MLB Player News

Morton was one of several Rays pitchers to throw off a mound at Tropicana Field on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Friday marked the first day pitchers were able to use bullpen mounds since the team resumed workouts May 25. Morton took immediate advantage along with several of his teammates, throwing 15-25 pitches to a pair of bullpen catchers. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder oversaw the throwing sessions and came away impressed with all who participated, noting each player seemed to be in good shape despite the restrictions of the last several weeks.

Snell is throwing 4-to-5 times per week while spring training is suspended and will begin throwing off a mound next week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Snell has continued to throw since play was suspended, but he recently increased his throwing program ahead of a potential return. His return to mound throwing will mark the first time that he's thrown off a mound since spring training, but it appears as though the southpaw is fully healthy despite suffering a left elbow injury in late February.

Carrasco (elbow) has been regularly throwing bullpen sessions and sending videos of his workouts to Indians manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Carl Willis since MLB suspended its season in March, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Carrasco's availability for Opening Day looked to be in peril after he was shut down with elbow inflammation in early March, but baseball's ongoing hiatus has given him nearly three months to heal up from the injury. While Carrasco has since resumed mound work with no complications, Hoynes' report doesn't indicate that the right-hander has progressed to facing hitters at any point during the league-wide shutdown. With that in mind, Carrasco may find himself behind Cleveland's other starting pitchers when full-squad workouts resume, but the prevailing expectation is that he'll at least be available for the start of the season, even if he faces more restrictions with his pitch counts initially.

Canning (elbow) recently resumed throwing live batting practice and has advanced to the 55-pitch mark in those sessions, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Canning has already thrown live BP three times and is expected to hold steady around 55 pitches in his subsequent sessions until the Angels begin their second phase of preseason training. Assuming Canning avoids any setbacks with his right elbow as he ramps up, he'll likely have a spot waiting for him in the Angels' Opening Day rotation. As a rookie last season, Canning posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while striking out 96 batters over 90.1 innings.

Severino (elbow) said Saturday that he's progressing well in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in February and remains optimistic that he'll be ready to pitch for the Yankees at some point in 2021, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Severino has been a regular at the Yankees' spring facility in Tampa during baseball's hiatus, with the right-hander relaying that he's been able to go through a weightlifting program five days a week since having the procedure. He expects to receive clearance to resume throwing at some point during the summer, but it may not be until next spring that the Yankees give him the green light to face hitters. Before requiring surgery, Severino was at least able to secure a four-year, $40 million contract extension with the Yankees that bought out his remaining arbitration years.

Kluber has faced live batters and pitched the equivalent of three innings, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports.

It's not clear where Kluber faced the live hitters, but he's on schedule for a resumption of spring training. Once in camp, Kluber and the rest of the Texas starters will work toward building up pitch counts to the 75-to-80 range.

Walker was one of several Mariners present at the team's spring complex in Peoria, Arizona on Tuesday for informal workouts, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The Mariners became the latest team to start welcoming players back into either their home or spring facilities Tuesday, allowing them to work out in groups of three for two-hour windows. Walker was able to play catch and run under staff supervision, and johns notes the team has instructed to players to keep their volume and intensity at a "winter workout level" for the time being until there is more clarity on a possible 2020 season. Before spring training was suspended, the veteran right-hander had built up some momentum for what was to be a comeback season of sorts, displaying good velocity and also flashing a new spiked curve that was good enough to strike out the Brewers' Christian Yelich in Walker's one spring start.

Kikuchi, who has remained in the Arizona area while spring training has been suspended, should be one of the players that begins participating in informal workouts at the team's Peoria facility this week, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

With MLB teams now allowed to grant restricted access to their spring training or home facilities in accordance with local guidelines, the Mariners will begin hosting staggered groups of players for informal workouts early this week. Given his proximity to the Peoria complex, Kikuchi is fully expected to be one of those participating moving forward. The southpaw, readying for his second season stateside after a successful career in Japan, was thought to be making impressive progress with both his velocity and command before Cactus League play was paused. Having access to certain amenities and equipment at the spring facility should allow Kikuchi to start getting back on track after he was forced to work out in more limited fashion in recent weeks.

Paxton will be ready to go when the 2020 season begins and is working on increasing the spin rate on his fastball, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Paxton indicated that he has thrown 12-14 bullpen sessions since beginning his recovery from February back surgery and confirmed that he will be "ready to go as soon as the season comes about." Some of Paxton's bullpens have included simulated innings with batters standing in so that the southpaw can gain a feel for the strike zone, according to Ackert. Paxton also indicated that he is experimenting with his fastball grip in an effort to increase his spin rate. With the back issue now behind him, Paxton should slot into the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the Yankees' Opening Day rotation.

Dunn, who's remained in Arizona while play has been paused, should be one of the players that begins working out at the team's spring training facility next week, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The promising pitcher has had the opportunity to work out regularly with several of his teammates during the shutdown at a facility near the team's complex in Peoria, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. However, with the Mariners being granted permission to reopen their spring facility next week and host small groups of players, Dunn figures to be front and center as far as returning to a regular training routine. With expanded rosters fully expected to be part of any 2020 season that does unfold, the 24-year-old seems very likely to stick with the big-league club.