MLB Player News
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Hunter Dobbins SP | STL
Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Goes on IL
The Cardinals placed Dobbins (knee) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Dobbins is still working his way back from July surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. Though he's been able to steadily build up his pitch count throughout the spring through live batting practice sessions and simulated games, he's not yet been cleared for full fielding and agility drills. Once he clears that hurdle in the recovery process, Dobbins may not require an extensive rehab assignment, but the Cardinals aren't guaranteed to have a spot in the rotation available for him upon his return from the IL.
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Zack Wheeler SP | PHI
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: 15-day IL move made official
The Phillies placed Wheeler (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Wheeler is still working his way back from last September's venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. He is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Wheeler will be eligible for activation April 6, and while he might not be ready by that date, he is on track to return sometime in April.
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Blake Walston SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Back on 60-day IL to open season
Arizona placed Walston (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Walston will open a second consecutive season on the 60-day injured list after he was shelved throughout the 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery March 26 of last year. Per Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com, Walston was spotted throwing off flat ground Feb. 10, but it's unclear if the southpaw has progressed to mound work since then. In any case, Walston will be out for at least the first two months of the 2026 campaign while he continues to build back up following surgery.
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Cristian Mena SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Opening season on 60-day IL
The Diamondbacks placed Mena (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Mena didn't pitch after June 6 last season after straining his right shoulder and had received a clean bill of health heading into spring training before aggravating the injury early in camp. The right-hander remains shut down from throwing and will now be shelved for at least the first two months of the season while he continues to rehab the injury.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Officially moved to IL
The Diamondbacks placed Kelly on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to left intercostal nerve irritation.
While Kelly won't be part of the Arizona's Opening Day rotation, he may need to miss only two or three turns before making his 2026 debut. Despite being set back by the injury in camp, Kelly was able to make three starts during spring training and most recently covered 52 pitches and two-plus innings Monday. He's expected to build on that workload in a rehab start with Triple-A Reno on April 3 and is tentatively scheduled for another minor-league tuneup outing April 8 before likely returning from the IL thereafter.
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Griffin Canning SP | SD
Padres' Griffin Canning: Faces hitters
Canning (Achilles) pitched against the Mariners in a "B" game on a back field March 20, tossing a scoreless inning with three strikeouts, per MLB.com.
The appearance was Canning's first in a game setting since he tore his Achilles last June. The right-hander was with the Mets at the time, and he signed a one-year contract with San Diego in mid-February of this year. Canning will begin the campaign on the injured list but could be ready to join the Padres' rotation before the end of April.
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Hurston Waldrep SP | ATL
Braves' Hurston Waldrep: Lands on IL
Atlanta placed Waldrep (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Waldrep isn't expected to be available to make his season debut until June or July after he underwent an arthroscopic procedure Feb. 23 to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. Atlanta could shift him to the 60-day IL at some point in the coming weeks when the team needs to free up another spot on the 40-man roster.
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A.J. Smith-Shawver SP | ATL
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Opens season on 15-day IL
Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Smith-Shawver is still on the mend from the Tommy John surgery he underwent June 9 of last year and isn't expected to be ready to pitch for Atlanta until late in the 2026 season, if at all. Atlanta will eventually move him to the 60-day IL when it needs to open up another spot on the 40-man roster.