MLB Player News

Baz (elbow) is on track to begin a throwing program in 3-4 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Baz reported to Rays camp this week as he continues the long road back from last September's Tommy John surgery. Obviously, he's not going to be an option for Tampa Bay this season, but the hope will be for him to be ready to roll by 2024.

Olson (abdomen) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Olson has dealt with abdominal soreness all spring, but a recent MRI came back clean and he's ready to test things out from the bump. The pitching prospect is in line to begin the season at Triple-A Toledo.

Gausman will make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Rays, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Gausman has been healthy all camp but with MLB cracking down on balks this season, he has been working on eliminating the heel tap in his delivery from the stretch. Evidently, he's happy with where he's at in that regard and is ready to test things out in game action.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Ragans was hitting 95-96 mph during his first Cactus League start last Sunday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Ragans' fastball velocity was 92.1 mph in 2022, putting him in the 19th percentile among pitchers. The velocity increase is startling. "I went back and looked at (last year's) games when I came over, and watched him," Bochy said. "It was impressive, wasn't it? He was bumping 96 (mph). I didn't see that in (last year's) games." The left-hander said he was on a program at a place called Tread Athletics, which he credits with the added 3-4 mph velocity. He's not a projected member of the five-man rotation, but he could move up among the depth options if the uptick in velocity is sustainable.

Houck allowed four walks and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings in Thursday's spring game against the Phillies.

Houck, working as a starter, made his spring debut and looked rusty. It was the first game appearance in seven months for the right-hander, who missed the final seven weeks of 2022 with a back issue that eventually required surgery. Houck told Ian Browne of MLB.com that he was "leaving the arm hanging behind" and knows the adjustment he needs to make. Houck is projected to serve in a multi-inning relief role, but the club is stretching him out during the Grapefruit League. He could emerge as a rotation member early on if Garrett Whitlock (hip) or Brayan Bello (forearm) aren't ready for Opening Day.

Dunning allowed one run on three hits while striking out five over three innings in Thursday's spring game against the Brewers.

This was Dunning's first Cactus League start and second appearance. The right-hander was part of Texas' rotation in 2022 but is on the outside of the top five starters as the 2023 regular season approaches. Barring injury to members of the projected rotation, the 28-year-old will likely occupy a multi-inning relief role during the regular season. Dunning was rocked in his one relief effort this spring, ceding five runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings following starter Nathan Eovaldi.

Heaney allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Heaney, making his spring and team debut after signing with the Rangers in the offseason, found himself in 2-0 hole against leadoff batter Mookie Betts, who drilled a middle-middle fastball over the fence in left field. "I don't want to start my first game of spring training going 3-0 on a guy or nibbling," Heaney told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "So I was like, 'I'm just gonna kind of throw it at him down the middle.' And he hit it out." The other run against him was a solo home run by Jason Heyward. Both the left-hander and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy looked beyond the results and understood early spring outings are for getting work in and staying healthy. Bochy noted Heaney threw his off-speed pitches well.

Kaprielian (shoulder) said he "likes the way things are coming along" after throwing a two-inning simulated game Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 29-year-old righty threw roughly 30 pitches and reportedly felt good afterwards. Coming off having surgery done on his throwing shoulder in November, Kaprielian says he's doing everything in his power to be ready to go for Oakland's Opening Day rotation.

Boyd allowed one run on two hits and a walk across two innings of work in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. He struck out four.

Boyd was making his spring debut for his first action with the Tigers since 2021, when he made 15 starts and recorded a 3.89 ERA. The lefty missed part of that season and most of 2022 due to a flexor tendon surgery, so Detroit will likely be cautious with him this season. Boyd has some strikeout upside, though he's certainly not without risk for fantasy managers due to his injury history.

Houck could be in line to open the season in the Red Sox' rotation with Garrett Whitlock (hip) and Brayan Bello (forearm) behind schedule, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck had seemed ticketed for a relief role when camp opened, but it appears he'll be needed more in the rotation initially. It's possible the assignment is temporary, as neither Whitlock or Bello are expected to miss much time if they do end up on the injured list. Of course, Houck could change that conversation if he gets off to a good start. The right-hander has a 3.22 ERA in 20 career starts and a 2.68 ERA in 33 relief outings.