MLB Player News

Ward was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Ward will head to Oklahoma City after batting .156 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored over 32 at-bats in 12 games during spring training with the Dodgers. The 28-year-old will open the 2026 season at the Triple-A level, and he'll look to into a groove in an attempt to get a shot with the major-league roster in the coming months.

Long has been diagnosed with a bruise and cleared of any structural issues with his left elbow, putting him on track to potentially return to baseball activities by the end of the week, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

The 24-year-old was unable to join Team Chinese Taipei for the World Baseball Classic due to the injury, but he's now progressing toward game action. If he can avoid any setbacks, Long could be ready to join Triple-A Iowa for the start of the minor-league season.

The Brewers optioned Crow to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Crow will likely be in line for a full-time stay in the Nashville rotation in 2026 after he made all but two of his starts last season at Double-A Biloxi, with whom he submitted a 2.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 52:8 K:BB in 43 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster over the winter, but he's buried on the organizational starting pitching depth chart and is unlikely to be in store for an extended stay in Milwaukee at any point during the upcoming season.

The Rockies optioned Thompson to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

Thompson was added to Colorado's 40-man roster in November but won't make the Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old outfielder will return to Albuquerque, where he posted a .296/.392/.519 slash line with 18 homers and 12 steals in 120 games last year.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Dunn is day-to-day with a low-grade knee strain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The injury is expected to keep Dunn out of the Reds' Cactus League lineups for a few days, but the outfielder doesn't appear to be at any major risk of missing the start of the season. The missed game action could prove costly to Dunn in his battle for a reserve job in the Reds' Opening Day outfield, however.

The Diamondbacks reassigned Waldschmidt to minor-league camp Sunday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Heading into spring training, Waldschmidt looked to have a legitimate shot at earning a spot on the Opening Day roster after Arizona didn't make any major additions to its outfield over the winter to compensate for Lourdes Gurriel's (knee) extended absence to begin the season. Even with Corbin Carroll (hand) going down with a fractured hamate early in camp to put his availability for Opening Day in jeopardy, Waldschmidt never gained much momentum in his bid for a roster spot despite posting a .796 OPS through nine Cactus League games. Though he could continue to get regular run in Arizona's spring lineups while Carroll is rehabbing and while Alek Thomas is playing for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Waldschmidt looks like he'll need to continue to mash at Double-A Amarillo or Triple-A Reno to begin the regular season before receiving his first big-league call-up.

Colorado optioned Peralta to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

The left-hander finished 2025 working in the majors but is set to open 2026 in the minor leagues. Peralta had a 9.47 ERA and 16:18 K:BB across 19 frames in the big leagues last year, and he wasn't much better at Triple-A with a 9.09 ERA.

The Diamondbacks reassigned Rashi to minor-league camp Sunday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Rashi reached the majors for the first time with Arizona in 2025, appearing in 10 games and logging a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB over 16.1 innings. After being non-tendered in November, Rashi re-signed with Arizona on a minor-league deal shortly thereafter. He wasn't able to crack the Diamondbacks bullpen coming out of spring training, but Rashi could be in the mix for a promotion to the big club if he pitches well with Reno early in the upcoming season.

The Diamondbacks optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Reno on Sunday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

After being added to the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster over the winter, Fernandez will make the jump to Triple-A this season after spending the entire 2025 campaign at Double-A Amarillo, with whom he slashed .272/.321/.454 with 17 home runs and 12 steals in 510 plate appearances. The 22-year-old from Venezuela is regarded as only an average defender at shortstop, so a move to third base could be in the cards at some point down the road.

The Rockies optioned Palmquist (shin) to Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

The 25-year-old was a bit behind schedule early in camp due to a shin injury, but he returned to make a couple Cactus League last Sunday and Thursday. Palmquist struggled to an 8.91 ERA and 27:25 K:BB over nine appearances in his first taste of the majors last season.