MLB Player News
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Jacob Latz RP | TEX
Rangers' Jacob Latz: Rebounds after rocky start
Latz allowed two runs on three hits and struck out one over three innings in Sunday's spring start against Seattle.
Two batters into Latz's second Cactus League start, the Rangers trailed, 2-0, after the left-hander served up a middle-middle slider that Cole Young drove 442 feet over the fence in right field. He allowed another hit in the inning, and then retired eight consecutive batters before calling it a day. Latz threw 41 pitches (26 strikes) and did not walk a batter for the second straight start. He was used mostly as a reliever the last few seasons, but the Rangers are building him as a starter and letting him compete with Kumar Rocker for the final spot in the rotation. Of the two, Latz has performed better thus far in spring action.
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Jared Shuster RP | STL
Cardinals' Jared Shuster: Removed from big-league camp
The Cardinals reassigned Shuster to minor-league camp Monday.
Shuster had been in contention for the second lefty spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen, but his removal from the competition leaves Justin Bruihl, Packy Naughton and Nick Raquet as the primary candidates for that role. The 27-year-old southpaw worked primarily out of the bullpen for the White Sox the past two seasons, but it's possible that the Cardinals opt to have Shuster get stretched for a starting role or deploy him as a swingman at Triple-A Memphis in 2026.
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Zack Thompson RP | STL
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Removed from big-league camp
The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.
Thompson was attending big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee, but he hadn't appeared in any Grapefruit League games while continuing to work his way back from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, which he underwent back in August. The southpaw has initiated a throwing program but hasn't yet gotten back on a mound, so he still has multiple checkpoints to reach in the recovery process before being deemed ready for game action.
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Beau Brieske RP | DET
Tigers' Beau Brieske: Exits with ribcage injury
Brieske was lifted from Monday's Grapefruit League appearance versus Atlanta due to right ribcage tightness, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Making his first appearance this spring after being slowed by back spasms, Brieske lasted only three pitches Monday before being pulled. It's unclear whether the two injuries might be related. Brieske will be evaluated further before the Tigers determine what the next steps for him will be.
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Beau Brieske RP | DET
Tigers' Beau Brieske: Pulled from outing with injury
Brieske was removed from Monday's Grapefruit League appearance versus Atlanta after only three pitches with an undisclosed injury, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Brieske was making his first appearance of the spring after previously being sidelined with back spasms. It's safe to assume he encountered a setback with his back, but the Tigers should have more clarity on the reliever's status soon.
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Kyle Hurt RP | LAD
Dodgers' Kyle Hurt: Gearing up for bullpen role
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Hurt isn't considered a candidate for a rotation spot and is competing for a bullpen role on the team's Opening Day roster, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Hurt rose through the Dodgers farm system as a starter and looked to be making a case for a full-time appointment in the big-league rotation following a breakout 2023 campaign in which he amassed 155 strikeouts in 94 innings across three stops. However, after he required Tommy John surgery in July 2024, Hurt's trajectory appears to have changed. Though Hurt pitched effectively out of the Triple-A Oklahoma City bullpen late last season upon completing his recovery from surgery and benefited from a normal offseason, the Dodgers won't ask him to get stretched back out again in 2026. The Dodgers' ample depth is likely a major factor in the decision; even with Blake Snell (shoulder) and Gavin Stone (shoulder) expected to open the season on the shelf, the team still has plenty of appealing candidates (Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan, Ben Casparius and Landon Knack) to fill out the final two spots in the projected six-man rotation.
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Kyle Nelson RP | ATL
Braves' Kyle Nelson: Goes to Atlanta on minors deal
Atlanta signed Nelson to a minor-league contract Feb. 25.
Nelson struggled in 2025 in his first season back from thoracic outlet surgery, allowing two runs in two innings with the Diamondbacks and posting a 9.09 ERA in 42 appearances with Triple-A Reno. The 29-year-old will give Atlanta some experienced left-handed relief depth at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Tyler Samaniego RP | BOS
Red Sox's Tyler Samaniego: Ready for spring debut
Samaniego (back) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Tuesday in the Red Sox's exhibition versus Team Puerto Rico, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Samaniego had been scheduled to make an appearance early in the Grapefruit League slate, but a back issue cropped up and prevented him from pitching. The young lefty wasn't shut down for long and has been able to ramp back up through bullpen sessions and live batting practice over the past week, setting the stage for him to make his spring debut Tuesday. Samaniego was added to the Red Sox's 40-man roster over the winter but is expected to open the season in the Triple-A Worcester bullpen.
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Steven Wilson RP | TB
Rays' Steven Wilson: Anticipating short absence
Wilson said Sunday that his lower back has responded well to an injection, and he hopes to be ready to make his season debut shortly after Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wilson's back issue cropped up following his second bullpen session of spring training and prompted the Rays to shut him down. The righty reliever is still waiting for the injection to take full effect, but assuming it alleviates the lingering pain in his back, he should initiate a throwing program in the coming days. Once healthy, Wilson is likely to fill a middle-innings role for Tampa Bay, who acquired him in November after he turned in a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings out of the White Sox bullpen in 2025.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Royals' Matt Strahm: Scoreless spring debut
Strahm allowed a hit and no walks across a scoreless inning in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out one.
Strahm entered in the fifth inning to make his spring debut, working around a leadoff single by Cooper Pratt to retire the side without allowing a run. The veteran left-hander, who began his big-league career with the Royals in 2016, was acquired by Kansas City from Philadelphia in December in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan. Strahm is coming off a 2.74 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 across 62.1 regular-season innings out of the bullpen last season and figures to handle plenty of high-leverage opportunities for the Royals in 2026.