MLB Player News
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Ricky Vanasco RP | DET
Tigers' Ricky Vanasco: Sent to minors camp
The Tigers reassigned Vanasco (hip) to minor-league camp Sunday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Vanasco is still recovering from offseason surgery to address a labrum tear in his right hip, so he could be a candidate to open the 2025 season on the injured list at Triple-A Toledo. The 26-year-old right-hander was outrighted off Detroit's 40-man roster in November and re-signed with the organization on a minor-league deal.
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Bowden Francis RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Shelled in first spring start
Francis pitched 2.2 innings in a Grapefruit League contest against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
Francis made two previous appearances this spring, but this was his first start after the initial scheduled one was rained out. Spring training has not been kind to Francis through 6.2 innings of work, as he sports an ugly 12.15 ERA. He's allowed 11 hits, including three home runs, and five walks while striking out seven. Francis gave up a ton of hard contact versus Philadelphia, including a third-inning homer to Alec Bohm. Francis is currently slots in at the back end of Toronto's starting rotation.
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Yennier Cano RP | BAL
Orioles' Yennier Cano: Steady results to begin spring
Cano picked up a hold in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, allowing one walk in a scoreless inning.
The 31-year-old right-hander is off a solid start this spring, carrying a 3.00 ERA and 0.67 WHIP with one strikeout over three frames. Closer Felix Bautista (elbow) will have his workload managed to begin the season, which could lead to the occasional save chance for Cano in the early going. However, Cano has converted just 13 of his 22 career save opportunities, so it wouldn't be surprising to see manager Brandon Hyde turn to Seranthony Dominguez more frequently for ninth-inning work on days where Bautista is unavailable.
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Brennan Bernardino RP | COL
Red Sox's Brennan Bernardino: Tosses scoreless inning Wednesday
Bernardino threw one scoreless inning against the Rays in Wednesday's spring game, during which he allowed one run while striking out a batter.
Bernardino ended the 2024 regular season on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow soreness. He was able to recover from the injury over the offseason and has not allowed a run across three spring training appearances. Bernardino will look to get his ERA and WHIP numbers back down to where they were in 2023 (3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP across 50.2 innings).
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Angel Zerpa RP | MIL
Royals' Angel Zerpa: Looks sharp this spring
Zerpa threw a scoreless inning in Friday's spring training win over the Angels. He's thrown four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks this spring.
Zerpa became a high-leverage weapon last season thanks to a sinker with high velocity (it reached 99 mph last year, according to MLB.com) that helped lead to a 58.4% groundball rate. He'll be a key lefty in the late innings and could be a good source of holds (12 last season).
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Justin Topa RP | MIN
Twins' Justin Topa: Won't need MRI on shoulder
Topa is dealing with right shoulder tightness, but he has not needed an MRI, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to right shoulder tightness. This doesn't sound like a serious injury, but it could land him on the injured list to begin the season as he works his way back into regular season form.
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Chris Paddack SP | DET
Twins' Chris Paddack: Exits with head contusion
Paddack left Saturday's spring start with a head contusion after a line drive deflected off his glove and hit his head, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. He is not in the concussion protocol.
Paddack was pitching well before he left and was able to leave under his own power. He threw 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts prior to exiting. The right-hander is seen as the leading candidates for the No. 4 starter role but is having an uneven spring (three strikeouts and two homers allowed in 5.2 total innings).
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Nic Enright RP | CLE
Guardians' Nic Enright: Starting 2025 in Triple-A
The Guardians optioned Enright (lat) to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.
Enright suffered a low-grade lat strain mid-February, but he has recently progressed to mound work. He'll begin the 2025 campaign in Triple-A, but he could make his major-league debut later in the season should the Guardians be in need of right-handed depth out of the bullpen. Enright appeared in 16 games for Columbus in 2024 and posted a 2-1 record with a 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 31:5 K:BB and three saves across 17 innings.
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Franco Aleman P | CLE
Guardians' Franco Aleman: Optioned to Triple-A
The Guardians optioned Aleman (abdomen) to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.
Aleman is working his way back from hernia surgery and will start the 2025 campaign in Triple-A once he's fully recovered from the procedure. He could see time in the majors at some point this season should the Guardians need a right-handed option out of the bullpen. Aleman appeared in 24 games at Triple-A during the 2024 regular season and posted a 1.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 34:10 K:BB and two saves across 22.2 innings.
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Erasmo Ramirez RP | MIN
Twins' Erasmo Ramirez: Out with shoulder tear
Ramirez has a "significant tear" in his shoulder and will miss an extended amount of time, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
The Twins haven't provided an exact timeline for Ramirez's return, but it doesn't sound like he'll be back anytime soon. The 34-year-old righty signed a minor-league deal with Minnesota in the offseason, and once he's healthy he'll likely fill in as bullpen depth for Triple-A St. Paul.