MLB Player News

Manager John Schneider announced Monday that Berrios will start the Blue Jays' March 27 season opener versus the Orioles in Toronto, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Though Max Scherzer (thumb) and Kevin Gausman also represented worthy candidates for the Opening Day nod, both have been eased along more slowly in spring training, which may have factored into Schneider's decision to go with Berrios in the first game of the season. Berrios has already made four Grapefruit League starts and struck out seven over six scoreless innings in his most recent outing Sunday versus Atlanta, so he should be able to give the Blue Jays plenty of length right away to begin the season. Berrios is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he submitted a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP -- his best marks since 2021 -- but his strikeout rate dropped to 19.5 percent, his lowest of any season in which he made at least 15 starts.

Schmidt (shoulder) said he felt "great" during a 24-pitch bullpen session Monday and expects to be ready to make his season debut April 3 against the Diamondbacks, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Schmidt threw a bullpen session instead of a scheduled Grapefruit League start because he's had some trouble bouncing back in between outings. However, Schmidt doesn't look to be in danger of missing his first turn through the rotation once the regular season begins.

The Red Sox reassigned Davis to minor-league camp Monday.

Davis appeared in nine games out of the Colorado bullpen in 2024 and turned in a 5.75 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over 20.1 innings, but the right-hander never looked to be a serious threat to win a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster after signing with the organization on a minor-league deal in December. The 27-year-old could operate as a swingman at Triple-A Worcester this season, as he has experience both as a starter and reliever in the big leagues and upper levels of the minors.

The Red Sox reassigned Campbell to minor-league camp Monday.

Along with right-handers Austin Adams and Noah Davis, Campbell was one of three relievers competing for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen who was cut from big-league camp Monday. Campbell missed most of the 2024 season due to arm injuries but made eight appearances out of the Boston bullpen, logging a 16.20 ERA and 2.40 WHIP over 6.2 innings.

Torkelson could open the season as the Tigers' regular designated hitter if Kerry Carpenter is used mostly in right field, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

With Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) slated to open the season on the injured list, Wenceel Perez will shift over to center field and Carpenter might see most of his reps in right field. That opens up the DH spot, and Petzold projects Torkelson to fill it, at least on a short-term basis. Torkelson is coming off a disappointing 2024 season that saw him put up a .669 OPS in 92 regular-season contests, but he's had a nice spring, clubbing four homers in 14 tilts.

Hamilton has made the strongest case this spring to earn the starting job at second base, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora is expected to make a decision on a primary starter at second base in a few days, but all signs point to Hamilton. Not only his spring numbers, which dwarf his competitors, Kristian Campbell and Vaughn Grissom, but also in how the manager speaks about Hamilton. "The experience matters, but at the same time we know the athlete," Cora said of Hamilton. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, all of them, they can play the position. It's just a matter of, how are we going to do it, what we're looking for." If Hamilton becomes the primary second baseman, he will be a hot fantasy draft commodity for those looking for steals. He stole 33 bags in 2024 for Boston and 50 or greater in three minor league seasons from 2021 to 2023. This supposes that Alex Bregman will play third base with Rafael Devers moving to DH.

The Red Sox reassigned Adams to minor-league camp Monday.

Adams was one of three candidates for the Opening Day bullpen who was sent back to minor-league camp, with right-handers Isaiah Campbell and Noah Davis also getting demoted. The 33-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league contract with Boston in December after he turned in a 3.92 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 53:23 K:BB over 41.1 innings in the majors with the Athletics in 2024.

Wong started at catcher and went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's spring game against Minnesota.

Wong returned to Boston's lineup after coming down with an illness last Wednesday. He made an immediate impact with a run-producing sacrifice fly in the first inning then a solo home run to lead off the fourth. The home run was his second of the spring. He's had just 15 at-bats in Grapefruit League action but is expected to be ready for the regular season.

Crochet allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out seven over four-plus innings in Sunday's spring start against the Twins.

A day after being named Boston's Opening Day starter, Crochet showed in his fourth Grapefruit League start why he was given the honor. The left-hander threw four scoreless frames before letting the first two batters reach base to lead off the fifth. One of his runners came in the score -- the first run Crochet has allowed over 10.1 spring innings.

Ibanez is slated to open the season as the Tigers' short-side platoon partner with Zach McKinstry at third base, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Jace Jung was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, setting up an uninspiring McKinstry/Ibanez platoon at the hot corner, at least until Matt Vierling (shoulder) is ready. Ibanez slashed .292/.357/.445 against left-handed pitching last season.