MLB Player News

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday that Wells (elbow) will begin throwing bullpen sessions within the next two weeks, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Elias suggested that Wells could be ready to contribute with the Orioles during the latter half of summer. The right-hander is coming back from a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow, which he underwent last June.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday that Eflin's right lat strain is "very mild" and the pitcher's return is expected to be measured more in "weeks than months," Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Elias added that Eflin -- who was placed on the 15-day injured list April 9 -- is slated to play catch in a few days. It's too soon to know what Eflin's timetable to return is, but he does not appear headed for a long-term absence as long as he can avoid setbacks.

The Brewers optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.

After Tyler Alexander was tagged for eight runs (four earned) over four innings in Monday's start against the Tigers, Rodriguez came on in relief and tossed 68 pitches across five innings. The Brewers needed a fresh arm and recalled prospect Logan Henderson to take Rodriguez's spot.

The Brewers recalled Henderson from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.

Henderson is one of the Brewers' top pitching prospects and could be in line to make a start for an injury-riddled Milwaukee rotation at some point this week. Quinn Priester and Jose Quintana are currently penciled in for Tuesday and Wednesday before the team hosts the Athletics over the weekend. In order to make room for Henderson, the Brewers optioned Elvin Rodriguez to Triple-A after he fired five innings of relief during Monday's 9-1 loss to the Tigers.

Weathers (forearm) threw a bullpen session at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

The left-hander will throw a couple additional bullpen sessions before being cleared for a rehab assignment if all goes well. Coming back from a left flexor strain, Weathers hopes to rejoin the Marlins' rotation by the first week of May.

Miley (elbow) will throw three innings in an extended spring training game Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

If that goes well, he could be cleared to begin a formal rehab assignment. Miley is working his way back from a hybrid UCL repair he had on his left elbow last May. The lefty is on a minor-league contract but has a good chance to make starts for the Reds eventually if he shows he's healthy and pitches well.

Double-A Springfield transferred Hjerpe (elbow) from the 7-day injured list to the full season injured list Tuesday.

Hjerpe recently underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, which is certainly notable after the 24-year-old dealt with elbow issues last season and didn't pitch after July 2. He was given a clean bill of health over the offseason, but he'd yet to pitch in the minors early on this season. Hjerpe will miss another full season and has been limited to just 93.1 innings since being selected in the first round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft.

Blackburn (knee) is scheduled to throw two innings in a live batting practice session Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Blackburn checked out fine after throwing a one-inning live BP session in Brooklyn on Friday, prompting the Mets to clear him to repeat the activity while increasing his pitch count. If all goes well Tuesday, Blackburn will then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that the goal is to have Blackburn build up to around 65-to-70 pitches before coming off the 15-day injured list, so the right-hander will likely be in line for at least two starts on the farm.

Ullola has a 2.08 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 5:1 K:BB in 4.1 innings through two starts for Triple-A Sugar Land.

Ullola was removed from his Spring Breakout appearance in mid-March with right shoulder discomfort. He made his first start for the Space Cowboys April 8 and stayed on turn for an April 13 start, although he is slowly building back up from a workload standpoint.

Rodriguez struck out seven and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks over five innings of relief during Monday's 9-1 loss to the Tigers.

After yielding 11 earned runs over nine innings in his first two starts of the season, Rodriguez was moved to the bullpen late last week when Jose Quintana was called up from Triple-A Nashville. Rodriguez made a one-out appearance last Thursday in Colorado but was called upon for an extended piggyback outing behind starter Tyler Alexander on Monday after the latter pitcher was lit up for eight runs (four earned) through the first four innings. Per Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com, Rodriguez made use of a new pitch mix in Monday's appearance, scrapping the fastball-heavy approach he used in his first two starts and instead throwing sweepers and curveballs on 40 of his 68 pitches on the night. The adjusted pitch mix yielded strong results, but Rodriguez is unlikely to be reappointed to the rotation anytime soon, especially with Tobias Myers (oblique) on track to return from the injured list next week and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) not being far behind him.