MLB Player News

Smith will begin the 2026 season with Triple-A Charlotte.

Smith had a strong showing this spring, striking out eight batters with one walk in 3.2 innings across three appearances. The quality of Smith's stuff is not in question, he just needs to throw enough strikes to start. Last year, the 6-foot-3 southpaw had a 3.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 17.6 percent walk rate in 20 starts at Double-A. If he can come anywhere close to the 5.9 percent walk rate he logged this spring, Smith could be in the big-league rotation this summer.

Montgomery will begin the 2026 season with Double-A Birmingham.

Montgomery hit .348 with one home run, six strikeouts and zero walks in 24 spring plate appearances. He also logged a 1.161 OPS in 12 Arizona Fall League games after slashing .272/.364/.416 with one home run and a 28.7 percent strikeout rate in 34 games at Double-A last year. Montgomery is a hulking 6-foot-2, 220-pound slugger who may not require more than a month or two at Double-A before getting the bump to Triple-A.

Gore allowed two hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 scoreless innings Monday in a 3-2 win over the White Sox in Cactus League play. He also hit a batter.

Gore followed up his worst Cactus League start with his best one Monday. After allowing seven runs, six hits and three walks over 1.2 innings in his previous outing, the left-hander was sharper the fourth time out. The southpaw is ramping up for his first season for Texas since being acquired from the Nationals in January.

Garcia struck out two over one scoreless and hitless inning in Monday's spring game against the White Sox.

Garcia pitched for the first time since returning from the World Baseball Classic. The left-hander made quick work of the White Sox in the sixth inning, retiring the side on 13 pitches (nine strikes). Garcia remains in the mix to close games for the Rangers along with Chris Martin.

Walters (lat) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Walters, who is working his way back from lat surgery last year, has been throwing bullpen sessions and from 120-150 feet off flat ground. He'll miss the start of the regular season, with a potential return during the month of May.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Monday that Valera (calf) is feeling better but will not play for a few more days, MLB.com reports.

Valera has what the manager termed is a "mild" calf strain. He's resumed hitting and throwing but is not yet running.

Williams allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven over 4.2 innings in Monday's spring start against the Cubs.

Williams' fourth Cactus League start was a departure from his first three, but the seven strikeouts and 85 pitches thrown are positive takeaways. He settled down after a rocky two innings, retiring seven of eight batters before tiring in his final frame. While nothing has been made official, Williams' five-day schedule lines him up to start Opening Day on the road in Seattle.

Gaddis (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Gaddis has thrown two bullpen sessions and is now ready for the next step. The right-hander experienced tightness in his forearm earlier in camp and is working his way back to eventually serve as a high-leverage reliever and setup man for closer Cade Smith.

Farris is one of several pitchers who may be contending for a spot in the Angels' Opening Day rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The top three spots in the Angels' rotation are set, but there is less certainty at the back end given that both Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah have struggled this spring. Rodriguez seems to be trending toward opening the campaign as part of the starting staff, but there would still be least one open spot if Manoah doesn't get the bid. Jack Kochanowicz has looked good this spring and may have the inside edge in such a scenario, but Farris is in contention as well. The lefty probably hurt his chances when he was blown up in his last spring outing, giving up seven runs on eight hits over 3.2 innings against the Padres last Tuesday, but Bollinger suggests that Farris isn't out of the running.

Johnson is in the conversation for a starting spot in the Angels' rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

With Alek Manoah and (to a lesser extent) Grayson Rodriguez struggling this spring, there is some uncertainty at the back end of the Angels' rotation. Should Manoah and/or Rodriguez not be part of the Opening Day starting staff, Johnson is one of several pitchers (including Jack Kochanowicz, George Klassen and Mitch Farris) who could be considered for a rotation role. Johnson got a look in the majors last season and struggled with a 7.36 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 14.2 innings across 14 relief appearances, and he ended the campaign in High-A ball. However, he's one of the organization's top prospects and has pitched pretty well this spring, posting a 4.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB over 11.2 frames. Johnson is still probably a longshot to break camp with the big club, but it's worth noting that he's still in big-league camp with Opening Day just 10 days away.