MLB Player News

Zych, working his way back from bicep tendon transfer surgery in his right shoulder, threw off a bullpen mound Tuesday for the first time this spring, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "It's a big thing for me," said the 26-year-old right-hander. "Everything felt great. It took a few throws to kind of get comfortable and obviously I wasn't trying to do too much. Just hit the glove and feel good about it."

Zych fired 20 pitches at what he estimated was 85 percent velocity and is scheduled to toss his next bullpen session Friday. Assuming no setbacks, he could be ready for game action shortly after Opening Day. Zych flashed promise in his brief major league stint last season, posting a 1-0 record and 3.29 ERA over 13.2 innings.

Santiago didn't make it through a second inning of work in Monday's spring training outing, giving up five runs on two home runs with no strikeouts while retiring three batters.

It was his first spring start, so results likely don't matter for a veteran with a set spot in the rotation. However, Minnesota's new GM and team president didn't trade for Santiago, so he could have a short leash in the rotation if he struggles early in the regular season. He posted career worsts in ERA, FIP, and K/9 during 2016.

Valdespina says his urologist gave him the all clear to return to action Wedneday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

He was hit below the belt by a comebacker in Monday's Cactus League game and had it checked out for precautionary measures. Valdespina posted a 3.66 ERA over 40 minor league games last season, and is unlikely to ever profile as a fantasy-relevant reliever.

Wilson has been scratched from a scheduled appearance Wednesday due to mild hamstring soreness, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The injury does not sound serious, and Wilson will likely be back on the mound soon, though his status is worth monitoring. Wilson picked up 25 holds last season and he should continue to serve as a bridge to closer Francisco Rodriguez in 2017.

Norris struggled with his command in his spring training debut Tuesday, throwing 40 pitches (21 for strikes) in 1.2 innings, MLB.com reports.

Norris' stuff looked good and he didn't allow any runs, but his control was inconsistent. "Sometimes you go out there and you feel like you haven't thrown in forever, so you have to figure something out," Norris said. "You're kind of making stuff up as you go." The young lefty figures to open the season as Detroit's No. 4 starter, but he'll have to be more efficient with his pitches to be successful.

Duffey gave up six runs (four earned) and five hits with two strikeouts while retiring just two batters in Monday's 19-0 spring training loss to Tampa Bay.

It's just one outing, but Duffey doesn't have much margin for error if he wants to win a spot in the rotation. After a 6.43 ERA over 26 starts last season, he's an underdog to win the fifth starter role behind Trevor May, Jose Berrios and four other candidates. Duffey is more likely to move to the bullpen, but a poor spring could see him land back in Triple-A.

Puk earned his first hold of spring in Tuesday's 5-4 Cactus League victory over the Indians by striking out the side in his one inning.

The towering lefty couldn't have made a splashier debut, setting down Erik Kratz, Lonnie Chisenhall and Abraham Almonte with a four-pitch arsenal in the sixth. Puk's flawless performance was essentially an extension of the superb work that he's put in during bullpen and batting practice sessions during his first exposure to a major league camp. Manager Bob Melvin seemed especially impressed with the way his young pitcher deployed one particular pitch in his repertoire. "As impressive as anything was his changeup," Melvin said. "He had good life on his fastball, but something we've been talking about is using his changeup and using it effectively, and every changeup he threw ended up being a good one. You take the mound for the first time in a spring training game, expect to have some nerves and so forth, and he didn't."

VerHagen (shoulder) allowed four earned runs off five hits over 1.2 innings in his 2017 Grapefruit League debut Tuesday.

VerHagen clearly had a rough time in his first game of the spring season, and two of the four hits he surrendered were home runs. VerHagen was used out of the bullpen Tuesday, although it was previously reported that the Tigers wanted to give him experience as a starter. However, poor showings such as this don't bode well for the 26-year-old's already slim chances to earn a spot at the back end of Detroit's rotation for the upcoming season.

Putnam (elbow) fired 1.1 scoreless innings in his spring debut Tuesday.

The right-hander did walk a batter and allowed a hit, but the bigger thing is that Putnam is back to regular game action after undergoing surgery in August to remove a bone fragment in his throwing elbow. With this issue in the rearview mirror, he should slot in as a cog in the White Sox bullpen.

Whalen gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out one in 2.0 innings during his spring debut against the Rays on Monday.

The 23-year-old was shut down last September with a shoulder issue after struggling to a 6.57 ERA across 24.2 innings, although he did miss bats at a solid rate (9.1 K/9). He got off to a slow start in spring training but will look to turn things around and compete for a bullpen job in 2017.