MLB Player News

Roa (shoulder) tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one walk while striking out a batter in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cardinals in Grapefruit League action.

Roa ended the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list with the Reds after suffering a right shoulder strain. The right-hander was claimed off waivers by the Marlins in November and he has now officially left his shoulder injury in the past. Roa has yet to make his MLB debut after being selected in the second round of the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Reds and he'll likely start the 2025 season with Triple-A Jacksonville.

Cantillo allowed one hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Monday's spring game against Arizona.

It was impossible for Cantillo to walk a batter as he threw only three balls among his 21 pitches. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told Jesse Friedman of MLB.com that throwing strikes will be the key to Cantillo's success. Cantillo made nine appearances (eight starts) for the Guardians in 2024, posting a 4.89 ERA while walking 3.5 batters per nine innings. He's one of several pitchers vying for a spot in the rotation.

Walter (shoulder) allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one batter over one inning in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Nationals in Grapefruit League action.

Walter missed the entirety of the 2024 season while nursing a right shoulder strain, but he's now all set for the 2025 campaign. The left-hander last pitched in 2023, producing a 6.26 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 23.0 innings in nine appearances with the Red Sox. Walter is participating in spring training as a non-roster invitee and if he sticks around with the Astros, he'll likely begin the year with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Gallen allowed one run on one hit and struck out two over one inning in Monday's spring game against Cleveland.

Gallen threw 15 pitches (nine for strikes), including a changeup that Gabriel Arias sent back over the fence in left-center field. The right-hander told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he felt better than his most recent live batting practice session, but the changeup that Arias hammered was "kind of flat." Gallen and Corbin Burnes are considered co-aces -- each has thrown one Cactus League inning -- and manager Torey Lovullo is still deciding which one will start Opening Day.

Adon (biceps) pitched a scoreless inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

Adon ended the 2024 season with a biceps injury but has since returned to health. Saturday's performance was a strong start to camp for the 26-year-old, who posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 ERA with six strikeouts a year ago over 10.2 innings (eight games).

Mikolas wants to throw fewer balls in the zone on two-strike counts this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Mikolas has a microscopic 4.1 percent walk rate over the last two seasons, but he's also surrendered more two-strike hits than anyone in baseball over that span. The goal for 2025 is to try to get hitters to chase with two strikes, which might lead to a few more walks and a higher WHIP but also hopefully more strikeouts. Mikolas is entering the final year of his three-year, $55.75 million contract and will enter the campaign with a spot in the Cardinals' rotation.

Graceffo is under consideration for a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Graceffo gave up a solo homer in two innings of work against the Mets in his Grapefruit League debut Monday, but he topped out at 97.1 mph with his fastball and induced four whiffs on six swings on his curveball. Manager Oliver Marmol referred to the appearance as "pretty electric." Graceffo has been a starter throughout the minors, but his progress has stalled out at Triple-A Memphis the last two years and a full-time shift to the bullpen might be the best thing for him and the Cardinals at this point.

Mize tossed two scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He allowed two hits and struck out three.

Mize made the start for the Tigers and helped blank New York along with five Detroit relievers. The 27-year-old was making his return from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and posted a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 78 strikeouts across 102.1 regular-season innings. Mize mostly worked as a starter last year, though the Tigers did shift him to the bullpen down the stretch. It's unclear what his role will ultimately be in 2025, but the Tigers will likely give the 2018 No. 1 overall pick every opportunity to win a rotation spot this spring.

Horton (shoulder) faced four batters during a brief bullpen session Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It was a short but meaningful appearance on the mound for Horton, who was facing live hitters for the first time in about nine months. The young righty was ultimately shut down last year due to a Grade 2 right subscapularis strain, and he's slowly building himself back up in camp. Horton, who was drafted seventh overall by the Cubs back in 2022, is one of the team's top pitching prospects and could be closing in on his MLB debut this season. The lost 2024 campaign may slow Horton down a bit, but if he looks good at Triple-A Iowa early in the year, he could start to force the issue, though Chicago would have to open up a spot on its 40-man roster to make room for the 23-year-old.

Houck threw indoors to make up for the innings he lost due to Monday's game against the Yankees getting postponed, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck will build up his workload in an unofficial setting Monday rather than try to make up the innings Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty logged a career-high 178.2 innings in 2024, and his 55.9 percent groundball rate was the fifth-best mark among qualified starters.