MLB Player News

Fuentes (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Fuentes ended the 2025 season on the 7-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. He appeared in 13 games across three levels in the minors last year and finished with a 1-7 record with a 3.73 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 71:16 K:BB across 57 innings. Assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks, Fuentes will likely open the 2026 season in Triple-A, but he should get some turns in Atlanta's rotation after starting four games for the parent club in 2025.

The Phillies optioned Chace (elbow) to Double-A Reading on Saturday.

Chace will miss the first portion of the regular season while finishing up his recovery from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in May. He'll report back to Reading once he's healthy and look to reach Triple-A before the end of the year.

The Phillies optioned Curet to Double-A Reading on Saturday.

Curet reached Triple-A for the first time last season while in the Rays organization, though he posted an unsightly 6.03 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over 31.1 innings. He was traded to Philadelphia during the offseason and will now head back to Double-A to begin his tenure with his new club.

The Phillies optioned Rincones (knee) to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports.

Rincones spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A, where he slashed .242/.366/.430 with 22 steals (on 27 attempts), 18 home runs and 73 RBI in 505 plate appearances. He's currently working through a left knee injury, and it's unclear whether he'll be available for the start of the regular season.

The Phillies optioned Cabrera to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

Cabrera spent all of 2025 at Double-A Reading, posting a 3.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 137 innings. After giving up just one earned run in 4.1 frames in the Grapefruit League, he'll officially receive a promotion to Triple-A to begin the 2026 campaign.

Cabrera is using his four-seam fastball more in spring training as a complement to his changeup, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera's changeup is his signature pitch, and he throws it often. However, the Cubs are asking the righty to throw his fastball more as a contrast to his off-speed stuff and to make the changeup more effective. Cabrera is throwing the four-seamer 30% of the time so far this spring, which is up from 13% during the 2025 regular season. He has good velocity on the pitch, averaging 96.7 mph last year, so he should be able to find success with the increased usage if his command is locked in. Cabrera was a key offseason trade acquisition for Chicago after posting a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts across 137.2 innings for the Marlins in 2025.

Brown is experimenting with adding a sinker to his pitch mix during spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Brown has typically relied on a fastball and curveball, with a changeup mixed in more recently. The righty is now trying out a sinker as another out pitch, particularly against right-handed batters. Brown has racked up strikeouts at an impressive rate across two seasons in the majors, but he struggled last year with a 5.92 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 106.1 regular-season innings while splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. The 26-year-old is likely to be a reliever to begin the 2026 campaign, and an effective sinker could help him succeed in that role, especially if his fastball plays up a few ticks as well.

Horwitz enters the 2026 season with an uncertain defensive home, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Horwitz was the Pirates' primary first baseman when healthy in 2025, and he delivered a solid 119 wRC+ across 411 plate appearances. However, the team brought in Ryan O'Hearn this winter, and he will almost certainly get some playing time at first base. The team's other additions of Brandon Lowe and Marcell Ozuna lower the potential playing time available at second base and designated hitter, respectively, leaving Horwitz without an obvious path to a regular defensive home. O'Hearn is slated to also play in right field, so Horwitz should still get a fair bit of run at first base while also occasionally filling in at second base and DH as needed.

Ritter is impressing the Rockies with his ability to play multiple positions and could earn a roster spot as a utility player, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Ritter appeared in 60 games in 2025 and split his time evenly between second base and shortstop. The Rockies' offseason additions of Willi Castro and Edouard Julien weaken Ritter's chances of sticking at second base regularly, but he's appeared at second base, third base, shortstop and left field this spring. In addition to that versatility, he's hitting .478 with four doubles and a home run across 23 at-bats.

Abbott allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the Giants. He also hit a batter and allowed two stolen bases.

Abbott allowed runs in all three innings, including his third home run in 7.1 Cactus League innings. The best news coming out of the left-hander's third spring start are the five punchouts, and he upped his pitch count to 63 (39 strikes). Abbott explained to Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard that he was more focused on working his pitches than the results of Friday's outing.