MLB Player News

Kelly will start Wednesday against Colombia for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

It was originally reported Miles Mikolas would start Wednesday's game, but instead it will be Kelly on the bump in a must-win game for the United States. Mikolas will instead piggyback with Lance Lynn against Canada on Monday, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Miller was reassigned Monday to minor-league camp by the Dodgers.

Miller is one of the top pitching prospects in the system and has a chance to make starts for the Dodgers in 2023. The right-hander registered a 145:37 K:BB along with a 4.25 ERA in 112.1 innings across 24 appearances -- 23 starts -- between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last season.

Small was optioned Monday to Triple-A Nashville by the Brewers, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Small was auditioning for a bullpen spot with the Brewers this spring, but he comes up short -- at least to begin the season. The left-hander has shown impressive swing-and-miss stuff but also has had trouble finding the strike zone, and that includes three walks in five innings over four Cactus League appearances. If Small can ever find the command, he has a chance to be a fantasy contributor, but there's as much risk as reward in his profile.

Rea was assigned to minor-league camp Monday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Rea will head to Milwaukee's farm system to serve as pitching depth after spending the 2022 season in Japan with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. His last big-league experience dates back to 2021 when he made one appearance for Milwaukee, though he also pitched in 20 contests during the 2016 season across stops in Miami and San Diego.

Junk was optioned Monday to Triple-A Nashville by the Brewers, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Acquired by the Brewers in the Hunter Renfroe deal over the winter, Junk allowed six runs in 8.1 innings for the Angels prior to being dealt and spent most of last season at the Triple-A level. The right-hander will likely be an up-and-down option for the Brewers in the 2023 season.

Gasser was assigned to minor-league camp on Monday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Gasser was acquired by the Brewers from the Padres in the Josh Hader trade last summer, and he was promoted to Triple-A Nashville in August of 2022. He accrued a 4.44 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with a 31:16 K:BB across 26.1 frames with the Sounds and could be a candidate to join the Brewers later on in 2023.

Waldichuk has allowed nine earned runs on nine hits and seven walks while recording four strikeouts across six innings over three Cactus League appearances (two starts).

Waldichuk has made a less than convincing case for a rotation spot this spring given his poor numbers. Two of the nine hits the southpaw has conceded have left the yard as well, but Waldichuk, who posted a 2-2 record, 4.93 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across his first seven big-league starts at the tail end of last season, should still have at least a couple more Cactus League opportunities to right the ship before Opening Day.

Zulueta was optioned Monday to minor-league camp by the Blue Jays, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Zulueta came up short in his bid to make the Toronto roster out of camp despite not allowing a run with a 3:2 K:BB in his three Grapefruit League appearances. The hard-throwing 25-year-old could be one of the first arms that the Blue Jays turn to early this season, as he's ranked as one of the top pitching prospects in their system.

A report stating that Quintana (rib) would be shut down for three months is "premature," Mets general manager Billy Eppler told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on Monday.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported earlier Monday that Quintana would not throw a baseball for at least three months and would be out until around the All-Star break as he recovers from a stress fracture in the fifth rib on his left side. However, Eppler said Monday that "I don't have all the information yet" and any talk of the lefty being shut down is "just premature." It's also notable that Eppler didn't outright deny the report. A lengthy absence for Quintana seems to be the most likely scenario, but the Mets could still be in information-gathering mode before making an official decision. Tylor Megill and David Peterson are in the running to fill Quintana's rotation spot.

Bradley was optioned to minor-league camp Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bradley is the top pitching prospect in the Tampa Bay system, but the right-hander will open the season in the minors -- likely with Triple-A Durham. The 21-year-old can miss bats with multiple pitches and can locate them for strikes, so it's just a matter of time before he's helping the Rays' pitching staff.