MLB Player News

Hildenberger gave up three runs and a home run in one inning to see his spring ERA rise to 10.29 in Friday's rout. However, he's been working on his slider and not using his changeup this spring, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Hildenberger was expected to be a key setup man for the Twins, but he's given up eight runs over seven innings with just three strikeouts and four walks. It looks like he'll still make the bullpen and could be just working on new pitches, but his spring performance is still a reason for concern.

Pomeranz (forearm) will throw two innings in a controlled minor-league game Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Pomeranz could get another two starts in before the end of spring training, but he appears likely to open the year on the disabled list.

Manager Alex Cora said Kimbrel (personal) will be ready physically for the start of the regular season regardless of whether he makes it back to spring training, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Kimbrel has been up in Boston to be with his daughter during her recovery from heart surgery, but has been throwing live batting practice, most recently Thursday. "I just talked to Adam Thomas, one of the trainers. He feels that [Kimbrel] is actually in a better place as far as his strength and his arm than the previous years. So that's a good sign," said Cora. It's quite possible Kimbrel does not pitch in a Grapefruit League game, but it sounds like he'll be ready to go when Boston kicks off the regular season March 29 at Tampa Bay.

Lopez allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three over 4.1 innings in Friday's start against the Cubs.

Lopez has flirted with baserunners all spring, but had thrown 10.1 consecutive scoreless innings, including an efficient three innings to open Friday's game, before the danger caught up to him in the fourth inning. Lopez will open the season in the rotation, so manager Rick Renteria felt it was important to let him find his way through the struggles, which should help the young hurler when the stakes are higher in the regular season. "It's not the first time I pitched through an inning like that," Lopez told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. "But having those innings here in spring training is a good way to prepare for a season. Now you know how to handle it, survive it or pass through that inning." Lopez has allowed five runs, 13 hits and eight walks over 13.2 spring innings.

Puk (1-1), who allowed four earned runs on three hits and three walks while recording one strikeout in a 6-2 Cactus League loss to the Mariners on Thursday, may have seen his already-slim Opening Day roster chances take a hit with the performance, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Puk was facing long odds to break camp with the big-league club despite an impressive spring, as he's yet to pitch above the Double-A level. Thursday's effort may have simply cemented the inevitable, as Puk endured a marathon third inning where he gave up two singles and two walks over nearly 40 pitches. The towering lefty mainly concentrated on throwing his two-seam fastball as opposed to his four-seamer, which he's hit the upper 90s on the gun with on multiple occasions. "We know he has the ability to throw that pitch and strike people out," manager Bob Melvin said. "I think what I've been most impressed with this spring is he's been able to do it in other ways; just got away from him in the third inning."

The White Sox reassigned Beck to minor league camp Friday.

Beck's struggles continued in spring training as he carried an 8.59 ERA and 2.18 WHIP over 7.1 innings. The 27-year-old had a disastrous 2017 campaign with a 6.40 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 42:34 K:BB across 64.2 innings for the White Sox, making it difficult to see another extended major-league opportunity in his near future.

Kimbrel's (personal) availability for Opening Day is up in the air, Scott Lauber of ESPN.com reports.

Kimbrel is away from the team in order to be with his daughter as she undergoes a heart procedure. The right-hander is still throwing bullpen sessions in Boston in order to stay fresh, so he should be ready to go as soon as his personal situation is sorted out. When that is remains to be seen, but manager Alex Cora didn't seem eager to rush Kimbrel away from his daughter when he was asked about the situation Friday. Consider the closer day-to-day for now. If Kimbrel isn't able to travel with the team to Tampa Bay for the opening series, Joe Kelly or Matt Barnes could pose as the interim closer.

Whalen could be the Mariners' fifth starter if the team opts to utilize a five-man rotation while Erasmo Ramirez (lat) is sidelined, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Whalen has been really sharp this spring, allowing just two runs in 13 innings pitched while producing a 19:4 K:BB. The Mariners will be able to go with a four-man rotation until April 11 if they so choose, but there is a chance that Ramirez won't be ready by then. Ariel Miranda is another option to fill the void in that case, but Whalen's outstanding spring showing is giving manager Scott Servais a lot to think about. Whalen may still start the season in the minors, but he could spend more time in the majors if he can carry this strong Cactus League performance into the regular season.

Norris is outperforming Mike Fiers this spring and could bump the latter from the rotation at some point early in the year, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Norris has a 9:1 K:BB in nine Grapefruit League innings, while the veteran Fiers is sitting at a 7:8 K:BB in 11.1 frames. Manager Ron Gardenhire suggested he would likely stick with Fiers for now, and Norris does have an option remaining, so the 24-year-old could begin the season at Triple-A Toledo despite his strong spring. If the struggles continue for Fiers, though, it wouldn't be surprising to see Norris get the call fairly soon.

Hu was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He will be stretched out as a starter in the minors despite the fact he has only ever pitched in the majors in a relief role. The Rays are experimenting with using a four-man rotation this year, where they turn to the bullpen whenever a fifth starter is needed. Hu could be an option in such a capacity later this season, where he would be called upon to log two or three innings before handing it over to another multi-inning reliever.