MLB Player News

Alvarez (ankle) reported to spring training Sunday and announced that his is pain-free, Houston Chronicle reports.

The 28-year-old dealt with a left ankle sprain late last year and dealt with some inflammation early in the offseason, but it appears he's entering spring training at 100 percent. Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to the ankle issue and a hand fracture, with his .273/.367/.430 slash line representing career lows in average and slugging percentage. The injury-plagued season ended a run of four straight 30-homer campaigns for the slugger, who is a popular rebound candidate in 2026. Alvarez is expected to see most of his action at designated hitter this season after making just 15 appearances in left field in 2025.

Sloan (eye) threw a live batting practice session Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Despite having yet to pitch above the High-A level, Sloan didn't look out of place while facing off against some of the Mariners' top hitters in Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor during the BP session. According to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, the 20-year-old righty sported a four-seamer that hit 99 miles per hour and a two-seamer that reached 98 mph. Sloan missed the final month of the 2025 campaign after undergoing a procedure on his eye, but he's seemingly free of restrictions heading into 2026 and could establish himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects if health prevails this season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he expects Judge to play in "four or five" of the team's first nine Grapefruit League games before he joins Team USA in early March for the World Baseball Classic, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Veterans like Judge are typically eased into spring lineups, but he'll get in some competitive at-bats early in camp to ensure he's sharp ahead of the WBC. Boone also reiterated that Judge will be a full participant in full-squad workouts throughout the week and is facing no limitations with his throwing after a flexor strain in his right elbow resulted in a brief stay on the injured list last July and kept him from playing the outfield for about five weeks. In spite of the elbow concern, Judge continued to thrive at the plate and took home his third American League MVP Award last season while batting a career-best .331 and slugging 53 home runs over 152 games.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Schlittler (back) is expected to resume mound work Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

The 25-year-old right-hander reported to camp this week nursing mid-back inflammation, and his scheduled return to mound work Tuesday appears to confirm that the injury is minor. Schlittler should have a fairly normal ramp-up for the regular season and appears set for an Opening Day rotation spot for the first time in his career.

Garcia (hamstring) took live batting practice against teammate Stephen Kolek on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Garcia strained his hamstring back in December while playing in the Venezuela Winter League, but that's no longer a concern. After a breakout 2025 campaign in which he hit .286 with 16 home runs and 23 stolen bases, Garcia was rewarded with a five-year contract extension this offseason. The 25-year-old will leave Royals camp in the near future to join Team Venezuela in advance of the World Baseball Classic, but he'll likely be locked into a top-four lineup spot for Kansas City once the regular season gets underway.

Haggerty (ankle) took live batting practice against teammate Nathan Eovaldi on Sunday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Haggerty didn't see action after mid-August of last season due to a setback in his recovery from an ankle issue during a September rehab assignment. That didn't deter the Rangers from tendering him a contract this offseason, and he's in good shape to win a utility job on the Opening Day roster. In addition to being able to play all three outfield spots, second base, third base and shortstop, the switch-hitting Haggerty will give Texas a weapon against left-handed pitching. He slashed .318/.376/.435 across 94 plate appearances versus southpaws in 2025.

Langford (oblique) took his first live batting practice session of spring training Sunday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Langford was shut down for the final five games of the 2025 season due to a left oblique strain, but he's believed to have had a normal offseason. The 24-year-old will open the season as the Rangers' everyday left fielder, though he could occasionally slide over to center in place of Evan Carter when Texas faces left-handed pitching.

Neto (hand) took live batting practice against teammate Yusei Kikuchi on Sunday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Neto closed the 2025 season on the 10-day injured list due to a left hand strain, but the injury was never viewed as a long-term concern. The shortstop was also shelved at the start of the 2025 campaign while recovering from right shoulder surgery, so a healthy spring training would be a welcome change for the 25-year-old.

Watson is scheduled to begin a throwing program Monday as he works his way back from arthroscopic right elbow surgery, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Watson is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he may not have enough time to complete his rehab and see Grapefruit League action before the end of the spring. Whenever he's back to full health, He's likely to head to Triple-A Toledo, where he'll presumably settle back into a starting role. After beginning last season as a reliever, Watson held his own upon moving into the Toledo rotation, logging a 3.20 ERA while punching out 59 batters over 70.1 innings across 14 starts.

Valencia (quadriceps) is still completing a running progression but is otherwise taking part in all baseball activities, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Valencia is working his way back from a left quad strain and doesn't look like he'll be fully cleared by the time Grapefruit League play gets underway this week. The 26-year-old backstop was added to the Tigers' 40-man roster over the winter, but he'll likely be optioned to Triple-A Toledo before the end of camp.