MLB Player News
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Ben Brown RP | CHC
Cubs' Ben Brown: Strikes out three in spring debut
Brown allowed two hits across two scoreless innings in Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals. He struck out three.
Making his spring debut, Brown looked sharp across his 30 pitches, 20 of which he tossed for strikes. The lanky righty spent time as both a starter and reliever last season, and he mostly struggled with a 5.92 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 106.1 innings. However, Brown also struck out 121 batters and flashed a fastball that sat right around 96 mph, so there is plenty of upside in his arm. With the Cubs seemingly having a full rotation to begin the year, Brown figures to slot into the bullpen if he makes the team out of camp, though he could be an option to make some starts down the road if a need arises. As a reliever, the 26-year-old could see his stuff play up a bit.
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Jefferson Rojas SS | CHC
Cubs' Jefferson Rojas: Connects on first spring home run
Rojas went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.
Rojas received an invite to major-league spring training at just 20 years of age, and he didn't look overmatched Monday as he connected for his first Cactus League home run. The young shortstop is not on Chicago's 40-man roster and has yet to play above the Double-A level, so he's almost certainly ticketed for a return to the minors, but he could turn some heads with a strong spring. Rojas is worth keeping a close eye on in dynasty formats this season, particularly if he keeps developing his power stroke.
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Brycen Mautz SP | STL
Cardinals' Brycen Mautz: In mix to fill relief role
Mautz is under consideration for a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster in a relief or hybrid role, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Mautz was added to the 40-man roster this offseason following a breakout year as a starter at Double-A Springfield, where he posted a 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 134:33 K:BB over 114.2 innings. JoJo Romero is locked into one left-handed bullpen spot for the Cardinals, but he remains a trade candidate, and even if Romero stays put the team likely has at least one other lefty spot up for grabs. Mautz could fill that slot or be used in a hybrid role that would allow him to also make some spot starts. However, the most likely scenario is the southpaw opens the season in the Triple-A Memphis rotation to continue his development as a starting pitcher.
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Justin Foscue 2B | TEX
Rangers' Justin Foscue: Departs with tight hamstring
Foscue was lifted from Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels due to right hamstring tightness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Foscue singled and scored a run in the top of the first inning in his lone plate appearance before being removed for defense prior to the bottom of the second. It's unclear whether he'll be sent for an MRI, but even if it's not serious, Foscue figures to be off limits for at least a day or two. He's competing for a reserve role with the Rangers.
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Trevor Megill RP | MIL
Brewers' Trevor Megill: Offseason PRP injection
Megill had a PRP injection this offseason after missing time during the 2025 season due to a forearm strain, Todd Rosiak of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Meanwhile, manager Pat Murphy suggested that he won't necessarily need defined roles for Megill and others at the back of the bullpen. "I don't feel like that at all," he said. "I feel like we'll look at the matchups and see what's best. We'll look at the health of the pitcher. You might see other guys in that mix too."
The Brewers' bullpen situation is especially tough to project, because they have so many different good options, even beyond Megill and Abner Uribe. Moreover, both Megill and Uribe are being priced in the draft market as near full-time closers. While their respective ratios and strikeouts mitigate some of the costs of missing out on saves, it's difficult to draft both and miss out on production at another position.
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Vidal Brujan SS | NYM
Mets' Vidal Brujan: Exits with hand injury
Brujan was removed in the sixth inning of Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays due to an apparent hand injury, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base prior to exiting the game.
Brujan appeared to suffer the injury when his hand got stepped on by a Blue Jays infielder on a stolen-base attempt in the top of the sixth. The 27-year-old drew the start at shortstop Monday, and assuming the hand injury isn't anything too significant, Brujan could break camp as the Mets' top option at the position if Francisco Lindor (hand) isn't ready to go for Opening Day.
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Pitched through biceps injury
Berrios revealed Monday that he pitched through a biceps tendon injury throughout the 2025 season, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Berrios admitted that he was already feeling less than 100 percent health-wise during spring training last year, but he didn't find out until September following an MRI that he had a biceps tendon issue. The righty wound up making 30 starts for the seventh consecutive non-COVID season, but he had a 5.15 ERA after the All-Star break and was demoted to the bullpen late in the year. Berrios said Monday that he's fully healthy now, and he is the leading candidate to serve as the Blue Jays' fifth starter while Shane Bieber (forearm) recuperates.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Awaiting MRI results
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that the team is still waiting for MRI results on Kelly's back, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly had to be scratched from a scheduled live batting practice session over the weekend due to mid-back tightness. Lovullo noted Monday that Kelly feels good, but there will be more known about his condition after the test results come back. Consider the veteran right-hander day-to-day for the time being.
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Brandon Woodruff SP | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Opening Day 'up in the air'
Woodruff (lat) said Monday that his Opening Day availability is "up in the air right now," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Woodruff is a bit behind schedule in Brewers camp after he ended last season on the injured list with a right lat strain. He threw a live batting practice session Monday and will face hitters at least once more before perhaps being cleared to pitch in a game setting. Woodruff noted Monday that he's "in a good spot," but he did not want to commit to being ready once the regular season begins, saying his goal is to have a healthy season and "be available at the end of the year when it matters most." The righty held a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 83:14 K:BB in 64.2 innings last season for the Brewers.
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Juan Burgos RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Juan Burgos: Slated for spring debut
Burgos (forearm) is scheduled to make a relief appearance in Monday's Cactus League game against the Guardians, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Burgos is healthy again and preparing to compete for a spot in the Diamondbacks' Opening Day bullpen after he closed the past season on the injured list due to a right forearm contusion. The 25-year-old reached the big leagues for the first time in 2025, making 13 appearances between stops with Seattle and Arizona and producing a 6.08 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over 13.1 innings.