MLB Player News

DeGrom (side) played catch Monday for a second consecutive day, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.

DeGrom is ramping up at a measured pace after the Rangers held him back from throwing last week. Texas manager Bruce Bochy would not put a firm date on when the right-hander will throw a bullpen session, but the manager expects that to occur later this week.

Williamson threw his fastball with more velocity than last spring in Saturday's live batting practice session, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "He has a really good feel for all of his pitches," Reds catcher Luke Maile said. "He threw a few changeups that were outstanding. He's moving his fastball around really well. He has such a clean delivery."

Williamson is hoping to win a spot in the Reds rotation, though he's likely behind Luis Cessa and Luke Weaver, among others, for the final two spots. He had a tough 2022 campaign as he advanced levels in a new organization after the Reds traded for him last spring, but said that he's improved his throwing routine and hopes to yield better results in 2023.

Eder (elbow) is feeling 100 percent and doesn't have an innings limit set for spring training, Fish on the Farm reports.

Eder will likely be monitored closely as he nears his first live action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August of 2021. The 24-year-old has only played one year of minor-league ball in the early stages of his career, as he spent the 2021 campaign with Double-A Pensacola and turned in a sparkling 1.77 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with a 99:27 K:BB over 15 starts (71.1 innings).

Ashcraft said that he was removed early from his live batting practice session Monday for precautionary reasons after he was struck in the right ankle by a comebacker, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The right-hander noted that he's OK and is walking completely normal after getting hit by a line drive, which apparently didn't result in him experiencing anything more than minor bruising or soreness to his ankle. Ashcraft looks on track to remain on his usual throwing progression this spring as he looks to stake his claim to a spot in Cincinnati's Opening Day rotation.

Wright (shoulder) told reporters on Monday that he expects to be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Wright received a cortisone injection in January, which put him behind schedule. The 27-year-old won't be rushed, and Bowman notes that he likely won't make any starts during the first couple weeks of Grapefruit League action. Wright won a league-high 21 games in 2022, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his progress this spring.

Ashcraft had to cut his live batting practice short Monday after he was struck in the foot by a comebacker off the bat of TJ Friedl, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Facing hitters for the first time this spring, Ashcraft wasn't able to complete a full workout after taking a line drive to the foot. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Ashcraft didn't look to be in significant pain before leaving the mound, so he may have been pulled for precautionary reasons. If healthy, the hard-throwing right-hander should have an inside track to a spot in the Cincinnati rotation after posting a 4.89 ERA (4.20 FIP), 1.42 WHIP and 71:30 K:BB across 105 innings as a rookie.

Dunning (hip) struck out five on Monday in a live bullpen session, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.

Dunning saw his 2022 season come to an early end in September because of season-ending hip surgery. The right-hander's ability to face hitters this early in camp suggests he's back to full health, but he'll still have to battle for a spot in the back end of the Texas rotation if he endures no setbacks in camp. Dunning finished last season with a 4.46 ERA, 137:62 K:BB and 1.43 WHIP over 153.2 innings, but he finds himself further down the depth chart to begin 2023 after the Rangers picked up Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney during the offseason.

Cobb is working on incorporating a cutter and a slider into his pitch mix, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Cobb is also going to call his own games this season using the PitchCom system. The righty was solid last year with a 3.73 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 149.2 innings across 28 starts, and he racked up a career-high 151 strikeouts. Cobb will still likely lean on his splitter and sinker, which accounted for a combined 84.5 percent of his pitches last season, per Statcast. He projects as a mid-rotation option for the Giants in 2023.

Lynch has made small changes in the offeseason to simplify his mechanics on the mound, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch said he wanted to do something small and simple after feeling a disconnect between his performance in bullpen sessions and in games. Rogers adds the southpaw is looking to differentiate his curveball and his slider. He struggled with the curve -- opposing hitters tagged him for a .471 batting average and a .529 slugging percentage off that pitch, though he threw it only 5.1 percent of the time. Lynch is in the mix for a rotation spot this spring, and how he performs during camp will likely determine if he begins the year in Kansas City or at Triple-A Omaha.

Steele could slot in as the Cubs' No. 3 starter to begin the regular season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

With Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) expected to begin the year on the injured list, Chicago's rotation is somewhat thinned out. Marcus Stroman should lead the way, followed by the newly signed Jameson Taillon. After that, it's fairly wide open, with Steele, Drew Smyly, Adrian Sampson and Hayden Wesneski likely battling for three spots. Steele posted a solid 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts across 119 innings last year, so the lefty figures to have one of the spots secured.