MLB Player News
-
Kevin Ginkel RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: No limitations at start of camp
Ginkel (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Ginkel missed most of the final two months of the 2025 regular season with a right shoulder sprain, but it appears he's come to camp without restrictions given that he's throwing off a mound on the first day pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. The veteran reliever is among those who should be in the mix to serve as closer as part of an unsettled Diamondbacks bullpen. Ginkel was limited to 29 appearances due to injury in 2025, finishing with a 7.36 ERA and 29:13 K:BB over 25.2 innings. From 2023-2024, Ginkel held a 2.86 ERA and 147:38 K:BB across 135.1 regular-season frames.
-
Garrett Crochet RP | BOS
Red Sox's Garrett Crochet: Tapped for Opening Day
Manager Alex Cora announced Tuesday that Crochet will start Opening Day against the Reds on March 26, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
It's hardly a surprise the left-hander will be taking the mound first for Boston, and Cora wasted no time making it official. Crochet entrenched himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball last year, posting a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 255:46 K:BB across 205.1 innings during the regular season.
-
Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Braves' Robert Suarez: Delayed to camp
Suarez will be a late arrival to spring training due to visa issues, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander joined Atlanta on a three-year, $45 million contract in December, but he won't be able to report to camp with the rest of the pitchers and catchers Tuesday. It's unclear when Suarez's travel troubles are expected to be resolved, but he's still got plenty of runway to work with to ramp up for Opening Day.
-
Cody Bradford RP | TEX
Rangers' Cody Bradford: Working in changeups
Bradford (elbow) will incorporate 8-to-10 changeups into his bullpen session Tuesday, which will be his first session that's not all fastballs, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
It's the left-hander's seventh bullpen session as he continues to ramp up his throwing program after undergoing an internal brace procedure in June. Bradford is targeting May for his season debut, and he could begin a rehab assignment sometime around Opening Day in late March.
-
Randy Rodriguez RP | SF
Giants' Randy Rodriguez: Placed on 60-day IL
The Giants placed Rodriguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Luis Arraez, whose signing was officially announced Tuesday. Rodriguez underwent Tommy John surgery last September and will miss the entire 2026 season.
-
Tobias Myers RP | NYM
Mets' Tobias Myers: Entering camp as starting pitcher
Myers said Tuesday that he was told by the Mets to plan on stretching back out as a starting pitcher during spring training, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Acquired from the Brewers last month, Myers' final 14 regular-season appearances last season came out of the bullpen. While the Mets might ultimately decide to deploy him as a reliever, they want Myers to be prepared to start, if needed. The right-hander collected a 3.55 ERA and 38:15 K:BB over 50.2 regular-season frames covering six starts and 16 relief outings for the Brewers in 2025.
-
Jason Adam RP | SD
Padres' Jason Adam: Could be back by mid-April
Adam (quadriceps) could be ready for his season debut "by mid-April or thereabouts," AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Adam is working his way back from left quadriceps tendon repair surgery, which he had last September. The Padres anticipate the veteran reliever throwing off a mound during spring training, and he could be ready for a rehab assignment around Opening Day. Once healthy, Adam will be a top setup man to closer Mason Miller.
-
Packy Naughton RP | STL
Cardinals' Packy Naughton: Ready to go at start of spring
Naughton (elbow) will not have any restrictions at the beginning of spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Naughton missed all of 2025 and most of 2024 due to a pair of elbow surgeries, first to repair a flexor strain and later to fix a torn UCL. He's finally fully healthy and is in camp as a non-roster invitee to compete for a spot in the Cardinals' bullpen. Naughton held a 4.14 ERA and 36:8 K:BB over 37 frames from 2022-2023 with St. Louis.
-
A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Expects to be back before July
Puk (elbow) said Tuesday that he expects to be ready for his season debut before July, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Puk had an internal brace procedure last June rather than a full Tommy John repair of his UCL injury. The less invasive surgery gives him a chance at a quicker return, so a season debut before the All-Star break is possible. The left-hander expects to be cleared to throw off a mound by the end of March, and a clearer picture of his timetable could be available around that time. Puk will have a good shot to assume the closer role in Arizona when he does return, as the Diamondbacks bullpen lacks established options.
-
Justin Martinez RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Aiming for late August return
Martinez (elbow) hopes to make his season debut by late August, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had last June, Martinez began a throwing program in mid-January. He will continue with a deliberate pace to his rehab and likely begin a rehab assignment a little after the All-Star break if all goes well. Martinez had been serving as the Diamondbacks' closer before getting hurt, but he could retake his old gig late in the 2026 campaign.