MLB Player News

Hughes (elbow) is scheduled to make a two-inning start in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Hughes didn't make any minor-league appearances in the 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery during the summer of 2023, but he returned to action in the Arizona Fall League, where he turned in an 8.31 ERA over 17.1 innings across six starts. Despite his poor results, the 23-year-old Hughes seemingly came out of the AFL without any issue, and he'll be facing no restrictions while he takes part in big-league camp as a non-roster invitee. Hughes isn't a serious candidate to break camp with the Rockies and will likely head to Double-A Hartford to begin the season.

Yepez has been working out mostly at third base early on in spring training, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

Yepez played third base a lot in the minors and made three starts there with the Cardinals back in 2022, but that was the last time he saw any action at the position in a game setting. Third base is the only position for the Nationals that doesn't currently appear to have a starter locked in, so it's worth tracking this spring to see if Yepez continues seeing reps there. That said, it's a long shot that he'll be entrusted as a regular at the hot corner given his defensive limitations.

Arraez said Wednesday that "I feel like I got a new thumb" following surgery in October to repair a torn ligament, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

Arraez tore the UCL in his left thumb on a slide on June 25 and played through "a lot" of pain before eventually undergoing offseason surgery. He managed to win his third straight batting title in 2024, although Arraez's .314 average in the regular season was down 21 points and his slugging percentage dropped 53 points from over the previous two years. The 27-year-old could have a mini bounce-back 2025 season, although he is likely to remain largely a one-category specialist.

Go was diagnosed with a fractured right index finger Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

He will be re-evaluated in a couple weeks. Go spent all of the 2024 season in the minors, holding a 6.54 ERA and 52:22 K:BB over 52.1 innings and the Double- and Triple-A levels. He was removed from the Marlins' 40-man roster last June.

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said Tuesday that "nothing has changed" regarding the organization's plans for Lawlar after the team signed starting shortstop Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year extension earlier this week, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports. "When [he] is ready to be on this team, Lawlar's gonna be on this team," Hazen said.

Like Perdomo, Lawlar primarily plays shortstop, but both players are capable of playing second base and third base and could maintain everyday roles once the latter is deemed ready to return to the big leagues. After reaching the majors in 2023 and appearing in 14 games, Lawlar had been expected to push for a full-time job with the big club in 2024, but a spring thumb injury followed by a hamstring limited him to 23 games, all of which came in the minors. Lawlar is fully healthy and part of big-league camp this spring, and though regular at-bats in the majors wouldn't appear to be available heading into Opening Day, Hazen didn't dismiss the possibility of the 22-year-old making the Diamondbacks' 26-man active roster as a utility infielder if he proves during camp that he's one of the top 13 position players in the organization. Even so, the likelier outcome is that Lawlar opens the season at Triple-A Reno.

Smith is expected to serve as left-handed bat in a platoon at designated hitter this season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Smith will fill the role occupied by Joc Pederson last season. With Pederson moving on in free agency, Smith is a logical choice to face righties, against whom he posted a .920 OPS over 135 plate appearances last season. He's bounced between the majors and minors the last few seasons, but Smith's second-half surge in 2024 reaffirmed manager Torey Lovullo's oft-stated belief that he can hit. The 29-year-old described a change in his mental approach, noting he was "not trying to beat the ball to spots," which translates to not trying to do too much with a pitch. Smith is not expected to see much time in the outfield but could get some opportunities at first base, where his defense is passable. His primary role, however, will be that of a strongside platoon at DH.

While Marte is attending big-league spring training, he's taking his reps with the other prospects in camp, and not with the Reds' lineup regulars, Charlie's Chalkboard reports.

The third base job is wide open, and while Marte technically has a shot to win the job, the way the Reds are handling him to begin spring training buttresses earlier notions that he'll begin the season at Triple-A Louisville. Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Gavin Lux and even Santiago Espinal all have better chances to win the third base job on Opening Day.

Poteet is in line to start Thursday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Jordan Bastian and Sonja Chen of MLB.com report.

Poteet joined the Cubs back in December in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. Poteet could be minor-league depth once the regular season begins, though with Chicago not using all of its regulars in Thursday's spring training opener, he will get the chance to take the mound. The veteran righty posted a 2.22 ERA and 16:8 K:BB across 24.1 innings for New York last year.

Wicks (oblique) threw a live batting practice session Wednesday.

Wicks finished last season on the injured list after straining his right oblique for the second time in just over three months back in September, but he looks to be back to full health in the early stages of spring training. The 25-year-old southpaw started in 10 of his 11 appearances with the Cubs in 2024, but after struggling to stay healthy and performing poorly when available (5.48 ERA, 1.63 WHIP in 46 innings), he'll have to compete for a spot in the Opening Day rotation this spring. If healthy, Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd should all be locked in as starters, leaving Wicks to battle Javier Assad (oblique), Colin Rea, Ben Brown and Cody Poteet for the final rotation spot.

Lopez (groin) completed a live batting practice session Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Lopez is facing no limitations this spring after a right groin strain kept him on the injured list for the final week of the 2024 season. Before getting shut down, Lopez accrued a 2.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 50:19 K:BB over 53 innings between stops with the Mets and Cubs, with his strong finish to the season earning him a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency with the Nationals. With Washington non-tendering last season's closer, Kyle Finnegan, earlier in the offseason, the back end of the bullpen is unsettled, but manager Dave Martinez reiterated earlier this week that Lopez and Jose Ferrer will likely be the leading candidates to pick up saves if the Nationals don't bring aboard a more proven closer before Opening Day. "Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well," Martinez told Zuckerman. "Right now, we're going to play matchups. But if Lopez is available, he can do it." With Ferrer being the left-handed option of the two, the right-handed Lopez could have the inside track to see a higher volume of save opportunities.