MLB Player News

Brito (hamstring) is expected to see opportunities at first base, second base, third base and in right field during spring training, Mason Horodyski of News 5 Cleveland reports.

Brito underwent hamstring surgery at the end of last season, so it's unclear whether he's entering camp at full strength. However, once he's cleared to play, he's expected to get chances in a variety of different roles, and it sounds as though he'll have a legitimate chance to win an Opening Day roster spot. Brito spent 24 games at Triple-A Columbus a season ago, slashing .256/.357/.463 with three home runs, 15 RBI, four stolen bases and 15 runs scored.

Palacios will see some time at third base during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Palacios has shown versatility during his major-league career, where he has seen most of his playing time in the outfield corners and at second base. He should get a fair amount of playing time at the keystone behind Gavin Lux. Although Palacios has played third base in just two major-league games, the Rays expanding his utility in order to improve his chances of making the Opening Day roster. Palacios slashed .333/396/.452 with four steals, one home run and three RBI across 48 plate appearances for Tampa Bay in 2025.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said last week that Perkins (shoulder) will enter camp as a starting pitcher, but the team has yet to decide whether he'll be a starter or reliever in 2026, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

"He's a weapon that we have yet to determine the path," Kotsay said. Perkins was much more effective as a reliever (2.75 ERA, 24.7 percent strikeout rate) than as a starter (5.68 ERA, 21.4 percent strikeout rate) during his time with the Athletics last season, but the 26-year-old is one of the A's better young arms so the team doesn't want to relegate him to a relief role just yet. The right-handed Perkins ended last season on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, and it's not clear if he has any restrictions at the start of camp.

Kiner-Falefa is getting work at first base early in spring training due to the absences of Triston Casas (knee) and Romy Gonzalez (shoulder), Sean McAdam of Masslive.com reports.

Casas continues to recover from major knee surgery last May, and Gonzalez has been shelved since September due to a left shoulder injury. Kiner-Falefa has typically served at second base, third and shortstop during his major-league career, but the veteran utility man could get some looks at first during spring training and early in the regular season behind Willson Contreras.

Houck (elbow) began a throwing program Monday with 25 throws from 45 feet, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

It's the first time he's thrown a baseball since he underwent a UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair six months ago. Houck will continue a deliberate rehab process over the next several months and hopes to make a late-season return, but it's likely the Red Sox will hold him back until 2027.

Wong (hand) took part in live batting practice Monday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Wong reported to camp last week and appears to be fully healthy after he underwent a carpal boss excision procedure on his right hand back on Oct. 9. The hand issue perhaps played a factor in Wong's dramatic drop in production in 2025, when his OPS fell to .500 over his 188 plate appearances after he had posted a .758 OPS the season prior. Carlos Narvaez ended up overtaking Wong on the depth chart, and manager Alex Cora relayed Saturday that Narvaez "earned the right" to be the team's starter heading into 2026, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Cora added that Wong's solid defense behind the plate should allow him to play more frequently than the typical backup catcher, and the 29-year-old could also be an option to make starts first base when Willson Contreras needs a day off.

Lopez (elbow) completed a bullpen session Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Lopez missed the final month and change of the 2025 season due to a left elbow flexor strain, but he appears to have had a normal offseason and doesn't seem to be facing any restrictions in the early stages of camp. The 27-year-old lefty should be guaranteed a rotation spot heading into 2026 after he was one of the few bright spots for a wretched Athletics pitching staff last season with a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 19.0 K-BB% over 92.2 innings.

Weathers touched 98.5 miles per hour with his four-seamer during a live batting practice session Sunday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Weathers averaged 96.9 mph with his four-seamer last season with the Marlins, but it's still a bit of a surprise that he's showing so much velocity this early in spring training. Acquired via trade in January, Weathers has been injury-prone in his career and has been using a foam roller in order to reduce lower-body tightness. The southpaw is expected to open the season in the Yankees rotation while Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Carlos Rodon (elbow) recover from injuries.

Lewis worked with a personal hitting coach, Jeremy Isenhower, this offseason on simplifying his pre-pitch mechanics, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Isenhower was recommended to Lewis by Bobby Witt and former teammate Jorge Polanco, and Lewis made six different trips to Houston this offseason in order to work with Isenhower. The hope is that, by quieting his pre-pitch movement, Lewis should be able to improve his pitch recognition, swing decisions and quality of contact. After slashing .307/.364/.549 over 70 games in his first two major-league seasons, Lewis has hit a disappointing .235/.288/.416 in 188 contests since the start of the 2024 campaign. He'll be Minnesota's everyday third baseman again in 2026.

Butler (knees) took part in a live batting practice session during Monday's full-squad workout, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Butler's ability to face live pitching early on in camp confirms that he's back to full health in advance of the 2026 campaign. Back on Oct. 3, the outfielder underwent surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and received a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee, but he seems to have had a relatively normal offseason. After he broke out with an .807 OPS in 2024, Butler's knee problems may have played a factor in his downturn in productivity in 2025, when he slashed .234/.306/.404 and saw his strikeout rate jump more than four percentage points to 28.4 percent. Despite the nearly 100-point drop in his OPS, Butler still came through with strong numbers in the counting categories (21 home runs, 22 steals, 83 runs, 63 RBI).