MLB Player News

Freeland (back) will start Wednesday's exhibition game against Team USA, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

It will be the first game appearance this spring for Freeland, who has been slow-played while dealing with back spasms. The veteran lefty was cleared to start Wednesday following a couple bullpen sessions and he should have time to build up his stamina for Opening Day.

Atlanta signed Nelson to a minor-league contract Feb. 25.

Nelson struggled in 2025 in his first season back from thoracic outlet surgery, allowing two runs in two innings with the Diamondbacks and posting a 9.09 ERA in 42 appearances with Triple-A Reno. The 29-year-old will give Atlanta some experienced left-handed relief depth at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Medina (elbow) will make his Cactus League debut with a relief appearance Monday against the Padres, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

It will be the first time Medina has pitched in a game since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2024. The 26-year-old faces an uphill battle in making the Athletics' Opening Day roster, but he should play a role with the big club this season either as a starting pitcher or reliever.

Benintendi (side) took some swings Sunday and is expected to return to Cactus League action after the White Sox's off day Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Benintendi was scratched from the Cactus League lineup this past Friday due to right side soreness and has remained out since then. However, Benintendi said Monday that the White Sox are just exercising caution with him, adding that he would be playing if it were the regular season. Benintendi will be Chicago's primary left fielder in 2026 but will also see starts at designated hitter.

Samaniego (back) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Tuesday in the Red Sox's exhibition versus Team Puerto Rico, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Samaniego had been scheduled to make an appearance early in the Grapefruit League slate, but a back issue cropped up and prevented him from pitching. The young lefty wasn't shut down for long and has been able to ramp back up through bullpen sessions and live batting practice over the past week, setting the stage for him to make his spring debut Tuesday. Samaniego was added to the Red Sox's 40-man roster over the winter but is expected to open the season in the Triple-A Worcester bullpen.

Musgrove (elbow) will start Wednesday's exhibition game against Team Great Britain, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Musgrove will be making his first appearance in a game setting since his October 2024 Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander has been throwing off the mound throughout Padres camp, most recently tossing three innings in a simulated game last week. Musgrove was sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 campaign, but he will not have strict workload limitations in 2026.

Winn didn't start Monday's spring training game versus the Marlins as initially anticipated due to right arm soreness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Winn is "fine" and the soreness is a result of a "heavy" workload on the backfields Sunday. The plan is for Winn to return to action Thursday or Friday, though Marmol said he's willing to adjust plans if Winn wants to play Wednesday in an exhibition versus Team Nicaragua. Winn is 2-for-8 with a 3:2 BB:K and one stolen base in his first four Grapefruit League contests.

Dana has been slowed in Angels camp after being diagnosed with mononucleosis Jan. 31, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Dana noted Monday that the illness caused fatigue, but he kept his appetite and didn't lose weight. The right-hander has been throwing on flat ground the last few weeks and will throw his first bullpen session of the spring Tuesday. It's going to be difficult for Dana to sufficiently rebuild his stamina in time for Opening Day, which could effectively rule him out in the competition for a rotation spot.

Wilson said Sunday that his lower back has responded well to an injection, and he hopes to be ready to make his season debut shortly after Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wilson's back issue cropped up following his second bullpen session of spring training and prompted the Rays to shut him down. The righty reliever is still waiting for the injection to take full effect, but assuming it alleviates the lingering pain in his back, he should initiate a throwing program in the coming days. Once healthy, Wilson is likely to fill a middle-innings role for Tampa Bay, who acquired him in November after he turned in a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings out of the White Sox bullpen in 2025.

Gillen (undisclosed) played three innings in center field and drew an eight-pitch walk in his lone plate appearance in Sunday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta in Grapefruit League play.

Gillen closed the 2025 campaign on Single-A Charleston's injured list due to an unspecified issue and has been limited to just 81 total games since being selected in the first round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, but the athletic outfielder reported to camp healthy and has drawn raves from the Rays' coaching staff. After Gillen impressed Sunday in his limited action in his spring debut, manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he plans to have the 20-year-old play in a few more exhibitions prior to the end of camp. Gillen will likely head to Charleston or High-A Bowling Green for the start of the 2026 campaign.