MLB Player News

Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Leclerc (neck) will no longer play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Leclerc is dealing with some left neck tightness, so he and the Rangers have decided it's best he skip the WBC. It is not clear when Leclerc might be cleared to return to Cactus League play. He is the favorite to open the season as the Rangers' primary closer.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Hall (back) won't be able to get built up enough to start by Opening Day, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.

Hall reported to camp with discomfort on the right side of his lower back and isn't expected to be ready for games until the third week of March, so it's not a surprise that he won't be stretched out enough to start. The plan had been for him to compete for a spot in the Orioles' rotation, although, realistically, he was probably either going to start in the Triple-A Norfolk rotation or big-league bullpen. The club has not yet decided how they will handle Hall's role to begin the campaign, but he's pain-free now and is expected to face hitters soon.

White (neck) said Thursday that the injury he's dealing with is similar to the one which cost him most of the second half last season at Double-A Frisco, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The injury he dealt with last year was described as forearm fatigue at the time. More specifically, though, White has nerve inflammation in his neck which causes pain to radiate down his arm. It sounds like he and the Rangers are trying to find a clearer diagnosis before they determine the best course of treatment. In the meantime, White will be shut down from throwing. The 23-year-old right-hander was a 2018 draft pick but has been limited to just 115 innings in pro ball due to injuries.

Patino is a candidate to enter the Rays rotation while Tyler Glasnow (oblique) remains sidelined, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino had been building up as a starter to begin spring training, though his fit in the rotation was unclear so long as everyone remained healthy. With Glasnow sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Patino now enters the conversation to step into a starting role and will be competing primarily with Josh Fleming and Yonny Chirinos. Patino showed flashes of brilliance during the 2021 season, but his 2022 campaign was derailed by oblique and shoulder injuries so it's unclear how much he would be capable of contributing.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Bummer (shoulder/lat) is on track to be ready for Opening Day, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Bummer came down with some discomfort in his left shoulder/lat in early February and is behind the other relievers in White Sox camp, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of concern. "I think he's on pace. I haven't heard anything different," said Grifol. "He's feeling good ... the last time I spoke to our trainers, he's on pace." Bummer, 29, might be in line for a healthy share of save chances this season given the uncertainty around Liam Hendriks following his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in January.

Sandlin (shoulder) has received full medical clearance ahead of spring training, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Though Sandlin has yet to make his Cactus League debut, his absence from the pitching schedule thus far isn't the result of any setbacks in his recovery from a strained right shoulder, an injury that knocked him out early in the Guardians' 2022 postseason run. Sandlin, who compiled a 2.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 41:24 K:BB in 44 innings a season ago, will likely factor into the middle-inning mix for Cleveland once again in 2023.

Voth's experience as a reliever could lead to him starting 2023 in the bullpen, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Voth started 17 of his 41 appearances between the Nationals and the Orioles last season, with most of his success coming in Baltimore. With a crowded competition for the rotation, it would make sense for the Orioles to move the 30-year-old to the bullpen at the start of the campaign. He would likely fill a long-relief role with the ability to make spot starts since he's stretching out in camp.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that White is dealing with tightness in the right side of his neck and will be held out of action for the next couple of days, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

White is one of the top prospects in the Texas system, and the Rangers won't take any unnecessary risks with the 23-year-old right-hander while he's less than 100 percent healthy. After posting a 104:23 K:BB and 3.59 ERA in his 80.1 innings between High-A Hickory and Double-A Frisco in 2022, White is projected to open the upcoming season with Triple-A Round Rock. He could make starts with the Rangers by the time 2023 comes to a close.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Leclerc is dealing with left neck discomfort, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Leclerc is currently scheduled to take part in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, but Young said that the Rangers staff is evaluating how the injury might affect the reliever's participation. Whether Leclerc sits out the WBC or not, fantasy managers will still want to keep an eye on updates pertaining to the right-handed hurler, who looks to be the top option for saves out of the Texas bullpen to open the 2023 season.

Guardians manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that Hentges is dealing with left shoulder inflammation and will be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Hentges was a strong performer for the Cleveland bullpen in 2023, finishing with a 2.32 ERA and 72:19 K:BB over 62 innings in 57 appearances. The Guardians should have a clearer idea regarding his availability for the start of the season within the next couple of issues, but it's not the most encouraging sign that he's being listed as week-to-week rather than day-to-day.