MLB Player News

Jameson (elbow) faced live batters Tuesday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

This was Jameson's first time facing hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. The Diamondbacks will monitor the right-hander's recovery from the session before determining the next steps.

Bednar is expected to begin the 2025 season as the Pirates' closer, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Bednar endured a tough 2024 season, highlighted by a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 57.2 innings. As a result, he didn't close the campaign in the closer role, instead ceding most of the opportunities to Aroldis Chapman in the final month. Chapman has since signed in Boston, leaving Pittsburgh hopeful that Bednar will be able to regain his previous form as a reliable closer. Bednar and the team have noted that he was overthrowing his pitches last season -- potentially due to an oblique injury he suffered early in the campaign -- an issue they believe has been resolved during the offseason.

White, who missed most of the 2024 season with elbow issues, has been looking good early in camp, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

White logged only 7.1 innings last season across several minor-league levels before getting shut down. The righty then underwent hydrodissection in August for nerve issues. After a lengthy recovery, White is aiming to once again push for a bullpen role with the Tigers. He logged 40.2 innings for Detroit back in 2023 and posted a 5.09 ERA. While getting back to the majors would be a personal victory for White, he's unlikely to be anything more than a low-leverage option.

The Cubs plan to ramp Little (lat) up slowly this spring, and the lefty appears unlikely to be ready for an Opening Day bullpen role, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Little sustained a strained left lat in July, which ended his 2024 season prematurely. The Cubs are understandably being cautious with the lefty, so he likely won't be available when the team heads to Tokyo to play the Dodgers on March 18 and 19, though he could be ready for regular-season action later in the month or in early April. Little flashed some promise last year, as his fastball sat a tick below 96 mph and he recorded a 9.7 K/9 and 3.46 ERA across 26 innings. When he's ready to roll in 2025, the southpaw figures to be an interesting bullpen weapon for Chicago, though he likely won't see save opportunities with Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge around.

Garcia (forearm) tossed a bullpen session Tuesday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Garcia is slightly behind the Rangers' healthy relievers in camp while he contends with forearm nerve irritation, but he doesn't appear at much risk of missing out on a spot in the Opening Day roster, provided he steers clear of setbacks for the remainder of spring training. He likely won't be available for the Rangers' three Cactus League games over the weekend but could be ready to make his spring debut at some point next week.

Imanaga will start March 18 against the Dodgers in the Cubs' season-opening series in Tokyo.

Manager Craig Counsell had said previously that Imanaga would take the ball in one of the two contests in Japan, and now it's been confirmed that the lefty will start the opener. He's expected to be opposed by fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although the Dodgers have not yet confirmed that. Imanaga held a 2.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 174 strikeouts over 173.1 innings in 2024, his first season with the Cubs.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said recently that Springs (elbow) had a "full, healthy offseason," and he does not expect the lefty's workload to be limited in 2025, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Springs threw only 16 innings in 2023 before needing Tommy John surgery and totaled 65 frames in 2024 before being shut down late in the year with left elbow fatigue. However, he was able to go through his normal offseason throwing program and will be nearly two full years removed from surgery on Opening Day. While Kotsay probably won't ride Springs too hard early in the season, he expects the southpaw to make "30-plus starts."

Hendriks was sitting at 93-94 mph during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Hendriks was averaging less than 93 mph during his brief rehab assignment last season, so the velocity he's displaying early in spring training, while down considerably from his 97.6 mph average fastball speed during his last healthy season in 2022, seems fairly encouraging. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Hendriks' velocity is "trending up," per Tyler Milliken of 98.5 The Sports Hub, and he believes it will continue to tick up as Opening Day draws nearer. Hendriks is competing with Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten for Boston's closer job.

Nicolas (side) faced off against Andrew McCutchen during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Nicolas appears to have entered spring training with a clean bill of health after he finished last season on the injured list due to a left side injury. Before being shut down, Nicolas had turned in a 3.95 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB while collecting two wins and seven holds over 54.2 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. He'll likely be ticketed for a middle-relief role to begin the 2025 campaign.

The Orioles signed Martinez to a minor-league contract Nov. 1 that includes an invitation to spring training.

Martinez, 30, has yet to pitch in the majors and spent the 2024 season in the Mexican League, where he held a 5.79 ERA and 15:9 K:BB over 18.2 innings. The righty reliever told Jake Rill of MLB.com that his fastball typically sits in the 100-102 mph range and he once hit 104 mph while pitching in Japan, so he could turn some heads this spring. In all likelihood, however, Martinez will open the season at Triple-A Norfolk.