MLB Player News

Horton (shoulder) faced four batters during a brief bullpen session Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It was a short but meaningful appearance on the mound for Horton, who was facing live hitters for the first time in about nine months. The young righty was ultimately shut down last year due to a Grade 2 right subscapularis strain, and he's slowly building himself back up in camp. Horton, who was drafted seventh overall by the Cubs back in 2022, is one of the team's top pitching prospects and could be closing in on his MLB debut this season. The lost 2024 campaign may slow Horton down a bit, but if he looks good at Triple-A Iowa early in the year, he could start to force the issue, though Chicago would have to open up a spot on its 40-man roster to make room for the 23-year-old.

Wetherholt went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run Sunday in Grapefruit League action versus the Astros.

Making his spring training debut, Wetherholt had a bloop single in the fourth inning and then in the fifth drilled an opposite-field, three-run homer off righty A.J. Blubaugh. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Wetherholt slashed .295/.405/.400 in 29 games with Single-A Palm Beach in his pro debut last year. The 22-year-old will likely begin the 2025 season either at High-A Peoria or Double-A Springfield.

Black has been held out of Cactus League play due to minor back stiffness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

It shouldn't be a long-term issue, but it's not clear when Black might be ready to play in games. Black already seemed unlikely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster, and any delay seemingly decreases his odds.

Rojas has yet to do any throwing in Phillies camp after he banged up his right shoulder on a headfirst slide while playing in the Dominican Winter League, Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Phillies are saying that keeping Rojas from throwing early on in camp is a precautionary measure. Rojas will serve as the team's designated hitter during Grapefruit League play Tuesday and is expected to be cleared to throw early next week. Barring any setbacks, the shoulder issue shouldn't affect Rojas' Opening Day readiness.

Skenes threw a 45-pitch live batting practice session Monday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Skenes had been slated for his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Phillies, but the game was rained out. Rather than push their ace back a day, the Pirates elected to keep Skenes on schedule and get his work in with some live batting practice instead. Skenes will be among the first pitchers off the board in fantasy drafts this spring.

Yelich (back) took batting practice on the field Monday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Yelich is behind other Brewers position players in camp following a microdiscectomy procedure in August to address a herniated disc in his lower back. However, his rehab is coming along well and he is expected to be ready for Cactus League games in early March. Barring a setback, Yelich should be ready to go by Opening Day.

Tatis remains sidelined with an illness and it's uncertain when he might be ready to make his Cactus League debut, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

It's not clear what kind of illness Tatis is dealing with, but Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the outfielder on Monday that "he's going to require a little bit more recovery." While not an ideal start to camp, Tatis shouldn't be in any danger of missing Opening Day.

Paplham has been diagnosed with facial fractures after being struck by a line drive in Sunday's Cactus League game versus the Dodgers, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Paplham has been discharged from the hospital but is still going through concussion protocols. It's not clear at this point how long he might be sidelined. Once healthy, Paplham should join the bullpen either at Double-A San Antonio or Triple-A El Paso.

Smith (ankle) might be ready to make his Cactus League debut by Thursday or Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Smith has been slowed early on in camp by an ankle injury, but it hasn't kept him from catching bullpen sessions or taking live batting practice and he's almost ready to play in a game. The Dodgers open their season on March 18 in the first of two games against the Cubs in Tokyo and Smith is expected to be ready to roll by then.

Crews went 1-for-2 with a walk, a triple, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

Hitting second behind CJ Abrams, Crews was busy on the basepaths, swiping his first bag of the spring after drawing a first-inning walk. The 22-year-old outfielder stole 12 bases on 15 attempts in 31 games during his big-league debut in 2024, and there's no reason to think he'll be reined in this season -- the Nationals led the majors in steals (223) and SB attempts (296) last year, and as a team they've already gone 6-for-6 through their first two Grapefruit League contests.