MLB Player News
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Robby Snelling SP | MIA
Marlins' Robby Snelling: Makes statement to start spring
Snelling tossed a perfect first inning in the Marlins' Grapefruit League game against the Mets on Saturday.
Getting the start in Miami's spring opener, Snelling faced Marcus Semien, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette and retired them on just 10 pitches (six strikes). The young left-hander doesn't have a clear path to a spot in the Opening Day rotation following the signing of Chris Paddack, but after an astonishing close to the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Jacksonville in which he posted a 1.27 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB over 63.2 innings, Snelling could force the Marlins to make a tough choice with a strong performance in camp.
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Logan Taylor Allen RP | CLE
Guardians' Logan Allen: Works spring opener
Allen allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the Reds.
Allen kicked off his quest to claim one of three available spots in the Guardians rotation. The left-hander worked around a double and a walk in the first inning before leaving after 32 pitches (19 strikes) in the Cactus League opener. This might be Allen's only spring start before he departs camp to join Panama for the World Baseball Classic. Beyond locks Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, Cleveland will evaluate Allen, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick this spring in the battle to round out the rotation.
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Rhett Lowder SP | CIN
Reds' Rhett Lowder: First game action since 2024
Lowder allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four over two innings in Saturday's spring game against Cleveland.
Lowder was the second of three pitchers competing for the Reds' fifth spot in the rotation used in their Cactus League opener. He followed Chase Burns (two scoreless innings, three walks) and was followed by Julian Aguiar (two innings, one run). For Lowder, who missed all of 2025 with forearm and oblique injuries, this was his first game action in a big-league setting since September of 2024. The right-hander threw 37 pitches (23 strikes).
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Dean Kremer SP | BAL
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Shaky in first spring outing
Kremer took the loss during Friday's 8-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates, allowing two runs on three walks in two innings. He struck out one.
Following a clean first inning, Kremer gave up two runs in the second frame after walking the bases loaded with no outs. The 30-year-old right-hander is in the mix to be Baltimore's No. 5 starter to open the season, but he has plenty of competition this spring in Tyler Wells, Cade Povich and Brandon Young, Kremer is set to exit Orioles camp soon to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
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John Klein RP | MIN
Twins' John Klein: Working as starter
Klein will be built up as a starter this spring, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Klein was used as a starter and reliever in the minors last season with a strong 10.8 K/9 which could make him a candidate for the major-league bullpen at some point. He had a good season at Double-A Wichita with a 3.12 ERA and 95:24 K:BB in 80.2 innings, but he struggled when called up to Triple-A with a 6.66 ERA and 33:13 K:BB in 25.2 innings.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto SP | LAD
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Tosses 1.2 frames in spring debut
Yamamoto completed 1.2 innings against the Angels in a Cactus League contest Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out three batters.
Fresh off a memorable World Series against Toronto during which Yamamoto picked up three wins and was named the series MVP, the right-handed hurler kicked off the Dodgers' spring slate as the team's starting pitcher. He breezed through a 1-2-3 first inning but gave up a couple runs in the second, due in part to a fielding error in the outfield. Nonetheless, Yamamoto didn't look rusty in the outing, throwing 22 of 30 pitches for strikes. Yamamoto will pitch for Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but he may first draw another Cactus League start Friday against the Giants, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
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Joe Ryan SP | MIN
Twins' Joe Ryan: Slated for MRI
Ryan will undergo an MRI on his lower back Saturday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Ryan was originally scheduled to start the Twins' Grapefruit League opener against Boston on Saturday, but lower-back tightness caused him to be scratched shortly before the game. The Twins will now bring him in for imaging to confirm whether he's dealing with any structural damage, and more information on his condition will likely come Sunday.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Live BP cancelled due to back issue
Kelly will no longer throw live BP Saturday because of mid-back tightness, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly is battling back tightness and won't throw his previously scheduled live BP session. The veteran right-hander will undergo further testing in the next 24 hours, at which point a status update will likely be provided. Kelly has already been named the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter.
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Zak Kent RP | WAS
Cardinals' Zak Kent: Designated for assignment
The Cardinals designated Kent for assignment Saturday.
Kent returned to St. Louis from Texas on Monday via waivers, but he will once again lose his 40-man roster spot -- this time to make room for Ramon Urias. Kent broke into the majors for the first time last season and turned in a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 17.2 innings with the Guardians.