MLB Player News
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: First time facing hitters since TJS
Cole (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
It will be Cole's first time facing hitters since last March's Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. The veteran hurler's rehab has gone swimmingly to this point, and he will continue to check off boxes as he eyes a season debut in late May or early June.
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Johan Oviedo SP | BOS
Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Team wants more explosion
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that coaches are working with Oviedo to be more explosive with his delivery, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "Just a big dude that we gotta get moving," Cora said of the 6-foot-6, 275-pound right-hander. "Not work faster as far as like tempo, but move faster. And I think we accomplished that today."
Oviedo threw a two-inning live batting practice Thursday, and the manager said he's getting closer to what coaches are looking for. Cora also raved about the right-hander's extension, but strike-throwing remains key for the hurler, whose first spring start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Twins. Oviedo appears to be the frontrunner for a spot at the back end of the rotation. One candidate, Kutter Crawford (wrist), could open the season on the injured list, and two others, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, may begin the year at Triple-A Worcester. Left-hander Patrick Sandoval is also in the mix, but he missed all of 2025 with an elbow injury.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: First spring start scheduled
Keller will make his Grapefruit League debut Sunday against the Rays, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Keller has turned into a consistent starter for the Pirates, though he endured a tough second half of 2025 by posting a 5.56 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 57.1 innings. He's looking to be more consistent in 2026, but he's posted an ERA in the low 4.00s with a WHIP in the mid 1.20s in each of the last three seasons. Keller will remain a stalwart in the rotation in 2026 and could serve as the No. 2 starter behind Paul Skenes.
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Wilber Dotel SP | PIT
Pirates' Wilber Dotel: Starting Grapefruit League opener
Dotel will start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Dotel was added to the 40-man roster this offseason and will start Pittsburgh's first spring training contest. He started 27 games with Double-A Altoona in 2025, posting a solid 131:43 K:BB across 125.2 frames. Dotel will likely begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, but he could be promoted to the majors during the summer months if injuries occur in the Pirates' rotation.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Shane Bieber: Throwing from 120 feet
Manager John Schneider said Thursday that Bieber (forearm) has progressed to throwing from 120 feet, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The team has already confirmed that Bieber will begin the regular season on the injured list due to forearm fatigue -- something he pitched through during Toronto's playoff run in 2025. Schneider added that he expects Bieber to begin throwing bullpen sessions within the next two weeks, at which point more information may emerge regarding how much time the right-hander will miss to begin the new campaign.
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Chase Dollander SP | COL
Rockies' Chase Dollander: Fixes mechanics over offseason
Dollander believes he fixed a mechanical flaw with his delivery this offseason, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Dollander said he got "too coil-y in my legs, in my leg kick," which led to him throwing across his body and affected his command. After working with with T.J. Galenti, a Florida-based data scientist and baseball performance coach, Dollander said his mechanical problem was fixed "pretty fast." Dollander added that he's now able to better find the strike zone with his fastball and slider, and he's also "getting the 'vert' (induced vertical break) back" on his heater. The 24-year-old entered Rockies camp healthy following a late-season knee injury last year, and he's cemented into the Opening Day rotation. Dollander posted a 6.52 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 82:49 K:BB through 98 innings across 21 starts in his rookie season, with most of the damage done at home (9.98 ERA).
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Kodai Senga SP | NYM
Mets' Kodai Senga: Reaches 97 mph in live BP
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Senga hit 97 mph in a live batting practice session Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Senga averaged 95.7 mph with his four-seamer in his rookie season and 94.7 mph with the pitch in 2025, so topping out at 97 mph already in camp seems like a good sign. The 33-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA in 22 outings for the Mets last season, but his strikeout rate dipped to 22.6 percent and he finished the year in the minors after a rough stretch. If healthy, Senga should open 2026 in the Mets' rotation.
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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Could begin season on injured list
Crawford (wrist/illness) could begin the season on the injured list, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Crawford is behind other pitchers in Red Sox camp following last year's right wrist surgery and a recent bout with the flu. He's throwing off the mound, but with several other candidates to fill the last spot in their rotation, the Red Sox could choose to slow-play Crawford after he missed the entire 2025 campaign. Crawford made 33 starts for Boston in 2024, posting a 4.36 ERA and 175:51 K:BB over 183.2 innings.
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Cameron Schlittler SP | NYY
Yankees' Cam Schlittler: Close to facing hitters
Schlittler (back) recovered well from Tuesday's bullpen session and will throw one more before likely moving on to facing hitters, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Schlittler has been slowed a bit early on in camp by a mid-back issue, but he's on the mend. If the young right-hander is indeed cleared to face hitters soon, pitching in a Grapefruit League contest should follow shortly after. Schlittler is locked into a spot in the Yankees' rotation after holding a 2.96 ERA and 84:31 K:BB over 73 regular-season innings in 2025.
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Robby Snelling SP | MIA
Marlins' Robby Snelling: Gets nod to open spring schedule
Snelling will start for the Marlins in their Grapefruit League opener Saturday against the Mets, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The southpaw is set to work only one inning, but Snelling is in camp looking to make as many good impressions as possible. Miami doesn't have a spot for him in the Opening Day rotation after signing Chris Paddack, but after being named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025, Snelling could be the next man up in case of an injury. The 22-year-old delivered a dazzling 1.27 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB over 11 starts and 63.2 innings for Triple-A Jacksonville last season after a mid-July promotion from Double-A.