MLB Player News
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Michel Otanez RP | TEX
Athletics' Michel Otanez: Set to begin rehab assignment
Otanez (shoulder) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Stockton on April 29, MLB.com reports.
He threw a 15-pitch live bullpen session April 23, according to the report. Otanez was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement in mid-March. He's expected to fill a high-leverage setup role in front of closer Mason Miller when he returns.
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Jose Leclerc RP | ATH
Athletics' Jose Leclerc: Seeking second opinion
Leclerc (right lat strain) will receive a second opinion with a doctor in Texas during the week of April 28, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander left an April 22 appearance with what was originally labeled shoulder soreness but later diagnosed as a lat strain. However, the need for a second opinion would suggest his injury may be to his shoulder or more severe than first thought.
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James McArthur RP | KC
Royals' James McArthur: Hasn't started throwing
McArthur (elbow) continues to rehab in Kansas City but hasn't progressed quickly and is not throwing yet, MLB.com reports.
McArthur underwent surgery in the offseason to address an olecranon fracture in his right elbow. While his timetable to return was always unclear, there had been optimism he could return early this summer given he started throwing at the start of spring training.
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Sam Long RP | KC
Royals' Sam Long: Begins throwing
Long (elbow) has thrown each of the past two days, MLB.com reports.
Long had imaging on his elbow April 14 which showed inflammation and no structural damage. While he's started throwing, it's not clear when he may begin a rehab assignment. The elbow issue may have contributed to the left-hander's struggles this season, as he's turned in a 12.86 ERA and 2.43 WHIP across seven appearances.
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Devin Williams RP | NYM
Yankees' Devin Williams: Temporary role change likely
The Yankees appear to be making a temporary change at closer after Williams squandered a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning Friday against Toronto, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports. "We'll see," manager Aaron Boone said when asked if Williams would benefit from moving to lower-leverage situations. "We'll kind of talk through this stuff. This is raw right now. We want to do everything we can to get him right, because we know how good he is and how valuable he is going to be for us."
While Friday's blown save was Williams' first of the season, he has now allowed six earned runs in his last two appearances and sits with an 11.25 ERA through his first 10 appearances in pinstripes. Boone stopped short of announcing a role change, but Martino says there is virtually no way the skipper would have answered the questions the way he did "if he hadn't already decided to give Williams a break from save situations." Luke Weaver took well to the ninth-inning role down the stretch last season and has pitched brilliantly so far in 2025, making him the clear-cut favorite for saves while Williams tries to figure things out in lower-leverage spots.
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Alec Marsh RP | KC
Royals' Alec Marsh: Starts new throwing program
Marsh (shoulder) started a new throwing program on April 25, MLB.com reports.
Marsh had been shut down from throwing since April 5 after suffering a setback in his shoulder. He was set for further evaluation this week and it sounds like neither imaging nor a medical exam revealed any issues. He's still likely a month or more from returning as he begins to ramp up activity. Marsh originally experienced tightness in his right shoulder during his offseason throwing program and was being eased into action in the spring.
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Lucas Erceg RP | KC
Royals' Lucas Erceg: Notches first save
Erceg pitched a perfect ninth inning while striking out one batter to collect his first save of the season in a 2-0 victory over Houston on Friday.
The Royals turned to Erceg for the ninth inning after deploying primary closer Carlos Estevez twice in three days, and the former did not disappoint. With a 0.87 ERA and 0.39 WHIP through 10.1 innings this season, the 29-year-old Erceg remains one of the most reliable relievers in the league, and he could wrestle back the closer job from Estevez eventually.
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Garrett Cleavinger RP | TB
Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Slams door for first save
Cleavinger picked up the save Friday against the Padres after tossing a clean ninth inning, striking out two.
With closer Pete Fairbanks having worked each of the past two days, Cleavinger was called upon to slam the door and protect a 1-0 lead. The left-hander earned his first save of the year after throwing seven of his 10 pitches for strikes, and he now sports a 2.53 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings. Cleavinger is one of Tampa Bay's top left-handed relievers, but his save opportunities are likely to remain scarce while Fairbanks is healthy.
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Jeff Hoffman RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman: Grabs sixth save
Hoffman earned the save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Yankees, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning. He did not issue a walk.
Hoffman got the call to come in for the ninth inning to preserve a 4-2 Toronto lead. He yielded a two-out double to Ben Rice, but Hoffman finished things off on a Paul Goldschmidt pop out. Hoffman is up to six saves on the season (tied for fifth in the American League) and has a 1.35 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB across 13.1 innings.
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Devin Williams RP | NYM
Yankees' Devin Williams: Blows save opportunity
Williams (0-2) took the loss after blowing the save Friday against the Blue Jays, giving up three runs on two hits in the ninth inning. He did not record an out.
Williams was brought in for the ninth inning to protect a 2-1 lead. After giving up a single and hitting Andres Gimenez with a pitch, Williams surrendered that lead when Alejandro Kirk doubled to center field. Williams was tagged for a third run after being lifted. Friday marked Williams' first blown save opportunity but the second game in a row in which he gave up three earned runs. He has an 11.25 ERA and 2.38 WHIP over eight innings, and more outings like Friday's could lead to a change in who takes on closing duties out of the Yankees' bullpen.