MLB Player News
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Chase Hampton SP | NYY
Yankees' Chase Hampton: Could return to action in May
Hampton (elbow) has been throwing on flat ground and could return to pitching in games in May or June, per MLB.com.
Hampton underwent Tommy John surgery last February, so he didn't pitch at all during the 2025 campaign. The right-hander nonetheless remains one of New York's top pitching prospects and was added to the 40-man roster in November, as the Yankees opted to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft. Hampton is likely to spend much of the season at the Double-A level once he's ready to throw in games again.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Healthy to start spring
Altuve (foot) is healthy to start spring training and is expected to serve as the Astros' primary second baseman this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve dealt with a rocky transition to left field to start the 2025 campaign and finished the year with a nagging foot injury, resulting in a .265 batting average, the lowest of his career apart from the 2020 shortened season. Now healthy and back at second base, Altuve will look to rebound in 2026. Manager Joe Espada emphasized the 35-year-old Altuve's health earlier in the offseason, stating that he needs to "help Jose have the right amount of time to be off his feet." With Houston's current surplus of infielders, it seems likely that Altuve will at least play fewer than the 155 games he did in 2025.
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Kade Anderson SP | SEA
Mariners' Kade Anderson: Impressing early in spring
Anderson has impressed early in spring training and is expected to advance quickly through the Mariners system, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Anderson has yet to make his professional debut since being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, but the left-hander is already receiving rave reviews following his performance Sunday during a live batting practice session against some Mariners regulars. Anderson is likely to begin the upcoming season with High-A Everett, though he's not expected to "spend a heck of a lot of time in the high minors," according to Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners' president of baseball operations. Seattle's rotation is one of the league's best, and while Anderson still has a lot to prove, he could have an outside chance at making his MLB debut at some point in 2026.
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Hunter Bigge P | TB
Rays' Hunter Bigge: Healthy ahead of spring training
Bigge (face) threw live batting practice Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After pitching eight games in the Dominican Winter League, Bigge appears to be just about all the way back from the multiple facial fractures he suffered when he was hit by a foul ball in June of last season. The 27-year-old right-hander said Sunday that he's fully cleared medically, and the expectation is that Bigge will be competing for a spot in Tampa Bay's Opening Day bullpen during spring training.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: In mix for cleanup spot
Realmuto is an option to bat cleanup in 2026, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Manager Rob Thomson considers Alec Bohm the favorite for the role, and it sounds like Adolis Garcia is in contention as well. Realmuto enters his age-35 campaign in fairly evident decline, considering his OPS has dropped steadily in each of the past four seasons, but the possibility of hitting fourth in Philadelphia's lineup at least gives him some upside as a late-round catcher option in fantasy drafts.
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Alec Bohm 3B | PHI
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Favorite for cleanup role
Bohm is the most likely option to bat fourth in Philadelphia's lineup this season, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Manager Rob Thomson also mentioned Adolis Garcia and J.T. Realmuto as candidates for the cleanup role in 2026. Nick Castellanos, who signed with the Padres on Saturday, handled the majority of the cleanup duties a year ago, and it's possible the Phillies will use spring training as an audition to determine who's next in line as their primary No. 4 hitter. Bohm bounced around the batting order last season and ended up spending around half his time in the lower half of the lineup, so it's encouraging to hear he's in pole position to hit cleanup this spring.
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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 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.