MLB Player News

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has risen to the status of one of the elite closers in the majors behind his devastating fastball-combo slider. However, during live batting practice Thursday, he showcased another potential pitch for his repertoire -- a changeup.

Although, manager Fredi Gonzalez isn't sure Kimbrel will throw the changeup when the Braves starting playing in games, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Chris Johnson told me he threw a couple of changeups,” Gonzalez said. “He’s probably just playing with it. Add a third pitch if he has to. I don’t know how much he’ll use it when the games start.”

The Rockies will head into the 2015 season with LaTroy Hawkins as the team's primary closer, but manager Walt Weiss is ready to use other options in order not to overwork the veteran, MLB.com reports.

"Are we going to need other guys to finish games at times? Yes, we will," Weiss said Tuesday. "But he's the guy."

The Rockies have multiple pitchers with closing experience in camp in the form of lefty Rex Brothers and right-handed nonroster invitees John Axford and Rafael Betancourt. Righty Adam Ottavino is also an option for Weiss.

"It helps to have guys in the bullpen that have closed games before because there's a different mindset, but I feel like we have options and it doesn't have to be a veteran guy," Weiss said. "We have enough guys with stuff and presence."

Hawkins gave up no earned runs in eight innings last year while pitching on zero days of rest. He surrendered 12 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings while receiving just one day of rest. On multiple days of rest, Hawkins gave up eight earned runs in 33 innings of work.

Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez is hoping to start throwing soon, according to azcentral.com.

Hernandez underwent Tommy John surgery last season, and admitted it's been tough to watch the other pitchers throw early in camp. "That was hard — not hard, but frustrating," he said. "I feel like I could get up there and start throwing bullpens."

Hernandez added that he's still aiming to be ready be opening day, though it appears more likely he'll need a few weeks before he's activated. While Hernandez has some concerns about coming back from the injury, his pitching coach, Mike Harkey, isn't too worried about it. "If we can get him back to where he was before," Harkey said, "we could quite possibly have a really, really good bullpen, which would do wonders for us late in games."

Hernandez posted a 4.48 ERA over 62 1/3 innings back in 2013. 

Mets pitcher Rafael Montero may have an uphill battle to make the roster. When asked about the right-hander's role this upcoming season, manager Terry Collins told reporters Tuesday that he's unsure where the 24-year-old will fit on the team, per NJ.com.

"I don't have any idea where Montero is going to fit," Collins said. "Again, you're asking somebody to do something at the major league level that he hasn't done very much of.

"It's important that we get out of the gate. Knowing that Bobby is going to be ready, probably in the first part of May, I'm not sure where Raffy would fit in that bullpen coming out of spring training. If Dillon is there we only have one more spot left and we might go with a little more experienced guy at the beginning of the season."

Montero went 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA over 10 appearances (eight starts) in his first major-league season.

Nationals pitcher Matt Grace is auditioning for a spot in the team's bullpen, according to MLB.com.

Grace impressed pitching coach Steve McCatty during a recent bullpen session, and it seems like McCatty wants to get a good look at the 26-year-old this spring. "We are going to get him in as many games and see what happens," McCatty said.

Grace reportedly added a slider to his repertoire this winter, and that could make the difference going forward. McCatty said he was happy with Grace's entire pitch mix during the recent session. "He threw some good sliders and he also threw some good changeups, but also some good sinkers," McCatty said.

Grace posted a 1.17 ERA over two minor-league levels last year.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said Monday doctors told him the growth in his foot shouldn't return after undergoing surgery to remove it, per MLB.com. Jansen is expected to miss 8-12 weeks after having surgery last week.

"The X-ray scared everybody," Jansen said. "But the MRI gave good news that it wasn't a big thing. They said it was mostly fluid that got into the bone, but if I had continued to pitch on it, the bone could get weak and get damaged, and they'd rather take it out now so I wouldn't be out a long time.

"It shocks you. There's so much stuff in your head. But the MRI calmed me down."

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson is heading into spring training this year healthy for the first time in three years. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament in 2012 and after going through Tommy John surgery and rehab, he re-tore the ligament in his first rehab start.

"It's nice to not have to go in there and look at the rehab schedule for the day to see what you've got," Hudson said. "Instead, I just warm up normally with the groups and go out and do the normal spring training thing."

Hudson was forced to have a second Tommy John surgery before finally getting back on track.

"I don't think I ever will [stop thinking about it]," Hudson said. "For the most part, it's always just going to be there in the back of my mind. Two surgeries to your arm, so it is what it is. I've just tried to tell myself that I can't be scared about it, I can't be worried, because whatever is going to happen is going to happen."

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale is happy to have him back with the team, but unsure of his role this year.

"He's a special guy on this team," Hale said. "We're going to do everything we can to help him be healthy all year. Is it as a starter? We don't know. He will be involved in the decision."

The Dodgers will consider their internal candidates when looking to replace Kenley Jansen at closer, according to the Orange County Register. 

General manager Andrew Friedman said the club will be "open minded" about free-agent options, but said he's confident in the team's internal options at closer. With Jansen set to miss between 8-12 weeks, it's unclear where the team will turn. Brandon League is the only candidate currently on the club with a lot of closer experience. It's not known whether he'll get the first crack at the job.

League posted a 2.57 ERA over 63 innings last season. 

The Dodgers announced that RHP Kenley Jansen had surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot on Tuesday.

Jansen had an X-Ray, CT and MRI after reporting discomfort while running, last week.The tests found a growth on the fifth metatarsal, and doctors at Cesar Sinai performed the surgery to remove it. 

Jansen will be on crutches for 10 days, followed by a protective boot for three or four weeks. His recovery is expected to take eight to 12 weeks.

Last year, Jansen finished third in the National League with 44 saves. He had a 2-3 record with a 2.76 ERA. 

The Reds announced Friday they avoided arbitration with closer Aroldis Chapman by agreeing to a one-year deal for the 2015 season. Chapman will earn $8.05 million in 2015, per CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Chapman had filed for $8.7 million and the Reds offered $6.65 million.

Chapman has made the All-Star team in three straight seasons. He has also had at least 36 saves over the last three seasons.