MLB Player News

Iglesias (shoulder) made his spring training debut Monday, throwing one inning against the Angels. He allowed a run on two hits, striking out one.

Iglesias will make five spring training starts and will be at the back of the Reds' rotation to make up for some of his lost spring training time. "I felt really good today," Iglesias said via translator Tomas Vera. "I tried to jump in real quick to the game plan with what I was doing, but you saw what hitters did with me, so I had to make the adjustment. And after I made that adjustment, things went really well."

Hader was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday.

Hader saw action in just two games with the Brewers this spring, but he held his own, giving up just one earned run and posting a 4:1 K:BB ratio over four innings. He is considered one of the Brewers' best pitching prospects after posting a 3.03 ERA and striking out 119 batters over 104 innings in 24 Double-A outings last season. Hader will turn 22 in early April, and having shown what he can do against Double-A hitters, the Brewers may provide him with an early present -- a promotion to Triple-A.

Smith tossed a scoreless inning in Monday's exhibition game for the fourth time in four appearances this spring.

Smith did not allow a baserunner Monday; and in fact, he has allowed just one runner to reach base all spring. It's not yet clear if he will open the season as the Brewers' closer, but his primary competition for the ninth inning role, Jeremy Jeffress (hamstring), who has not appeared in a game this spring, is set to make his debut soon. That will allow the Brewers to fully evaluate their options and decide if one pitcher or the other will open the season with the closer's job, or if Smith and Jeffress will share the duties.

Manager Joe Maddon said that Underwood, who was reassigned to minor league camp Monday, has been held back during spring training due to stiffness in his right elbow, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

It doesn't sound like too much of an issue, but throwing elbow issues are never good to hear. He could continue to be held back for a few more days to ensure proper healing, but his status should become clearer in the coming days whether he sits out or not.

Matzek has been excused from camp for personal reasons, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Matzek has struggled in camp and is dealing with the same performance anxiety issues that plagued him last summer. It's unclear how long the left-hander will be away from the team, but his chances of cracking the Opening Day roster would seem to be reduced at this point.

The Brewers optioned Magnifico to minor-league camp Monday.

Magnifico impressed in three spring outings with the big club, allowing just one runner to reach base over three innings, but he has never pitched above the Double-A level and has options remaining, which made it easy for the Brewers to send him to the minors to open the season. Magnifico throws gas and posted a 1.17 ERA in 42 games with Double-A Biloxi last season, so he could be an option for the big club at some point this season.

Underwood was assigned to minor league camp Monday, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.

The 2012 second-rounder received an invite to major league camp but was never considered a serious contender to make the Opening Day roster. Underwood will likely begin the year at Double-A after splitting the 2015 campaign between Rookie ball and High-A. In 14 appearances for High-A Myrtle Beach, Underwood posted a 2.58 ERA across 73.1 innings.

The Brewers optioned Lopez to minor-league camp Monday.

Lopez allowed just two earned runs in three appearances this spring and even picked up the save in his final outing with the big club Sunday, but he was always likely to begin 2016 in the minors, and the Brewers confirmed that Monday. Lopez is arguably the Brewers' top pitching prospect coming off a dominant 2015 campaign in which he made his big league debut, so chances are he will be back with the major league club at some point this season. His campaign will likely begin with Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Strop made his first appearance of the spring Sunday and pitched a perfect eighth inning. He struck out two.

Meanwhile, closer Hector Rondon struggled for the second appearance in a row, blowing the three-run lead Strop handed him. Rondon still has a strong hold on the job, but if his struggled carry over into the regular season, Strop appears to be the first choice to take over in the ninth inning.

Rodney (hamstring) threw a perfect frame against the White Sox on Friday in his spring debut.

The 38-year-old avoided his typical theatrics in his first Cactus League appearance, retiring the side on just six pitches. Rodney should be able to focus exclusively on preparing to open the year as the Padres' closer with the hamstring injury, which he suffered during the Caribbean Series, seemingly in the rearview mirror.