MLB Player News
-
Ryan Lambert RP | NYM
Mets' Ryan Lambert: Flashing elite fastball in camp
Lambert has shown both elite velocity and elite induced vertical break on his four-seam fastball in camp, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The 23-year-old right-hander has yet to pitch above Double-A, but it may not be long before he's handling high-leverage situations with the Mets. Lambert's fastball can reach triple digits on the radar gun, but it's also averaged between 19 and 20 inches of induced vertical break, which measures how much carry a ball up in the zone appears to have. The only two MLB pitchers who averaged better than 97 mph and more than 19 inches of carry with their four-seamers in 2025 were Brewers closer Trevor Megill, who posted a 2.49 ERA and 31.3 percent strikeout rate, and Padres setup man Jeremiah Estrada, who delivered a 3.45 ERA and 35.5 percent strikeout rate. For his part, Lambert fired up a 1.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB over 50 innings between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton last season.
-
Geoff Hartlieb RP | ATH
Athletics' Geoff Hartlieb: Cut from big-league camp
The Athletics reassigned Hartlieb to minor-league camp Monday.
Hartlieb had been attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, but any hope he had of being part of the Athletics' Opening Day bullpen ended after he allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 2.1 innings across four Cactus League appearances. The 32-year-old is likely to serve as organizational relief depth at the Triple-A level throughout the 2026 season.
-
Ben Bowden RP | ATH
Athletics' Ben Bowden: Cut from Athletics camp
The Athletics reassigned Bowden (lat) to minor-league camp Monday.
Bowden had been attending Athletics camp as a non-roster invitee, but a left lat strain has kept him from pitching thus far in Cactus League play, effectively ending any chance he had of winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The southpaw made 11 appearances for the big club in 2025, logging a 4.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB In 10.2 innings.
-
Sammy Peralta RP | MIL
Brewers' Sammy Peralta: Optioned to minors camp
The Brewers optioned Peralta to minor-league camp Monday, Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin reports.
Peralta has yielded four runs (three earned) with a 1:1 K:BB over three Cactus League innings. The left-hander was claimed off waivers last fall and will begin the 2026 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Nashville.
-
Stephen Kolek RP | KC
Royals' Stephen Kolek: Playing catch
Kolek (oblique) began playing catch from up to 60 feet Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Kolek was shut down for more than a week after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. He will be slowly ramped back up before returning to Cactus League action. The right-hander should be healthy for Opening Day, barring setbacks, but the injury has significantly lessened his chances of obtaining a spot in the Royals' rotation.
-
Michel Otanez RP | TEX
Rangers' Michel Otanez: Removed from bullpen competition
The Rangers optioned Otanez to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Otanez took himself out of contention for a spot in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen after yielding four earned runs on four hits and one walk over 2.1 innings across his three Cactus League appearances. The 28-year-old righty will serve as a leverage arm at Round Rock to begin the season while he waits for an opening to re-emerge in the Texas bullpen.
-
Joey Lucchesi RP | SF
Giants' Joey Lucchesi: Re-joins Giants as NRI
The Giants re-signed Lucchesi to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Lucchesi was non-tendered by the Giants back in November, but with Reiver Sanmartin (hip) out three months and Erik Miller (back) banged up, Lucchesi has a chance to make the team as a left-handed reliever. He was decent for San Francisco last season, collecting a 3.76 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB over 38.1 innings.
-
Reiver Sanmartin RP | SF
Giants' Reiver Sanmartin: Sidelined three months
Sanmartin will be sidelined for three months after being diagnosed Monday with a severe right hip flexor strain, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Sanmartin suffered the injury during a recent exhibition game and an MRI revealed a serious injury. The left-hander had been competing for a spot in the Giants bullpen after being claimed off waivers from the Reds back in November.
-
Erik Miller RP | SF
Giants' Erik Miller: Ready to face hitters
Miller (back) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The live BP session will be the final hurdle that Miller needs to clear in his recovery from a back injury before making his Cactus League debut, perhaps as soon as later this week. Considering that Miller wasn't tasked with recording more than four outs in any of his 36 relief appearances for the Giants last season, he won't require much ramp-up time and should be ready to go for Opening Day.
-
Jose Soriano RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Ready to go after bout with illness
Soriano (illness) will start Monday's Cactus League game against the Giants.
Soriano missed his last turn because he was battling an illness, but he's been cleared to return to action after more than a week of rest. The right-hander will be looking to get back on track after being knocked around for seven runs over 3.2 innings in his first two starts this spring.