulder) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

White got through a 43-pitch bullpen session over the weekend and is now ready to take the next step in his spring throwing program. If the live BP workout also goes smoothly, he figures to be cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut early next week. It's looking like that offseason shoulder impingement might prove to just be a blip for the 28-year-old right-hander, who is in the running for the final spot in the Blue Jays' season-opening starting rotation. He could be an option in long relief as well.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Armstrong (neck) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "It's highly unlikely he'll be ready to go [for Opening Day]," Cash said. "I don't think anything's been defined with what exactly is going on. But it doesn't appear that he's turning that corner in a positive way."

Armstrong has been sidelined all spring with a neck issue, and though he could theoretically have a chance at being ready to go for Opening Day if he accelerates his throwing program over the next three weeks, the reliever doesn't appear to have made enough tangible progress in his recovery from the injury to put himself on track for the start of the regular season. Whenever he's back to 100 percent, Armstrong could be a factor in the middle innings or as a setup man after logging a 3.60 ERA and two saves across 43 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2022 following his signing with the team last May.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said that Marte has been dealing with some soreness but will toss a bullpen session Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Nevin didn't go into detail about the nature of Marte's injury, but the unspecified soreness explains why the 26-year-old right-handed reliever has yet to make his Cactus League debut. Marte looks as though he'll be able to make an appearance before the end of the spring, but he'll likely be on the outside looking in for a spot in the Angels' Opening Day bullpen.

De Los Santos is available to pitch Wednesday versus Team Mexico, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

De Los Santos was hampered by a hamstring issue early in spring training, but it appears he's moved beyond the injury. The right-hander will begin getting ready for the 2023 campaign. He is expected to fill a mid-leverage role in the bullpen after going 5-0 with a 3.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 61:17 K:BB across 53.1 innings last season.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Bachman (general soreness) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Bachman hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since Feb. 26, but Nevin said that the right-hander has since been cleared to return to action and is likely to pitch in at least one more exhibition before heading to minor-league camp. After logging a 3.92 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 30:25 K:BB in 12 starts for Double-A Rocket City in 2022, Bachman could be headed for a return trip to the Southern League to begin the 2023 campaign.

Marinaccio (shin) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Red Sox, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

The Yankees are bringing along Marinaccio slowly this spring, as Boland notes, as he's coming off a stress reaction in his right shin that caused him to miss the end of the 2022 season as well as the postseason. The right-hander was one of the team's best relievers when healthy with a 2.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 56 strikeouts over 44 innings of work. Assuming good health, he'll pitch in the middle innings for New York again in 2023.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Vespi (sports hernia) is slated to throw a simulated game next week, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

After Vespi threw a 35-pitch bullpen session last Friday, there had been some hope that he would be cleared to face hitters this week, but the Orioles will instead continue to take things slowly with the lefty reliever for a few more days. With the Orioles providing no indication that he has suffered a setback in his recovery from the sports hernia surgery he underwent Jan. 5, Vespi still looks on pace to get fully ramped up by the time Opening Day arrives. However, since Vespi doesn't have an extensive track record in the majors and still has two minor-league options remaining, it wouldn't be surprising if the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk before heading north for the start of the regular season.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Bautista (shoulder/knee) is on track to throw live batting practice next week, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The 27-year-old has yet to make his spring debut while battling shoulder and knee soreness, but he's been gradually ramping up through bullpen sessions over the past two weeks and should be ready to take the next meaningful step forward in his buildup process within the next few days. Assuming Bautista is able to get in an appearance or two in a Grapefruit League game or minor-league game on the back fields at some point before spring training ends, he should be ready to handle closing duties for the Orioles by the time Opening Day arrives.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Hall (back) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is set to throw live batting practice in the upcoming days, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Hall won't be an option for Opening Day while he remains behind the Orioles' other pitchers in his throwing progression due to the lower-back injury, but the fact that he's been cleared for mound work with a couple weeks left to go in spring training suggests he shouldn't be headed for an extensive absence to begin the season. The Orioles are still looking to develop the 24-year-old lefty as a starter, so he'll presumably join the Triple-A Norfolk rotation whenever he's deemed to be healthy.