MLB Player News

Martinez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Hitting ninth as the DH, Martinez launched a fourth-inning offering from Brandon Leibrandt over the fence in right-center field. Martinez could win a spot on the Opening Day roster with a big camp and even take over the starting job at third base, but it's his glovework and not his bat that will determine how quickly he's entrusted with those duties. The fact that he was used as the DH in the Blue Jays' spring opener, while Ernie Clement got the start at the hot corner, is a sign of how much the 23-year-old slugger needs to do on the defensive side to earn that opportunity.

Bichette went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

The 26-year-old shortstop is coming off the worst season of his career, and with free agency looming next winter, Bichette has every incentive to rebound. He hit leadoff Saturday, but George Springer is expected to handle those duties come Opening Day, with Bichette likely to hit second ahead of Vladimir Guerrero and Anthony Santander. Bichette was one of the most reliable hitters in the majors prior to last year's collapse, slashing .298/.339/.476 from 2021-23 while averaging 24.3 homers, 89.3 RBI, 93.7 runs and 14.3 steals a season.

Rodon tossed 2.2 innings against Toronto in Grapefruit League play Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter.

It wasn't a great exhibition debut for Rodon, though he wasn't hit particularly hard -- all five knocks against him were singles. The veteran lefty did log a promising workload with 48 pitches, and his changeup usage was up from his norm last season, which could be an indication of his plans to adjust for the coming campaign after opponents belted 21 homers off his four-seamer last year. Rodon is expected to slot third in the Yankees' rotation behind Gerrit Cole and Max Fried.

Loperfido went 1-for-2 with a double in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

More importantly, the 25-year-old got the start in center field, a spot the Blue Jays will likely need to fill for the first week or two of the season while Daulton Varsho completes his recovery from shoulder surgery. Loperfido, acquired from the Astros last year in the Yusei Kikuchi trade, slashed just .197/.236/.343 over 144 plate appearances for Toronto in 2024, but his defensive versatility in the outfield and 20-20 upside if he puts everything together appear to make him the early favorite to be Varsho's understudy. Jonatan Clase, Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw also figure to get looks in center field during spring training.

The Royals are viewing Bowlan as a reliever, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Two of Bowlan's three big-league appearances to date have come in a starting role, though he's gone a mere 4.2 innings combined in those outings. The right-hander has worked almost exclusively as a starter in the minors as well, but the Royals appear set to deploy him out of the bullpen when he's with the big-league club. Bowlan has one minor-league option remaining, which gives the team some flexibility in terms of managing a relief corps that is comprised of mostly veteran arms.

Rosario needs elbow surgery and will be sidelined for the entire 2025 season, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It's not yet clear what type of surgery Rosario will undergo or what his timeline will be for returning to action beyond the fact that he won't pitch this season. According to Rangers general manager Chris Young, the elbow issue is an "acute injury" that Rosario felt after tossing a bullpen during spring camp. Rosario emerged as one of the organization's top prospects after posting a 2.24 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 129:13 over 88.1 innings between Single-A and High-A ball last year.

Rooker (forearm) is batting second as the Athletics' DH in Sunday's Cactus League contest against Colorado.

Rooker underwent right forearm extensor surgery last October, but the expectation was always that he'd be healthy by the start of spring training. That appears to be the case given the 30-year-old's presence in the lineup for the Athletics' second game of the exhibition slate. Rooker is slated to bat near the top of the team's order in 2025 after exploding for a career-best 39 home runs, 112 RBI, 82 runs and 11 stolen bases while posting a .927 OPS last year.

Leon was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League game due to left knee discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Leon was originally slated to be in the lineup as Houston's right fielder, but he was pulled due to the knee issue. Per Rome, the injury appeared to occur while Leon was performing outfield drills prior to the exhibition contest. Quincy Hamilton was inserted into the Astros' lineup in right field Sunday in Leon's stead.

Morton (illness) is scheduled to start Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 41-year-old missed some workouts at the start of camp due to an illness, but he'll still make his spring debut for the Orioles within the first few games of camp. Morton joined Baltimore on a one-year, $15 million contract in early January and will be a key rotation piece after posting a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 167:65 K:BB across 165.1 innings with Atlanta last year.

Berroa has a Grade 1 right elbow strain, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Berroa was pulled from Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Cubs after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow, and subsequent testing revealed the elbow strain. The White Sox haven't yet announced a timeline or course of action for the reliever's return, but Grade 1 strains typically require several weeks of recovery. Berroa entered spring training as a candidate for a high-leverage role in Chicago's bullpen after posting a 3.32 ERA and 12.3 K/9 over 19 innings with the team last season.