MLB Player News

Beavers went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The 24-year-old is flashing plenty of pop so far, despite Saturday's homer being his first of the spring, as Beavers is hitting .241 with four doubles and one triple over 29 Grapefruit League at-bats (10 games). It sounds like the left-handed-hitting outfielder is likely to make the Opening Day roster, per Jake Rill of MLB.com, and he appears primed to begin the year primarily in a strong-side platoon role in right field with Tyler O'Neill. Beavers, one of Baltimore's top prospects, slashed .227/.375/.400 with 10 extra-base hits, 14 RBI, 26 walks and two stolen bases across 137 regular-season plate appearances for the Orioles a year ago.

The Mariners optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.

Ortiz spent the entire 2025 season in the minors before he was traded by the Dodgers to the Mariners in mid-November. The 26-year-old southpaw will not be on Seattle's Opening Day roster, but he could make his major-league debut in 2026 if the Mariners need additional depth out of the bullpen. In the minors last season, Ortiz posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 72:33 K:BB across 59.1 innings.

Ryan will no longer pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Ryan was in the pitcher pool for the WBC, but Team USA elected to add Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman to the roster instead. Ryan made his spring debut Tuesday after recovering from a back injury that flared up in mid-February. The 29-year-old right-hander is projected to serve as the Twins' starter for Opening Day against the Orioles on March 26. He tossed a career-high 171 innings across 31 regular-season games in 2025 and finished with a 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 194:39 K:BB.

White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters Saturday that Newcomb will work out of the bullpen for the 2026 season, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Newcomb has operated as a starter for most of his major-league career, but he found success while primarily working out of the bullpen with the Red Sox and Athletics in 2025, posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 91:31 K:BB across 92.1 innings. He inked a one-year deal with the White Sox in December and was competing for a rotation spot early in camp. Although he won't open the season as a starter, Newcomb could see some spot starts to help give the White Sox's rotation extra rest.

Biggio (elbow) will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and bat fifth in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

Biggio underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow during the offseason. He has progressed enough in his recovery to make his first Grapefruit League appearance Saturday, and he'll be brought into the fold slowly by serving as the Astros' DH. Biggio, who is out of minor-league options, inked a minor-league deal with Houston in mid-February.

Cole has gone 3-for-10 with a home run in his last three Grapefruit League contests.

While Cole is starting to turn things around at the plate, it's been a quiet spring for the outfielder overall -- he's now batting .192 (5-for-26) with a .641 OPS and four steals in 11 games. The 25-year-old Cole remains in competition with Cam Smith, Joey Loperfido and Brice Matthews for Houston's final outfield spot.

Schneemann (ankle) is expected to be back in the Guardians' lineup in the next couple of days, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Schneeman was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels due to a right ankle sprain. The injury doesn't appear to be a long-term concern and shouldn't impact Schneeman's availability for the start of the 2026 campaign. He appeared in 131 regular-season games for the Guardians in 2025 and finished with a .206/.283/.354 slash line with nine steals (on 12 attempts), 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 422 plate appearances. Schneeman is projected to make the Opening Day roster as a utility man.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters Saturday that Valera is rehabbing from a mild left calf strain and will not play over the next few days, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Valera has not appeared in a Cactus League game for the Guardians since Monday due to his injury, and he'll have his workload limited over the coming days to reduce the risk of aggravating the injury. He made his major-league debut in early September and appeared in 16 regular-season games for the Guardians, posting a .748 OPS with two home runs and five RBI in 48 plate appearances. Valera is competing against Chase DeLauter and CJ Kayfus for an everyday spot in the outfield, but an extended absence would put Valera in jeopardy of being omitted from the Guardians' Opening Day roster.

Kwan is not in the Guardians' starting lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Padres due to an upper respiratory infection, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Kwan will likely sit out for the next couple of days while battling through his illness, but there's no indication that it will impact his availability for Opening Day. Kwan has been seeing more playing time in center field during spring training, and across 28 Cactus League games he has slashed .259/.355/.593 with two home runs and five RBI in 31 plate appearances.

The Angels optioned Paris to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Paris made the Angels' Opening Day roster for the 2025 season and got off to a roaring start with a 1.263 OPS, five steals, five home runs and eight RBI in his first 15 games. However, his production at the plate fell off a cliff after that opening stretch, as he slashed .106/.165/.176 over his next 28 outings before being optioned to Triple-A in late May. Paris will start the 2026 season in the minors, though he could see some major-league action early on if Vaughn Grissom (hand) misses time.