MLB Player News

Marsee has gone 0-for-7 in Grapefruit League play after returning from the World Baseball Classic.

The 24-year-old batted .174 (4-for-23) over six games for Italy during the WBC, and Marsee hasn't found a groove since rejoining the Marlins. He's locked into the starting center field job, and big things are expected from the former Padres farmhand after he slashed .292/.363/.478 over 55 games in his big-league debut last season with five homers and 14 steals.

Alcantara gave up three runs on five hits over 4.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander tossed 56 of 86 pitches for strikes in his final spring tuneup. Alcantara wraps up camp with a 5.68 ERA over 12.2 innings, but he gave up only one home run and sported a 16:2 K:BB, much more encouraging signs. The 30-year-old is set to take the mound Opening Day at home against the Rockies as he looks to rebound after a disappointing return from Tommy John surgery in 2025.

Pirates manager Don Kelly indicated Monday that Santana will not be the only reliever he uses for save opportunities, Jose Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

Santana notched 16 saves for Pittsburgh last season, with 10 of those coming in the final two months after David Bednar was traded. The 29-year-old is the heavy favorite to lead the Pirates in saves in 2026, but Kelly noted that he could use Santana earlier in games at times if the situation calls for it. Gregory Soto looks to be next in the pecking order and could be used to close when the opposition has lefty bats due up.

Wheeler (shoulder) threw 29 pitches over two simulated innings on the back fields of Phillies camp Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The 35-year-old righty is still slated to open the season on the 10-day injured list while he builds back up from venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which he underwent Sept. 23. While facing off Monday against some of the Phillies' lower-level farmhands, Wheeler reportedly looked sharp and ramped up his velocity in the second inning. Wheeler is expected to continue increasing the volume and intensity of his sim games over the next week or two before potentially kicking off a rehab assignment shortly after the minor-league season gets underway. Though he's currently without a firm target date for making his 2026 Phillies debut, Wheeler appears likely to return from the IL at some point in April.

Hamilton is a "leading candidate" to share playing time at third base with Luis Rengifo, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Rengifo is widely expected to serve as the Brewers' primary third baseman, though McCalvy notes that it's possible the left-handed-hitting Hamilton draws the start at the hot corner Opening Day against righty Shane Smith of the White Sox. Hamilton has slashed just .222/.283/.359 in the majors but has had a great spring, hitting .298/.365/.468 with one home run, five stolen bases and a 5:8 BB:K. The 28-year-old is most known for his speed, and he is likely to be an asset in the stolen-base department if the at-bats are there.

Rengifo is likely to share playing time at third base with David Hamilton, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

McCalvy lists Rengifo as the Brewers' expected primary third baseman, but he also notes that it's possible the left-handed-hitting Hamilton starts Opening Day versus White Sox righty Shane Smith. Rengifo is a switch hitter but has historically been much better against lefties (.749 OPS) than righties (.665 OPS). A strict platoon is unlikely, as manager Pat Murphy figures to be fluid in how he doles out playing time at the hot corner. Prospects Jett Williams and/or Cooper Pratt could also push their way into the third-base mix at some point this season.

Suarez has allowed one run on four hits with a 9:1 K:BB over five Grapefruit League innings this spring.

The 35-year-old right-hander racked up 76 saves for San Diego with a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 over the prior two seasons, but he'll begin his time in Atlanta as the top setup man for closer Raisel Iglesias. Suarez could still see ninth-inning action when Iglesias is unavailable, and if the incumbent struggles again early as he did in 2025, it wouldn't be a surprise if the two switched roles.

Manager Walt Weiss indicated that he still plans to deploy Fuentes out of the bullpen to begin the season, even after Atlanta announced Monday that Spencer Strider (oblique) will open the 2026 campaign on the injured list, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Strider had been scheduled to make his final spring start Monday against the Pirates, but that assignment will instead fall to Fuentes after Strider was scratched due to an oblique strain. Though Fuentes' pitching schedule aligns with Strider's, Atlanta doesn't intend to deviate from its early-season plan with the 20-year-old righty, who is expected to work as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen for the first couple weeks of the season before moving to Triple-A Gwinnett to resume starting. Jose Suarez and Martin Perez are the leading candidates to replace Strider in the rotation when his first turn comes up March 31 versus the Athletics, but Fuentes may not have to wait long for a starting opportunity with the big club if he continues to dazzle in relief for the big club and in the rotation at Gwinnett. Fuentes was one of the stars of spring training for Atlanta, tossing nine scoreless, no-hit frames while posting a 17:0 K:BB over his three Grapefruit League outings.

Through nine spring appearances, Estrada has tossed 9.2 scoreless innings, giving up two hits while posting a 16:7 K:BB.

Estrada has looked nearly unhittable in exhibition action while racking up a 14.9 K/9. The walks are a bit concerning, though the flamethrowing reliever is coming off a 2025 regular season during which he posted a career-best 8.9 percent walk rate. Estrada also recorded a career-high 30 holds last year and is slated to again be a key high-leverage arm for San Diego in 2026.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said Sunday that he plans to use Triolo as the team's everyday shortstop to begin the season, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "Just feel like he's been so good at short in his limited time last year," Kelly said of Triolo. "He's good anywhere you put him. But just felt like being a shortstop, having him there when he's on the field is really important."

A Gold Glove Award winner as a utility man in 2024, Triolo continued to provide strong defense at multiple infield spots in 2025, logging 44 starts at shortstop, 30 at third base, 12 at first base and 10 at second base. He'll carry eligibility at the former two positions in most fantasy leagues heading into 2026, but the Pirates seemingly want to deploy Triolo on more of a full-time basis at shortstop rather than shifting him all over the infield as needs arise. Triolo has already proved that he belongs in the big leagues defensively, but the jury is still out as to whether he's worthy of a regular spot in the everyday lineup. The 28-year-old owns a mediocre 87 wRC+ over parts of three seasons in the big leagues, but he took a major step forward in the second half of 2025, slashing .276/.353/.422 (117 wRC+) with four home runs and eight stolen bases across 216 plate appearances.