MLB Player News

Bender (shin) will throw a couple more live batting practice sessions before making his Grapefruit League debut, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Bender is a bit behind schedule because of a shin issue, but he's on the mend. The veteran reliever faced hitters last week and will do so more times this week before being thrown into game action. Bender has plenty of time to ramp up for Opening Day.

Junk (ankle) is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Astros, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Junk has been behind schedule after suffering a Grade 1 mild right ankle sprain early on in camp. He will throw one inning in Saturday's appearance before building up his workload from there. The right-hander is likely ticketed for a long-relief role with Miami.

The Reds reassigned Toglia to minor-league camp Monday.

Non-tendered by the Rockies in November after hitting just .190 with a 39.2 percent strikeout rate in 88 games in the majors last season, Toglia caught on with the Reds on a minor-league deal over the winter and received the chance to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, Toglia showed no signs of improving his poor contact rate during the early stages of Cactus League play, striking out in four of his nine at-bats. The 27-year-old switch-hitter should get the chance to play on an everyday basis at Triple-A Louisville to begin the season, but he'll likely need to cut down on his strikeouts before he gets another look in the majors.

Stowers (hamstring) took 30 swings and played catch Sunday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Stowers will advance to some live at-bats within the next few days and will also begin a running progression soon. The outfielder was diagnosed over the weekend with a mild right hamstring strain and is expected to return to game action in 1-2 weeks. Stowers is expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, but he can't afford any type of setback.

The Reds reassigned Chavis to minor-league camp Monday.

After finishing the 2025 campaign in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chunichi Dragons, Chavis returned stateside this winter and signed a minor-league deal with the Reds. Though the 30-year-old had gotten off to a nice start in the Cactus League with three hits -- including a home run -- in 11 at-bats, he always appeared to be a long shot to crack the Opening Day roster. Assuming he doesn't have an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal, Chavis will likely report to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season.

Myers started in center field and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's spring game against the Athletics.

Reds manager Terry Francona is toying with the idea of Myers in center field and moving TJ Friedl, the team's primary starter in center, to a corner outfield spot. That's an alignment the manager used last Thursday, and Francona told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he'll do that a few more times this spring. Myers could either serve as a right-handed hitting complement to Friedl, or the two elite outfield defenders could play the same day.

The Nationals reassigned Lara to minor-league camp Monday.

Washington outrighted Lara to the minors in January, but the 23-year-old righty still received an invitation to big-league camp to begin spring training. Lara made eight appearances out of the Washington bullpen in 2025, though he'll likely have a tougher time resurfacing in the majors this season now that he's no longer on the 40-man roster.

Abbott allowed four runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Athletics.

Abbott sandwiched two troublesome innings around a perfect second frame. Three batters in, the Reds were down, 2-0, as Abbott surrendered a two-run home run. It was the second homer allowed in as many games. The left-hander then retired seven of the next eight batters before ceding a two-out, run-producing double in the third, which ended his day. Abbott worked his pitch count to 43 (28 strikes) in his second Cactus League start.

Crews is considered day-to-day after X-rays on his left thumb came back negative, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Crews was hit on the thumb by a pitch during live batting practice Saturday and was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins as a result. He'll remain out of the lineup Monday against the Astros but should be back in action in a day or two. Crews has gone 1-for-9 with a 1:3 BB:K in his first four contests during the Grapefruit League.

Leahy yielded four runs on four hits and three walks over 2.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates.

Leahy was immediately in hot water, giving up a leadoff double to start the game which was followed by a Konnor Griffin two-run home run. He needed 54 pitches to cover his 2.2 innings and recorded only one strikeout. The expectation is that Leahy will break camp as a member of the Cardinals' rotation, though he didn't help his case with Sunday's shaky outing.