MLB Player News

Crochet is slated to start a minor-league game Monday after having his scheduled Grapefruit League start Sunday against the Twins pushed back, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

With five scheduled off days over the first month, the Red Sox plan to have Crochet pitch on a six-day schedule early in the season to manage his workload, per McCaffrey. Crochet said he prefers pitching every fifth day, but he's trying to be adaptable. In three spring starts, Crochet has allowed six runs in 8.2 innings with five strikeouts and a walk, but he didn't express much concern about his lackluster results. Crochet said that his velocity has been "a little down" from where he anticipated, but noted that he's more concerned about "pounding in the strike zone" at this stage of the spring. McCaffrey adds that Crochet is lined up for one final Grapefruit League start Saturday, although that would fall on four days' rest after Monday's spring game.

Jenkins (hamstring) is expected to be ready for the start of the Triple-A St. Paul Saints season, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Jenkins was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain March 1, but he could return to play in a minor-league game this week. The 21-year-old received a taste of the Triple-A level late last year and has a decent chance of making his MLB debut at some point in 2026.

Larnach was scratched from the Minnesota lineup ahead of Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Red Sox due to left side soreness, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. "As of right now, we don't think [Larnach's injury] is significant enough to get [medical] imaging," manager Derek Shelton said after the game.

Larnach is scheduled to be evaluated again Monday. The outfielder's injury doesn't appear to be anything too serious, but if he's not ready to go for Opening Day, Alan Roden and James Outman would likely both be included on the 26-man active roster to begin the season.

Ramirez (shoulder) exited Sunday's Cactus League against the Athletics in the fourth inning due to shoulder inflammation, SI.com reports.

Ramirez is considered day-to-day after being lifted for a pinch hitter upon injuring the shoulder on a diving play in the field earlier in the game. With Opening Day still over a week out, the 33-year-old will have time to move past the issue to guarantee his availability for the start of the season.

Povich was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Povich will head to Norfolk after starting three contests during spring training, giving up four runs on three hits and seven walks while striking out six batters over 8.1 innings. The southpaw recorded a 5.21 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 118 strikeouts over 112.1 innings in 22 appearances, including 20 starts, with the Orioles in 2025. Povich will likely get a shot with the major-league roster in the near future.

Mayer (knee) is expected to rejoin Boston's Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against Atlanta, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The 22-year-old was scratched from Sunday's spring lineup due to left knee soreness and will rest again Monday, but the injury doesn't appear to be a serious concern. After posting a .674 OPS in 44 regular-season games as a rookie last season, Mayer's .816 OPS through 27 plate appearances in spring training put him in strong position to win the starting job at second base to begin 2026.

The Rays reassigned Woodford to minor-league camp Sunday.

Woodford wasn't able to secure a long-relief role with the Rays heading into Opening Day, but he'll provide some valuable organizational pitching depth at Triple-A Durham, where he could be deployed either out of the bullpen or in the rotation. The 29-year-old righty made 22 appearances in the majors with Arizona in 2025, finishing with a 6.44 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB in 36.1 innings.

The Yankees reassigned Luciano to minor-league camp Sunday.

Once a prized prospect in the Giants organization, Luciano's luster has dimmed while he's shown defensive limitations and has slashed a collective .217/.286/.304 over 126 plate appearances across multiple abbreviated stints in the majors. He was claimed off waivers by two other organizations this winter before landing with the Yankees, who outrighted him off the 40-man roster in February. After he was unable to win a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day squad, Luciano should be ticketed for a full-time role at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.

Crouse (lat) struck out two and allowed two earned runs on three hits over an inning of relief Saturday in the Orioles' 8-6 win over the Pirates in his Grapefruit League debut.

The appearance was Crouse's first of spring training and signals that he's back to full health after he hadn't pitched in a game since April 3, 2025 while he recovered from a right lat strain. After being cut loose by the Angels last April shortly upon suffering the injury, Crouse had remained a free agent until he signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles in January. He's likely to open the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

Sandlin (elbow) is listed among the Angels' available relievers for Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels haven't confirmed that Sandlin will pitch Sunday, but his inclusion on the lineup card nonetheless indicates that he's fully ramped back up after he was eased along during the first few weeks of spring training while he recovered from an offseason arthroscopic procedure on his right elbow. Since he's attending camp as a non-roster invitee, Sandlin likely won't have sufficient time to stake a claim to a spot in the Angels' Opening Day bullpen, but he could put himself in the mix for an early call-up if he pitches effectively at Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the season.