MLB Player News

Bukauskas will undergo surgery on his injured right lat and be sidelined for 9-to-10 months, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Bukauskas pitched in just six big-league games last season due to injuries and appears set to miss the entirety of the 2025 campaign with this lengthy recovery timeline. Bukauskas has been dealing with lat issues, as this is the fourth time he's injured the same one. The hope is that surgery will finally correct the issue for good and Bukauskas can return to full health for the 2026 season.

Bummer is expected to become Atlanta's top left-handed setup man in front of closer Raisel Iglesias following the offseason departure of A.J. Minter (hip), David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

After recording 46 holds over his last three years with the White Sox, Bummer was dealt to Atlanta in November 2023 but had a bumpy 2024 debut with his new team, managing only two holds in 56 regular-season appearances with a 3.58 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB over 55.1 innings. The 31-year-old was the victim of some extraordinary bad luck however, as highlighted by his 2.22 FIP -- Bummer's barrel rate was in the 100th percentile and his groundball rate in the 98th percentile, but the squibs and flares he gave up kept finding holes. Dylan Lee could also see plenty of high-leverage work against southpaw hitters, but Bummer will get first crack at being the eighth-inning bridge to Iglesias, along with right-hander Pierce Johnson.

Black (back) hit off a tee Tuesday and is hoping to make his Cactus League debut next week, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Black tweaked his back last week and has been dealing with some stiffness. The first baseman got into 18 games with the Brewers last season, slashing .204/.316/.245 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three stolen bases across 57 regular-season plate appearances. Black is considered a long shot to make Milwaukee's Opening Day roster barring injury.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Wood (quad) could be ready to serve as the team's designated hitter Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Wood has yet to see any action during Grapefruit League play as he overcomes left quad tendinitis. He has been working out lately without any apparent issues and appears nearly ready to at least hit in games. Barring a setback, Wood's Opening Day availability shouldn't be in question.

Nardi (back) played catch Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Recovering from a lower-back injury, Nardi has a rest day Tuesday and then will play catch again Wednesday if he feels up to it. The left-hander should have time to get ready for Opening Day if he progresses well from here on out, but it doesn't seem as though he's particularly close to pitching in a game.

Assad (oblique) could throw off a mound this week, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season is possible, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Assad is working his way back from a mild left oblique strain suffered early on in camp. He could have enough time to ramp up for Opening Day if he does indeed get back on a mound this week, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season has not been ruled out. Assad came into camp as the presumed favorite to serve as the Cubs' fifth starter, but if he's not ready, Colin Rea, Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown would compete to fill in.

Singer allowed two hits and a walk while striking out four over two scoreless innings in Monday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Singer, who was acquired during the offseason in the trade that sent Jonathan India to the Royals, made his debut for the Reds. The right-hander threw 33 pitches (23 strikes) and worked out of a second-inning jam, inducing a double play with one out and two on.

Lux started at third base and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

Lux made his second Cactus League appearance for his new team. He started at second base in one of Saturday's split-squad games before moving to the hot corner Monday. Expect to see his name at many positions this spring, and the versatile player may never settle into one home on the diamond.

Friedl started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

After offseason rumblings about Matt McLain moving to center field, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona stated McLain would play second base, which puts Friedl atop the depth chart in center field. Friedl was beset by injury during 2024, playing 85 games with a .690 OPS, but he should reclaim a role as the team's primary center fielder and leadoff batter this coming season.

Hays started in left field and went 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and six RBI in Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

Hays, who was signed by the Reds less than a month ago, looked like the power-hitting righty bat the club sought during the offseason. He knocked in a pair of runs in the first inning with a double, then launched a pair of two-run homers in the fourth and fifth innings. Hays suffered through an injury-filled 2024 and is eyeing a comeback season in 2025.