MLB Player News

Stephenson (elbow) felt good after throwing live batting practice Wednesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Stephenson is likely to log one more live BP session before potentially making his Grapefruit League debut. The 30-year-old right-hander is still hoping to be ready for Opening Day as he works past a bout of minor elbow discomfort.

Garcia was diagnosed Thursday with an injury to the nerves in his left biceps and will be shut down from throwing for at least the next month, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Garcia has undergone a range of different tests since leaving a Grapefruit League game back on March 4 due to tightness in his upper left arm. It sounds like the Pirates might have found the root of the issue, but there is no exact timetable for when he might be ready again to take the mound. Given the length of the initial shutdown, the 30-year-old shouldn't be expected back until at least late May.

Hall (back) is throwing a two-inning simulated game Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Hall is probably not going to be an option for the Orioles at the beginning of the 2023 regular season as he recovers from a lower-back injury, but he continues to work through his rehab program without issue. The 24-year-old left-hander could make his Grapefruit League debut sometime next week and will get stretched out from there.

Baker is a virtual lock to break camp with the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Baker was viewed as an option to close earlier in spring training, but with Felix Bautista on track to avoid the injured list, that is now unlikely. The 28-year-old Baker hasn't exactly done himself any favors, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 4.2 innings through five Grapefruit League appearances. He was an effective middle reliever in 2022 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 76:26 K:BB over 69.2 innings, though he could see more setup work this year with Dillon Tate (elbow) out for the first month of the campaign.

Mets general manager Billy Eppler announced Thursday that Diaz (knee) will undergo surgery and is likely to miss the entire 2023 season, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Diaz suffered a complete tear of his right patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico's big win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night. Eppler suggested that a return in six months would be the best-case scenario and that the usual timeline calls for eight full months of rest and rehab. David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley are among the options to step in at closer for the Mets.

Diaz's initial diagnosis Thursday is that of a right patellar tendon injury, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

There should be more information soon about the overall scope and severity of the injury, as Diaz was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday afternoon. He injured his right knee late Wednesday night while celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. It's an ugly situation for the Mets, and for fantasy managers who already selected Diaz high in drafts.

Yarbrough (groin) will pitch in a minor-league game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

He had been slated to pitch in a game on the back fields Wednesday before that was washed out by rain. Yarbrough hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since late February because of a groin injury, but the Royals don't anticipate it affecting his readiness for Opening Day.

Manager Bob Melvin said Thursday that Castillo is currently shut down from throwing due to left shoulder discomfort, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Castillo has made just two appearances in the Cactus League this spring, and the last one was March 3. Given that Opening Day is now only two weeks away, the 27-year-old reliever seems likely to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list.

Manager Scott Servais said Thursday that Berroa will be part of the rotation at Double-A Arkansas to begin the season, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Berroa impressed this spring to the point that Servais also said he expects the hard-throwing right-hander to help the major-league club in 2023. That could be as a reliever, but Berroa will continue to develop as a starter for the time being.

Szapucki (arm) said Thursday he is planning to see a thoracic outlet specialist next week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

That's ominous news given the way thoracic outlet syndrome has altered many promising pitching careers. Szapucki has been experiencing nerve issues in his upper left arm for the last couple of weeks in Giants camp. The initial diagnosis was neuropathy, but it might prove to be a more severe issue.