MLB Player News
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Clear of ankle pain
Alvarez (ankle) reported to spring training Sunday and announced that his is pain-free, Houston Chronicle reports.
The 28-year-old dealt with a left ankle sprain late last year and dealt with some inflammation early in the offseason, but it appears he's entering spring training at 100 percent. Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to the ankle issue and a hand fracture, with his .273/.367/.430 slash line representing career lows in average and slugging percentage. The injury-plagued season ended a run of four straight 30-homer campaigns for the slugger, who is a popular rebound candidate in 2026. Alvarez is expected to see most of his action at designated hitter this season after making just 15 appearances in left field in 2025.
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Ryan Sloan SP | SEA
Mariners' Ryan Sloan: Back in action after eye procedure
Sloan (eye) threw a live batting practice session Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Despite having yet to pitch above the High-A level, Sloan didn't look out of place while facing off against some of the Mariners' top hitters in Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor during the BP session. According to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, the 20-year-old righty sported a four-seamer that hit 99 miles per hour and a two-seamer that reached 98 mph. Sloan missed the final month of the 2025 campaign after undergoing a procedure on his eye, but he's seemingly free of restrictions heading into 2026 and could establish himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects if health prevails this season.
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Aaron Judge RF | NYY
Yankees' Aaron Judge: Will get early at-bats in spring
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he expects Judge to play in "four or five" of the team's first nine Grapefruit League games before he joins Team USA in early March for the World Baseball Classic, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Veterans like Judge are typically eased into spring lineups, but he'll get in some competitive at-bats early in camp to ensure he's sharp ahead of the WBC. Boone also reiterated that Judge will be a full participant in full-squad workouts throughout the week and is facing no limitations with his throwing after a flexor strain in his right elbow resulted in a brief stay on the injured list last July and kept him from playing the outfield for about five weeks. In spite of the elbow concern, Judge continued to thrive at the plate and took home his third American League MVP Award last season while batting a career-best .331 and slugging 53 home runs over 152 regular-season games.
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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Moves to 60-day IL
The Diamondbacks placed Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The left-hander will be unavailable for at least the first couple months of 2026 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL is just a procedural move. After reporting for spring training last week, Puk said that he expects to make his season debut before July.
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Moises Ballesteros C | CHC
Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Not expected back until next week
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Ballesteros (personal) isn't expected to report to camp until next weekend at the soonest, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The Cubs are short on catching depth for the early part of camp, as Ballesteros and non-roster invitee Christian Bethancourt continue to work through visa issues that have delayed their arrival in the United States. A poor defender, Ballesteros likely won't be counted on to make frequent starts behind the plate with the Cubs in 2026, but he's an impact bat who could push his way into the everyday lineup as a designated hitter. Ballesteros didn't look overmatched in his first exposure to big-league pitching last season, slashing .298/.394/.474 with a 13.6 percent walk rate and 18.2 percent strikeout rate over his 66 regular-season plate appearances for Chicago.
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Grant Holman RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Grant Holman: Catches on with Arizona
The Diamondbacks claimed Holman (finger) off waivers from the Athletics on Sunday.
The addition of Holman gives the Diamondbacks an intriguing developmental arm out of the bullpen. Though he struggled to a 5.09 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 23 innings in the big leagues with the Athletics last season, the 6-foot-6 Holman boasts a four-pitch mix and long levers that helped him finish in the 94th percentile in extension, per Aaron Hughes of SI.com. Arizona placed A.J. Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Holman.
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Cameron Schlittler SP | NYY
Yankees' Cam Schlittler: Nearing return to mound
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Schlittler (back) is expected to resume mound work Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
The 25-year-old right-hander reported to camp this week nursing mid-back inflammation, and his scheduled return to mound work Tuesday appears to confirm that the injury is minor. Schlittler should have a fairly normal ramp-up for the regular season and appears set for an Opening Day rotation spot for the first time in his career.
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Maikel Garcia 3B | KC
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Back healthy for spring training
Garcia (hamstring) took live batting practice against teammate Stephen Kolek on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Garcia strained his hamstring back in December while playing in the Venezuela Winter League, but that's no longer a concern. After a breakout 2025 campaign in which he hit .286 with 16 home runs and 23 stolen bases, Garcia was rewarded with a five-year contract extension this offseason. The 25-year-old is slated to play for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
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Sam Haggerty LF | TEX
Rangers' Sam Haggerty: Entering spring healthy
Haggerty (ankle) took live batting practice against teammate Nathan Eovaldi on Sunday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Haggerty didn't see action after mid-August of last season due to a setback in his recovery from an ankle issue during a September rehab assignment. That didn't deter the Rangers from tendering him a contract this offseason, and he's in good shape to win a utility job on the Opening Day roster. In addition to being able to play all three outfield spots, second base, third base and shortstop, the switch-hitting Haggerty will give Texas a weapon against left-handed pitching. He slashed .318/.376/.435 across 94 plate appearances versus southpaws in 2025.
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Wyatt Langford OF | TEX
Rangers' Wyatt Langford: Oblique injury not a concern
Langford (oblique) took his first live batting practice session of spring training Sunday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Langford was shut down for the final five games of the 2025 season due to a left oblique strain, but he's believed to have had a normal offseason. The 24-year-old will open the season as the Rangers' everyday left fielder, though he could occasionally slide over to center in place of Evan Carter when Texas faces left-handed pitching.