MLB Player News
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Zach Maxwell RP | CIN
Reds' Zach Maxwell: Optioned to Triple-A
The Reds optioned Maxwell to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Maxwell struggled to limit traffic on the basepaths during spring training, posting a 5.40 ERA and 2.04 WHIP over 8.1 innings, though he managed to collect 13 strikeouts in that span. If the 25-year-old can right the ship at Louisville, the Reds may consider recalling him to join the big-league bullpen as a depth piece.
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Rece Hinds CF | CIN
Reds' Rece Hinds: Sent down to Louisville
The Reds optioned Hinds to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Hinds will head back to the minors to begin the new season despite swinging a scorching bat this spring (1.388 OPS). The 25-year-old was a major offensive threat in the minors last season too, as he slashed .302/.359/.563 with 24 homers, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored and 21 steals across 435 plate appearances. If his impressive offensive performance continues into the start of the 2026 Triple-A season, he could earn a spot on the big-league roster relatively soon.
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J.J. Bleday LF | CIN
Reds' JJ Bleday: Optioned to Louisville
The Reds optioned Bleday to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Bleday made a great case to be included on the Opening Day squad by slashing .317/.364/.683 with four homers, 11 RBI and eight runs scored over 44 plate appearances in the Cactus League. However, he will come up short and instead begin his first season with the Reds in Triple-A, where he posted a .980 OPS over 132 plate appearances in 2025.
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Mike Tauchman CF | NYM
Mets' Mike Tauchman: Slated for MRI
Tauchman was removed from Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros with a left knee injury, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Tauchman seemingly injured himself while running out of the batter's box in the third inning. He attempted to play through it but was still visibly bothered by his knee until he was removed in the fifth. The 35-year-old non-roster invitee had been in the running to grab a spot on the Mets' bench, but he now may be in jeopardy of beginning the year on the injured list.
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Konnor Griffin SS | PIT
Pirates' Konnor Griffin: Reassigned to minors camp
The Pirates reassigned Griffin to minor-league camp Saturday.
Despite being included in several roster projections, the 19-year-old will officially head back to the minors to begin the 2026 season after going 7-for-38 (.184) in spring training with four homers, nine RBI and seven runs scored. Although he missed the cut for the Opening Day roster, a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis is certainly possible, and his MLB debut could still come in the near future if he continues to dominate minor-league pitching as he did in 2025 (.941 OPS).
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Gordon Graceffo P | STL
Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Optioned to Memphis
The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Graceffo didn't allow an earned run through three innings in the Grapefruit League. However, he posted a 6.28 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 43 innings with the Cardinals last season, so they'll wait to see more from him in the minors before admitting him back into their big-league bullpen.
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Brandon Lockridge OF | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Lockridge: Makes Opening Day roster
Lockridge will be included on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
The writing was on the wall that Lockridge had won a bench spot when the Brewers optioned Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville on Friday, but the decision is now official. Lockridge did an excellent job separating himself from the competition during Cactus League play, slashing .316/.435/.684 with four homers, nine RBI, 13 runs scored and three stolen bases across 13 contests. As long as he can continue to produce on offense, the 29-year-old outfielder will likely fill in for either Sal Frelick or Garrett Mitchell whenever the Brewers encounter a left-handed starter.
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Brandon Sproat SP | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Sproat: Breaking camp with Brewers
Manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Sproat will be included on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Sproat has allowed five earned runs in nine innings this spring while striking out 10 batters and walking two. Despite his difficulties with run prevention, he'll officially be a part of Milwaukee's Opening Day pitching staff, and injuries to Brandon Woodruff (lat), Quinn Priester (wrist) and Kyle Harrison (finger) make it likely that he'll begin the year in the rotation. Once the Brewers' injured starters begin to return, Sproat could be relegated to the bullpen or sent down to Triple-A Nashville.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Headed to injured list
The Diamondbacks will place Kelly (back) on the 15-day injured list to begin the regular season, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Kelly was expected to have a delayed start to the year while he continues to work his way back from a back injury, and he will officially spend the start of the season on the IL. If he is able to return after a minimum-length stay, he'd be lined up to make his season debut April 7 versus the White Sox.
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Jason Adam RP | SD
Padres' Jason Adam: Makes spring debut
Adam (quadriceps) pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout against Colorado in a Cactus League appearance Friday.
Adam entered in the sixth inning and retired the Rockies in order on 12 pitches. It was the first time the righty reliever has appeared in a game this spring, as he's still working to get fully ramped up following the surgery he underwent early last September to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon. According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Adam will aim to make another exhibition appearance Monday, and if that goes well, there's still a chance he could make the Padres' Opening Day roster.