MLB Player News

Espino (shoulder) extended his throwing distance to 120 feet Wednesday.

Espino still has a long way to go in his rehab after undergoing two shoulder procedures in the past 21 months. He hasn't yet been completely ruled out for 2025, but he won't have the chance to make any appearances until late in the year.

Meyer topped out at 97.7 mph while completing a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Mets in his Grapefruit League debut, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Meyer issued a two-out walk in the frame but needed only 13 pitches to get out of things unscathed. The right-hander's four-seamer averaged 96.4 mph in the outing, which is up more than two mph from what he averaged with the pitch last season. Meyer attributed the velocity increase to "a big offseason in the weight room," Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports. He had an up-and-down 2024 season which featured a 5.68 ERA and ended prematurely due to a shoulder issue, and Meyer is essentially still a prospect as he competes for a spot in the Marlins' rotation for 2025.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Wednesday that Thorpe (elbow) "continues to progress," Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Thorpe has not yet been cleared to throw breaking balls during his bullpen sessions, however, and will need to show he can do that before facing hitters and pitching in a Cactus League game. The right-hander had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow last September and experienced a pair of setbacks after that during the offseason. Thorpe is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Painter has ditched his cutter and added a changeup as his fourth pitch, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Painter is in camp with the big-league club but will not pitch in spring games, as the Phillies look to preserve the workload of their prized prospect in his return from 2023 Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old threw 15.2 frames in the Arizona Fall League last year, posting a 2.30 ERA and 18:4 K:BB, and he impressed his pitching coach, Caleb Cotham, in the process with a refined pitch mix that Painter is expected to carry forward into 2025. Painter is also reportedly throwing bullpens at a lower intensity this spring compared to past camps as he prepares to make his major-league debut this summer. Gelb previously suggested back in January that 80 or so big-league innings could be the target for Painter in his debut season.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Wednesday that Cannon will open the season in the club's rotation, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The revelation doesn't come as a surprise, as Cannon made 21 starts (23 appearances in total) for the White Sox last season and was serviceable, collecting a 4.49 ERA and 91:40 K:BB over 124.1 innings. Cannon might even start Opening Day, although Martin Perez and Davis Martin -- who Venable also named to the rotation Wednesday -- could be candidates, as well. The 24-year-old Cannon is not a desirable fantasy target.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Wednesday that Martin will open the season in the rotation, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Martin Perez and Jonathan Cannon will join Martin in the rotation, while the final two spots are still up for grabs. Martin made 10 starts and one relief appearance with the big club last season, posting a 4.32 ERA and 47:23 K:BB across 50 innings. He will be nearly two full years removed from Tommy John surgery on Opening Day and flashed more swing-and-miss ability in the minors prior to the operation, but Martin's team context limits his fantasy appeal to deep leagues.

Skubal has been named the Tigers' starting pitcher for their Opening Day game March 27 against the Dodgers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

As the reigning unanimous American League Cy Young Award winner, Skubal was as obvious of a choice as it gets to take the ball Opening Day. He'll face a tall task in going up against the World Series champions, but fantasy managers aren't going to be sitting Skubal in any matchups.

Warren struck out four in three perfect innings Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Warren threw 13 sweepers, 12 sinkers, seven four-seamers and three changeups, with his sweeper doing the heavy lifting on a dominant second start of the spring. With Clarke Schmidt (back) expected to progress to live batting practice this weekend, it's too soon to say if the Yankees will have to dip into their starting pitching depth right away this season. However, Warren has clearly established himself as a high-upside, ascending pitcher early this spring, and he's at worst seventh on the Yankees' starting pitching depth chart.

Reifert struck out the side in the third inning of Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

The 25-year-old righty needed 16 pitches (nine strikes) to carve up Miami's 9-1-2 hitters, including Xavier Edwards. Reifert is in camp as a Rule 5 pick from the Rays organization, giving him a leg up on winning one of the final spots in the Nationals' bullpen if he shows he's ready to get big-league hitters out. Over 40.1 innings for Double-A Montgomery in 2024, Reifert posted a 2.01 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 64:16 K:BB.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that Nunez (elbow) will not appear in a Grapefruit League game "anytime soon," Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets maintain that Nunez is healthy and still can be ready in time for Opening Day, but they are taking things extra slowly after the reliever battled a flexor strain in the second half last season. Nunez is projected to see leverage innings in the Mets' bullpen this season, if he can stay healthy.