MLB Player News
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Brock Stewart RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brock Stewart: Targeting March for full bullpens
Stewart (shoulder) recently began throwing off a mound to a standing catcher, and the Dodgers are aiming for him to progress to full bullpen sessions in early March, per MLB.com.
Stewart continues to rehab from the right shoulder debridement procedure he underwent last September. The veteran reliever isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, but if he doesn't encounter any setbacks, he could be part of Los Angeles' bullpen sometime during the first half of the campaign. When healthy, Stewart should have a chance to work his way up to high-leverage opportunities.
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Yimi Garcia RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Won't be ready for Opening Day
Garcia will "100 percent" not be ready for Opening Day as he continues to recover from surgery on his right elbow from last September, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
Garcia underwent surgery to clean up scar tissue around his right elbow, which caused him to miss the Blue Jays' postseason run. The 35-year-old reliever has yet to throw off a mound but hopes to do so over the next week or two. Garcia's absence opens the door for other relievers such as Spencer Miles, Mason Fluharty and Chase Lee to earn larger roles for themselves for the start of the 2026 season.
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Victor Mederos RP | LAA
Angels' Victor Mederos: Fully healthy after shoulder issue
Mederos is without restrictions in Angels camp after finishing last season on the injured list with right shoulder soreness, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Mederos missed the final month-plus of the 2025 campaign but began his normal offseason throwing routine in mid-October. The 24-year-old made five appearances (three starts) for the Angels last season, yielding 14 runs with a 14:12 K:BB over 17 frames. Mederos is unlikely to crack the Opening Day roster but could be one of the first arms called upon when the Angels need a starter.
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Felix Bautista RP | BAL
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Placed on 60-day IL
The Orioles placed Bautista (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports.
The move opens a 40-man roster spot for Bryan Ramos, who was claimed off waivers in a corresponding move. Bautista underwent right shoulder surgery in August of 2025 and may not even pitch during the 2026 campaign, as the Orioles have no plans to rush the hard-throwing right-hander after signing Ryan Helsley during the offseason.
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Sam Hentges RP | SF
Giants' Sam Hentges: Without timeline for return
Hentges (shoulder/knee) has been throwing 40-pitch bullpen sessions, though he has yet to face hitters and does not have an exact timeline for game action, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Hentges is still ramping up after undergoing left shoulder surgery in September 2024 and arthroscopic right knee surgery in August 2025. The left-hander said he hopes to get some games in during spring training, but there's still a chance he won't be ready for Opening Day. Hentges missed the entire 2025 campaign due to the shoulder surgery. During the 2024 season with Cleveland, he recorded a 3.04 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB across 23.2 relief innings.
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Jason Adam RP | SD
Padres' Jason Adam: Could avoid IL stint
Adam (quadriceps) remains on track for Opening Day, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Adam's declaration last week on 97.3 The Fan that he thought he could be ready for the opener seemed like mere optimism. However, it appears he does indeed have a chance to avoid a stint on the injured list, with the reliever noting Friday that the Padres' medical staff was "on board." Recovering from left quadriceps tendon repair surgery, Adam has been throwing bullpens since early December and recently began change-of-direction drills, as well as fielding drills while remaining stationary. He's slated to work as one of closer Mason Miller's main setup men.
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Yuki Matsui RP | SD
Padres' Yuki Matsui: Suffers groin injury
Matsui cut a live batting practice session short Thursday due to left groin tightness, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Matsui is now questionable to participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan, though he could resume playing catch as soon as Saturday. The left-hander has been a solid contributor in his first two regular seasons with the Padres, posting a 3.86 ERA and 130:60 K:BB over 126 innings.
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Edwin Uceta RP | TB
Rays' Edwin Uceta: Undergoes MRI on injured shoulder
Uceta underwent an MRI on his injured right shoulder Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Uceta had a setback with the shoulder when he played catch Thursday, so he had imaging done and will see a doctor Friday. Even if he doesn't have any structural damage in the shoulder, it will take him time to get ramped up, putting his Opening Day availability in doubt. When healthy, Uceta is expected to be in the mix for saves in the Rays bullpen.
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Riley O'Brien RP | STL
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Out for WBC with mild calf strain
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that O'Brien will be shut down for a few days due to a mild right calf strain, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
It will take a couple weeks for O'Brien to ramp things back up, so it will be at least the beginning of March before he's ready to pitch in spring training games. O'Brien is also now unlikely to pitch for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, though he will remain in the player pool in case there's a chance he can be added later. The injury could also affect O'Brien's chances at opening the season as the Cardinals' closer. He is in the mix for saves with JoJo Romero and perhaps Matt Svanson.
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Shota Imanaga RP | CHC
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Better velocity this spring
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Imanaga has been throwing harder early this spring, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Counsell didn't offer specifics on Imanaga's velocity, but he believes the left-hander wasn't throwing as hard last season because a hamstring injury caused his mechanics to get out of whack. After averaging 91.7 mph and earning a plus-4 run value by Baseball Savant with his four-seamer in 2024, Imanaga averaged 90.8 mph and netted a minus-10 run value in 2025. The southpaw accepted a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer this offseason to return to the Cubs for 2026.