MLB Player News
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Javy Guerra RP | ATL
Braves' Javy Guerra: Cut from big-league camp
Atlanta reassigned Guerra to minor-league camp Sunday.
The 30-year-old righty reliever's removal from big-league camp comes as he's set to join Team Panama ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Guerra didn't make a strong case for a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen anyway after yielding five earned runs in 2.2 innings across three appearances in the Grapefruit League. He last appeared in the majors in 2023 and is likely to open the season in the Triple-A Gwinnett bullpen.
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Brandon Nimmo CF | TEX
Rangers' Brandon Nimmo: Should start playing soon
Nimmo is on a specific ramp-up plan and will begin playing in Cactus League games in March, Matt Postins of SI.com reports.
The slow ramp-up is designed to have Nimmo, who turns 33 later this month, fresh for Opening Day, according to Texas manager Skip Schumaker. Nimmo is expected to bat leadoff for the Rangers, taking the spot in the order that had belonged to Marcus Semien, the player he was traded for in November.
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Good to go Sunday
Basallo (abdomen) is starting at catcher and batting cleanup in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The 21-year-old departed Thursday's spring game due to abdominal discomfort, but he's ready to retake the field after getting a couple days off. The fact that Basallo is immediately working behind the plate rather than being eased back in as the designated hitter is a good indication that the injury wasn't a serious concern.
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Jack Leiter P | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Inefficient start Saturday
Leiter allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings in Saturday's Cactus League start against the Dodgers.
Leiter needed 45 pitches to get those four outs, spread across three different innings. The three up-and-downs were a positive this early in camp, but the right-hander allowed three extra-base hits, including a Dalton Rushing home run in the first inning, and he managed to throw just 24 strikes. Leiter also featured more of the cutter he's been working on during the offseason, delivering seven of them, so the results may be less important than the process in this outing.
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Thomas White SP | MIA
Marlins' Thomas White: Tending to strained oblique
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Sunday that White has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right oblique strain and won't return to game action for 3-to-4 weeks, Louis Addeo-Weiss of FishOnFirst.com reports.
Arguably the top pitching prospect in the Miami organization, White received an invitation to big-league camp but was always considered likely to open the season in the Triple-A Jacksonville rotation. The oblique injury, which White picked up Friday in his spring debut, will keep him out for the rest of the Grapefruit League slate. Assuming the estimated recovery timeline holds, White could still be ready to go when Jacksonville opens its season March 27, although he would likely need time to ramp up in extended spring training first.
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Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Strong finish to Saturday's outing
Bibee allowed three runs on three hits over three innings in Saturday's Cactus League start against the White Sox.
Bibee increased his pitch count to 47 (29 strikes) in his second spring outing. After a forgettable first inning in which he allowed a home run and all three runs, the right-hander retired the final six batters he faced. Per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Bibee acknowledged putting too much pressure on himself last season after inking a five-year contract extension in March 2025, and he battles his mechanics all year. He eventually found a groove late, going 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA in four September starts, and he was the starting pitcher in the Guardians' lone postseason victory.
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Graham Pauley 3B | MIA
Marlins' Graham Pauley: Good to go at DH
Pauley (forearm) is batting sixth as the designated hitter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Pauley has dealt with tightness in his right forearm early in camp, but he's set to make his spring debut Sunday. The 25-year-old likely won't be fully cleared until he's deemed ready to handle defensive duties, but he still has plenty of time to do so ahead of Opening Day.
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Sal Frelick RF | MIL
Brewers' Sal Frelick: Faring well this spring
Frelick is 3-for-10 (.300) with a triple, a steal and a 3:0 BB:K through four games this spring.
Frelick has not been particularly busy early in the exhibition season, but he also has not been limited after playing through a sore knee in 2025. He is set to remain Milwaukee's primary right fielder, and he figures to be a fantasy factor after putting up a .288 batting average, 12 home runs and 19 steals over 590 regular-season plate appearances a season ago.
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Matt McLain SS | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Hits in four straight
McLain batted second and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's spring game against Milwaukee.
McLain has batted second and gathered hits in all four of his Cactus League appearances so far, going 6-for-12 with a walk and three RBI. He opened 2025 batting near the top of the batting order but struggled for much of the season and eventually was dropped to the bottom third. If he continues to hit like this, McLain could find himself batting second again with protection from Elly De La Cruz behind him.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Off to fast start
Ortiz went 7-for-14 (.500) with a double, two RBI, two steals and a 2:3 BB:K over his last five spring games.
Ortiz posted a 1.145 OPS during the 2025 exhibition campaign before putting up a .593 mark during the regular season, so the early hot streak is not necessarily a sign of things to come. However, it is certainly better than the alternative for a player looking to get back on track. Despite the downturn, Ortiz is in line to remain the primary shortstop for the Brewers, but Milwaukee's top four prospects all play the same position, so it will be a pivotal 2026 campaign for Ortiz.