MLB Player News

Hoeing (elbow) will undergo flexor tendon surgery and miss the entire 2026 season, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hoeing was shut down from throwing earlier this month and has now opted for season-ending surgery. The 29-year-old right-hander spent the bulk of his 2025 campaign with Triple-A El Paso but pitched in seven games out of the bullpen for the Padres, turning in a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB across eight innings.

Shaw played first base for the first time in his career during Wednesday's Cactus League contest, and he could be a contingency option there for the Cubs during the regular season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The third baseman is adding to his defensive acumen in an effort to grow into more of a super-utility role for the Cubs, though he had to borrow Carson Kelly's first baseman's glove to try out the new position Wednesday. With Tyler Austin (knee) set to miss a few months, Chicago is looking for added versatility off the bench, and Shaw would give the Cubs some depth behind starter Michael Busch if he can hold his own at first. Shaw almost exclusively played third base as a rookie last year, with a handful of appearances at second, but he's already played in right field, center field and now first so far this spring. It seems like the 24-year-old could play regularly for the Cubs across the diamond in 2026 even without a regular starting position.

Birdsong is being evaluated for an elbow injury Thursday, Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The nature of Birdsong's injury isn't clear, so it's unknown if this will be a long-term issue for the 24-year-old right-hander. He has been roughed up this spring, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and three walks across 2.1 innings. Even prior to the injury, Birdsong was viewed as a long shot to open the season in the Giants' rotation.

Kim, who hurt his left hand March 8 while playing for Team Korea during the World Baseball Classic, doesn't seem to be dealing with a serious injury, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Kim suffered the injury while stealing a base and missed Korea's subsequent contest against Australia. However, the infielder/outfielder seems to be fine. Korea's next game takes place Friday against the Dominican Republic, so it bears monitoring whether Kim will be in the lineup for that contest.

Baldwin was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Baldwin underwent imaging after he felt soreness throwing to the bases recently, and he figures to be shut down for at least the next few days. Baldwin is expected to fill a utility role for the White Sox this season after posting a .697 OPS across 328 plate appearances during the 2025 campaign.

The Red Sox placed Gonzalez (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The move opens up a 40-man roster spot for new lefty reliever Danny Coulombe, who was signed to a one-year deal in a corresponding move. Gonzalez has been sidelined for the entirety of spring training due to shoulder inflammation that will now require a "left shoulder arthroscopic debridement" operation, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. With Gonzalez set to miss at least the first two months of the regular season, Kristian Campbell, Nate Eaton and Andruw Monasterio will be competing for at-bats and playing time.

Brito (forearm) has been throwing bullpens in Padres camp, per MLB.com.

Brito is continuing to recover from the UCL internal brace surgery and flexor tendon repair he underwent in April of last year. He'll begin the campaign on the 60-day IL but could be able to return to game action around midseason.

Musgrove (elbow) has had his workload eased back after pitching against Team Great Britain on March 4, and it's uncertain if he'll be ramped up in time for Opening Day, per MLB.com.

Musgrove's March 4 outing appeared to go well, as he sat at 94-95 mph with his fastball and threw 60 pitches. However, the team has since decided to slow-play the veteran hurler, who underwent Tommy John surgery in October of 2024 and missed all of last season. "Yeah I think he's day-to-day right now. We knew this was how it was gonna be with him coming back from injury -- it wasn't just gonna be a straight shot all the way through," manager Craig Stammen said of Musgrove on Tuesday, per Valentina Martinez of SI.com. "So giving him the ample amount of rest to get him a little bit of a breather and then we'll get him back out there." On Musgrove's status for Opening Day, Stammen added, "We'll see. We'll evaluate him every single day and then make a decision after that." Should Musgrove have to miss time early in the season, German Marquez, Walker Buehler and Kyle Hart, among others, are candidates to fill his spot in the rotation.

The Red Sox signed Coulombe to a one-year contract Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

It's a major-league deal for the 36-year-old Coulombe, who split the 2025 season between the Twins and Rangers. Across 55 total appearances, Coulombe posted a 2.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB across 43 innings. Not including closer Aroldis Chapman, Coulombe figures to operate as manager Alex Cora's top situational lefty reliever out of Boston's bullpen.

Snell (shoulder) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Thursday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

All 15 of Snell's pitches were low-intensity fastballs between 87 and 89 mph with the catcher crouched, Snell told Plunkett afterward. It was the left-hander's first time this spring throwing off a mound to a catcher that wasn't standing upright. Manager Dave Roberts said Snell is essentially starting spring training Thursday and will need at least six weeks to get fully ramped up. The veteran left-hander appears poised to make his season debut sometime in early May should he progress without any setbacks.