MLB Player News

Fuentes struck out five over three perfect innings during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the 20-year-old right-hander maintained the elevated velocity he's been showing in camp, averaging 97.1 mph with his four-seamer and topping out at 98.7 mph, but it was his slider that gave Yankee hitters like Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham the most trouble. Fuentes has sharpened the pitch since last year, when Statcast classified it as a sweeper due to its slower speed, and he generated whiffs on four of the six sliders he threw Friday while averaging 87.0 mph with it. Atlanta pitching coach Jeremy Hefner also likes the progress Fuentes has made with his changeup. Fuentes is expected to begin the year at Triple-A Gwinnett, but he could be just one more injury away from joining the big-league rotation. Through five spring innings in two appearances, he hasn't allowed a run or hit with a 9:0 K:BB.

Gelof started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's Cactus League loss to the Guardians.

After a delayed start to game action this spring while recovering from surgery last September to repair a dislocated right shoulder, Gelof has received regular playing time, with Sunday marking the first time he's manned center field. The 26-year-old has never played the outfield at the big-league level and has logged just one appearance there in the minor leagues, but with Jeff McNeil entrenched as the everyday second baseman, the Athletics are exploring ways to expand Gelof's defensive versatility. Coming off an injury-riddled 2025 in which he slashed .174/.230/.272 across 30 MLB games, Gelof could begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Las Vegas, though building up his ability to handle multiple positions could help him carve out opportunities with the big-league club.

Neto (wrist) will hit off the tee and take live batting practice Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Neto also clarified that he sustained a small sprain to his left wrist, not the hand, as previously reported Saturday. The shortstop said that he's feeling good, and he expects to play Tuesday, either in a minor-league game or in the Angels' Cactus League contest versus the Cubs, per Fletcher. Neto should have plenty of time this week to pick up more at-bats and get himself ready for Opening Day.

The Marlins optioned Blalock to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Blalock was acquired from the Rockies in January after he was DFA'd by Colorado. The 25-year-old right-hander has appeared in 21 career regular-season games at the MLB level, making 18 starts, but has turned in an 8.16 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 47:43 K:BB across 89.1 innings.

The Athletics reassigned Kriske to minor-league camp Sunday.

Kriske was one of 11 players sent out in the Athletics' latest round of roster cuts. The 32-year-old right-hander spent most of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level but made 16 appearances in the majors between stops with the Cubs and Twins, pitching to a 7.50 ERA and 1.94 WHIP across 18 innings.

The Marlins optioned Acton to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Acton was claimed off waivers from the Rockies last month and will begin the 2026 season in Triple-A after he appeared in just one major-league game out of the bullpen for the Rays last season. Acton produced a 3.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 71:27 K:BB across 58.2 innings for Triple-A Durham during the 2025 campaign.

The Athletics reassigned Hernandez to minor-league camp Sunday.

Hernandez was one of 11 players sent out in the Athletics' latest round of roster cuts. The 31-year-old right-hander spent most of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level but made 10 appearances in the majors with the Astros, giving up six earned runs on 12 hits and eight walks over 10.2 innings.

The Athletics reassigned Krook to minor-league camp Sunday.

Krook was one of 11 players sent out in the Athletics' latest round of roster cuts. The 31-year-old left-hander spent most of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level but made three appearances in the majors with the Athletics, giving up two earned runs on five hits and one walk over 3.1 innings.

The Athletics reassigned Suero to minor-league camp Sunday.

Suero was one of 11 players sent out in the Athletics' latest round of roster cuts. The 34-year-old right-hander spent most of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level but made five appearances in the majors with Atlanta, giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits and four walks over 6.1 innings.

Lange allowed a hit and a walk across 1.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League win over the White Sox. He struck out one.

The right-hander entered in relief of Cole Ragans with two outs in the fourth inning and closed the frame with no damage before firing a scoreless fifth inning that included a strikeout of Colson Montgomery. Lange has had an iffy spring, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and five walks across seven innings, though he has recorded nine strikeouts. Coming off a pair of injury-riddled seasons with the Tigers that saw him throw a combined 19.2 innings at the MLB level over the past two campaigns, Lange is competing for one of the final bullpen spots with the Royals after signing a one-year deal with the club in November.