MLB Player News
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Kody Funderburk RP | MIN
Twins' Kody Funderburk: May not make Opening Day roster
Funderburk may not make the Opening Day roster with four left-handed relievers competing for a spot in the bullpen, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Funderburk has a 1.59 ERA and 6:1 K:BB in 5.2 innings this spring.
It's odd that Funderburk is on the roster bubble considering he's having a strong spring and coming off a strong second half. He had a 2.61 ERA and 21:8 K:BB in 20.2 innings after the All-Star break last year. Still, he's seen as behind veterans Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda and Andrew Chafin. It seems unlikely the Twins would have four left-handed relievers in the bullpen, so Funderburk may be the odd man out. A trade of one of the lefty relievers also seems like a possibility.
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Chris Devenski RP | PIT
Pirates' Chris Devenski: Suffers head injury Friday
Devenski was removed from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers after being struck in the head by a batted ball.
Devenski took a batted ball to the side of his head but appeared to be alert while being carted off the field. He'll continue to undergo tests and treatment from medical staff, and the Pirates should provide an update on the 35-year-old right-hander over the coming days. Devenski signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates in January after playing in the Mets organization in 2025. He mostly pitched for Triple-A Syracuse last year but appeared in 13 regular-season games (one start) for the Mets, posting a 2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB across 16.2 innings.
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Garrett Hawkins RP | SD
Padres' Garrett Hawkins: Optioned to Triple-A
The Padres optioned Hawkins to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
Hawkins ended the 2025 season with Double-A San Antonio, where he appeared in 13 games and finished with a 1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, two saves and a 20:10 K:BB across 16 innings. He'll open the 2026 season in Triple-A and could make his major-league debut if the Padres need added depth to their bullpen.
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Josh Simpson RP | SEA
Mariners' Josh Simpson: Sent down to Triple-A
The Mariners optioned Simpson to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.
Simpson was acquired by the Mariners from the Marlins in mid-February. The 28-year-old southpaw made his major-league debut for Miami in 2025 and appeared in 31 games, posting a 7.34 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 36:22 K:BB across 30.2 innings. Simpson will open the 2026 season in Triple-A but could get called up to the majors if the Mariners need a left-hander out of the bullpen.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Looks sharp in Grapefruit League
Duran threw a clean inning during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. He struck out two.
Duran is now up to three scoreless frames with six punchouts and no walks during spring training. Following a trade away from the Twins at least year's deadline, the hard-throwing right-hander is all set to resume his duties as Philadelphia's closer to begin 2026. Duran delivered a 2.18 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a sparkling 27:1 K:BB over 20.2 regular-season innings for the Phillies a year ago, successfully converting 16 of his 19 save opportunities.
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Jake Eder RP | WAS
Nationals' Jake Eder: Sent to minors
The Nationals optioned Eder to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
Eder has pitched 6.2 frames this spring in Grapefruit League play, yielding four runs (two earned) with a 6:6 K:BB. The left-hander will likely be part of Rochester's rotation to begin the season, but all nine of his big-league appearances have been out of the bullpen. He could fill either role with the Nationals when called upon.
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Jose Leclerc RP | ATH
Jose Leclerc: Throws bullpen Friday
Leclerc (lat) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Leclerc is currently a free agent and is working his way back from shoulder surgery after being diagnosed with a lat strain last April, and the 32-year-old is still tracking toward a July return. Leclerc was very effective in relief with the Rangers from 2022-24 and should draw interest once healthy.
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Grant Holmes RP | ATL
Braves' Grant Holmes: Dominant outing against Bucs
Holmes struck out nine and walked one over five scoreless, no-hit innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.
The right-hander built up to 64 pitches (41 strikes) as he dominated a Pittsburgh lineup that featured most of its likely Opening Day starters, including Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O'Hearn and Marcell Ozuna. Holmes has yet to allow an earned run this spring, posting a 16:6 K:BB through 12.1 innings, and he's locked into an Opening Day rotation spot due to injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and Joey Wentz (knee).
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Alexis Diaz RP | TEX
Rangers' Alexis Diaz: DFA'd by Texas
The Rangers designated Diaz for assignment Friday.
Diaz entered spring training with a chance at winning Texas' closer job, but he was shelled and allowed eight earned runs on three hits and four walks across 1.2 innings and three relief appearances. He faced 13 batters and retired just five, striking out one. With Diaz out of the picture, Robert Garcia and Chris Martin are the favorites for saves for the Rangers.
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Josh Sborz RP | TEX
Rangers' Josh Sborz: Fighting for roster spot
Sborz allowed two runs on three hits and one walk over one inning in Thursday's spring game against the Athletics.
Sborz allowed runs for the first time in five Cactus League relief appearances, which bodes well for the non-roster invitee's hopes of making the roster. After not pitching in 2025 following a shoulder procedure, Sborz worked hard during the offseason to re-establish the velocity he showed when pitching for the Rangers from 2021-24, when he typically sat between 95 and 97 mph. On Thursday, his four-seamer averaged 94.1 mph, the highest it's been this spring.