MLB Player News

Kelly quickened his tempo between pitches Monday, relative to his previous start, and delivered four shutout innings, the Boston Globe reports. The better tempo led to more strikes. "It gets my body going towards the plate better," Kelly said. "Get myself in a more athletic windup. Ultimately it allows me to command the strike zone a lot better. I could put the fastball where I wanted to."

Kelly allowed three hits and a walk while striking out three on the day, but more encouraging than the tempo was his ability to work out of men-on-base situations. The Pirates had men in scoring position in three of Kelly's four innings, but he was able to make pitches when needed.

Giles tossed a scoreless frame during Monday's 1-1 Grapefruit League tie against the Nationals.

The 25-year-old hurler is off to a slow start this spring, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over four Grapefruit League innings, but he's fully expected to step into the closer's role for Houston after the team gave up a haul to acquire him in December.

Burdi has made a strong impression in spring training with three scoreless innings and wasn't among the first round of pitchers sent to the minors, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Burdi hits 100 mph on the radar gun and could be the high-velocity arm the Twins desperately need in the bullpen. He had strong strikeout rates last season at High-A and Double-A, but a 6.6 BB/9 at Double-A. He may need more work in the minors to improve his control, but could jump to the majors early in the season if he doesn't make the team right away.

Strahm was optioned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas Monday, Josh Vernier of 610 AM reports.

Strahm has not played above the High-A level in the Royals system so it makes sense they would want to keep him in the minors to develop him more. His designation to Double-A ball is a promotion from last year as he spent the 2015 season rotating between Single-A Lexington and High-A Wilmington. In his two-team stint last year, the 6-4 leftie posted a 3.06 ERA, .968 WHIP and an impressive 11.6 SO/9 in 94 innings. If the 24-year old can continue to produce numbers like those at the Double-A level, he could punch his ticket to Triple-A Omaha at some point this season.

Reyes left Monday's game with a bruised left elbow, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Jeff Wilson reports.

He has impressed the Rangers this spring, but the 27-year-old lefty was always facing an uphill battle to crack the roster out of spring training. If he has to miss a chunk of time with the elbow bruise, that should be enough to punch his ticket to Triple-A for the start of the season, where he would serve as organizational bullpen depth.

Reyes was struck by a line drive Monday and was removed from the game afterward, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

It's not clear where the left-hander was hit, but it isn't reassuring that he was removed after trying only one warm-up pitch following the incident. His status should become more clear in the coming days.

Reed was assigned to Minnesota's minor league camp.

Reed looked on the fast track to the majors after he posted a minuscule 0.29 ERA and 0.45 WHIP in 20 appearances between rookie-level Elizabethton and Low-A Cedar Rapids last season. He then struggled at Double-A Chattanooga with an ugly 6.32 ERA and 4.1 BB/9. He has a fastball that can reach the high-90s, so it's possible he could reach the majors as early as this summer if he can find the strike zone more frequently.

Johnson suffered a sprained left big toe Monday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

While the injury itself is unfortunate, the diagnosis brought a sigh of relief to many in the Red Sox organization when it was confirmed to be a non-arm injury. A timetable for his recovery should be announced soon.

Chargois was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga.

Chargois missed two seasons with elbow injuries but had a promising 2.70 ERA and 9.3 K/9 at Double-A last season. He had a 5.45 BB/9, however, so he'll need to improve his control to advance. He's the type of hard-throwing reliever the Twins desperately need in their bullpen.

Johnson was pulled from Monday's game while accompanied by a trainer, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.

Johnson gave up hits to all four batters he faced and appeared to leave the game with an injury. It is not yet known if the 25-year-old re-injured his left elbow or if it is something new, but more information should be released in the near future.