MLB Player News
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Jacob Lopez RP | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Stellar in spring start
Lopez allowed no hits and a walk across four scoreless innings in Saturday's Cactus League win over the Royals. He struck out seven.
After allowing a leadoff walk to Nick Loftin, Lopez proceeded to retire every other batter he faced, striking out over half of them. He was brought along slowly to open the spring after he closed the 2025 season on the injured list due to an elbow strain, but the southpaw looked fully healthy Saturday. Lopez is expected to open 2026 with a spot in the big-league rotation, as the 28-year-old looks to build on a season in which he posted a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 113:37 K:BB across 21 appearances (17 starts) and 92.2 innings.
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Amos Willingham RP | HOU
Astros' Amos Willingham: Cut by Houston
The Astros reassigned Willingham to minor-league camp Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old right-hander made 19 appearances in the big leagues for Washington in 2023-24, but he spent all of 2025 in the minors as a member of the Atlanta organization, logging a 5.17 ERA in 55.2 innings across stops with four different affiliates. After being cut from the Astros' big-league camp, Willingham will likely open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Tom Cosgrove RP | HOU
Astros' Tom Cosgrove: Fails to win Opening Day spot
The Astros reassigned Cosgrove to minor-league camp Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Cosgrove is expected to serve as organizational bullpen depth at Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the season after he was unable to secure a spot in the Astros' Opening Day bullpen. The 29-year-old lefty joined Houston on a minor-league deal over the winter after he spent time in the Padres and Cubs organizations in 2025 and made just two relief appearances at the big-league level.
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Zach Brzykcy RP | MIA
Marlins' Zach Brzykcy: Loses out in roster battle
The Marlins reassigned Brzykcy to minor-league camp Sunday.
A non-roster invitee for spring training after the Marlins claimed him off waivers from the Nationals in the offseason and later outrighted him, Brzykcy made a strong impression in the Grapefruit League, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out five and allowing four hits and no walks. The right-hander has been less than stellar over parts of two seasons in the majors with Washington, however, with elevated home-run and walk rates. If he can carry over his performance from the spring and find success early on at Triple-A, Brzykcy may not have to wait long for a promotion to Miami.
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Edwin Diaz RP | LAD
Dodgers' Edwin Diaz: Time in WBC comes to end
Diaz walked one batter and struck out two over a scoreless inning for Team Puerto Rico in an elimination loss to Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
Though Diaz and Puerto Rico won't advance, the tournament went well for the All-Star closer, as he pitched three scoreless frames and posted a 7:1 K:BB. Of course, the last time Diaz pitched in the WBC (in 2023), he tore his right patellar tendon and missed the subsequent MLB campaign, so the Dodgers have to be pleased that their offseason acquisition is returning to the club in good health. Diaz should see plenty of save chances this season for a team that is once again expected to be among the best in baseball.
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Andre Pallante RP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Goes five in fourth spring start
Pallante permitted one run on three hits and three walks over five innings in Grapefruit League play Saturday versus the Marlins. He struck out four.
Pallante struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the third inning but then issued a walk and gave up two straight hits to push in a run. It was another positive outing overall, though, and he got his pitch count up to 72. Through 14 frames this spring, Pallante holds a 2.57 ERA and 13:5 K:BB. He's put himself in good standing as he competes for a spot in the St. Louis rotation.
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Robinson Ortiz RP | SEA
Mariners' Robinson Ortiz: Optioned to Triple-A
The Mariners optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.
Ortiz spent the entire 2025 season in the minors before he was traded by the Dodgers to the Mariners in mid-November. The 26-year-old southpaw will not be on Seattle's Opening Day roster, but he could make his major-league debut in 2026 if the Mariners need additional depth out of the bullpen. In the minors last season, Ortiz posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 72:33 K:BB across 59.1 innings.
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Sean Newcomb RP | CHW
White Sox's Sean Newcomb: Will pitch out of bullpen in 2026
White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters Saturday that Newcomb will work out of the bullpen for the 2026 season, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Newcomb has operated as a starter for most of his major-league career, but he found success while primarily working out of the bullpen with the Red Sox and Athletics in 2025, posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 91:31 K:BB across 92.1 innings. He inked a one-year deal with the White Sox in December and was competing for a rotation spot early in camp. Although he won't open the season as a starter, Newcomb could see some spot starts to help give the White Sox's rotation extra rest.
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Erik Miller RP | SF
Giants' Erik Miller: Scoreless outing in spring debut
Miller (back) allowed one hit while striking out three across one scoreless inning in Friday's 6-1 Cactus League loss to the Reds.
Miller made his spring debut after missing the first three weeks of Cactus League play due to lower-back tightness. The left-hander surrendered a single to the first batter he faced but went on to strike out the next three, throwing 12 of his 20 pitches for strikes. The 28-year-old's 2025 season was cut short due to a left elbow injury. He posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 22:20 K:BB across 30 innings in 36 relief appearances last season.
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Orion Kerkering RP | PHI
Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Could pitch Tuesday after live BP
Kerkering (hamstring) said after throwing a live batting practice session Saturday that he expects to pitch in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kerkering has been held out of spring training games while rehabbing from a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. He appears to have progressed enough in his recovery to be available for Tuesday's contest, and the 25-year-old right-hander is aiming to pitch in three games before Opening Day. Kerkering appeared in 69 games for the Phillies in 2025, finishing with a 3.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, four saves and a 65:27 K:BB across 60 innings.