MLB Player News

Arrighetti allowed four runs on three hits and a walk across two innings in Friday's Grapefruit League matchup with Washington. He struck out four.

Arrighetti's spring debut started well, as he struck out a pair of Nationals in a scoreless second inning. However, it was a different story in the third, as the right-hander would give up four runs while recording only two outs, punctuated by a Luis Garcia three-run homer. The 26-year-old Arrighetti had an up-and-down 2025, largely due to injuries. After making Houston's Opening Day rotation, he posted a 5.35 ERA with 31 strikeouts across just seven starts (35.1 innings), missing four months with a fractured thumb as well as the final month with an elbow ailment. The acquisitions of Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows and Ryan Weiss have complicated Arrighetti's path to a rotation spot, and he's competing with Weiss, AJ Blubaugh and Lance McCullers for one of the Astros' final two starting jobs.

Kasevich went 1-for-1 with two walks, a run scored and two stolen bases in the Blue Jays' split-squad game against the Phillies on Saturday.

The 25-year-old took over for Andres Gimenez at shortstop in the top of the fourth and quickly made a nuisance of himself on the basepaths. Kasevich is a long shot to break camp on the big-league roster after an injury-plagued 2025, but a strong camp could put him in position to make his MLB debut sometime this season when Toronto needs infield depth. Through six games and 12 plate appearance so far this spring, Kasevich has gone 5-for-10 with a homer, two steals on two attempts, two walks and zero strikeouts.

Cease allowed one run on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings during the Blue Jays' split-squad game against the Phillies on Saturday. He struck out three.

Making his Grapefruit League debut for Toronto, Cease threw his first pitch of the day at 98.3 mph, and he topped out at 98.9 mph with his four-seamer. The right-hander did serve up a second-inning solo shot to Bryan De La Cruz, but otherwise it was a strong first outing in a Jays uniform as he tossed 19 of 33 pitches for strikes. Cease will slot in at the top of the rotation after the 30-year-old right-hander signed a seven-year, $210 million deal over the winter. He's topped 200 strikeouts in five straight seasons, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 during that stretch while averaging about 32 starts and 177 innings a year.

Hancock logged four strikeouts over 2.2 perfect innings in Saturday's Cactus League matchup against the Padres.

It was an encouraging showing from Hancock after he was charged with three earned runs in just 1.2 innings in his first spring outing. The right-hander filled a swingman role for Seattle in 2025, posting a 4.90 ERA over 90 regular-season innings and making 16 starts in 22 appearances. With Bryce Miller (side) again dealing with health concerns, there could be a spot for Hancock in the Opening Day rotation.

Manoah tossed three scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against Arizona on Saturday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out one batter.

Manoah got into some trouble in the second inning by allowing three baserunners on a pair of singles and a walk, but he got through the frame with the help of a double play and a caught stealing. The right-hander averaged 92 mph on his fastball, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, which is slightly down from the 93.4 mph he averaged the last time he threw in the majors, in 2024 with Toronto. Nonetheless, Manoah's bid for a rotation spot has gone fairly well so far -- through two spring appearances, he's tossed five scoreless frames despite a 1:3 K:BB.

Matthews went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game versus the Pirates.

Matthews has swung the bat well to start the spring, going 4-for-10 with a double and a stolen base in his first four Grapefruit League games. Matthews, a first-round pick in 2023, is primarily an infielder, though he's been getting more work in the outfield this spring in an effort to make the Opening Day roster as a utility piece. Matthews struggled in a brief major-league stint last season, batting just .167 with four homers across 47 plate appearances. However, he put up impressive numbers in 112 games with Triple-A Sugar Land, slashing .260/.371/.458 with 17 homers and 41 stolen bases across 498 plate appearances.

Paredes went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Pirates.

Paredes started his spring with a bang, launching a homer off Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler in the fifth inning. There are no doubts about Paredes' power potential -- he's hit 90 home runs over the last four seasons. However, there is a lingering question about where exactly he'll fit in Houston's lineup. Paredes served as the DH on Saturday, a spot expected to be occupied by Yordan Alvarez in the regular season. While his name has swirled in trade rumors for much of the winter, it's starting to appear more likely than not that Paredes will remain in Houston for now, in some kind of utility role.

Isaac made his Grapefruit League debut in Saturday's 12-3 loss to the Tigers, playing five innings at first base while going 1-for-2 with a base hit.

Isaac made his highly anticipated return to the field Saturday after he hadn't played in a game since June 25, when he was lifted from a contest at Double-A Montgomery after experiencing dehydration. Days later, Isaac was sent in for a brain scan that revealed a tumor, prompting him to undergo emergency surgery a week later. Per Adam Berry of MLB.com, manager Kevin Cash noted that the Rays have no expectations in terms of results for Isaac this spring, as the first-base prospect's main focus is getting comfortable following his extended absence. Isaac will be in the lineup Sunday versus Atlanta, starting at first base and batting sixth.

Through five Grapefruit League games, Jones is slashing .300/.417/1.200 with three home runs, six RBI, five runs and one stolen base.

Jones leads the Yankees in long balls this spring and ranks second in RBI. The young slugger had a similarly impressive exhibition slate last year, belting three home runs over 32 at-bats, though he also struck out 16 times. Jones has been a little better in that regard this spring with a 2:4 BB:K over 12 plate appearances, but it's likely that strikeouts will always be an issue for him. Jones was added to the 40-man roster in November after accumulating a .933 OPS with 35 homers, 80 RBI and 29 thefts across 506 plate appearances between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2025. There's a good chance he'll make his MLB debut at some point this season, though it's likely he'll begin the campaign in Triple-A.

Guenther (hip) has allowed one hit and no walks over two scoreless innings through his first two Grapefruit League appearances.

Guenther is back to full health for spring training after he didn't make an appearance in the majors or minors after June 25 last season while recovering from a left hip arthroscopy. Detroit brought the 30-year-old lefty reliever back on a minor-league deal this winter, and he's competing for a spot in the Tigers' Opening Day bullpen.